 Norseman Unplugged
A cache by Fiendish frogman Hidden: 3/2/2008
Size:  (Small) Difficulty:  Terrain: (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
Related Web Page
|
|
Please note: To use the services of geocaching.com, you must agree to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.
|
A straight forward location that can be used as a simple
“cache and dash” effort or extended southwards towards
Warsash along the banks of the River Hamble for a more pleasant
walk, perhaps stopping off at the marina cafe around the headland?
The paths are simple and suitable for walkers, bikes and buggies
but the cache requires a bit of a scramble close to the
water’s edge – children should be under supervision.
The site is best viewed at low tide.
Start your trip by parking at the free car park in Swanwick Shore
Road, Lower Swanwick, (for location see below).
From here walk towards the information boards, look at the details
about the shipwreck – these will be shown to be WRONG.
Make your way to the cache site taking care to guard your
activities from the many walkers etc. (Please take care to replace
the cache exactly as found to enhance the fun for the people
following you).
Once found turn your attention towards the river. At low tide you
will see a series of planks in the mud – doesn’t look
too promising does it? However, research by the Fiendish Frogman
has shown that this all that remains of a once proud top masted
schooner known as the “Norseman”. This was built at
C&R Poillon of Brooklyn New York in 1881 (not 1847 as shown on
the information boards) for a local multi-millionaire called Ogden
Goelet. The yacht was raced successfully in America for some
fifteen years before his death in 1897. Somewhere between 1916 and
1917 the yacht was registered with Lloyds of London and in 1925
registered in Southampton where she was converted to a houseboat.
During WWII she was moored at Hamble where she spent her time as a
brothel, frequented by soldiers and sailors seeking
“comfort”. After the war the “Norseman”
moved to her present location where she was gutted by fire in 1947.
A local resident, living close by to this day, saved a woman and
baby from the flames. The “baby”, now grown to middle
age, returned some years ago to show the resident his
children.
The remains of the yacht have been ravaged by fire, tide, weather
and people using the wreck as a source of firewood. However, it has
now been adopted under the Nautical Archaeology Society scheme and
it is hoped to increase our knowledge of this site by further
research.
For more information about the wreck please take a look at the
Norseman Wreck website (visit link)
Please do NOT attempt to approach the wreck, the mud is VERY deep
and you WILL sink!!
Other than that I hope you have a great time exploring the banks of
the River Hamble
|
|
|
Additional Hints (Decrypt)
Yvar hc fbyne cbfg va evire naq abegu raq bs terra furq ba bccbfvgr onax, va ynetr "ebpx" ba onax(Decrypted Hints)
Find...
Norseman in sail
Just to show the wreck didn't alway look as it does now. This was the "Norseman" in her heyday!
The "Norseman"
If you arrive at low tide this is what you'll see. At high tide you may only see a small "stick" poking up.
Built in 1881 the "Norseman" was once a fine top-masted schooner that eventually became a houseboat and brothel before finally catching fire where it can be seen now.....
138 
5 
5 
1 
4
Warning. Spoilers may be included in the descriptions or links.
Cache find counts are based on the last time the page generated.
There are more logs. View Them All on One Page
Current Time: 2/9/2010 11:28:41 PM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (7:28 AM GMT)
Last Updated: 2/9/2010 6:10:58 AM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (2:10 PM GMT)
Rendered: From Database
Coordinates are in the WGS84 datum
