Flight of Fancy (South Canterbury) Upper Waitohi, South Island, New Zealand
By Sallies on 15-Mar-03. Waypoint GCE5AE

Out with the 3G's and CW for a drive in the country - looked a likely place for a GC although not according to the iphone. The 3G's found it anyway! TFTC

Found with the 3Gruffalos. After seeing the plane on TV went to visit with some locals. Even though the App said no caches we searched and found it. It would be nice for somebody to restart it.

Found with Crusaderwoman on a drive out to the Richard Pearce memorial. Hope the cache gets someone to look after it, the spot is certainly deserving. We are not quite local enough.

After much thought and soul searching we have decided to archive this historic cache. Over eleven years and over 130 finds, with only 4 DNFs, but a few niggly problems, especially lately. It is now time for someone else, who lives much closer, to make use of the site. Thanks for all those who found it and expressed positive comments. Rodney and Iris.

Called in today on the way home from McKenzie Basin. The area at GZ has had some maintenance done on the flora and the hiding place was totally exposed. We couldn't find the actual container so, after much thought, we decided to archive the cache because of all the little problems and negative comments over the years. This historic spot cries out for a cache so we hope someone else, who lives much closer, will hide a cache here for us to find when we pass by again! Rodney and Iris.

Third sunny day of the long weekend, great to catch some caches. TFTC.

A real yukky area so didn't do too much prodding around. But great to see this.

Nice area, cool statue and a nice quick find!
TFTC

Little sprinkled

An awesome piece of history, but not located as hoped. Was put off by more horse droppings than I like.

Called in today to check the cache. The new container is nice and clean and its placement slightly further back should prevent further disgusting behaviour. You may have to climb the fence or wall to reach it as I did unless you have very long arms!

Great location, and a wonderful slice of history - cheers for bringing us here. Big ups, too, to the previous cacher who so kindly fixed the dung situation!

have replaced the offending container with another kiwi icon tftc

Found the cache but it needs maintenance. No log and container was full of water when I found it.

Unfortunately in need of maintenance

13601... Found the cache, but couldn't sign the logbook. Some fithy animal has filled the cache container with Horsey Doo (see attached photo). YUK!!! Cache needs some urgent TLC. Many thanks for bringing us to this historic location.

Great spot

Geocaching with friends, thanks for the fish oil

Glad to report that, thanks to Jimnycricket, this cache is now in good condition. We will check it out again next time we are down that way. Rodney and Iris.

Great cache site and history,and another photo.As previous loggers reported container was in bits.Fortunately I had a spare one in my car so the cache is now a white screw top jar,but still wrapped in black plastic bag.Favourite.TFTC

Easy find. Cache needs maintenance. Container broken, plastic bag nibbled by mice. Plastic bag replaced, sorry no container at hand.

This entry was edited by kakariki on Sunday, 21 July 2013 at 16:37:20 UTC.

The cache was quite dry and cosy and not hard to pick up although the barbed wire did try to hook us up. Pleased we stopped so thank you.

Sorry to report that it needs maintenance again, but this is now just a logbook with a lot of broken plastic in a bag.

Yes, container totally destroyed and remains in a plastic bag. We were able to sign the logbook and enjoyed the memorial. TFTC

Loved seeing this Memorial,but sadly found it in the same condition as previous Cachers,have noted,so we have put everything into a Plastic Bag.TFTH

Found broken pieces of container and the cache was hidden close by. Container needs replaced. TFTC was a cool monument to come and see

Found by accident, we were vising the memorial and my daughter wondered if there might be a cache here. Looked down to see the cache damaged with a broken lid and side of the container. Contents were intact. We took the trackable to keep it safe and signed the log, nothing to put in the container.

Hid the cache from view to prevent any further damage.
Container needs replacing.

Day 2 after overnighting in Temuka.
Quick grab and go on the way to Geraldine
TFTC

While in the area we totally refreshed this cache. The vegetation has been trimmed. The bark has settled. The container was exposed and damaged. Everything is now beautiful and the container is now twice as big as it was! Rodney and Iris.

Had always been interested in the RP story so great to visit this memorial. One of the clips on the cache is broken so is no longer water proof and everything is wet inside. Removed all the sodden bits and pieces except the log which also needs to be replaced. Sorry - no spare with us.
Thanks for the cache

great piece of local history, as a former temuka boy we claim dick as our own, same the cache was a bit wet.

the container has one clip broken so has allowed water in. the container really needs to be replaced.

Easy find. Interesting spot.

I always wanted to come to this location but never ventured this direction. Thanks for this placement.

What a great spot, pic attached. Log damp tftc

enjoyed the find the area is lovely

Quick find, took TB

Interesting memorial! TFTC

Yet another one of our great pioneers who few people know of. TFTC

Found it at 2:05 PM, Small beginnings and what a long way to today's machines.

TFTC, Sallies!
Jim

Amazing that it actually flew! Intrepid aviator!

#3465
Interesting story! Never heard about this!
Thanks for the cache & greetings from Germany

[blue]spy_guy[/blue]

nice to have easy ones for the young kids. TFTC

Hadn't seen this monument before. Nice. Little Bairdy was more interested in climbing the wall to see what was on the other side, than the plane. TFTC, TNLN

Staying with sister in Waimate. We have placed some NW merchandice in some of the boxes please feel free to take them with you there are "Pin bages, Cards and Key rings"

Found this with no GPS and no hint, we just knew there would be cache here. Took the TB.



2012 Mega Event in the North West:
Cartmel Racecourse, South Lakeland, Cumbria: Saturday 11th August 2012. See www.mega2012.org.uk for the latest!

TFTC TNLN SL

We'd been hunting out brass rubbings around the area so this was a great find Well worth checking out the Timaru museum to read more about this great NZder. Finally dropped off the Travel Bug - it's travelled a long way before here.

Calling Qantas ground crew, prepare for take off?

If you want to find out a bit more read book The Riddle of Richard Pearse by Gordon Ogilvie

TFTC. What a fantastic monument to an amazing Kiwi that did manage to fly. He lived out his later years in Woolston, Christchurch. Great cache location.

took a local who had lived near by all their lives and didnt know the senary

Last visited July 2008; had to go back to visit again. Great memorial, worth the detour. TFTC.

Wonderful day to find, good easy find

This entry was edited by taskmaker on Wednesday, 27 July 2011 at 07:58:43 UTC.

10.05am. Dreamers dream dreams!! Mr JF has been interested in the early attempts at powered flight by Richard Pearce for a good long time and so it was satisfying to visit the location of this most historic event. Nice though this monument is they should do more to recognise the man behind this most extraordinary feat.
A fitting place for a cache which proved very straightforward to locate. It was our 1300th.!!
Dropped off a TB.
TFTC
M&P.

very cool. great spot you brought us to

Found with Mr B while on our caching adventure. On the way to Tekapo I spotted the memorial info signs and insisted that we should see if there was a cache there on our way back. So glad we came here, an awesome spot and an awesome man right up there with Rutherford and Sir Ed. The sun was just setting and there were some great cloud formations which made it a very special visit. To make for an even memorable visit I got a belt from the electric fence while trying to retrieve the cache - it was obviously shorting out somewhere and had made that section live - wow what a fright that gave me. TFTC.

Great reason to detour a little. Mr KE refused to go anywhere near the cache after checking the local electricity supply manually, and claimed I, his seniour, was more nimble to jump the fence. Go figure Fave point added - this is a must-do cache.

Fantastic. To think this thing flew....cool. Quick and easy find in the late mornings sunshine. Thanks for bringing us out here and reminding us that NZer's were the first to fly!....cheers.

This is interesting - I've been facinated by him for quite a while. Thank for bringing me here. TFTC #2063

What a great place to visit. The plane looks so crude and heavy to modern eyes. Thanks for geting us here.

Great spot. Never even thought about where this occured but glad to have had a cache as an excuse to stop. Will make a great photo with the new technology set against the old. TFTC

Checked the cache. Things were a bit messy so we have replace the logbook, pencil and geocaching notice.

Out on the back roads of Canterbury today with Les_Chercheurs enjoy the great views and having loads of fun caching .
TFTH Happy Cachin!!!

Took a trip from Canada to New Zealand to visit my brother and nephew over Christmas. Did some caching and was taken to some pretty amazing places. Thanks for the cache!

Easy find. A nice place for a memorial.

Retrived and covered with a stone

Haven't been out this way for years, what a nice memorial! TFTC

Interesting place. Always a shame the event wasn't better documented to over come Orville and Wright.

Great history, great countryside and an equally great setup by the side of the road. Thanks Sallies for the cache!

Flying is a bit of a passion for me so I found this site quite special thanks! A cache is always a bonus too!

I have always wanted to visit this site - now I have. Thanks Sallies

Great to come to the site I read about in Gordon Ogilvie's book!

The cache was lying in full view and had visit logged by a passerby. I've rehidden under some of the leaf litter / bark.

Took US quarter, left violet hair tie.

Amazing. The bizarre thing was that there was a helicopter spraying just down the road, so we were able to see both one of the origins and one of the outcomes of humankind’s desire to leave the ground. It was quite something to see the helicopter swooping in just about ground level – very challenging flying with fences and power-lines so close by. TNLN TFTC

It always amazes me that seemingly inconsequential places like these are the birthplace of something great, it is rather like Bert Munro and Oreti Beach.
I never knew of the existance of this area let alone the amazing monument to this individual.
There was just enough breeze to show me that this moves in addition to its marvelous construction.
We sure take a lot for granted these days when you compare planes of today with this basic machine.
Thanks
ernienz

I cannot see how this thing would have got off the ground. But still very impressive when you consider he didn't really know what he was doing.

Cheers.

Nice place for a landing a pity it was not a gentle one! TFTC

TFTC
nothing in or out

Found with Madiecacher

Found with the family, made a detour just for it..Thanks.

Easy find...

Out doing the rounds of local caches. Loved this location and took photos against an overcast sky. TFTC

Really loved this one, highly keen on the idea that Pearce was indeed the first. TFTC, great place for it and an awesome display at GZ

Thanks for taking us to this spot. Great flying contraption! Kids were impressed. had been camping in geraldine so decided to do a little local caching.

This cache had the "Oh WOW" factor. Stood there for a few minutes just soaking it up.

Many thanks. Fantastic

I love the diplomatic wording on the plaque- "First in the British Empire" or some such thing. I think it has been pretty well established now that he was first full stop hasn't it?

Amazing feat ... left a City of Prince Rupert pin ... TFTF geofran

Found while an entire bus load of visitors looked at the monument

Found this on the way to Timaru.One of the caches that was a must on my trip south

Good family find, TNSL.

we were all trying to get to the cache first, so the driver locked us in the car, and I told him to look to the left of the wall, then got to the cache first myself - sneaky aye? Had a laugh but the cache not covered at all, so have left it better hidden. Left keewee geotag geocoin GTJOON

left coin here

Easy find. Thanks!

I'm glad I finally made it to this place, very cool , good 'ol kiwi ingenuity eh?!!! Although beeing ANZAC day today you have to think how the ability of man to fly certaianly changed the face of war "Lest we forget". TFTC

#4 for the day. Great spot! Had heard about it, but never visited. Nice easy roadside stop - My Car needed it! TFTC.
-jet place
+cow eraser

I found this spot really cool. Thanks.

A quick find on a combined bookcrossing and geocaching trip

Very cool monument, didn't know of it so much appreciated the visit thank you.

Wouldn't have come here were it not for quick evening cache, and really appreciated the sculpture/monument. TFTC.

A bit of a mad fella this guy, a pity he didn't record his first flight in a more verifiable way. I've wondered where his monument was and now I've found it, thanks.

A pity I didn't read the description until I'd already jumped the fence. An appropriate cache after a week away flying too. And what was wierd, was getting home, to find a postcard of this exact spot on the table. TNLN, Thanks.

Great place to visit, thanks for bringing it to my attention. Very quick find - motivated by the puring rain maybe?