#15 in the Newport Canal series
Jabiru Canal opens out into a lake bordered by Spinnaker Blvd & Lakeview Promenade giving water access to houses on Thistle Court, Wildfire Court and Constance Court. Deep water access is via Albatross canal and out into Moreton Bay.
Thistle was a 33m Scottish cutter that was the unsuccessful challenger of the 7th America's Cup yacht race in 1887 against the American defender, Volunteer. Thistle was designed by George Lennox Watson and built at the D&W Henderson shipyard in Partick on the River Clyde, of all-metal construction, with a teak deck. Thistle was built under conditions of great secrecy during the winter of 1886-7 and launched with her hull covered by a huge canvas. After winning or placing second in 13 of 15 Scottish regattas in her first year afloat, Thistle sailed to New York. Skippered by John Barr, she lost both Cup races and returned to Scotland in September 1887. John Barr's younger brother, Charlie Barr was also a crew member who, after emigrating to the United States, went on to achieve success skippering three consecutive successful America's Cup defenders.
Following a few very successful years racing in Britain, Thistle was sold to the German emperor Wilhelm II in 1891 for 90,000 gold marks and renamed Meteor. Between 1892 and 1895 Wilhelm II raced against the Britannia owned by his uncle the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII each year at the Cowes Week races. Being a more experienced yachtsmen and having the faster ship Edward won all the races comfortably. In 1895, Meteor was handed over to the German Navy in Wilhelmshaven as a school yacht and renamed Comet. In 1921, the vessel was broken up.
The Jabiru or Black-necked Stork is the only species of stork that occurs in Australia. Its neck has an iridescent green-and-blue sheen, rather than black. In northern Australia, the species is traditionally called the Jabiru, but this is not an Indigenous name, as is often supposed, but is a Brazilian name which refers to a totally different species of stork which occurs in South and Central America. The Black-necked Stork is restricted mainly to coastal and near-coastal areas of northern and eastern Australia. Throughout the monsoonal areas of northern Australia, the Black-necked Stork is still widespread, but fewer numbers appear southwards to eastern Australia. The Black-necked Stork feeds on fish, small crustaceans and amphibians. Most prey is caught by the bird jabbing and seizing it with its large bill. Some food is caught by lunging forward with a large stride or by leaping into the air.
The original cache was of a type that looks like a natural part of its environment, hidden in plain sight. Version #2 less natural but covered in natural rubble. Use your geocaching stealth as always. There may be muggles walking along the nearby path at any moment.