The Ideal Family Letterbox
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Before attempting this letterbox, be sure you are familiar with waypoints and projections. This letterbox is NOT for beginners.
This letterbox hybrid cache will take you on a scenic stroll through Ideal Park. This letterbox begins at the posted coordinates, there is no cache to find at the posted location. From the beginning stage, you will need to follow the directions posted below. Fair warning, this is not a quick letterbox. Best case, on bike, it could take 30 minutes, on foot it probably takes close to an hour. You will need someone to take some notes as you move along. The last thing, before we get started, is that this letterbox is designed in such a way that prevents shortcutting to the final by relying on your note taking abilities. Oh, and WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING. Keep track of where you've been, and how you got there.
This is a family-friendly letterbox. There should be little to no bushwhacking. The container has been stocked with swag items for trade for the micros. Please trade fairly. Take one, leave one. Oh, and bug spray is likely needed. If you take a family pet, please be sure to keep it leashed and clean up after it. Doggie bags are available at the beginning of the instructions.
Here we go:
At the posted coordinates, look due east. You should see a sign (call this sign #1) let A be the number of words in sign #1. Let B be the number of basketball hoops you can see. Proceed down the path by taking approximately AB number of steps. Stop. Turn right. Walk forward while counting the planks on which you walk. After you've crossed, stop. If there were an even number of planks, turn right. If odd, turn left. (You will be leaving the path)
Take a number of average adult steps equal to three times the number of planks (# of planks * 3) in a generally straight direction. You should arrive at a location where there should be a sign (call this sign #2) in front of you, and possibly, slightly left. Approach this sign. It should have two words on it. Assign the last letter in the sign a numerical value equal to it's place in the alphabet (a=1...) Remember this letter and number.
Within a few feet, you should see something concrete with chains on it. Walk towards the chains, pass all of them, then stop. Looking forward, you should see a painted object right in front of you (call this object #1). What color is it? If yellow, turn around and walk 20 paces down the path. If green, proceed forward 20 paces forward. You will quickly come to a junction in the path. Turn right at this intersection and follow the path until you come to the next paved intersection and stop.
Looking straight out, and roughly 100 feet away you should see a sign (sign #3). If you aren't sure which sign it is, the sign has words and a picture on it. Walk straight to this sign. When you arrive at the sign, looking south, you should see another sign very similar to it. Walk directly to that sign. (sign #4)
Close to that sign is another painted concrete object (object #2) that is similar to object #1. Remember this color of this object(write it down), and proceed down the path. Not far down the path, you should come to a fork in the path. If the number you assigned to the letter from sign #2 was EVEN, veer left. If the number was ODD, veer right. Continue on this path, and ignore any smaller trails, paths, buildings, etc. You will be following this path for around 1000 feet (not exact).
Eventually you will come to a point where you must go left or right . If the color of object #2 was blue, veer left. If it was yellow, veer right. Take approximately the same number of steps you went earlier (planks *3). You should be close to, or maybe just past a sign (#5) (depending on your stride length), let C equal the number of letters in that sign. Once you pass the sign, you'll come to another junction in about 20 feet. At this junction, turn left if 'C' was odd, turn right if 'C' was even.
Moving forward, you will pass two yellow objects to your right off the path. As soon as you pass the second yellow object, turn right, and take 15 steps forward. Stop. Turn 90 degrees to the left. You should see something you should be able to count (they are yellow). Walk forward, and pass seven of these objects. Stop. Turn right and take 10-20 steps. You should see a 2-track right in front of you. Do not go on this path. Turn 90 degrees to the right, and look up and out. You should see something man-made and pretty tall a few hundred feet away. Head towards it. If there are more than one object that meet the description, head to the one closer to you.
As you approach the object, within 50 feet of the object you should see a sign (sign #6). Let D equal the number of words in this sign. Remember this number. Continue down the path until you come to the next junction. If 'D' was odd, take the left option. If 'D' was even, take the right option.
Follow this path until you see a tree with a decent sized hole off with reach of the path. Stop and ensure you can touch the tree from the path. If you can't, it's not the right tree. As you pass the tree, decide if a regulation basketball will completely fit in this hole. Remember your answer. Continue ahead until you see the next paved or gravel fork in the path. Ignore all dirt paths. At the fork, if your answer regarding the basketball was yes, veer right. If it was no, veer left.
Follow this path until you see a tree that has a lot of names and initials carved into it within arms reach of the path. Go another 75 adult paces and stop. Looking approximately 20-30° ahead and to your right, you should see a sign (sign #7) no more than 200 feet away. Approach this sign and stand directly behind it.
Once you arrive at this sign, stop and get your notes together.
From this point, make a projection based on the following:
How many times did you cross the river/creek?
3- 40'
4- 140'
5- 240'
6- 340'
7- 440'
What color was sign #5?
Yellow- 280°
Red- 260°
White- 240°
Green- 340°
Brown- 300°
At the correct projection, you will find what you seek hanging high and dry. At an incorrect projection, there's no telling what you'll find.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gehfg zr jura V gryy lbh vg jvyy or zhpu rnfvre gb npghnyyl sbyybj gur vafgehpgvbaf.