PLEASE NOTE: to avoid disappointment, we recommend you solve the first part of this puzzle before heading out to do the Adventure Labs as this part of the puzzle needs some time and research to complete which might be tricky 'in the field'.
This is the bonus cache to accompany our Adventure Lab series of the same name and is based on the book called Masquerade. Masquerade was published in 1979 and is a beautifully illustrated book containing hidden clues which once solved gave the location of a hidden treasure in the form of a golden hare with inset jewels crafted by the book's author, Kit Williams. After hundreds of thousands of copies were sold and many failed attempts, the hare was eventually found in 1982 in Ampthill Park. It was hidden where the shadow of the tip of the Catherine of Aragon monument marked the ground at noon on the day of the vernal or autumnal equinox!
This cache is NOT at the listed location - To obtain coordinates for this cache you need to complete two stages.
Stage One
In the spirit of the Masquerade book, you need to extract information from the picture below. Once you have succeeded you will have assigned a single digit number to each of the six animals in the picture. Make a note of these for stage two!
Stage one checker: If you wish to check your answers for stage one then enter these FAKE coordinates N 00°00.(Dog)(Sheep)(Horse) W 000°00.(Cat)(Cow)(Hare) into the checker via this geochecker link.
Stage Two
Complete all 5 stages of the Adventure Lab called 'Masquerade At Ampthill'. When you complete the 5th stage you will be given the key for translating the animal numbers from stage one into the coordinates for this cache.
To complete the adventure lab series you will need to use the Adventure Lab App on a phone and visit the 5 stages answering questions. Use your phone's native QR code scanner to open this adventure in the Adventure Lab mobile app, or visit the following URL: https://labs.geocaching.com/goto/masquerade
Once the trail is completed, in the app, select "View Journal Entries" and scroll to the final (5th) entry to receive the solution for this puzzle.
The container is a small container with enough space for trackables and swaps.
Parking
There are two suggested parking waypoints given which can be used for both this puzzle cache and for the adventure lab series. These are public car parks for the Ampthill Park.
Getting To Stage One Of The Adventure Lab
From Ampthill Park you can walk to stage one of the adventure lab. The most scenic route is across the heathland of Coopers Hill (aka 'The Firs') and up Station Road (and there is GC3HNYP along the way). Or you can take a street walk collecting a few of the Ampthill caches as you go.
While You Are Here...
While you are in Ampthill park the original Masquerade cache is highly recommend - GCBF82
Cache placed with the kind permission of Ampthill Town Council.