Geocaching, Wallingford Style

We’ve been chatting in e-mail with Peter G., aka “Dayspring”, about geocaching, a sort of big game of hide-and-seek: people hide “caches” (typically a small waterproof container with a log-book and maybe some fun trinkets for taking) all over the world, then publish the GPS coordinates on a web site (www.geocaching.com). The best geocaches involve some sort of puzzle or twist (such as an elaborate means of extracting the cache). Dayspring’s, for example, are “puzzles, some point out often overlooked artwork, and some (Totally Tubular series) have a unique method for actually getting the cache once you have found it….e.g., one has a spring at the bottom of a tube like a pinball, and shoots out of the top of the tube.” When a geocache is found, the find will log the find and then replace it for the next intrepid explorer to find.

Perusing the geocaching.com web site, we realize that there are dozens of geocaches all around Wallingford hiding under our noses (many placed by Dayspring and other Wallingfordites such as Camp Latona and our friend ScottRu). In order to view the details of the caches on geocaching.com, you’ll have to create an account (which, granted, is free), but it can still be a bit of pain, what with the back and forth.

And here’s your Wallyhood special. Dayspring just this week set a new geocache in Gasworks Park, which, coincidentally is the end-point of today’s Kidical Mass ride. So, should you be looking for a little fun while you’re there, here’s a puzzle for you, courtesy of Dayspring. You’ll need a GPS device and you’ll need to stop off at the Boy and Girls Club on your way:

An easy, kid friendly 2 stage multi-cache separated by one mile in Wallingford.

Come visit this beautiful fence (Ironworks by Mimi Riley, Glasswork by Rodman Miller) just outside the Wallingford Boys and Girls Club. Hidden nearby are cache coordinates so small they could fit on a grain of rice. Take your time to enjoy this artwork, as you search for the cache. Waypoint 1 is kid friendy as they will love looking for the required items in the fence, and the cache is at their level. You may also have to enlist some of their young eyes and unique perspective to make out the digits in the cache once you find it. Please do NOT go inside the fenced area. The cache is accessible with your feet on the sidewalk.While here you may want to also take the time to check out infamous Archie McPhee’s new location next door. It is a geocacher’s treasure trove.

You are looking for two 3-digit numbers. Let the first number =XYZ. Let the second number =DEF

You also need to know:

1. How many FISH are on the fence? Let that = A
2. How many HUMMINGBIRDS are on the fence? Let that =B
3. How many BUTTERFLIES are on the fence? Let that =C

Find the final cache at:

N 47 38.(X+B) (Y-C) (Z+A)
W 122 19. (DEF + 719)

The cache is a small lock and lock located in a seldom used small public park near the Burke Gilman trail with a place to sit and enjoy the nice view of Lake Union.

Additional clues on geocaching.com. Send us a picture if you find it?