Skip to content

Dodder Valley Linear Park #1 Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

GoldCircle: I never understood why this cache in particular attracted so many DNFs. It's a really simple hide, well camouflaged... perhaps that was the problem? People just wanted it handed to them?

Well, the replacement cache GC81MFA will provide no trouble in the finding and almost total trouble in the retrieving! 🤬

Thanks to everyone who came to find this cache.

GoldCircle

More
Hidden : 2/1/2013
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

This is the first in the Dodder Valley Linear park series, a nice easy one to start with which should only take about 10 minutes. You will have to gather information at two proximate spots to calculate the final coordinates. The cache is in, let's say, an unusual container.

Congratulations to Gerpod1 on being FTF!!!



Image Bar


The River Dodder


The Dodder rises on the northern slopes of Kippure in Co. Wicklow, as Allison’s Brook, and is joined by several local streams. Along the river valley at Glenasmole are the two Bohernabreena Reservoirs, which form a major component of Dublin’s fresh water supply system. The Dodder runs for 26km passing onwards from Tallaght to Firhouse/Templeogue where this cache series is located and then onwards to Rathfarnham, Rathgar, Milltown, Clonskeagh, Donnybrook, and Ballsbridge, and enters the River Liffey, along with the Grand Canal, at Grand Canal Dock. There are a number of tributaries draining into the River Dodder with the significant ones being the Tallaght Stream, the Owendoher, the Whitechurch, the Little Dargle and the Dundrum Slang.

The Dodder Valley Linear Park


Dodder Valley Park is a suburban linear park in Dublin, consisting of over a hundred hectares of fragmented parkland and remnant countryside in South Co. Dublin. In addition to its wildlife conservation value and mixed woodland settings, the park offers fishing and assorted sporting amenities, and offers a retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and is a favourite with runners.

The River Dodder provides the focus for this beautiful park which extends 6km, from Old Bawn Bridge in Tallaght to Bushey Park in Rathfarnham.

The Lands of Cherry Tree


Though now part of a SDCC linear park, these lands were once part of a fine country farmstead and orchard known simply as Cherry Tree; the orchard is clearly visible in Roque's 1760 Map of Dublin and now sits under the council composting area near the carpark. Cherry Tree was a house of note, as the Templeogue Ballad, one of two local gazettes following the 'gay antics' of Dublin's aristocracy as they took the waters at the nearby Spawell, was produced here in the 1730s. Cherry Tree was demolished in the late 18th Century - more of which will be revealed in Cache #2 of the series.



Stage 1 - Northern Coordinates


The starting coordinates N 53° 17.488 W 006° 18.970 bring you to a carpark on the Spawell Link Rd. in Templeogue and there are some questions to answer here. Inside the carpark, at the entrance to the park itself, is a service gate with a plaque on either side.

Look at the plaque on the right hand side of the service gate.
A = The number of letters are in the last line of the plaque
B = The total number of instances of the letter 'D' on the plaque inscription

To the left of the service gate is a small pedestrian swing-gate.
C = The number bars inside the frame of the pedestrian swinging gate, minus three.


  A B C
N53 17.      


Stage 2 - Western Coordinates


Stage 2 is just behind you, across the road at: N 53° 17.500 W 006° 18.930.
Be careful crossing this road - it's wider than it might at first appear and motorists tend to exceed the speed limit here!

Not too far, eh? Don't worry, you'll get a stretch of the legs soon enough. At this location you will see something to assist you gather the western coordinates for this cache.

D = Two thirds of the sum of the digits on the sign
E = The number of letters in the sixth word (ignore the road number)
F = The number of words in the English placenames


  D E F
W006 18.      


The Cache


First off, you need to bring your own pen.

Now you have your coordinates, you just need to stretch your legs a little. You can walk a straight line following your GPS, but be aware this may well send you along a minor debris field caused by the neighbours. For families with smaller kids, it might be simpler to turn around and walk parallel to the fence towards the river and then turn right along the pathway.

The container is an unusual object for a cache. It will fit in the palm of your hand when you locate it, though you would never normally think to put it there. Difficulty is 2.5. The hint itself is very explicit, so try without it first and see how you do. If you use the hint, the difficulty falls to 1.


When I replaced the cache, I forgot to enter the bonus number - it is 18 !!!

Flag Counter

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fgrc gubhtu gur boivbhf tnc. Whfg oruvaq jnyy, ybj haqre nathyne snyyra gerr gehax.

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)