Spooky Mystery Cache Mystery Cache

Dear Bess and George,

Just to bring you up to date, Nancy and I have arrived and are settling in. We rented a bungalow because Nancy thought a bungalow sounded more mysterious than a "hotel," although I have to admit that the only difference I can detect is the price.

Upon arriving here, we took a walk through the quaint little town before checking in, only to find out that we had to pack all of our stuff in a boat first. I thought it was cool that we were going to have our own private dock, and started to throw stuff in the boat, but thankfully Nancy's investigative knack kicked in and she discovered that the anchor was broken... so once again a disaster was averted before anything bad happened. :)

While they were fixing the anchor for us, Nancy thought she found a clue in the diary that you guys gave her for her birthday.

It turned out to just be a flyer that had fallen in, an advertisement for the Lilac Inn. The ad claimed the "best mystery meat in North America"... we weren't feeling THAT adventurous. Amazingly, within a few minutes of waiting, the new anchor was reported to be attached... and then, we were off.

After we were finished unpacking, Nancy wanted to return to the jeweler's shop she had spotted in town, but I discovered that the map, which was supposed to be in the welcome packet, was missing. Nancy, of course, sent me on a quest through the house to find it, while she sat down to do another puzzle.

Finally, I found the map and we got started back to town when Nancy realized that she had left her broken locket behind. Sometimes, as good as Nancy is at puzzles, I think she hasn't got a clue. :)

We returned to the bungalow, but as Nancy waited in the boat, I ran into another mystery. The locket was not in Nancy's suitcase.

So, I went back out to the boat and asked her, and she said (I'm sure you can imagine her saying this) "Silly Ned! I didn't say it was hidden in my suitcase; I said it was hidden in the STAIRCASE!" She laughed and laughed at me, but I ask you... who in their right mind puts a locket in a staircase? Isn't that the craziest thing you've ever heard?

Anyway, after digging the locket out from behind the staircase, we finally got back across the lake to the jeweler's. It was a strange little shop, with a picture of some weird looking twisted candles on the sign that said "OPEN." I think that's why Nancy wanted to go there... she likes odd things.

Anyway, as the jeweler was repairing the locket, he discovered that behind the picture of me was a mysterious image. Nancy thinks it might be a picture of her great grandmother on the Drew side, but she isn't certain.

Anyway, that was our first day, and now we're back here at Shadow Ranch (they have the oddest tradition of naming houses out here). That brings you up to date, but don't forget to come up next week for Nancy's surprise party. It is still a total secret, and I am counting on you two to keep it that way. Looking forward to seeing you then. I think Nancy will be very surprised.

Love,

Ned

---- puzzle ends here ----

You can check your answers for this puzzle on geochecker.com.

Note: My daughters Suzanne and Tonya actually wrote the above letter (pretending to be Ned). Each segment (short paragraph of 1-5 sentences) of the letter represents either a one-digit or a two-digit number.

When I did my Keep On Truckin strut out to place this cache, I thought that it was a little spooky (imaging zombies behind the tall bushes); so, hence the cache title. I felt that night caching for this one just might be a little too much (although this cache is doable at night, it just might be too frightening, especially to the young children). And, for me thinking geocaching should an inexpensive, fun family event, I thought it best not to feed the zombies any more brains; so, please try to do your caching before the twilight turns to night.

2015 Update: an asphalt path takes you most of the way (much easier than dredging through sand). Also: BEWARE: June, July, and August can be sweltering hot in southern Utah; always take water on daytime hikes.