Skip to content

B40 Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

Fluffy Bunnies: Too many missing containers. Maybe we'll resurrect this someday in another location.

Thanks to all who visited!

More
Hidden : 12/26/2016
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Related Web Page

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

Welcome to California Historic Landmark number 469, the Villa de Branciforte! This is a two-stage multi, with a short walk from the posted coordinates to the final stage.

You are looking for a camouflaged micro container. BYOP.


Branciforte was founded in 1797 and was the least successful of three secular (non-religious) pueblos founded by Mexico to help settle Alta California around the same time. You've probably heard of the other two, since in 2016 they are the largest city in California and the third-largest (by population). This one never quite made it to full pueblo status.

Maybe its fate was a reflection of who it was named for — the then-current Viceroy of Mexico Miguel de la Grúa Talamanca, first Marquis of Branciforte. He is noted for being one of the most corrupt and inept viceroys in the history of colonial Mexico. Apparently he used most of his political power working to enhance his own wealth and that of the corrupt prime minister of Spain, rather than trying to help the colony to prosper. He was removed from office after less than 4 years due to his incompetence and dishonesty.

This villa was started with a motley group of convicts who were unprepared and underfunded for creating a viable town. The town sputtered along for decades, frequently in conflict with the nearby Mission Santa Cruz, and many of Branciforte's residents left to find greater fortunes elsewhere. After Alta California was taken over by the United States in the late 1840s, the fizzled town of Branciforte was absorbed into the growing city of Santa Cruz.

Now this place is home to the Branciforte Small Schools Campus, where teachers are helping kids to become more competent and honest than the campus' namesake.

Now let's practice some elementary mathematics.

Find the blue sign above the front door of the large building. On the sign you can find the name of a unit of time and a 4-digit number. Convert that number and time unit into the equivalent number of days. Your result should be a 5-digit number.

Let ABCDE represent the digits of the number of days you calculated. The cache can be found at N 36 5(2*C).(E+B)CB W 122 0A.(D+A)BA.

checksum for all N digits: 37; for all W digits: 11

Happy caching!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

pnyphyngvba: lrne k nepuvgrpg uvqr: fvtacbfg hc

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)