A Wheely Good Place for a Cache Mystery Cache
Lorgadh: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.
Regards
Karen
Lorgadh - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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A Wheely Good Place for a Cache
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Between April and November the opening hours are 9am-6.30pm (last admittance 6pm) and between November and March 9am to 5pm (last admittance 4.30pm). It's closed 25th & 26th of December and 1st & 2nd of January. Apologies to anyone who has been there (and anyone who has printed this off before the update and gone at a bad time, I should have checked before). I assumed people would be allowed into the area but maybe not into the visitors centre so all the clues were accessible from outside but you CANNOT get into the area outside opening times.
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The visitors centre of the Falkirk Wheel is at N56° 00.040’ W3° 50.530’. Actually that’s in the middle of the lower pond so unless you swim out or get on a boat you can’t get there but it doesn’t really matter!
The wheel itself is an amazing feat of engineering and information can readily be found by a quick search on the Internet. It doesn’t cost anything to come and gaze in awe but you can pay to go on a boat ride. Pre-book at busy times. There’s the ubiquitous café and souvenir shop to part with your hard earned cash at.
As this is a very public and busy place I’ve had to place the cache a bit away from the main area. If you work your way round and answer my clues you’ll see all the interesting stuff. None of the clues need you to go inside the visitors centre but you do need at least to look through the windows. It’s probably a good idea to bring a calculator.
Out front of the visitors centre how many disabled parking spaces are there? (Answer = AB)
On the wheel side of the visitors, reading through the window up high –
What was the cost of the project? (Answer = CD million pounds)
How long is the aqueduct? (Answer = EFG metres)
How many double dexter buses is it as high as? (Answer = H)
Up to how many boats can it carry? (Answer = I)
How wide is it? (Answer = JK metres)
How many bolts were used in its construction? (Answer LM is the highest prime factor of the number of bolts). The highest prime factor is the largest prime number that the original number can be divided by without leaving any remainders. Start by dividing by 2 and then try dividing by 2 again or by 3 and keep repeating until you’re left with the answer.
You can count the windows if you really must and if you feel up to it you can even try and count the ducks and seagulls on the pond!
From the visitors centre side of the lower pond take a walk around to the other side. The information plaques have ‘brass’ rubbing panels that would be fun for the kids.
How many lifebuoys are there around the lower pond? (Answer = N)
How many pairs of seats and stainless steel bins are there? (Answer = P)
Mosey on over to the play area and counts the chutes (including the spiral one) (Answer = Q). Go on, have a go I dare you! Then count the swings (Answer = R). Only traditional type swings count.
If you head on up round to the top of the aqueduct you’ll find a seat, I’m sure you won’t really need it but you could have a rest here. You are near the north portal of Roughcastle tunnel how long is it? (Answer = STU metres)
As you go through the tunnel start counting the number of yellow plastic disks at low level on the opposite side (Answer = VW)
Also note the number of lights in tunnel (Answer = X)
At the upper pond count the number of mooring points (Answer = YZ)
Right, enough numbers, the location of the cache is –
North QK° LM.(H x I x YZ)’West J° (VW/X)R.(AB + CD + EFG – N + P + STU)’
Good luck.
Make a note of the letters and numbers inside the box lid for future reference.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
YZ = Ab. bs obygf/Q/C/K
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