Paralympic Gold Multi-Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This cache is a simple offset multi, and is not at the published co-ords. These are for a gold-painted post box which you will have to visit. There is convenient parking in a nearby side road - please do not stop on the main road, or park in the hospital grounds (unless you're prepared to pay).
Unlike most other Royal Mail post boxes painted gold in the wake of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, each to honour a British gold medal winner and usually in their home town, this one does not mark an individual achievement, but the origin of the Paralympics close by.
It all started in 1948 as an archery competition at what is the now world-renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre. Staged to coincide with the opening of the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, that first event was the inspiration of neurologist Doctor (later Professor Sir) Ludwig Guttmann. Just sixteen injured servicemen and women took part in the original competition.
Four years later they became the International Stoke Mandeville Games as Dutch ex-servicemen were also invited to compete.
The term Paralympic Games was used for the first time in 1960 in Rome, with 400 athletes from 23 countries, and the event has been held every four years ever since. The London 2012 Paralympics were the largest ever, with 4,302 athletes from 164 countries taking part. |
 |
To locate the cache, which is an easy, level, paved walk or wheelchair ride away, you must first check the General Notices to find values for X and Y. Once you have the corrected co-ords in your GPS, follow the arrow to a place where the cache is within easy reach of wheelchair users.
The cache is at N 51° 47.X W 00° 48.Y
Please use extreme stealth when retrieving and replacing the cache, as this can be a very busy area!
For the post box geeks amongst you, this box is a Queen Elizabeth II Pillar Box – Type PB1048/4, number HP21 299
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Zntargvp