Coastguard Cliffhanger Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Long Man: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.

If you wish to email me please send your email via my profile (click on my name) and quote the cache name and number.

Andy
Long Man
Volunteer UK Reviewer - geocaching.com
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Hidden : 4/25/2011
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
DO NOT CROSS CLIFF BARRIER.
Be safe geocaching. You are responsible for your own actions.

Traditional. # 8 of a walk along the coasts of Broadstairs & Ramsgate, loosely following Viking Trail. Cache is small, ‘camouflaged’ bottle. STEALTH REQUIRED. Area observed from many angles and is used by dog-walkers.
PLEASE REPLACE WITH ALL DUE CARE. It must not be in sight, in case passing muggles are tempted to investigate. Please check wire before throwing back.

LONG DESCRIPTION:
DO NOT CROSS THE CLIFF BARRIER.
Please remember that you need to be safe at all times while geocaching and you are responsible for your own actions.

This is # 8 of a set of caches placed along the coast of Broadstairs and Ramsgate, loosely following part of the Viking Cycle Trail. (visit link) It is a simple, traditional cache. The difficulty rating is due to the number of muggles in the area and the care needed to retrieve and replace the container.

To the North is Louisa Bay in Broadstairs. To the South is the King George VI memorial park in Ramsgate. But we are at the South Cliff Parade at Dumpton Gap. So why here…?

It is possible to walk along the beach from Broadstairs to Ramsgate. However, near Dumpton the importance of the coastguard and the dangers of the sea can be brought to mind. At sea level you find that the protected walkway disappears and instead you can walk in the sand along the lovely bays between Ramsgate and Broadstairs. However, there are dangers...

The cliffs are subject to severe erosion from weather and tide. The boulders strewn on the beach floor should be enough of a clue to not get too close. While the rock is soft, heads are softer! (A little animation of undercutting for younger geocachers… (visit link) )

There are lots of small caves dug into the rock made by the waves and you can just imagine smugglers using these.
(An animation of caves becoming stacks… (visit link) )

The bays are fascinating and it is tempting to stay for a while; but herein lies the next danger. As the tide advances, the bays are the last areas that it gets to. Before it reaches them, the advancing sea cuts off the exits at both Broadstairs and Ramsgate; meaning the unsuspecting sunbather could get stranded. With no way up the dangerous cliff and no safety in the caves (which were made by the sea after all). What can you do?

I am sure that I don’t need to tell seasoned geocachers in that boy scout or girl guide way to… be prepared!
We all know…
Before starting, check to see whether the tide is advancing or retiring. (If it is going out then you have a lot of time as you get high tides roughly twice a day.) You could check the high tide times if you are being really careful (the coastguard also usually display these). When you see lots of rubble on the ground, you can be fairly sure that the cliff edge is falling away and poses a danger overhead. When you see caves, you can be pretty sure that the waves cover the entire area at high tide and undercut the cliff. A mobile phone is always useful (but may not always work near cliffs). In short read the signs. Man-made and natural!

This is where the theme of the cache comes in. Each year coastguards rescue people in situations like these, cut off by an advancing tide; stuck on dangerous cliffs; hurt by cliff falls; or injured from diving into shallow water. Most of the time we think of the coastguard rescuing boats in stormy seas; or intercepting contraband; but this is only part of their heroic job.

So – to the cache…
DO NOT CROSS THE CLIFF BARRIER.
The cache is a small, plastic, ‘camouflaged’ bottle. It is attached by garden wire to the fence and may be pulled into view from safety. Please take care when returning the cache. (Please check the condition of the wire as well.) A gentle throw or swing should return it – out of sight. However, if you can still see the cache, pull it back in and try again. We don’t want to tempt any passing, unsuspecting muggles to cross the barrier in order to investigate the cache. Many thanks.

MAX STEALTH REQUIRED as the area can be observed from many angles and is used by dog-walking muggles.

It would be great if any swaps could have a coastguard related theme where possible.

When placed, the cache contained:
Pencil and Log Book
Compass to avoid getting lost
Toy karabiner for intrepid climbers
Padlock for any treasure you may find
And a medal for all those heroes out there!
FTF may take any of the above without replacing.

*** Congratulations - GOURANGA - FTF 26th April 2011 ***

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Clue 1] – Fvg n juvyr gb rawbl gur ivrj. [Clue 2] – N tbbq pyvzore znxrf fher f/ur vf gvrq ba frpheryl. [Clue 3] – Ner lbh svfuvat gb erry va nabgure pyhr? [Clue 4] – Lbh ner ybbxvat sbe n zna bs npgvba. [Sorry! No more clues. Email if you think you were in the right place but it is missing. Thanks.]

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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