Just a short post as I only got DNF’s today!  One day a week I come up to Brisbane with Kev.  While he is working I explore the city and try for some caches.  Every week I return thinking I’m going to cross them off my DNF list but I am not having much luck!  They are starting to drive me crazy!  All morning I searched for GC221KA Board gardens and GC220MX City Plaza, but still came up empty handed!  Both have been found, as well as GCKR9K Combination Delta which I was certain was missing.

Better luck next week hopefully!

*** Cath ***

Today was my day in Brisbane and decided to check out the location of City Cacher Catchup to scope where Kev and I could park or if we had to bus / taxi from his work.  My map reading skills were up to its usual tricks and I found myself walking around one or two blocks and coming right back to where I started!  I eventually found it and decided to get some nearby caches, which were not as plentiful as I hoped.  The first one I went for was GC22W0K Raid on the Government Printer.  Once again I walked around the block about three times before I discovered the alleyway!  Once down there and a quick search about, the cache was in my hand.

Now it was time to find one I couldn’t find last week, GC1GRGA Walkover Adelaide.  Since I last searched it has been found a couple of times, so I know it must be there.  The name is the biggest clue as there are two walkover’s above Adelaide Street.  I walked up and down the walkover but just couldn’t see it then out of the corner of my eye, I spotted it.  The hint mentions you might need long arms and mine weren’t quite long enough!  This cache is right in Brisbane CBD so a very muggle busy area, I waited a few minutes for the walkway to clear as much as it could, I tried again.  On my tiptoes and reaching far over I got it – phew!  I took off and signed the log before replacing.  Just over a week ago the grass area was fill of tents for the Occupy Protesters but the police rounded them up and kicked them out.

After having lunch with Kev, I spent the rest of the afternoon at the Queen Street Farmers Market and searching for some of those on my DNF list, with no luck!  They keep getting found (and DNF) so maybe next week!

Until next time

*** Cath ***

Today was my day to go to Brisbane with Kev.  While he is working I normally spend my time at the massive and just as impressive Roma Park, and City Plaza and venture right into the CBD.  Kev told me there is a lovely park up and hill and why not investigate that area.  I walked up the hill and found another huge park, Victoria Park.  I must say, all over Brisbane and Gold Coast you will always find plenty of park areas and if it was back home in Auckland, there would be just as many caches per parks, but over here, it is not so condensed.  At the park was a multi GC35B42 Centenary Pool Spring Hill.  It seemed simple enough, just had to answer three questions about the historic pool and apparently the final location was nearby.  I  entered my answers into the geochecker, which was in German, but the big red wording hinted I had it wrong.  I kept trying until I was locked out and had to wait an hour before another attempt.  I was positive I was right so plugged in the numbers and just went for it.  I ended up in a deserted area with trees and dried dead leaves everywhere, a perfect location for snakes and spiders!  Lucky enough the cache was quick to find and I was quickly out of there!  I did take the travel bug Whistle Blower.

Thinking the next cache wasn’t too far away I went for  GC24DVA Brisbane Tunnels – Clem7.  The walk took so much longer as there was no direct route, but a fair climb up a hill, across, then back down again!  Thankfully the cache wasn’t too hard to find, and not that close to the pay-to-use motorway tunnels .

While having lunch with Kev I noticed a new cache GC36NYV Train Spotter had recently been published and a whole list of DNF’s had been logged.  I decided since I had an afternoon to waste, why not have a little search.  I approached the area and noted three people were huddled having a chit chat.  I assumed they were friends who had spotted each other while one of them was in the nearby parked cars.  I walked slowly past them while looking and sped up the walk when I noticed thousands of midges were flying nearby.  I walked down to the train track to see if it was at the bottom level, watched a few trains go by, and once the muggles had left, went back up the stairs.  Here is a picture of the trains from the bottom platform.

Unfortunately the midges were still present at the spot, so I had a quick search and left before a mouthful of midges flew into my face.  I just knew it had to be there, so I kept going back in short spurts until I found it!  The log had been signed and I realised my three muggles were in fact geocachers.  I was so close to a FTF but was happy just to get away from all the midges.  Here is the view from the top, at the cache location.  If you look closely enough, you might get to see all those midges!

I spent the rest of the afternoon looking for a cache in Roma Park which still eludes me, one day I’ll find it!

Until next time,

*** Cath ***

Today Kev and I took a drive out into the country and Hinterlands.  We decided just to grab a couple of caches along the way.  Our first cache was GC13KHD Qld First National Park.  Kev had a good chuckle here because as I was preparing by putting on my bum bag while holding onto my hiking stick, I accidentally raised my stick and hit a male quite near a painful spot!  I apologised and quickly walked on!  The cache was under a bushy tree where you had to lift the branches and crawl right under, and avoid all the spider webs!  Naturally Kev sends me in but thankfully I didn’t spot any creepy crawlies!  Definitely a place to return to do the walks one day, when we are fitter!

I swapped the travel bug Marine Dagen 2011 for the Jeep 4×4 #3063.

The next cache was another park, but there were tonnes of cars parked nearby so some sort of event must have been happening.  We entered the park to look for GC1VTBH Lion’s Secret.  With all the nearby trees the GPS was having trouble fixing the right location.  I expanded the search area and come up with the find.  I also took the travel bug "Daund, India" Unite for Diabetes Travel Bug. 

We figured out why there was so much traffic, a local farmers market was on.  We popped in and had lunch and viewed all the goodies.  On the way home we made one more stop for GC1HC10 Village Bend.  This was on a old dusty dirt road.  Once again the GPS was out, but looking around at possible spots, I came up with the find!  Not a busy caching day but a lovely day out on a country drive.

Until next time,

*** Cath ***

Today Kev and I picked up our new car, a Mitsubishi Outlander.  With the paperwork complete we decided to go for a drive and geocaching to Springbrook, hoping not to get the car too dirty!  Our first cache was a nice easy find, GC35CG8 S, N, M, HD, NB.  What I liked about this cache is the fact you can park safely on these often windy roads up here.  Here is Kev standing next to our new car.

The next cache was GC35EKC Acacia.  Again there was plenty of parking to find this cache.  This was another quick find in a quiet location surrounded by trees, trees and trees.

Next along the way was  GC35EKK Pine Creek Road.  Again another deserted spot but this one freaked me out a little.  Like most of these caches around here, you are surrounded by bush, but this cache was amongst big dead and burnout out logs and bundles of dry leaves, bark and twigs, the perfect hiding spots for snakes and spiders!  Kev protected the car and sent me in!

I had an idea where the cache would be and I was in and out in no time.  I was even lucky enough to find a beautiful travel bug coin, the Geocacher’s Star 2009.

About a month ago we tried for GC20E9V Skool O’ fArts and had no luck.  To be honest, it is under a building (plenty of standing / bending room), but it was dark and I was freaking out about spiders and snakes I didn’t search that long.  Not so long after I chatted with the owner and told me I was on the right track, and all the other “Found”s on the cache page determined it wasn’t missing.  This time I plucked up the nerve to stay under long enough to have a good look and I had it in no time.  Was so glad to have found it as we often don’t come to this area.

GC2E19Z Greenie’s Choice had been placed after last months disastrous cache trip in this area. Our GPS had us a little out and we had to cross the road but once we were in the right spot, a nice easy find.

Just down the road was another cache we couldn’t find last time,  GC211KY WATERGATE.  Last time we were here our GPS was crazy zipping all over the place, this time it led me straight to the cache.  No problems this time!

Again the next cache was one we couldn’t find last time, GC2EC6M Dirt Track V Bitumin.  We made the mistake like previous, and searched the wrong side of the road.  Kev checked some possible spots on the other side and came up with the goods, another great feeling crossing off a previous DNF.

For the next cache we went to a park, and today it seemed rather busy with lots of picnicking families.  The location was not in the main park area so I was able to discretely find GC20JDC Tarzan or Cross Lions? 

Our penultimate cache was GC2EF1T Cave Creek.  Our GPS had us in the wrong direction but with the few places it could be, we were able to narrow it down and find it.

The final cache of the day, GC2E1AH For The Natural Man, which was opposite a country cafe.  Just as we stopped so did a group of bikies who were also enjoying the great view of Numinbah Valley.  I discretely searched and found the cache.  Kev was admiring the bikes so I had to take my own photo. 

Afterwards we enjoyed a coffee at the cafe. Inside there have all sorts of snakes and creepy crawlies in jars to look at, well worth a visit. 

Well we had a great day, a new car to enjoy, finding previous DNF and finding double digits of caches!

Until next time,

*** Cath ***

It was another day when I go up to Brisbane with Kev so we can have lunch together.  I am not having much luck finding any caches, but today I found one I didn’t find a week ago.  Last time I looked I searched everywhere and couldn’t come up with a find for GC1DKAF Memorial in the Park.  Today was one of those situations when you just lock onto it and find it straight away. 

Thinking I was in the zone, I tried for another DNF GCKR9K Combination Delta which due to the growing numbers of DNF I’m convinced it’s not there. After my search I still stand by that claim!

On my way to another DNF GC221KA Board gardens, I placed the travel bug Travel Kitten Geocoin into the cache I found last week, GC10ZNX Windmill.

Well I searched and searched and the day ended with just the one find!  Maybe next week I will be more successful!

Until next time,

*** Cath ***

After last weeks disastrous attempts of finding any caches at Roma Parklands in Brisbane, I decided to go explore in a different direction today.  First stop was a few streets away from Kev’s job (and mainly up!).  The cache GC10ZNX Windmill was at a historic and beautiful windmill, which is also Queensland’s oldest surviving building.  I searched around the area and came up empty handed.  I read and read the hint, still didn’t help.  I sat on a bench and looked and thought, then just out of the corner of my eye spied something that had potential.  I went over and tugged at it, and sure enough, it moved and was the cache.  I sat down and filled out the log and took the travel bug Marine Dagen 2011 Geocoin.

Feeling successful I walked to the next cache, GC221KA Board gardens.  The last few attempts have been DNF so I wasn’t too hopeful.  I must have spent about an hour looking and researching the previous logs.  It is a multi-level area and the GPS in the city is not cooperating, so I admitted defeat and moved on.  Close by was GC220MX City Plaza.  Part of the area was boarded up so I just searched around the sides.  Again the GPS didn’t help and I couldn’t find the cache, but I have a feeling it’s behind the bordered off area so not really counting it as a DNF!

At least there was one find today, better than last week’s attempt!

Until next time,

*** Cath ***

This week Kev started his job in Springhill, Brisbane.  I have decided to come up once a week from Gold Coast to spend some time exploring Brisbane and have lunch with Kev.  Feeling optimistic I walked up the street to find a very impressive Roma Parkland.  There only seems to be two traditional caches here (and one Earth).  The first one I went for was GC1DKAF Memorial in the Park.  I spent basically the whole morning searching for this with no luck!  After lunch with Kev I walked back up to the park to try the next one, GCKR9K Combination Delta.  This one was even more trickier as it was multi-levels to choose from.  I spent just as much time and also came up empty handed!

No luck at Roma Park nor a great way to start my Brisbane caching adventures!

Better luck next week hopefully!

*** Cath ***

A quick video of our family trip the Russell in the Far North

One the way to pick Cath up from work I did two quick caches B & B– Brickbats & Bouquets # 2 (Auckland) We had spent over an hour here before and could not find the cache but knowing that Glenn had replaced it I tried again and quickly had the little cache in my hand.

The 2nd cache of the day Helga’s Holiday (Auckland) was just down the road time was getting close to pick up time for Cath but I had a quick walk and within seconds had the cache in my hands. this one is a great hide and well worth the little walk to get it. Here is the view at GZ

** Kev **