First Down Mystery Cache
Professor Xavier: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it. Please note that as this cache has now been archived by a reviewer or HQ staff it cannot be unarchived.
You can read more about that here - (click link)
Regards
Ed
Professor Xavier - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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2-3 km walk around a beautiful area of North Staffs
PLEASE NOTE - Puzzle has changed - go to !!! For the current puzzle.
Downs Banks is a National Trust property that is very popular with locals – dog walkers, runners, ramblers and people who just want to be in the countryside. You can read about recent developments on the notices when you go there and enjoy this lovely part of North Staffordshire. In seeking, and hopefully, finding the cache you should have a nice walk around the much of the area, but there are benches if you want to bring a picnic and spend longer here.
The final cache is in a small, plastic food container with a timer in the lid. I thought it might be fun if after finding the cache you made a note of how long since the last find and then reset the timer for the next cacher. This may not work or the timer might not last long – if so it doesn’t really matter. The cache is reached by finding 2 micro caches first which give the final coordinates. To work out the position of the micros you are going to have to do some research – but nothing too difficult. This is my first hide, which together with the location provides the theme for this cache.
Start at the car park at N 52.55.560 W 002.08.992, have a read of the signs and get your bearings.
Then the first micro (a small plastic container) is at N 52.5A.BCD W002.09.0EF
where
AB is the total points scored in Superbowl XXI
C is the number of points scored by Minnesota in their 3rd Superbowl appearance
D is the number of points scored by the New York Giants in SuperbowlXXXV
EF is the total number of points scored in Superbowl II
The 2nd micro is at N 52.56.00G W002.0H.IJK where
G is the points difference between the teams in Superbowl III
HI the year of Superbowl XXII and
JK the year of the Superbowl between Oakland and Philadelphia.
The starting contents, in line with the theme, are:-
Miniature Green Bay Packers helmet
Oakland Raiders Keyring (used)
Smurf American Footballer
Packet containing football and helmet things
Arizona Cardinals Pennant
San Diego Chargers Pennant
Log Book/Pencils/Sharpener/Pens
To reset the timer see instructions on the inside of the lid.
Just for fun – not counting as an extra cache – in the cache box (touchdown) there are coodinates for a bonus cache (pointafter) just so you have something to do on the way back to the car park. This cache container does not look like your average cache and contains only a logbook and pencil.
Thanks to the West Midlands National Trust and especially the wardens – for their permission and help in placing this cache. For more details go to (visit link)
From 9th Sept 2009 pointafter no longer exists and the timer has long stopped on the box.
!!! The above has been left so cachers can see what the original cache was like but now it's time for a change - use only the info to follow to find the cache - no other parts remain !!
THE CACHE IS AT N52 P.QR W002 S.TU WHERE THE LETTERS STAND FOR THE FOLLOWING :-
P is the number of points scored by San Francisco in Superbowl XXIV
Q is the number of points allowed by Miami in Superbowl VII or VIII
R is the number of points scored by Greenbay in Superbowl II
S is the number of the first Superbowl held in Houston
T is the difference in points between the teams in Superbowl XVI and
V is the total number of points scored in Superbowl XXVIII.
Although the cache is now slightly different you can still use the same car park and walk around before finding the cache and use the coordinates for the pointafter to get back to the car park cheers dms
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zvpeb 1 Gerr arne gur Yvbaf oevqtr
Zvpeb 2 N pbccvprq gerr
Gbhpuqbja vf arne gur srapr
Rkgen - lbh zvtug arrq lbhe tynffrf gb svaq vg
Ncneg sebz gur svany gurfr uvagf pna abj or vtaberq.
Treasures
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