I hope you enjoy this fun adventure! Stages one through six may be done in any order, but you may want to save stage seven until you have solved the final coordinates. You can try to skip ahead, but you may run into trouble taking shortcuts. Permission has been granted to place this cache, but please use stealth so it doesn't go missing. There are also several other geocaches to grab along the way. Please be careful crossing the streets. Okay, let's get started! You need to solve the final coordinates using: N39 30.ABC W104 45.DEF
Stage 1: Time Stones: This piece of art shares a history of Parker with stone panels. Take a minute to explore the different squares, and learn about our town's history. You will need to collect two pieces of information here. First, find the date that this piece was "Dedicated to the Spirit of Community". The two-digit day will equal X. Now, find the square that has a train on it. Count how many vertical support beams there are for the railroad bridge. This number will equal A.
Stage 2: Self Made Man: This sculpture was created by Bobbie K. Carlyle. You will gather two pieces of information at this stop as well. How many times does the information sign say the word "carving"? This will equal Y. If the Self Made Man is holding the hammer with his left hand, let D equal 6, but if he is holding the hammer with his right hand, let D equal 7.
Stage 3: Stagecoach: This is a very large sculpture, and makes me think of Wells Fargo every time I drive by it! We'll keep this one easy. Count how many people are in this piece. This number will equal Z. To solve for B, solve this equation: X - Z = B.
Stage 4: Patient Warrior: I have seen this animal flying in the area, although I admit, I haven't seen it often. You are also standing in the middle of a wagon wheel here (aerial view). What day of May was this sculpture dedicated? The second digit of this day will equal G. To solve for E, solve this equation: Y + G = E.
Stage 5: Twenty Mile House Monument: You can learn a lot about the Twenty Mile House at this petrified monument. There are two plaques on the south side of this monument. What is the first number on the top plaque? This number will equal H. There are eight lines on the top plaque, how many letters are in the 7th line? Let this equal P. There are twenty-three lines on the bottom plaque, how many words are in the 7th line? Let this equal Q. To solve for C, solve this equation: P - Q = C.
Stage 6: Nancy: This is a new sculpture in Parker celebrating the life of Nancy. How many letters are in Nancy's last name? Let this number equal F. What is the 3rd digit from her year of death? Let this number equal I.
Now all that you have left is Stage 7, and the FINAL!
Stage 7: Parker Depot Timetable: You are almost done. At this location, you just need to look up which TRACK the Denver & New Orleans RR Club meets at. This will be a three-digit number, and equal J.
FINAL: Once you find the final container (not a real estate box or letterbox, there is a geocaching logo on the cache), you will notice that there is a lock. But what is the combination???
Both the north and south side of this caboose tell you the month, and year that it was built. It is designated under "BLT" as a three digit number (month/year). Find this three digit code, and let this equal K. Now check out the east and west sides of the train. You are allowed to go up the stairs and look around. Peek in the windows and find a Rio Grande calendar hanging on the wall. Nice arch! What year is this calendar? The last two digits of the calendar's year will equal L.
Did you go to all the stops? Did you take good notes? Time for some math! YAY!
To open the cache, here is your equation:
The combination is: ( J + K + X ) - ( L + Z + I ) + ( G * Y + H )
I hope you had fun, feel free to explore this caboose more. As the signs say, "Proceed At Your Own Risk", but you do have permission to explore. If you wish to tour the inside, stage seven will tell you what you need to know for that to happen. Very friendly group, and thanks to the owner who allowed me to place this cache.
Please share non-spoiler photos, thanks!
First to Find: YummyTaco
(there is a nano FTF geocoin for the winner)