Original A1: It is with very deep regret that I say goodbye to this, my star cache. It has been in my cache stable for nearly 11 years now and from the first was intended to be one of those simple, but pretty evil hides.
Most logs reflected the spirit of the game and I have put regular updates and encouragement over the years. Fairly early on, it was suggested that it should be raised to D5 which I didn’t feel able to do because it would muck up others’ stats. I did even apparently say in 2014 that I would be happy to offer hints. I hadn’t remembered this when a recent visitor posted on a forum that they would soon be coming this way, so watch for a PACO. I replied saying I would be happy to do so for any of my others, BUT for this cache as the fun and challenge was in trying to find it.
Despite this, I received a call asking for help. As has been consistent when asked for help with it, I did not say where it was (I never have), but offered TWO hints, contrary to the DNF log. The line was very poor which meant I only heard about 1 word in 3, and that may of course in turn have meant that hearing me was equally poor.
The implication that I have been less than forthcoming in a generally friendly pursuit should be balanced with the knowledge that some caches are out there to offer a bit more of a test. This was one such. I have had many of these over the years which I have had to return to, and wanted to, because it was clear they weren’t going to be so easy. Two in mind are Yobbies? (found on the 8th visit) and Soo’s Revenge - PAF (at least 3 visits), but there are plenty more, sometimes a long way away. Some you win, some you walk away from, some you return to later. Personally, I love the challenge.
So in the end, I have made the reluctant decision to archive it, purely because I was alarmed to learn of the fact that the farmer might well drive into any cars parked in front of the gate, not to mention the damage created in the area by cachers seeking it. No-one should ever have to damage any GZ in their hunt; sometimes there’s a bit of inevitable fallout such as erosion, but damage to the gate and fencing? Not on. Nor for me is the suggestion that I replace it with a tupperware box nearby. The five original caches along this road were literally original in that they were all different from each other. In all due respect to tupperware boxes, they’re not usually particularly special. This cache was.
Thank you to all of you who have made the effort to find it over the years. Well done to all who persevered and succeeded; sorry to those who persevered and didn’t succeed. And thank you to all who were generous enough to offer it a Favourite Point. They were much-appreciated.