K & A to Murhill Multi-Cache
Half Man Half Eejit: Sadly, this one has to go[:(]! No-one seems to like multis anymore...
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Short circular multi, should take no longer than 30 minutes. There is plenty of parking at the posted coordinates and if you feel so inclined, you can always tackle the nearby Gowenhouse cache “Bat Caves” (GC18CK6).
The walk to this cache starts near a number of old and gated mine entrances associated with Murhill Quarry, which provided some of the stone for the construction of the Kennet and Avon Canal.
In its day, an incline tramroad brought stone down from the quarry to the canal; its slanting course can be seen if you look hard enough and you’ve got the time. The canal company opened the quarry in 1803 against the advice of John Rennie. His original estimate for building the canal was seriously exceeded, mostly because of the use of sub-standard stone, which the proprietors were insisting upon.
A few years later the mine was on the market. The Sherborne, Dorchester and Taunton Journal (23 April 1857) advertised the site as follows:-
“FREESTONE QUARRY, NEAR BATH
TO BE LET With Immediate Possession
The Celebrated MURHILL QUARRIES, ... Together with the right of WORKING THE CAPITAL BEDS OF FREESTONE, ... will be let ... a large Wharf and Landing Crane, on the bank of the Kennet and Avon Canal, ... with an Inclined Plane for delivering the Stone on the Wharf, from which there is direct Water Communication with London, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea and South Wales. ...”
The limestone from Murhill Quarry was poor in comparison with materials worked further to the north. However, despite the quality, stone was extracted and used through this section of the Kennet and Avon.
Anyway, enough of the history, on with the cache. From the suggested parking area take the footpath that leads down the hill to the Kennet & Avon Canal. Once at the bottom of the hill you need to carefully follow the footpath alongside of the Canal until you reach Waypoint 1. As always, please take extra care with small children and dogs through this section.
You will find a bench commemorating the life of a certain Paul Joseph Rigby. In time-honoured fashion, label the dates from the inscription A – H. You should now have 8 numbers.
Complete the equation to obtain the final cache coordinates.
N.51. (A+E) (D) . (A+C) (E+H) (G-H)
W.002. (C-A-E-H) (F-E-H) . (C) (C+A+H) (D)
Once you’ve calculated the final coordinates the rest, as they say is down to you. The cache itself is a small Tupperware box in a camo bag. Please re-hide carefully.
After finding the cache and to complete the ‘loop’, simply carry on up the footpath until you reach civilisation. Then turn left and follow the generally very quiet road back to the car. However, as with the canal section, please ensure that small children and dogs are kept under a watchful eye, roads are roads after-all.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Bss cngu naq gb gur yrsg (urnqvat hcuvyy).
Treasures
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