The cache is not at the given coordinates, but is a short walk away. To find the coordinates, you must crack the code written below! I advise you to break the code before heading out to look for the cache.
Kirkby Lonsdale is a pleasant market town with many shops ranging from the Booths supermarket, to a bakery, cheesemongers and a fantastic shop called Taylors which sells outdoor gear, including things such as ammo boxes (it is a cache hider’s paradise!). There are many other caches in the town, all of which are worth the search. As well as caches, places such as Devil’s Bridge and Ruskin’s view are certain local attractions to visit!
The word “cryptography” comes from the Greek “hidden writing”. In the Ancient times, basic monoalphabetic ciphers were used. These were easily cracked using cryptographic techniques such as frequency analysis and the use of cribs (known phrases in the encrypted text). The first polyalphabetic cipher was created around 1467 and since then, especially in now with the aid of computers, many people have succeeded in creating stronger and stronger codes in order to send messages and in modern times to also encrypt digital information.
Onto the cache! For this cache, I have encrypted the following with a simple, monoalphabetic cipher – the Affine Cipher. This method of encryption takes each letter and assigns it a numerical equivalent (i.e. A=0, B=1, etc.). The number of the letter being encrypted is then multiplied by a predetermined value (this is the same throughout the text!) and another predetermined number is added on this value. The resulting (generally large) number is then divided by 26 (number of letters in the alphabet) and the remainder is left as a number between 0 and 25. This final digit can then be converted back using the original letter/number equivalent.
For example, if I had a multiplier of 5, and an addition of 6:
CIPHER = 2, 8, 15, 7, 4, 17.
Multiple: 10, 40, 75, 35, 20, 85
Addition: 16, 46, 81, 41, 26, 91
Remainder after division: 16, 20, 3, 15, 0, 13
Encrypted text: QUDPAN
Of course, decryption is a harder process than encryption (if solved mathematically)...but that’s up to you to do! To throw a spanner in the works, for the actual cache coordinates I am not telling you the encryption. There are a couple of cribs in the encrypted text which you should be easily able to spot!
OIN ZLZIN PH KFZLONG LO OIN ZFFAGPYLONH: YFAOI UPUOX UFVA, OJNKCN.FYN HNCNY OIANN JNHO ENAF ENAF OJF, OIPAOXUPCN. UPCN OJF OJF.
As a checksum, ALL of the numbers in the coordinates should add up to give 42 (if you treat each digit as a single number between 0 and 9). The coordinates should put you in a position to find the cache. However, due to tree cover they could be slightly out... the clue will put you in the correct spot though! The cache is a small pot with only enough room for the log. Therefore, please bring your own pencil! I hope you enjoy this code – good luck!
As with all caches, retrieving this cache is at your own risk, and by searching for it you assume all responsibility for yourself.
