Sinclair's Grave (Canterbury) Mesopotamia, South Island, New Zealand
By 1066 on 11-Dec-11. Waypoint GC395VK

It was time to take in this cache as although this is a great place, it is a long way to come to maintain it. We thought Beeba was going to be the last to find it but as we drove through the gate a car pulled over to talk to us and dakotacats got out. She recognised us from when we met her at a geocaching event a few months ago in Mosgiel. Dakotacats and 4clubs both signed the log before we took it away. We had a nice long talk about caches we have done, as you do, they came to Geraldine especially to do our Adventure Lab Cache which was very nice. It was a lovely day, overcast, warm and calm. We had lunch near the cemetery.

Had a lovely picnic on a perfect day. Loved the geology!

4Clubs and I decided to return to the Peel Forest area after seeing that there a couple of new caches out. Knowing that there would be no cell coverage up the gorge, I loaded the caches into my GPS the night before. As it turns out, I missed this one and didn't realised until we were near the end of the road. As the grave was signposted, we thought we would give it a shot and hoped our caching senses would kick in and we would be able to find the cache without any co-ordinates! BUT luck was on our side, as when we got to the crossroads near the cemetery, we run into the cache owners. What are the chances of that happening?!! I thought I recognised 1066 from a previous event we had attended in Dunedin so I asked if they were geocachers. They all looked rather surprised and even more so when I asked if they were 1066!! Long story short - we all chatted for a while, 1066 informed us that they were archiving this cache and 4Clubs and I signed the logbook! The history here is awesome and how sad that Andrew Sinclair lost his life in this remote area. Thanks so much for encouraging us to visit this place, we really enjoyed the drive here and 4Clubs loved the drive down to the river (haha I joke - she didn't!!).

Oh my goodness!!! Did this as a day trip from Christchurch. That's gotta be the longest shingle road I've ever driven down. Fascinating. Thanks so much for bringing me to this spot. I wished I'd driven right to the end of the road now - I think there might be some DOC tracks in there further.

FYI there was a 'Admission by Permission only' type sign a short distance along the track from the road turnoff, but we carried on anyway. Presuming they know geocachers go in there.

Log book was a little damp, but I couldn't get the pen to go. Small swap removed, and another one added. Container is pretty full, and everything outside the log book bag is sodden.

TFTC what a interesting spot, took my time and read the graves so many young men, in this small graveyard, great piece of hystory thanks for bringing me to it

We enabled our geocaches now that geocaching is once more allowed under Level 2 guidelines. Happy Caching.

Disabled for the period of isolation so that you cannot catch the virus from this cache.

Andy went for a walk up to Crooked Spur hut today and when he returned we started our caching for the day. This was collecting the caches along the road as we headed back to the caravan. This was a fairly quick find but the contents of the container need cleaning out as you can only just get the lid back on. Container is full of logbooks - wet & dry and multiple cacher name cards. Once it gets a spring clean it will be good for tb's again. tftc

Tftc

Log book quite wet. TFTC!

Stopped here after weekend tramp up Bush Stream nearby. My non caching hitchhiker stumbled on the cache while was searching Matagouri bushes...ouch
Thanks

Spectacular day up the Rangitata valkey today. TFTC Took trackable to continue its journey

Quick find in a very unusal spot, wouldn't have known about this little graveyard if it wasn't for a cache. Many thanks for the interesting history. Well worth the drive.
TFTC!

10.00: Tranquil morning after an impressive rustic stay in Rowans House at Mesopotamia Station. A night in complete darkness and without any noise and sound is hard to imagine for us. Here is the place for such an experience! The stay at Mesopotamia is a very special adventure, too. Great fireplace in the living room and none of the numerous doors can be locked... Don't worry: nobody and nothing will get lost. Great experience, we are thinking of coming back already. In the morning we set off for exploring the valley before proceeding to Omarama. The grave of Dr. Andrew Sinclair was the first cache we came across. The little cemetery is very interesting and definitely worth visiting, another quiet and beautiful place up here.

Weather: overcast, quite low clouds, 9°C;
Wheelchair: possible, but difficult due to uneven grassy ground;
State: all good.

IN: Travelbug "RADEK";
OUT: nothing.

Thank you for bringing us here! A favourite point goes out for this one!
Oliver+Gabi

IN: Travelbug "RADEK", all details later.

This cache must qualify as my most remote cache and I am so glad we made the trip to achieve the smiley. Found on a geo adventure with team_macdonald TFTC

Tftc, beautiful day with snow to 700m encircling us.

Wow. I never ever knew this was out here and if it wasn't for this cache I would have never known. I have came to Mesopotamia before I was caching. And I am back again to grab this. What a nice location. Perfect spot. Love the isolation. This is my most isolated cache that I have found. Will be giving this a favourite. Tftc

TFTC SL. Found after a little looking. Amazing sunny, still, beautiful day. Wonderful cemetery - so peaceful, has to be the best cemetery in NZ.

Great place, TFTC

Drizzling. Interesting walking around the graves. Easy find.

After a successful adventure getting to Helm's Deep we were on a high and ready to get a few more caches on the way back down the valley. I've always loved old cemeteries but usually don't get to read EVERY headstone in one. Thanks for the cache and the history lesson 1066.

On the way back from Helm's Deep 4x4 we stopped to pick up this nearby cache. What an interesting little cemetery. I really like the river stones used as headstones. Thanks for finding this great cache location.

An easy find with so many looking. The river looked so placid on a hot sunny day it can catch anyone unexpectantly. TFTC

After visiting Helms Deep it was mandatory to pay our homage to this man. Quick find among the matagouri. Here with Wombles-bbt, meandpedro, macpacmum, kotukuSI, purdiepurdie, rogowiz and Peter007.

Heading back from Helm's Deep 4x4 Caching Trip,so in the 9 of us went.Interesting few Graves placed in the Middle of nowhere.Found the Cache quickly,and had a wander around,getting blown about by the Strong NorWest Wind.Nice to have it of my list.TFTH

Cemeteries are a real haven for geocachers, aren't they! This was no exception. Sad to see so many young people represented amongst the residents, though.
We of the Helm's Deep expedition stopped here on our return journey. Thanks for this cache, 1066.

TFTC. Having completed Helms Deep the adventurers decided to visit this cache. Great area full of history and the harsh reality of living in the wild environment of the Rangitata.
Thanks 1066 for placing the cache.
A favourite vote from me.

An isolated graveyard in a wind swept valley indicative of the hard life the high country people live. Easy find but worth the visit.

A few false turns and then found this moody spot on a blowy old norwest day. Took a moment to respect the pioneers and custodians of this amazing land. i was lucky enough to work with the Prouting's on the tenure review process and have nothing but respect for the various generations past and present. Fav point from us.

A privilege to be here.

Stopped off here after spending the night at Crooked Spur Hut. Easy find. TFTC

Just realised the last time I was here was the day before the cache was hidden.

last stop before the main event (helms deep )quick find

We popped up here for a while to get away from the cold southerly, and grabbed this cache while we were here. I have found this artical in "Papers Past" that I found intertesting. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TC18610412.2.6
Cheers and thanks for another great cache,
S.t.

Found as part of a nostalgic return to Messie. Sad to see two of my pupils' last resting places right there.
A fitting place and a respectful hide. Thank you.

Not sure I originally intended to come all this way, but each cache was just a bit further. Got here just on full dark and found the cache easily enoough. Everyone always says one of the great things about caching is that you goplaces you otherwise wouldn't. So glad I came here, what a great piece of NZ. Thanks.

Great day, first find

A beautiful day for some caching in South Canterbury. Walked the last 100m, to a quiet spot, then had lunch at the car. Thanks for the hide.

Found this one while exploring the Rangitata River catchment. Whatever happened to Dr Sinclair's horse, anyway? None of the accounts I read tell me. This one gets a fave point from me.

Neat history in the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains, dotted with tiny villages. A church, a cemetery and a community hall are all that’s needed. I love it here. Cold nights and hot days. Unending, straight, dry and dusty roads bordered by vast green fields, irrigated with snow melt water lased green with glacier dust brought in from miles away through old, porous canals. Skeletal radial sprinklers stretching a kilometre spraying life into the soil. All while rain clouds were visible rising above the high snowy peaks, but never across the ranges to shed their gift on the eastern slopes. TFTC 1066, and for your helping my tour of the region.

Two TBs in to help entice the next cacher upslope.

Parked up 500m from the cache and enjoyed a walk. Ice to smash in the puddles even though it was middle of the afternoon. No wind and blue skies so wonderful.

This would be the most out of the way grave-yard we have visited so far. Didn't spot the McKay grave tho. TFTC

An isolated grave? It was more like Grand Central Station today. We arrived at the same time as another couple who like visiting old cemeteries, and collecting fossils, so we were able to give them the history of Dr Sinclair and Mr McKay. We then had our lunch beside the cemetery, during which time three more vehicles arrived with another seven people. TFTC

What a stunning historial site but too many young men finding their peace. it would be very difficult to actually find Sinclair's grave without the benefit of the GPS so thanks for that, TFTC #2937

Great to make our first trip up this valley today. A very remote cemetery. TFTC

Yes, you can drive right up to the site...or you can take a wrong turn at the fork, reach a ditch that can't be navigated with a 2wd, and jog 600m to gz. Ah well, the flora was interesting! I would have liked to have had a more thorough look at the cemetary, but with bitter wind gusts, and having left the troops back in the car, I quickly found the cache and left. Impressed with the grave of Dr Sinclair, but even more stunned with the other graves here, like the memorial monument to two (mad?) men, by a friend. I had expected one monument to the Dr, not a cemetery. Travelling cross country, there's a huge amount of matagouri, and the odd wild bush rose. I noted Mess don't use recycling...

Been here before (not caching), but couldn't find Sinclairs grave, so good to come back and find his grave. What a place to rest!
TFTC

Ha ha, found it. On a Pure Trails bike adventure tour. Left a Pure Trails brochure in box. Very cool to think I came down from Auckland to find the cache.

Great spot, have been meaning to come up here for years, and a FTF.

Thanks Bitsprayer

Just pipped for a FTF as the race was on with my fellow cacher. Stymied at the last hurdle by barbwire and a shut gate (thanks Bitsprayer)
Quite an amazing area to finally have an excuse to visit and a surprisingly busy place that we passed. Surprised that this was the only early one we found in this area I thought there would have been more.
Thanks
erninz

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