Al Quacka Aviation Administration (ALQUAA) Mystery Cache

As Al Quacka Sleeper Cell Ducks fly between their various Al Quacka sites, they have had numerous, harrowing, near collisions with aircraft in their final approaches to Cherry Capital Airport. For that reason, Yermamma been Maudlin, leader of the Cell, is establishing the Al Quacka Aviation Administration (ALQUAA). The ALQUAA will provide navigation assistance to Al Quacka Ducks in this busy airspace.

As is evident from the map below, the Al Quacka Aviation Administration geocache is exactly at the intersection of the final approach pathway to Cherry Capital and the Duck Flyway between the Al Quacka Safehouse and the Al Quacka and the Titanic geocaches.

To locate this cache the finder will have to solve for the intersection of the lines formed by (1) the Al Quacka Safehouse (N 44 45.202, W 085 25.780) and Al Quacka and the Titanic (N 44 42.210, W 085 24.635) and (2) Final Approach (N 44 43.797, W 085 21.738) and Touchdown (N 44 44.413, W 085 33.918).

Any two points will define a straight line whose slope, m, can be determined by this calculation: (y₂-y₁)/(x₂-x₁) = m. In this case y = latitude and x = longitude.

The equation for a straight line can be determined by this formula: y - b = m(x - a) where a and b are the known respective x,y coordinates for one of the points on the line. The solution for the line derived from this equation appears in the form y = mx + b where b is the y intercept (where the line crosses the y axis).

Once the equations for the two lines are determined, then one solves for where these equations have the same solution to define where the lines intersect.

The coordinates at the top of this page are not for the cache itself but are for a convenient access point. Other approaches might get you onto private land This cache was fun to set up and hopefully will be fun to solve. Doubtless, the intersection of these lines can be very closely approximated using mapping software that many of us have with our GPS receivers (but that is too easy!). Feel free to email Whitard if you need some help in solving this.

Have fun!