My Nemesis Cache

[+Foinavon]

It's a bit of a long story this one! I now have a modest 245 finds and about 30 DNF's,of these trips I have enjoyed nearly all of them. There are about only 3 when I have wondered why the hider bothered but even these where very quick finds so it really didn't matter that the hider saw something in these places that I didn't.

 

And then there is this cache., my nemesis. Its the only cache I have attempted three times. I have climbed over fences, gone through peoples gardens, been berated by other caches for moaning about it, its given me guilt trips and now its at it again,over this Easter holiday it gave me my worst caching experience to date, and I still haven't found it!

 

It all started when I was new to Geocaching. I come from the East side of Bolton, the opposite side to the caching metropolis of Horwich. This was one of the few caches in this area and it was and still is one of the oldest caches in Bolton. Nobody had attempted it for a while and I go past this spot every week on my way to my parent's house so it wasn't long before I had a go at it. The only apparent way in was over a fence as the gate was padlocked. I noticed that most of the recent finders had vaulted over the fence to get it. I had my little lad with me so I didn't want do do this. I (wrongly) assumed that the only way to get to the cache had been taken away and posted a Should Be Archived. This was a bit hasty as the notes did say another way in, another cacher Thespian came on and berated me saying that he had checked it recently and it was fine. I felt a bit foolish and so I decided to go for it again with the intention of posting an apology. However once again it went belly up. The footpath seemed to take me through somebodys garden and when I got to the cache it was just a box full of rainwater. I felt somewhat annoyed, not because it had been muggled but because Thespian had been clearly been fibbing. There was no way he could have checked it a few days ago as he said because it was full of rainwater and it hadn't rained for weeks. I didn't want to go back through anybodys front garden so I vaulted over the fence. My DNF report was a bit of a rant. A few other cachers came on agreeing with me saying that it should be archived but a different opinion was voiced by mongoose who said that our comments where over the top. Well I thought about this and sometimes you forget its just a hunt for a Tupperware Box, maybe Tony had a point. I then found out that Mr Underhill the hider was a child and Thespian was his uncle. I did feel rather bad then, I have kids myself and when they are old enough I would love the thought of them placing caches at places that mean a lot to them. The cache was under threat of being archived so I posted an apology for being so grumpy and asked if Mr Underhill could replace it.

 

Nothing happend and it was archived. That was that I thought, but then to my surprise at the beginning of March it reappeared in a slightly different location , "less contraversial" as Mr Underhill put it. This was my chance to finally put this one to bed, find it, and write a nice happy log thanking Mr Underhill for his efforts. So on a sunny Easter day I set of with my little lad George (aged 4) with the aim of bagging it.

 

I suppose that when you arrive at the start of the walk and you see a sign that says "Private Keep Off" you know it might not be a good trip. However I was still hopeful as the sign was referring to the recommended parking area not the place where the arrow was pointing. Then it went from bad to worse, we had to contend with Rusty Oil Drums, Discarded Tyres, lots and lots of litter, barbed wire strewn around, thorns and brambles everywhere. This was all within 100ft of the coordinates. My heart sank and I knew it was going to be another Near Nana's experience for me. George was getting scratched and hurt but going back would make us have to go through it all again so I pressed on in the hope of finding an easier exit further on. I tried to have a look around but it was hard going due to all the mess that was around. Then I heard George crying and he'd taken a tumble and fallen in a quagmire. He was completley covered in mud , I had to get him out of there. There was no way I was going back through all that again so yet again it was a case of a vault over the fence. I then had to take him to his grandparents wondering if he would ever want to go caching with me again and how I would explain the fact that their Grandson was was crying, badly scratched and covered in mud. All this from a cache that has a "child friendly" icon on it. I haven't actually logged a DNF and I am not sure if I want to because

 

(i) I don't want the owner or his family to think I have some kind of grudge against them because I don't.

(ii) If you looked at this cache its mostly my logs. It may give the impression that I am moaning git (and I'm not!).

(iii) There is part of me that realises that you cache at your own risk and I am the one responsible for my kids. If I choose to take them to a place like this then its my fault.

(iv) I am the only cacher that has attempted this one in over a year (apart from ferreter38 who appears to have given up caching after having the misfortune to make this his second trip) and I still wonder if there is some easy way in that I have missed. The way its described gives you no indication of whats in store, so have I missed something? I will be interested to see what others make of it.

 

So this is my DNF log here. Its not a nice place for a cache.

Edited April 8, 2007 by Foinavon

[nobby.nobbs]

aint caching fun!!!

 

i think we've all got one, we just don't have the guts to admit it!

[+drsolly]

My Nemesis cache was Span Span Span Span

 

It's a footbridge over a very busy motorway. It has firm footing, high railings, and is totally safe.

 

But you try telling that to the terrified little monkey inside me. Just thinking about it, even now, gives me sweaty hands.

 

We went for it the first time, and I forced myself out onto the bridge, because I don't think it's good to give in to irrational fears, because I think if you do, then they spread onto more areas and take up more of your life. It's partly the height, partly the narrowness of the bridge, and partly the constant steam of traffic passiing by below - but I would like to emphasise, it is totally safe, you could take a toddler there.

 

So we searched and searched, and after several minutes, I couldn't take it any more, and went back to the apparent safety of the side of the bridge. Then I forced myself out again, and still no luck. So we gave up and I recorded a DNF.

 

We went back again. Same fears, same lack of success.

 

Then the watch I had on it, said that it had been muggled (actually, I think it's more likely it got blown away). And the cache setter replaced it.

 

And so a third time I ventured out on the bridg with ladysolly (she also doesn't like heights, but not as badly as I don't). And this time, we got a find, ladysolly located it, I retreived it, signed the log, and scurried back to the "safety" of the footpath.

 

Nemesis conquered!

[+Stuey]

How about asking if the cache owner and his Uncle would like to meet you at the recommended parking one day and do the cache with you? That way they should get to know that you are a nice person and appreciate your concerns about the cache.

 

Just had another thought.... it's not been set with a GPSr on the wrong datum has it? That would put the cache hundreds of metres away....

[+Foinavon]

Now that I would like to see, it would be a case of "After You"! I did wonder if he left it as a booby trap, thinking I would be the only person daft enough to try and find it! They haven't done any caching themselves for over three years now.

 

How about asking if the cache owner and his Uncle would like to meet you at the recommended parking one day and do the cache with you? That way they should get to know that you are a nice person and appreciate your concerns about the cache.

 

Just had another thought.... it's not been set with a GPSr on the wrong datum has it? That would put the cache hundreds of metres away....

[+Carlos & The Birdie Crew]

I may be in Bolton later this week and am intruiged by this so I (if I get time) volunteer to go and search and report independantly on this thread.

Carlos

[+SidAndBob]

I visited a cache a couple of weeks ago which turned out to be created by a child. I have no problem at all with that, but the parents need to vet the cache responsibly. I ended up in what can best be described as a pretty unsavoury place and that was after counting graffiti on trees etc - not my idea of fun. The parents emailed me and took my comments on board. I find it frustrating that most cachers are happy to write TFTC even when it's clearly a very poor cache. Added to this the previous visitor had logged a find when they had not found the cache (it appears to have gone again) - so it was a right waste of time.

[+Geotrotters]

They haven't done any caching themselves for over three years now.

 

 

After receiving a recent email off Thespian (Mr Underhills uncle) it appears they do actually still cache but under different caching names.

 

They do have other caches out there but Oscars Prowl was Thespians first cache and, I presume, Near Nana's was Mr Underhills first.

 

I have thought of going to find Near Nana's in it's new location to make it a "proper" find at some point but not sure when i'll get around to it.

[+Foinavon]

If you look at Thespian's profile he has a link to his personal webpage where he states his other hobbies. It turns out he's a naturist! Well I think I am going to ask him to find this cache in the buff, he might then view thorns and barbed wire in a slightly different light.

 

Having said all this, geocachers must be getting back to nature kind of people. How about a nudist event, any one interested? Or maybe we can all turn up to Lollybob's forthcomming Golborne event in our birthday suits?

 

 

They haven't done any caching themselves for over three years now.

 

 

After receiving a recent email off Thespian (Mr Underhills uncle) it appears they do actually still cache but under different caching names.

 

They do have other caches out there but Oscars Prowl was Thespians first cache and, I presume, Near Nana's was Mr Underhills first.

 

I have thought of going to find Near Nana's in it's new location to make it a "proper" find at some point but not sure when i'll get around to it.

[+Carlos & The Birdie Crew]

 

Was the finding of this cache a challenge??

Nope, very easy although the area has some severe industrial waste dotted about. 200 litre drums and the like

The building works access road was where I chose to park and a quick walk in the wood, staying near the road until at the coords. I returned to the car via the pavement 12 metres away.

The small cache looks brand new and in a camo bag. Signed the log without disturbance.

 

Get this off your Nemesis lists as soon as possible

 

Cheers Carlos

[+Foinavon]

Right you went from the building site. You see I didn't because of this "private, keep off" sign, did you see that sign at all? To be fair it would not have been there when Mr Underhill reanabled it because I think the works are new, and Temple Road is a public highway I am not sure what rights they have to stick such a sign at the entrance to it. It was due to this sign I took the route I did and ended up in the mess I described. I just don't have any luck with this one. Maybe I should attempt it for a 4th time on my own.

 

 

Was the finding of this cache a challenge??

Nope, very easy although the area has some severe industrial waste dotted about. 200 litre drums and the like

The building works access road was where I chose to park and a quick walk in the wood, staying near the road until at the coords. I returned to the car via the pavement 12 metres away.

The small cache looks brand new and in a camo bag. Signed the log without disturbance.

 

Get this off your Nemesis lists as soon as possible

 

Cheers Carlos

[+Carlos & The Birdie Crew]

The building site road has gates/fence about 25m into the road so I pulled up there outside the gate. My arrow was pointing 90 degrees to the right as I was facing the gates so I headed of that way. I understand that the coords have changed so I must have struck lucky.

Hope to see your log soon.

Cheers Carlos