Viking Vexation (Wellington) Mount Victoria, North Island, New Zealand
By bkj97 on 26-Dec-09. Waypoint GC229YG

Today we spent a great day and visited, searched and found this puzzle box .We took many wonderful photos as a reminder.MPLC and greetings from us from Germany.

A fun puzzle. I cant recall when I solved it but I do recall the solve and my notes are all still there. Tonight I was in the vicinity of GZ and had pulled over for another reason when I happened to notice I was way too close to final GZ to possibly ignore it. It was a gorgeous early evening after work and so the time outside in the vicinity was most enjoyable - a little before sunset yet but still has that lovely glow. I used the advice and a bit of a explore of the area to find this little guy safe and well in his posy. My name was added and back on my way again towards home and dinner. Thank you bkj97.

Had initially looked at this months ago and not made headroom in the key subject. I was reminded of an exhibit at the Copenhagen Museum I visited last year! Came back to it a while ago and didn't expect to get the green tick on the first try...only tried one variety and tweaked a digit to make it make sense! All good at GZ today, a nice spot to clamber to and admire the view.

Always wondered about this one but never committed to the solve until yesterday. Figured it'd be nice to grab for an outing and did so today. Weather could have been better but the view was beautiful. The cache was challenging to extract but I wiggled it out eventually. Tftc!

An early start to the day to drive down to Wellington for the Matariki event on Mt Victoria. Now out to find some caches. Thanks bkj97 for this puzzle cache.

This whole puzzle rocks! A short online hunt got me underway, and then it was just a matter of fiddling around and trying different things until the moment of joy when I had success. Nice drive out to the final rocks, and then happy to find it right where youd expect. Thanks for such a fun cache!

I solved this puzzle many years ago and decided today, despite the cold, was the day to find it. After a bit of a search supernanny found the cache hidden safely from the elements.

Out and about with supernanny showing her parts of Wellington and finding caches.

Kia ora rawa atu for the cache bkj97.

Was out and about in Wellington with NZ_B .....finding a variety of caches...trads ..Earth Cache, Virtuals and Challenges!
And I enjoyed seeing many parts of Wellington , as I am from Auckland .

Was amazing how much we packed into one day....even an Event !

This was on the list....had to fossick around a bit but was pleased to make the find! Just as described!

No dnfs allowed today!

Thanks bkj97 for your cool puzzle!

Great puzzle and beautiful location! Merci!

Enjoyed solving this puzzle and nice GZ location. Had a short hunt before finding the cache, well I think it was the cache, it has me a bit puzzled because I found a double pill container with small logsheet but no signatures on it and nothing to indicate the cache name or GC code. I see the CO replaced the container in May last year but the cache has been logged four times since then...I wonder if those finders found the temporary replacement cache supplied by kiwicouple? Anyway, I wrote the GC code on the logsheet, signed and rehid it where found. Will be interesting to see if the next cacher finds the cache I found or another one?! Thanks for the puzzle and TFTC

When I was preparing for the visit to Wellington, during our road trip through , I also spent time looking into this mystery.
Although the “system” was used by me for other mysteries, still some other work needed to be done.
It took me some time but finally I had the coordinates ready for logging.

Thank you for the mystery and the possibility for logging.
Many geogreetings from chitza from Belgium

Thanks for the interesting mystery, after ample search I was able to solve it
Rather far from bogus, I dont think I will get any close during my stay in Wellington later this month though....

Having solved this one a while ago and finally in the area so of course had to have a look for it. A magical place to see a beautiful sunset on a calm evening

First cache after leaving the airport, a long time solve and in the area for other reasons. Cheers bkj97.

mrs c has to head to the UK to catch up with family, the planned trip next Thursday has been hastened to be today so a run down to Wellington Airport was todays trip, and not much caching was planned as getting there was the main priority. Once the destination was made, and mrs c was ready for departure I made a selective way back home, with just a couple of quality caches on the list, and not too many finds were made. The weather threatened rain ALL day, and it was always there in the background. Thanks to all COs, esp. the 4 Virtual cache placers.

Had us stumped until lucked on the right resource! Awesome spot! Cache all good. TFTC

Made a new container and left it on the kitchen table. Thankfully a spare was available in the car. Ready to to again.

Hopefully I'm in wellington this Sunday so will check it out and post a note.

CO - is cache still there before I venture out? It's a lonely cache. Thanks.

We are staying in Strathmore Park for a week, and finally getting the chance to make a decent dent in our Wellington solved puzzle list. Today we are targeting caches in and around the Lyall Bay area.
Viking Vexation is another intriguing puzzle by bkj97, and it certainly vexed us for a while. We took another look during Auckland's long lockdown last year, and this time managed to crack it. Think we were initially put off our stride because the derived minutes seemed too far from the posted minutes. With the puzzle solved we were keen to add it to our found list for on this trip, but the recent DNFs suggested the cache was missing. With the permission of the owner we offered to replace the cache if a thorough search did not turn it up. No cache was found, so we put in our replacement. Mnay thanks bkj97. Adding a Favourite point.

Solved the puzzle but can’t find the cache today

Worked out the clue but could not find at the site.

Ah this one had me vexed for a while. Years in fact. It turns out that there really are a number of Viking runes and I hadn’t thought that there may have been another layer to puzzle. But after checking with a previous finder I was put on the right direction and the green tick was achieved. Lovely day to visit the south coast today and the cache was safe & sound and co-ords were spot on. TFE Clever & tricky Puzzle

Lots of people around today enjoying the sunshine. When Talla and I last visited GZ the cache had gone AWOL. Thanks bkj97 for the interesting puzzle and for replacing the cache so promptly.

Out and about with Flowerydaze on a lovely Wellington day. This was our second visit here as the cache had gone AWOL on our last trip. All was well this time with the log soon in hand. Thanks for an interesting puzzle and the cache bkj97.

I pushed these runes around for several weeks (on and off), could see how to get numbers, but not coordinates. Then an odd comment online sent me back to look again..., bingo! But looked very odd on the map? Still, a tick on Geochecker, so off I went this afternoon.

No trouble at GZ, cold weather keeping people indoors. A brief search, then had the new container in hand. All in good order, although in a spot exposed to the wrath of a southerly. Tftc!

New container in place. Hint still applies. Make sure it's wedged and covered when replacing.

Oh dear, Oh dear. I was very vexed today. Searched for around 20 mins, resorted to PAF who made some helpful suggestions, but still no Viking treasure. Oh well, it happens like that sometimes. Thank you for an interesting puzzle bkj97.

Great puzzle
Took the opportunity to sign the log while in Wellington today
Log stamped tm/ww NZ
TFTC

Great puzzle. Solved a while ago but took an opportunity today to grab the find with *Dingo79*.

T4TC

Together with TEMBO! I had a really interesting geocaching-trip today. We could find some geocaches, met some locals and had a great talk to them.
Concerning this geocache I want to say thanks because we had much fun in searching and finding this geocache! The cache made our trip even more interesting!
TFTC!

Finally got to search for the GZ and after catching the bus as far as I could walked the remaining 500 metres to find a muggle very close. Lucky he departed and allowed me to search and grab the cache. All is well and returned to same position. Thanks CO for the cache.

Other than phone coverage issues, nice and quick to find
After the 2018 WENZ Mega event
mr and mrs went on a tiki tour, and...
found this cache - logged as MM78.
Thanks for this mystery cache was certainly a challenge to solve but got there

Jess.daphne and I took to the streets of Wellington to find some caches after the mega event. Tftc from team Jeje.

Found this afternoon with injeanious, we were out exploring the city after the Mega event. I had this one solved before coming up to Wellington. Some logs signed as team JeJe. Tftc!

Well this was a bit of a journey! In a previous visit to Wellington about a year ago I completed the 'solve' part and this morning I completed the 'find' part! A perfect morning to be out here at GZ too and I'm pleased I remembered to include this cache in my plans today.

Thanks bkj97


6656

10:02:00 AM 21/10/2018

#5952. I needed 5 caches today and that meant a night caching raid down south. These will be my last night caches for the winter with spring just around the corner. Not overly keen on night caching. Anyway headed off after dinner to find this one. The puzzle itself was one I looked at in our first month of geocaching back in 2014. Saw some logic in it but didn't find the key to solving it. Only looked at it again recently when I did another Viking puzzle up north. This time I read the cache page more carefully and soon saw a way to get some numbers. Finally my vexation was over. Tonight the cache hiding spot was a bit tricky to access without a torch so hopefully no one was watching from parked cars nearby. After a minute or so I spied something and it was the cache. Signed the logbook and as I was putting the cache þack I saw another cache at the same spot. That one had more signatures. So signed that as well. Decided to remove the replacement as it is not needed and its may make the hide easier for muggles to spot. Covered the original with a rock. Thanks for the enjoyable puzzle and nicely placed cache bkj97.

Ok, again thanks for an awesome puzzle, loved it. And thanks to the CO for the recent maintenance. Visited again today and quickly spied the new container, signed, all good. As I was returning it to its spot, I noticed a second container, in exactly the same place. Colouring and foliage made it very tricky to see, but there it was. So I signed that one too. Fun. TFTC

Dropped by gz today and checked where I last put the container. Maybe some cache creep has occurred so placed a temporary black container where I remember it being previously. Bit of broken glass around the site so take care. Didn’t have any cones to put out for health and safety.

I had to deliberate with myself a little whether I will have enough time to swing by this one - especially given the last dnf. Then I though why not! Still plenty of time before my flight! It may even be delayed, given the hurricane that was building... A bit of searching soon revealed the container, and I was glad to be out of there, as my fingers were freeeezing! Amazing views, TFTC!!

What a great puzzle. I spent several weeks on and off trying different interpretations and combinations until I finally got the solve. Sadly, when I made my way out to the final location i came up empty. I will try again next time I'm out that way.

Yes vexing is a good description here. Had some help in the end to get over the line which is never as satisfying as working it out myself. Signed directly under the Seagnoid which seemed a bit unusual with the number of finds inbetween. TFTC # 11,812

Tftc

Such a great puzzle! Had me thinking for days then got some help from sweatyyeti and we had it!! Great hide tftc

Together with arbor95 I am on a holiday tour in New Zealand.

We are two Germans, old friends since a long time. Together we visited a lot of other countries in the past, even before we started geocaching. [^]

For our trip we usually looking for some extraordinary caches.

Therefore we had mostly a lot of fun.

Not easy, but we found it.

Thank You very much for this geocache, for the challenge and for the maintaining.

Greetings from tripleclaus to bkj97.

#8466, 11:17,
During our holidays in Newzealand we searched some Caches.
after the find we looked at the sea.
Thanks for placing and maintaining this box
arbor95

Spent the morning with Taybee and TaybeeNZ who was skiving off school (his dad is a softy. I would not have allowed that), while waiting for the ferry.
So we did a few caches.
And this is it. All over. The last cache of the Mega trip. I can get some sleep, or go to work to have a holiday from my holiday!

Fantastic puzzle that was solved in the sun with a beer on the waterfront. Some vexation but lots of fun! Tftc

Nice puzzle. Today I had an opportunity to come out this way and make the find after a few minutes of searching. TFTC

Spent a lot of time being vexed by this, until Denomynator contacted some people to get us on the right side of the rocks. Quick find at gz. TFTC.

Hands down the most frustrating cache I've attempted to date (and that includes my failed hacks at the Lower Bidwill Brain Buster). So many red herrings in the description and comments. As barefootguru says, a previous solver very kindly helped me piece it together (thank you again!). Finding the right rune page on Google is only the first step. Then you have to work out the not-intuitive way to derive numbers from them.

So, in sympathy with others who are in danger of pulling out all their hair, if you've given it a fair go and want a nudge, contact me. I won't give you the answer straight away but I'll point you in the right direction.

The actual cache was a straightforward find on a beautiful winter's day. Sitting with a coffee, enjoying the company and location was a nice way to unwind.

This was definitely in the work in progress folder for a while as there is many sources for the translation but nothing that provided useable coordinates. A hint from a previous finder got us back on track. Picked up this evening, not the nicest weather but cache was safe and dry. TFTC

Found with TregearP after several months of vexation. After reading one of the logs on detail something took our eye and all became clear.

No Vikings at the GZ today, but that may have been due to the weather.

All in good order, TNLNSL, TFTC.

TFTC
quick find here
[?] Found with ***taybee*** [?] Sign log book

Too hot today for any muggles to be interested in what I was doing....TFTC. Vexating indeed!

Another great puzzle cache find while out in the area with Just-Lookin.

Quick search soon had the container located.
SL TFTC

Out and about on a geocaching day out with tmann421.

Collecting some great caches along the way.

TFTC

This one sure vexed me when I first tried to solve. Put it under a big rock and ignored it. Brought it out to have another look a few weeks ago and had that "doh" moment. I seem to be having a few of those lately. Had the right info right when first looked at this but 'misinterpreted it". Did the required interpretation and out popped a secret map to the hidden spot. Out this way this morning before tennis so strolled over and quickly found. All good. Thanks for the tricky puzzle and thanks for the cache.

#1873 This cache certainly had me vexed for years since I first found geocaching! Did my head in. Decided to revisit it and with a shove in the right direction from a previous solver I soon aligned the runes and had a good looking set of coordinates to work with. Picked it up while in the area today- very happy to have turned this one into a smiley! TFTC!

Was out this way to day to have a meeting and a coffee but had to wait as I was early and I turn on the GPS and what is this Ground Zero was only 10 meter away so had to get it before the meeting quick found today
the cache was in good order and sign log book as[Blue] taybee or tb [/Blue]TFTC log by Gsak

Checked this morning and a viking raid had obliterated the cache or was that just carried away as loot? New container replaced.

TFTP, the clues got me where I needed to go to find the required information, and the solution was in hand soon after. Today I made my way to GZ and found the cache container and log sheets on the ground, freshly muggled by the look of things (ie no time to blow away yet!). I signed the log, replaced it in the container and tucked it away where I guessed it should have been. Will email the CO with a photo showing where it is now, so it can be checked on if needed.

Found the container and log on the ground, so put them back where I think they are intended to be. Will email a photo to the CO so they can check.

Replaced close enough. Will check again later in the week( last checked two days ago!) thanks for the reassembly.

This was my mystery cache of choice for the pi day souvenir though I did have a backup mystery cache elsewhere, which I also found

The puzzle had vexed me ever since I started caching and I had sailed off in all sorts of wrong directions when in fact all I had started on the right course but had veered away as I was missing one very simple step!

Turned out this was in an area I knew quite well for reasons I can't go into without spoilers. However it fitted in very well with my plans for the day. But at first I didn't spot the cache, I discounted the exact spot because of a bit of difficulty with the terrain which I won't go into. I went away, did some business at a nearby location and came back and soon had the cache in hand once I realised it was where I thought it wouldn't be- and nearly vexed myself a little physically in the process!
It rocked to finally get a smiley on this one.

TFTC.

I had been staring at this one off and on for over a year, getting more and more frustrated as it remained one of my last non-smiley's in the CBD, without much of an idea on how to solve. One clue was obvious, but I had no idea how to proceed from there.

I took another look a couple of days ago and then saw the second clue right in front of me so that led me down a path which didn't go anywhere, but taking a step back and then a different step forward I started getting results that looked promising. I finished that path and made the final adjustments and plugged into the geochecker and was rewarded with success on the first try.

I made my way to the final this morning and found the lonely cache fairly quickly. TFTC and another favourite.

Asgard is burning, with this cache finally meeting its Rangarok. Poor old Ullr didn't stand a chance once I knuckled down to solving the puzzle - though it did take a while: I was convinced I had the right idea but I couldn't find the correct key. Today, however, I decided to approach the task differently. I thought about where might be in keeping with the theme and although I was quite far from the true location, it was a turning point (although I did have to make an adjustment to get the geo-tick). En route to GZ, my little dogs did their part in dispatching Sköll and Hati. Fortunately the Midgard Serpent was not roused by the commotion and the Vigrid plains are once again calm. Tftc.

Good hunt! Found a hidden jar that i thought was the cache but whoops.... no it was someones hidden drug parafinallia! Hunted a bit more n found it without too much trouble! Thanks!

Definitely over-thought this puzzle, however getting the green light from the geochecker after many hours was a relief. Cache was found and signed easily enough. TFTC

I should have followed the advice on the notes more carefully as I dipped into many weird and wonderful websites in my quest to solve the puzzle only to realise after some months that I had the answer all along right in front of my nose. Visited GZ and signed the log today on a beautiful afternoon. TFTC

Took some time to solve this one after over-thinking it for quite some time. Finally got the answer a few weeks ago and collected today when in the area. Tucked cache away again safely. TFTC !

Mrs 1Grunta did all the hard work on this one.
Last time we were down this way, there were far too many muggles around.
A little quieter today, so moved in to make the find.
TFTC

New smaller container replaced today. Area well battered by recent storms. Will upsize eventually.

Recent storm damage has taken its toll. Will replace asap.

Took quite a bit of figuring and researching to calm the vexed Vikings.
But finally managed it.
Found during a Sunday afternoon caching romp in the region.
Cache find was straightforward, all in order - which is good, given the length between visits; signed the log, then safely re-hidden, just as found.
Yeeha, great to tick off another tricker puzzler!
TFTC found with team cacher Sweet P too
The Turtle strikes again!

Wow, this one vexed me so!

Needed a less than gentle nudge with the puzzle and two visits to snare the cache.

Cache tucked away safe and sound, with a new signature.

TFTC

This one has been vexing me for quite some time. Found the paperwork the other day, all curled up at the corners, ragged and dog-eared from having been in my bag for so long. The weekend weather bomb gave some time to complete a few puzzles and after PAFing a mate who couldn't remember how he solved it but gave me a few ideas I suddenly had one of those 'aha' moments, and realised I'd just about solved it a while ago.

Nice to finally be able to complete the paperwork tonight - TFTC, another favourite.

Gr8 puzzle and cache location. A favourite point from us. SL T4TC

Bought a set of rune stones from the bookfair last month. Spent a few evenings scattering them until the pattern emerged. In reality had beta tester checked this out ages ago and thought it was about time to stop off and check it out in reality. Cache safe and dry with rocks keeping it in place.T4TCSL

I made this one much harder than it needed to be. After a half hearted attempt about 6 months ago I had cast the puzzle aside. After some friendly encouragement from the cache owner at a recent event, I glanced at some notes I had made previously and spotted how to solve it straight away. A quick find this evening by torchlight. Thanks for the challenge! TFTC

Solved quite some time ago so nice to be able to pick up today while out on the coast - no wind, no swell, no sweat! TFTC

The vexation endeth. After making a half hearted attempt at the puzzle some time back, I quickly solved it on my second attempt earlier this week and called by to complete the paperwork while in the area. A fun puzzle (once I got my head around it) and a quick find of the final in a great location. The 6th of 6 found while out with master Miester for an afternoon of caching. TFTC

This puzzle vexed me for ages, so gave it to StreetWalker for a look. Within a few minutes, he had a solution - now, why didn't I think of that?
Good to pick up the cache today, in an area where we had visited not so long ago!
TFTC.

#1997 (4/12 on a Sunday drive). Troodles has bene doing most of the puzzle solving lately, but needed some help on this one. A quick find today. TFTC.

This one has vexed us for a long time. No1 finally got the puzzle a month ago and we managed an opportunity to retrieve the cache. Thanks for the puzzle and the cache. Enjoyed this one.

Returned for another look. It was getting dark, but I didn't need a torch.
I found the cache quite quickly this time. It was in a spot that I thought I had checked last time.
Enjoyed the puzzle and the cache.
Thanks.

I like these puzzles that teach me something. Thanks. Enjoyed the puzzle and then went to the cache locale after work and enjoyed the late afternoon sun while retrieving.

This was a neat idea for a puzzle. I was also very impressed with the choice of cache location. I left a lion and took the Happy Birthday, La Kedi! GeoCoin which I plan to relocate to the Rangitikei region sometime during Labour Weekend. TFTC.

5146 We are no longer vexed by these Vikings… nice spot for the final
IN: Happy Birthday, La Kedi! Geocoin
OUT: NIL, TFTC.

(16:49) Did the puzzle for this some time ago and finally had a chance to visit the final.
The cache was not covered when found, covered it better when replacing.
TFTC!

A vexing puzzle indeed, taken me quite a while to track this one down.
Not the best of weather for my visit but a quick find luckily.
TFTC

Revisited this one whilst stuck at home on a rainy day recently and quite rapidly sussed the rune numbering scheme which is what had previously been stalling me with this puzzle. It turned out to be a lot simpler than expected and I soon had the answer on hand. Took a drive to GZ at lunchtime today and a quick find resulted. Signed log, TFTC and for an excellent puzzle.

Took a while to figure out the puzzle, but it was so simple in the end! TFTC -GC

Had a lot of fun working this one out, really simple once solved and I felt like an idiot. interesting to get as it was at night with trusty torch, TFTC

Fun puzzle.
Searched for the cache for a while, but couldn't find anything in the dark.
Gave up after I jammed my arm behind a rock at an awkward angle and popped my shoulder out of it's socket.
Thanks.

Had a few false starts trying to figure out the runes, then clambered around on the rocks for a while before finding the cache.
Dropped off a Starfish TB to see the sea, picked up a Project Game TB.

Very good puzzle. TFTC.

Solved this one ages ago, finally got a chance to find it TFTC

It was raining now and had two geocoins we have had for a while, so noted this cache was big enough for them we made a quick trip here and then off for lunch nearby. Thanks for the puzzle and cache... Grabbed the penguin in the cache to move on shortly..

Great puzzle. Solved a while ago but took an opportunity today to grab the find TFTC

#1087. Interesting puzzle. A nice day to go and claim the find.
+ Penguins March together GC
+ huhugrub pebble
TNSL. TFTC.