Almost CACCtus

Saturday, 12 October 2013

Barad had mentioned that he had been chasing up drawings for some geocaches he was planning and soon after the CACC series began to get published. One look at the first one had Peter flummoxed but Sue made a suggestion stemming from the picture on the cache web site. This started the wheels in motion as we managed to solve it without too much nudging from Barad, but when the next two came up Peter was hopelessly lost and had to make repeated entreaties to Barad for help; which was willingly supplied. On the appointed search day we set off with Peter convinced in his own mind where the first 3 caches would be. However as CACC 1  was neared the GPS was insisting it was a good 150m off and Peter became convinced that he had copied a coord wrongly. So as it eventually was getting even further off, we switched to look for CACC 2 and found it was right where we were standing. Eventually we collected CACC 3  and headed back by a very steep old track. The GPS was indicating that CACC 1 was getting close and we then spotted a location that matched the hint, so perhaps Peter hadn’t got the coord wrong after all; it just wasn’t where he had assumed. As the spot was closed in on, some humanlike adjustments were noted, but it looked to have been tampered with and there was no container where it should be. After scanning the nearby bush a black plastic object was noticed a good 50 metres downhill and that proved to be the cache. Now that all the information for CACC 4  was obtained we decided that the 300m stiff climb up to the locale might as well be done to finish off the series. Not that getting this data was without some brain scratching, because the first bit of information we had, came from CACC 2 and that had us confused. Within the container was a card with conversion factors and we thought that was for the CACC 4 puzzle. We couldn’t make progress, but wrote down the log book instructions. It was not until CACC 3 that things gelled.

CACC 1

Although this was planned as the first search it ended being the third simply because Peter didn't believe the GPS. The cache was not in the hiding spot but a search located it down the hill. Did a big rock slip or did a big wombat or wallaby pay a visit?

 

CACC 2

After Barad Bunch gave an extra hint for solving the puzzle, Sue immediately suggested the correct name, but it was how to use it that was too difficult. One vital additional bit of information was prised out of Barad. After that it didn't take too long to get the right answer.

CACC 3

Well this caused the most angst and a lot of time lost by Peter. A real struggle and several email requests made on Barad for assistance. Eventually Peter was able to apply the suggestions, although he didn't really understand the mathematics. One coord came out OK but the other did not, so he thought, but Barad said yes it did and sent some homework to do. Next morning BB asked if Peter arrived at a certain answer; well Peter hadn't even though he had used pen and paper to try. So the answer in the email was gladly accepted. Without the help this would have gone back on the too hard list. Our GPS's pointed to an object that appeared to match the hint, but on reaching it and there was a very significant mismatch. The real fella was located not far away.

CACC 4

Although the last of the data to solve this puzzle was obtained at the furthest distance from it and a stiff re-climb was involved we decided to go rather than return another day. At least for this one we did not have to call on Barad for help.