Rara Avis Multi-Cache
pdx55: Final stage location has been removed.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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Multi-stage micro cache in honor of "The Maltese Falcon."
Well, sir, 2005 marks the 75th anniversary of the publication of
"The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett. This multi-stage cache
takes you to several sites related to the book and/or the 1941
movie. The total distance for all stages is about 2.4 miles.
You must gather specific information at each stage to determine the
coordinates where the actual cache is located. I've been generous
with coordinates and hints because it's difficult to get a decent
signal in some of these "canyons."
1. N 37° 47.413 W 122° 24.142
This was referred to as the "Commercial Building" in the movie. Sam
Spade and Miles Archer had their offices on the 5th floor. Step
inside the stunning lobby to get a flavor for the period.
D = The number of times the numbers in the building address
appear in the entryway.
2. N 37° 47.419 W 122° 24.452
Next stop is near "where Bush Street roofed Stockton before
slipping downhill to Chinatown." These coordinates mark the plaque
at the opening of an alley, where Bridgid O'Shaughnessy "done in"
Miles Archer.
C = The number of doors in the alley.
3. N 37° 47.231 W 122° 24.983
On to Spade's apartment, which was actually Hammett's apartment. It
was here that he wrote the Falcon. Spade and Hammett occupied the
flat in the corner of the top floor.
A = The third digit of the year the plaque was placed.
4. N 37° 47.225 W 122° 24.604
Now let's make a quick stop at the theater. Joel Cairo had an
orchestra ticket to this theater in his pocket when Spade emptied
the unconscious man's pockets and examined "his spoils."
B = The number of columns wrapped in fruit and veggies.
5. N 37° 47.131 W 122° 24.430
"He...asked the waiter to hurry his order of chops, baked potato,
and sliced tomatoes, ate hurriedly, and was smoking a cigarette
with his coffee when..." This restaurant was a favorite haunt of
Hammett's. You can still order the meal described in this passage
from the book. However, you won't even need to go inside to gather
the necessary information. If you do opt to enter this
establishment, be sure to go upstairs, where you can see a Maltese
Falcon statuette on display amongst some of Hammett's books.
F = The last digit of the day the plaque was placed at this
address.
6. N 37° 47.095 W 122° 24.418
Nearby, you will find another Falcon, and you won't have to buy
lunch to see it. This building has a mini museum in the public
lobby, including another Maltese Falcon statuette. Hammett worked
in this building when he was a Pinkerton detective.
E = 2 x the floor number of the elevator gates on display in
the lobby.
7. N 37° 47.ABC W 122° 24.DEF
You now have all the information you need to decipher the
coordinates of the cache. It's located less than a block away, but
look both ways before you cross the street. Checksum: A+B+C+D+E+F =
26.
This is a log-only micro, so please bring a pen. FTF prize is a
fresh Travel Bug tag for you to activate and send on a mission of
your choosing.
"I leave you the rara avis on the table as a little
memento."
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
1. Sbyybj gur Gevavgl
2. Guvf vf abg n "qevyy," vapyhqr NYY qbbef
4. Ybbx hc
6. Nsgre gur qryhtr
7. Evtug Nqiregvfre