The Big Zap Helensburgh, South Island, New Zealand
By Count Fitz on 28-Jul-21. Waypoint GA23297

Cache Details

Difficulty:
Terrain:
Type:	Traditional
Container:	Small
Coordinates:	S45° 50.887' E170° 29.232' (WGS 84)
	59G 460184E 4922699N (UTM)
Elevation:	193 m
Local Government Area:	Otago

Map

Whodunit Difficulty

Description

In comparison, everything is relative, is it not?

For instance, take the pencil you need to bring with you to this cache. Compare the size of that pencil to an everyday paperclip, and there is no contest which is the bigger one. However, that very same pencil would be absolutely dwarfed by the commonly found blue whale. In comparison, everything is relative.

The cache you are looking for is at the feet of a commonly found structure. Chances are that under normal circumstances, seeing a structure such as this might not even register with you. That is how commonly found they are. As a matter of fact, a whole flock of these structures is found close together further up Wakari Road (around S 45° 51.300 E 170° 28.500 - no you do not have to go there to find this cache) and you probably wouldn't even blink.

But here, here it is a different story. Here, the structure dominates. In comparison, everything is relative.

Note: both structure and cache are not on private property, but only just. Please be respectful to the neighbours and don't poke your nose too far.

Bonus information (not needed to find this cache)

Across the road from this cache is the entry to a publicly accessible footpath that will lead you to Polwarth Road. Once signposted, the start of this track shifted over a bit when the neighbouring property built a driveway over it, and plonked down a row of trees for good measure. The signpost never went up again, and this side of the track now suspiciously looks like a private driveway. It is not.

The entry is between a lamppost and a letterbox with the number 3, at S 45° 50.877 E 170° 29.239. You can walk up this path, after about 60 meters (around S 45° 50.857 E 170° 29.290) you will encounter a fork: the lefthand side will continue onto a provate property, the righthand side will transmorph into a grass walkway following a fence. This grass walkway will lead to an unsealed road, end eventually you will emerge on Polwarth Road at roughly S 45° 50.688 E 170° 29.550

Not too long ago I spent quite a while looking for this track, being deceived by the way it looked. Now that it has been found, I thought I'd share this so this information might benefit others.

Hints

Ng svefg, lbh unir 25% punapr. Fubhyq lbh or hafhpprffshy, guvf jvyy vapernfr gb 33%. Vs n guveq nggrzcg vf arrqrq, gung jvyy shegure vapernfr gb 50%. Svanyyl, n sbhegu gel unf n 100% punapr.

ROT 13:	ABCDEFGHIJKLM
	NOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Decode

Logs

20-Dec-21

Count Fitz

Cache exactly where it needs to be and in tip-top shape.

Please note the entry to the track described in the cache description s currently being dug up. Looks like that lovely patch of paradise is going to be paved into yet another parking lot with a way too big, fug ugly, prefab house plonked on top. You can still get through to reach the track.
It is the track-entry that is being dug up, the cache location is still safe.

09-Sep-21

Lions.v.Lambs

Delta Level 2 yeah! Making the most of a luvly Spring day as a 10km walk encountering the light morning rain gave way to early Equinox winds and most of the day's trek spent heading uphill. Let's face it everywhere is uphill in Dunnas! or circumventing the nemesis of Balmacewan golf course, grrr. Took the common way track from the north having a double-take at the grassier track leading to the first way point of the GC1GD2N_weirly-interesting multi which is so obscured from the graveled track terminus before siding along the lifestyle block fence. The micro was where it should be, just the signs have never been repaired, and yes! it still looks like someone's driveway, just a shared easement. Passing three peeps on the track who weren't phased this well kept secret way was becoming popular again with another cache to draw fresh interest, although with more discretion exercised than the hoi polloi running around with their phones. What's app do?? Being a shorty helped dodge of the view from the nearby house bund and no one working at the building site to mind me popping around the hedge crossing the said' lawn to the GZ. What's this? my chances of finding this cache skyrocketed to 100% as a handy 'sign' delivered a regular sized cache in a dry wee possie under the vastly tall humming thingy. I use to shortcut past an array to one of my multis but had never tried the florescent light tube trick to see if it glowed.

Added some choice swag to the clean cache and while I'm using my stamp more often these days, the micro logbook was just big enough to accommodate a signature. Tucked the cache away under heaps of duff before tackling another hill on to another hill and sadly to more hills before reaching the residence. Thanks for placing a new trad cache close by Your Feline Furryness Fitz Gerwitz, Count of Crofton Downs, Duke of Dunedin, bearer of big balls and protector of Your realm.
Have a few more stars and a sticker to boot. I'm a Laaaaaaaady, duh!

Rated: for Overall Experience

08-Sep-21

U.N.C.L.E.

Thought I'd celebrate the first day back at Level 2 restrictions by finding this. There were some builders and a concrete mixer down the drive beside the cache. They spotted me pull up in the car. Parked out of their view and nipped through a gap in the bushes so they wouldn't see me. The gap brought me out right at the cache. I recall doing a cache down the path that the CO describes on the page. Would be a few years ago now. Came down from here only to discover that it would have been quicker and easier to have come from the other end. Oh well. My main bike comes out of registration "hold" for the winter this weekend and hoping to get it out for a decent run - if I do, I will hopefully hide a couple of GCA caches around the greater Dunedin area. After a few years of becoming increasingly detached from the game under gc.com I am hoping that this revived interest in the GCA alternative in the Dunedin area will pick up some pace as the weather improves and that it will revitalise my interest in geocaching. Thanks for hiding the cache.

Rated: for Overall Experience

11-Aug-21

wilbywarrior

*FTF* At first I was unsuccessful than my luck changed! Found a blank logbook as well! Bonus.
I don't usually ignore these features. As fan of The Castle movie it always reminds me of Bonnie Doon...
Tftc Dancing