Ivdweby: Xkc-Diyepx

This is the log I submitted for the Ivdweby: Xkc-Diyepx cache, which I found 17 November 2004 @ 9:08 a.m.

I was poking around the big site last night. At some point during the evening, this cache popped up along with some others. I added it to the database and moved on. Then I paused. Rather than just dismiss it, I decided to tackle it.

The puzzle stumped me. I don’t think the description of how this version of the wheel worked was as clear as it might have been. I just couldn’t figure out how the sample code worked, let alone the real one.

But I wouldn’t just rest. I played with it some and finally figured out how the sample code worked. Ahh . . . well, this really just becomes a cryptogram with a twist. The twist is tedious once the wheels are determined. The encrypted text was lengthy. I think I worked about an hour figuring out how the sample code worked and then determining the 10 wheels. I spent another two and one-half hours doing the text. I was so tired, it was the middle of the night, and I was making careless mistakes that would take some time to undo.

Eventually I had the coordinates. It was about 4:00 AM. No work for me today. I would call out and take a run up to Wharton to nab this.

The coordinates seemed to be about 60 feet off. I did not take coordinates. I recorded the hitchhikers’ numbers, took some photographs, and had fun.

I am proud of myself for solving this puzzle. It wasn’t so much hard as tedious. What a way to spend my three-year cacheversary!

Also blogged on this date . . .

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