Blackbeards Crows Nest (Nelson/Marlborough) Washington Valley, South Island, New Zealand
By navfam on 26-Jan-09. Waypoint GC1M4AK

I'm out of the game so disabled cache

Only the remains left in the tree - needs replacing.

Container and log missing - need to be replaced.

Yes the log is still in the tree but no cache.

A group of six of us - Mr and Mrs Who Nose, 1Octember, Mrs Wicm, Wicm Jnr and me - spent an hour circumnavigating the island. Came over by ferry - we had wanted to kayak here, but after the rain two days ago, there was sewage contamination in the estuary, and we weren't supposed to get in the water or have water contact. This was our second find here. Like the last finder, we only found a pencil and a sharpener in the hiding spot. Didn't have any spare log books or containers with us unfortunately - we weren't sure if we were going to be able to carry that sort of stuff in the kayaks.

Took a photo of the hiding spot for evidence if required.

This is a bit of a non existent cache I found a lot of remains all over the ground and a small pencil and sharpener stashed up in the tree, no log book to be seen any where.

Out kayaking with Streetgamer today. He wasn't able to find this one when he came himself about a year ago, but we tracked it down today.

I lost the toss meaning the climb was mine! Not my favourite task.

Thanks

#1018

Tftc#46

On a short trip to the island with family today, doing a bit of fishing on the wharf and getting a few spotties. Took three kids for a wander around the island and stopped by this one. Miss 5yr old raced up one tree while I did the other and both had no success. However, Mrs Moose noticed a few things on the ground - the remains of the cache. Pencils, sharpener and cache name. Ah ha. Put them back together in roughly where the hint said it should be and hopefully protected it a bit. Emailed the owner too. Cheers

Sent a monkey up but no luck.

Crew of 7 kayacked to Treasure Island slightly nervracking for the Captain to have pirates monkeying up trees all over the place Cache found treasure divided up and replaced with more.
Awesome day Big ups to the creators of this brilliant adventure Cheers

Thank goodness for gk's monkey tendencies tftc

Spotted the cache from half-way up, realised I'd forgotten my pen, promptly slipped and landed at the bottom in a rather undignified heap! Considering my senior years, I'll consider this FOUND!

Todays weather dictated that it was the day to go and grab a cache to qualify for the latest souvenir on geocaching.com. A trip to Haulashore Island in Nelson was planned to be followed up by a unique D/T combo in town two for a double maximum points haul and some quality caches. leaving Renwick at 930 this morning it was never meant to be a long day (like those epic sessions of Summer) we collected dieseldebbienz along with her daughter and set off over the hill. There was a rendezvous with the ferry man at 1200 for an hour and a half on the island so only time for a couple of caches on the way before setting sail (5 minute trip!) Afterwards was a shot at SoBad's Don't be Cross Logic which was a real treat of a cache to fill in another errant square on my grid
Lucky last on the island and our youngest member of the team earned \her spurs, scampered up and grabbed the find
T F T C navfam

No lid. In Nelson with The Segnoid and Capperz for the day. Beautiful day to enjoy the sun. Daughter braved the terrain. Tftc

[green] An awesome day out with Capperz, DieselDebbie and her daughter. A T5, a D5, and even a T5/D5! A trip to an island, finishing off with graduating with my Masters of Geocaching Science. Only found 11 caches (plus a couple more for DieselDebbie to get her some souvenirs). All on a sunny day in beautiful Nelson. This trip was originally planned for last week - it sure wasn't sunny then - the boat skipper advised us not to go ahead. Squally and horrible, and raining to boot. Today was a much better idea.

Yay! On the island! We allowed 1.5 hours but had it all done in about 3/4 hour. Could have done it in half an hour if we tried.
I love tree caches, but this time it was not me that went for the log book. We send DD Jnr up. She was a little nervous at first but made it fine. The cache is missing its lid so I did not drop in a path tag as I would normally have done, no emerald either. Despite that it is still a tree cache, and it's on an island - gets a favourite from me .
Saw a couple of seals at the start of the causeway. A juvenile and a very large adult. Oh - and loads of shags and a few oyster catchers.

The caches on Haulashore Island and the Boulder Bank have been taunting us for a while now, so StreetWalker hatched a cunning plan: we'd use the ferry to get to the island, find the 3 caches there, then take the ferry across to the cutting end of Boulder Bank and walk from there. This required our car to be waiting for us at the other end, as we have just the one vehicle, SW dropped me off at the wharf (with a puzzle page ripped out from the local rag), drove to the parking area at the end of the boulder bank then biked from there back to where I was waiting. We even had time for a coffee at a nearby cafe before setting off on our adventure .
We told the ferryman that we were geocaching, and he said he had taken a few geocachers out to the island over the years. We had allowed for 30 minutes for finding the 3 caches but we were back at the ferry well before then.
Aah, so that's why it's called the Crow's Nest. Easily spotted, and SW retrieved, and replaced . TFTC.

#9357. The cache container is lacking a lid, and could do with replacing. The cache was sitting upside down in its hiding place, which did a good job of keeping the log sign-able. TFTC.

great place to be.

Tarry long did we but afind ut we did. Sparse be thu loot thar in. But kindly think we tords thum wat placed ut. TFTC and a fun time coming to a place we would never have come otherwise.

Awesome views to Rabbit Island- never would have come to this island without geocaching- spent a pleasant couple of hours searching - then picnic lunch - TFTC

Bryce the climber got this one. Not bad for a 4 year old considering how high it was.

Good cache. There was no lid on the cache however. Seemed to be missing.

Arrrr me hearties! she was a tall order to climb to this crows nest by once there looked over the horizon and there was the bootie!!! left our mark on the treasure and provided the log with a plastic bag to help protection from the weather! TFTC

The treasure chest looks like it has suffered small arms fire and needs to be replaced. Good crows nest.

Wow. Challenging. Brought daughter to go vertical. Tftc

It's been a long time in the planning and a constant source of frustration having 6 unclaimed caches on Haulashore Island and the Boulder Bank. Today my good muggle friend Colin took me and Mrs M out on a Harbor cruise with a deviation to get these 6. Find #2 Street spending a bit of time up the wrong tree. Cache eventually found with a broken lid but log surprisingly dry. TFTC

Wow tftc

Fun cache

Great spot and climb to it. Found with Keg 1. Found top off cache on the ground broken, have put it back on but will need replacement.

Cool place TFTC

Easily found on a day out caching in the region with Waiiti20. Another enjoyable cache after kayaking across the choppy harbour. TFTC

Had looked at this one earlier in the day but decided it was a bit too choppy for a paddle, but while doing the CANZ Nelson cache we decided it looked a little better as well as the tide being out.

A fun find, with a slight twist at GZ to complete the paperwork - TFTC, #6125

An awesome winters day on the harbour. So very pleased I had my tree climbing daughter with me TFTC.

On a geocaching adventure today. Have borrowed a friend's kayak (thank you Mick). So off to the Boulder Bank and Haulashore Island.

Haha loved this cache, a good SUP from Tahuna beach with Virtual Allie. TFTC

This has to be one of my favourites!! Paddled out from tahuna beach with NZLats. I drew the short straw in retrieving the cache itself but it was a fun one to do!! Great adventure, TFTC

After two times here without a GPS I got some hints and spotted it from the ground

TFTC Climbed the wrong tree first!!'

Very cool little spot cant believe i havnt been over here before. Thanks for the hide its my sort of cache

TFTC

Nice little island! Never thought of coming here till I have seen that there are some caches hidden!

Greets from Germany!

LordFisch

Arrrrr... With rumours of 3 treasures on the island to be found we commandeered a long boat and paddled over for some plundering. We way laid anchor in the cove and headed south to avoid a muggle sailing school in the cove.

Black Beards Treasure Trove was a quick find near X marks the spot. Fortunately we had a pen so did not have to sign in blood. TFTC

It was then off to Hauled across the Haven. Which took a bit to find until in the right spot after treats of telling first mate GPSr to lock in or walk the plank. We signed the log and re hid. TFTC.

Blackbeards Crows Nest was last on our list. Our GPSr was being mutanise again by putting was between 3 potential crows nest. Out with the telescope but we could not narrow down which crows nest it was so we took a guess and climbed a likely set of rigging to be rewarded with a find. We completed the signing duties and re hid. TFTC.

Now off to plunder some more on the other side of the cut.

This entry was edited by bella at waggy on Friday, 01 February 2013 at 23:14:40 UTC.

Nice to have an extra challenge to gain this one! On the island while rest of the party lunched on the sheltered side during short sailing trip. TFTC

Found tftc

Got the other two Haulashore caches on the last trip here but deliberately left this one knowing I'd be back here today for a club kayaking trip. GPS took me to smack bang in the middle of 2 trees to start with, tried one no luck, up the second one and spotted in seconds. Log signed and back in it's nest. Back on the ground picked up GPS to mark as found and what do you know it's now saying 0 meters Have had to climb a couple of trees in the last week to get a smiley ... good fun

Today was going to be the day rain or shine. With rain all the way to the ferry the universe smiled upon us. From start to finish of our Haulashore Island visit not a drop till disembarking the ferry with smilies to log. TFTC

Today was the day we finally decided to take action and take The Ferry to Haulashore Is to clean up the caches there. The rain stopped as we arrived at the port and started again as we disembarked on our return so we timed it just right.
No wrong tree climbing for us, GPS zero-ed out and a quick reccie determined we were at the right one with the cache being slightly visible. Hazedarus was sent skyward to do the retrieval, and cache was soon signed by both and returned to it's perch.
Only one seal to be seen today. TFTC.

We had planned a trip to the Island while the some of the logians fished back in January but a trip to London (not by us) got in the way. Today suited us all - and the weather could not have been better. After we collected some on the Boulder Bank we were ferried across to the island for a picnic lunch. Then 4 fished while 5 cached. This was the first and an easy find - which happens when the cache is handed to you. Lucky to have a new enthusiast with us who had been introduced to the GPS just an hour earlier. We reached GZ to find the log with him at 0m - and he kindly returned it to the hidey hole as well. With 3 new signatures on the log. Thanks for the fun.

Great spot TFTC

TFTC:D Was a good Walk

15th for the day.

I did an afternoon swim out to the island in the absolutely beautifully gorgeous weather we were having!!

As I was approaching the GZ, I was having a bit of a laugh as to what if it was up that thing... Having not read the description.
Then I read the hint, and I though to myself... oh no... it is up that thing! Gonna get soaked again...

But then I realised that that'd mean that I had a further distance than the GPS was saying. Found the real object, and I went for it!! I love tree climbing!! I was like the most pro tree- climbing kid at school!!

So, the cache was soon in hand, and luckily this side of the island was deserted, unlike the party times other side! (That woulda been awkward had someone been watching...)

Gets a fave from me!

TFTC!!

Great hide & perfect tree for it. TFTC

Lots of pirate activity on the island today. Looked like a multi piratacle kids birthday party and treasure hunt going on. good stuff.

Cool hide! Could see why I was dragged along once I was told to get climbing.

A quick find. Very windy when we were there. TFTC

Cool cache!! didnt find the climb too hard at all. Great idea, Thanks!

Found it, great paddle on a beautiful day!

The first of three on a kayak raid on the treasures of haulashore island. I dont think I kave had to climb that high for a cache before.
Cheers and thanks,
S.t.

tftc!

Had me thinking looked up and saw the light.

Great cache, my favourite on haulashore by far, wht a cool spot!(H)

Climbed the wrong tree at first but then saw it in the next one. TFTC

Heh, after swimming across in wetsuits, was a bit surprised to have to end up climbing a tree in a wetsuit to claim the cache Not the prettiest day for it of course. Cheers Gav [7763]

A quick climb up the tree by the lizard in our group (still in a wetsuit from the swim to the island) and the cache was in our hands. TFTC

Balckbeards shag nest more like it. There were three shags in the tree and a used johnny not far from it.

Was a bit buggered after my swim to get here, so the effort required to find this one was daunting. It was at this moment I found my dry bag had leaked and my phone was looking very damp!
TFTC, thanks for the adventure

After raiding the Treasure Trove we headed for the other side of the island and approached the Crow's Nest, passing many shag's nests along the way. (We hope the maniacal laughter we heard belonged to a shag, and not to the ghost of Blackbeard!) Stood at the foot of the towering tree and planned our ascent. (Preferred the look of the tree next door!) Perched perilously at the top of the Crow's Nest and signed the log. Thanks for the fun!

# 2693

Caught the ferry over to do some caching on this beautiful Nelson day. Easy to find and cache in good condition.
TFTC

Ha ha! I found it. Actually IS a good look out spot. Joopy11

Went up the wrong tree at first but a second glance at our surroundings led us to the crows nest TFTC

Epic. No, not the cache. Watching Mr KE climb a tree 160 odd meters short of GZ because his GPS said "17.6m" to go. Sure it did Refreshing swim followed by a warm walk in the rain. TFTC. (I had to talk to keep him from passing out and slipping away.... )

Hmmm perhaps it was 16.7km away and the gps didn't quite have a lock yet. Shhh it's our little secret noone else will ever know.

No orca spotted today just some other large mammals! Mr B now knows there are two things he can do better than me - swimming and talking. He can even do both at the same time. Great cache, thanks for the challenge.

Lovely to come back here. Great time kayaking, not very successful fishing but a fun day. TFTC

Thank you for making me do something I haven't done for about 20 years
Log book was a little mouldy

Climbed two trees today, one looked easier than the other, but had no cache. Glad I took a pen up with me. TFTC

finally got around to it. tftc

Been meaning to do this for a while.Took the day off work and kayaked over. Beautiful day, didnt see any seals but did find a Port Nelson hardhat washed up. A quick find, log book a little damp TFTC

A quick find while kayaking with family on a stunning nelson day.

I found the cache container, then the lid, and then some contents beside the tree. Rehid about 1/2 way up. I did not realise there were so many seals at this end of the island. I left a small pencil too. Cheers.

Good spot. 2nd find on the island. Cheers

Our day on the island continues, haven't seen a soul.
After finding this one we stopped for lunch, then made a cool hut just down from the cache.
Now back off to rendevous with the ferry.

Left a pirate balloon in this one.

I came to attempt this cache on the 30th December 2009 but didn’t even take the kayak off the roof rack as it was so windy, and the sea too rough to attempt the crossing. Made an early morning raid from Golden Bay this morning and stuck perfect conditions. Very similar to a cache back home so had an idea of what to expect. TNLN SL TFTC

Finally spotted on our second trip back to the island! TFTC

Good quick find kayaking over on a special occassion.
The log book was rather damp.
TFTF

nice easy find
i need to work on my climbing skills thou

Good fun this. First time I've had to cling on with one hand while trying to write the log with the other! Good one.

My first cache getting by 'climbing'
Were there with Fifeshire and had nice day before fishing on the boat

Launched a raiding party with "The Dentons" but alas we were unsuccessful. Despite 6 of us climbing the tree, and all others around it ..... then a quick phone call to Navfam, we still didn't find the treasure .... I wonder if it got muggled by mother nature in the big storm at the end of August. ...

Easy find with Wilson#41.
GPS had me barking up the wrong tree to start with but a quick recheck soon had us at the right spot.
TNLN

Easy find with kwaka40.
Lovely sunny day for a paddle.
Been a long time since I was last here.
TFTC

I found a lot of caches with my Dad - Biggles - and never logged these online. Now I've got my own account, its time to set things straight. Thanks for all the fun, Flying Phoenix.

Being of a mainly landlubbery persuasion, enlisted the assistance of Cap'n Laurie to reach the Island. Took Jarzoo and Lil' Stu on a school holiday excursion. Jarzoo accessed the crows nest. No problems (or pirates or crows) at GZ, TFTC, Biggles.

Great position and I enjoyed the climb, thanks.

Found cache with Alien Kiwis TFTC

my tree climbing days were over decades ago, but wasn't going to paddle back empty handed! So up I went. thnx

Tree climbing???
cool hide, thanks

Lovely calm winter day for a paddle

After importing two dry bags (in daughter No1's luggage) from Wellington it was time to venture into the tide before the temperatures decline too much for these land lubbers.

Made a cross country approach to the nest, sighting many Cormorant nests on the way. Luckily the crow doesn't nest so high. Great cache sight and view.

Inspired by all the others swimming, snorkeling etc over to the Island and the thought of 3 caches I dragged one of the boy's body boards from the roof of the garage and set off. What a sight - backpack, sunnies and hat bobbing across the Haven on a very antiquated board. Found the first two quickly but can you believe it a family of muggles were setting up camp for the night under the tree. Tying shoelaces or taking photos really wasn't going to do it for this one so now I will have to return! I'm exhausted just at the thought.