Today was a great day as we accomplished two new cache types – a puzzle and a letterbox.  We started with the puzzle GC112P8 Crossing the T (Auckland).  The puzzle was a easy one to solve (and it has to be easy for us to solve!), and the cache was easy too with a spot-on hint.  It’s another one of those moments when you go “geesh never knew a park was here!”.

Next stop, our first letterbox GC1789W Mam, Upsize my Three Streams cache please?!(Akld).  Reading the recent logs they said the track was walkable but needs to be maintained.  Hmm so when we reached the “No Crossing” barrier we went ahead – but carefully!

Then we found the rickety bridge – oh dear!  I think the problem was the big trees falling down and hitting the bridge.

I sent Kev on the bridge first, he’s heavier than me, so if he doesn’t fall, I’ll be alright lol.

The bridge stayed intact so I carefully went over.  We were at GZ so started searching.  It took us awhile (we were at the wrong end) but there was no one we were going to leave without finding it – not only was it a letterbox cache, I didn’t want to return!  Kev found it and now we have an elusive letterbox cache!

Later that night, it was a FTF run.  We quickly went off to GC28WEN Water Baby Cache. (Auckland) when we were notified to another one, GC28Y59 Bridge NE1? (Auckland).  We continued going to the Water Baby Cache and we turned up to see rosmar and trav004 – familiar faces.  They were still hunting when we joined in.  Kev Snr was on the edge of the ledge when he stepped over a branch.  He put his weight on his other leg – which was in mid air, and of course he fell a meter down on the concrete path – don’t worry, the torch was still ok!

After a good five minute searching, rosmar did it!  We were so lucky we were here with them as it was such a sneaky hide!  Best thing of it, we were able to claim it as a joint FTF, yay!

We decided to take off to the next one over in Te Atatu GC28Y59 Bridge NE1? (Auckland).  As expected when we got there it was too late.  We found it just in time before the rain came, another easy find with a great sea view.

That was the end of a great geocaching day!

It’s Friday night and we’re off for a FTF!  Kev Snr and nephew Dion jumped in and came along to GC27Q2E Nanoland Park in Teatatu (Auckland).  When we arrived we noticed a group of familiar faces, yet another FTF out of our reach.  Kev stayed back to have a chat with them while Kev Snr, Dion and I went looking.  Across the road we heard yells we had past it.  Narrowing in on GZ we could see what the hint mentioned and found the cache.  Kev mentioned to the group about our struggle with GC1M7VN Peninsular Unpuzzled (Auckland).  They said it was there, gave a hint, so we decided to give it a go.  This time around we found it – finally!  Feeling unbeatable we decided to go for the next one GC1W54Z Peninsula Unpuzzled Again (Auckland).  The walk was much more than we expected, and going in the dark maybe a bit unwise as we just couldn’t find it – we now have a new nemesis! People are still finding this cache, so it’s definitely there, so will go another day but in daylight!

On the way to our favourite hot pools in Parakai – Palm Springs, we decided to take our nephews Dion (12) and Joshua (9) out for a geocache.  We found one on the way to the pools GC1MD5Y Maggie (Auckland).  As it was night time, there was no one around so we could look with no muggles in sight.  We let the boys go for it and with some suggestions where to look, they had it in no time.  That’s another reason we love geocaching, it is family friendly, and now the boys want to go for more.

Kev and I are really enjoying the hunt for nearby FTF’s and it’s a great way to meet other cachers as you often bump into the same people.  We received the text and took off to GC28K0T K9 Cordaline (Te Atatu, Auckland).  Tonight we were late again for the FTF and we arrived just as kiwicouple were returning the cache – so making it a real nice easy find!  This location looked absolutely picture at night time with all the bright lights from the city there for us to enjoy.

We were out in New Lynn for breakfast and noticed there was a geocache just up the road from us.  It was still early in the day so not many shoppers out who needed to park by the cache, so was a quick easy find with no muggles to disturb us – GC25K9D Hiding in the Heart of New Lynn (Auckland).

We went off grocery shopping and pulled into our driveway when we received the notification text of a new cache out in Greenhithe GC28HJF Horsing around (Greenhithe, Auckand).  We tooted for Kev Snr to jump into the car and we took off.  We found the location and went hunting.  We searched and searched and just couldn’t find it.  I was waiting for someone else to turn up to find it and we would claim a joint FTF but no one did.  A man on his bike with two small children interrupted our search, the owner of the cache!  With a point to the right direction we found it and we logged a FTF!  Nice meeting the owner too!

Heading back home to unload the shopping, after a short break we decided to find the Te Atatu cache that was published yesterday GC28HC7 What Wharf? Te Atatu North (Auckland).  A quick find and we left to travel bugs.

Next stop was our nemesis GC1M7VN Peninsular Unpuzzled (Auckland).  When we posted a DNF some others had found it after us, so it was time to get it.  We searched and searched and yet again we couldn’t find it, we were not happy!  We returned home defeated.

Later that night, our phone buzzed with a new cache back out in Te Atatu GC28K5Z Be Guided. Te Atatu North ( Auckland).  We quickly took off, but as we approached GZ we spied another geocachers car leaving -  no FTF for this one.  We were greeted by kiwicouple and we found it together.

(A post from Kev)

We decided to go off to the Hamilton WWF GC24JAC which was caught on video and now available on the YouTube site. OMG Fame at last !

Kev, Kev Snr and Ann (Mum and Dad) all attended the Hamilton event while I was still in Wellington at a three day conference.  They had loads of fun and I’m sad I missed it all (well not at missing out on the dancing!).  While down there it was a rainy day but they managed to get a few caches out of the way:

GCMJ1D Rocky Horror (Hamilton, Waikato)

GC1MVYT Just another Rose (Waikato) which had a fantastic disguised cache but Kev and Kev Snr were familiar with the type so managed to find it without any hassles.

GC25HK8 The Cache With No Name (Waikato)

GCRGTD Byrne Park (Waikato)

They also went searching for GC25HKD What’s the Time (Waikato) and posted a DNF.  Another geocacher posted a DNF and the owner confirmed it has been muggled and he will rearrange an replacement cache.

I arrived home after 7pm and a little later on we received the notification of a new cache.  It was in Greenhithe so not that far from us.  Once seeing the title GC28HJB "Speedy Gonzales" Greenhithe (Auckland) I knew exactly where it was as I used to live on the nearby street.  We quickly got in the car and zoomed there.  It was an easy find as we have seen a similar cache elsewhere and yes, we were FTF!  Just as we were entering in the find on the iphone another geocacher turned up to find it – lucky for us we bet him!

I had an appointment at North Shore Hospital, so when I was done, we went to the nearby cache GC1000T BLAST FROM THE PAST-2 (Auckland).  We were lucky to get a parking right next to it and no one was around being a busy weekend day.  We were in and out after a couple of minutes, nice easy cache, the one and only for the day.

Saturday 8th May 2010

I have a friends wedding to attend at Matakana at 2pm, so Kev and I have booked accommodation at Snells Beach and plan on doing some geocaching.  On our drive up we started with GC233G4 "That B" cache.  Where I thought the cache was meant to be, I found a hornets nest.  I was marvelling at what a sneaky disguise, so realistic and decided to find a stick first to poke it just to make sure.  Luckily we use the iphone with the geocaching app on it, so when I read the latest logs, noticed someone said watch out for the wasp’s nest on the opposite side of the cache.  Aha, I was on the wrong side and phew I didn’t poke the hornets nest!  Once on the right side, the cache was easily found – no catastrophe!

Next was GC24ZAA Donalds Place (Auckland).  This was a lovely walk and finally a clue which I knew what the tree looked like!  As I was closing in to the location, I spotted an man picking up and moving branches.  I rolled my eyes, imagining this must be a hard find, and asked him if he was geocaching.  After a blank stare and a “what?” response, he said he was finding firewood.  I smiled, nodded and carried on.  Once he was out of sight, I spotted the trees I needed to go to, and quickly found the cache.

Still plenty of the time before the wedding so went to GC1T2CP Sesquicentennial walk (Auckland).  Kev decided to stay in the car, so it was up to me.  Another nice easy find as I had an idea what type of disguise it would be.  Took a photo of myself with the river in the background – often have to take my own photo as Kev is in charge of looking after the car!

Stopping off at the Warkworth Reserve, Kev joined me for a walk to GC19XHY Ruins in the Park (Auckland).  After searching for awhile then realising the correct location, we zipped off and quickly found it.  What a great interesting site!

Noticing there was another cache in the Reserve, I took off while Kev went back to the car – GC197EE The Matai Twins (Auckland).  After zigzagging all over the Reserve I finally found the location.  As I spent 40 minutes (30 more minutes more than necessary!) I only had a quick time to look as the wedding was fast approaching.  Unfortunately I wasn’t able to locate the cache, maybe it has been muggled as two people before me also couldn’t find it, and it hasn’t been found since.

A little panicking as I spent too much time looking, we quickly went off to our accommodation so I could quickly get ready.  Kev dropped me off at Ascensions Vineyard and he went off to get two more caches GC25MPY Where to catch a Sub? (Auckland) and GC25MPV A Chi Kie Little cache Auckland).  Nice for Kev to contribute to Kevsteam (hehe).

Sunday 9th May 2010

After breakfast at the Sandspit Cafe, we went to GC1X0RK Hauraki Lookout (Auckland).  It was an overcast and drizzly day so the view was not as a speculator as a sunny day.  After looking at the view, I took the shortcut to the cache – just managing to squeeze between the fence!  Not too hard to find this one.

Lucky it was a rainy day as it meant less people at our next spot, the popular Goat Island Marine Reserve.  The cache was nicely place in a open location which on a normal busy day would be hard to retrieve, but with hardly anyone around we got it in no time – GC22VJX Goat Island Bay Marine Reserve. (NORTHLAND).  We even managed to swap travel bugs.

The next cache was a bit tricky as we searched and searched at the wrong location – GC23001Lews Bay cache (Auckland).  After reading the recent logs, we realised we were not the only ones.  When we went to the proper spot we quickly found it.

We were back at Matakana and stopped at GC1KC3C Matakana Presents– (Auckland).  What a beautiful little spot!  Again an easy find as no one was about. 

Just up the road was GC20F84 Flashback to the Silence (Auckland).  A clever hide and Kev even managed to get into the photo!

Time to start heading back to Auckland, so we had a quick lunch in Warkworth at Pizza Co – very yummy and cosy restaurant.

Finally cache of the day, somewhere we often drive pass but never got a closer look was GC1YKEK Incoming transmission (Auckland).  Fantastic location – empty, quiet and beautiful.  In no time I spotted it, and it was time to go home – another great weekend geocaching!

Friday – May 7th 2010

Kev and I were sitting at home this Friday evening when I phone texted us saying there was a new cache published.  We quickly jumped in the car with Kev Snr and went to the location.  We had a good 5 minutes of searching before we were joined by Rosmar.  Rosmar found the cache but logged it as a joint FTF – which we were happy to accept!  Our first FTF – yay!!!!!!