Ben Rudds II: Hermit (Dunedin, Otago) Glenleith, South Island, New Zealand
By
daywalk on 10-Mar-10. Waypoint GC24349
Cache Details
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By visiting the external cache listing you are leaving the Geocaching Australia website.
Geocaching Australia is not affiliated with the original listing site for this cache.
Please click here to view the caches listing.
If you wish to log this cache, you will need to log it on the external site.
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Logs
Took a little while to spot but got there in the end. Found with angelic_kiwi - tftc
Had a lovely walk down to this shelter and cache. Had lunch at the shelter and signed the shelter logbook, which looked very much like a geocache, as well as finding this cache which was a bit more tricky to locate. Thanks for placing a cache here, it was fun.
Came along to this from Castle Rock, I've never seen this hut before! The cache took me a good 20 minutes of hunting! I think there has been quite a lot of plant growth, as I certainly couldn't see the cache from far away, and I think the rock that it's meant to be here is covered in plant now! But persistence paid off as I finally spotted something! Thank goodness!Went to have a good look at the hut, I did sit and read though the visitors book (was somewhat disappointed at the number of rude messages in there ). A very cool idea to have that. It's like a wild cache. Hopefully no one runs off with it.
Parked at the bull pen. I went up the fire track most of the way to swampy doing caches on the track and on side tracks. Then came back via Flagstaff. Took a little over 4 hours.
Snared the two target caches of the day, Old School and 50% Favorite. My legs are pretty beaten up, between Old School and Walkaways of Otago - Swampy I did my fair share of bush bashing.
Popped down to the Rhododendron grove too because in my mind a 260 m vertical is just a small detour.
One of the caches found on this sort of loop walk was my 10,000th physical cache find.
Snared the two target caches of the day, Old School and 50% Favorite. My legs are pretty beaten up, between Old School and Walkaways of Otago - Swampy I did my fair share of bush bashing.
Popped down to the Rhododendron grove too because in my mind a 260 m vertical is just a small detour.
One of the caches found on this sort of loop walk was my 10,000th physical cache find.
TFTC in this pleasant spot. It took me ages to find as I thought it might be more visible than it is. The vegetation hides it well. The clue was helpful though.
Today's planned adventure was to head up Flagstaff for my much anticipated #5000.
An absolutely gorgeous autumn day and not a breath of wind as I headed up Rollinsons Road to my first stop Castle Rock. Success there and then made my way down to my next stop. Has been almost 4 years since I was here last and BCD and I thought we found the cache but it was in fact another nearby cache that had gone walkabout. No problems today locating the cache and then a lovely lunch at the hut enjoying the absolute peace and quiet apart from the beautiful birdsong. Well this is #4999 and now time to make my way up for #5000
Thank you daywalk for another awesome cache bringing me as close as I can get
An absolutely gorgeous autumn day and not a breath of wind as I headed up Rollinsons Road to my first stop Castle Rock. Success there and then made my way down to my next stop. Has been almost 4 years since I was here last and BCD and I thought we found the cache but it was in fact another nearby cache that had gone walkabout. No problems today locating the cache and then a lovely lunch at the hut enjoying the absolute peace and quiet apart from the beautiful birdsong. Well this is #4999 and now time to make my way up for #5000
Thank you daywalk for another awesome cache bringing me as close as I can get
I knew this cache would be here. A lot of growth was making it difficult to suss flat rocks. But in the end I went a little higher and there it was. In lovely dry condition and lovely to see a log book with older dates in prestine condition.
Thanks daywalk for bringing me to this interesting place.
Thanks daywalk for bringing me to this interesting place.
No caching during Covid-19 alert levels Level 3 & 4.
This includes virtual waypoints - we need to stay home except for essential outings.
Working together, we can beat delta and keep our community safe.
[https://covid19.govt.nz/](https://covid19.govt.nz/)
[https://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/New+Zealand?fbclid=IwAR2GUaxN7zpUQI2Suglt1ggVnCqw8V1emnygD1Tdw6YTu1f4LUcIt92oZhs](https://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/New+Zealand?fbclid=IwAR2GUaxN7zpUQI2Suglt1ggVnCqw8V1emnygD1Tdw6YTu1f4LUcIt92oZhs)
Expecting a long fruitless search but stopped and put my hand on it right away. Lucky or what. Now to find that long drop in haste.
New Zealand is under Level 4 lockdown from today for at least a month, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
I am disabling all my caches for the meantime to remind people that we MUST break the chain of infection.
Covid-19 is now being spread within the community, person to person. We know that the virus will remain on surfaces like metal and plastic for up to 4 days.
We have only one chance to stop the Covid-19 virus spreading further. This is to BREAK the chain of infection by keeping each household separated completely. During this time each of us MUST keep isolated and only share with the people in our own household.
The best advice is to act as though you are infected... which you might be. We know there are cases in Dunedin... I might be infected and so might you.
If you touch a cache container, you will leave viruses on the plastic, logbook and pen. Those will remain infectious for up to 4 days. Suppose some other person finds the cache tomorrow. They are likely to pick up those viruses and will get infected.
Playground equipment is out of bounds for exactly that reason- touching surfaces can spread infection.
Each of us has to do our bit to save lives. If the Covid-19 virus spreads, a lot of us will die. Maybe your grandmother, or my friend who has just had a bone-marrow transplant.
Stay home, stay safe, let's get to the other side of the pandemic before we go geocaching again.
I am disabling all my caches for the meantime to remind people that we MUST break the chain of infection.
Covid-19 is now being spread within the community, person to person. We know that the virus will remain on surfaces like metal and plastic for up to 4 days.
We have only one chance to stop the Covid-19 virus spreading further. This is to BREAK the chain of infection by keeping each household separated completely. During this time each of us MUST keep isolated and only share with the people in our own household.
The best advice is to act as though you are infected... which you might be. We know there are cases in Dunedin... I might be infected and so might you.
If you touch a cache container, you will leave viruses on the plastic, logbook and pen. Those will remain infectious for up to 4 days. Suppose some other person finds the cache tomorrow. They are likely to pick up those viruses and will get infected.
Playground equipment is out of bounds for exactly that reason- touching surfaces can spread infection.
Each of us has to do our bit to save lives. If the Covid-19 virus spreads, a lot of us will die. Maybe your grandmother, or my friend who has just had a bone-marrow transplant.
Stay home, stay safe, let's get to the other side of the pandemic before we go geocaching again.
What an awesome place did Ben have here!
At first I wondered why he had built his toilet so far away from his house; must have been quite cumbersome when he had to go in the middle of the night.
Then it dawned on me that it was probably a bit too far to go to the local dairy for some air freshener. Yes, there's a silver lining to every other side of the medal, isn't there.
At first I really struggled to pinpoint this cache. It seemed as if there were several impenetrable obstacles that just wouldn't allow themselves to be traversed. Took me a while to realise you can just walk around them. The shortest route isn't always the quickest.
Here's to you, Ben, and then to think that your sister didn't approve....tsssk...
At first I wondered why he had built his toilet so far away from his house; must have been quite cumbersome when he had to go in the middle of the night.
Then it dawned on me that it was probably a bit too far to go to the local dairy for some air freshener. Yes, there's a silver lining to every other side of the medal, isn't there.
At first I really struggled to pinpoint this cache. It seemed as if there were several impenetrable obstacles that just wouldn't allow themselves to be traversed. Took me a while to realise you can just walk around them. The shortest route isn't always the quickest.
Here's to you, Ben, and then to think that your sister didn't approve....tsssk...
Joined Grapea and co to find this and 50% Favourited Challenge. Haven’t ventured out in these tracks before - wonderful area!! A stunning October Saturday and great to be outdoors after - a very cold and wet week. Tftc
This is my first ramble towards the Rambler’s Reward Challenge.
This is my first ramble towards the Rambler’s Reward Challenge.
We were at Ben Rudd’s original farm last week and decided this would be an appropriate follow up this weekend especially as it was on our way to 50% Favourites cache. A beautiful morning on Saturday of Labour Weekend.
Accompanied by Kerynz. It would have been less of a hike if I hadn’t by habit started up the Flagstaff track instead of thanking the 4WD track but the views from the summit were great and Kerynz picked up a cache at the saddle on the way.
Track appeared to be recently cleared which made things easier going. After finding this cache we hade our way up hill to Castle Rock and back to the Bull Ring via the firebreak.
Great exercise and a well stocked cache in excellent condition. These caches are the kind that got me into the sport. Gets a favourite from me.
TFTC
Accompanied by Kerynz. It would have been less of a hike if I hadn’t by habit started up the Flagstaff track instead of thanking the 4WD track but the views from the summit were great and Kerynz picked up a cache at the saddle on the way.
Track appeared to be recently cleared which made things easier going. After finding this cache we hade our way up hill to Castle Rock and back to the Bull Ring via the firebreak.
Great exercise and a well stocked cache in excellent condition. These caches are the kind that got me into the sport. Gets a favourite from me.
TFTC
We are on our summer holiday driving around the South Island with no real idea of where we will end up each day. We are often drawn to an area that has the potential to give us a few geocaching smilies and somewhere we have not spent time exploring before. In some cases we are revisiting placed that we have been before but liked so much we are going there again.
While in Dunedin we were mostly searching for the old caches that fill a gap on our date placed grid and some Challenge caches that fill a gap on our D/T grid.
This was one of our targeted caches, (like a lot of people who come to Dunedin to find the old caches). This was a bit of a detour as we were heading around the loop to pick up the oldie and a couple of challenge caches. Once we were in the correct area the cache was quickly spotted, we signed the log and returned it as it was found.
GK chatted to a pig hunter who was looking for the track back to his car.
Thanks for placing the cache and thank you for the smiley
While in Dunedin we were mostly searching for the old caches that fill a gap on our date placed grid and some Challenge caches that fill a gap on our D/T grid.
This was one of our targeted caches, (like a lot of people who come to Dunedin to find the old caches). This was a bit of a detour as we were heading around the loop to pick up the oldie and a couple of challenge caches. Once we were in the correct area the cache was quickly spotted, we signed the log and returned it as it was found.
GK chatted to a pig hunter who was looking for the track back to his car.
Thanks for placing the cache and thank you for the smiley
I remember walking to the hut with my family when I was about eight. It seemed like such a LONG walk that went on forever and ever. Funny walking it after all those years and realising it really wasn't all that far after all. It must have been those short legs. Thanks 
#6025. I am down in Dunedin for the weekend. Had a workshop in Dunedin on Thursday and Friday and decided to stay on to do some geocaching. So have hired a rental car. Today I am mostly going to walk the tracks up around Flagstaff Peak. I wasn't planning to do this side track. But curiosity got the better of me when I saw the sign for the shelter. So down I went. Quite a well formed track. Enjoyed looking around the shelter. Then found the trail and the rock field. Took a few minutes to find which crevice held the cache. All in good condition. Signed the log and replaced the cache as found. Thanks for the cache daywalk. Enjoyed the description and the story about Ben Rudd. It was only later I realised I could have accessed the shelter by continuing down the route from Castle Rock and the favourites challenge cache. Never mind.
Had a quick look in on this while in the area rescuing a cache of mine that had suffered mega cache creep. This cache is sitting nicely where it should be. I didn't disturb it any more than having a peep at it.
As BCD says below we thought we found this cache but it appears it was perhaps the previous one we DNF. Will be back some time soon for another look
We did think it a bit strange the cache to be sitting there on the table. If we ever come across a similar scenario then we will be double checking for sure!!!
We did think it a bit strange the cache to be sitting there on the table. If we ever come across a similar scenario then we will be double checking for sure!!!
Another dunnas road trip caching up with kjr. On a mission along the pineapple track heading back to the car via the shelter ,cache was an easy find. As it was sitting on the table , was unsure of exact hiding place so left where we found it lid is missing off the out jar tftc
bit of confusion over the cache , turns out the one we found was the muggled forest remnants
not sure when we will be back to have another look
bit of confusion over the cache , turns out the one we found was the muggled forest remnants
not sure when we will be back to have another look
Great location, loved the track! We came across this track by accident when we set out for a short walk up flagstaff. We saw the cairn on the fire cut track and a wee track down the hill which we'd never done and looked so exciting. Down we went through patches of snow/hail from this weeks spell of arctic weather and mud and found the cache as a bonus of it all. TFTC!! It was fun.
Obviously revirdylimaf HASN'T found the cache!
He/she logged "Found it 04/Feb/2018 Didn’t write in book "
Hopefully the "found" log is an error - he/she may have meant to enter a "Write Note" log.
Have emailed revirdylimaf and asked him/her to correct the problem.
He/she logged "Found it 04/Feb/2018 Didn’t write in book "
Hopefully the "found" log is an error - he/she may have meant to enter a "Write Note" log.
Have emailed revirdylimaf and asked him/her to correct the problem.
A good day for a quick trip up from the bullring to find this one. After searching for a while, deciding to use the hint, then spending 10 minutes searching the wrong hint object and finally spotting the cache, I hit myself over the head with a boulder or two, then went on my merry way, only slightly concussed......
Great to find one today at a place I've visited from literally before I could walk.
While other were having their morning tea I decided to try and find this one as have never been here before. Thanks for daywalk for coming to over see my attempt at finding this one. Some longer legs would of been helpful but got there in the end. Only slipped over 3 times on the way down to the car...............
thanks for the cache in a great place.
thanks for the cache in a great place.
enjoying a sunny afternoon with a nice walk to do some cache maintenance. Frost still on ground in the shade, ice on puddles. Logbook dry, but left a silica gel bag to keep it that way over winter. Put cache back where it should be. Travel Bug Dog Tag, 4.82 visited.
We geology students took a study break and spent the night at the shelter. It was certainly brisk, Maybe not the time of year for camping, but a good time was had by all!
While helping to assemble two picnic tables at the nearby shelter I decided to grab this cache. Water had gotten in so I tipped that out and removed any "trash" enside to ensure that the lid was on firmly. Log book has a slightly damp feeling to it and I ensured that I had sealed it properly.
Out and about on a nice morning 'walk' from big rock track back on Jim Freeman. I remember not finding this one a while ago, but I came from down below and had a whole group from the tramping club waiting at the shelter - and I did not want to keep them waiting. Easily spotted today by tunfisk as we were coming downhill. TFTC!!
Come and join us at the next New Zealand geocaching MEGA event!! Register now at http://www.nzmega2015.com to receive newsletter updates and be the first to know. Let us know you are coming by posting a 'will attend' at http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC587BC_nz-mega-christchurch-2015 It will be a great event, come and be a part of it!!
Come and join us at the next New Zealand geocaching MEGA event!! Register now at http://www.nzmega2015.com to receive newsletter updates and be the first to know. Let us know you are coming by posting a 'will attend' at http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC587BC_nz-mega-christchurch-2015 It will be a great event, come and be a part of it!!
27/12/2014 12:00:00 PM
5395
Spending Christmas this year with my family, and of course, lots of caching in the mix that means!!
This was suggested as the morning walk...
On the way back out got this cache also. A nice and easy find, though at first we overshot.
Signed the book in the house too - haha love the 'Not a geocache' sticker inside it!!!
Consec caching day # 783
TFTC!!
-------------------------------
For info on the next NZ mega, and to pre- register, go to:
www.nzmega2015.com
5395
Spending Christmas this year with my family, and of course, lots of caching in the mix that means!!
This was suggested as the morning walk...
On the way back out got this cache also. A nice and easy find, though at first we overshot.
Signed the book in the house too - haha love the 'Not a geocache' sticker inside it!!!
Consec caching day # 783
TFTC!!
-------------------------------
For info on the next NZ mega, and to pre- register, go to:
www.nzmega2015.com
Everyone else passed right by this one but luckily spotted it before reaching where the GPS was pointing.
Quick find even though Hinemoana DNF'd it as tunfisk picked it up as we walked passed.
TFTC
TFTC
Found today on a quest to find the caches on Pineapple that had eluded us before plus the new one 'T for 2'. I had been meaning to come up here for a while since accidentally signing the hut book in a moment of brain fade. Poor Quackers The Duck (TB) has been waiting for our visit since July. At least he might have been happy in there as there was a bit of water in the cache for him to swim in - all drained now and contents kept safe and dry by the zip lock bags. A bit of a shame really that this cache is rather seldom visited because it's a great cache in a great spot Thanks again daywalk for a superb cache.
A good excuse for a walk on a cold and very windy morning. Came down the shortcut track past Castle Rock and could spot the cache from a distance as soon as we came to the boulder field.
Took rather longer to find the hut book box, even though we had 5 pairs of eyes searching and it is 4 litres big and (of course) was in plain sight only 1 m from the actual cache. Returned the hut book to Ben Rudds shelter, attached a label saying it's a hut book, celebrated with a cup of coffee.
Returned down the Jim Freeman track which is in good condition. New track signs have been put at the Possum Hunters turnoff it's now officially the start of McQuilkans track.
Dropped off Quackers the Duck travel tag for the next visitor to carry onward.
Took rather longer to find the hut book box, even though we had 5 pairs of eyes searching and it is 4 litres big and (of course) was in plain sight only 1 m from the actual cache. Returned the hut book to Ben Rudds shelter, attached a label saying it's a hut book, celebrated with a cup of coffee.
Returned down the Jim Freeman track which is in good condition. New track signs have been put at the Possum Hunters turnoff it's now officially the start of McQuilkans track.
Dropped off Quackers the Duck travel tag for the next visitor to carry onward.
We inadvertently moved another item resembling a cache in our confusion and will have to head back up tomorrow to put it back and find the real cache!
Heh, heh... and apologies, have now updated the cache page as recommended to warn cachers that the Hut Book inside the Ben Rudds shelter is not a geocache 
Great (overgrown) trail down to this one. Took around 20min down to the cache from the fire break road due to how little trail there was at times but still very fun. Great viewing point half way down at an outcrop of rocks. Tftc
Here for the OTMC 90th Anniversary celebrations with Magical Moon Shine TB.
The track continuing up from the top of the stony area has been newly cleared. It passes a rock tor and comes out on the Firebreak Track at S 45 49.770 E 170 27.617.
The track continuing up from the top of the stony area has been newly cleared. It passes a rock tor and comes out on the Firebreak Track at S 45 49.770 E 170 27.617.
I had originally intended to come up via the bottom of the Jim Freeman track, and then up and over to the Bullring, but I didn't have the additional waypoints loaded, so came at this one from the Bullring. I did continue on to try to find the way down, but it appears pretty grown over after the cache site! Not sure it gets too much traffic this time of year.
A great cache, I loved the history lesson. You obviously put a lot of work into your caches, and we appreciate it! Thanks for the ramble, I'll be back to try out the Secret Rhodo Dell again sometime! A fav for sure.
I'll use this ramble for my Rambler's Reward Challenge!
A great cache, I loved the history lesson. You obviously put a lot of work into your caches, and we appreciate it! Thanks for the ramble, I'll be back to try out the Secret Rhodo Dell again sometime! A fav for sure.
I'll use this ramble for my Rambler's Reward Challenge!
THIS TIME I made sure that PC Sniff was holding a real cache (as opposed to a hut logbook) when he called to tell me he'd found it. We certainly had the cache in hand this time. So many interesting goodies! This is going to be one that will bring a real smile to the face of any youngster looking for some great swaps. Thanks very much for taking so much time and being so generous with the goodies. We once again really enjoyed walking to the hunt and sitting on the seat above it for a very pleasant afternoon tea in this magic spot.
Dashed up to Ben Rudd's this morning to check.
The good news: the cache is in good order and exactly where it should be - 25 metres beyond the Ben Rudds shelter - a transparent 2 litre snaplock labelled "Geocache" with a logbook and swaps inside.
The bad news: jrb5050 and PC SNIFF didn't get to the Ben Rudds II cache. Instead, they signed the Hut logbook which the Ben Rudds Trustees placed inside the shelter in March. That's inside a transparent plastic container with "Ben Rudds Hut Book" written on top and a notebook and a couple of candles inside. But, please do sign this Hut book as well - knowing the number of people visiting Ben Rudds will help the Trustees get funding for more work on the property.
The good news: the cache is in good order and exactly where it should be - 25 metres beyond the Ben Rudds shelter - a transparent 2 litre snaplock labelled "Geocache" with a logbook and swaps inside.
The bad news: jrb5050 and PC SNIFF didn't get to the Ben Rudds II cache. Instead, they signed the Hut logbook which the Ben Rudds Trustees placed inside the shelter in March. That's inside a transparent plastic container with "Ben Rudds Hut Book" written on top and a notebook and a couple of candles inside. But, please do sign this Hut book as well - knowing the number of people visiting Ben Rudds will help the Trustees get funding for more work on the property.
Sounds as if someone has found it, taken it to the shelter and and not put it back. Will check asap.
Lovely walk. We sat on the seat above the shelter and listened to the birds for some time before descending to the hut. While I was trying to get my smartphone going so I could read the description for this, PC Sniff was signing the logbook. Thanks for taking us to this lovely spot.
Sadly though ... as it was the Ben Rudd Hut Visitors' book I've had to ammend this log entry to "didn't find". Should have checked the date before caching
This entry was edited by jrb5050 on Tuesday, 02 April 2013 at 19:43:00 UTC.
This entry was edited by jrb5050 on Tuesday, 02 April 2013 at 19:44:50 UTC.
Sadly though ... as it was the Ben Rudd Hut Visitors' book I've had to ammend this log entry to "didn't find". Should have checked the date before caching
This entry was edited by jrb5050 on Tuesday, 02 April 2013 at 19:43:00 UTC.
This entry was edited by jrb5050 on Tuesday, 02 April 2013 at 19:44:50 UTC.
Quickly found as it was in the shelter,may need checking by CO as was nowhere near the clue TFTC Oh my goodness what a mix up,because im visually impaired I could not read the the writing in the intentions book so while jrb5050 was loading her smartphone I assumed I had found the cache,it looked like a cache,smelt,tasted like a cache but alas,on the bright side its very lucky I dont belong to the tramping club lol
This entry was edited by PC SNIFF on Thursday, 04 April 2013 at 05:58:24 UTC.
This entry was edited by PC SNIFF on Thursday, 04 April 2013 at 05:58:24 UTC.
Love this spot and have visited many many times but have never noticed the a) raspberries or b) near by rock fall until today
Another quality cache from daywalk
Counting this cache towards the Rambler's Reward challenge
TFTC
[Find #584]
Another quality cache from daywalk
Counting this cache towards the Rambler's Reward challenge
TFTC
[Find #584]
Took a walk up the Pineapple track then wandered back along the 4 wheel drive track. Took a detour this way to find the cache. This counts for Ramblers reward. Total walk time -around 2 hours.
Stopped for a break and to grab this one while on our way from Big Rock to Walkways of Otago. Rocks very slippery. Found with Aoraki Sheep.
Had been to Ben Rudds before but not to the boulders. The cache is quite full and took a bit of fiddling to get everything back in. Not sure what the obsession with Mills and Boon is. Found with debsnz
An early evening ramble.
After getting my breath back at the top of the Jim Freeman turned downhill for a look see nearby to a shelter I've been to before whilst tramping.
Soon at the GZ and marvelled at the rock fall having not noticed it was so big before!
The cache was a quick find as the CoOrds were spot on and it's visible from a couple of metres away in it's hide.
All good in the cache nice and dry. Left a survival blanket, TN SL.
Then had a sit and a drink with a choco OSM (made a nice change from the cranberry ones.) in the shelter and then made my way back up to the main track.
I take my hat off to Old Ben as breaking a trail and lugging supplies in must have been hard work, to say the least.
Made it back to the Bull Ring with the help of a headlamp, still not too dark at 7PMish.
Stopped off at Waikari on the way home for a fish and chips supper.
TFTC
After getting my breath back at the top of the Jim Freeman turned downhill for a look see nearby to a shelter I've been to before whilst tramping.
Soon at the GZ and marvelled at the rock fall having not noticed it was so big before!
The cache was a quick find as the CoOrds were spot on and it's visible from a couple of metres away in it's hide.
All good in the cache nice and dry. Left a survival blanket, TN SL.
Then had a sit and a drink with a choco OSM (made a nice change from the cranberry ones.) in the shelter and then made my way back up to the main track.
I take my hat off to Old Ben as breaking a trail and lugging supplies in must have been hard work, to say the least.
Made it back to the Bull Ring with the help of a headlamp, still not too dark at 7PMish.
Stopped off at Waikari on the way home for a fish and chips supper.
TFTC
made a quick attemp at this one, but did not want to keep the others waiting, so will have to revisit
This cache took us longer to reach than it should have. Perhaps we should have looked at the map first! We used the Jim Freeman track, but after 10 minutes, as we didn't seem to heading the right way, and were not on the track showing on our GPS, we returned to the road to seek another track, but not finding one, retraced our steps. We had turned back 40 metres before the track changed direction and headed up to the cache. so eventually we got there and it didn't take too long to locate the cache, although we did manage to find Cumbyrocks' prickly creepers. This cache counts towards the Ramblers Reward Challenge Cache. TFTC
Great amble up the Jim Freeman track this morning after a diversion to Sligo's Junction and Rhodo dell caches. Tracks in good order having obviously been recently cleared. Rather a remote location for Ben's farm. A good rambler reward journey. TFTC
Checking and restocking as we went past. Looks like more muggles than geocachers have found it, and clearly they've all enjoyed signing the logbook.
Ah the memories this place holds of my youth. Love the seat up the back now. Kids swapped chalk and glowsticks for mini recorder and toy car.
Came pretty much as the crow flies from Ben Rudd I. Probably not the smartest move! Cool spot - thanks.
Nice track walk down from the firebreak track with katie w. The cache was a relatively simple find. Log contained some interested comments from the muggles that had accidentally found it. TNLN. Thanks for the cache, daywalk. Second find of 7 caches attempted on Flagstaff this morning.
GPSr was all over the place, so decoded the hint and found several spots that matched the description to varying degrees. Finally decided to move out of the shade and into the warm sun, and spotted a likely place. Great spot and interesting history. This is what caching is all about.
TNLN. TFTC.
TNLN. TFTC.
No. 621
One of a series of caches I linked together over 14km and 1000m of ascent and descent. Just a magic day tramping and caching in the Autumn sun.
TFTC
One of a series of caches I linked together over 14km and 1000m of ascent and descent. Just a magic day tramping and caching in the Autumn sun.
TFTC
Hot up on Flagstaff this afternoon for the second month of autumn. Had heard of Ben Rudd but the information provided for these two caches was superb and I learned a lot about him. Thought about doing Big Rock while I was up here but I see some logs saying the track is indistinct in places and after my "wander off track and get lost" experience in the Silverstream Valley a couple of years ago I'm still a bit cautious about such things.
Saw a bloke with a GPS on my way biking up the firebreak track. Took a second look as a cacher suspecting another cacher is want to do and bingo - cache pages. Tackled the cache together, terrific how it works out that way sometimes. Surprisingly quick walk down to the cache (but I guess the last time I was here I was going for Secet Rhodo Dell and it was snowing) leaving me just enough time to squeeze in the other Ben Rudd cache.
Meet up with Stegan while wondering where the trailhead was for the Big rock.
We started searching a certain spot and got no where. Moved further around and bingo.
Thanks for the cache.
We started searching a certain spot and got no where. Moved further around and bingo.
Thanks for the cache.
Not quite as easy as Rudd I but quick enough. Local knowledge, and the clue, were a bit more help than the GPS. I think they struggle with the last bit of battery life.
Having carried on up the hill from Ben Rudd I, I decided to go the whole hog after all. I made my way as the crow flies from near the top of Flagstaff Hill to intersect with the fire break track just a short distance from where the track goes down the hill to Ben Rudd shelter.
Once at the clearing, I knew exactly where to go, being very familiar with the area, and sat myself down on a very handy looking 'seat'. The cache was soon in hand, being within arms reach from my seat.
Rats or possums have ravaged the outside plastic bag, so I have brought it back with me for disposal.
Just less than 1 hour over the hill from Ben Rudd I cache to this one, and then it was 1 1/4hrs back down the road to the car.
Lovely walk, well stocked cache in a great location. - TB x2. TFTC
Once at the clearing, I knew exactly where to go, being very familiar with the area, and sat myself down on a very handy looking 'seat'. The cache was soon in hand, being within arms reach from my seat.
Rats or possums have ravaged the outside plastic bag, so I have brought it back with me for disposal.
Just less than 1 hour over the hill from Ben Rudd I cache to this one, and then it was 1 1/4hrs back down the road to the car.
Lovely walk, well stocked cache in a great location. - TB x2. TFTC
Didn't hold out much hope of a FTF after missing out on Ben Rudd I a few minutes earlier but thought it was better to know than alwasy wonder. Lots of cars at the Bull Ring and my heart sank a little. Ran into some OTC members and Ben Rudd trustees along the way but made it to GZ without seeing anyone else. Geocache Navigator software crashed 5 metres from GZ and I hadn't downloaded the GPX. There was no data coverage in the area so no hope of getting the information back. Remembered hint so went rambling around in the area and managed to get heavily tangled in that viney prickly stuff. Came out looking like I had tried to shave my arms and legs with a blunt razor. THEN I found the obviously area and it was all easy from then on. Eagerly opened the log book to find I was the FTF! I've never explored this area before and am very glad the cache brought me here. Wanted to do a couple of the others in the area but ran out of time. Also love the level of detail in both Ben Rudd listings - it's great to have so much knowledge about the area when you're going there. TFTC!
Ben Rudd (version from [Poetry Archive](http://www.poetryarchive.org/poem/ben-rudd) from Collected Poems edited by Alan Roddick (Oxford University Press, NZ, 1984), Charles Brasch 1984
1
High above the town
He lodged with wind and sun
In a hollow of the hill
Whose tussock arms fell
About him, streams ran by
Low-voiced night and day.
Narrow hut and black hearth
Crouching to earth,
Billy, bunk and crude
Bench, axe and spade,
Candle and shotgun -
And the flag of green
Outside by the brown wall,
Potato patch and full-
Fruited raspberry, gooseberry.
2
No one crossed his door,
No one crossed his path
For fear
Of sudden threat or oath.
And yet his single care
Was to keep at bay
All who might interfere
Coming to pry -
The righteous who would trick
Him to their lawless town
And hold him lost and weak
To waste among men
Far from hill and sky;
So, helpless to run,
When words were thrown away
He seized his gun.
3
'Up there on the mountain', they said,
'Half crazed, not right in the head,
Dangerous too, pointing his gun
For no reason, at anyone
Passing, not stopping even -
That's what he's come to, living
Alone in the wind and sun,
Old, and his wits gone;
It's not right,' they said,
'Alone there, muttering mad
Words, mad old Ben Rudd.'
4
Start alone, end alone.
All known faces gone
And familiar talk done;
Heart that poised on a knife edge
Eased now of stubborn rage,
Beyond fear and hope content
Not to ask, not to want,
Free to live its own days
Wasting no breath upon the ways
Of other men, but every thought
Bent to work the sum out
Of what is and what is not.
5
'Ben Rudd, mad Ben Rudd
Soft in the head
Thinks himself God!'
The town boys cried out
Racing past his hut.
Angry looks, a black
Word flung in their wake,
Gun snatched up -
But they were gone sharp
Down among boulder and bush
Into the evening hush
And on to the smug town,
Swelling the rumour spread
Of mad Ben Rudd.
1
High above the town
He lodged with wind and sun
In a hollow of the hill
Whose tussock arms fell
About him, streams ran by
Low-voiced night and day.
Narrow hut and black hearth
Crouching to earth,
Billy, bunk and crude
Bench, axe and spade,
Candle and shotgun -
And the flag of green
Outside by the brown wall,
Potato patch and full-
Fruited raspberry, gooseberry.
2
No one crossed his door,
No one crossed his path
For fear
Of sudden threat or oath.
And yet his single care
Was to keep at bay
All who might interfere
Coming to pry -
The righteous who would trick
Him to their lawless town
And hold him lost and weak
To waste among men
Far from hill and sky;
So, helpless to run,
When words were thrown away
He seized his gun.
3
'Up there on the mountain', they said,
'Half crazed, not right in the head,
Dangerous too, pointing his gun
For no reason, at anyone
Passing, not stopping even -
That's what he's come to, living
Alone in the wind and sun,
Old, and his wits gone;
It's not right,' they said,
'Alone there, muttering mad
Words, mad old Ben Rudd.'
4
Start alone, end alone.
All known faces gone
And familiar talk done;
Heart that poised on a knife edge
Eased now of stubborn rage,
Beyond fear and hope content
Not to ask, not to want,
Free to live its own days
Wasting no breath upon the ways
Of other men, but every thought
Bent to work the sum out
Of what is and what is not.
5
'Ben Rudd, mad Ben Rudd
Soft in the head
Thinks himself God!'
The town boys cried out
Racing past his hut.
Angry looks, a black
Word flung in their wake,
Gun snatched up -
But they were gone sharp
Down among boulder and bush
Into the evening hush
And on to the smug town,
Swelling the rumour spread
Of mad Ben Rudd.
Ben Rudd: Part 2
6
It was no madman who gardened and farmed lifelong,
Making green the valley,
Ploughing and sowing the unbroken hill,
Laying out fields, setting byre and barn,
Planted pine-belts, raised stone walls
To run like natural boundary marks
Of hollow and terrace and rounded slope;
Walls that stand and run
Boulders, hill-stones, grey everlasting, rough-marbled
Marking out place and time, separating
Field from field, life from life;
Vanishing over the flank of a spur,
Melting into drifts of night
Or cloud, or winter snow;
Moving beyond known years and lives
Across the hill-face, round the sheer globe
Far into memory, myth;
Carefully, lovingly raised, stone by chosen stone
Day after day, year on year,
A lifetime burden of stones,
A history hewn of silent walls.
7
Moving higher at length
He left field and wall behind,
Looking down at them, looking beyond them
To town and harbour, and farther yet
Swart-green headlands, white beaches
And the sombre arc of ocean
Unheard except on still nights after storm,
But always present, the oncoming night
Waiting, the end of time waiting;
Cold ocean, grave of waters
And the world's burial ground.
8
Few passed his door,
None crossed his mind.
At home in summer air
And railing wind
He lived out day and night
As though none but he
Trod earth's deck, beset
By sea and sky.
9
The town clacked, mocked, forgot, was reminded.
An old man on the mountain
He had no right there
Setting himself up against
Decent folk in houses.
It didn't do anyone good to think of him,
Old men should not live alone
- It wasn't right for anybody
To live like that alone.
Why, he might die there one day all by himself
And no one be any wiser.
And some think the town neglected him
Which would give it an ill name -
Like the bad names the old man threw
At the passer-by or visitor
Who gave him a friendly word, proffered a kindness.
But, live and let live,
No one was looking for trouble,
It wouldn't be wise to use force
Unless it was needed.
10
They found him when his strength failed,
Carried him down at last
Tired beyond protesting.
And the town received him,
Nursed him barely a week,
Until death shook
His leaf from the bough,
Out of then, into now.
“Ben Rudd” was first published in Landfall 44 (December 1957). Brasch revised it for Ambulando (1964). But Brasch’s recording contains some variants from each version and some from neither.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
‘Ben Rudd’, from Collected Poems edited by Alan Roddick (Oxford University Press, NZ, 1984), Charles Brasch 1984, used by permission of Alan Roddick, Literary Executor for the Estate of Charles Brasch. Recording from the Waiata New Zealand Poetry Sound Archive 1974.
6
It was no madman who gardened and farmed lifelong,
Making green the valley,
Ploughing and sowing the unbroken hill,
Laying out fields, setting byre and barn,
Planted pine-belts, raised stone walls
To run like natural boundary marks
Of hollow and terrace and rounded slope;
Walls that stand and run
Boulders, hill-stones, grey everlasting, rough-marbled
Marking out place and time, separating
Field from field, life from life;
Vanishing over the flank of a spur,
Melting into drifts of night
Or cloud, or winter snow;
Moving beyond known years and lives
Across the hill-face, round the sheer globe
Far into memory, myth;
Carefully, lovingly raised, stone by chosen stone
Day after day, year on year,
A lifetime burden of stones,
A history hewn of silent walls.
7
Moving higher at length
He left field and wall behind,
Looking down at them, looking beyond them
To town and harbour, and farther yet
Swart-green headlands, white beaches
And the sombre arc of ocean
Unheard except on still nights after storm,
But always present, the oncoming night
Waiting, the end of time waiting;
Cold ocean, grave of waters
And the world's burial ground.
8
Few passed his door,
None crossed his mind.
At home in summer air
And railing wind
He lived out day and night
As though none but he
Trod earth's deck, beset
By sea and sky.
9
The town clacked, mocked, forgot, was reminded.
An old man on the mountain
He had no right there
Setting himself up against
Decent folk in houses.
It didn't do anyone good to think of him,
Old men should not live alone
- It wasn't right for anybody
To live like that alone.
Why, he might die there one day all by himself
And no one be any wiser.
And some think the town neglected him
Which would give it an ill name -
Like the bad names the old man threw
At the passer-by or visitor
Who gave him a friendly word, proffered a kindness.
But, live and let live,
No one was looking for trouble,
It wouldn't be wise to use force
Unless it was needed.
10
They found him when his strength failed,
Carried him down at last
Tired beyond protesting.
And the town received him,
Nursed him barely a week,
Until death shook
His leaf from the bough,
Out of then, into now.
“Ben Rudd” was first published in Landfall 44 (December 1957). Brasch revised it for Ambulando (1964). But Brasch’s recording contains some variants from each version and some from neither.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
‘Ben Rudd’, from Collected Poems edited by Alan Roddick (Oxford University Press, NZ, 1984), Charles Brasch 1984, used by permission of Alan Roddick, Literary Executor for the Estate of Charles Brasch. Recording from the Waiata New Zealand Poetry Sound Archive 1974.
Ben Rudd
1.
High above the town
He lodged with wind and sun
In a hollow of the hill
Whose tussock arms fell
About him, streams ran by
Low-voiced night and day
Narrow hut and black hearth
Crouching to earth,
Billy, bank and crude
Bench, axe and spade,
Candle and shotgun-
And the flag of green
Outside by the brown wall
Potato patch and full-
Fruited raspberry, gooseberry.
2.
No one crossed his door,
No one crossed his path
For fear
of sudden threat or oath.
It was no hate he nursed
But fear of hate,
Dread of being forced
Into the common net.
Into the common life
Where none are free or content,
But only safe
To want what all want.
So to keep strangers at bay
Was all his care,
None came but to pry
(He thought) and interfere,
Strike at his liberty;
And so he ran
When words were thrown away
And seized his gun.
3.
‘Up there on the mountain,’ they said
‘Half crazed, not right in the head,
Dangerous too, pointing his gun
For no reason, at anyone
Passing, not stopping even-
That’s what he’s come to, living
Alone in the wind and the sun,
Old, and his wits gone;
It’s not right,’ they said,
‘Alone there, muttering mad
Words, mad old Ben Rudd.’
4.
Start alone, end alone.
All known faces gone
And familiar talk done;
Heart that poised on a knife edge
Eased now of its stubborn rage,
Beyond fear and hope content
Not to ask, not to want,
Free to live its own days
Wasting no breath upon the ways
Of other men, but every thought
Bent to work the sum out
Of what is and what is not.
5.
‘Ben Rudd, mad Ben Rudd
Soft in the head
Thinks himself God!’
The town boys cried out
Running past his hut,
Angry looks, a black
Word flung in the wake,
Gun snatched up,
But they were gone sharp
Down among boulder and bush
Into the evening hush, swelling the rumour spread of mad Ben Rudd.
1.
High above the town
He lodged with wind and sun
In a hollow of the hill
Whose tussock arms fell
About him, streams ran by
Low-voiced night and day
Narrow hut and black hearth
Crouching to earth,
Billy, bank and crude
Bench, axe and spade,
Candle and shotgun-
And the flag of green
Outside by the brown wall
Potato patch and full-
Fruited raspberry, gooseberry.
2.
No one crossed his door,
No one crossed his path
For fear
of sudden threat or oath.
It was no hate he nursed
But fear of hate,
Dread of being forced
Into the common net.
Into the common life
Where none are free or content,
But only safe
To want what all want.
So to keep strangers at bay
Was all his care,
None came but to pry
(He thought) and interfere,
Strike at his liberty;
And so he ran
When words were thrown away
And seized his gun.
3.
‘Up there on the mountain,’ they said
‘Half crazed, not right in the head,
Dangerous too, pointing his gun
For no reason, at anyone
Passing, not stopping even-
That’s what he’s come to, living
Alone in the wind and the sun,
Old, and his wits gone;
It’s not right,’ they said,
‘Alone there, muttering mad
Words, mad old Ben Rudd.’
4.
Start alone, end alone.
All known faces gone
And familiar talk done;
Heart that poised on a knife edge
Eased now of its stubborn rage,
Beyond fear and hope content
Not to ask, not to want,
Free to live its own days
Wasting no breath upon the ways
Of other men, but every thought
Bent to work the sum out
Of what is and what is not.
5.
‘Ben Rudd, mad Ben Rudd
Soft in the head
Thinks himself God!’
The town boys cried out
Running past his hut,
Angry looks, a black
Word flung in the wake,
Gun snatched up,
But they were gone sharp
Down among boulder and bush
Into the evening hush, swelling the rumour spread of mad Ben Rudd.
6.
It was no madman who gardened and farmed for a life-time.
Gardening in the valley, climbing to farm the hill;
Who ploughed and sowed the unbroken waste
Of hillside, dividing fields, setting byre and barn;
Planted pine-belts, raised stone walls
To run like natural boundary marks
Between field and field on the rounded slopes,
Boulders, grey hill stones, an everlasting race
Out of forgotten time;
Walls that rise in their fields
Stone-grey, marking out
Place and time, separating
Field from field, life from life;
Vanishing over the flank of a hill,
Disappearing into the night
Of cloud, or winter snow;
Borne past years and lives
Across the hillside, round the curving globe
and onward into memory, into myth;
Carefully, lovingly raised, stone by chosen stone
Day after day, year on year,
A lifetime burden of stone,
A history traced out in stone walls.
7,
Moving higher at last
He left field and wall behind,
Looking down on them, looking beyond them
To town and harbour, and beyond the town
Green headlands, white beaches
And the sombre arc of ocean
Scarcely heard except on still nights after storm,
But always present, the oncoming night
Waiting, the end of time waiting,
Cold ocean, grave of waters
And world’s burial ground
8.
Few passed his door;
None crossed his mind.
At home to summer air
And railing wind
He lived out day and night
as though none but he
Trod earth’s deck, beset
By sea and sky
9.
The town clacked, mocked, forgot, was reminded.
An old man on the mountain,
He had no right there
Setting himself up against
Decent folk in houses.
It did no one any good to think of him,
Old men should not be alone
- It wasn’t right for anybody
To live alone.
Why, left there
He might die alone
And nobody be any wiser.
And some might think the town neglected him,
Which would give it an ill name -
Like the bad names the old man gave
Any passer, or visitor
Who threw him a kind word, proffered a kindness.
But, live and let live,
No one was looking for trouble,
It wouldn’t be wise to use force
Not unless it was needed.
Leave the old dog alone.
10.
They found him when his strength failed.
Carried him down
Hardly protesting in the end.
And the town received him,
Nursed him barely a week
Until death shook
His leaf the bough,
Out of then, into now.
Charles Brasch (“Landfall†No. 44 December 1957)
It was no madman who gardened and farmed for a life-time.
Gardening in the valley, climbing to farm the hill;
Who ploughed and sowed the unbroken waste
Of hillside, dividing fields, setting byre and barn;
Planted pine-belts, raised stone walls
To run like natural boundary marks
Between field and field on the rounded slopes,
Boulders, grey hill stones, an everlasting race
Out of forgotten time;
Walls that rise in their fields
Stone-grey, marking out
Place and time, separating
Field from field, life from life;
Vanishing over the flank of a hill,
Disappearing into the night
Of cloud, or winter snow;
Borne past years and lives
Across the hillside, round the curving globe
and onward into memory, into myth;
Carefully, lovingly raised, stone by chosen stone
Day after day, year on year,
A lifetime burden of stone,
A history traced out in stone walls.
7,
Moving higher at last
He left field and wall behind,
Looking down on them, looking beyond them
To town and harbour, and beyond the town
Green headlands, white beaches
And the sombre arc of ocean
Scarcely heard except on still nights after storm,
But always present, the oncoming night
Waiting, the end of time waiting,
Cold ocean, grave of waters
And world’s burial ground
8.
Few passed his door;
None crossed his mind.
At home to summer air
And railing wind
He lived out day and night
as though none but he
Trod earth’s deck, beset
By sea and sky
9.
The town clacked, mocked, forgot, was reminded.
An old man on the mountain,
He had no right there
Setting himself up against
Decent folk in houses.
It did no one any good to think of him,
Old men should not be alone
- It wasn’t right for anybody
To live alone.
Why, left there
He might die alone
And nobody be any wiser.
And some might think the town neglected him,
Which would give it an ill name -
Like the bad names the old man gave
Any passer, or visitor
Who threw him a kind word, proffered a kindness.
But, live and let live,
No one was looking for trouble,
It wouldn’t be wise to use force
Not unless it was needed.
Leave the old dog alone.
10.
They found him when his strength failed.
Carried him down
Hardly protesting in the end.
And the town received him,
Nursed him barely a week
Until death shook
His leaf the bough,
Out of then, into now.
Charles Brasch (“Landfall†No. 44 December 1957)
