Knotty Problem IV Traditional Cache
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Knotty Problem Caches
This cache is part of a series of five caches that provide the coordinates of a sixth. Each of the five represents a different knot, though strictly speaking not all are knots, some are actually “bends” used for joining two lengths of rope securely. However they all have one thing in common for a sailor in that they can all be tied and untied without a problem enabling the rope to be reused time and again.
Most sailors are avid fans of knot tying both for practical and ornamental purposes, and often love to pass these skills on to their crew. So, being sailors, the COs hope you will enjoy learning to tie some perhaps unfamiliar knots as you locate this series of caches. There is a classic book on knots known and loved by many sailors “The Ashley Book of Knots” and according to its author Clifford W Ashley;
“Sailors have an idomatic language of their own which provides about everything needed for a discussion of Knots. A splice is put in, a hitch is made fast, or taken, two ropes are bent together, a knot is put in, made, or cast in a rope. A sailor takes a turn he belays; he claps on a stopper, he slacks away, and casts off a line. He clears a tangle, he opens a jammed knot, and he works a Turk's-Head or a sinnet. But the only time he actually ties is when his voyage is over, he ties up to a wharf. The word tie is used so seldom by the sailor only because it is too general a term for daily use, where something specific is almost always called for. But when a sailor refers to the subject as a whole he always speaks of "tying knots" or "knot tying".
All these caches are placed in the desert, not a usual place to find a sailor being self-sufficient in the desert is much like being at sea in a small yacht so perhaps you too may find these knots useful. So bring along a couple of pieces of string so that you can learn to tie each of the knots in this series too.
The caches in this series are:
Knotty Problem I - GC48ZQH
Knotty Problem II - GC48ZQW
Knotty Problem III - GC48ZR1
Knotty Problem IV - this one
Knotty Problem V - GC48ZRE
And finally......A Knotty Problem Unravelled - GC48ZRM
To find the final cache, you will need to identify the knots each of the other caches represents, there is a picture tucked under each lid and one on the log book cover. In case you don’t recognise the knot immediately we’ve provided a few samples in each cache to take away but recommend you bring your own string to give them a try. Use the knot names to solve the puzzle cache A Knotty Problem Unravelled(GC48ZRM).
The cache container is a small round poly-jar in a sock – there is not much room for much more than the log and some knot samples so bring your own pen too.
As usual with desert caches you’ll need 4x4s to reach this one, do ensure you travel as a well equipped group and take plenty of water. We’d like to thank our ME4x4 friends for helping us to lay this series of caches, we had great fun on the drives to place them and hope everyone enjoys seeking them out in some of the UAE’s remarkable and unique countryside. And perhaps too you’ll find some new places to camp.
Happy Hunting!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oehfu ohfu
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures