Goatarula (a.k.a. Golden Goat #6) Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Dr. Henry Jones Jr.: The Golden Goat series of caches is no longer intact. May revive a simplified version of this one soon.

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Hidden : 7/4/2008
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:




GOATARULA (a.k.a. GG#6)

MaryMac and I have been working diligently to extend the Golden Goat series and we have now done so. The Goat has been well-hidden again and is waiting on the next lucky contestant to find it. For those of you who are not familiar with the Golden Goat series, which was started in Grenada in 2006 by ElkaBong, you must find each cache in the series, in order, before attempting this one. Each cache in the series contains information about how to find the next one. The previous caches in the series are as follows:

1) The Golden Goat
2) La Capra Dorata Della Mafia (aka Golden Goat #2)
3) The Curse of the Golden Goat
4) The Return of the Curse of the Golden Goat #4
5) The Secret Order of The Golden Goat:GG5

You MUST complete all five caches, and retrieve the necessary information from The Secret Order of The Golden Goat:GG5 to complete this cache.

History behind this cache...
Goatarula was a nickname for Dr. Jones' grandfather. He was a farmer who lived in Claiborne and Jefferson counties, bordering the Mississippi River, his entire life. In addition to cultivating soybeans and cotton and tending to cattle and horses, he also had goats at one time. The nickname comes from locals calling him "Goat Ruler", which eventually turned into "Goatarula".

The cache itself...
There are two main parts to this cache - a mental part and a physical part.

The mental part will be solving a puzzle for a set of coordinates and then using the key information you have found in The Secret Order of The Golden Goat:GG5 to get to Stage 1. This could be the most difficult part of the cache itself. Once you have the first stage coordinates in hand, we expect you will need no more than 2-3 hours to complete the physical part of the cache, which consists of nine stages, most of which are abstract and a couple of which are concrete. However, we highly recommend attempting the physical segment during daylight hours. One of the stages, in fact, requires you to be there by about 5 p.m. to be able to access the information you need and escape before the gates close (and you do want to escape).

THE MENTAL
Solve the following for the initial set of coordinates (which will not lead you to the first stage). You will need these coordinates plus information found in The Secret Order of The Golden Goat:GG5 to proceed to Stage 1.

The goat. The goat. The goat. The goat is near. The goat is far. To find the goat, you may need a car.

Grenada was first, then Starkville (we think), then ADS1 put him in a place that really stinks.

His fourth home was fun and the fifth was near Oxford (we really don't jest). But now, my friends, where does he rest?

To find the goat in resting place six, solve the code below. Hey, we promise you - no zany tricks!

01.18.02 01.14.03 03.10.02 04.18.01 02.05.10 02.07.04 04.16.02 04.09.02 04.12.05 03.16.03 01.04.02 02.01.02 04.11.04 04.18.01 03.23.02 01.10.01 03.02.02 02.14.05 02.07.04 04.09.02 02.04.03 04.05.06 04.05.01 01.16.03 03.14.02 03.02.04 01.05.03 04.18.01 04.01.01 04.15.06 03.03.04 02.06.01 01.10.02 03.05.03 04.01.02 04.08.03 02.12.01 04.06.03 01.21.01 03.15.02 02.05.06 02.01.03 02.09.03 02.07.01 03.07.02 01.12.01 03.01.02 01.01.03 02.16.02 04.09.04 04.02.02 03.19.01 01.01.03 02.01.04 01.02.02 03.03.04 01.21.03 04.15.02 02.07.02 04.19.01 02.08.02 01.03.01 03.02.04 03.11.04 04.17.01

You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com It is highly recommended that you do so before applying the information from GG#5 and proceeding on to the physical part of this quest.
THE PHYSICAL
For the physical part of this cache, we highly recommend attempting it during daylight hours. One of the stages, in fact, requires you to be there by about 5 p.m. to be able to access the information you need and leave before the gates are locked. Again, we feel that the entire physical part of this cache will only take about 2-3 hours at the most, so please plan your trip accordingly if you are coming from the far reaches of the Earth (or Starkville or Oxford ). (If we find too many folks are have problems completing that stage in time, we will look at altering the cache to accomodate that issue.)

Stage 1 - You will be looking for two historical markers (about 30-40 feet apart) at Stage 1 and need the following information from them to proceed to Stage 2:
n (this will serve same purpose for all of the stages) = 4th digit - 2nd digit in the year the present structure was built
w (this will serve same purpose for the first six stages) = 3rd digit in the year it was organized
A = 3rd digit in the year the present structure was built
B = 4th digit in the year it was organized
C = 1st digit in the street address
DE = 18(DE)-60 Romanesque Revival
F = 2nd digit in the street address

Stage 2 (N3n AB.5C6, W9w DE.1F3) - You will be looking for a historical marker at Stage 2 and need the following information from it to proceed to Stage 3:
G = time of withdrawal
H = last digit in the year the marker was commissioned
I = 2nd digit in the year listed in the description on the marker
J = G + H

Stage 3 (N3n G7.H51 W9w 5I.J83) - You will be looking for a historical marker at Stage 3, which is where Dr. Jones got his childhood churchin', and need the following information from it to proceed to Stage 4:
K = 2nd digit - 1st digit in the year of dedication
L = 1st digit + 3rd digit in the year of original construction
M = last digit in the year of fire destruction
N = day of dedication / 2

Stage 4 (N3n 5K.L47 W9w 5M.9N5) - You will be looking for a plaque at Stage 4 that memorializes Dr. Jones' grandmother and her career service to the city and need the following information from it to proceed to Stage 5:
O = 4th digit - 3rd digit in first year of service
P = # of letters in the first word on the plaque
Q = 3rd digit in last year of service
R = # of letters in first her first name

Stage 5 (N3n 57.OP4 W9w 58.Q1R) - You will be visiting Dr. Jones' father at Stage 5 (please note that the gates to Stage 5 close promptly @ 6 p.m. CT) and need the following information from this location to proceed to Stage 6:
S = 2nd digit in day of birth
T = # of letters in first name
U = 4th digit in year of death
V = 2nd digit in day of birth - day of death

Stage 6 (N3n 5S.0T5 W9w 5U.V50) - You will be looking for a plaque at Stage 6 and need the following information from it to proceed to Stage 7:
W = 2nd digit - 3rd digit in year house was moved
X = # of rooms in the house - 1
Y = 1st digit - last digit in year house was moved
Z = the difference between the # of letters in the man's first name and his last name

Stage 7 (N3n 5W.0X6 W9Y Z0.983) - You will be looking for a physical container at Stage 7, which is located on Dr. Jones' family land. You may be able to drive right up to the location, but please exercise caution whether you drive or walk to it, particularly in the hotter months. Stage 7 will contain the coordinates to two very important locations - Stage 8 and the parking coordinates for the Final Stage. You must proceed to Stage 8 to deduce the coordinates for the final.


Stage 8 - You will be visiting Dr. Jones' grandfather at Stage 8. That's right, Goatarula himself! He holds the keys to the Final Stage and we found that only fitting, seeing as it sits on his land! To obtain the final coordinates, look for the gravestone of the old farmer and get the following info from it:
a = 2nd digit in day of birth / 3
b = 3rd digit in the year of birth
c = # of letters in last name
d = difference in digits in the day of death
e = first digit in day of birth
f = the number that appears the most on the gravestone
g = the number that appears the second-most on the gravestone
h = the difference between the # of letters in his first name and his middle name
i = (# of letters in last name x 2)/2
j = 3rd digit - 2nd digit in the year of death

FINAL STAGE COORDINATES - Nab cd.e31 Wfg hi.j64

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fgntr 1 - Tbyqra Fgntr 2 - N Fubbg 'Rz Hc Fgntr 3 - Fhaqnl Fpubby Fgntr 4 - U20 Fgntr 5 - Ovt Onq Wbua Fgntr 6 - Sbhaqvat Sngure Fgntr 7 - Tenval? Fgntr 8 - Ur Uhssrq naq ur chssrq Svany Fgntr - Trbetvna Gerrf

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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