Best of 2014: GBC 2 - Name that Tune

Number 9: GC4VKVR – GBC 2 – Name that Tune
Hidden by WVTim
163 Favorite Posts
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Found on April 12, 2014

Geotrails are an approach to directly incorporate geocaching into a local tourism or recreation strategy. When done well, a geotrail can attract individuals from all over to come to your area, find the caches on the trail, and consequently spend money on necessities like fuel, food, and sometimes even hotel rooms and other attractions. WVTim’s geocaches have put the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia on the map for geocachers and I firmly believe he has generated millions of dollars in revenue for the area because cachers choose to seek his incredible caches. This cache, number nine for 2014, is on the Gadgets of Berkeley County Geotrail.

A great geotrail has a theme and defined geographic boundaries. In this case, the theme is unique containers or “gadget caches” in Berkeley County. This specific cache is a birdhouse with a combination lock on it. While you may find very few caches like this where you live, many in Berkeley County look like this. How you find the combination to open the lock varies. In this case, you need to bring an ear for music or a sense of rhythm, preferably both.

With over 2400 finds, even cool and unique finds are often beginning to be repeated. Tape measures? Seen in Airway Heights, WA and Reston, VA. Magnetic keyholder tucked into the top of a newspaper stand? Seen in Portland, OR and Washington, DC. These are still fun caches, but they’re less ingenious the second time around.

Spoilers follow. This is your only and final warning.

Name that Tune was a never-before-seen treat. I pulled the drawer out from the bottom of the birdhouse to reveal a xylophone and instructions to play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Each bar on the xylophone was numbered. At certain points when I struck the xylophone Chris wrote down the number and cracked the combination.

I think this cache resonates with so many people because it is unique, yet it is nearly impossible to miss and very simple to solve. It also does not hurt that it is in an area so rich with other outstanding geocaches.