Oh the heavy water how it enfolds
The salt, the spray, the gorgeous undertow
This is a multi-stage cache in four parts. The first two are virtual stages with four clues to solve in each. These provide the coordinates for Part 3 which is a physical stage. In turn, this provides the final coordinates for Part 4.
This will not be a "quick find" and will require at least an hour to complete, possibly more.
And I hope you enjoy it.
Part 1: the sea:
Always, always, always the sea
Start at the listed coordinates. These place you at Orford Quay. The river Ore (or is it the Alde - it all gets a bit confusing in these parts) separates you from Orford Ness and the sea beyond. Don't worry, you don't need to go there today - although I can tell you it's well worth the trip if you ever get the chance.
You need to find four answers at this point.
Waypoint 1: the quay - N52 05.448 E001 32.368: (the published coordinates)
For 7H years men and women crossed the river here
Waypoint 2: the quay - N52 05.463 E001 32.337:
If you don't know about the history of Orford Ness the window displays here are worth a look.
The quay was redeveloped in 200G
Now you'll need to take a walk. You could walk through town or head west along the foreshore and take a footpath at N52 05.353 E001 32.174 (the trailhead listed below). If it's dry underfoot I'd recommend the footpath.
Waypoint 3: a chimney - N52 05.577 E001 31.975:
The chimney of the large house opposite the Methodist chapel has a date on it.
The last digit in the date on the chimney is D
Waypoint 4: a pump - N52 05.624 E001 32.064:
Head east and then turn left to walk up Baker's Lane (opposite White Cottage).
There are some cottages along the lane. You'll find an old pump on the boundary between two of them.
The pump is between cottages E and J (E is the lower number)
Part 2: the town:
And we'll swim from these island shores
There are four more waypoints to find in and around the town square:
Waypoint 5: a sign - N52 05.675 E001 32.013:
Find Dolphin House. Next to it you'll find SV.
SV is B6 FT. away
Waypoint 6: a plaque - N52 05.666 E001 31.963:
On the side of the hotel is a blue plaque.
The last digit of the date on the blue plaque is C
Waypoint 7: the beacon - N52 05.661 E001 31.916:
Head towards the castle and find the beacon on the right. A beacon was lit here to warn of the Spanish Armada and there used to be a plaque on the upright commemorating that.
On the green in front of the beacon, the number of trees with plaques in front of them is F
Waypoint 8: a cottage - N52 05.705 E001 31.980:
Head back into the town square and along Pump Street.
Five of the six cottages here are named after seafood. The number of letters in the name of the seafood that the most northerly cottage is named for is A (just the seafood - not any other words in the name)
Part 3: the land
We will go wandering
In the wilderness
Once you have all nine numbers you need (A to J) you can head off to find the physical stage. This is a micro cache hidden along the route to the final cache. It contains the coordinates for the final cache.
The coordinates for the physical stage are N52 0A.BCD E001 EF.GHJ.
You can check these using the certitude checker
The checker provides a suggested route and a waypoint to help get you started. This really is the best route to take - and I think it's well worth the walk.
You're looking for a physical container now. This will reveal the coordinates of the final cache.
Part 4: beyond
And when we find it
I'll keep on wondering
The physical stage will provide you with the final coordinates for the cache and a suitable hint.
The cache itself is a true regular container hidden away in a fairly obvious spot. Although there may be mud there shouldn't be any need to scrabble around in too many thorns or nettles to find it.
I hope you enjoyed the walk. Take some time to enjoy the land. And beyond.
No we're not going home
Going to the land beyond