A SLO Up Alongside the 101
Sorry for adding to the silly SLO puns, but it's hard to resist when you're from out of town. This cache (the container and logbook at least) used to belong to the Second Hand SLO v.2 which was a great cache. To keep the memory of that cache intact, I decided to replace it in San Luis Obispo. And in November of 2002 I finally got around to doing just that. :~) Yay!
Onto the cache information:
This cache is a two step multi-cache. After visiting one site and finding some information, you'll solve for some missing values and construct the waypoint information for the second site. The first site is easy, but the second site isn't necessarily such a "drive-by" cache location, so be sure to wear some good shoes.
The basic premise rests on the geocacher solving for the groups of letters. For example, you'll have to do a bit of math to determine what "WW" is so that you'll have that portion of the coordinate. (For this section it might not hurt to have a calculator handy unless you have an inordinate amount of faith in your own internal calculator). Please note that if you get a final value that is a negative or one that is not compatible with numbers that would be enterable into your GPSR, then somewhere there is something that is amiss. If you have any problems, also feel free to e-mail me.
You will be solving the values for the following coordinate:
N 35° WW.XXX' W 120° YY.ZZZ'
The final cache is somewhere in the San Luis Obispo region, not too far from the first site, but it still wouldn't hurt to drive most of the way.
Onto the fun part now...
Site One:
Visit N 35°16.527' W 120°39.331' and check out some of the stuff in the area. You'll be looking for some guys that won't be going too far. It is right there within 20 feet or so that you'll find all of the information that you need.
Here is the data that you need to collect:
Let ''A'' equal the number of spikes in one specific pile. This is the pile of spikes or stakes that is located near the feet of one of the guys that is constantly working there and under the pile of spikes is two fastener flats (for lack of a better term). Keep in mind that you are counting the number of permanent spikes, there may be loose ones placed on the pile by people.
Let ''B'' equal the number of buttons that are buttoned on the man wearing the hat.
Let ''C'' equal the number of men immortalized at the site.
Let ''DDDD'' equal the number that is on the round red sign that is slightly elevated in the vicinity (there is also some yellow and white on the same sign).
And finally, let ''EEEE'' equal the ID number that is attached to the closest streetlamp that is located to the north of the men (it is attached to the pole in around the back of ''Lot A'' above the green stripe).
After you have gathered all of this information, all you need to do is math and then it's time to go for a short walk.
The Math:
It's really not as bad as it could be. ;~)
DDDD - (A * 313) = WW
(A * B * A) + (C * 10) + 1 = XXX
(EEEE / B) / C - 219 = YY
(EEEE / C) - (B * A * A) = ZZZ
Now just fill in the values, plug it into your GPSR and you're on your way! For your convienence:
N 35° _______ . ____________ '
W 120° _______ . ____________ '
Site Two:
Put on your walking shoes and go find it (possibly a wind jacket too)! Also, if you feel like it, take a camera and take your photo when you get to the final site.
Please do not post the coordinates to Site Two on the website in your log entries.
The final cache site is safe for older children (younger children may have a harder time making the hike), but it is possible to make it a family outing. Dogs are not allowed. Cache is not night-time accessible. Leave the cache better hidden than you found it! 3D Differential (WAAS) EPE was 8.0 feet with a Garmin GPS V.Enjoy.
Updated 2003 March 04: There were some errors in the cache's puzzle, but they seem to have been fixed. Let me know via e-mail if there are any additional problems. And sorry to those who were prematurely stumped by this cache.