GC40VH9 Nelson's Blood (Traditional Cache) in Gibraltar created by adventure.seekers

This cache has been archived.

Andalusite: This cache has been disabled for some time and as the owner has not responded to recent logs or logged into geocaching.com for some time I am archiving it.

Guidelines:[i] "You are responsible for occasional visits to your cache to maintain proper working order, especially when someone reports a problem with the cache (missing, damaged, wet, etc.). You may temporarily disable your cache to let others know not to search for it until you have a chance to fix the problem. This feature is to allow you a reasonable amount of time - normally a few weeks - in which to check on your cache. If a cache is not being maintained, or has been temporarily disabled for an unreasonable length of time, we may archive the listing."[/i]

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Regards

Andalusite
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GC40VH9 ▼

A cache by adventure.seekers Message this owner

Hidden : 11/9/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Terrain 2 due to the very steep ramp to access the cache. Difficulty 2 because this is very well disguised.

Though it does not look significant today and the jetty has fallen into disrepair, Rosia Bay has great importance in British Naval history.

On the 21st Oct 1805 the Battle of Trafalgar took place off the Cape of Trafalgar.

After the battle HMS Victory made her way to Gibraltar for repairs, carrying Admiral Lord Nelson's body, preserved in a barrel of Rum.

The Victory put into Rosia Bay, Gibraltar and after Nelsons body was landed ashore and emergency repairs were carried out to the ship, she returned to England.

Legend says Nelsons blood mixed with the rum, and some of the crew drank it on the journey from Trafalgar to Gibraltar, hoping to benefit from some of his ‘spirit’, leading to the slang that Royal Navy sailors used for their daily tot of rum “Nelsons Blood”, the term is still in use by British sailors today.

The cache
GPS may be erratic due to the high walls at this location, therefore the co-ordinates are for the access ramp to the bay, not the cache location. If driving try and park before you reach the ramp co-ordinates, though limited parking is available on the ramp itself. Walk down the ramp to the cache which is well disguised but in plain sight, and may be a surprise once you find it. If you go through the gates to the bay you have walked too far. It is a partially visible micro cache so only has room for a log, bring your own pen.

This is our first hide, and we wanted to do a challenging and creative cache.

Hope you like the cache and enjoy exploring the bay, if you go left after the gateway there are rock pools with crabs and other sea dwellers, straight on you can walk along the top of the sea wall to the end of the jetty, right, you can take the narrow path to the beach.

First to Find: Tiger@Sea, 11/11/2012

Notes for the cautious cacher:
Take care on the ramp down to the bay as it is very steep.
Beware of muggles fishing
If you walk round to the right hand side of the bay to the beach take care on the pathway
The tunnel through to camp bay is one way, so if you continue along the road to Camp Bay and are driving you will need to continue further along the bay and up through the Keightly Way tunnel to Europa point, to get back into town along Europa road.

Nearby

Rosia Bay water tanks and Victualling Yard

The Rosia Water Tanks and Victualling yard were built 1799-1804 as a reliable water supply and victualling store were needed by Admiral Nelson to maintain his fleet in the Mediterranean.

Rainwater was collected from the Victualling Yard roof and stored in six underground tanks, cut into the cliffs next to the Yard. Water was transferred to ‘lighter barges’ in Rosia bay which were then taken out to replenish water for the ships at anchor. The water tanks remained in use until the 1970’s.

Having the tanks and Victualling Yard, meant that Naval ships could stop in for taking on water, supplies of fresh beef and vegetables; and lemons. Ships could dock there but due to the small size of the bay they made wide use of victualling ships to transfer stores from Rosia bay to the ships at anchor.

The nearby Rosia cottages were built to house the workers who manned the Victualling Yard and water tanks.

The 100 ton gun tourist attraction, and Nelsons anchorage museum is located at N36° 7.363’ W5° 21.221 and will be passed on the way to the cache if walking or driving from town, entry at time of publishing was £1.00.

A short 5 minute walk through the tunnel behind the Victualling yard will lead you to Camp bay, where there are two open air public swimming pools, a swimming platform for the sea and somewhere to get food and drink.

If you continue further along the bay and up through the Keightly way tunnel you will arrive at the Europa point cache and the popular tourist area with the lighthouse and views over the straights of Gibraltar to Africa. A regular bus service runs from here back into town.

Interested in a Gibraltar Geocoin?

Gibraltar Geocachers are getting Gibraltars first ever Geocoin minted in 2013.

If you would like a geocoin memento of your caching visit to Gibraltar please visit our website GibraltarGeocoin.com

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Whfg orsber lbh ragre gur onl, gur pnpur vf abg ybbxvat tbbq sbe vgf ntr.

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)