This cache involves a number of parts:
1) Solving a cryptic crossword based on street names in Pacific
Beach
2) Going to locations either dictated by intersections or GPS
waypoints, and noting certain features
3) Translating this information into the coordinates of the final
cache box
4) Hopefully learning some interesting things about the history of
PB
5) Having fun!
Here is the crossword: to solve it you'll need to think
laterally, and use basic rules of (British-style) cryptic crossword
solving. Have a look on the web for some hints if you need to. ALL
the answers are street names in PB (zip code 92109), so the clues
do not necessarily contain a definition to go with the cryptic
parts of the clues. It won't be necessary to solve every single
clue, but it might entertain you! Later I will be referring to the
answers to the clues, such as 9A for 9 across, 13D
for 13 down, etc.
The listed coordinates are for a convenient place to park to
begin the cache.
The final coordinates have the format (North)AB° CD.EFG,
(West)STU° VW.XYZ, and each location should give you one or more of
those letters to fill in and get the final cache coords. The cache
is hidden in a place which should give you a good view of much of
what you've seen in the process of solving the puzzle.
Location 1: N32° 48.290, W117° 13.418 U=____
This cottage was once the family music room of F.T. Scripps' home
known as the Braemar estate, at the bayside end of 11A,
where the Catamaran Hotel now stands. Add together the digits in
the phone number to get a 2 digit number. Add these two digits
together to get the value for U in the final cache coords.
Location 2: N32° 48.319, W117° 13.388 X=____
This historic marker commemorates one of the most famous PB
residents, who used to have a botanical nursery on this site. Add
together all the numbers on the plaque(s), and you should get a
total of over 8500: the last digit of the total is the value for X
in the final cache coords.
Location 3: N32° 48.329, W117° 13.389 C=____ W=____
This intermediate log-only location is currently inaccessible, so
I'll give you these numbers for free: C = 4, W = 4
Location 4: intersection of 5A and 9A
E=____
This facility is named after a famous local resident. Count the
letters on the front of the building, and add the two digits of the
number together. Subtract 1 from this number to get the value for E
in the final coords.
Location 5: N32° 48.294, W117° 13.858 A=____
What number along 22A is this pre-1915 house, once home to
the Richert family? Divide the last digit by the first digit: this
is the value for the letter A in the final coords.
Location 6: intersection of 13D and 10D
G=____
This house, on the northwest side of the intersection, was moved
from its original location (1620 18A) to the current
location in 1926 by its owner Victor Hinkle. How many pointed
windows are in the small tower of the house, facing south? This
value is the letter G in the final cache coords.
Location 7: N32° 48.046, W117° 15.002 Y=____
This house, built in 1914, was originally owned by the top salesman
for the Pacific Building Company, who built much of PB in the early
1900s. The third digit in the house number is the letter Y in the
final cache coords.
Location 8: intersection of 18D and 4D
S=____
This popular cafe has historic pictures of PB in its bathroom, so
if you feel like you need a rest, have a coffee and a look around!
When you're ready to go, there's a green object on the sidewalk
outside, with a 4 digit number on it. Add up the 4 digits, then
take away the first digit of the cafe's name to get the value of
the letter S in the final cache coords.
Location 9: N32° 47.824, W117° 15.114 F=____
This mural depicts the 12A and 18D junction in times
gone by. The original Dunaway pharmacy building across the street
still stands, as does the Crystal Pier at the end of 12A.
There's a roadsign in the painting: add up the digits in the number
of miles to Los Angeles to find the number for the letter F in the
final cache coords.
Location 10: N32° 47.739, W117° 14.476 Z=____
This is the oldest house left standing in Pacific Beach, and was
built in the 1860s - though not in its current location! It was
moved here in 1926. Add together the digits of the house number,
then add the digits of that total to get the number for the letter
Z in the final cache coords.
Location 11: N32° 48.017, W117° 14.343 D=____
There's been a Presbyterian Church here at the intersection of
12A and 1D for over 100 years - though this isn't the
original building, it has been "in service" since 1941. On the sign
at the front of the church it will tell you when the church was
founded here: multiply the first digit by the last digit to get the
letter D in the final coords.
Location 12: N32° 47.962, W117° 14.286 B=____
This building has been a community fixture since it was built in
1911. Add together the digits in the street number on 3D,
then sum the digits in that total to get the letter B for the final
cache coords.
Location 13: N32° 48.208, W117° 14.241 V=____ T=____
This condo complex, where I used to rent an apartment, occupies the
site which began life in 1888 as the San Diego College of Arts and
Letters, then in 1910 became the San Diego Army and Navy Academy.
After the Great Depression, the Army and Navy moved to Carlsbad and
it became the Brown Military Academy. In the early 1960s the
academy made way for a shopping plaza and later in the 1960s the
Plaza Condominiums opened their doors. The street addresses on
22A for some of the residents are marked on the walls here:
add up all the digits, to get a 2 digit number. Add these digits to
get another 2 digit number; the first digit is the letter V and the
second is the letter T in the final coords.
You should now have all the letters required to make up the
final cache coordinates!
AB° CD.EFG North
STU° VW.XYZ West
Click here to check your answer