A Non-geocaching Puzzle....

March 26, 2005

Not totally wasted, I did find a cache there, it was quite by accident since I negelected to take any waypoints.

On the way down I resoned that the points were a line of fence posts and the wavy line a loose piece of fencing wire, and I did in fact find a feature in the field that matched this idea.... with a hole at the base of one of the posts!

And there were no logs in the cache today other than mine, a couple yesterday but that was it so if there was a GC'r there he didnt bother grab the cache

Edited March 26, 2005 by -Phoenix-

March 26, 2005

Good thinking that person!

I can think of a charity close to the hearts of many geocachers that could benefit. This way there would be no arguments

If that's too subtle then think of a very big wave!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

The Tsunami appeal closed ages ago, there were several reports in the news that they had received more money than they were able to use/distribute and were looking into ways of holding it for future disasters or returning it to donors.

If anyone has a few quid they really want to give to charity then I would urge you to give it to a cause where it will make a difference rather than jumping on the bandwagon. There are many charities out there to whom a small amount of money would make a difference, rather than just being a drop in the ocean, if you will pardon the pun. Hearing everyone still going on about it like it was the worst thing to ever happen is really starting to get my goat.

March 26, 2005

doh, I thought they were refering to the RNLI!!!!

Anyway, my appeal of preferance is Air Ambulance, being a Motorcyclist and mountaineer Ive always felt obliged to support this.

All a bit accademic anyway since we cant find it!!!

March 26, 2005

Well done, Phoenix, on making the run for us. Sorry you didn't strike gold. Can you describe the site a bit? Is there an obvious footpath meeting the road? Anyone else there? I will be in Birmingham next weekend but everything must surely be resolved before then.

March 26, 2005

Its a field roughly rectangualr with no obvious footpath and few features of any interest, the fence alternates between hedge and post and wire fence.

The whole area is flat with no signifigant contours, and on the horizon there is a steeple at a place called something begining with L (I looked, there is no steeple at a place begining with Y)

The most signifigant features in the field are posts in the hedgerow and indeed there are a row of unusual posts alongside the road/downstroke of the 7 in that they are reinforced with 6 inch square posts which I feel is probably VERY signifigant and worth a through investigation with a metal detector......a tree or two, and a style at the start of the footpath, and no visible style at the other end of the footpath

1.8k · March 26, 2005

As for the T issue - that was why I said organisations involved in the relief effort. They may have said they have sufficient funds for the short term relief effort needed to save lives, but they all do continuing work saving lives in poor countries arround the world whether they are hit by big waves or not.

March 28, 2005

The area certainly isn't brimming with local landmarks or gold-diggers

although I think they may have been here!

2.5k · March 28, 2005

Good thinking that person!

I can think of a charity close to the hearts of many geocachers that could benefit. This way there would be no arguments

If that's too subtle then think of a very big wave!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

The Tsunami appeal closed ages ago, there were several reports in the news that they had received more money than they were able to use/distribute and were looking into ways of holding it for future disasters or returning it to donors.

Oi, I didn't say that, Cancer research charities get all my charity money. I have been misquoted! It was Hornet.

Edited March 28, 2005 by Alibags

March 28, 2005

yup, thats the field, ther are few fields as unremarkable as this one is, and there are quite a few pock marks that suggest the obvious spots have been swept already

1.8k · March 29, 2005

I've been away for the weekend so did not see how this topic developed but since it seems that the treasure has been found, unless I have missed something the only way we will find out if the surmises are correct is for one of us to join the Armchair Treasure Seekers Club and get the April Newsletter or read it online.

It seems from some of the postings that some of us could be interested?

Anyway congratulations to Phoenix and Beer Monster for getting out there and trying.

Edited March 29, 2005 by John Stead

1.7k · March 30, 2005

but since it seems that the treasure has been found,

How do you work that out John? I'm not sure that is has been found yet.

-

March 30, 2005

Their website says:

Current Hunts

The following (listed in reverse chronological order of date published) are hunts that are 'current' - unsolved and the closing date (where one applied) has not passed. Click on the names for more information.

And this one is still listed so I guess it's still up for grabs!

1.8k · March 30, 2005

How do you work that out John? I'm not sure that is has been found yet.

-

Phoenix and Beer Monster thought so! What inside information have you?

March 30, 2005

NO, I dont think its been found, I just think that someone has searched parts of the field with a metal detector

but, saying this, if someone does have a metal detector, then I think there are still areas that are worth searching

1.7k · March 30, 2005

Edited March 30, 2005 by SlytherinAlex

March 30, 2005

I've just visited the Quest4Treasure forum and found the following posts that I think you should know about.

Both were posted yesterday and are from the Archimagus (who set the hunt).

The forum can be found at Quest4Treasure

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The gold is one of the coins from the Galaxy FM hunt - but there is no intentional link between Lucky 7 and that hunt (other than the treasure, of course!)

Having read the posts on the board to date, one thing I can say (which will probably eliminate a few theories) is that no part of the solution has anything to do with a river.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Archimagus

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...or any other sort of waterway

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope this helps, good luck to all hunting, I'm stumped! :rolleyes:

JackieC :unsure:

Edited March 30, 2005 by JackieC

3.7k · March 30, 2005

JackieC,

Thanks for the help...it looks like the search is still on-going.

If you're stumped - why not look at the (very likely) solution, above! Or are you saying that you don't think it's correct?

Surely the fence posts seen by Phoenix are the clue to the detailed location?

HH

1.7k · March 30, 2005

If you're stumped - why not look at the (very likely) solution, above!

I can also tell you that the person who set the puzzle has read the posts on this forum and says that there is nothing to suggest that the puzzle has been solved. :rolleyes:

-

March 30, 2005

hm.... I guess the question is how warm are we...

There are a few elements of this puzzle that we can satifactilly say we have cracked, that being the stuff that leads us to this particular field.

There are still a number of elements that are unsolved, these being the L and Y, the wavy line, the Points (including the one under the C) and lets not discount the colours of the letters.

The field could just be the starting point, with the wavy line and other clues directing us from there...

3.7k · March 30, 2005

Phoenix,

You could well be correct: I have reason to believe that the puzzle should lead to

"within an inch or so (without the need for metal detectors)".

That should help quite a bit - at least we know not to go randomly digging around the field, and we also know that there is more to solve in this puzzle yet as we haven't pin-pointed the spot for sure!

The colours may be significant - perhaps in that the grey ones (greyed-out) are merely "filler" to make the clue spell something ("LUCKY"). The U and K are green (land?) and the sea a sort of sea-blue. I could be wrong about all this, of course!

HH.

March 30, 2005

... perhaps in that the grey ones (greyed-out) are merely "filler" to make the clue spell something ...

My thoughts exactly.

My reading of the clue is that the treasure is furthest from the C in the UK. The roads and footpaths at the cache site exactly match the 7 on the picture, so I don't think we're wrong there. I think the wiggly line simply implies a long way (furthest). I think the diamond-shaped 'full stop' after the 7 could be the cross-section of the signpost for the footpath, which is just outside the field on the road side of the stile. The alignment is pretty much perfect. Those after the other letters are just there to make it less obvious. There was a soft piece of ground about 20cm across just to the north-east side of the sign that looked recently dug. It was filled with leaves and a red drink-bottle cap. Needless to say I had a nose around in there and poked about with a stick, but to no avail. :unsure:

If anyone has a metal detector, I'd give it a crack. Also, I don't think the goodies would be buried on private ground, so not in the field.

The other thing to remember is that the finder might not have let anyone know. :rolleyes:

March 30, 2005

that hole was dug by me :rolleyes:

March 30, 2005

That explains a lot! :rolleyes:

3.7k · March 30, 2005

I don't suppose you considered uprooting the footpath sign? Or is it too well fixed? Obviously I'm not advocating vandalising the sign if it's well-rooted, but sometimes they can be pulled out then re-inserted quite easily, without any noticeable disturbance. If it was a geocache, I'd look carefully at the sign to see whether it had a craftily-concealed hiding place in it (just like GCXXXX - I'd better not say which one, but it's not too far from the place in question!).

I meant "and the C a sort of sea-blue" earlier, by the way.

HH

March 30, 2005

I know Im reitereating a lot of stuff (thinking on ones feet), but those marks may just be 'points'

in which case the clue literally says

the furthest point from the C in UK, about here.

The arrow on the footpath points to the style, so, its quite likely in the imediate area of the style

3.7k · March 30, 2005

I'm sure you're right as far as that, so I think we're looking at the correct general area on the ground. But I'm convinced that there's something in the puzzle which gives a clue good enough to allow the exact position of the treasure to be deduced - to within an inch.

What is it? :rolleyes:

Could it be something to do with the Parish boundary marked on the map?:

Edited March 30, 2005 by Happy Humphrey

March 30, 2005

Image of the puzzle superimposed on the map at the same scale :

Browser

1.7k · March 30, 2005

I reckon it's definitely there somewhere. Note that the nearest cache to that location is The cache furthest from the sea.

T

March 30, 2005

Hi,

I've been reading the postings with interest for the last few days, as I'm the setter of the puzzle. However, I'd resisted posting anything so far as I had not seen a complete solution...until now.

The solution as detailed in Beer Monster's post is pretty much word perfect. I felt it only fair to interject here, to prevent people from wasting their time with other theories.

One thing which isn't clear from the posting is if all sides of the footpath signpost were searched. It should (hopefully) be clear from the clue which side to check, hence the comment about 'within a couple of inches'.

If all sides were checked, then I'm afraid it would appear that the gold has been found previously, and that the finder remained silent.

If not, then the gold is potentially still there.

Whichever way it is, congratulations are in order to all members of the 'team' on this board who contributed to finding the solution so quickly. I hope that you've enjoyed it & that the gold is still out there for someone to find.

3.7k · March 30, 2005

Thanks for letting us know - don't tell those on the Other Forums just yet, please - I think they're just about to "twig"! It's very frustrating - I'd have been out studying the footpath sign tonight had I been within 2 hours of the area! I don't think anyone has yet had a really good look at the signpost, although perhaps someone will tomorrow...

HH.

1.8k · March 30, 2005

Archimagus, thanks for putting us out of our misery! :unsure:

And thanks for an excellent puzzle, too! :rolleyes:

All that remains is for someone to go along and check the other sides of the post, if they haven't been checked already...

3.7k · March 30, 2005

Particularly the south-east side...

March 30, 2005

Particularly the south-east side...

Exactly...why was the NE side of post checked when the arrow points at the SE side of the post.... :huh:

March 30, 2005

Because I was stupid enough not to take the picture with me when I visited!

Didn't make the same mistake twice though. :huh: :huh:

Thanks, Archimagus, an excellent puzzle. And thanks to all you guys too. A generous cheque will be winging its way to my pet cause - leukemia research. And any of you who find yourselves in my area (Solihull), drop me a line and I'll buy you a beer!

For info, the box was well hidden under long grass right against the south-east side of the sign, and only just covered with topsoil. There's a small-box-shaped hole there now.

March 30, 2005

Absolutely brilliant! I was afraid it had gone. Nice one Beer Monster.

March 31, 2005

Well Done Beer Monster

2k · March 31, 2005

Well done Beer Monster on finding the treasure. :huh: :huh:

Way out of context and slightly geeky, what car do you drive with upholstery like that? Is it an old MG?

March 31, 2005

No - that's the chair by my pc! I drive a Megane cabriolet - it does have leather seats though.

2k · March 31, 2005

No - that's the chair by my pc! I drive a Megane cabriolet - it does have leather seats though.

Leather upholstery in the car AND at the computer! Looks like you'll need the coin to pay the overdraft! :huh:

Seriously though, well done! I went and looked last weekend as I was close by doing some photos for a Cross country event. I didn't even think to look at the sign post

3.7k · March 31, 2005

Excellent, BM!

Superb cache box, as well - thanks for the entertainment, Archimagus.

Thanks are due to Rutson for alerting us to this.

How about someone leaving a Lucky 7 puzzle (micro?)geocache in place right just there, so others can enjoy the same search and find? If Archimagus will give permission to use his puzzle, that is.

Once this forum topic disappears, the answer will become obscure again...

HH

Edited March 31, 2005 by Happy Humphrey

1.7k · March 31, 2005

Nice one Beer Monster. Glad it was a cacher that bagged it!

T

March 31, 2005

How about someone leaving a Lucky 7 puzzle (micro?)geocache in place right just there, so others can enjoy the same search and find?

I think that would be a brilliant idea! Could it be Archimagus' first hide perhaps?

2k · March 31, 2005

How about someone leaving a Lucky 7 puzzle (micro?)geocache in place right just there, so others can enjoy the same search and find?

I think that would be a brilliant idea! Could it be Archimagus' first hide perhaps?

There's already a cache there. It's called The cache furthest from the sea.

I think another cache at the coins location would break the "proximity" rule

March 31, 2005

Fantastic news! Really pleased to hear that the gold was still there & hearty congrats to Beer Monster for retrieving it.

A Lucky 7 cache at the site sounds like a great idea - I'm happy for anyone who wishes to set this up, unfortunately I'm likely to be busy setting other treasure hunts in the near future

Glad you all enjoyed the hunt, keep a look out for another hunt soon in the same vein. However, having seen the speed at which Lucky 7 was dissected, I'm thinking that the new hunt may have to be just a tad more taxing!

If anyone's interested, I am working on a more complex hunt with a colleague which will be published by the Armchair Treasure Hunt Club later this year (www.treasureclub.net). You will need to join the Club to participate (details on the website), but the hunt carries a much more valuable treasure than Lucky 7, and it will be buried gold.

Happy hunting!

3.7k · March 31, 2005

There's already a cache there

Yes, I didn't check where this one was exactly, so I didn't realise it was bang on top of the treasure! What a pity, it would have been nice to preserve such a good puzzle....

HH.

3.3k · March 31, 2005

Brilliant!!! Well done folks!!!

1.7k · March 31, 2005

Very well done Beer Monster. I was headed down there today but would have been looking in a slightly different place, but using similar principles. You saved me a wasted trip.

Nice that a cacher found the cash, so to speak.

March 31, 2005

so what's the next one to solve? Come on guys, you are good at this and teaming together clearly worked.

1k · March 31, 2005

Way to go Beer Monster, my congratulations also, Cachers Rule!!

3.7k · March 31, 2005

Having been presumptious enough to act as self-appointed treasure-hunt forum "spokesman" for the geocaching team on this venture, I received several congratulatory messages from the denizens of the two treasure hunt forums.

I won't bother quoting them, but they offered sincere congratulations and expressed their astonishment at the speed and precision of our puzzle-solving.

They took "defeat" with good grace and dignity too - no sour grapes. Good for them!

I hope Archimagus's next one is buried on the Isle of Man so I can have a go...

HH.

A Non-geocaching Puzzle....

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment