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My California Adventure - The Postman Cometh Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

xxxsparkmanxxx: Gone and final location is no longer feasible for a hidden container.

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Hidden : 10/12/2011
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

While Caching in California during Monique's recovery from liver surgery, I ran across some very interesting caches of all types and decided to share some of them with Reno.

This one is similar to GCZ1AE Appointed Rounds, a Multicache placed by virtualdavid. I found several by this clever CO while I was there. I particularly enjoyed this one even though it did give me fits at first. I thought all of you would as well.


This multi will take you around a tour of the area to visit some of the places on the postman's route. The posted coordinates is the start.

At each virtual location, you will need the following information from the drop box:
  1. Box identification number.
  2. Express mail drop street address.
  3. Daily pick up times.

This one may take some time. READ CAREFULLY!!! You will only be adjusting the SECONDS in all sets of coords. Of course the N 39 and W 119 never change. If the minutes change, they will be given.


At the posted Coords: Face the front of the 3 USPS postal boxes at this location. Figure ABC for the Northing and DEF for the Westing as follows:
  • A= Double the penultimate digit of the box ID at the far left.
  • B= Subtract 1 from the minutes of the Monday – Friday pick up times of the center box. Add the two resulting digits down to a single number.
  • C= First digit of the far right box ID.
  • D= The hour only of the Monday – Friday pick up times on the far left box.
  • E= Take the box ID from the center box and subtract the first digit from the second digit
  • F= Subtract one from the last digit of the far right box ID
  • Checksum for ABC = 18. Checksum for DEF = 12
Subtract ABC from the Northing minutes (XXX) and DEF from the westing minutes (YYY) to get the next set of coords: N 39 28.XXX W 119 46.YYY.

Stage 2: You should see another USPS mail box at or very near this location. Use the information on that box and figure as follows:

  • A= Add all 3 digits of the Saturday pick up time.
  • B= Take half of the first digit in the location of express mail drop street address.
  • C= 5th digit of the box ID.
  • D= C+1.
  • checksum of ABCD=13.
The coords for the next stage are N 39 28.ABA W 119 45.CAD.


Stage 3: At the box here, you will need the information to figure ABCDE as follows:

  • A= Subtract the penultimate digit of the box ID from the last digit.
  • B= The hour only of the Monday – Friday pick-up times PLUS the first digit of the street address of the express mail drop street address.
  • C= B+1
  • D= Add all the digits of the saturday pick up time and DOUBLE the answer.
  • E= 2A + C.
  • Checksum for ABCDE = 31.
New coords are: N 39 29.ABE W 119 45.ADC.

Stage 4: Figure ABCD from the box at or near this location as follows:

  • A= Half of the first digit of the street address of the express mail drop street address.
  • B= The last digit of the box ID.
  • C= The digits of the Saturday pick up time added together.
  • D= the hour only of the Saturday pick up time added to the penultimate digit of the box ID
  • Checksum for ABCD = 17

The coords for the final are N 39 29.ABB W 119 44.DBC.

Read and add carefully and you should be able to get through this fairly easily. Use the hint for the final and let me know what you think! If you ever have the occasion to visit the Stanford/Palo Alto area please be sure to look up the inspiration for this cache and give my warmest regards to virtualdavid in your log!! Please make sure to hide the container at the final location well to avoid having it stolen. Good luck and happy hunting!



FTF honors go to randallh and thanks for finding the errors!!!!


Georgia Geocachers

Generated by The Selector

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[FINAL:] Pbagnvare vf va gur pybfrfg gerr gb gur znvyobk. Fubeg crbcyr arrq n obbfg.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)