(The cache is not at the listed coordinates.)
Your mission, Agent 7, should you choose to accept it, is to find the Main Street Dead Drop located in Platteville, Wisconsin. As always, should a muggle see you, HQ will not have any knowledge of your actions. This message will not self-destruct in 7 seconds.
Almost every agent has been through Platteville.
The discreet can slip through the public eye easily here.
Your name can join the growing library of clandestine talents.
Your mission: Find a top secret geocache.
Afterwards, retire from the biz and book a boat to sail the 7 seas.
The coordinates lead to a building that contains the Dead Drop, but to find the exact location, some questions need answers. This mission may take some time, planning and maybe more than one map.
The security system here is state-of-the-art, so HQ recommends going during business hours. No need to assemble an elite team, to hack any mainframe, or perform incredible aerobatics from the ceiling. Just walk in. Generally, the location is open at 10 AM everyday – except Sundays from September to May (1 PM-4 PM) – and closes by 7 PM (sooner on Fridays and Saturdays). Research and plan accordingly.
There are 15 letters to translate into ‘final coordinates’: ABCDEFGH.IJKL MNO
Once on location, a printout of this and/or paper and pencil could be helpful. Complete the ‘final coordinates’ from the following clues below. Again, nothing should self-destruct.
A ____ How many big letter A’s are outside facing south?
B ____ How many big letter B’s are outside facing south?
C ____ How many pillars are seen on the ground floor inside the building?
D ____ How many vowels are in the sidewalk’s bike rack?
E ____ How many exterior doors face north?
F ____ Find the yellow balcony on the 2nd floor. How many letters in the donor posted?
G ____ What’s the highest floor the elevator goes to?
H ____ How many orange-tinted glass panes are there?
INSERT DOT HERE
I ____ The 2nd floor tree with wooden leaves is for how many hundred friends?
J ____ How many bubblers are on the 2nd floor?
K ____ Find “Eggspert” on the 2nd floor. What do the last two digits on the plaque add up to?
L ____ What is the last number on the Community Room number sign?
M ____ What’s the first letter in word that describes the large amenity on east wall of the first floor?
N ____ What’s the first letter in large 7-letter word on main desk?
O ____ What’s the fifth letter in the word that best describes the building?
ABCDEFGH.IJKL MNO
Congratulations, Agent 7. You’ve read this far. If you have found all the answers, that means you have also completed simple reconnaissance work. Recon is an essential task in this line of activity, and since it’s all in the public’s eye, fitting in is just as important. We trust you have not drawn attention to yourself. Now, as for the clue, please remove the 7 smallest numbers. They’re the red herring. The ‘final coordinates’ should now have 8 characters. Use your skills and find the dead drop.
Agent Reminders
- Be as inconspicuous as you can in your search. This is your time to be incognito.
- Be quiet. Finding this can be exciting but contain yourself. Save your excitement for the debrief.
- There are always muggles and other agents lingering, so after your find, keep the container and its contents out of the view of all possible threats.
- Do not post anything online that may give away details. Some agents need this mission for their training. However, selfies with Eggspert are allowed.
- Please return it to its exact location. HQ depends on this. More agents will follow.
Permission has been granted to HQ by the agents in charge of this establishment. These brave agents of Platteville are the information professionals of our lives.
Congratulations to burlingtonrr and snowflake_57 to be the First To Find (an agent partnership!) on June 21, 2022.