A Matter of Perspective (Canterbury) Ilam, South Island, New Zealand
By 8ManAfter on 30-Sep-11. Waypoint GC338HM

Well, I could never have done all this by myself. The first steps were just new to me, I didn't even know such things existed. But I could help with more manual task, once I had the way of doing it. At GZ I was a bit short to grab the cache, so again, team work makes the dream work. TFTC Find#137 Streak day#25

That was a hard solve. The first few steps were quite easy to find. I kind of knew what I was doing. But of course, at some point, I just had no more ideas. I tried to do a few things manually, but I thought I needed a tool. At an event, I asked more experienced cacher for that type of tool, and what they would use to do what I intended to do. Though my thinking was interesting, they asked me a question. I had noticed what they wanted me to think about, and they suggested my tool wasn't needed, but I had to take a different perspective on the stage I was at. Back home, LoupLaVu helped with that work, which even if could be done without a tool was a bit long. We did some trial and errors as we didn't get everything right. It was a delight to see that was the final stage, with obvious coordinates now standing in front of us. All good at GZ, hint was super helpful even if location was quiet today. Fav from us for a very interesting and well designed puzzle, involving a variety of skills!

Now the cache has been opened, I returned tonight and signed the logbook.

Baktrak's puzzle abilities came to the fore. Some roadworks nearby made finding this one a longer process than it should have been.A very stuck lid also hindered access, again sorted by himself.Finally log signed and replaced in leafy hide.Thanks 8ManAfter

A joint solve with another. One stage could have been particularly laborious but a technique developed. Found with MummyPenny today. The container resisted attempts to open, having not been opened since January 2023, it but a technique developed. It should be easy now. Thanks 8ManAfter.

This puzzle had been languishing in the too hard basket for far too long. Decided to make a determined effort to solve it and found the first layers reasonably straightforward. Then the last layer appeared. Oh my word. What is this?? Oh well, when in doubt talk to Google..... Wait... what.... ha ha.... very, very clever!!Took me a while, but eventually the co ordinates appeared. Yay!Came out after dark to lower the muggle factor and the cache was soon spotted. Unfortunately I just couldn't get the lid off so have sent a photo to the CO as proof. TFTC and have a favourite for the final layer. It must have taken you ages!

Thanks for the hide

We thought it would be quick and easy but it turned into something bigger than we expected. After lots of thinking and tinkering and a small hint from the CO. We soon had our first D5 cache in hand! I can see how much effort this CO has put into this cache! So get a FP! (I probably don’t have any left)
We’re visiting from palmy for Christmas and swapped houses with a friend. Don’t have many caches left to find at home base so we’ll try to make the most of this trip.
I wrote in the log and concealed the cache carefully back as found, TFTCSL, Thanks 8ManAfter for this Mystery cache!

Found on 7 January 2023 4:26 PM

#412


▀▄▀▄

27/11/2022 12:48:00 PM
Loved the puzzle and put this =one on my must do list while in NZ.
A quick find in the rain thanks to the hint,but dropped and lost half the cache container, but luckily I had a replacement of the exact same style in my caching bag.

Thanks 8ManAfter.

A favourite point for the puzzle that took a couple of goes to get right.


Find recorded using GCDroid and logged using GSAK

Collaborated with Jude_E on this one. To solve the puzzle I had some catching up to do, and initially did not look deeply enough, misunderstanding a hint. Eventually solved but probably not in the way the CO intended in keeping with the cache title; TFTC

This has been the closest mystery to my home for ages. I recently decided to make a much more concerted effort to solve it. No problems initially. Got to a point and was puzzled. Eventually CO replied to a question and I realised all was not quite as it seemed. Confirmation from a couple of other cachers helped me see what I was missing but still not being 100% sure I really was on the right track I decided some further collaboration was necessary. Labcal7 is a smart cookie and we've known each other about 50 something years. So good to have him confirm we were onto the puzzle and finally got the coordinates. I can't believe the work that went into creating this. Wow, 8ManAfter! Impressive. I needed a puzzle find today for Troodles 365 mystery challenge and was thrilled to find this. Log was pulp so I dropped a new rite-on waterproof page in. Thanks so much for the brain exercise and the cache.
#7891

**Prologue**, *2015* (as newbies): **Layer 1** - Easy enough, but then what? Go more cross-eyed? ... Put it to the side ...

**6 years later** ... Late _September 2021,_ looking at unsolved puzzles near work, with years of experience [The Mystery of Redfang](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3985K) proves to be a remarkably quick solve, and enjoyable. OK, just one blue question mark still on campus...

**Layer 2** - Well, that was easy! And the next layer was very familiar, with a twist. Tried a couple of rejigs without success. Hmm; did we have Layer 1 and Layer 2 round the right way? Which one was the one for looking deeper in? Put it aside...

_14 November 2021:_ **Layer 3** - Having finally found the right tool to solve [The Pyramids](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3HB4B) we confirm that nothing like that is needed here! Back to _A Matter of Perspective_ ... A methodical approach to the rejigs: 7th permutation yields success. Hah! Well, that's the one lots of people would have tried first!

**Layers 4 & 5** - Easy ... and finally Layer 6 is revealed in all its glory! Some 3 to 4 hours of intense analysis are applied, with both the team thinking hard. We come up with two theories. Noting that others have been nudged by the CO we send a message, asking if he might kindly eliminate one theory?

_15 November 2021:_ **Layer 6** ... No reply from the CO is forthcoming. But we reread the title, and the description, and think holistically. Ah, ah, of course: *both* theories are correct! Slowly but steadily we work our way through. Never, in all our years of puzzle solving have we been on such a breathtaking journey of discovery. What vistas! What exquisite details!

**Epilogue**, _19 November 2021:_ At a quiet time in the evening, the cache is quickly located. A part of the rubber seal is missing and water gets in. We poured some out; but the once waterproof paper is barely writeable. We dried it out as best we could and signed after a fashion. We had no plastic bag, unfortunately, or would have done some maintenance.

We doff our caps to the CO for the sheer brilliance of conceiving and implementing a puzzle of such scale. In nearly 7 years of caching, this has to be the favourite of favourites!! Magnificent.

I can't remember how long ago I solved this. I was so impressed at the concept, and the layers of the puzzle, that I decided I should save finding it for some special occasion, like a thousandth cache. But since I don't often cache in Christchurch, getting the numbers right just didn't happen, and it took rather a few years. I eventually gave up on the idea of an even thousand, and decided on something a bit more quirky, and today ended up being the day - find number 4567.
I remember the actual solve went pretty well up until what I think might have been the last step, which I think I had been over-thinking. It took a hint from an ex-workmate of the CO's to prompt me. And what a nice day it was too. A quick wander over to where I remembered it being when I solved it, and there it was. The waterproof paper was a very good idea - the container was 1/3 full. I tipped it out, and dried the paper a little. Thanks.

Back in business! Keep safe, and thanks for your patience.

STAY HOME, STAY SAFE, STAY SMART!

DISABLING FOR NOW. ANY LOGS POSTED FROM NOW UNTIL THE CACHE IS ENABLED WILL BE DELETED.

STAY HOME, STAY SAFE, STAY SMART!

Thanks to TeamBroadbent, all should be fine!!

Needs new log sheet.

Finally found due to some solid assistance from previous finder. Log sheet wet. Unable to sign. Thanks to all cache owners for taking the time to place and maintain your caches. Team Broadbent (signed TB on micros). Find # 2097

Delete maintenance request. I got back with a sheet of waterproof paper for replaced log.

#0128
Alright, this long long journey has finally made to its destination, and fruitful. I’m safe and sound, now writing this log.

This puzzle cache, created by 8ManAfter, is like the quest to find the true tomb of Tal Rasha in Diablo II, challenge by challenge, excitement and reward followed by frustration, stress, hope, confusion, lost, discovery, and the final struggle and then the Victory!

It all started when I solved the other Redfang puzzle and stepped up towards this one. When I came to the cache page about 2 months ago, I immediately noticed what’s special and started my quest, as I’m familiar with that from childhood memories. Then following my instinct I cracked down to level 3 quick. Again something familiar, not so hard. Some work and there was level 4 and 5. Hummm, black magic? Can’t stop me, again pushed thru and now level 6. Then, everything changed, WHAT, IS THAT? Is it, alien language? I don’t assume I need a PhD degree to crack that, right?

I lingered on level 6 literally for months. Looked at the same thing again and again, tried several ways, tools, methods, spells and hacks, but all what’s seemed like a progress leaded to bigger confusion. It was even put aside for several weeks. But some how, I came to a tipping point, because of something I vaguely thought I’ve seen it somewhere else before, plus some hints from CO, and from another cacher. Once it’s over the edge, it was just like sliding downhill and the final is just revealed itself like it was all natural.

Uvg gur TM ba n qevmmyr avtug, zhttyr serr, avpr. Qvq fbzr frnepu naq fbba abgvprq gur cbffvoyr fcbg, gbepu yvtug ba, pnpur nccrnerq.

However the container is soaked in rain water so does the log. So I can’t sign it. But that’s not important right now, the experience already deserves a fav+1.

And many many thanks to Team_Gaters and CO himself on providing help, hints and nudges along the way.

And and of course, Big TFTC!!!

It's great to finally tick this nemesis of a cache off. I've been to GZ several times but a recent log made me think maybe I needed to widen my search rather than splash round in undergrowth and water over the road. Success! And dry feet! Tftc and innovative thinking behind the puzzle, which I needed some friendly help with

A very tricksy puzzle with Levels 1 to 4 solved surprisingly easily however Level 5 took a lot lot longer but it was a great thrill to make the final Level. Today was a short bike ride to make the find and sign off on this now Favourite puzzle. Thanks heaps to the CO.

The happiest I've ever been to solve a puzzle cache. There were a few moments I was tempted to reach out to the CO or previous finders for a nudge in the right direction but I'm so glad I persevered and got there all on my own.

Layer 1 - Off to a good start, no problems yet.
Layer 2 - Well I assume this is it? Still a bit puzzled though. At this point I left it for a few weeks but I knew soon enough it was going to become my closest unsolved to home so I'd have to try again in the near future.
Layer 3 - Ah! Clever.
Layer 4 & Layer 5 - Quick and easy enough
Layer 6 - What now?! I just need a set of coordinates - how hard can it be? I couldn't leave it alone. Should have spent the day thesis writing but I couldn't concentrate - I just wanted to get this thing solved. Aha! Surely this is it! Yes, yes yes. Life is good once again

Final - Picked what was probably the worst time of day but successful none the less. What a great cache and challenge for the brain, certainly worth the favourite. Thanks 8ManAfter.

We were long overdue for a caching adventure with daughter and granddaughter, and today seemed like a good opportunity! The weather was beautiful with only a few intermittent spits of rain and the wind picking up late afternoon. We found a few on our list, including this one finally!!! and even managed to get a proper coffee into the day [^] TFTC!!

15/12/2016 11:15:00 AM
7707
I've been wanting to get some more caches found, and I managed to convince mum to come join for doing so! So we headed out today to see how many we could get, focusing on finding the solved & unfound ones. We didn't do too badly, getting 24 for the day, and with the baby actually being pretty chilled most the day! - Perfect for finding heaps of caches! Haha!

Mother says she absolutely couldn't even remember how she solved this, but it was solved! So we rocked on over this way - but struggled with the find!! I ended up needing to do a PAF, and then we realised our coords had us on the wrong side of the road! Oh duh!! Then it was a quick and easy find in a location that was more likely and did in fact have the cache!

TFTC!!

I've been working on this for a while now and with a number of false starts and PAFS to get me on track, as well as going cross eyed a number of times, I got the final coordinates, searched high and low, confirmed with the CO, I was in the right area and he confirmed this. Returning I came up trumps and so stoked to get this in the bag. Thank you for bringing me to this place and placing this cache 8ManAfter from Mr Cuddly Brick , cache 1350 on this mighty day the 22 July 2016 Mr Cuddly Bricks You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCspYYJI5ZIvUE9ncq1_rpYw

This cache was indeed a slow burner. I looked at the first layer way back when it was published but soon put it on the back burner. Not so long ago after finding a tool for another cache I came back to this one and soon got through the first layer and then after that all the others bar the last were quickly dealt with. On looking at the last layer I concluded it would take some time to complete and put it back in the "To Do" list.
It was about 3 or 4 months ago I was asked whether I had completed this cache and after replying that I had not had a go at the last layer I was given a hint and I went and had another look. It seemed close but I came out with some odd numbers so again it went on the back burner. A couple of weeks ago it again came to my attention and with time on my hands I delved into a closer look. After a time I finally came out with some good coordinates.
After grabbing 3 caches earlier in the day I found I was now on 3999 found. I had a look at possible caches for that 4000 mark and spied this one. A wet and dreary Sunday night seemed a good to try and grab this D4.5 for that 4000th cache.
Parked close by and came for a walk. The first place I quickly scanned failed to show the cache but soon spotted a more likely hide and there it was.
Great puzzle and glad I could log it as the 4000th.

I have goods news about my DNF...it wasn't there! Thanks for being so quick to check on it Rob. Went back after work with nothing but a cellphone torch and a pen. Quickly found the cache (and a good sized spider), signed the log, and carefully replaced the cache.
TFTC

I stopped in today for a looksee. Yup. Cache was gone. So, I replaced it with another one. I hope this lasts longer! Try not to drop it.

I came past here the other night and had a quick look. No joy, but my coords had me undecided as to where to focus. Checked with a previous finder who gave me a nudge (across the road). Tried again, this time with an idea where to look... still nothing! Very frustrating with all the previous "nice easy find" logs.

The puzzle took a bit of work, but with CO's and a fellow cacher's nudges I got through all layers to obtain the final coordinates (I have overthought the last stage and wasted some time there). The whole thing felt like playing a game where one needs to achieve something to get through to the next level. Speaking a foreign language was definitely an advantage and saved me some time. Enjoyed each stage immensely and got some cool ideas for my own future puzzle caches, so many thanks to 8ManAfter for creating this puzzle.
The cache itself was easily located and log signed. This cache definitely deserves a favourite point.
TFTC & puzzle.

Nice puzzle cache. Really enjoyed the solve. Finding the cache itself was easy enough...once I realized the size of the container. Tftf

Log is still damp but just able to be written in

full day of the Mega long weekend we (Dunedin Caching Crew - DCC) hit the road and went for a drive to log as many caches as we could.

Long time dream came true and we could visit New Zealand. NZ Mega was our maingoal and we had time to find others too. We travelled together with Veke68, Katsukka and tanjuli (+husband) and had great time. We used TVVK Fin (that is tanjuli, vipema, Veke68 <3 Katsukka) in mostly logbooks to save space.

Thanks for the cache.

Greetings from Finland.

Sunday 25 October 2015: Yes, we were doing "as many types as you can in one day".
Managed 11 plus a "lab cache".

#3 Puzzle

This one katiew and I solved as far as level 5, heh heh. But we were groping in the dark to see anything in the last level... so sent out a general SOS to other Dunedinites... hooray, nofs had the superhuman powers of perception needed to unearth the final coordinates.

We had just gone to the webcam and jrb5050 discovered that the last photo had been taken at 8.45. Oh dear. She phoned Gary... who promised to try and contact a friend to do what he could.

So then we took a long walk to the final of this puzzle, hooray! Then Gary texted jrb5050 to say a friend was going to come in and see if the webcam could be fixed.

Fingers crossed, on to the Virtual.

The Christchurch mega took us (=tanjuli, vipema, Veke68 & Katsukka = TVVK-FIN in the logbooks) to NZ. Had a great time and found a lot of caches.

The log was a bit moist.

Thank you!!!!!

After visiting the webcam, it was time to hunt down a puzzle cache and thanks to nofs powers of perspectives we had some co-ords and the log was soon in hand. Found with the DCC

Quick find with DCC
ZTFTC

Found with CJ-Curry as part of the mega. Log a bit damp though.

Thanks!:)

The puzzle was solved just prior to the Mega with huge help from a bunch of fellow Dunedin puzzlers (thanks all!) and today was the day for the find. Hevic and I went straight up to it once we figured out where GZ was. A very clever puzzle overall, cheers!

This one was solved with a group of us and so we went out hunting for it. Nice quiet day.
In CHCH for the mega and we decided to go and find after the event.
TFTC, SLB. TNLN.

First day in New Zealand with Vipema, Tanjuli and Katsukka and many nice caches and of course Mega Event.
We usually logged only TVVK FIN to save space in the logbook.
Greetings from Finland.

Thanks!

This entry was edited by Veke68 on Sunday, 25 October 2015 at 16:54:07 UTC.

A challenging multi-layered puzzle I loved it and was very keen to find. We sauntered over to the spot while waiting for news of the webcam resetting.This was our Mystery cache of the day to get 12 different Geocache types in one day! Thanks for placing and maintaining this cache.

Having solved this one prior to the Mega, we made this one a priority after grabbing the webcam cache. Found with the Dunedin Caching Crew (DCC)

Although I signed the logbook, all credit for solving and finding this one goes to my companions for the day: Daywalk and Katie W. Thanks for placing this cache. Another opportunity to spend time laughing with friends.

Mega trip to NZ with vipema, Veke68 and Katsukka, day 1. We found tons of caches and had a blast. Thanks for the fun and greetings from Finland.

Out and about with a crew from Dunedin up for the mega.

Wow! I've been getting heaps of emails on this one lately! Must be the Mega Factor. Wish I could join!

D'OH! It looks like geocaching.com changed some of its policies, and removed some of the necessary information from the cache page. I've corrected it, and the puzzle should be solvable now. Sorry for that.

I remember looking at this puzzle when I first started caching, and had no idea what to do with it. I came back to it every so often and got nowhere. Eventually made a little progress, and with a few nudges, and outright shoves from a previous finder, I slowly made my way through the various very clever levels of this puzzle. Finally I had some good looking coordinates which were confirmed by the CO. In my previous two searches, I had focused on where the GPS was taking me, and didn’t find anything, apart from a stinky smell. The CO confirmed that I was on the wrong side of the road, so then I knew where the cache was likely to me. I saved this cache for today, as Geocaching provided a new Road trip souvenir from midnight on the 17th of July, and I wanted a nice number. Arrived at GZ just before midnight, and as the clock stuck midnight, I signed the logbook. Very happy to see that I was geocacher number 1 in the world to get the new souvenir! It’s a shame that I didn’t get to find a previous version of this cache as apparently it was very well constructed. This was quite a challenging puzzle, and I am glad to have knocked the bugger off! Perhaps we’ll see some of the methods used in my future puzzles. Thanks for the puzzle and the cache 8ManAfter.

This entry was edited by 2wombles on Thursday, 16 July 2015 at 22:31:44 UTC.

I stopped by today to have a look at the new hiding place. La Vista has done a bang up job with the container placement! All in good shape, and ready for some more finders.

Leaves and rank smell still remains. Have emailed CO to confirm that my co-ordinates are correct.

Checked tonight, cache is awaiting.

Had a good search of the GZ, but there were leaves all over the place, and a bit of a dodgy smell around there somewhere....

Everything is back in ship shape! If you've already found the coords, please go through the steps to get them again. Email me the coords you got if you want to verify. Happy Caching! Thanks to La Vista for all the help! Nice to have friends like you.

Just a quick note that the container has been replaced, but I need to update some things before I can enable the listing. Stay tuned!!

As RetiredGuy noted, this one has sadly gone missing. I feel worst for TheWanglers as his amazing cachesmanship is naught now. But, he offered to replace it, albeit with a more "normal" container, soon.

Arrived in New Zealand two weeks ago and have been working my way south starting in Auckland. Being caching buddies with 8ManAfter in the States, I decided that I would have to go find all of his active puzzle caches. I worked on the first five Sujiken-terbury and A Matter of Perspective puzzles in advance.

When I arrived in ChristChurch, I rented a bicycle and headed off to grab them (next time, please put them closer together). Found the first four pretty easily and then stumbled my way getting to the fifth. Back to the hotel to solve #6 and finish my work on A Matter of Perspective. Back on my bicycle to find the sixth and look for Perspective. Arrived at GZ for Perspective and after a quick search, found the remains of the container. Got in touch with 8ManAfter who confirmed the find and is working to get someone to replace it.


A great time caching in ChristChurch and thanks to 8ManAfter for putting these great caches out.

"The posted coords provide a hint for what you need to do" [I need to go to uni to solve this? Oh-oh!]

Well what can I say, this cache has to be up there with some of the best ever.[:8D] I really enjoyed this despite the brain pain and squinty eyes from looking at something backwards, sideways etc. My optometrist said my eyes are ok they just need a break. [B)]
This puzzle is well worth perservering with and is a favourite an well recommended. What a shame we have lost 8MA lets hope he returns permanently
The hide is also very cool well done La Vista and Wanglers. Have taken some pictures to email 8MA.
Thanks again for the cool puzzle and cache.

800 - What a fitting cache for my 800th find! This cache has kept me occupied since around March 2012, when I quickly stumbled onto something but didn't know what to do with it. I attempted a few things and then put it into the "needs to be revisited sometime" pile when they didn't work out. One of the things I tried actually was the right thing but I hadn't gone far enough with it to realise that. Oh to have solved it way back then! I've looked at this from the top, the bottom, sideways, almost standing on my head [:o)]... but nothing shouted out" come and look at me". Over the months with prods from a few friends asking me how I was going, I would pull it out from that pile and have another look, only to soon return it again [:(!]. After another recent prod I pulled it out again. Oh, it works, oh joy, I can move on... but man what is that!!! Yep, it is all just a matter of perspective, but I'm so glad that I can finally put a smilie to this one. TW did a wonderful job on the cache too, very nice! I was the first solver to find the new cache container apart from those who had signed the previous log. That was pretty cool! TFTC and the fun?
If my little red racer should pay another visit I can now rescue it myself... lol... LV you will just have to find another diabolical cache to put it in.

Time to view /admire the new handy work - worthy of such an incredible cache LGM

well, that's some incentive to have another look at this .... I am stuck at level 1 - my eyes (and my daughters) just can't see anything but "carpet". Could it be a genetic malfunction? Will have to ring in some other unsuspecting people.

Wow, GZ has changed since I found this one. Popped out this morning and quickly found the very creative new cache - needed to eye-ball the "Little Red Racecar" TB tag before it was snaffled and/or moved on. Mission accomplished. Cheers.

This lil red racer is having a pit stop in new deluxe 5-star accommodation getting ready for the JMG Just Cruising Finale ! Looking for urgent sponsorship (old or new) to continue the race. Cheers !

WOW! WOW! WOW!
An honour to keep an eye on this cache.
Rob & Tim, this is our highest rated puzzle & cache for design concept & sophistication of all time !

Thanks to some VERY NICE handiwork by TheWanglers, and some TLC by La Vista, the cache is now good to go. So, all of you who have just been WAITING to finally go out and pick this one up, best of luck!

Well, it looks like this one's hiding spot has indeed been removed. Thanks to La Vista for the confirmation. We'll see about re-locating it.

D'OH! I really hope this is not the case. I know there is always a lot of work going on around here, but I thought this was a safe place. I'll email another local person to check too, since I'm in Japan. Thanks for the note!

Sad news folks. I drove past GZ for this gem of a puzzle and saw that the host for the cache has been cut down. I didn't have the exact coordinates on me but will try and check over the next few days. If anyone who has completed this beauty and is nearby could they also verify that the GZ is no more. Boo hoo!!!

Dropped off one of the nicest geocoins I've seen today. Happy trails!!

Yeee haaa. Our turn to log after so much sweat and tears. How sweet to be at the end of a long and very interesting road. We have learnt many new things and had such wonderful help to get to this stage. It's given us a whole new perspective on geocaching.

How did it go:
Level 1 was a lure - life seemed so simple then.
Level 2 - try this, try that, try something else. Many dead ends, weeks of print-outs glaring at us, call for help then back to idea #1 and try a bit harder!
Level 3 - Oh yes, a huge learning curve with pits of despair, tantrums at the keyboard, nearly gave up again. Vowed to give up puzzles after this for a while, maybe give up now and not have to go on!
Levels 4 and 5 fell in such a short space of time it was a miracle. Maybe we would keep going after all.
Level 6 - what was 8ManAfter thinking! Was he human? This was breathtaking and we were grateful again for a hand from a fellow cacher. Don't be shy to ask for help if you get stuck - this cache really is rated properly.

All in all it is one of the best puzzles we have done. 8ManAfter - your name will become legend!

Oh Boy, where do I start? Well let's start at the easy bit, the actual cache find. Had in hand quickly and signed the log, swapped a few goodies, grabbed a party popper. Replaced the cache with a tear in my eye and a sniff, "the adventure is over, sniff".
Now the beginning... in a galaxy far, far, away...
Opps, I started doing 8manAfter's Sujiken series and really enjoyed this and wondered what els the CO had up his sleeve. Well, that brings us to this cache "Oh, a D5. How hard could it be?".
[Layer 1] easy, "now what!?"
[Layer 2] hmm, clever
[Layer 3] that looks like...
[Layer 4] 1+1=2 I hope
[Layer 5] how deep does this hole go?
[Layer 6] tears, tantrums, slight glimmer of hope, days (not quite weeks, but at least one), grasping at straws. Re-read, hints, hmmm
[Final] Elation, tears of joy, pats on back, showed the Missus the solution, more pats on back. Wife is happy I have returned from Puzzleland and has 'asked' me not to visit for one week. She asked "are you going to get it now?" (11pm last night), this one kept till the morning.

Thanks for a wonderfully created cache, truely inspiring still young in the cache game [find 113] but I think it'll be a long time before I'll come across a quality puzzle as this. Thanks for the effort, emails, guidence to read the clues. Hee hee found on 17/5/12 17-5=12 nice date.
Cheers

#3561. I've been pretty slack on the puzzle front lately, but chipped in on this one with Troodles and La Vista. We were relieved to solve not long before heading down to Chch for our Easter visit. Many thanks for a gnarly old puzzle. TFTC.

Despite being now resident in the N Is, I keep an eye on new Christchurch puzzles and was intrigued when this one popped up. Unfortunately I am blind to stage 1 and was unable to progress far with stage 2, so put it aside. A couple of weeks ago, while we were on a flying visit to Canterbury, La Vista mentioned this puzzle and that we should try a joint effort solving- if 2 heads are better than 1, then surely 4 heads must even better!
And it turned out to be a great team effort, with everyone chipping in with their ideas. The last layer took the most effort and no doubt took the CO some time as well when creating the puzzle. Loved it!
Thanks for the creative puzzle and the easy hide.

Glimmer glimpse of inspiration at the start,
Wayward fuzzy logic weighted in the dark.
If these be layers of 8ManAfter genus onion,
I've grown humongous occular bunions [B)]
Therapy sessions gazing blankly into space
Bamboozled by chronic cyber toxic waste! [xx(]
Insane thinking creation of perspective inspiration
Is a matter much mega more than finders' perspiration !!
Ecstatic this final matter is peacefully laid to rest,
Cache extreme go wham TKO [B)] simply (?!?) the best!!


We started out as a mottley crew in the wilderness but our survivor tactics were to team wrestle this monster which had more heads than the mythological Hydra ! Combined talents eventually knocked this bloomin' beautie off ! Hoped to come here together with the SW&T team but they were attending graduations for GSc degrees in Nelson & other half of LV had gone fishing, but fighting formation wasn't required to locate the treasure chest. I literally polished off the cache - the writing on the lid had faded so I took it to my geochariot, cleaned the lid & wrote on both sides so should last for a while with the added perspective.

I signed the log book on a sunny Sunday morning as this is a dot day & noted this would be La Vista's cache # 2428 on 8/4/12, for 8ManAfter's GC338HM geocache - note the 8's. Is this really significant ? Just a matter of perspective!?!

This entry was edited by La Vista on Tuesday, 10 April 2012 at 08:03:28 UTC.

Smiley gained while doing a pick up from Uni.

Thanks again 8ManAfter

Whew, what a mission! Got there in the end, now I just need to go and claim the smiley. Thanks 8manafter

After staring at it blankly for god knows how long, like what most people do I assume - somehow I made it to the final level in the wee hours of this morning, but now the final level has me stumped... oh well, I guess its back to looking blankly for me

#2617
A D5 cache. How difficult does that make it? In some cases I have looked at a cache page, frowned and moved on. This one caught my eye, well in fact both of them as they looked deeply into the page. The first couple of levels were pretty straightforward, but some feedback from the CO when I was way off stopped me getting stuck - until the last part that is. The input to that level was mindboggling, just like looking at one of Moneydorks number crunching puzzles. Total black out. So who did I meet within a couple of hours of starting my caching holiday in NZ? Yes, 8ManAfter! After some pumping he gave me a single word. With that it was possible to crack the problem this morning and then log the find in the afternoon. A really fun (I won't mention frustrating, time consuming, brain wracking) puzzle cache. Kudos! TNLN TFTC

Started to look at this a couple of days ago in preparation for my forthcoming yearly visit to New Zealand. I have had a fun journey so far learning lots of things about perspective. I am on Level 5 which feels daunting so I hope that I can solve this before I arrive. The clock is ticking - less than 3 weeks to go...ds8300

I made good progress the day this was published, and thought I was on the way to a FTF as I was heading past the general area that afternoon. Then I struck a stumbling block, and due to time constraints didn't dig deeper, but fired an email off to the CO wondering if there was an error. No came the reply - "the fun is only just starting". The next layer was solved later that night but then I was stumped - goodbye FTF. Other priorities meant it was put aside for a couple of weeks, then I made a small bit of progress. I mentioned where I had got to with Team_gaters earlier this week and he confirmed I was on the right track and what to look for. Over the next few nights I plugged away at it and everything fell into place last night. What a mission, many puzzles in one. With chores to do in town once the kids got home from school, finding the cache was added to the list. Cache easily found just before 6pm. Just as I replaced the cache I was caught in the act by the CO! Thanks again for a challenging and fun cache - a favourite.

It's been a month since the cache was published, so I've added some hints to encourage more finds!

Oh my goodness me ! Layers like I have never seen before and so incredibly cleaver each one. Required some help along the way from 'the experts.' to which we are very grateful. Too many hours , too many blind alleys would be the order of the day! One of those where you learn so much on your way through the puzzle. Really considered saving this one for the 4 X 4 challenge but it was simply burning a hole in our GPS and could not stand it any longer. Once I had worked though the last bit and admired the work involved enough was enough. It just had to be found. Little G pounced quickly on the well set up cache . Thanks for the ******* monster ! LGM

1st to log, 2TF. Team effort in solving with Kiwi Moose (who got out earlier then me and was FTF). I wouldn't have been able to solve by myself; KM has a particular skill set that I know nothing about. I had an epithany for the final step and with dogged determination co-ordinates were 'soon' in hand this morning. A most interesting and fun puzzle with ever changing perspectives. Went out on a solo mission this evening to collect. A quick muggle free find on a cold blustery evening. Thanks for all the effort in creating the puzzle. Most Cool (even cooler - I have learnt something!).

A FTF on a great puzzle. The rough gist of this was worked out last week with Team Gators but a trip to Nelson got in the way of the final perspective. A few more looks at it today together finally got it sorted out and the final GZ location spied. With TG out of the race (so he claimed, little did I know he'd sent his other TG members for a possible sneaky FTF) it was a lovely pristine logbook that greeted me this afternoon.
Thanks for the puzzle, 'tis a while since I've FTF'd one of these in Chch and the creative way it went from step to step. Took the TB, time to see where it can end up. Cheers!

Fantastic efforts guys - in real admiration LGM

Published