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Arrojo de Sijuela - Human bats at work Traditional Cache

Hidden : 9/14/2016
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Walk over an ancient road to a cave where "human bats" perform their wondrous quest against gravity...

 

 


When you walk to this cache you will have to either walk a pretty long way down the gravel road before you get to the gate where the actual hiking path starts or you are more adventurous and drive your car further down (you will then obviously have no fear of possible damage to your vehicle...). Parking down there itself will be the first little adventure. Seriously, rather take the hike!

Once you have reached the gate with the sign "Camino No. 4 del Tajo del Abanico" next to it you're on your way. You will walk along still intact parts of an ancient Roman road that had been built maybe nearly 2 millenia ago! For more info I recommend a visit to the museum in Ronda, I'm pretty sure they will know more about it!

Along the way you will pass an astronomical observation point. I didn't want to make it a night cache for that reason alone however...

Geologically this valley is fascinating, it seems to be at a divide between different submersion zones. To your left you will see lime stone and soft rocks with gazillions of layers. To your right the layers are of different coulours and seem to be a lot harder but in addition they are aligned in a different direction, nearly 45° off compared to the ones on your left!

Once you get closer to the co-ordinates of the cache you will see a hollow cave, seemingly carved out by a gigantic ice cream scoop. It is located directly opposite a very high and more than vertical overhanging rock formation darting out into a sharp turn toward the left, at the bottom of that turn is a creek that is dry in the summer but should have water in winter. You will have to cross that creek before you actually get to the cave. Shouldn't be a problem however.

This cave or rather "hole" (quite a big hole however) in the wall is the home of the cache. In this cave you will see hooks and ropes attached to the ceiling as well as a long rope and hooks on the high rising wall opposite of the cave. That's where the 'human bats' try to climb the walls by defeating gravity and using skill and strength to to their tricks. The only thing they can't do for sure is flying...Maybe the "El Capitan" of Europe?

If you look right you will see aother cave, a more proper one. Look at the top of the large rock in front of its entry: there's a petrified owl guarding it! (well, with a little bit of fantasy at least...).

The cache can be retrieved with a little bit of skill, however: DO NOT STEP ON PLANTS INSIDE THE CAVE! DO NOT DAMAGE ANY STALAGMITES (they do not necessarily have the 'normal appearance of a stalagmite but they're easily visible as such!)!

And last but absolutely not least: DO NOT TRY TO RETRIEVE THE CACHE WHEN THE CAVE SURFACES ARE WET AND THEREFORE SLIPPERY! THERE IS A RISK OF INJURY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS! 

My good friends leave nearby and whenever I visit them I will try to maintain the cache. They will do their best to help me achieve it. Please hide it the way you found it so that the human bats will not discover it!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gur pnpur vf uvqqra uvtu hc gbjneq gur erne bs gur pnir, fyvtugyl evtug bs vgf prager. Vg'f vafvqr n ubyybj yvggyr ebpx sbezngvba (n fgnyntzvgr) gung vf uvtu rabhtu gb fvg ba vg. Vg'f cerggl zhpu ng gur irel onpx bs gur pnir, lbh pna'g pyvzo/tb nal uvture jvgubhg ong fxvyyf... Gur cubgb "Gur pnir fbhgu bs Ebaqn" hcybnqrq ba 12 Bpg 16 fubjf n yvggyr thl fvggvat rknpgyl ba guvf ebpx.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)