The Thread Of Life (Dunedin, Otago) Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

daywalk: When this cache was placed there was no barberry. Now, 14 years later, there's a carpet of small barberry plants all over the area. We're part of the Friends of Burns Reserve group working to clear barberry from Gerry's Rock at present - you've got to start somewhere, and every bit helps.

Sadly, everything has its allotted span. We did keep this going a bit longer than anticipated and now it's time for Atropos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropos to snip the thread of life for this cache. All non-biodegradable waypoints etc have been removed. We'll offer a virtual find to the last two cachers on 22 March, since they posted an honest and constructive DNF and the cache was not practically findable.

However the concept is still very much alive... who knows what may happen in the future...?

More
Hidden : 11/27/2011
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: large (large)

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:

Have you ever wondered whether geocaching is in your DNA? And how it affects your life?

The terrain of this experiment is not hazardous, but it is definitely a bit scrambly. It would be much more pleasant on a dry day. Watch out for the occasional rogue lawyer!

Determination and resilience will ensure you achieve your aim... or maybe you just need good luck, good looks and knowing the right people?

[NB: We try to check the final laboratory regularly, but life can get in the way of geocaching... So, you may want to email the CO before you try this experiment (especially if you are from outside Dunedin). We will be happy to do a Health and Safety check to make sure you get a proper classical education.]



Not long ago, we were up at the Signal Hill Monument looking at The Thread Of Life statue.

That started a discussion about the evolutionary benefits of being able to find containers in interesting spots. Surely our ancestors would have used the same skills to unearth the plumpest roots, or catch lizards hidden under rocks? Is it true that "Geocaching is in our DNA"?

We decided to find out just what was in the DNA of a random Dunedin cacher. At the Centennial Memorial Cleanup event, we sneakily swabbed the spigot of an unattended drink bottle, and sent the sample to a DNA testing laboratory.

Unfortunately, the laboratory refused to analyse the sample. Their report said:

"We enclose a printout of the DNA fragments obtained from the sample you sent us. We regret to inform you that the fee you paid does not cover the costs of interpreting such deviant and misspelt genetic material. Please do not waste our time further."

We do hope you will help us with the interminably tedious job of decodoning this DNA. Is there a jinx on the Geochecker? What have The Fates got in store for this geocacher?





ACG – CAC – GAG – TAA – TGG – GCC – TAT – TAG – ATC – AAC – TGA – ATA – TCT – TGA – GCT – ACT – TAG – TTT – GAG – AAT – TGC – GAA – TAA – TGT – CAG – CGG – AAT – GAG – CGT – TGA – TGC – CGC – CAG – TCC – AGT – TAA – TGG – ATC – AGA – GAA – TGA – GCC – ACC – TGA – TCT – TAA – TTT – ATT – TTC – ACG – TAT – CAA – AAC – GAA – TAG – CCT – CAA – ATA – AAT – ACT – TAG – TTC – CAG – GTA – CGG – TAA – GAA – ATA – GGG - CAC – ACT - TAG – TTT – CAG – GTG – AGA – TAA – GAA – TGA – ACC – CAT – ATA – AGG – ACT – TAT – ACG – TGG – CAG – TAG – CCC – CAA – ATC – AAT – ACT – TAA – AAC – ATT – AAT – GAG – TAG – ACC – CAT – CGA – GAA – GAG - TGA - TCT – GAA – GTC – GAG – AAT – TAA – ATG – ATC – AAC – GTA – ACG – GAG – TCC – TAG


GGG – CAG – TAA – GAT – CAA – TGG – AAC – TGA – CAG – CCC – GAG – AAT – TAG – TCC – CCG – GTG – CGC – TGA – GCT – AAC – GAT – TAA – TTT – ATT – AAC – GAC – TGA – TAT – CAA – GTG – CGG – TGA – TTC – GCC – ATG – ATC – CTT – TAC – TAG – ACA – CGC – GAG – GAA – TAA


GAA – GCT – TCG – ACC – TGA – CAG – AAT – GAG – TAA – CAT – GTA – AAC – GAC – AGA – GAA – GAT – TAG – GCC – AAC – GAT – TAA – AGT – GAG – GTT – GAA – AAC – ACC – TAT – TGA – GAT – GAA – GGC – AGG – GAG – GAA – TCT – TAA – ACG – CAC – ATA – AGG – ACA – TAC – ACC – CAT – AGA – GAG – GAA – TAG – CCG – CAG – ATC – AAC – ACT – TGA – AAT – CAA – GTG – GGA – CAT – ACA – TAA – TTC – CAG – GTC – AGA – TAG – AAC – CAG – GTT – GGG – CAC – ACG – TAA – ATG – ATC – AAC – GTT – ACT – GAA – AGT – TAG


TTC – ATC – AAC – GAC – TAG – TAC – CAG – GTG – CGG – TGA – CGC – CAA – CAG – ACT – TCT – TAA


TCT – CAA – GTT – ACT – CAT – TAA – TTT – CAG – GTC – CGT – ACT – TAC – TTC – ATT – GTA – GAA – TAG – GAT – GAA – GGT – CGC – GAG – GAA – TCC – TGA – TTT – ATC – TTC – ACG – TAT – CAA – AAT – GAA – TGA – CCT – CAG – ATA – AAC – ACC – TAG – TTC – CAA – GTT – CGA – TAA – ACA – TGG – CAA – TGA – AAT – ATT – AAC – GAG – TAG – ATG – ATA – AAT – GTC – ACG – GAG – AGT – TGA

Additional Hints ()

[Puzzle, explicit, so don't look before you've given it a go] Purpx bhg gur "QAN grfgvat ynobengbel" yvax. Fgvyy pna'g qrpbqba vg? Ebg-zvahf-1 pbqrq, fb O orpbzrf N: Dvsbmzozobwbs-wg-T. Va rkgerzvf, cyrnfr rznvy hf!

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