Background and instructions:
This is the second in what will become a series of puzzle caches using the same format. If any of you are familiar with the quiz show, Only Connect, then you’ll instantly know what you have to do to solve this puzzle – the Connecting Walls round is always round three of the quiz. For those of you who aren’t, here’s the explanation:
The grid in the gallery contains 16 clues. You need to sort them into four groups of four connected items. Sounds easy? Well, it can be, but there are some ‘red herrings’ in there… clues which can fit into more than group. So, your task is to identify the themes of the four groups and the four clues which make up each group. Those groups will then be used to calculate the coordinates of the cache.
Feedback:
I hope you all enjoy this puzzle and I think I’ve got the difficulty rating about right. Any comments about the puzzle type itself and how hard you found it are appreciated. I make these grids up for work colleagues to get us through dull night shifts, so I can easily make more of them into puzzle caches!
The cache:
This cache is an 'other' type. It's a natural object which has been modified to contain a small tube holding the log. The difficulty of this puzzle cache is intended to be the puzzle itself, not the find, so it shouldn’t be a struggle to locate at GZ. Tree cover may cause issues with GPS accuracy but the clue should help out if that's the case.
You’ll need your own writing implement. No signature = no smiley! Please re-hide the container well with natural materials.
The cache is placed alongside a country lane. It's a relatively quiet road but please take care, especially with children and pets. Parking is available a short distance away (uphill from GZ).
The puzzle:
Once you have your four groups, calculate the values A to G as below:
- Count the number of letters in each group. The highest total is A, the second highest is B, the third highest C and the lowest total is D.
- E = The number of times the letter 'A' appears in the group with the highest total number of letters.
- F = The number of times the letter 'O' appears in the group with the second-highest total number of letters
- G = In the group with the lowest total, the number of clues that begin with a consonant.
Location:
N 50° E (C - D) . (A - B) F (E + G)
W 003° (A - G) . (A + E) (A - C - E)