Royal Canal Way-Home Cache Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

Kili or bust: Letting this go!

More
Hidden : 12/6/2006
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

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

Geocache Description:

Visit The Geocaching Ireland discussion forum HERE

View the ratings for GCZPCY


Cache Information:
At the coordinates above you will find the coordinates for the cache (a decon bax) which is only about 35 metres from my house (as the crow flies, and you would need to be one!).
The coordinates are not that easily found so you will have to have all your wits about you. PLEASE REMEMBER TO REPLACE THE COORDINATES CAREFULLY AS YOU FOUND THEM.
The towpath can become quite muddy after wet weather so stout shoes are recommended.PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT LARGE PARTS OF THIS TOWPATH HAVE AREAS WITH STEEP DROPS TO THE CANAL. CYCLING THIS PARTICULAR STRETCH CAN INDEED BE HAZARDOUS

The Royal Canal Way

Work commenced in 1790 and lasted 27 years before finally reaching the Shannon in 1817, at a total cost of £1,421,954[1]. The canal passes through Maynooth, Enfield and Mullingar and has a spur to Longford. The total length of the main navigation is 145 km (90 mi), and the system has 46 locks. There is one main feeder (from Lough Owel), which enters the canal at Mullingar. At the Dublin end, the canal once reached the Liffey through a wide sequence of dock and locks at Spencer Dock, with a final sea lock to manage access to the river and sea, but these are no longer fully operational, and access to the river is especially challenging. Quaternion plaque on Brougham (Broom) Bridge, Dublin
In 1843, while walking with his wife along the Royal Canal, Sir William Rowan Hamilton realized the formula for quaternions and carved his initial thoughts into a stone on the Brougham Bridge over the canal.

The canal is notable in that the Dublin - Mullingar railway line was built alongside the canal for much of the distance. The meandering route of the canal ensures a speed limiting curvature for the railway. The canal was bought by the Midland Great Western Railway to provide a route to the West of Ireland, originally planning to close the canal and build the railway along its bed.
The canal travels across one of the major junctions on the M50/N3 in a specially constructed aqueduct.
Today Waterways Ireland is responsible for the canal. It is currently being repaired, and it is intended to reopen it for navigation of its full length (from the Shannon Navigation to Dublin) by the middle of 2008. In early 2007, it is possible to go from Dublin to Ballymahon, and boats of up to 22.9m x 4.0m x 1.2m are allowed. Access points currently exist near Leixlip and at Maynooth, Enfield, Thomastown, Mullingar, Ballinea Bridge and Ballynacargy. In 2006 a commemoration marker was erected at Piper's Boreen, Mullingar, to mark the 200 years since the canal reached Mullingar in 1806.

This cache is part of a series placed along the Royal Canal Way. The series follows the towpaths along the Royal Canal heading westwards towards the Shannon River. There are a number of caches in the Dublin region stretching from the city centre out into the country. Except for the first two centre city caches all of the waypoints for these caches take you in the direction against the water flow. To get the full benefit of this series I would suggest that it is best done on foot or on a bicycle though most of the caches may also be accessed by car. I have to say that the car option will take considerable time, petrol and nausea inducing traffic frustration not to mention considerable difficulty with parking.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

1. Oruvaq fznyy fgbar (naq cyrnfr chg vg onpx!) 2. Nobhg 9 srrg nobir gur gbj cngu fb n fgrrc ohg irel fubeg pyvzo. Onfr bs fznyy juvgrgubea gerr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


Advertising with Us