"The Thomas Crapper Affair" Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

iluvguins: Will have to archive this cache as it has gone missing. Thanks to all of you who hunted for our cache.

John & Lynn

More
Hidden : 2/19/2003
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

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

Geocache Description:


*NOTE* This cache was placed with acknowledgement and full approval of the “Vancouver Parks and Recreation” Department. This park is closed 10:00PM to 5:00AM.

In this day and age with so many verifiable heroes worthy of honor and respect, we’ve decided to take a walk on the *lighter* side here to memorialize an individual (Thomas Crapper) and remind everyone (according to 'urban legend') of his invaluable contribution to mankind – the indoor flush toilet.

To figure out the *actual* final cache location, you will need to access and review the whimsical, narrative poem about the ‘Unsung Hero’, written by Dave Kneeshaw.


THOMAS CRAPPER ------------- UNSUNG HERO
1837 1919 BY DAVE KNEESHAW

THOMAS CRAPPER' THE PLUMMERS MENTOR
-AND HIS VALVELESS WATER WASTE PREVENTER;
BOON TO MANKIND' PAST AND PRESENT;
-HAS MADE OUR LIVING' FAR MORE PLEASANT.
BORN IN EIGHTEEN-THIRTY - SEVEN;
-APPRENTICE PLUMMER AT AGE ELEVEN.
BLESSINGS ON HIS BIRTHPLACE' THORNE'
-IN MERRY ENGLAND'WHERE HE WAS BORNE.
AN UNSUNG HERO' ALAS ! FORSOOTH !
-HE PERFECTED THE FLUSHER'AND THATS THE TRUTH.
SO' WHY THESE HUMBLE LINES OF VERSE ?
-WITHOUT HIM' LIFE WOULD BE MUCH WORSE.
TRULY AN ARTIST IN EVERY SENSE;
-HIS CONTRIBUTION WAS MOST IMMENSE.
BY HIS MERGER OF CHINA'AND PIPE'AND GROUT'
-THE WONDEROUS BIFFY WAS BROUGHT ABOUT.
MORE THAN A THRONE OF HUMBLE DUTY;
-CRAPPER MADE IT A THING OF BEAUTY.
ENSCONCED WITH DESIGN OF VARIOUS HUE;
-A TRULY REMARKABLE THING TO VIEW.
NO MORE TRIPS TO THE SHED' OUTSIDE;
-HOUSED INDOORS WITH POMP AND PRIDE.
NO MORE CLATTER BENEATH THE BED;
-ENSHRINED IN ITS OWN LITTLE ROOM INSTEAD.
NO LONGER A VESSEL OF VAST DISDAIN;
-A MARVELOUS CHAMBER OF CHINA AND CHAIN.
MY FRIENDS' WEVE COME A LONG'LONG WAY;
-THE' OUTDOOR PRIVY IS GONE TO STAY.
BUT' ALAS: POOR CRAPPER HAS LONG SINCE DIED.
-SO' SHED A TEAR' AND FLUSH WITH PRIDE.


Once you’ve read the poem, you’ll need to extract certain information as posed in the questions below to calculate (with simple math only) the true coordinates for the cache. And remember people, discretion here is KEY, PIVOTAL, CRUCIAL and as always, please trade fairly and put things back right for the next visitor. Good luck!


Since this cache has the tendency to get wet, do not place paper items, i.e., stickers or similar items in the cache as trade items.


BE AWARE: THE CACHE CAN BE ACCESSED WITHOUT REMOVING IT FROM ITS RESTING PLACE.


A = How many couplets are contained in the poem?
B = What four different items are mentioned in the construction of the toilet in the poem? (Total of all the letters in the four words.)
C = How many times does the word *of* appear in the poem? (Careful!)
D = At what age did Thomas become an apprentice plumber, according to the poem?

*Final cache coordinates are in the form of*
N 45 WW.XXX
W 122 YY.ZZZ

(A x 2) + 6 = WW
(B x 50) – 63 = XXX
(308 / 7) – C = YY
(1226 / 2) + D = ZZZ

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Vs lbh'er ernqvat guvf abj, lbh boivbhfyl arrq fbzr nqqvgvbany uryc va ybpngvat fnvq pnpur be lbh'er ybbxvat sbe gur rnfvrfg jnl bhg. Jungrire gur pnfr znl or, jr'yy tvir bhg bar pyhr bayl. Ohg nsgre nyy, jr vagraqrq guvf gb or zber punyyratvat, urapr gur qvssvphygl bs engvat bs guerr cyhf. Fb va xrrcvat jvgu bhe bevtvany vagragvba, gur urycshy uvag jr cebivqr jvyy abg or rapelcgrq hfvat gur fgnaqneq qrpelcgvba puneg. Abj fbzr zvtug guvax gung guvf sbegupbzvat pyhr vf hfryrff ohg gb qvihytr nalzber, jr zvtug nf jryy whfg gnxr crbcyr ol gur unaq naq yrnq gurz gb vg. Lbh'yy frr fbba rabhtu jura lbh svaq vg. Ndjg dqytrixkt xh xc EAPXC hxvwi, nti jcstg rdktg.

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)


Attributes

No attributes available

Advertising with Us

Inventory

There are no Trackables in this cache.

View past Trackables

What are Trackable Items?

Bookmark Lists

View all 14 bookmark lists...