Nobby Stiles (Wellington) Porirua, North Island, New Zealand
By tbird53 on 31-Jan-14. Waypoint GC4Y5M3

I am regretfully archiving this cache since there's been no response from nor action by the cache owner within the time frame requested in the last reviewer note.

With the days drawing towards their shortest, it can be harder to get out and about for a good bout of caching. I knew I needed to get one really solid day in during May, so put the call out to see if anyone else would be interested in a raid on Tawa.
A few parties showed interest, but in the end it was just The Seagnoid and I that parked up at Brasenose Place and then spent over 9 hours tramping a basic 'Figure of 8' along the bushwalks that border Broken Hill Road and on to the slopes of Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve, getting over 40 caches each with just a couple of DNF's along the way.

Colonial Knob is a place I've only ever been to on a couple of previous occasions, and the last time was before Geocaching even existed! So when we seemed to be making good time on our loop walk it wasn't a hard decision to come up here to see if we could find these caches.

This was one of the more satisfying finds of my day. There is a kind of perverse pleasure in finding a cache that others, including the CO, have not been able to locate. tS and I both meticulously combed the obvious location before turning our attention a little further afield.
It was actually a fairly quick find in the end, perhaps because I've done a fair bit of caching in the Wairarapa and am used to a certain type of hide location made popular over there?

Anyway there were no issues encountered with the container or the log, which was soon signed and replaced exactly as found, Skindo style, before we headed off to the next one.

Thank you for setting up and maintaining this cache

Twig and I are walking the Tawa figure-8 and decided to take a branch track up to the Knob. Got as far as here, figuring those further on are better approached from the other direction. Twig says this cache is archived, which surprised me, but then I loaded my gps some time ago, and he says it was recent. We continued here anyway Didn't take too long to find the cache hidden in classic skindo style, so it's strange there are so many DNFs. Took a photo to show we found it.

After trolling Facebook looking for a place to live, I saw that TwigNZ was looking to a group to do the Tawa "figure 8". I had a spare day, so why not. After 9 hours we found over 40 caches on the slopes beside and up to Colonial Knob. I completed today's objectives (find a cache for my streak find 3 caches to get my finds to 10 finds per date, a puzzle and an "other" for my puzzle and other dot days) and also found some archived caches, a cache released today (third to find), a geocacher, hardly any people and three trees (also some more trees...). (attached).

I rode up to this one on my ebike this afternoon. It’s just over 4 kms uphill to get there from Raiha St, which is why I don’t get up there very often. I had already considered ‘ending’ this one because, quite simply, it’s further than I can be bothered going to maintain it! It has had two recent DNFs, probably because it appears to have gone missing. I was unable to locate it where it’s meant to be. I am disabling it in the meantime. If anyone wishes to take it over, please let me know. Otherwise I will archive it in another three months or so.

Dash! Especially after the comments of how it was a quick find! Wind chill factor causing me to move on

No luck today

We were distracted for a while but after focusing on the GPSr, uncovered the cache. The log although quite wet was signable . TFTC

Easy find, log wet and too windy to sign!

Thx for cache, unfortunately no pen, so just fotolog

Quick find thanks. Took photo of log.

Quick find thanks, added photo of log.

Found on our TA thru-hike, day 84. TFTC!

Thanks. Cache a little damp. I Didn’t see the previous comment in time but the slightly larger bag is still working.

A lovely walk. Quick find. Thanks.

JandSCacher looked around on one side while I looked around the other. He found it. TFTC.

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Cache good, I'm struggling to stand in this wind!

The cache was very wet including the ripped plastic bag. The log was only a little damp so we dried everything off and replaced the bag. The only one I had is a little big for this container so if you are coming by bring a tiny bag.

Found on a wet and windy walk along the track. Cache log very wet, but could sign. Tftc

nice easy find, enjoyed my walk over Colonial knob today (walked in the opposite direction to what I usually do), log was a bit damp and the outer bag is ripped, but still able to sign, TFTC

Couldn't find this one in the obvious locations but located it finally about 3m from a likely home out in the open A bit wet but all good after a brief exposure to some sun The external bag is ripped but the cache should be ok Returned it to a traditional location that matches the hint TFTC

A quick find today thanks to the SPOR. Had lunch after hunkering down out of the breeze - a great day but I suspect there is rarely any still air up here.

Successful morning completing a loop over Colonial Knob nabbing a few caches along the way
TFTC

Tftc

Sorry about the delayed logging, we had a blast doing this walk very quite bar a few mountain bike riders.
thanks for the placement, will need to come down this way more often. - nice quick find

In Wgtn catching up on family and friends. Sunday to myself so its a walk around Colonial Knob to keep me busy.
Another snag and tag on my journey at Colonial Knob. Cheers. Loving it - weather amazing!!

Another nice and easy find on our way downhill. TFTC

Spent a good few hours with The Wandering Dragons (doing a maintenance run), BruceWWNZ and TharnTheHulkan today starting from Rangituhi up to Colonial knob and down again to near Farm Road. Some of the areas were pretty treacherous and others were really dry. Thanks for all the caches.. This was as far up as we went today. Awesome bench and views nearby.

Found with Crystal Fairy and The Wandering Dragons. Gorgeous day. Tftc.

Cache # 3,882 - my personal goal for the day, on a long maintenance run with Crystal Fairy, brucewwnz and Tharn the Halkan. Find was quick and enjoyed the new nearby bench to sit and log the cache. The inside of the container was soaked, and log was mush, so have put in a new log sheet (the advantage of being on a maintenance run) and a new bag. All is set to go. CO can contact me if they want the mush log back. TFTC!

Nice quick find on an beautifully sunny Anzac day.

TFTC tbird53 #620, 25 April 2017

Logbook is disintegrating, could do with a new one

Missed this one in damp weather

Went for a walk up the Knob this afternoon to grab some old ones and new ones. This was as far as I went today. TFTC

The weather seemed to be clearing after a rather damp start to the day, so Mrs gonefishing and I thought a stroll up Colonial Knob might be in order. It's quite a while since I came caching up this way, so there was an abundance of caches to find.

I thought this was going to be a dnf until I read a couple of logs about widening the search. Mrs G was on the other side so I pointed to what might be an obvious spot in some areas hereabouts, and she was rewarded with finding the cache.
TFTC

Tftc. Found this during our tramp to Mt. Kaukau

TFTC, 'Just one more before about-face'! Making good use of your car babe

Quick find today on my trusty MTB

Yahoo.

TFTC!

Walked past here hundreds of times as a muggle and never noticed the hide which now looks suspicioisly geocachy. Almost muggled by a cyclist but I had just safely returned the cache.

#2495. I have the week off work which is just as well as I have a string of dot days I am trying to fill with cache finds. Today dawned sunny and fine after a lot of overnight rain. Decided at lunch time that a trip up Colonial Knob was the way to spend the afternoon. Well it is my first walk up this end of the reserve and I hadn't appreciated how much of a slog it would be. My calves certainly can feel the results of it now. This was the final cache on the circuit heading north before going back to do the puzzle cache. From the cache title I was expecting a very fancy looking stile. But a read of the description revealed how the cache name came about. Checked the general area for a few minutes before finally spotting the cache after missing it on the first sweep. The logbook was dry. Signed and replaced the cache as found. Thanks for hiding it up here.

TFTC

A bit damp up here today. On my way around the Colonial Knob circuit. TFTC.

My last stop on a very enjoyable walk this morning. The weather started to get nasty at this point so I turned around and started back down. The cache was a quick find and all in good order. Thanks very much for the cache.

Enjoying a pleasant walk up to Colonial Knob with friends today.
I had no caches loaded on my GPSr for this area since I was unaware in enough time that this would be where we would go walking this afternoon. Consequently the GPSr was neither use nor ornament. However, I knew there would be a number of caches hidden along the way but this was the only one I could locate merely by looking for any of the usual tell-tale signs. Even so, I am happy to have bagged a good tramping cache for the day. And now after returning to an internet connection, I can check out where the ones we passed are in case we walk this track some other time.
TFTC, tbird53.

A few muggles about when we got there but waited it out with Jubey01 & vhuntley. The views are fantastic. TFTC!

Lots of muggles about all the way up here but waited it out. Found with vhuntley & troy222. TFTC

Great hide thanks

Nice spot for rest on the seat and then get the cache. All is well dry. TFTC

Surprisingly busy up here today! As I was approaching the cache it suddenly occurred to me I hadn't thought to bring a pen! Duh. I really didn't want to fail to sign the log on Xmas day so had a good rummage in my backpack thinking there must be something... surely. Bingo! A pencil lead! Just the lead. I had a vague recollection of popping it into the inside pocket for emergencies such as these. Anyway, it did the trick TFTC and Merry Xmas!

Found it the top of my walk this morning. Was initially looking in the wrong (but more obvious) place, until I broadened the search area, and there it was. TFTC !

Found it with " FrenchSuperTrampNiko " on our hiking Te Araroa trail
TFTC!

Found with smashacache tricky little spot TFTC!

See note!

Thanks for placing the cache. Quick find. Lovely day but wind is getting up now. Off to the top then home.

Tftc. Windy and wonderful. Top knob spot

Removed the old logsheet which was still quite wet. Replaced it with temporary logsheet which will probably become permanent. It is now inside a small plastic bag.
The cache container was a little exposed when I went to it today. PLEASE ENSURE it is adequately hidden once you have finished with it. Thanks.

Note is soaked.

The note inside is too wet to write on

Good hide. Log quite water logged so difficult to write on.

Nice walk up with Just-Lookin

Good stop for the cache, not much view today as a bit in the clouds!

SL (log is ok) TFTC

Nice walk up Colonial Knob with my walking group. Dried out the log while the others went a bit further. Note the cache now contains a pencil. Showed the cache to other group members. Great views. Thanks

Find #2229. Yet another walk up here - did the circuit this time. A very pleasant day but hot climbing. Quick find but spent a few minutes drying the log book in the breeze - it was very wet. SL TFTC

Haven't been up this way for a few years which made a trip up here worthwhile, given all the new caches that have been placed since. Also making good use of a spare day and took advantage of a pleasant but cool day.

Cache duly found after a steady stream of muggles had passed, logsheet very damp. TFTC tbird53, #7390

I had heard of this gentleman but, apart from knowing his nationality and the sport he played, I didn't know much about him. Thanks for the information.

I didn't find the cache immediately, having the wrong idea about where it may be hidden. I was then about to check somewhere else when I saw the container out in the open. I put it back to where I thought it must have rolled away from and wedged it in fairly tightly. Now that I have read the earlier logs, I am pretty confident that I replaced it in the right place.

Got to the top and decided to go on the short distance to this cache. Wonderful day for a trip up the hill. TfTc

#1107 Walked to the top of the hill this afternoon with a muggle friend. She was interested in the hides but not converted. Yet. Sneaky wee hide. TFTC!

Took me a bit. Nice rest stop

Awesome cache thanks

TFTC! Approached GZ to find huhugrub waiting while the log dried in the sun

#5675. Nice day for a walk. Quick find. We were drying the wet logsheet in the sun, when LCBuilder and WaffleKitties arrived. Good to meet you both. TNLNSL. TFTC.

Nice find this morning. TFTC!

Third going back. Lol find while out walking Colonial Knob with Belmont Scouts, Jax479, CaliguliaNZ & orrsum4sum TFTC

Quick find while out on a walk with Scouts. Found with Metal-art and Jax479 with CaligulaNZ following along somewhere. TFTC

Yep, still trying to catch up with my group of Scouts & Leaders. Could see them up ahead of me on the high point. Lovely winter's day for a caching loop.
Reasonably quick find, after nearly being muggled by a pair of runners.

TFTC!

Back tracked with orsum4sum and metal-art to grab this one after overshooting.

The Last day before I start to the south island. Thank you for showing this track up to the hill.
tftc

Yay I found it. Starting to think I was losing my geocaching mojo. Cache in good order & log dry. TFTC

A quick find while out on a late afternoon srtoll around the loop. No views at all today with rain and heavy cloud. TFTC

5 of 8 collected on a trip around the walkway, first time walking around this one, quite steep in places and very pleased to get to the top. Nice to meet you at the trig earlier on in the day SL TFTC

Made this my cache of the day to preserve an ongoing "streak". A great day for a walk up the hill, fine weather with a south-east breeze which made it very pleasant at the top. Unfortunately on the way up the breeze also ensured that the stench from the nearby landfill was fairly evident, and it took a bit of climbing to get above it. The cache was a real skindo-style hide, found within seconds in the second place checked. Signed log, thanks for the cache and for giving me the excuse for some very enjoyable exercise!

Saw this one published and knew I would have to walk up this blasted hill again. Was wondering why I was puffing so much then suddenly realised that I donated blood yesterday. Not the wisest thing to do a walk like this today but oh well. TFTC

Last time this far up was Jan 2013, without Redants. This trip had him finding all the ones I got last time. Score, Redants 8, Me 3.
Good spot for a short sit down. SL TFTC.

Found on a loop of Colonial Knob with Banian. Cool container. TFTC

3rd find on my walk aorund colonial knob today. TFTC. Sherlock Hood.

Found as part of our Colonial Knob challenge day. This was find number 6.
A great day up here today. Perfect weather to be enjoyed.
Cache in order, log signed; then safely re-hidden, just as found.
TFTC found with team cacher Sweet P too
The Turtle strikes again!

2TF !!!!
This is the second one up here, and both close, that I have been 2nd to find !!!!!

This hill never seems to get easier, and now it seems to be getting graveled.

Had to cone up here to verify a Virtual Munzee I have placed at the top, so lucky there was a new cache up here, as well as lucky I checked before heading up or it would be a tad annoying.

Easy find once at GZ.

TNLNSL TFTC

Found with yeetrees who dragged my sorry arse up this whacking big hill as the cloud rolled in. Awesome Chris. My blisters will thank you later.

WOW a joint FTF with magnum. . Arrived home after a day at work and decided that I needed another cache just to keep my day to day streak going, so checked my GPS and thought to myself now which cache am I going to do today. After checking out my GPSr I noted a few caches that fitted the bill, on well now which one, ah a FTF going well why not. Decided a change of gear and then I will be on my way, as I was about to leave one of my neighbours caught up with me and after a short chat and found out that he did do some caching a while back when he use to work in Australia and advising him that I was about to climb the dame hill over there and I asked him if he was interested and he said yes.

Arriving at the carpark to one of the many entrance to this walkway I realised that there was only one way to go "UP" , oh well, here we go. After working out which track to take we were soon on our way, after a short walk we soon got to a junction and realised that we nearly took the wrong turn off, but after checking the GPS we were soon back on the correct path.

After a short walk we soon cleared the bush and was soon on our way up out in the open, then we spotted the clouds rolling in and the wind was picking up to a Gail, after a short walk we were soon in the clouds and making our way to GZ.

Arriving at GZ after a bit of a walk and after checking the obvious spots I soon found the cache in the most obvious spot and when I opened it I was surprised to find an empty logbook. Was wrapped to claim a joint FTF with magnum as it really made it a bonus for his 8th cache. Thanks for placing the cache here and bringing me back to this lovely spot, will need to come back up shortly to pick up the rest. TFTC TNLNSL. Now to make our way back down and pick up a few more caches for magnum on our way down.

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