A picture of the letter is in the gallery or below: just click on "Letter."
Once you've read the letter:
Of course, I was happy to oblige. I'm always looking for opportunities to place new caches, and if the work is already done for me, that's great! The only problem was, there were no steps for the multi-cache.
Fast forward to this morning: I received an email (HOW did a squirrel know my e-mail address?) from the same squirrel. Here is what it said (I have corrected some of the spelling mistakes):
"Dear Trouva-Whatzit,
I apologize for my absent-mindedness. As you may have noticed, I forgot to include the directions to get to the catch. Here they are:
Start at N 45˚ 21.527, W 075˚ 44.996 [I've included this as the starting point for the published geocache.]
Once there, face east and you'll see a sign with 4 digits on it, among other things. Call the first digit A, the second B, the third C, and the fourth D.
Coordinates for Waypoint 2: N 45˚ 2A.B3B, W 075˚ 4C.444
Now, face northwest and, within 10 metres of you, you'll see a City of Ottawa sign with a simple picture on it, among other things. Let the number of letters in the name of the thing depicted = E. Also, let the last 5 digits on the sign = FGHIJ.
Coordinates for Waypoint 3: N 45˚ 2A.F9C, W 075˚ 4H.CBI
You can see a couple signs from here, but the only one that matters is the one within 15 metres of you. The sign and the post holding it up are mainly a certain colour. Let K = the number of letters in the colour's name. OK, now stand back at the coordinates for Waypoint 3, and look at the sign. If youo are facing south, let L = 8. If you are facing north, let L = 9.
Coordinates for Waypoint 4: N 45˚ 2A.BK8, W 075˚ 4K.A1B
You've gone this far, you might as well keep going. You are at the northeast corner of a building. On the corner, facing east, are two signs. Let M = how many letters are in the acronym that is in both signs.
Coordinates for Waypoint 5: N 45˚ 2F.AJM, W 075˚ 4K.GMA
Take a drink of water (because there's no place to get an Iced Mocha Latte right around here) and watch the traffic for a bit. Now look south from here (and up a bit) and you'll see a wordless sign with green, red, black and white on it. Let N = how many ways trucks are NOT allowed to go.
Coordinates for Waypoint 6: N 45˚ 2N.IG7, W 075˚ 4C.B7B
ARE YOU GETTING TIRED YET???? If the answer is yes, I can safely say squirrels have WAY longer stamina than you do. Anyway, you're at an NCC sign. Look at the side facing north-east. Pinecrest Creek is 1 point something km away. Let P = that something.
Coordinates for Waypoint 7: N 45˚ 21.K8D, W 075˚ 45.GNC
So is your pencil running out yet? If it is, that's ok because this is the last time you'll be using it. (I stuck a pencil in the catch.) Look north at the small shelter with a picnic table under it. How many posts hold it up? Let that number equal R.
Coordinates for the FINAL CATCH!: N 45˚ 2(R-7).(L)(D)(P x 3), W 075˚ 45.(R-8)(P)(F x G - F)
Here are some tips:
-Again, get to the final catch from the south. Not the north, east, or west, but the south.
-I don't know how to use that silly geo checker, but what I can tell you is that the last number in the north coordinates is 7 more than the last number in the west coordinates.
-Use stealth at all times of day.
-Due to my built-in mathematical knowledge, I can tell you that if you bike this multicache (and that is certainly the best way to do it), it will take you about 75 minutes including stops to write things down.
-Borg