Waterloo 1815 Multi-cache

The coordinates are those of the Lion Hill. The hill was erected between 1824 and 1826 at the place where the Prince of Orange was wounded during the battle of June 18th, 1815.

At the feet of the Lion Hill you'll find the "Centre du Visiteur" and the parkings, where you can leave your car. As you are there, maybe it's a good time to buy a guide of the battlefield at the shop. No, I am not related to the shop owners ;-)

In 1815, none of the buildings existed (and of course neither did the "Lion Hill"!), and the place you are now was near the centre of the allied lines, led by Wellington. The French were about 1200 meters to the south. If you go up the stairs of the Lion Hill (226 steps), you will have a good view of the battle scene.

At the entrance, outside the Centre du Visiteur building at N50 40.776 E4 24.352, find the following information:

• A: Number of European countries engaged in the battle
• B: (Number of men engaged in the battle / 100.000) * 2
• C: A + 1

Go to N50 40.DEF, E4 26.034 (a little chapel). Follow the paved road, which has nearly not changed since two centuries (except that it is... paved! In 1815, the only paved road around was the Brussels to Charleroi road). Looking at your right, you can imagine the French troops coming from the south, across the fields.
At the chapel, you have arrived at the extreme left side of the battlefield (seen from allied point of view), the Papelotte farm. From here, the road continues to Lasne, Wavre etc... This is how the Prussian troops arrived from Wavre on the battlefield late in the afternoon, forcing the defeat of Napoleon.
Write down the date you'll see on the frontispiece of the chapel (GHIJ).

• Alternate WP1: N50 40.CCB E4 25.(C-B)5B : here, you leave the paved road, and take the path on the left.
• Alternate WP2: N50 41.0C9 E4 25.CB3 : go to the right and follow the road to the chapel.

Take the unpaved road to N50 40.IJJ E4 2I.0H4, then to N50 40.I0J E4 2I.2H5. At the crossroads, take to your right. You are now at the extreme right wing of the French troops (seen from French point of view).

Calculate MNO = (ABC - DEF) * (KL - 1).

Continue NW to N50 40.MNO E4 23.DDH, where you are again on the allied front, right wing this time. The path follows the left side of the cavalry charges.

Here, you will find "NNN" and "EEE" to complete the final coordinates, to the cache, at N50° 40.NNN E4° 23.EEE.
To avoid any confusion: the values "NNN" and "EEE" are to be found here! They have nothing to do with the previous calculated "N" and "E" values!

Initital cache contents besides the usual logistics stuff:

• Some more or less kitch souvenirs from Waterloo
• Travel Bug 'The Eagle Flies Again!'

(From the cache, you can also go to visit the Hougoumont site at N50 40.265 E4 23.650. The French started a diversion on this farm in the early phases of the battle, but never managed to take it. When you look at the topology of the site, you understand how the battle could have changed if the French had succeed. Getting control on this site would have allowed Napoleon to take the Allied troops from behind. But you don't change history!)

If you do the walk as indicated, it will be about 8.5 km (checked track log in Ozi). If you elect to also do the extras to Plancenoit, l'Aigle Blessé and Hougoumont, it will be more like 10 km.

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