Somersets Pond (Canterbury) Oxford, South Island, New Zealand
By Sonofbert on 20-Feb-09. Waypoint GC1MXHC

I am archiving this cache since there's been no response from nor action by the cache owner within the time frame requested in a prior reviewer note.

Hi sonofbertThis geocache was brought to my attention as being in need of an owner maintenance visit and after my previous reviewer note, there has been no owner response. The cache owner needs to check on this cache ASAP and either replace it or archive it, after picking up any geo-litter. See the [maintenance section of the Geocache Listing Requirements/Guidelines](http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx#listingmaintenance).I've added this cache to my watchlist, and I will check back in four weeks to be sure that the maintenance has been done. In the meantime, I have temporarily disabled this listing. When the maintenance is completed, the owner can enable the listing by clicking on the link below the cache name to return it to active status.Whatever your intentions, please **post a note** here on the cache page (not email) to let us know that you are still active and maintaining the cache. If a month passes without seeing a response, then I'll assume that this listing should be archived.Please note, that if a cache is archived due to lack of owner maintenance, the cache is unable to be unarchived.RegardsTheCoddiwompler

Didnt find

Not today

Not so much a DNF as a Did Not Attempt. Normally I'd be happy to give any cache a cursory look even after a string of previous DNFs, but as it was raining I really didn't fancy getting wet chasing a slim hope. Maybe next time I'm in the area.

Pretty sure we found its former hidey hole. No cache to be found though.

Searched all around where the hint said with ObnoxiousSpaceCat but DNF. Lots of ducks though so that was nice.

Aggie was of no help, left it to the ducks...

After a good search we failed to find this hade and logged a DNF.

T4tC Sonofbert, Civvnr & MissTreadlightly ....(UK)

Find number 10293

First ever Geocach, nice and easy

Don’t fall in

TFTC. Beautiful day for a drive to Ashley Gorge

We found eggs, a croc and finally the cache. Many thanks!

After spending the winter woofing on the west coast and the last 3 months in greymouth it's time to head off and start travelling again but not before a couple of search and rescue events in my old stomping ground...
After a weather bomb put pay to my goat pass trip and plan b and c , made the call to stay in oxford for a couple of nights giving me time to grab a few bonus caches...
Rain stopped as I reached porters , took longer than it should have with what felt like many eyes watching me...tftc

Out biking in the area, nice country town TFTC

The first indent in the agapanthus lead me not to a cache but to a duck's nest. The prospective mum and dad looked on with interest but no concern. I guess they're used to people fossicking around in the aggies. After two passes I finally uncovered what I was looking for. Turned out that it was not the ducks but the crocodile that was pointing the way. TFTC.

A nice simple find, a few ducks with ducklings nearby, as well as a nest full of eggs near GZ. Thanks for the hide.

A quick find and for some reason this was on my DNF list

Last cache of birthday trip today. Cache items pretty wet. New log is fine. 500th for us with this cache tftc

TFTC, found it and a secret stash of eggs from a goose/duck or something!

We even found some eggs in a nest!

Very happy to find this large container this time around. It was pretty wet so I added yet another log in a plastic bag !! Watched carefully by a resident white goose. TFTC

Walked from the T intersection down the road up here. Nice little pond. Lots of the hint stuff. Three of us looking and determined not to give up, and thankfully I spotted it. Actually a good big container. I struggled to get the lid off it! Only 1 slater! Thanks for bringing us to this spot.
#7610

no idea where it is

Well hidden

TFTC with Kaz53

Found with Judith. Nice sunny day for helping. TFTC a bit exposed but good hide

Good find

??

Well hidden but a bit damp!!

Easy find, needs updating. No pen

Easy find

Waaaa could not find

Had to do a bit of fishing to find this one. Cache riddled with woodlice ick

Tftc

Found it with help

Down in Christchurch with the Squirrel, ABCDF4 and eyespyben. During Covid lockdown, we solved a load of puzzles and decided that this would be a good time to visit. We've enjoyed a few days of good weather and seeing the Canterbury countryside. The caches have been in varying states - some good, some not so much. Our time here has been a blast, and we'd like to thank all COs who have made this adventure possible. Thank you and TFTC.

With ABCDF4, eyespyben, and Gap (of Fap and Gap). Logging all finds as Team HRP (Huntly, Rotorua, Papamoa - Our hometowns)... During Covid-19 lockdown, we solved a truck load of puzzles around Christchurch - Canterbury region. No use thrashing the old grey matter for no cause - We decided we should make good on this handiwork...

There are lots of interesting trails and geoart surrounding Christchurch. What you aren’t told is how far flung some of these caches actually are. Some beforehand advice would have been great, so here are some of my notes... You’re welcome!

1. Mobile coverage is patchy, especially in those quiet, rural areas where it was most needed. Saving caches to offline might show that you are prepared and organised...
2. There are many dusty metal roads on the trails. The car will get messy, and your hair will feel like cardboard at the end of the day...
3. Suitable clothing and footwear are essential. You will climb in and out of hedges, gorse, and other rough stuff. You might get scratched, cut to shreds, and bleed a lot. It’s not advised to wear your brand new jacket on the day...
4. Take lots of food and drink. You’ll probably be head down, tail up and not realise you haven’t eaten until late afternoon. There are very few shops or gas stations out there...
5. Make sure that you secure keys and wallet and know where these are placed for easy retrieval. A full box of pens might be useful too, especially if you’re inclined to free some into the wild...
6. Know the difference between left and right, and north, south, east, and west. Turning right and heading north will not get you to South Christchurch quickly.
7. Look with girl’s eyes rather than boys eyes... Some caches haven’t been found in a while and you might have to get down on your knees to pray.
8. Always be prepared for misleading hints. This is what turns simple caches into D5/T5 hides... “Head height” could mean the cache is positioned at your toes.
9. Have a sense of humour and like the people you go caching with. It’s going to be a very long day, and you might want to hurt someone during the journey...
10. Make sure you can operate your phone/device and it doesn’t crash when you most need it...
11. Learn to cut and paste logs because you’re going to repeat this function so often when logging all of your finds.
12. Above all else, have fun and be kind...

We have another one of those punishing plans to cache until we drop - An early morning start with the hope that we'll finish at a reasonable time... From South Christchurch, we took Highway 1 and crossed the Waimakariri River into Northern Christchurch... There is a cafe just metres away from ground zone. Our presence brought the cafe owner out, and he knew what we were up to. Was pointed to the cache... Thanks Sonofbert and TFTC.

After puzzle solving in the Canterbury region along with ABCDF4 we were invited to join Fap (from Fap & Gap) and Squirrel Nutcase to a week long caching adventure in the Canterbury area. With flights and accommodation booked were off, all met up in ChCh. and many hard dusty Kms travelled and many caches found, I think the Squirrel has said it all in his brief. Many thanks for the placements and Cos for bringin us to the very pleasant areas we travelled in to your region

After puzzle solving in the Canterbury region along with EyeSpyBen we were invited to join Fap (from Fap & Gap) and Squirrel Nutcase to a week long caching adventure in the Canterbury area. With flights and accommodation booked were off, all met up in ChCh. and many hard dusty Kms travelled and many caches found, I think the Squirrel has said it all in his brief. Many thanks for the placements and Cos for bringin us to the very pleasant areas we travelled in to your region

Quick find. Log full so put in new log. TFTC

Nice wee cach filling in some time lol

Got lucky and put my hand on it straight away. Thanks Sonofbert

#9784

very wet container - ni on submerged in the pond. Gave the (thankfully) waterproof log sheet a new bag. TFTC

No luck here and there was two of us searching

Found the perfect spot with a nice "dent" in the greenery where I would have expected to see a cache of the size given. Think it may have gone, maybe a CO check. 2 geese were watching us with interest.

Couldnt find it

Tricky, but found.. soaking wet inside.. needs maintenance

To exposed for my taste hope the co lives in one of those house

4th time lucky!!

Annoying!

Found it

Nice and easy

Cute duckies!

Found.

Sadly the log was WAY too damp to sign, but easy find and delightful spot! Thanks!

Found it, Thanks

Thanks for good catch

TFGC.

Truly a well thought out position haha

Found it

Visiting from Brisbane with Slow Puncture for the Oamaru Geofest, and we're seeing all the wonderful sights the South Island has to offer as we travel along. Day 5: An early start as we ventured out of Christchurch in a big loop hunting challenges, solved GeoArt, and older caches. We were stunned by the beautiful views of the Alps across the farmland of Canterbury Plains.


Took some searching but we got there. Thanks for the hunt **Sonofbert**, this find makes #4395. Discover our TB

..........@__,
/____\\_/__________\
\\________/_TGQNRV_/
~~~~^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^~

Tuesday. Slow Puncture has teamed up with Orange Crew to make a Moreton Bay assault on the Oamaru Geofest. Day Five saw us take a large loop out from Christchurch, West towards the snow-capped mountains, before returning and doing some urban caching within Christchurch itself.

This was the 52nd of 71 caches found on today's trip.

Thanks ***sonofbert***, for showing us this place.

Quick find. Tftc

Good hide, and good cache items.

I went out for a day of caching, with no specific plans, just picking the next one off the map. I realised that I did not include many going north in the PQ, so heading west would be my best bet. Cute wee pond, but I am afraid I spooked the local fowl. On the other hand, the dog next door was also very loud! TFTC!!

Don't get stuck in the mud lol

Easy find, just think when parking as don't want to get stuck

Nice spot, nearly got bogged next to the pond

Quick find, thanks

Camouflage

An agaphanthas hint to me is similar to flax a flax hint - so many possible hiding places. Luckily for me it was a quick find.

Jess.daphne, OrangePeel104 and I spent a fantastic sunny summer day caching our way to Ashley Gorge. We grabbed this one along the way and signed the log as JeJeOp. Tftc.

Found with Injeanious and Orangepeel104, we spent the day picking up caches on our way to Ashley gorge for a swim. We signed the log as JeJeOp to save space.
TFTC!

Got it with Jess.Daphene and Ingeanous! Team signing JeJeOP. TFCT:-)

Nice easy find. Had driven past here so many times before without knowing this pond was even here. Tftc. Found with Boatmanandy and Nikki

Found it

21/09/2016 5:32:00 PM
7607
I had planned to head out to the Port Hills and find some caches and get some walking done there, but after waking with a splitting headache, and having had next to no sleep, that plan was off, as I barely felt well enough to get out of bed!!! And so by afternoon, though I was feeling a little better, by the time I got some stuff around the house done, it was definitely too late to head out there - so I decided to head towards oxford and find a few on the way there, and that way there wouldn't be any traffic like if I headed towards town.

I was aiming for at least 7, to get today to be a darker calendar day also (at least 11 finds), but ended up overachieving and actually finished the day with double at 14 new finds!

I once DNFed this cache back in 2013. Upon return today, I have no idea how that happened, as I found it instantly today!

Consec caching day # 1417

TFTC!!

Found on the way to a picnic at Ashley Gorge. Nice spot, we were the second finders today. Tftc!

Awesome geocache, lovely ducks.
TFTC

Tftc! Lovely spot

Well hidden

Sure is a good size

Easy find

A nice big cache. Had to wait out some traffic but eventually had a break and we retrieved it signed it and returned it in no time. Tftc

Quick easy find on my way through on an Oxford and Lolly clean up. Been here before but always felt rather exposed and chickened out. Quickly to hand in the early morning light. Thanks for the cache.

Couldn't find it

With a few more days of holidays left we decided to head south again and find some caches we didn't have time to look for last week, plus some more off the beaten track. This was one of 52 found today.
Thank you to all CO's who made this possible.

Our recent multi day Canterbury cache raid was so successful we decided to have another one before the holidays finished. Again we got stabbed, prodded, pricked and scraped by the variety of hedges the region is so famous for. And of course we can now hold our breath a lot longer. A skill well worth developing to avoid breathing in part of the road surface every time a vehicle passes. Just over 200 finds were logged this time and a great time was had finding the caches with a variety of shapes, sizes and placements. A big thank you to all COs who made this possible.

Tftc

A beautiful day for a walk. We headed up to the Millennium Lookout and then walked back to the village via this cache. Fortunately it was a quick find as I felt rather exposed to the nearby house although I'm sure they are well used to us geocachers by now. TFTC.

Yay 3rd find for the day TFTC

Tftc

Such a treat seeing new babies on the pond

Found

Out and about with Team Welsh on a caching holiday. T4tc

Nice straight forward find while we were in town. TFTC

??????

Quick easy park and hunt to find TFTC

Quick park and grab
TFTC