Primitive Methods Chapel Hill, Queensland, Australia
By Geoff Lewis on 18-May-13. Waypoint GC4CB4D

GC4CB4D Primitive MethodsOut for some caching with KerriMG. This has been in my solved list due a very long time so it was time to finally find it. Thanks to the generous clue it didnt take us long to have the cache in hand. Thanks for the mental workout keepingupwith

Nikid1 & I finally managed to have the same day off & after my dentist visit we headed out for some caching. Multi's are on our hit list today as well as whatever else we come across along the way. Nikid1 & I both had different coords for this one but one set matched the hint so that's where we headed first. We were lucky to make the find fairly quickly as there were plenty of places to search.Thanks for the puzzle & cache keepingupwith

On the way home I decided to grab this cache. It was a quick find at GZ. The cache was sign and replace back in location. keepingupwith thank you for placing and maintaining this cache for enjoyment of the caching community.

Such a great puzzle! Took a lot of thinking to crack it, and a great location for the final cache. TFTC

This was a challenge… and I’m very happy to finally reach the end of the line…

I spent awhile at GZ, despite the inclement weather, just hoping the cache would somehow magically reveal itself… after finally accepting that wasn’t working I set about a very random and increasingly frustrating search method… I may have vocalised my relief when finally uncovering the container…

Thanks keepingupwith

I was invited along with Willis007 and Kolour for a day of some short walking caches. Perfect for me as my legs have been feeling it of late. There were a few puzzle caches and a couple of multi and trads. As always the day is filled with huge laughs and some great stunt driving (no matter who is driving).

This was my first find for the day and a chance to revenge a DNF. I had 2 by previous finders with me today so I was confident for the find. However, it was spotted as we walked in; this was not here last time, I know as I cleaned the area last time, there was no way we missed it in its current position. Yes, it is the original log book so it is the appropriate cache, lol. So funny that we found it.

I signed the log and replaced the cache as found. Thanks for bringing me up here.

This was EPIC! Red herrings, dead ends, proper detective work required and a few late nights researching and second guessing everything. Had some GeoKidz help with the final find.
Thanks so much for the effort that went into this, time to Find Some Marbles….

Wow, 655 days between finds.

I have looked at this puzzle a few times and always got stuck at the same point. Yesterday I read it through again carefully and finally noticed where I was going wrong. After that it was fairly quick to solve using some modern methods.

Today I came expecting I might need to do some serious excavations at the gz. It wasn’t as bad as I thought but I did need to get dirty and do quite a bit of gardening and geo-engineering. After about 20min of this I had turned up nothing. Read some logs about being at the wrong location and thought I might have also made a mistake so I went for a bit of a walk around but couldn’t see any other likely spots. Then I read RoddyC’s comment and decided to expand my excavation zone. Some more gardening and geo-engineering and finally there it was!

The cache is still in excellent condition. As I signed the log my “Leave now for school pickup” alarm went off so I quickly reverse engineered the site to make it look a bit more natural and hurried home.

Thanks for another clever puzzle cache!

no luck for me here today.
Even with the help of a previous finder we had no luck,

there area has been groomed a little recently so maybe it has been taken.

I had worked out the co-ordinates a few weeks ago but didn't have time to find the cache, so today headed to gz and found fairly easily. I enjoyed this puzzle as at first I had no idea, then I discovered something which made sense. Found clue 1 easily enough but it took longer to find clue 2 as I went to the reference point but that wasn't necessary. Thanks for showing me this place and some of its history. It was fun so a fp. This is No. 4 in this series - still to do Finding Marbles which at this stage I have no ideas. The cache was bigger than expected, a small size. Tftc and series.

I had collected three of this series over a long stretch of time but decided today was the day to finish them! The fam wanted to go for a walk so I suggested the dam, but we had to make two stops on the way this was the first and the quickest find of the day thanks to the hint. TFTC ️ 4 down, 2 to go!

I have collected a few of this series now, so time to finish it! Well, hopefully by then end of the year... This cache was found in good condition. TFTC!

I had a look at this one last night as part of my mission to clear Mt Coot-tha.

I went down the wrong track initially, but very soon found some information which proved to put me on the right track. The name of the cache became very clear, I was pretty confident I was on the right track. Before too long, I had a likely set of numbers.

I ventured to GZ this afternoon and found a muggle right near where I needed to go. I wandered around the corner for a while, hoping he would disappear. After about 10 mins I made my way back - he was still there. I did the 'I'm on an important phone call' thing as I wandered back past him, and made myself comfortable nearby. As it looked like it could be a long waiting game, I wandered closer to GZ, continuing to speak with nobody on the phone. A casual look here and there, then a quick glance around to see the muggle had wandered off, I very quickly had the cache in hand.

Noted the clue, signed the log and returned all as found.

Thanks Geoff Lewis and keepingupwith for the cache. I thoroughly enjoyed working this out, and learned a lot along the way. A fav from me.

Having done the two Coot-tha Resting caches a while ago, I returned to the series to see if I could nut out some of the other puzzles. This one caused me no end of grief, especially when I made the wrong leap of logic about a keyword, which led me to focus on an event of an entirely different kind, in an entirely different era.

Once I had my timeline on the right keel (which took me an age), it was a quicker process to get some numbers. I had also just solved another puzzle in the series and I noticed I could probably kill two birds with one stone in the vicinity of GZ. And that's exactly how it unfolded: I logged Primitive Methods, and I stashed away some info that would come in handy for a different cache.

All good with the container and log here. Thanks, Geoff Lewis!

We were on a bit of a man hunt today for some caches that we had on the solve pile but haven’t been able to get to due to cache blockers stopping us from going out for a full day as they require lifts somewhere. Today we told them that we were out all day so don’t plan anything that requires a lift, instead they invited everyone over to our house. Oh well as long as the house is standing and we have some caches under our belt when we get home alls well that ends well.

Back to the task at hand, the puzzle was interesting and primitive at the same time but certainly not quick to solve!

When we pulled up we noticed a lady that didn’t seem the full quid passing backwards and forwards, so once she had gone forwards enough we dove in there and started the search. This is one of those moments that could be quick or not, we’ll leave you guessing what it was for us.

Tftc keepingupwith

Found with Waggy during a couple of big days of caching.

Thanks Geoff Lewis...any relation to Wally?

There had been some plans and previous working out of coords for various targets with dahumbug so when it was confirmed we would be in town a geo tour of a difference was pressed into action.
We made a bit of a mess of this one having stuffed up some digits which to our surprisegot as to another location that seemed to fit the hint. The error of our ways (ok I’ll take the blame ie error of my ways) was soon realised and sorted. Thankfully we only had to shift a couple of hundred meters and the find was made. TFTC.

After a hot and sweaty hike around the Gold Creek hills, I stopped by this cache on the way back home. It took a little hunting even with the great hint, but find it I did!

Thanks for placing and maintaining this cache **KUW**, this makes #4772. Discover our TB

..........@__,
/|____|\\_/__________|\
\\________/_TGQNRV_/
~~~~^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^~

3108

Friday. Mrs SP was out today to find some nemesis caches and also pick up a couple of randoms.

Finally! Found this cache after a previous DNF for us. This time, it still took a few minutes to find however, but it is there! Yay. It was a wet day today, which was nice, but it made the area I was in quite slippery so I took extra care here!

This was the 2nd of 8 caches found on today's trip.

Thanks ***keepingupwith***, for showing us this place.

Smiley #1816 Found 18 January 2018 9:54 am

Snickersallan and I met up with RoddyC and Patrol14 to do some caching after solving some puzzles.

Took awhile to find this one even with 5 pairs of eyes. It's really like finding needles in a haystack.

TFTC Geoff Lewis. All good with this cache. (We didn't find any clues though).

Visiting the local area with E(: today before teaming up with RoddyC and patrol14 to look for a few caches. Team effort and PAF to get us in the right direction with this one, once at GZ it took more time than it should have to find the prize.
Thanks Geoff Lewis for the good puzzle and hide, TFTC

Out with RoddyC, snickersallan and E for a day of caching. Looked everywhere and mrs rc found the cache. SL then returned.

Found on 18 January 2018 at 9. 58am. TFTC, Geoff Lewis.

We came across your cache, Geoff Lewis, while visiting with snickersallan, Patrol 14 and E.

Nicely crafted multi. Enjoyable. About a meter above rather than 2 feet.

Log signed and replaced at 9:55 am on 18 January 2018. TFTC.

NOTE to CO. There was no clue in the cache.

Wednesday. Slow Puncture was out and about today around the Western Suburbs.

We looked where we thought we should be looking for this one - even to the point of our working out of the co-ords matching the clue, but came up empty handed.

This was the only DNF we had on this trip.

Thanks ***keepingupwith***, for showing us this place anyway, hopefully we will be back!

A little bit of recalculation and an easy find this time. Thanks for fixing it up. TFTC

I have found a new spot for the cache (hopefully more resilient than it's previous homes) and reset the puzzle. Fingers crossed that this problem child will be a little bit more secure now.

I've not forgotten, just been busy. Will hopefully get time at the end of the week to pop in a replacement.

An afternoon of puzzling with WMG187 before heading to Kenmore to drink beer with fat tabbies

We stopped here during the afternoon and searched high and low. Then decided to accost the CO over a beer (or two) and stumble back here in the dark for another look-see. See it really has gone missing!

All I ever really wanted was the clue for Beadle's Needles Now to sort that puzzle out!!!

TFTC Geoff Lewis, much appreciated on this balmy evening

This one has has gone missing again. I will try to find a more robust spot near by.

No luck with this one either but stumbled on what we needed for the other one. Watch this space

Out with Dora the Explorer, collecting a few caches. Some time ago, I found all the information required to get the numbers for the final location. That day, there was a big problem with a lot of traffic banked up on a nearby busy road, so I thought better of it. Today, I had the time so we went to hunt for the final. We parked not too far away and made our way down and across to GZ. There, I was able to quickly locate the cache. Log signed, cache rehidden and we were on our way again. TFTC

Had a lot of fun getting to this cache.

Where do I start? I think that I checked out almost every death end in this maze. As a start, I visited the recommended way point. Hmmm...??? After some googling I was so confident that I had tackled event one that I didn't even bother to have a look at the check sum. On Tuesday I figured out that the primitive tool that I needed was neatly packed in a moving box in the corner of the garage. With the tool mentioned I made my way to another way point to look for evidence of event two. I left empty-handed that day but got an idea where I else could search.
The next day, I got an opportunity to chat with a previous finder. I'm glad that she didn't leave the road and hit a tree from laughter when I told her what I had found out so far. I got a hint that my interpretation of some details was light years away from the CO's. So back to the drawing board I went.
I had another look at some things I had seen before but failed to recognise them as parts of this puzzle. Suddenly, it all clicked together and I discovered event one. This led me to a suspicion what event two could be as it matched the clues nicely. A quick dash to another WP before school pick up and absolutely no evidence of said event could be found. ??? Ok, let's move to the footage of event one and try to resume from there. The marbles slowly clicked but I still managed to miss a part although it was staring at me. On the way home, I managed to add up 1+1 and a quick check at home revealed that I had all the info to calculate the GZ.
This morning after school drop off I went to collect the cache just to find out that I did not update the cache location. Who cares? Somewhat familiar with the location and with the help of the hint it was an easy find. As the location was quite busy with people walking their dogs I moved a few metres away to sign the log. When I wanted to put everything back in the box I dropped a primitive tool supposed to be used for a certain method and it took me ages to find it as it matched the surroundings perfectly...
This puzzle is a master piece and every detail made sense in the end. Definitely a favourite point from me. TFTC KUW

Thursday fun with Raynersinoz and barbbowman has rolled around again and today we returned to the area we has searched last week to turn our DNF into a smiley. We found the cache exactly where we had been looking last week.

Thank you keepingupwith for having placed the cache and for maintaining it for everyone to enjoy.

After our visit last week that ended in no joy, barbbowman, JAT and I returned today to have another go (thanks keepingupwith for replacing the cache ). We approached GZ, with everything crossed...a quick poke and a prod, a bit of a rummage around and...woo hoo, there's a cache!!! I loved the puzzle and am so glad we were able to pick this one up. TFTC keepingupwith

thursday time ... happy birthday mrs jat [:o)][:o)][:o)]

we are back ... and so is the container ... woohoo

a quick find exactly in one of the spots we were laooking last week
even though we had our clue we wanted to turn the [?] into a

Checked and the pesky cache has gone walkabout. I will scout out a better home, but for now I have put a replacement in the same spot.

Was out for the day with barbbowman and Raynersinoz ... we searched and searched, but sadly to no avail.

Thank you keepingupwith for having placed the cache and for maintaining it for everyone to enjoy.

well it is that time of the week agian ... yep thursday fun

well rio had an idea ... yep sounds logic
off we go and nope
oh wait ... what about
tada ... oh there is that bit ... woohoo

well we searched and searched
a pm with info and photos to the co
yep right there
oh dear ... not for us today

Last week, Mrs JAT, barbbowman and I headed out to Chapel Hill to begin the Haystack series, starting with Coot-tha Resting (Part 1). We had a lot of fun while collecting information at the different waypoints, so we decided we would look for more of the Haystack Series this week. So over the weekend, I thought I'd tackle the puzzles. I was fortunate with this one because after a few minutes using Dr Google, I was pretty certain I knew what the first event related to. Awesome, time to move onto Event 2 . This one was a little trickier. Hmmmmmmm. Initially a computer search didn't bring up many useful things, but I just happened to notice something and typed in a few words and bingo! Ohhhhhhh, that makes sense, I get it now . Fast forward to today and after some discussion with my Thursday Fun buddies we headed out to a promising location. After a short search we found the first clue we were on the right track and another piece of info soon fell into place. Oh, that's not what I expected, but yay! Happy dance time! Now we had some numbers that were looking good, so it was time for a walk. We had a lovely chat as we walked to GZ, it really was a beautiful day. The hint matched the area we were in and we searched and searched and searched some more. Oh no, no matter where we searched, there was no container. We sent the CO a message and he confirmed we were in the right spot, but there was just no luck for us today . Oh well, there is always next time...TFTH keepingupwith and I loved the puzzle

I decided to employ anything but primitive methods to research this cache. Dr Google and his mates were hired and soon enough I had some good looking information. Must admit to a little bit of a chuckle at this cache name, when it all clicked.

Given historians can't use these new fangled GPS thingies, having taken a walk to my Thin Place late this afternoon, on the way home I called in at my chosen location and recorded what was needed. A few quick calcs, and a shortish walk (wish I had driven - my legs are still sore from yesterdays adventure) , and I was at a likely final location.

A short while later and my name was in both the log books I found in the container.

Many thanks Geoff Lewis

Pete

#2,671

This one has annoyed me for some time. I made initial progress but could get no further. A number of my caching compatriots had found it so it was grating on me every time I looked at the little cluster of ?s on my map. I decided to take another look at it today and to my amazement was able to make a little more headway. I was so excited that I raced out straight after work today to progress things to their conclusion. While searching a couple of muggles walked my way so I stopped looking and just pretended I was out on a walk, though I was hardly suitably dressed for the environment and temperatures. They didn't give me a second look so after they disappeared from view I returned to searching and was finally able to add my name to the log book. 3 down, 2 to go. TFTC

This puzzle was completed in parts. I started a while ago and used my research skills and found a lot of interesting information and even some coordinates. Due to the note about possible dodgy coords I then went to the location and took some accurate coords and then made my way to GZ, however I was not successful in finding the cache that day. Today I decided to find the cache, and this time I managed to successfully find the cache . Very cool cache and history lesson. TFTC

A short while ago I put a crazy idea into Eskies5 head and to say she took it and run with it was an understatement, I can't believe we were only two caches from finishing this off. Just as we were pulling near GZ for this one the numbers for the final in this series became clear with just a slight change in thinking, Mr Eskys poor brain was fried after a long day and night solving puzzles and putting clues together to get to the final of this one and our next one.

It took a while to work out the best way to get to GZ but after crossing backwards and forwards we were able to make our way towards the final easily. Searching and finding the hide took a little longer than what we would have liked but we got there and now we can finally head towards the last one in this series. Whose crazy idea was this!?! TFTC

After Kestal mentioned this series I had been meaning to get around to reading through the cache pages to get my head around what we needed to do. Time got away so the night before last (as I didn't want to be puzzling last night with an early morning and long drive home again ahead of us ) at around 10pm I convinced Mr Esky to have a look at this one with me. The first piece of info came together easily enough but we found ourselves going around in circles after that...Around midnight I was done for the night and decided we could do some legwork on the day to figure out the rest so off I went to get ready. Returned only to find that Mr E had progressed in leaps and bounds (or maybe in tiny steps) to figure out what we needed to look for and between the two of us we checked a couple of options before the checksum gave us the green light around 1am!! An awesome feeling to get this one figured out . Now all that remained was to take the WP on the day.

We left this to last as we had already worked out the clue from home so it was only a matter now of converting this one to a smilie. WP taken and calcs done and we were soon figuring out a way to GZ. Exhausted and coming up empty and with the afternoon getting away on us I half suggested we leave this to get the final one and return if we had time. In reality we were only probably searching for a few minutes and Kestal persevered and soon came up trumps. So relieved to tick this one off after all the time we put into nutting it out. A fav point from us.

Another one that got me thinking and driving around in ever decreasing circles. I had the first part of the information that I need quite easily. Then it all started to go wrong. Even a visit to the way point was of no help to me.

I had a bit of an idea, but I did not want to waste more time on the wrong thing.

The CO was able to help with the next stage, which I had almost figured out for myself. I had the time to visit the correct place today and gather the next bit of information.

No worries working out GZ and somewhere I was all too familiar with now. [:o)][B)]

A nice quick find at GZ. There was no log in the cache though. I had my rite in the rain notebook with me so I added a sheet form it. That will suffice for a while.

Once again I got happily lost in the research for this one. It really is a fascinating world out there, even if most of it was found in here.

Now I just need to solve the final puzzle. How hard can it be? What could possibly go wrong?

Out and about in the area for a couple of day before staying at a friends place tonight.
I am close to completing my D/T grid a second time. [^]
And the final of this series looks like being a must.
Yesterday I found 3 of the series and have now found the next 2 today. Now to tackle the final.
Again, I needed a little help getting started on this cache. My Google search skills are not the best it seems.
Once I got going it seemed to flow and I soon had the cache in hand.
Thanks for the cache.

After a DNF 10 months ago I was keen to come back. Luckily I had checked the listing and made the offset.

I had determined the final location with a bit of armchair research. With GE I reckon I was able to spy the right headstone and determine the final location accurately enough.

KUW had confirmed that my estimate was good enough.

I stumbled down the path in the dark and headed over to GZ. New batteries in the torch proved to be useful. After some peering I spied the rock out of place.


thanks for the history, puzzle and cache kuw

Well, who'd've thunk I'd get this one done today I had done a little research last night, and got a good starting idea, but further googling took me right up the wrong path Mmmm, I thought that was that for the time being, but a chance chat to a previous finder gave me just the slightest nudge and I figured I knew where to go this afternoon Sure enough I was able to locate the right stuff, and all things aligned nicely with the checksums [^]

Numbers done, and I headed to GZ, but here things nearly came undone as it rained rather a lot last night, which made the path I wanted to take a tad unusable A bit of an overgrown bushbash had to occur, and yet again I had sandals on so that was fun! But finally the hint lined up, and after checking the coast was clear, I went in for the grab. Very pleased to get my name into this one's logbook Now just got to take a bit of a walk around Mt Coot-tha! 3 down. 2 to go [^] TFTC, keepingupwith.

This puzzle certainly had me up at night trying to get to the bottom of it all. I managed to come up with a few thoughts and ideas but nothing was leading me to the final light bulb moment. I put it to the side and left it sit for a bit. Today I knew I would be heading over this way to grab the other puzzle I had had much more luck with. I brought my computer for the lunch time break and decided to give this one another look see.

Sitting in the shade, at a table not far from the reference point I had another go at finding anymore relevant information. Oh well now, that looks interesting. YAY!!! All the pieces finally made sense Off we go then.... Jelly the Wonderdog and myself made our way to where we should be, a bit of this and that and I had a decent enough set of numbers.

We strolled to GZ and I spied a likely looking spot that matched the hint. On closer inspection the cache was soon peeking out at me. After a small happy cacher dance I pulled the log book out for signing. Log book signed, cache replaced, time to head for home and start putting this all together. On to the Beadle's Needle!

Thanks for the cache keepingupwith

The thing with puzzles is that I cant tell you all the fun I had without giving it away to others. I will have to tell you over a drink at a future event.

So I have recently been clearing pesky puzzles close to home and this little clump of blue question marks are next. I looked at them many times over time but didn't have a clue how to start. So on Sunday I went and visited a spot which was very nice but no help to me. Ok so back to the drawing board.

The next day at work I researched and researched and finally tried something different and made progress. Today at work I did my check sums and some more research and was very happy with my results. I couldn't wait to finish work to and ride my bike from the city out to here to start my search and find some clues for another of your caches.

What a lovely spot to visit for the first time. I soon had some more numbers and scribbles and excitedly went to GZ. Happy to sign this log as I couldn't find any marbles previously. Thank you for teaching me some new stuff and giving me a great reason to extend my exercise for the day. Im proud to say that no one gave me any hints on this one and I solved it myself for a change. TFTC

As already reported in Finding Marbles, these two little beauties have leapfrogged their way to the top of my favourite puzzle list. They are both very cleverly crafted. I enjoyed the investigation process, the field verification and the "aha" at the end.

Today was the ideal day to pick this one up since its recent re-enabling. Aberosenstingel and I were in the area so dropped past. Aberosentingel quickly converted into metres the required new offset. I ask you, who stores that sort of fact up in their head? Cache was found in very good condition and safely out of sight.

TFTC keepingupwith!

What a trip of a cache. I would love to describe my journey step by step but fear I would give too much away.

I first did some keyboard research and came up with an idea. When put into practice this idea proved fruitless. I then went to the waypoint and discovered a common theme which led me to another location.

At this location I made another discovery that gave me some confidence that I was making headway. After a thorough examination of the area I found what I thought I was looking for but it did not quite come together.

I went home and after a little more electronic searching two more penny's dropped and I had some coords.

Alas the cache was disabled so I waited until everything was back up and running. Thank you keepingupwith for making this happen so quickly.

I made a quick stop after work, applied the offset, and quickly had the cache in my hand.

This is a great puzzle that must have taken some time to create. There was obviously much research needed to make this cache so clever and multi layered. I love these type of local history caches. Favourite point for sure.

Ready to go again in a new spot not too far from the old. See the description for the additional offset.

After much electronic searching, added with some leg work i think I have some co-ords. I will have to wait and see of the cache is replaced. I really enjoyed the journey of discovery that this puzzle has taken me on. There are all sorts of red herrings and u turns to negotiate with this one.

On meeting the CO at the event today at the Kenmore, he confirmed that I had deduced the correct spot, and the container was missing; and he kindly gave me permission to log the find. With the clue in hand, I'm another step closer to completing this challenging series!

TFTC

Ok, will check on GZ.

Found and verified both the first and second steps and names today, but was stumped at GZ itself with too many possibly locations matching the hint and huge numbers of muggles. Hopefully its still there given the length of time without logs.

Finally able to log this one.. Took a while in coming. Just stuck on one part, but it turns out I was thinking in the right direction and knew how to solve it anyways! I find it very interesting finding about local history too. Having collected the necessary information a few weeks ago, I attempted to find it only to see that it was MIA.
Today I noted it was back in action so I picked it up after work. Geoson did the honors as I was in work attire but I would have grabbed it if I was on my own.. he was a real gentleman!
Now to tackle some of these other puzzles!
TFTC Keepingupwith

New cache in place.

Gone missing, will replace soon

Sorry no cigar today. I am blaming the darkness.

I'll be back.

This was another local puzzle that has caused me no end of grief.

I attempted to solve this one as part of the Lab Cache Frenzy, and managed to totally stuff it up. I got some answers that actually fit the cache description, but was just a curious happenstance that led to a whole lot of frustration.

With the release of this cache, that had a few extra pieces to it, I knew I had been on the wrong track. I stewed on it , over and over. I considered asking the CO for help, and even my trusty puzzle companion Egginthesky wasn't forthcoming with any assistance. I was thrilled when after a gazillion searches I finally lucked on the right piece of information. OMG so simple....yet.....

It was only after visiting the first waypoint that I finally understood the cache name, and I smiled a very wry grin. This is so Keepingupwith. I found the GZ coords and having read the previous finder logs, thought 'this is odd'. I searched and searched all the likely spots. I think I visited 3 times before I finally relented to ask the CO if it had been moved from its original hiding spot. YES! Well that changes everything! I know EXACTLY where it is!

After confirming 'Schrodingers Cats' state tonight, I headed over for a quick find. I wonder if I wouldn't pup the Terrain rating a little....

A cracker puzzle once again KUW, and had me guessing until the end. I am glad to have this ? turned into a smilie once and for all!

Knowing a couple of folks have solved this one I did a quick check on the way home to make sure the cache was in place. Everything looks like it is in order, so happy hunting when you come by next time!

Ok, so I have solved part two of this dastardly beast, and went for a search. The old iPhone has been particularly 'out' lately, and the offsets didn't seem particularly helpful. I had a wide search without luck before muggles thought they might use the area for what it was actually intended! oh well, not quite a DNF, but I had to walk away for now. I'll be back! It's not as though it is out of my way very much!

The date this cache was published was about the time that work commitments began consuming all my time (and more). I remember looking briefly at the second stage but made no progress. Caching time has since mostly been limited to a few finds while travelling.

Today was the first Saturday since then that I had some spare time. So what else to do but catch up on a few chores around the house - i.e. solve a few puzzle caches and get some exercise.

I returned to googling about this one and made about as much progress as previously. Tried various ideas and went off on several tangents before the stars aligned and an inkling of what to look for started to appear. A bit more research and the checksum was satisfied - looking good.

I decided to take some time and get some exercise. So, with a few other newer caches also in the GPSr, I set off in the direction of the ... . There I did what I had to do and had a final set of coordinates in hand. A short time later I was ready to search and soon had the container in hand.

There are so many ways that I could have not found the cache. No problems with the first stage - only a few minute to solve but the way forward on the second stage was not nearly so clear. Even at GZ I arrived and started to look in one possible spot before being disturbed by a muggle. While waiting for him to move on, I looked around a bit further and found another likely place - and even then only a second pass liberated the container.

Thanks kuw for another challenging puzzle. Hopefully it won't be so long till I get onto the next one.

Ok, is back up and ready again. I have added magnets and moved the cache. Please recalculate your offset if you had solved this previously.

This one is having attachment issues. Will try method #2 and if that fails, the fall back #3 method.

#1136: *FTF* at 7:50. Oh, how embarrassment....

Background: this cache was published as I was on my way home from work, and I immediately discounted it as too far, too hard, and too many other FTF hounds to compete with. But, after putting the kids to bed, I sat down and looked, and noticed there were still no logs. Hmm... ok, let's see if I can solve this...

30 minutes later, I had some numbers, and with still no logs online, I hopped into the car to try for it...

After then completely failing due to creating a noisy ruckus and attracting the attention of a dog and his muggles, I went home disappointed. Woke up in the middle of the night with an idea... and had a hard time getting back to sleep.

Awoke this morning to an email from the CO asking for my calculations... so I pulled them out and noticed one digit was wrong. It was almost insignificant... only a few metres out, yet.... it may well have been enough. Argh. At least it would have probably kept me away from the crunchy leaves that attracted attention...

Combined with the hint, I was ready to hit myself with a primitive club -- I had been sitting on top of the cache for several minutes last night, waiting for the muggles to give up on me, and not even noticed! [:(!]

Hmm, still no logs. I wonder if I can make a quick detour before work..... traffic might be fun....

So, 45 minutes after leaving home, I was finally back to GZ. Didn't even bother with the GPS this time, I knew where I was going.... and sure enough, I spied the cache from about 10m away -- it had dislodged from its hide and was sitting out in the open!

Another angry moment -- had I looked down last night, I could not have missed it. But no, I was intent on playing with my phone while the muggles dispersed, and I missed the bleeding obvious. [:(!]

I sat in the same spot I'd sat in last night, rectified the blankness of the log, and poked the cache back into where it obviously belonged, before battling the traffic back to work (another 45 minutes, I don't know how people put themselves through that every day!) to arrive only a bit later than usual. Phew.

Thanks for the cache and the puzzle, "Mrs Sue Kent" -- I really enjoyed the process of solving this one, and in that process I've learned a trick that may have saved me some time and driving around for another puzzle I recently claimed. Oh, and thanks too for the FTF prize -- I like these


This entry was edited by EngPhil on Friday, 14 February 2014 at 01:54:45 UTC.

Wow, what a trip... Congratulations to Engphil on putting it all together so fast, and from the other side of the city too: very impressive!
When the cache was published, Tinda13 and I jumped into a car and started driving, only to then realise we were looking at a 4-star puzzle. We turned around sadly and headed home to start doing some research.
I thought we had some advantage, given we had solved the lab cache version, which meant we had the first half solved already. We were beaten to the punch on that one by the Control freaks, but part of my process there was to consult my mother, who belongs to a number of local history groups. At first, she didn't seem too interested but the next time I saw her, she handed me a dossier of virtually everything there is to know about Spinkbrae cottage and surrounds... Handy!
In the meantime, I drove over to the WP to check it out. Hmmm...
So as I continued to struggle, after work today I rang mum again and after giving her the bits and pieces, she enlightened me about this and that. Hmmm... After a bit of extra googling, I had a feeling I knew a place that would be getting a visit on the way home.
I couldn't recall ever visiting this place before, which is pretty amazing for a number of reasons, but I wasn't there long before I was scribbling lots of useful numbers. I felt I had been led there by a very odd numerical coincidence indeed, but now everything made sense.
A short drive later and I was sitting comfortably... But the cache (nice to see you again; the CO has done wonders with you) was again on the ground. I reattached it even more firmly in its niche, after I had done the 2TF honours, of course. If only I'd rung my Mum last night...
Not to worry as I can laugh now (despite a degree of professional embarrassment at something I probably should have known earlier) and I guess the moral of this cache is, if anything seems a bit odd, there's probably a reason for it...
TFTC and a fave point from me for a memorable local puzzle where I learnt things!

First to solve? First to GZ? But there is a very noisy dog, and some extremely curious neighbors intent on investigating whatever sounds I was making crunching around in the leaves.

Assuming I have solved it right, this is very close to muggledom and stealth at night is impossible.

Shame, all this way only to get muggled out.

Congratulations to EngPhil for the FTS.

I will check my readings and calculations ASAP to make sure you are ending up in the correct spot. In the meantime I have added a clue to help at GZ. It shouldn't be a hard find once you get there.

Published

Dropped off impressively long lived and traveled trackable.