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Gotta get this off my chest before…
I gotta cache, well had a cache called NEMESIS #12 For Those About to Rock that went missing this past week. Now, normally when a cache goes missing, I just chalk it up to nature, or muggles. I’ve had my cache of the year go missing on three or more occasions, and it didn’t bother me much. But this one stings.
The cache was placed on a cannon in Penoyer Park on Kenosha’s lake front. It’s been there for more than a year. I made the cache by hand. It was a 13/16 square headed bolt which isn’t made anymore. At least I couldn’t find one. The cannon has been missing this bolt for years, causing internal damage to the recoils. So placing this cache was in part, also restoring it, and preventing further damage.
I made seven or eight trips back and forth to this cannon over a period of two and 1/2 months trying my best to match not just the color of the black paint, but the fading, scratching and even the rust. This after much machining of the hex headed bolt to make it square. I first primed it, then painted the rust layer. Then, I primed again, everywhere but where the rust was painted, matching the primer of the cannon. Then the black layers went on, I think 5 or 6 to get the thickness just right. I went back and forth to the cannon several times for this step. Next I dull coated it, let it set for a week, and started the scuffing process. A few more trips to the cannon. Last, I went for detail, taking little chips out of the paint in layers, and then smoothing the edges. Lastly, I heated in the oven to cure and harden the paint, then let it sit in the direct sun for about three weeks to get the fading right, and when it looked just right, I hit it with a shot of matt finish to protect it.
So, as you can guess, it looked like it belonged on the cannon. Most everyone, if not everyone, had a terrible time finding it. I know one local with 6 hours in before it was found.
So, when I found out last week that it was muggled, I was surprised to say the least. This bolt wasn’t just lightly screwed on, I put some thread sealer just at the top of the bolt, so that when it got screwed down most of the way, the sealer would grab and keep it not just from loosening, but from moving in the least.
Kenosha is famous for it’s tough to find Micros/Nano’s. Not just my NEMESIS series, but many others as well. Rogheff inspired me, and he has taken the biggest hit lately with his impossible finds going missing. I’m hoping that this isn’t starting with my caches now too. Yes, this is the first, but such and odd one to go. My first thought was that someone had seen a cacher making the find, and then took it when the cacher left. Only no one has found this cache since May 31st.
Thanks for letting me vent. 🙂
Sounds like a great hide with a lot of effort put in. It’s too bad folks choose to do things like this.
Yep that really sucks! Perhaps a parks worker caught wind of the hide? But on the other hand I sure am glad your caches are generally too far for me to look for. Anything harder than 4 stars often has me seeing red.
Kinda stupid question… If it was threaded and sealed, how could anyone remove it in the first place let alone steal it?
I let the thread sealer dry before installing it the first time. That way it’s a tight fit, but it didn’t stick.
Ohhh…. I see. Wow. I’m lucky to have enough time to throw camo tape on a peanut butter jar. This sounds like the rocket science of geocaching. Wish I could have seen it. Though, I probably would have gotten mad and logged the DNF, whether it was there or not! Hopefully I’ll get down to Kenoshaland one of these days and get in some of your extreme caching.
We’re there any other bolts in the cannon missing? Maybe it’s the work a rougue antique bolt collector. Or maybe somebody needed a square head bolt for a geocache they wanted to hide and couldn’t find one in the store 😉 Won’t they be surprised!
I hate to say it, but is there any common finders to these cahes? Maybe a POed cacher that spent a lot of time searching and is holding a grudge. I think most of us have seen an area pretty ripped up at times from frustrated cahers who may be inexperienced or short of patience. I really hope that this is not the case. I just hate hearing about these things. I hope that you find out what is going on. Personally, I would rather spend extra time and even multiple trips searching for a clever hide and or container, than the old micro in a pine tree hide. Good luck.
That cache was a thing of beauty! I personally couldn’t find it (after numerous trips), I believe I had help from the Cacherclan…well..er..um…clan.
I sure do hope that your caches aren’t headed for the same fate as my very best. Sometimes it makes you wonder why you bother to make the really creative caches. The simple peanut butter jar remains in place – undisturbed.
I remember my thoughts when I saw his particular cache – it was something to the effect of, “No that can’t possibly be….OMG it IS!”
That SUCKS Jay!! This cache took me two visits and a hint to locate. Even with the hint, I wasn’t sure I found the cache because the log was not in the bolt when I visited.
I had no idea it took so long to get the bolt conditioned just right.
Jay has a number of Nemesis caches that he has spent a great deal of time and effort creating. This one was so well designed, it had me baffled, even though I was looking for something like this. Sorry to see it go.
Thanks for your great comments. Believe me, there will be more NEMESIS caches to come. I’m only 2 away from #20, and boy do I have something special planned. Been working on this cache for 2 years! You think “Bullshwag” was a challenge?
8)
That sux TyeDye. You obviously care a great deal about creating unique caches, and to have it “walk” like that after so much effort was put into it has GOT to be unbelievably frustrating.
However, I’m going to go along with Lostby7 on this one and announce that I’m glad I’ve never gotten the chance to search for it, for I too would have been extremely aggravated by the difficulty. That’s not to say that I think you went overboard with your planning and work. I’m just getting started in this activity, but I’m already in the planning stages for hiding my first cache, and I know already that it won’t be anywhere near as involved as your Nemesis. Kudos to you for your creativity.
Look at it this way: it’s because of it’s uniqueness that someone felt obliged to swipe it. Don’t let that discourage you. Continue in your quest to develop unique and extreme caches. Don’t let one muggle destroy your enthusiasm!!!!
I agree that it is terrible that the cache went missing, and it sounds like someone was a little disgruntled by your efforts. Folks should remember this is a game, and ya cant find em all.
BTW, I looked for this one as well, and whiffed, and I wear the DNF proudly. It sounds like nearly all the finders were folks with ample hints, which are generally not available to folks wo travel a long ways. I see the Difficulty rating was only a 3 1/2. Just a question: Why so low? If the cache was hid as you describe it should have been a 4 or 5, I would think.
For reference see: http://www.clayjar.com/gcrs/?
zuma
I would have dnf’ed this based on the description of the hide. Probably would take me about 10 trips to find it. I am persistent that way though on hides that get me. I have been known to visit the same tank more times than I can disclose in public.
@zuma wrote:
I agree that it is terrible that the cache went missing, and it sounds like someone was a little disgruntled by your efforts. Folks should remember this is a game, and ya cant find em all.
BTW, I looked for this one as well, and whiffed, and I wear the DNF proudly. It sounds like nearly all the finders were folks with ample hints, which are generally not available to folks wo travel a long ways. I see the Difficulty rating was only a 3 1/2. Just a question: Why so low? If the cache was hid as you describe it should have been a 4 or 5, I would think.
For reference see: http://www.clayjar.com/gcrs/?
zuma
I started the cache at 3 1/2 (2 1/2 – 3 1/2) as I usually do on my Puzzles and NEMESIS caches, until I can gauge the difficulty by peoples logs. For some reason, this one just never got changed. As NEMESIS caches go, this one would have been a strong 4 1/2 star.
As for as hints go, in all actuality, many more found it without hints, than found it with hints. Locals are used to these caches and are getting to know the placements and what to expect. caches like these can hone your skills quickly.
Incidentally, if anyone is ever in the area searching for NEMESIS caches, feel free to ask for a hint or two or seven. I don’t mind helping, and if your in real bad shape, I’ve been know to drive out to the cache on many occasions if I’m able. My phone number is also available through many local cachers. If you’re coming to the area and planning to do the NEMESIS or Riddler series, email me and I’ll provide my cell number for phone-a-friend support. I want my caches found, just not by muggles. 😀
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