Mr Percival (aka: Storm Boy returns) Cowirra, South Australia, Australia
By Kevin on 05-Oct-01. Waypoint GC2082

Please don't archive this old cache. We should do what we can to keep the oldest ones in the state going!
Please un-archive and let me adopt it and fix it up....
Pleeeeease

The profile of the river has changed so much since Mr Percival was placed.

It appears that the cache has been plundered by muggles or KFC, so it's time to retire the cache.

My oldest unvisited. So sad I never made it here. Clear skies.

We visited Mannum for the day with kayaks, and while there I thought why not attempt to find our first cache ever? We were quite excited at the thought of a treasure hunt into the middle of the river, and had a brilliant time finding the hiding spot- went in a few circles as my phone GPS tried to settle, got stuck in reeds, and almost capsized climbing onto the hiding spot but we (my kids, parents, husband and I) loved it. Sadly, we only found a little toy car, which we left. It wasn't until we returned to shore that I realised I could look at what other finders had logged and we felt a little better that it had not been found for awhile and was possibly not there. Fantastic first experience though (and luckily for us we found a couple of other ones that day! Awesome spot for a cache, thanks!

Maybe not found cos the water is back, and back to 5 star?
Maybe Mr & Mrs Fluffy need go have a look? lol
I will be heading to it in the next month or so!

This one hasn't been found in a while, is it still there??

Wow was this one a cache to remember...Originally planned to do this with Bronsen and Mooshelle in my runabout but engine troubles saw an end to that.... no worries though .... we can walk in..... Crossing the Alps with elephants would have been easier!!!!!Our first attempt at a straight line approach was thawted by water and black mud. We then found another path running sort of in the direction of the cache.... after a while we left this and fought through dense undergrowth, reeds and more mud to the GZ!!! Finally reached the cache... signed log and worked our way back to the car by a slightly easier path. Thanks for a great adventure!!! One of these is worth 50 "drive bys" !!!!!

Found with CPwanderer and Mooshell. I don't think i can explain it any better than what CPwanderer did. I thought if we were within 30 feet of the cache and there was water between us and the cache after the enjoyable battle to that point i would have Waded through the water. I think we all came out 10 cm taller due to the black mud on our boots. Another really enjoyable cache done with CPwanderer and Mooshell. One regret we for got the camera. TFTC. TNLN. SL.

This entry was edited by Bronsen on Wednesday, 07 July 2010 at 23:04:45.

By the end of the walk to the cache my shoes were full of water and covered in mud. Corner of the cache lid was cracked so stuck it back in to prevent it from getting overly water logged. I am disappointed that I forgot to bring my camera as this was an enjoyable cache found with CPwanderer and Bronsen. TFTC TNLN

We came to do this one today, but with the recent rains I think we would have needed some gum boots to get to the cache - bit too much mud today, but we will come back again more prepared another day.

Staying at Mannum last night and checking out the caches in the area we saw this oldy and it became a must do for us we really enjoy these ones as there's not too many left.
It's a good thing that we waited a few years to get this as not being boat owners this would have been off our list totally. As you head out to gz it's a stark reminder of how things have changed in not too many years. It's obvious the container has changed since the original was placed but unfortunately this one is also showing signs of being chewed by animals and we don't think that the seal would work very well any more. Unfortunately we didn't have any suitable containers with us, hopefully the next cacher will
Thanks Kevin for the cache

Geokids freaking out after serious tiger snake discussion...
TNSL, L: Tempting Fates Geocoin
Cheers & TFTC!

[This entry was edited by DaFiChNi Team on Monday, September 21, 2009 at 7:48:02 AM.]

We had mixed feelings about attempting such an (apparently) difficult cache today, but after reading the last log we had new hope. Must've taken the exact same way in. The fact that there's a worn vehicle track leading to within 80m of GZ is testament to the Murray's condition these days. TFTC.

A peaceful walk down the track to GZ, the only other living creature about was a rabbit. Easily found.

Well that was probably the easiest 4.5 star cache that we have ever done!

We could have driving to within 50m of GZ, but decided against that, and walked the 400m in. A nice stroll, and the feet barely got muddy. A quick wade through the weeds and we found ourselves at GZ. An easy find was completed.

We offered tribut to the turtle that fell a few hundred metres short of water, and died about 15m from GZ.

Nice walk back and the warmth of the car was welcoming.

TNLNSL

Found together with Featherwaite. Enjoyed the walk to the cache. Thanks Kevin.

Packed a spare set of clothes and an old pair of sneakers but didn't need either. Thanks for the cache!

Found it after a nice stroll through reptile country with voogoofish! This must be the oldest cache I've found. What a different place this must have been when the cache was first placed in 2001!
TFTC

found with woodsy5 & a muggle friend before going fishing on a pastors retreat... walked where we should have been able to paddle and fish (but thats another watery story)

Took the long walk from the Caravan park along the mud flats. Watch out for those crater sized cracks in the mud. Lost my whole leg down one. Luckily I got it back. TFTC

Team "A" at 1-30 pm.
Well, what can
I say about this one ???

After reading all about the difficulty on this cache and the need for special equipment, I went out and bought a $50,000 boat with all the "right stuff" then realised that a new 4WD was needed to tow the damn thing !!! another $30,000 out of pocket!!! Then proceeded to put $150.00 of fuel in it !!

Took a day off from the day job and headed out to snare this one, but alas, launched the boat from the eastern side of the river, spent 1 hour trying to get closer to GZ, but couldn't get anywhere close.

Put the boat back onto the trailer, crossed the ferry and drove up the western side of the river only to discover that after spending $80,150, all needed to have done was to [red]WALK[/red]
400 mtrs on the dried up area that up until 2-3 years ago was under water.

Quickly found the stump and the cache.

Took trackable

SL

TFT|C

CHEERS FROM THE [red] FLIPPERS [/red]
[purple] Gayle/Mark[/purple]

Ohhh BTW any one want to buy a brand new
NISSAN 4WD and a HAYES HUNTER boat cheap ??? I'll even throw in $150-00 of fuel for the boat

Thought we'd get this one while "the tide's out ."
After lunching at the Pretoria, needed some exercise to work off all those calories .
Drove as near as possible and found a convenient parking area, walked across the road and followed a farmers pump hose track toward the cache, heading into the rushes about 50m south of the cache.
Quickly found. Took chalk stick. Left Hogwild Geocoin. SL.
Thanks Kevin [8].

Tried walking to this, but the route we chose came to a crashing halt, when after travelling some 200m we were faced with thick head-high weeds, dry mud with DEEP cracks and 600m still to go. I don’t need a smiley that bad. . We were on a Murrylands cache-run and didn’t have time to investigate other approaches.
My hat’s off to those recent intrepid adventurers that walked from the Caravan Park .

Having now read the logs we strolled from the caravan park up to this one trying not to fall down the cracks.

It is a little hair raising to be walking through waist high grass and hear something moving near you.

There was an empty turtle shell near the GZ today.

Took: Titanic TB and Rabbit
Left: Shark for next time there is water.

[This entry was edited by fatnav on Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 8:53:56 AM.]

We camped at the nearby caravan park and took to the water in the porta bote to try for this one but were defeated by the vegetation from the river side.

Our 700th find which would have been a drive-by if I had the 4WD. There is now a track heading out towards the cache but the first section through the reeds is not for a GeoCommodore. Left Titanic TB on a wild, wet and windy day. TFTC.

After a failed attempt two years ago we returned today to claim this one. Quite interesting how th eterrain is changing and how quickly trees are growing. The river didn't look that low but that was deceptive. Had a tussel over the cache, see uploaded photo.

Walked over dry land to get this one which made me think that the terrain rating might need rethinking until the Murray gets a bit more water. L NZ 50c coin, took Wibble pathtag. TFTC.

With the river water level now half a metre below sea level no boat was needed (see pic) and there were no Mr percivals to be seen. I just strolled across the dry cracked clay to grab this cache, one of the early ones that I should have found years ago. Left some chalk and a Wibble pathtag. Thanks Kevin, wherever you are.

With the back waters drying up we took the opportunity to grab this one while we could walk to it, no water around the cache for 50m unlike previous logs T Frog L Buggy. Rescued TB Friesland TFTC
Croak croak

Had to laugh watching ds-fifty walk through the mud after getting out of our canoe. He had a bit of a Jesus thing going on before he hit dry land and then the cache. It was good to find this one with a bit of an adventure. TFTC

Had to use the canoe and walk a bit in the mud for this one. Left a coin that was after some white stuff. Probably appropriate here! Thanks for the adventure.

on our way up the river in the "Deckadance" river boat, had a wonderful time, lovely spot.TFHC

Found on a nice sunny sunday with Team Friendly. Paddled from the caravan park where we were staying. Replaced cache container.

Parked the car and unloaded the kayak and made the very enjoyable paddle across. The cache was guarded by four Mr Percivals, who seemed entirely unconcerned with my presence. Couldn't actually reach the cache from the kayak so had to hop out, but the water wasn't that bad, really.
Unfortunately have to report that the cache is in need of serious maintenance. The lid has cracked quite a bit and has some sizeable holes in it now, it will fill up with water next time it rains.
TNLNSL.

Had some spare time and decided to get this one and more importantly, an excuse to visit the local Bakery. On nearing GZ it is not hard to pick its location; the only trouble I had was paddling back into the headwind. TFTH

Defninitely the best cache experience so far. A lonely location in a isolated spot. Putted in and sidled up to it. Mr P watched on, watching our every move. Done! Cheers!

This has to be one of the best. We saw this spot from 40m and knew this had to be it........just needed some good low water navigation by Dogdigidy, wading and a bit of balance. Mr Percy himself was nearby to witness. Lid on container has a small tear....Thanks.

Found at 10:00, with Alice and Tracey, on our third attempt.
Our first attempt, probably over a year ago, was foiled quickly when we found the boat we were going to use had no oar-locks. Second attempt documented in a previous log.
This time, we were renting a house 450m from the cache. We'd hired canoes and found the cache exactly where I picked it would be in our houseboat attempt. Didn't scribble like Parrothead (and yes, he really did scribble his log), but took my time while drifting in the wind. Didn't make a swap.
Thanks Kevin - a great cache and a great location.

Found a great entry point and away we went.
Crossing over toward GZ I suddenly realised we had paddled past it.
It wasn’t were I expected. We changed direction and I soon located it.
That didn’t mean we had it though. With me hanging on and trying to balance the other canoe Ni went in and got it. Then promptly got a leg cramp while hanging on.
With Ni calling “hurry up I don’t know how long I can hold on before my leg gives out “,
I scribbled an entry and then helped her back into the canoe.
See how compassionate we Geocachers are after we have filled in the log.

Came past here on the 28th in a houseboat. We had 5 canoes on board ready to make an assault on this cache. Gently brought the vessel in to shore a few hundred metres away, and realised my mistake immedately. Spent the next 20 minutes getting the boat back afloat, and decided we'd get the cache on the return journey instead.
Came back past on the 29th, but because we'd been trapped for 1/2 a day by sever winds, we didn't have time for the cache. We had about 15 minutes daylight left and had to get the canoes back to Mannum. Came so close to the cache, and was pretty sure I could see where it would be. I guess it has waited over four years now, it'll still be there next time.
This was actually our second go at this cache. A year or so ago the family camped at the caravan park. I came down for the day, but the boat they had didn't have oar-locks, so gave it a miss then too.
Thanks anyway Kev.

Have been planning on doing this one for a while along with a couple others in the area and decided today was the day.
Dragged the extremely unstable reflex canoe out of the shed and took the rusty paddling skills out for a run.
Approached from the deep side and found quickly in the obvious location. Hardest part was retrieval & replacement without getting wet!
Cache is in good condition. TNLNSL. Cheers.

First of our water craft quinella this afternoon.

The cache location was surrounded by peliguns when we arrived but the raising of the paddle did the trick.

Cache still high and dry.

PS. Don't be put off by the water. At the cache location it is about one foot deep. I am sure you could wade there as the cache notes state.

Nice one guys.

Without the details of previous visits from the net and only the co-ords which were downloaded with a pile of others it didn't take too long to work out a boat would have helped. We had nice tracks showing on the GPS from both sides of the river and the geocache neatly between!

Great cache, and interesting location. Left a frog and took Bugs Bunny. Excellent and thanks.

This was one we had wanted to do for ages and at last we got there. Booked in at the nearby holiday village with some friends (one very conveniently had a tinny - it just had one small hole). GPS safely in waterproof container and away Bruce went rowing with mate Trevor with plenty of onlookers. Made it safely across and over the UHF came the joyous sound of we've found it. However a second journey had to be made because the Finger Lickin Good container had perished badly so we replaced it with one of our special camo 1 litre buckets. Took a couple of coins and left bugs bunny to keep other bunny company. Thanks Quasar and Quartz for an interesting challenge.

Thanks must go to Bruce for being tenacious and organising us to get this one... picking out the Holiday Village nearby, arranging the tinny, and rowing very skilfully with Trev. We were there if the river gave them trouble, but thankfully they survived despite the strong wind.
Took nothing and left a $2 coin.
Thanks for the challenge Kevin. Also thanks Trev for the use of the tinny - we couldn't have reached the cache without it!


[last edit: 2/3/2003 2:31:15 AM PST]

Jeremy and Phil pipped us by one day! Found by Quasar (Glenn) & Skyfox (Andrew) Set out on our houseboat journey from Mannum on Monday the 12th, and attempted it that day, but couldn't moor the boat close enough. On the return journey the weather was even worse, with the freezing southerly blowing at gale force. However we had more experience with the paddle ski's this time, and were able to launch in midstream. There is really nowhere to moor a houseboat around here!!! Paddled into the wind for a while, large waves washing over us. Found the cache without too much more trouble, but I capsized when I got there, much to Andrew's amusement...got the GPS wet but it seems to be ok. Stood in the freezing water signing the log. Took the fish-tank thermometer (which still reads 40 degrees) and pound coin, and left a bugs bunny figure and some old Aussie pennies. Paddled back downstream to find where our travelling companions had finally found a place to park the boat! Went inside to have a warm shower, and found that the hot water system was not working. All in all, a great caching experience!!

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Found by Jeremy and Phil. After knocking off three little pigs on the way. Today was the day, slightly windy but nice and warm. A set of life jackets and a pair of kayaks later we set off up the creek but with our paddles. After timing our dash through the cables of the ferries, we soon made it to the cache. Took nothing, but left a fish to go with the surrounding area and the tank thermometer. Not sure how accurate it is with the water temp today being 40oC ? (Nice one Kevin bring them on !!!)

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Recon. by Jeremy and Phil. After finding Beautiful Scrubber we decided to drive on and scope out the area of Kevin’s new cache (especially because of the emails he was sending us, cheering us on to log it asap). We knew that the approx area of the coordinates would at least require us to swim or possibly use a watercraft of some sort. But we wanted to see the exact situation. Today was cold, grey, blowing a gale, so no attempt at Mr Percival for now , but we did get aquatinted with the guy in the boat hire place Never fear we will return later on a warmer day !?!