Wetworlds (Canterbury) Linwood, South Island, New Zealand
By BaldEd on 08-Aug-02. Waypoint GC7C00

The gate was open at THAT reserve today as I drove past....

Bugger. I enjoyed finding the first waypoints for this cache, and was looking forward to ticking it off. Oh well not a lot that can be done. Thanks for the quick action BaldEd and thanks for the cache!

The area affected will not rank very high on the earthquake repair timetable so it is best to archive this cache. This brings to 7 the number of caches I have archived due the Canterbury earthquakes.

The Otukaikino Reserve is closed until further notice due to the September earthquake. The sign reads it is unsafe to enter - even though TikvaNZ was willing to enter, I was not so game today.

Apparently one of the reserves that this cache uses is now closed to the public due earthquake damage. I will review the situation in a couple of months.

The only caching I managed to get done on Saturday were the waypoints for a couple of multi caches - this being the main one. Even though one of the reserves is closed, I decided to investigate to see how the repairs were coming along. Good progress is being made, the first waypoint was easily accessible. I managed to get to the other two, but the pathway requires extreme care - it is very slipery in places, buckled and broken. I'd advise leaving this till the repairs are finished.
Once I'd found all the waypoints and calculated the final, I knew I had a problem - a negative answer. The last thing I wanted to do was revisit them all to see where I'd erred. A bit of trial and error and I came up with a solution that looked reasonable. Off I went to 'GZ' but it was obviously not the right place. As daylight was fading it was off home. Redid all my calcs using Excel, played around with some what-ifs. Eventually came up with a solution confimed by GeoCheck. Only a couple of hundred metres away from my mis-calculation. I had one answer wrong and will re-visit that waypoint to see if it was my error or not.
Today after completing my work early, it was off for an early extended lunch - a nice walk and an easy find. TFTC.

Unfortunately the Wetland with only 1 access remains closed after Earthquake damage to the paths.

FINALLY - This one has been on my to do list for YEARS.
Got about 2/3 or the ay through it then lost my workings on at least three different locations.
TFTC

One of the Christchurch old boy caches, it's been 8 years since it was placed and it was about time to get it off my list. After taking a few years to collect the way point info it was a session of maths and GE (and a tick on the checker!) before a trip over to GZ. A pleasant but hot walk out to the cache and a nice easy find at GZ to finish off with. Great to have this one knocked off! TNLN Thanks, cache is in good condition.

Thank you BaldEd! Two weekends to collect the waypoints and a longer discussion about the math was worth the final view. Quiet and peaceful, some caches on the way and good to visit these places.
BTW: We never thought that we would find a cache at the coords we calculated, but were proven wrong

After finding all the WP's and working out the final last month. Decided today was a good time finish off the cache quite a marathon effort. I'm sure it took longer to design than to do it. Thanks Balded

At last! Marathon effort this one. Good day to finish it off as it was a bit of a "wet world" today with the rain. Thanks for the interesting places it took us. Left TB De honden vriend to watch the wildlife and enjoy the water.

Despite the cache name I didn't even get damp shoes. Noticed the Culverden Tearooms cap still there and in good order. It was left August 2002. TFTC.

Had found this cache with StreetWalker just over a year ago, when I was still not logging my own finds. We were in the area today, so good time to knock the b*&(%# off! Drove the car a lot closer this time as no puddles, big or small to contend with today. Good to get one of my closest unfounds smileyfied.
Thanks for the scenic tour around CHCH's wetlands..

Knocked it off at last. Twas beginning to bug me. I was one number out which put me bung in the middle of the water. Lovely spot. TFTC & for the help BE

Have visited and revisited every point but am still struggling. In my opinion there are one or two many ambiguous answers eg cabbage trees grow taller fast and the definition of horizontal planks ramp at WWH is a problem. Mathematical conventions also dictate what is probably the incorrect answer for WWK.
Probably why there arent too many visitors to this cache. After 3 attempts at a final location I have now just decided to go Google fishing for a series of possibel answers about where I guess the cache is from the preamble and will potter about till I get the right fence post. Then I'll work backwards. I think you will need to do more fixing on this one BE.

Cache has 30 Smilies and only 1 Frown in 7 years. Added geochecker.

It took us a while to work this one out. Thought it would be a quiet walk midweek. The track was busy with lots of trampers.Managed to get to the log between groups. TFTC

With a sunny Sunday afternoon and one of the closest caches to our home yet un-found we figured today was the day to track this one down. TFTC - picked up the Huntsbury Hunt key/travel bug.

Well it took me a wee bit of mucking around to get the final and I did have to revisit a couple of waypoints again to get the right information the sooner I get glasses the better lol. but got there in the end another great cache to have off my list,So thanks BaldEd for all the hard work that you put into these caches to keep us cachers on our toes... Cheers Bo

Amended the coordinates and question for waypoint WWJ, due sign removal).

#320 (found with Troodles). We visited all of the WPs last weekend. Calculated GZ over coffee in Belfast, but decided not to search for the cache that weekend (was keen to check location on Google Maps first). [Couldn't find the sign for WWJ, but correctly guessed the answer (have reported to BaldEd, who is going to investigate).]

Was (sort of) passing GZ today, so called in and found the cache. With all of the surface water lying around, the whole world seems wet at the moment. Yesterday, while doing GC1A7WD (The Philosopher's Stone) the little Vitz had to contend with an unsealed road and lots of water (we stopped 100m short of GZ to avoid a particularly large puddle/mini lake). Deja vu today. Skirted the first puddle but didn't like the look of the next, so parked there (there were even bigger ones further down the road). Still, not a long walk to the end of the road (were thankful of having packed the gummies).

Cache itself was an easy find, and nice and dry despite the recent rain.

Our three closest-not-founds-are all big multis with coords in the centre of town; good to finally knock one of them off. TFTC.

This brother of mine, BaldEd, believes in creating large multis. This is another of them. I thankful I’m not riding the bike today. I had originally thought that with the name of the cache I might just end up with getting my feet wet at sometime today but that was not to be. I’m happy about that but they were a little tired though. We met up with a school teacher who is studying the build up of sediment in the lagoon.
In: TB
Out: Nil
Cheers for the cache.

Waypoint WWA moved and the associated question changed, due to a sign removal. New logbook placed in the cache.

This cache has sat at the top of our to do list in Christchurch for many a month - the time had come to stop procrastinating and do it! Before leaving home J plotted a path and with her knowledge of 3 of the wetworlds things were made a tad easier. We enjoyed wandering around all areas on such a lovely day even though the final one was a little dry. Cache was found with ease so i guess all our maths checked out first time. The numbers required at WP1 seem to of vanished so we made some logical assumptions. All up it only took us 2.5hrs which we thought wasn't too bad The logbook has a very small space left for one other person to write in before it is full also.

Thanks for an enjoyable jaunt, and the time and effort that was put into making it.
TNLN Cheers!

Did the waypoints a while ago. Noticed a loop in the calculations and emailed BaldEd for clarification. Finally got around to finding the final on Monday. Cache was certainly living up to it's name after all the rain lately! lol. TNLN, TFTC

Back in action after some editorial and formula amendments.

There's a problem with one of the formulae.

Did all the waypoints over the past few days after visiting many great spots. TNLN. TFTC.

Details of waypoint WWG changed.

It seems one of the required answers has been compromised by deterioration. I will investigate and make changes.

Wow, this was a mammoth exercise ! Had no idea where to start, so last Sunday we drove to our nearest wetland ( Travis ) but clearly the WPs were nowhere near there. So we headed back west and soon started collecting WPs. Had a major dilemna at WWG -"number of signpost arms". There is now one arm missing from the signpost, so what is the correct answer ? Since the co-ordinates for C,D,F and J all depend on this answer being correct, perhaps the question should be re-worded ? ( The original number of signpost arms ? ). We found out the hard way, by driving half -way to Waikuku, then determining that these calculated co-ordinates would put us 4km out to sea ! After amending answer G ( and subsequently C, D, F and J ) the new co-ordinates made more sense ! Arrived to within approx 1km of the cache, but by now it was 5.30pm and getting dark, so we resumed a week later ( today ) and had the cache in hand within 20 minutes.Did this walk a couple of years ago, but this walkway has been upgraded heaps since then ! Overall a very enjoyable and satisfying Cache. Took pack of cards, left Bookcrossing book. TFTC !

Took quite a while to get around all the places, but it gave me an excuse to leave home! Lovely walks and interesting WP's. Got to the final on the hottest day of the year, but luckily had arrived with boards and wetsuits and adjourned to the local beach to ride the fantastic waves and cool off. Thought we'd logged ages ago, but life got in the way. TFTC. Great spot.

It was a very hot day. Enjoyed the walks and the bike rides. Went for a great swim afterwards. TNLN. TFTC.

Don't you just hate it when you get the right data then enter a wrong number in the coordinates in your GPS and go off searching in the right area 150m off course. That was my first mistake. Second mistake was leaving the paper work at home. Third mistake was wearing sox that collected grass seeds as I searched. Back I went today, which must have been the second day of summer it was so hot the first being when I searched the Wps for data earlier this month. This time I found the cache no problem, GPS took me straight to it. The cache is hidden in a unique wetland area that I just loved and will visit again and explore further.
TNLN.

The station J i didn`t understand.But with the other numbers together,the cache-place must be there.And yeah,it was.ge0rg,thank you for the 5 hours in the nature.
in:keyring (car)
out:longthreads

Took a week to do this and get to destination for the keys as a problem with clues on cache leading up to this.Excited to finally find it but bugger was beaten by a day for the keys.
-compass wristband
+crystal stone

Had a great walk to this one with crystal seeker to be a little disappointed that keys gone.
TNLN

That was a great challenge, probly should be called the Wetworlds Challenge, we loved it it took awhile but it also took us some places that we never would have gone, the day just right warm & sunny, seen two families of ducklings so spring has sprung. the next thing is summer.
thanks BaldEd for all the work you put in making the cache possible. No swaps, but I got the keys

Cheers
Ewen & Margaret

Math formula for D has been rejigged as a cabbage tree has died and/or been removed.

WOOHOO! Finally!
A very appropriate day to do it - pretty wet and dismal.
It was the usual case of knowing I was in the right place, when I saw the elephant track. And not only that - it looks like someone else zeroed nearer the bush, like I did, as there was a track going there. But it was in the obvious place. I had seen that there was a bug in here, and was going to pull it out - until I realised that it was the keys - so it's actually a good place for them. TNLN, Thanks.

Checked the cache. All OK. Dropped off Moneydork's Keys #2 TB.

Co-ords were spot on but that didn't stop me assuming the cache was near where the old cache site was.... So, lots of walking, and relocating and walking. No swaps, Cheers Ed.

A nice windy day for a walk to the cache. Searched all round what I thought must be the spot. Returned home to find out the spot had been moved. Silly me. Must check the latest logs. Oh well, another walk beckons.

Final cache moved. Maths formulae rejigged.

The cache has been removed from the base of the now dead tree. It will be replaced in another location soon and the maths and hint will be changed.

Whew, finally did it! Just got a pedometer so put it to the test. 12,832 steps, 7.69km and 500 calories! (and a total of 5 hours). Great cache. Beautiful weather. Had a picnic lunch at one of the wetworlds. Took glass duck and beer drinker. Left Peter Pan and a Yoyo.

Thanks BaldEd for a nice tour around the wetlands. I picked up all the waypoints a couple of weeks ago, but only got round to having a walk out that way today - a lovely morning for a wander on the dunes. Yes, the cache was easy to locate - but it was very wet inside despite sitting upright. As nobody has visited it for nine months, I guess it could get a bit damp. At least the logbook in its snaplock bag was OK. We tried to dry everything out as much as possible, and even installed some dry grass inside the box to soak up water. Perhaps you need to check it out, and put in some of your silica gel bags. No swaps, cheers, Grandalf

I did it. I did it! Hehehe. Gees this was a troublesome cache to complete. I thought I had all the questions answered but the coordinates didn't make sense so I went back and found a couple of mistakes in my workings. It must have been fourth time lucky I finally got the right coordinates but then couldn't find the cache. Email Ed to check, and he confirmed the coordinates and even checked the cache for me. So I headed back out today, and I was halfway there and the batteries ran out in the GPS, having already placed the spares in a few hours earlier - strange - must have been passing through the mysterious Pegasus Triangle. Managed to find the spot easily enough, and then spent about 20 minutes hunting before finally finding the cache. It was more well hidden than I expected No exchange was made other than a few unrepeatable mutterings about laying a nemisis to rest. Thanks Ed! Cheers Gav [233]

We thought it was past time to do this interesting-looking multi and get it off our 'nearest' list.
So, armed with a picnic 'high tea' and a Tumonz map, we set off to explore areas both familiar and new.
Some pleasant walks in nice wetlands later, we had our tea and did some 'rithmatic, and set off for the final cache.
Lacking a suitable map, we guessed the wrong entrance approach at first, then found our way to the right spot. A bit of a walk, a bit of a search (we didn't need the clue; where else could it be?) and we had the cache. We took a screwdriver and left a wristband compass, then wandered back along the beach while Mama Bear collected her own bodyweight of interesting flotsam, as is her wont.
Thanks for the tour, BaldEd!
(You can get the waypoints at http://bearleft.mackereth.net/wetworlds.gpx to save typing them all in.)

Found cache at 4.15 on a hot Nor'wester day when the North Island was still suffering from storms. Set out 3 weeks ago, found the contributing clues in a pleasant cycling afternoon, but then let down by maths. Approached the cache with misgivings - not a tree in sight - and then, lo, it came to view. This has been a most enjoyable search in which we discovered wonderful new wetlands areas (thanks to the City Council/ECAN) that are transforming parts of the city. Contemplated the juxtaposition of natural areas with their free flowing wildlife alongside new gated housing developments! Hmm.
Left: beer drinker (it was a hot day) + paradise duck
Took: hose fitting.
Cache is in good condition and the site (and sites) excellent.
Thanks very much, BaldEd.
Rod M

- 0
+ 2 cents


[This entry was edited by Spike's Mum and Dad on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 10:06:28 AM.]

Yep. Nice way to save the shanks when you've got something with 4 rotating legs.

We completed some of the clues about 10 days ago when we were out that way doing another cache. Because we hadn't sorted it out first we ended up going back to most of the places again!! We will plan our trips better next time.
When we worked out the coordinates for the cache itself, drove there and realised we still had a long walk I was ready to give up for the day but no way - off we went. We had already weathered the rain and hail so might as well keep going! We found it quite easily in the end and everyone was happy. Took the mouse, left insulation tape and a bulldog clip.
Thanks for a great time out.
Iris & Rodney

[last edit: 10/27/2002 1:05:33 AM PST]

[last edit: 2/2/2003 10:48:18 PM PST]

Lots of work, but good to find the cache. Had the hail storm, but carried on found it about 8 at night.

Well another great day out hunting. I really enjoyed doing this one, set off at about 2pm and found the final cache at 6pm. I had only been to one other wetland area, so it was surprising to find so many other areas in Christchurch, and in such good condition!
Didn't have any trouble with the math calculations for the last cache, though I did have to change my access point a couple of times in order to get to the last one.
I took the CDR and left a staple remover.

Thanks again BaldEd for another entertaining afternoon.

This one was a great day out. Saw plenty of places I hadn't been before. After a weekend of dodgy gps coverage (only about 7 sv's shown as available Saturday), gps again picked up all 12 today, just like another time when we were nearby..... Thanks BaldEd.

[last edit: 9/1/2002 5:45:44 PM PST]

Wow - that was tricky. It took us a couple of goes to get the final cache - nothing at all wrong with the maths or any of the clues - I just suck with the 7 times table (over the 10th factor of course!).[br][br]
A word of warning - the end cache is REALLY well hidden. Even with the clue, it took us about an hour of searching! I got it in the end using the stomping foot method (Sadly a lot of the grass around the area is a little flattened now!)[br][br]
We took the grumpy clip-magnet and left a cordless IR Mouse from Mountain Goats Delight.[br][br]
Thanks for another excellent series [br]
Tim, Vida, Crispin and (little) Arlia.

Yet again BaldEd has taken the art of cache hiding to a new level. Started this cache at daybreak after taking Bernadette to work. I knew 2 of the wetland areas, which made finding some of the clues easier. The third wetland was a new one to me, but wow what a great area, there has certainly been a lot of work put into it - unfortunately there was still a lot of frost on the boardwalks, so it was pretty slow going getting round without slipping and landing on my butt (or worse, in the water). After finding all the clues, I found a problem with BaldEds maths, thankfully the problem was reasonably obvious, so I managed to correct for it (I won't tell you what it is, but it should become apparent when you do the final calculations ) After punching what I hoped where the correct co-ords into my GPS I headed off to the nearest carpark (spot of dejavu on the way) - hmmm, still quite a way to go once I got there.... debating with myself, I decided to check out my co-ords any way - while walking I decrypted the clue, hopefully giving me something to tell if I was correct with my calculations. Got to the cache site, reasonably happy that I was in the right area, and after hunting for a while, found the cache. Took 'Squishy' (I think he must be part ping-pong) and left a 'Culverden Tearooms' Hat (from Hunter1nz's 'Sharks Tooth' cache via Donovans 'Spit Beach' Cache), a marble (from Gavins 'Fall'n Glentui Bush' cache), a smiley magnetic clip and a ladybird.
Many thanks for the great morning.
Cheers
Nick.

[last edit: 11/24/2002 10:51:44 PM PST]

oops, the slight maths problem is now fixed so that no others hopefully will be confused.

My bad, BaldEd's maths was not wrong, I had the wrong answer for one of the clues. Somehow (dumb luck probably) I managed to correct for this error, and find the cache. Be very careful with you answers, especially when the object that has the clue has more than one number
Cheers
Nick.