Sailing with Ben Traditional Cache
bonaccordians: too many muggles.. moving from sydney...
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This was our launch point for many a Monday night sailing adventure,
Dust off your time machines and meet us here. Bring a snack and a jumper.
Exactly 10 years ago, I would meet Ben here every Monday night at sunset. No matter what the weather, we would inflate the dinghy, climb down the wall (there is a tiny beach here at low tide) and paddle out to the old family sailboat.
Built of plywood in the early 1960's, a 22.5ft Bluebird class sloop. She had no engine or electrics and we would rely on the wind alone and kerosene lamps to take us on many a nighttime sortie. Ben was my nephew, 16 years my junior.
He was also my best friend. Sailing at night was one of his favourite things. We would chase the fickle midnight breeze and drink big mugs of hot tea with powdered milk and honey. I would bring a big bag of date waffles which I'd cooked up at home. If you pulled the waffle apart each segment was heart-shaped. I remember Ben would make fun of them and question their manliness. Telling stories or just listening to the water the hours would pass. Many times we would sail or drift until the sun would start to rise.
By this time the wind had completely died and we would either paddle or drift back to our mooring. (We also lived through some southerly 'smokers').. Sometimes we'd drop anchor in a quiet bay and sleep until noon on Tuesday. This cache is a kindof memorial to him and our magical sailing adventures as sadly Ben is no longer with us. The old sailboat can still be seen on google earth from above (it has a blue canvas cover). It can also be seen in this photo on the right hand side.
(visit link)
The cache itself is a small translucent plastic screw top container. It contains nautical related swaps as well as photos of our adventures and a brief newly discovered short story by Ben himself. Stealth will be required as this is a highly trafficked area. The sandstone wall is the border between land and sea. You must cross the border to find the cache but no need to get your feet wet.
[footnote: Ben took his own life on Sunday 11th May 2003, Mothers Day. He was 28 years old.]
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
va yvar jvgu rqtr bs haqrejngre ebpx cyngsbez