Skip to content

A Tale of Two Cities - Portland, Maine Multi-Cache

Hidden : 12/21/2025
Difficulty:
5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


   

** This is a 2-stage teamwork cache ** 

In order to find this cache you must obtain the final coordinates from GCBGHHJ in Oregon.
Please note the attributes.


This cache, "A Tale of Two Cities - Maine" is a teamwork cache partnered with "A Tale of Two Cities - Oregon" in Portland, Oregon. The Oregon cache was placed by lobotomy with the idea being thought of during an event lobotomy hosted while touring New England. Both caches consist of 1 physical stage and the final cache. In order to obtain the coordinates to the final cache, you must somehow obtain them from the first stage of the partner cache in Oregon. The team work comes into play as you help your partner find the Oregon cache, and your partner helps you find the Maine cache, without either of you traveling across the country.

Find a partner: You may obtain a partner by posting a Write note log on the Oregon cache page requesting a partner, from which someone will respond to you (or you can respond to a Oregon cacher posting on this page that they are looking for a partner).

Exchange information with your partner: Once you have a partner, exchange the information for the final coordinates that will lead you to the Maine cache and your partner to the Oregon cache.

Find the cache and sign the log: Once you find the cache in person and have provided your Oregon partner with the requested information, you may log online. Per Geocaching HQ guidelines: You may not post a Found it log on the Oregon cache page unless you have physically visited the Oregon cache and signed the logbook. Do not sign your partner's name in the Maine logbook. Your partner may not post a Found It log on the Maine cache page unless they have physically visted it and signed the log.


Despite being 2,536 miles apart, Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon have one glaring similarity, their name! In fact, Portland, Maine is the namesake for its west coast sister. Francis Pettygrove and Asa Lovejoy, the two founders of Portland, Oregon, each wanted the city named after their respective hometowns. Pettygrove was from Portland, Maine and Lovejoy hailed from Boston, Massachusetts.

They made a deal, whomever got the most heads in three flips get to name the city, then known as The Clearing. Pettygrove flipped and got two heads, leaving the city with a name it would forever have.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Qba'g srry ubyybj vs lbh pna'g svaq guvf bar

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)