Of the Earth (Wairarapa) Eketahuna, North Island, New Zealand
By 3Prettys on 14-Jul-17. Waypoint GC78X5F

Found the ring, but the cache and log have gone

Sadly, with the bison tube and log gone, it is time to archive one of my favourite (from a research perspective) caches.

The ring is still there but the bison itself has gone

This geocacher reported that the cache might be missing.

Mackenzie found it

Nice easy find passing through on our way home tftc

Easter weekend, and with the paradox that only family can create, I both need to be in Wanganui and not in Wanganui at the same time. Today I spent the morning with family and then was able to free up the afternoon, so once again it was off a-geocaching I did go. Quite a few DNFs, but still managed to sign 51 logs before I ran out of steam.

A short stop in Eketahuna to gather all (except one) of the caches here. No problem finding this one as described. Was no longer attached in the way it was intended, so I tried reattaching it as best I could.

Thanks to the CO for placing and maintaining this cache. I enjoy each and every cache I find, and it is only with CO's like this placing them out in the world that this wonderful game continues.

[DGSc-Bulk] tagging to help me generate a list for GC30AD8 - DGSc Challenge.

Took a bit longer here as cache wasn't at hint item .... Put back where the hint suggests. Nice spot for a cache.
Thanks for placing the cache 3Prettys.
Find number 4700.
Log signed b&p.

Nice Hide! Definately a bit tricky to find but got there in the end. Cache isn't waterproof unfortunately

Was a bit of a mission but I did it, thank you!

With the hint, we quickly discovered the location of the cache at this nice little memorial, although extraction took a little longer. The published cooordinates are fairly ok, but the new coordinates suggested in the cache description are 50 metres away. TFTC

I left Wellington today heading to Pahiatua, so this was a stop along the way. At first, I looked at the right spot, but from the wrong angle. TFTC.

Quick find today. TFTC

Seal is missing and the split ring pretty much munted.

Great fun for all ages would recommend

Nope , not for me today

Interesting to read about the original cemetery. Easy find. Thank you for the cache.

**15,797**
As the morning progresses the temperature is not rising very quickly and beginning to feel colder, especially as the frost on the ground is becoming more visible. TFTC

A short walk up the road from the main road, nice quick find here, TFTC

Nice little detour an cool hiding spot

Rain just stopped and we hopped out the car and found it! Didn’t have a pen so took a pic. Tftc

Called in on this guy yesterday with the the grand kids
Replaced the log with a waterproof one as the old one was completely soaked.
Otherwise all good here

Quick easy find here today thanks for the cache

Quick easy find thanks for the cache

Took longer than it should - my GPS was leading me on a merry dance on both sides of the road. Then found where I started. Thanks 3Prettys, all is in order.

Grass was too long, we struggled to see anything.

Walk past it often, just found it!

Log wet. But nice commune opposite. Tftc

Nice little diversion as an excuse to see Eketahuna. Drove up and down before abandoning car to better find it. Great little hidey spot. TFTC. Great reason to stop and love the story that goes with it.

On a road trip with a caravan group and staying at nearby camp, this GZ took us a while to spot for some reason, we drove up and down a few times, hope the locals didn't get suspicious but we eventually got to GZ, interesting history. Cache soon in hand . TFTC and bringing us here.

Lovely little memorial and nicely in the shade on a hot afternoon.
TFTC

We had a fair idea where to look for this one, but then spotted it on the ground.
After finishing the signing duties we returned it where we thought it should be.
Thanks for putting this here for us to find

Found it Replaced the wet log. Thank you x

Lovely wee gem of a memorial. Thanks for bringing us here. Cache quickly signed and replaced as found.

Heading home from Wellington and time to collect some smileys. Nice little memorial that I’m sure most people just drive by. Cache all fine. A favourite from us.

Couldn't resist picking up a few caches on our way through Eketahuna. This was one of them.

A nice wee hide here. ThanksFTC

A quick easy find. Thanks for bringing us here and TFTC

Not sure why this is still showing a Needs Maintenance a year later, but the broken cache container has been replaced.

Nice little find. Interesting spot!

Had fallen out into the mud. Repositioned as per hint. TFTC!

On the way home from castlepoint we found this super cool cache.

Coordinates changed from:
S 40° 38.814 E 175° 42.825

Coordinates changed to:
S 40° 38.814 E 175° 42.820

Distance from original: 23.0 feet or 7.0 meters.

Previous spot no longer exists

This was a bit strange. Luckily, I read the description (I don't normally in order not to ruin surprises) because I would have searched in the wrong place. I spotted the cache container on the ground and had to spend a minute or so hooking it back with my walking pole to where I could reach it with my hand. I replaced it in accordance with the hint - well, my interpretation of it. I did wonder if the reason for the published coordinates not being changed was that the new site is too close to another cache. I reckon it's okay - just! I do believe that a traditional cache should have the correct coordinates displayed on the cache page.

At the memorial but all I found was a beer bottle. Pretty sure I know where it should be but someone may prove me wrong.

I don’t quite understand the coordinates or instructions to walk about 5 m because the cache is right at the memorial to the first cemetery and the hint then works. Anyway we found it.
This was find #18 of 30 today on our exploration of the Tinui -Alfredton - Eketahuna road. Staying in Castlepoint there’s not much to do apart from sea sports so it’s a road tour today. Thanks to all the COs for their efforts which gave us so much fun today. Only 3 DNFs.

Coordinates wildly wrong by 30 metres!! At the memorial stone, not at the given coordinates. Once we used our brains and walked along it was a straightforward find. TFTC

Found this one after a few false starts. FTF replacement log. Great spot just across the road from a good friend's house, great excuse for a visit!

We've been through several salt-themed containers, let's try a more common style. Now offset by a few metres.

This geocacher reported that the container is damaged.

Thank you for the information about the state of the container, TwigNZ, I will look into replacing it.

Back in June of this year I got a huge Geocaching fright! Having spent quite some time attempting to solve as many Skindo Puzzle Caches in the Wairarapa as I could so I could spend more time over there exploring the country, I discovered that large numbers had been archived. Worse still, there was some talk on various forums as to whether someone should go around and collect them up rather than leave them in place to still be discovered.

So I have been itching for a chance to get over to the Wairarapa and try to find as many as I could before they disappear forever, and with Spring here and Daylight Saving having now kicked in, Stardust 718 and I teamed up to go and explore some of the northern half of the region. There would still be a lot of ground to cover (I drove about 350km today) and the weather wasn't being the most helpful to us, but we figured it would still be worth it as there would be quite a few other caches to find along the way too, including this one.

This was our second visit to Eke for the day. Maybe Eke is the Rome of the Wairarapa? All roads leading to it lol! It was going to be another chance to take a quick break and avail ourselves of the local facilities again, but we had a few Trads to try for as first as we drove into town. Initially I couldn't find this cache, but then Stardust joined in the search and it soon became apparent that this was due to the container being damaged. The lid is broken into pieces and the log is exposed to the elements although it was still curiously dry when we found it.

I'm sorry to say that we didn't repair/replace the cache as to be honest it needs a complete replacement and with the CO known to no longer live in the area we were unsure as to whether it would be better to replace or archive? So we signed the log, and replaced everything back as best we could.

Thank you for placing this cache.

#48 of 49 today

I was out exploring the Wairarapa with TwigNZ today between wind, rain and sunshine. We explored some lovely countryside on the back roads, talked with a couple of farmers while searching for caches, and had a great day arriving home 10 hours later cold and tired.

Took a while but we found this one eventually. Broken and scattered lid, log sheet still in the container and dry though. We signed it and placed a rock on top of the container.

Was going to stay in town for a couple of days but was raining so moved on

Day 2 of our Road Trip
Early start today, weather fine but very cold.
Heading south we detoured up side roads, some sealed some gravel.
Caches like yesterday that needed log sheets replacing as they were so wet we couldn't sign them. Just as well we bought new log sheets and bags with us.
The huge numbers of caches in this area we know that we will have to return on another trip.
Always great to visit new areas. Thanks for the cache placements. SLTFTC

With Gap (of Fap and Gap)...

We have been planning for Queen's Birthday weekend for some time - routes and caches were identified and mapped, and Gap solved a whole lot of puzzles in readiness for this adventure. We scoured many online logs and took note of the condition of the caches and their logbooks. We determined to replace any containers and logbooks where there was a dire need - This is not usually our habit and is quite time consuming; but we are enthusiastic cachers and believe in doing our bit for the wider caching community...

After overnight rain, the early morning was quite dark and gloomy. However, as the morning wore on, the sun came out, and it was quite warm if one could find a sheltered spot out of the wind... We set off with the intention of caching our way to Masterton and zipping in and out of any side roads as well. The proliferation of caches in this area would definitely keep us busy today... We spotted the nearby memorial as we reached for the cache. An interesting container... Thanks 3Prettys and TFTC.

Thanks

A quick check on the state of the cache container and log.

Staying at the Eketahuna Inn for two days cycling through the local rural delights. This cache, the one for the sheperd, the oil well and the water scheme made for an interesting historical ride. A really great club trip. TFTC

Quick park and grab while in Eketahuna with Mrs Popmac. Thanks 3Prettys for the cache.

found while caching in the area

Second attempt at this one and I don’t how I missed it last time. I remember searching in that exact area. Cute container. TFTC.

Found it. Nice little container. TFTC!

On our way home from a conference in Wellington and taking our time about it. We overnighted at Ekatahuna Club and spent the morning cleaning up the caches in the area. Mrs S found this one while Mr S turned the Geocamper around.

Thanks for another smilie 3Prettys. Just about cleaned u Ekatahuna

We are on another road trip and this time its from home to Masterton and return taking in a lot of the back roads around the area on the way back as we had more time to spare after attending the CITO at Henley lake in Masterton. our first adventure off the main road was east of Masterton and we found it very interesting as we planned to go through Mauriceville then head back to Ekatahuna. the road was good and wide for the campervan but in most places we couldn't pull off much but as the traffic was very light it wasn't a problem.

That's cute . Thanks for the hide .

That's a very cute little cache and not what I expected at all. TFTC # 12,797

A nice quick find for my this morning. TFTC

I checked on this one after work today, mentally reviewing which of the spare containers I have at home I would use to replace it, but was pleasantly surprised to find the cache in its proper spot. It may be helpful to note that from some angles it appears to be a natural object.

Our only dnf of the day. The gps wouldn't settle on a gz so I searched all possible hiding spots on both sides with no luck. Will try again another time.

Merci pour cette geocach

On my way back home from being in Masterton for the day for work. No problems with the hide and a cute lil cache container.

TFTC

No problem

What a dinky cache! TFTC

In the area over the xmas holidays .
Thanks for the placement and the smiley

A nice and quick find. Cheers.

Today we spent biking around Masterton, and a drive to Eketahuna and back on roads less well travelled.

Thanks to all of the COs for placing and maintaining their caches. Cheers.

The smallest log yet!

Nice find while driving through the area today. SL TFTC

Another find while in the area. Found quickly.

Off to lunch with ex principal at his house in P but i thought if i left early enough i could travel the extra distance and locate these cache here in the rugby grounds and the library as i am often passing thro at weekends when the lib is closed.
I walked over to the #3 cache to find i was on the wrong side of the ditch for this one so after i had located the o0thers i drove up to this one I do love the matching pair of salt and pepper shakers! It was a lovely day to driving around the area and i love the gentle bumps of hill around this area.
Thank you for these newer cachers and a few more smiley faces.

We stopped here on our way to Mt.Bruce for the day.A good cache and a quick find.TFTC!

Thank you to the cachers who reported this cache missing. I have replaced it with a teeny tiny temporary container; let's see if some of Mother Nature's natural camouflage returns!

There weren't too many options for where to hide something of the sort I was expecting. I suspect it has gone. Perhaps it is too overlooked by the muggle residence across the road?

Out in the area

Notice that this one is missing

Yikes, I will get out tomorrow to check on this one!
Thank you, Yeetrees.

Called here after lunch in Eketahuna - a quick find here. Signed log, TFTC

Parked down the road at the Domain and walked back to get this one so we weren't so obvious. Muggles on both sides of the road here, but found and replaced very discretely without anyone taking any notice. tftc and a quick find.

After a few days of rain I popped by for a routine check today. I have returned the container to its 'cage'. Thank you for coming to find it!

Fabulous history on this one. Loved it. Quick and easy find on a very blustery and wet day. TFTC

Ahoy me hearties, we sailed off to Eketahuna today on the final stage of Mary Hyde's piratical quest challenge. We visited the outlying islands first and finished up at the main island. All eleven hidden geo-treasures we sought were successfully unearthed - aaargh...we be mighty fine pirates!
We remember a previous cache bringing us to this memorial - a bit of a sad story and interesting how slowly councils move sometimes - even to rectify an accepted hazard!
The cache is a nice little container but it seems to be in need of some sort of 'reburial' too as it was very exposed and will be in danger of being muggled. We tried to cover it with what was handy ( the small rock & grass) but it doesn't seem very effective. TFTC

this one was pretty exposed and I wasnt sure what was meant to be covering it so I found a little rock to party cover, thanks for the placement

Tftc nice container hope it stays dry

What else do you do on a not so nice winters day....ypu go geocaching.
Thank you for the cache!

#4287. The weather in the past few days has been pretty grotty and I was not sure if I would make it over to the 'rapa this weekend. But by Sunday morning, it didn't seem too bad so packed the geocaching bag and headed over the hill. The aim today was to locate a number of puzzle finals that I have solved over the past year. I saw that there been a few new caches published in Eketahuna since my last visit. I parked up a driveway as I thought that was an access to the reserve but soon realised my mistake. A quick search at the GZ revealed a different type of cache. Quite a cute container and nice to have something a bit different. Signed and replaced the cache where found. Thanks for the cache 3Prettys. Well done on these new hides.

Quick find on a drizzly afternoon drive.

Was in the Wairarapa for work and had found the cache GC78XA7 - Not Just Books (Wairarapa), I headed to Pahiatua for work and saw a client and then once finished it was time to turn around and come back South, as I was a bit early I decided that I would stop by Eketahuna and pick up a couple more of the new caches before making my way South back to see a couple more clients.

This was the first cache that I had on my list and as I neared GZ I was able to find a parking spot not too far from GZ, walked back to GZ and was quite surprise that I was able to find this cache as quickly as I was, signed and replace the cache back as found.

Thanks for placing this cache here and for bringing me to this spot, really enjoying the type of caches containers that are being placed here in Eketahuna, thanks 3Prettys for placing all these new caches in this area, really enjoying finding them.

Nice and quiet around here today, so an easy find. It doesn't seem too long ago that I grabbed a smiley very close to this one which has obviously been archived. TFTC back in the area.

Another day off today to catch up on working all weekend. After another refreshing night's sleep, I got up early to head to another Skindo run in the Wairarapa. Headed over the Saddle to encounter a lot of fog between Woodville and Pahiatua, and it was still quite chilly by the time I arrived in Eketahuna.

This was a quick find here this morning, signed the log and headed to the next one. Too early for the other new cache in town this morning, and I'm hoping to be back in Eketahuna during the afternoon opening hours this afternoon. TFTC

Published

#9296. {FTF} at 14:10 and first day find. After attending the Winter Warmer IV event in Sanson, we made our way to Alfredton Road in Eketahuna. There were plenty of vehicles parked further down the road at the Eketahuna Rugby Club (it was Saturday afternoon after all), but fortunately GZ itself was far enough away and all quiet when we visited. Quick find. Loved the container and a nice link to the theme of the cache. It was in excellent condition, all nice and dry inside. Took nothing, left nothing, signed log.

Thanks for the placement and for bringing us to this site, and …

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