X Reference
By Elgel
This grid was set for a treasure hunt in September 2021. Some minor clue improvements have been made.
This treasure map belonged to an eccentric with a fondness for playing pirate, but also terrible seasickness.
They buried this cache a couple of years ago under cover of a public works project.
These were the instructions left behind to locate the treasure (to within ~50m):
1) Find all 17 of the overstuffed squares.
2) Join the exact centre of the first square in 1 across to the exact centre of the appropriate square in 39 across.
3) Join up the exact centres of the two squares where that letter appears in the overstuffed squares.
4) These two lines will cross within a square in the grid. Mark that square.
5) Repeat 2-4 for every square in 1 across.
6) Join up and read off the marked squares widdershins; then go digging, remembering that X marks the spot!
Solving note; press '/' to begin entering multiple letters into a cell. Press enter to move on.
This treasure map belonged to an eccentric with a fondness for playing pirate, but also terrible seasickness.
They buried this cache a couple of years ago under cover of a public works project.
These were the instructions left behind to locate the treasure (to within ~50m):
1) Find all 17 of the overstuffed squares.
2) Join the exact centre of the first square in 1 across to the exact centre of the appropriate square in 39 across.
3) Join up the exact centres of the two squares where that letter appears in the overstuffed squares.
4) These two lines will cross within a square in the grid. Mark that square.
5) Repeat 2-4 for every square in 1 across.
6) Join up and read off the marked squares widdershins; then go digging, remembering that X marks the spot!
Solving note; press '/' to begin entering multiple letters into a cell. Press enter to move on.
Squares filled:
0/100
Across
| 1 | Looking again at 39 across perhaps |
| 10 | Endless strife creating divisions |
| 12 | Wife murders using piece of leg |
| 13 | Family is almost caring |
| 14 | Pale and dull; lost heart for nothing |
| 15 | Hairstyle with a kind of rubber |
| 16 | Creature's shell turned turtle |
| 19 | Nature goddess before a plastic age |
| 20 | Language a long way ahead of South India |
| 22 | Brief dessert could get you drooling! |
| 23 | Who can set to work by central paddock? |
| 24 | Rock music of the 30s |
| 25 | Love being dry too much (initialism) |
| 28 | Jumbled nine in sea |
| 29 | Extend shriek, to be heard |
| 31 | Byron best avoid the odd bunch of thugs |
| 34 | Withdraw record breaking run |
| 36 | E... e... ? |
| 37 | It was used to save a pair of kings |
| 38 | Rush far up on the air |
| 39 | Sets up 1 across perhaps |
Down
| 1 | Scrum of thousand goes after dog running north |
| 2 | Queen in old Ireland |
| 3 | Told Scandinavian it's the end |
| 4 | Usually to do with time |
| 5 | Source of mystery in 'Fantastic Four: The Fourth Goes Missing' |
| 6 | Dispatch enemies with needled tips |
| 7 | Steep hike of European obesity measure |
| 8 | Hanun (a viking) discovered northern Quebec |
| 9 | Levelling grass head first! |
| 11 | Hit friends up |
| 17 | Twice, major road goes round a city |
| 18 | Boy, 'e's to fill up the ship |
| 19 | Handed deputy half of golden French flower (3 words) |
| 21 | Rank argument |
| 23 | Company with last month's translator |
| 24 | They curse; three directions are right |
| 26 | Scientist in faculty choir |
| 27 | Rings in the start of tenth new show |
| 30 | Sees Eastern secret agents |
| 32 | Boyfriend admitted; a right mess |
| 33 | Peak performance runner |
| 34 | Mine to enjoy |
| 35 | Scrub graduate out of article |
