Estimated time to complete: 45 min
Estimated distance to travel: 2km
**UPDATE FEB 2023** A gate now blocks direct access to the second half of this Wherigo. There are alternative routes which will add 30min walking time. The gate is the subject of a Council investigation.
This cache was nominated in the 2017 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards (Best 'Other' Cache).
This Wherigo cache is a tribute to Lynne Kelly's fascinating book of the same name. You will learn and apply some of her memory techniques as you solve this cache.
World memory champions can memorise the order of a deck of cards by using the "method of loci". They imagine vibrant scenarios that link each card to a familiar sequence of physical objects (a walk through their house, for example).
Ancient cultures were the original users of such a system. For example, the songlines of the Australian Aborigines consist of sequences of sacred sites. Initiated tribe members are able to recall vast amounts of knowledge with the aid of the songs, rituals and rock art that are associated with each site. As tribes throughout the world became established in particular places, "knowledge palaces" were also built to contain such memory aids within a single location. Stonehenge, the statues of Easter Island and the giant line drawings of Peru are examples of these.
What is a Wherigo cache?
If you're not sure what a Wherigo cache is please don't be put off by the fact that this isn't a traditional geocache. They can offer a variety of experiences. This one is really just a multi-cache with an interactive guide along the way. Hopefully it is quite easy to use and a fun way to find a cache.
Setting up the Wherigo
To get the interactive guide effect you run the instructions (called a "cartridge" after the old-style video games) using a Wherigo player app (available for iOS or Android). Once the app is installed, download The Memory Code cartridge (choosing the Pocket PC version). You'll get a window asking if you want to open in the Wherigo player, which you should do, and then "The Memory Code" should appear in your list of cartridges ready play.
What is involved in completing this mission?
In completing this Wherigo you will apply the "method of loci" to memorise the first 22 countries of the world in population order. To do this, you will visit 22 locations, starting at Mitcham Railway Station and covering around 2km by the time you return to the starting point. This knowledge will allow you to reveal the final geocache coordinates. It will probably take around 45 minutes all up.
Cache container
You are looking for a 2 L sistema container.
Further information
You may also like to investigate The Standing Stones of Forest Hill nearby and decode their meaning.
Credits
This Wherigo was created with a Mac using the online Wherigo\\kit application at https://kit.wherigofoundation.com/
***CONGRATULATIONS to ahomburg and spladem on the joint FTF***