Bullets Hunt (Wellington) Island Bay, North Island, New Zealand
By Bkj97 on 16-Sep-09. Waypoint GC1YRB8

Investigated the sign months ago, came up with implausible coordinates, so left it. Tinkered with the possibilities at home and got something that made a bit more sense. Needing a multi find today so managed to sign the log.

Loved my Bata Bullets when I was a kid. As others have said, you need to make allowances for changes to the sign, but it's still solvable. tftc,

Solved a few months ago, making the find tonight with some timing required between several types of muggles. Found the first question to have some unnecessary information in it, which can lead to the wrong answer. Although it is pretty obvious what the answer should be. Thanks bkj97

No problems finding as per hint once solved. Crunching the numbers I made allowance for changes that had occured to the sign over time, came up with coords that were spot on. NB: See Owner Maintenance comments in an earlier log to help identify the correct "days open" iteration of sign to use, not the current. TFTC Bkj97

Signage has changed and needed it include the whited out text to get the correct coordinates. Fairly easy find once we had the coordinates correct. TFTC.

Went for a bike ride around the southern coast and picked this one up along the way. Tftc

Picked this up a few days back, thanks to the CO for the nudge! Great lil fun cache to a place I don't usually go to. Tftc.

Wohoo! Found myself out this way again today and all good! Had the numbers etc right for wp previously (and confirmed by co) but couldn’t find. Today that area is much clearer and, feeling much more confident, (and apart from first prodding the underside of a resident ) I had my hand on the prize! Many thanks bk!

This took way longer than I anticipated. Seems as though there are more sign changes. Bonus was the CO was in the area and we worked through it together to find the blips, which I am sure he will fix shortly. Cache in very good condition one found TFTC and chat bjk97.

Need to get better at math

Flossie110 and I were heading out this way to collect a multi-cache and decided to complete this one while we were there. We went through the sums twice each, but couldn’t get anything that made sense. I had a think about what could be tweaked, and even though it didn’t seem to match up with what the sign had given us, came up with something nearby. We headed there for a look, but no luck. I decided to seek some help from CO as we couldn’t figure out where we’d gone wrong. In the meantime, we headed off to look for some other caches. Whilst doing that I heard back from CO, who suggested a slightly different number, and it turned out to be exactly where we’d been looking. So we headed back, and had another look, but still couldn’t find our prize. Meanwhile, the next door neighbours wondered what we were up to, so an explanation was given. We were despondently heading back to the car, when I had one last thought, and retried one place we’d already checked at least twice. Lo and behold, there it was! Much excitement. Thanks for the puzzle and cache. I’m wondering if maybe the sign has changed slightly - either that or we are both absolutely hopeless at maths!

Very difficult but found!!
2nd shot

Found with pup. This one was an exercise in patience and persistence.
I visited the posted coordinates 2x this year. The first time was with 10yo and we never managed to get the final location to make sense.
The 2nd attempt came after the recent update from CO. This time I took miss 6yo who did not have the patience to sit and count for too long. I ended up taking a photo and solving the final in my own time.
The numbers made sense now - thanks to the update from CO. I returned today with pup and she patiently waited for me to retrieve cache from its spot. Phew - glad to sign that one off. TFTC

I was driving back from the coast when I suddenly realized that this cache was around here. I actually did the main part of the multi a long time ago but I never felt comfortable about the final location. But noticing it was pretty quiet at the moment I pulled over almost right where I remembered the computed location was, got out for a quick look and, yep, there was the cache. A long time coming, that find. TFTC.

Days open has changed. Wednesday is now Monday. Clues for V and X amended. New container in place as well.

This geocacher reported that the container is damaged.

TwigNZ suggested a caching roadtrip to Wellington with Mar1sa, which sounded like an excellent day out of the house! - a novel idea considering that I'm still Working from Home...
The downside of this plan is that the first cache was 2+hrs from home which meant a much earlier start than I am otherwise used to.
We had an excellent trip, and Wellington really turned on the sunshine for us - Twig's "solar panel" definitely got some exposure

This was a fairly quick find thanks to the hint.
Note the container is missing its lid

Log was signed as Team MET (or just MET depending on log space) for Mar1sa, EtherLord and TwigNZ.

My day started at at 5.15am with a goal of caching down in wellington with Twignz and Etherlord Clan, the weather was amazing and we ended up with a few finds under our belt finished the day around 9pm and the shower and bed never felt so good as it did that night.

thanks for placing the caches and bringing us to the locations we visited. - sorry about the copy and paste logs

What a fantastic day to be out and about in the Capital (read Target-rich environment lol!) with a couple of great geo-friends. You just can't beat Wellington on a good day, and this certainly was one. Note to self: Time to start wearing caps again!

Part of our discussion on our journey down was centered around what our joint logging name would be for today, with the final choice being Team M.E.T (or sometimes just MET depending on log space) for Mar1sa, Etherlord and TwigNZ.

This cache was found towards the end of our day. It was a quick find at GZ and with the log signed, the whole thing was replaced as found before heading off to the next location.

Thanks for placing this cache.

Out and about with Flowerydaze cleaning up a few solved puzzles. This took several minutes to decipher and we must have caught the attention of a guy setting up some sort of stall in the Bata yard area, he did look at us rather strangely. Managed to complete that task and wandered off in search of the cache which, when found was in poor condition without its lid and quite damp. TFTC Bkj97

Many, many years ago when Talla64 and I lived in Wainuiomata there was a Bata factory in the town. Every kid seem to have a pair of the Bata Bullets, they could be purchased quite cheaply from the factory. Our sons were no exception. I was interested to note that Bata was founded in the Czech Republic in 1894. Thanks for bringing back a few memories bkj97 and for the multi.

After giving this a go and a DNF not that long ago and another crack tonight! A nice easy one! Cache is missing its lid and is very wet!

Came back under the cover of darkness to try again with the updated questions found it after a little meddling with official things. TFCH

Visited the Bata factory for clues a week ago, but clues made no sense; the sign had changed again. After alerting the CO, I was able calculate the coordinates from the re-re-re-revised clues. A nice morning for a diversion before work, only to find others thinking the same; a steady stream of dog-walkers and cyclists going past GZ. Finally a quiet few minutes, made a quick find. Log all dry, but container has lost it's lid. Tftc, bkj97!

Signage has indeed been changed. Reworking clues necessary.

clues reworked and all ready to go again.

Spent ages trying to work this out but seems the sign isn't correct, questions like the final dont match the sign at the location

Checked and now access a available again.

Checked now work nearby has finished. Cache as was. Good to go.

Sign is appropriate for the clues. Access to gz still a no go.

Hi. The sign has changed- so clues no longer lead to the correct coordinates.

This geocacher reported that there is a problem with this cache.

Will have to wait until lockdown ends.

I could not get a sensible set of coordinates so shared my problem with the CO He kindly confirmed that one line of the puzzle had an error which has now been fixed Today was the time to make an easy pickup Thanks bkj97

Enjoyable cache while visiting family. Struggled a bit with the numbers but thanks to the CO for helping me out. Cheers.

Clues amended.

Ready to go again. Hope my maths works ok. Lots of counting to-do.

Signage at given coordinates changed. Will need to rework the clues.

Attempted this a couple of weeks ago, but the calculated coords gave me nothing. Revisited today and corrected my counting for a quick find. Once I shook the spiders out of the lid-less container, log was dry and in good condition. TFTC

Finally. Tftc

Great hide! Found with sweatyyetinz. Tftc

The sign no longer has any red arrows, but we managed to answer all questions and find the cache location. Cache is now eclipse tin and not film canister. No lid on tin, but log dry

Solved some time ago but final put on the backburner till it was convenient to use it as part of a 10 day multi streak. Today was the final day. Now back to my usual
style of caching irregularly as time and weather suit!

Walked over from Island Bay, was pleasantly surprised how little time this took- my normal route when heading to this area is round the coast but with a strong wind blowing popping over the hill was a more comfortable option. I had also entertained ideas of walking round to Red Rocks as there are some caches in that area I haven't done yet but in view of the near gale decided to leave that till another day.

A quick easy find though the container is rusty and the lid is missing. Log OK though.
Bata used to have a factory near where I originally lived in Wainuiomata. I also had business dealings with the founder and owner in my first job. But I don't think I ever wore a pair of Bullets!
TFTC.

#308. My third Bkj97 multi in the last 3 days. That's about the lot for Island Bay. A friend works at Bata. Didn't spot him when sussing out & retrieving the cache. Another one in the bag! Tftc.

Finally! This one has been a 'so near yet so far' cache for a couple of years. I've had what I thought was the correct coordinates on at least 3 previous occasions, but have been defeated by lack of time, miscalculation, muggles or simply losing the coordinates between visits! I needed a cache this evening to stop my going cache lack crazy, so decided to give it one last shot. Parked up above the Tsunami line, and by the light of my car headlights recalculated where I needed to be. A short walk later, and, after a bit of feeling around the prize was finally mine! TFTC.

Beautiful day for a Cache. Walked to bata st along the coast. Got distracted by dolphins. Good hide in a very muggle rich area. Tftc

Third time lucky with this one. The first time I came was when the sign had changed but the clues hadn't. The second time I apparently couldn't count and got two important digits wrong. My counting skills are on form today. Tftc.

I had a pair of these when I was younger...success with a multi!! have had all sorts of problems with other multi's...this was quick and simple once I corrected a hastily completed blue. TFTC

Another lunchtime cache with TregearP - this one is M6 in the 10 multis in 10 consecutive days challenge.

Cold and wet here today. Information quickly gathered, processed and on for a quick find.

The cache itself has lost its lid but it doesn't appear to have affected it as it can be orientated to ensure it doesn't fill with water when it rains. Logbook dry inside its plastic bag.

TNLNSL, TFTC.

A great reminder of fashion through New Zealand's past, at school Bata Bullets were very cool. Sadly I was in cast off plimsoles but did admire friends who had more style. Retrieved the information quickly and a short walk to the final GZ, all in good order. TFTC day 5 10 M's in 10 D's.

This one has been annoying me for a while. Glad to finally claim it especially as it is so close to home. Thanks for placing the cache.

Cool little multi, thanks Bkj97! Note sign no longer has large red arrow (3rd para), and lid missing off container (baggy and cute notebook still dry).

Clues amended to reflect information on the new sign. GZ remains the same.

Checked the white painted sign today and am pleased to see a new sign has been erected so will compare with my original photo and get it back in action.

Very proud of this one considering the sign had been painted over! Lord Swansea used google street view and we got there in the end.

Not such an easy find as the sign has had a rather unfortunate recent paint job which makes some of these clues quite hard. Still, with the help of Google Street view we were able to get what we needed and find the cache

Will need to rejig or archive as the sign has been painted over.

I located the final easily enough but took much longer than I should have finding the cache. All good inside. TFTC

Quiet on Sunday so we parked right next to the sign. Just when I thought we could solve the Multi from the comfort of my seat there was a question about the back [B)]. A short stroll to the final and we were done. Certainly different from our other Multi this weekend which took us three days.

#599. A nice quick find on the way to the Pi event on the south coast. We had stopped by a couple of months ago to do this one but realised once we got there that we hadn't uploaded the page onto GPS. But we took some photos at the time so were able to work out the questions from home. Today was the first time we have been back over this side of town. The cache was quickly found by Miss E in the most likely spot. Signed and off to the event. I remember wearing Bata Bullets in my youth so nice to see where the factory is situated for this kiwi brand. TFTC

The number vowels perplexed the muggle helper I brought along and myself for some time. Got it in the end though. Great fun #28

Great information. I have passed this road so many times and never knew that that was where the factory was. Enjoyed the challenge as well.

Found with UlmusLynx. A short but very busy side road. Rain more persistent. Managed to park nearby and grab cache between cars passing As usual in these situations replacing cache took a bit longer TFTC

Owned several bata shoes over years including a pair of bullets! Took a couple of goes at solving as wrote 1 co-ord down wrong. However quick find with Selesi. Tftc

This entry was edited by UlmusLynx on Saturday, 17 January 2015 at 18:42:49 UTC.

We got a number wrong first time round and we're all but trespassing before realizing our mistake.

TFTC! Didn't take long to work out the coordinates and then surprised at how close by they were. Quickly found the cache, all in good order

Thanks for the multi! Did with Wafflekitties

funny little place for a sign! deciphered the required information from the safety of the car then off to GZ... or so we thought. we must have had a number wrong as we resorted to cachers instinct for the find! pleased to report the cache was in good order TFTM

I remember wearing my Bata Bullets when I was a kid. Ultra stylely!!!! Coordinates quickly obtained from source and cache quickly located. All in excellent condition. TFTP and TFTC.

Owned a Bata bullets at High school, and walked the Tongariro crossing in them! Had to come and visit, sadly the shop was closed on a Sunday, but this did not stop me exploring. Thank you for creating this multi and a chance to relive my childhood. The calculations were done from home, and confirmed on arrival. Visiting Wellington for the weekend, flying out tonight, so this was a must to find.

Great old style shoes clever cache with Rustynz TFTC

Quick solve and find today

A quick find at the final. TFTC

Bit of a trek for today's one multi as had no luck at earlier cache. This was solved remotely and in the back pocket for emergencies, luckily. Quick find. Cutest sized logbook ever - all dry but container rusting a little and admitting moisture. Dried out before replacing. TFTM 9/10 days for multi streak challenge

Bata Bullets are back in the shoe shops. Bought my teenager a pair recently when she wanted replacement converse.

Cache # 1,638 - sorted the answers to this a few weeks back while in the area for another cache, and came back to do this today to keep my ongoing streak alive. Quick find with Astro Hunter and Violet Butterfly. TFTC!

Found today with The Wandering Dragons and Astro Hunter. Interesting history. Thanks!

Cache # 617

Did this today with Violet Butterfly and Wandering Dragons. Thank you.

Cache # 43

I always wondered where they made the Bata bullets I used to wear when I was a young fella. Now I know.
Quickly solved the puzzle and the coast was clear at the GZ so a quick retrieval was possible. TFTC

Add me to the list of finders that wore Bata Bullets as a youngster.

I was in Island Bay with Netty and Biddy completely un-prepared for the strong wind. As a result, we shortened our planned caching activities but we did have time for this one. I found a container where the hint suggested it would be and moved away to sign the logsheet. When I returned, I saw a second container so I signed the logbook in that one as well. The two finders previous to me had signed different logsheets. TFTC.

Solved this one a long time (more than a year?) ago, but at the time a muggle was mowing the lawn at GZ so I wasn't able to look for the cache. "Re-discovered" it last night and decided it was time to retry it. No lawn mower around today so it made for a straight forward find. TFTC.

Went for a trip to the factory outlet store and found it closed for the year. To salve the disappointment we checked to see if there was a cache nearby... Yay!

Out and about very early in the morning, a quick find.

Thanks for the cache bkj97

After an unsuccessful visit here some time ago we now had the opportunity to make a visit on the Queen's Birthday holiday.
Cache find was straightforward (this time), cache in order; log signed, safely re-hidden.
TFTC found with team cacher Sweet P too
The Turtle strikes again!

Stopped in the car to get the answers.
Then walked to the cache.
1SportDude picked it up.
TFTC

Found it with 1Grunta and 1SportDude
TFTC

Found it with 1Grunta and 1Dog
TFTC

Managed the solving for coordinates bit relatively easily.
The fun began then.
The coords for GZ put us in the road, but it seemed pretty clear where the hide would be. Did a very thorough search of all likely possibilities (while doing lots of muggle dodging on a busy Sunday for passersby).
We noted that the last log was August 2012.
Wondering if the cache is still in situ?

TFTC

Well this was interesting. The cache is 18km away. There is no way I am going to believe that is a short walk. Back at the sign, I decided the problem was question 1 - number of colours on the back of the sign. There is only one colour on the back of the sign, but if I assume "back" is a mis-spelling of "background" then I get something much closer. Which worked! Nice hide. I wouldn't call it a short drive away - there are cachers who actually need to drive that distance?

See taybee log TFTC

this one has been on the do list for same time, after reading the question for X about 6 time we got it and off to get the cache, it was a easy found for jr taybee . TFTC

Finally found this one after the first attempt had us heading to someones front yard. TFTC

Nice easy find. Never knew this was where the infamous "bata bullet" came from! TFTC

The questions were a good maths exercise for M5 Jr. He got the answers right as we located the cache after a short search. Muggles were a problem especially the ones who parked right beside GZ as we were trying to return the cache, took an age to get out of the car and then insisted that their dog sit before they crossed the road (which it wasn't keen to do!). TFTC

Checked out cache and have placed a new eclipse container at Gz. Didn't check for old container as a group of muggles approached.

First to sign new log book but then discovered old container so left both in place. T4TCSL

Did not find, and to rub salt in the wound someone hit my vechile whilst gathering this cache, grr

Quick find on my second attempt, after a pointer from the owner at s recent event. I had muddled myself up on the previous visit - I should have measured twice and cut once! TFTC

I had solved this one some time ago but there were muggles right on GZ that day, came back today and had to re-solve it having lost the coords at some point. Got it quickly today.