The lovely staff at Felixstowe Library (which is at the listed co-ordinates) let me place The Rigging outside their library, and have enjoyed the attention that it has received. I think that cacher spotting has become a bit of a sport amongst the staff! The head librarian said that she was interested in having a library based cache, but because of the proximity of The Rigging, placing a cache inside was not going to be possible.
However, there is nothing to stop us from setting questions inside the library, and sending you elsewhere! So thanks once again go to the Head Librarian for the assistance in pointing out what features within the library aren’t going to be changing any time soon.
Questions:
As you enter the library, turn to your right. On the wall in front of you is a photograph of the ends of lots of containers, a common sight at Felixstowe docks, and on the ships that pass by Felixstowe on the North Sea.
1) Ignore the top and bottom rows, as well as the first and last columns. Basically, you’re only going to count the containers that have not been cut off by the edges of the photograph. How many green containers are there? Answer = A.
Walk back past the main entrance, and on your left is a photo showing 7 beach huts (note, there is another photo showing the tops of 5 beach huts – this isn’t the one you’re looking for!)
2) As you look at the photo, how many beach huts are to the right of the dark blue one? Answer = B
Turn to your right, and you can see a balcony. Running along the balcony edge is a photo of tropical fish (none of which are really native to Felixstowe, but hey, it is a nice photo!)
3) How many fish are between the largest seahorse and the crab? Answer = C
Now go to the main checkout desk, and look to the right. There, you will see the lovely sculpture Seagulls by Paul Richardson. These seagulls are perched on a rigging, and it is for this sculpture that The Rigging cache is so named.
4) There are three columns of birds on this sculpture. How many columns contain five birds? Answer = D (clue – is it 0, 1, 2 or 3?)
You now need to go upstairs. There is a lift for wheelchair users or for those with buggies. Upstairs is the Book of Remembrance, which lists the names of those who lost their lives in the 1953 flood. Just above the book is a stained glass display showing views of Felixstowe. Incidentally, when I was researching this cache, I was surprised to discover that one of the artists behind this art was the father of an old school friend of mine! Anyway, questions 5 and 6 relate to this beautiful piece of art.
5) The picture is made up of 12 square images. Six of them are above “Felixstowe”, and six are below. Counting them from left to right, top to bottom, numbers 1 to 6 are above “Felixstowe”, and 7 to 12 are below. There are two images that show the structure Sealand. Number 9 shows one of them, which number shows the other? Answer = E
6) There are a few Martello towers along the coast of Felixstowe, but how many of them are in this stained glass picture? Answer = F
Final cache location is N51 57.ACE, E1 21.BDF
Cache is a magnetic tube, placed somewhere along the sea front with a lovely view of many of the things you will have seen in the photos and art at the library. Bring pen and tweezers! Also bring your invisibility cloak – at some times of the year, this place is RAMMED with tourists! Cache is available 24/7, but the first stage is subject to the library opening times. They are as follows:
Monday Closed
Tuesday 0900 – 1730
Wednesday 0900 – 1930
Thursday 0900 – 1730
Friday 0900 – 1930
Saturday 0900 – 1700
Sunday 1000 – 1600
During the holiday periods (Christmas, New Year, Easter and Bank Holidays), opening times are subject to change; a quick search online should give you the information you need. Failing that, they usually have the opening times on the door!
Note about Parking
First stage - There is a pay and display car park opposite the library. There is also limited free parking on Highfield Road, but do please pay attention to the parking restrictions!
If you don’t fancy walking to the cache, there are also parking points shown in the waypoint section below. I’ll leave it for you to work out which one is best for you! The ones near the Leisure Centre are Pay and Display, and the other shows one end of Undercliff Road East which has free street parking, running all the way down to Bath Hill.
Wheelchair and Pushchair access
This cache and the first stage is fully accessible to those in wheelchairs and those pushing buggies. Please note though that although there is ramped access all the way between the library and the final stage, one of these “ramps” will be a very steep hill! In which case you might want to consider parking at one of the suggested places (see above).
Also please note seasonal access - at certain times of the year (generally winter time), sea defenses are put in place blocking access from the prom. However, unless the weather is expected to be particularly bad, there will always be a way to get to it, so persistence is the key!