Forgotten Gem of East Van Mystery Cache
layzee_bones: As I've confirmed each stage is currently missing and replacing will be a lot of work... Looking at the number of searchers/finders per year, it doesnt feel worth it to continue replacing containers once a year for all of 5 people to find before it goes missing and needs to be replaced again. Sadly as much as I really don't want to, as I loved this cache, locations and history... I am going to have to archive and free up some space for someone else to hopefully look into and possibly hide a cache in. I may revisit hiding a cache with these locations and history in the future, but at this time I can not continue maintaining what I built all of those years ago. Thanks to all of those who found this cache.
Forgotten Gem of East Van
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This cache is not located at the coordinates posted above. These coordinates are the starting point for a multi-stage cache. This cache will involve traveling a little more then 6km, but can all be easily done by transit. Read the Long description to get the clues.
When I moved to Vancouver years ago, I rode the bus past this monument on a daily basis. This monument always fascinated me and I kept it in the back of my mind to use as a location for a movie I planned to make some day. After getting into Geocaching I decided to do some research about the location and place a cache to educate others on this seemingly forgotten Gem of East Vancouver. Recently this monument has been in the news due to a Satan Statue that was erected here by an unknown artist. The statue has since been removed, but many want it to be replaced as a permanent art piece.
This cache will educate you on a bit of the original history of the monument. I hope you enjoy this spot as much as I do and help to CITO the area so it can be enjoyed by all passers-by!
On October 11th 1986, a bronze statue of Christopher Columbus as a boy was erected at a small Italian-style park on the city’s east side called Piazza Italia. This statue was erected to commemorate Angelo Branca which you will learn a bit about at Stage 1.
Stage 1 is at the above posted Coordinates. While not the monument this cache is about, it is a small hidden park nearby. Here you will find a small Lock n' Lock container with the coordinates to the monument, some History behind it as well as a roll of plastic bags. Please take one and do a CITO of the monument area when you arrive. I have special permission from the nearby mechanics to drop any garbage picked up around the monument into the bins directly behind it. Bonus points for posting a picture of you CITOing the area to your cache log. (please post a note if there are no bags so I can replenish them)
Stage 2:
At this abandoned monument site you will find the clues to lead you to where the statue was moved. Please help with a CITO of the area as this is such a nice monument, but it constantly is littered with garbage of passerby's and junkies.
Please Watch out for sharps. If you find a discarded syringe call the Needle Pick-up hotline and the 'Community Pick-up Van' will be there to recover and dispose of it safely. The hotline offers rapid needle recovery service 7 days a week, 19 hours a day, and the hours are from 7am until 2am.
The Needle Pick-up Hotline is: 604.657.6561
A= # of lights on surrounding structure (not including the 1 spot light)
BCD= 3 digit number on the sky-train line above the monument to the west
Solution A+B+C+D=18
Continue to N 49° 1A.04B W 123° 0D.CD0
Stage 3:
Now that you are at the statue you must examine it closely to find the next clues.
At the base of the bronze statue(north side), an inscription followed by a year is carved.
E = the 3rd # of that year.
F= # of letters in the name of the city that presented this statue to B.C. Minus 1 (#-1)
G = last # in the year that the voyage written about was completed.
Solution E+F+G=13
Continue to Final at N 49° 1E.1EF W 123° 0G.E3G
Congrats to Rough Draft for such a quick FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
F1: 4gu cbfg sebz gur Fbhgu raq.
Svany: Vs lbh frr n ovxr unatvat bhg gura lbh ner pybfr.