Credit River - Alf Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

res2100: Time to make room for some new caches.

More
Hidden : 8/18/2013
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
4.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Related Web Page

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:


Credit River - Shipwreck Series

Alf
 November 23, 1909



There are many shipwrecks around the world. Some very famous and others not so. Each however has it’s own story to tell. As you travel along the Credit River doing this series of caches, we have highlighted a number of these shipwrecks. During low water levels on these parts of the Credit River, you need to be careful in a canoe or kayak so as you don’t wind up in your own shipwreck. Besides the many large rocks along the way, there are also some other obstacles such as dams which should be avoided. All of the geocaches in this series have been placed by tubing, inflatable boat or on foot by walking in the water along the Credit River. Whichever way you choose to search for these caches, use caution and common sense.
More information about this series can be found here: Credit River - Shipwreck Series

Alf
Alf was a three-masted Norwegian barque which became stranded and then wrecked on 23 November 1909 on Haisbro Sands, off the coast of Norfolk. She was originally built in 1876 as Inchgreen for Scottish owners. In the 1890s she was sold to Danish owners and renamed Adolph Harboe. Around the turn of the 20th century she was sold to Norwegian owners and renamed Alf, serving until she was wrecked off the coast of Norfolk.

The Alf had crossed the North sea from Porsgrunn in Norway with a cargo of timber. She was heading for the port city of Liverpool with a crew of fifteen men aboard, including captain Orberg. On Tuesday 23 November 1909, Alf had reached the north east coast of Norfolk in good time but it was now dark, foggy and very cold. The master was unable to locate the Haisbro light vessel with the consequence that his ship ploughed into the Haisborough sands three miles (5 km) south-east of the Haisbro Light vessel. Captain Orberg soon realized he could do nothing to get the ship off the sand and that the only course of action was to abandon Alf. He ordered that the ship’s boats be launched to get himself and his crew clear of the sandbank. The first mate was ordered to take charge of the port boat whilst the captain would take the starboard boat. The first mate was about to board his boat with the second mate close behind when a wave caught the boat and flung it away from the ship, breaking its tethers and leaving the two men clinging to the wreck of the Alf.

There was no hope of the two small boats getting back alongside the barque and the two men watched as the two boats with the thirteen crewmen aboard drifted away out of their sight. With the first mate still on the wreck, the ship's carpenter had taken charge of the port boat. The boat had got into difficulties only a hundred yards from the Alf when a wave caught the boat capsizing it, and throwing the men inside into the cold sea. The captain in the starboard boat was nearby and saw the disaster and was soon rescuing the men in the sea. The small boat, struggling with the conditions, was unable to save three of the sailors, who drowned, but managed to save the other six men. There were now ten men in the boat and they drifted, barely afloat, until dawn, when the fog cleared. A couple of miles from Cromer, the men were picked up by the ship Chanticleer who took them to Great Yarmouth. One of the men who had been pulled from the capsized boat was suffering from extreme hypothermia and died before reaching Great Yarmouth.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ghor unatvat 7 srrg hc ba n prqne gerr gung vf ng gur rqtr bs gur jngre.

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)


Advertising with Us