Skip to content

Ravalli Burma-Shave #3 Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

MrGrubstake: Time to say Bye bye to this one - I need to cut down on my Bitterroot Valley caches now that I am in Missoula - that and I found at least one "tag" is now missing! Thanks to all who had fun with this one!

More
Hidden : 11/8/2004
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Related Web Page

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

Geocache Description:

Do you remember the Burma-Shave signs that used to dot our country from 1925 up to 1964? Whether or not you do, this cache will give you just a taste of the fun us “mature” people had as we traveled the highways of America in that era. Burma-Shave was a “brushless” shaving cream but a large number of the verses had nothing to do with shaving at all.

The cache is NOT at the above coordinates - read on!

Burma-Shave signs always (with a few exceptions) consisted of six signs spaced along the highway. Each sign had only part of the message such that as you progressed along you got the entire message one sign at a time. The last sign always (with one exception) had the Burma-Shave logo. Most of us remember them as bright red with white lettering (but there were some exceptions to that also). For example:

Proper / Distance / To him was bunk / They pulled him out / Of some guy's trunk / Burma-Shave

Got the idea? OK, here is what this cache is about. The above cords are not where the cache is. It is near a trail head near an interesting small town with an interesting history. You do not have to do them in the correct order. The next five signs are located at:

#1 N 46*18.656 W 114*13.101

#2 N 46*30.793 W 114*05.527

#3 N 46*15.916 W 114*08.104

#4 N 46*25.030 W 114*08.804

#5 N 46*12.868 W 114*09.305

At each of those five locations you will find a small "tag" on, or attached to, or tucked into some permanent object. On that tag are the word(s) of that sign and two letter/number equivalents. When you have found all five signs and found the values of all ten letters (A through J) you will then be able to put those values into the formula below for the last or “Burma-Shave” sign. It is a regular cache – an “ammo can”.

There are many trade goodies including, as a first finder prize, a copy of “verse by the side of the road”. That book is the history of Burma-Shave with all the verses used through the years. Please be sure to sign the logbook.

I hope you enjoy this variation on geocaching. I got this idea from a series of “Burma-Shave” caches in Utah but there are many others around the country. This is my third “Ravalli Burma-Shave” cache.

If this cache has a “theme” it would be “memorabilia” but any trade items will work. I do try to keep it “stocked” with my “signature” ball point pens and plenty of copies of “Let The Little Shavers Grow” which is a one page epistle on the Burma-Shave signs of yore. You are welcome to take a copy. You may find some other papers of the “memorabilia” theme.

As always, try to be discrete as you search so as not to attract attention - especially the cache - and be sure to replace it so that it is well hidden. Enjoy.

N 4H* A(D-J).FHF W 11G* IE.(J-B)IE

Winter note - The “signs” are all located such that some snow should not be too much of a problem. The final Burma-shave ammo can is on the ground but located such that it could also be found with snow. I would put the winter difficulty at 3

Note: There is a letterbox cache quite close to this cache - do not confuse them and be sure to leave the letterbox cache well covered also!

Note: You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)