Bridges of the Eastern Blackburn North, Victoria, Australia
By franklj on 22-Jun-09. Waypoint GC1V284

I ended up starting this multi cache a few weeks ago as I knew that due to the required length of travel that this one would probably be best done over a few trips. My first trip was actually quite successful and I was able to breeze through Waypoint 1 and Waypoint 2. However, I ended up running out of time and had to come back on a second trip.So on my next trip, having done the initial leg work, I was able to head straight to Waypoint 3. However, I really struggled with finding the Vic Roads serial number. I spent all of my time looking for this number and had to eventually call in for a PAF in order to get a hint on where to look.Well fast forward to today. I needed to find a multi cache today in order to fill in a missing calendar date for [RoamingHowie's](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=24963346-56c5-4daf-8308-a01f60f5a5ba&wid=6a725450-9b6f-4892-abca-126a7026759c&ds=2) challenge cache, [WCW - 95% Multi Calendar Challenge (GC9Z59M)](https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC9Z59M) and with having solved the coordinates for GZ on my last trip, I was able to immediately head straight to GZ after work.Which was lucky for me, as the weather was less than stellar today. With it starting to rain, I was really glad that I could just head straight to GZ. However, even with being able to head straight to GZ, this one still took me a while to find. With all the rain, I think it messed with my phone's reception as it was bouncing all around today. I had to check a few different beacons, and even the same beacon a few times before the well concealed cache was finally found.A big thanks goes to [Franklj](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=653de2ee-cb05-4043-943b-de48ef064daa&wid=d91815aa-38c6-48d0-a13a-c922a5a612c7&ds=2) for all the fun today. TFTC.**Cache Maintenance Status:**The cache container was in ok shape, but it does look like some of the camo has peeled off and so in parts you can seen the original colour of the cacher container. The logbook also has seen much better days, as part of the logbook disintegrated as I took it out of the container. I was still able to sign part of the page, but I believe this one could benefit from a maintenance check.

TwoEms are sad that our favourite bridge along the Eastern Freeway is going to be demolished. A single mast red steel cabled-stayed beauty with rickety old wooden planks that bounce and lift up ones fear when you walk over them. It makes our hearts jump and our legs go wobbly, but we love that bridge, and even though the blueprint for the new one is strong and impressive, we dont think it will ever quite have the same charm as our beloved red one The second bridge in this multi is our second favourite bridge along the Eastern Freeway. Its one of those aesthetically pleasing bridges that makes us want to hug and kiss the designer. An elegant piece of engineering that is always a pleasure to see as we drive towards and under along the freeway. We dont visit it often on foot though, and were pleased to see it being highlighted here. Although, we must confess, one of us has a quiet fear of heights, so this multino light task for an acrophobicwas virtually solved in our armchair until the third bridge.The third bridge was a good surprise. We were convinced it would be our favourite bridge, and began our fruitless search for the S/N therewithout even trying to solve the multibut we were fools, and we were wrong. So after doing some proper sleuthing, we made a trip to the proper third bridge.This last bridge is one we had overlooked on our trips along the Eastern Freeway, and we were glad to be introduced and make its proper acquaintance today. We were taken in by its sheer size on top and then marveled at its hidden world underneath, but alas we could not find the S/N. We decided to walk alway and sit on a bench in a cool spot to think very hard and try our hand at some algebraic deduction. About half an hour later, we successfully found the cache, but it wasnt until afterwards when we crossed over and under the bridge again that we spotted the S/N. We had never noticed these numbers before, and now we cant seem to help but notice them on all the other bridges we visit too.Thank you for the cachewe enjoyed visiting these bridges and finding something different at each one.

Couldnt find this one. Think it might have fallen off.

TFTC. Completed this over two trips. Enjoy the bridges of the Eastern being an engineer

Yay

Great cache which I’ve tracked over a few trips.

Struggled mightily with the final information but eventually managed to find the appropriate information and then found the well-concealed cache.

Thanks Franklj for a great adventure.

TFTC! 25 January 2023 1:21:19 pm 4684
Thanks for the great little multi. This one has been completed over 3 different legs. All for reasons such as short on time and wrong direction we were heading in, leg 2 was closing in on 38 degrees and at midday (caching was getting too hot), and we were finding a cache near by and today finally got to the last leg and a shorty walk away for the gz!
A quick find.

I started this multi yesterday as I was in the area picking up a newish mystery cache. I didn’t realize yesterday that this was a relatively old cache and also one of my missing months on my asmer grid. This was one of the caches I targeted today. I found this multi straight forward and the coordinates were all spot on. Unfortunately I found the cache in pieces on the ground. The log was too wet to write on. I managed to put everything back together and have added a new log sheet in a Ziploc bag. Hopefully the original logbook will dry out soon. I have placed the cache in a logical hiding spot snd covered it with some natural camo. Thanks so much franklj for placing it.

*Found on the 9 Jul 2022 @ 3:29 pm.*
*Cache find # 13067.*

While out and about finding a few caches, I noticed this one on the map so I stopped for a look around.
After starting this one earlier on, I finally made it to the end, coordinates had me at the next one down but found it in the end.

**Thanks to Franklj for placing this cache.**

We had collected the information to calculated the final coordinates on a previous trip to the area and today we are back again to find the actual cache. A quick search located the cache. Thanks to franklj for a tour of bridges we had passed under many times and for the cache.

Great concept for this one, with a baby and dog we decided to drive it rather than walk the 7kms, and checked out some of the interesting bridges over the eastern freeway. The final bridge was one we had crossed before on another geocaching adventure and likely walked not too far from where this one was hidden! TFTC

I sorted out the first two bridges yesterday but took a detour to find a former DNF and then it got too late. So I returned with Muggle Husband in tow today and we finished the job. This is an excellent multi along a pleasant trail. Love it.

I needed a multi today so took a drive out to gather one a little further from home (as there seems to be an allergy to placing multis in the north).

I visited the various waypoints, crossing over and wandering around. Finally reaching the last waypoint I looked around and eventually found a cache which had been well covered by natures elements. When signing the cache however it seemed odd that there were a handful of recent names missing from the log. This doesn’t seem right. Is there a second cache? Sure enough I circled a little more and a more obvious cache was located, which appears to be a replacement for the first one I found (which wasn’t actually missing, just a little buried).

Both logs have been signed but happy to provide the details of their locations to assist with maintenance.

Thanks Franklj for placing this gamepiece in the wild for us to find.

This is a really good multi.
We really enjoyed our time at the bridges. We started it a long time ago, but only got to the last waypoint and GZ today.
I’m really glad we didn’t have to count all of the posts at the last waypoint! That would have taken us all day!
At GZ, the girls climbed a few, before one of them said ‘found it’ and there it was.
Log was a bit damp but still singable.
Thanks for placing and maintaining this cache Franklj. It is always good to find an old cache.

Dnf

Started this multi during lockdown 6 during our 5km limit. So we had to wait for each zone to expand before making the next find. Eventually we had them all. We had fun with this one esp estimating the bridge length. Guessed a field and a half

Date: April 13, 2021 Time: 6:18 PM
Find #11515

Needing a multi today to help try complete a personal challenge, and this one was sort of on my way. Having worked this one out some time ago, it was time to turn it into a smiley. It took quite some time to find as it was practically buried at gz due to build up over time.

Thanks to franklj for the cache.

Big things are continuing to happen! *Are you joining the fun again in 2021?*
[**THE**](http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8EW45)
[**WANGARATTA**](http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8EW45)
[**EVENT 2021**](http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC8EW45)
*13th / 14th November 2021 – GC8EW45 – Wangaratta – Victoria*

This was a nice quick find after the details were eventually found. Thank you for placing this cache and maintaining it for so long.

After arriving, it took quite some time for our coordinates to settle. We had a bit of a look around and then found the cache where we first looked. Great to know we haven't lost our knack. Thanks for the cache.

Almost unusual bridge trip! Mission accomplished in between rain drops and downpours. Found GZ and well hidden container but my moniker is a mere scritch scratch due to ink failure! TFTC

We have been away for a few weeks with our van so have just now found time to return to this one after the CO replaced the missing cache. Thankfully no more bridges to cross - the speeding traffic gives me vertigo. TFTC.

6:10 pm #7920
Been slowly working my way through this one, one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. You see bridges are not my favourites. To look at - yes. To walk across - not a fan.
Today I was finally able to turn my closest to work unfound cache into a smiley. Yayy!
Cheers franklj

We walked across the bridge and back but where is the s/n? Only then did we realise that we had walked right past it. Coords. duly solved for a logical GZ but alas found nothing there.

A trip to Melbourne for work, I'm guessing since I can't get my electronic calendar to now go back that far but since it was a mid week drive down and then a drive back on Sunday. I'd have to say that it was probably the time of our programs' All Staff Day catch up and Christmas lunch

Rex and I were in Melbourne/Frankston/Berwick area for 5 days and managed to find 24 caches during that time
We found some Whereigos , some AR caches , some puzzles , some multis , some trads and we got to spend some time with a lovely geocacher [:X] (even if we did keep her up until 3am )
I even managed to finish all of the caches in the Wilson's Botanic Park and that is a tad bittersweet as now I have no more cache incentive to return there

Finally on the way home we spent some extended time finishing off the Light Horse Memorial puzzle cache at Seymour[^] At long last and yet what a lovely and historical area to have been wandering in on sunset and dusk! [^]

As I have been about 8 months behind in logging, I'm resorting to template logs to catch up.
My heartfelt thanks to the COs who have placed some tricky, funny, exercise required, scary, interesting and devious caches in some amazing spots! [^]
Rex and I have had some amazing adventures and enjoyed some incredible moments thanks to this fantastic hobby

TNLN. SL. TFTC Franklj

Attempted this cache years ago and finally returned to find it today. It was rad to slow down and have a closer look at the structures that I pass regularly without a second glance. Discovered some beautiful areas along Koonung Creek that I've never seen before, absurdly tucked away just metres from the freeway. Really good hide - definitely had to hassle a few earwigs to get it. Signed both logs as wasn't sure which was which! TFTC franklj

As I don’t ride a bike, I had gathered the other waypoints at various times. Today was the day MontsII and I decided to head to GZ. After a longish search the cache was found. Thanks for the multi Franklj

Having driven under these bridges for many years it was nice to see the other side for a change.
Very quiet out here, aside from the ever present hum of traffic nearby.
Living a few doors from another Melbourne freeway since before it was built the hum is almost indiscernable.
Some nights it's hard to ignore the silence when it is closed for roadworks.
A solitary dog and his walker passed by.
Following their departure the cache was soon found.
Thanks for the multi cache franklj.

The posted co-ordinates for this multi marked the start of my walk along the Koonung Creek bike path for a bit of exercise. My intention was to find a bunch of trads along the way, find this one and finish off with a cache needed for my placed month calendar and walk back along the bike path to the car.
Unfortunately I started a little late in the afternoon, underestimated the distances involved and didn't bring a torch with me. As a consequence I took the paved streets back to the car which probably added a good couple of kms to the total walked for the sake of sure footing and decent ambient lighting.
This was the multi which broke my horror run of 4 in a row in which I needed to PAF to confirm the numbers or the hide. I'm particularly happy about that since I had a bit of a moment or two confirming my understanding of the right-hand sign value at WP1 and a few walks along the bridge at WP3 attempting to locate the serial number.
All values were found, the maths (correctly) done and the cache found at GZ. Interestingly a bunch of muggles had found it, placed a sheet of notebook paper inside the waterproof bag which I at first mistook for the log. I signed that and then subsequently discovered the waterproof paper in the cache.
Thanks for the tour of the Bridges along the Eastern. Glad to see another old cache placed and maintained for the community's enjoyment.

omegaman1971@ 3049
In the area for work and had some time between appointments.
The weather wasn't the best for caching today, but found the prize after a very short search.
Also found 2 logs in the container, signed the official looking one.
Cheers for the cache.

Out last night with Trailsteve doing our Sunday nigh escape hike. Covered about 12km, saw lots of Tawny Frogmouths and got our exercise. Thanks for the escape. Managed to track this one down eventually. TFTC

Out for a few caches tonight with Gunks. Overall an unsuccessful night so after finding the first two waypoints we were determined to get to the end of this one. A failing pen was not enough to slow us down and after completing most on foot, a little drive took us to the final waypoint and directions for the cache. Found it and a success finished off the night. Tftc

#813 - 9.55pm
This multi first came to my attention 5 months ago, just before The Surf Coast Mega. I gathered the info for WP1 and WP2 by car on the way home from work over a couple of days, though I somehow confused myself on the simple WP1 step, lol. On a subsequent night, I was returning from gathering multis in Eltham and decided to stop here and finish it off. Like with so many before me, WP3 eluded me for some time but perseverance paid off. However, this cache was now superfluous to my needs... so I left it for another time.
That time was tonight.
A subterfuge raid on GZ was made under the cover of darkness, my footsteps masked by the din of the freeway. I blended with the shadows enjoying being the only soul about tonight. The cache was found, signed and returned with minimal fuss.
Thanks Franklj. This was an enjoyable multi which (given the time of year) I'm renaming to 'Bridges of Easter'.
There is a little moisture in the cache. The log is fine as it is made of stone paper, but some of the names of previous finders are vanishing. Recommend water proof pens here, like a Power Tank.

Replaced the cache container. Peppermint tins do have a limited life if in the weather,

The cache is in a poor condition and needs urgent attention. The container is rusted through in one place and is without a lid. Consequently the log is sodden.

I left an interim log (a page from my bird-watching notepad) in a fresh zip-lock plastic bag. Unfortunately I didn't have a spare container with me.

As I don't ride a bicyle I picked up the necessary information when I was walking in the various localities. I now have a better appreciation of pedestrian bridges. The final co-ords were exact, but the cache is in a poor condition. Tftc.

I didn't do this cache on a bike as intended, so instead ended up doing it in stages. It's been on my to do list for some time and today was the day to finish it, with the GPS leading me straight to GZ.
Thanks for this well thought out cache : )

Found it.
TFTC

Find number 5364 at 5:29:39 PM
No bike this afternoon but it might have been an enjoyable ride as the weather is just magnificent. Instead I drove between bridges but had a very enjoyable walk at each location. Clues found easily and the prize at GZ was in good condition.
**Thanks for placing this cache Franklj**

A souvenir was up for grabs this weekend which involved finding a multi, so was keen to claim it this afternoon. I was also keen to get some exercise so this multi fit the bill completely. I parked near published WP & began my walk. Lots of muggles were out this afternoon and it was perfect weather. I found the design of WP2 very interesting and had to cross it a few times to check my counting. WP3 had me walking back and forth looking for the numbers I needed... when I found it, couldn't believe I didn't spot it first time!

Once I had the final coordinates, made my way to GZ. Thankfully the entire area was muggle free so after a quick search spotted the container. I am assuming based on previous logs, the CO had done maintenance as the cache and logbook looked new. I did find the cache on the ground for some reason, so put it back and covered with natural camo.

TFTC Fanklj. Great walk, great bridges, great cache!

I found the cache. Unfortunately I couldn't sign it. The log book was wet and the container is rusting away. The lid fell of when I opened it. Will need replacing.

An enjoyable multi done on foot.....nice walking along the trail and gathering the information required. Makes a change from zooming under the bridges at 100km/hr!! TFTC

Great hiding spot. A new log has been put in and the geocache is up and running. TFTC.....

The container is is dire need of some urgent TLC.
The log is a soggy lump, we popped in a temp log.
The container is worse for wear and needs replacing.

Suscoe was out early today to wander about this area of Melbourne in search of caches of all types.
The day started out quite drizzly and later on it became sunny.
Traffic was light on most roads which was appreciated.
We took our time with this one and finally came up with some co-ords that seemed likely.
Arrived at GZ and the container was located.
Left a temporary log as the old one is a soggy lump of paper.
The container is also in a sad state, rusted out we suspect.
Thanks to Franklj for a nice adventure.

Determined not to give up I went back the next day - and found it! Very well hidden, partly because of the amount of time since it was last found. The container was very rusty and water logged. Could not sign name because paper was totally water logged despite being in a bag. Have re-hidden in same place. Fun find - thanks!

We went to the coordinates, found the picture of the tree, but could not locate the cache. It has been a while since the last find... Wondering if it still there?

I'm attempting to qualify for the [url=http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5M69G_multicache-month-challenge-cache?guid=a7f52ec2-c686-4296-883f-22d8ef359913]Multicache Month Challenge Cache (GC5M69G)[/url] for both the activity and the challenge even though the final is a fair distance from home. This was multi #19 of the 31 I need for March. As it's only a couple of kms from home it has been on my radar for quite some time - well, actually since I started geocaching about 3 years ago Now that I have retired I have much more time to do multis.

As I don't bike ride I drove my limousine to each WP. I found the info at the first two WPs fairly easily but had a lot of trouble finding the info at the last WP. I walked up and down and down and up and eventually found the required information a long way from where I expected it to be. I calculated the final cache co-ords and headed to my calculated GZ. After a brief search I spotted the cache on the ground between two typical hiding locations. I signed the log at 5:25 pm, TNLN and then put the cache in a spot that matched my calculated co-ords. I emailed the CO who said he would check on it shortly.

Thanks Franklj for the challenging multi and the tour of the Eastern Freeway bridges, which I have passed under many times in the car but never stopped at.

My 100 cache finds geocoin had a visit to celebrate my 100th 'Multi-cache' find.

This entry was edited by ladioactive on Thursday, 21 May 2015 at 00:39:45 UTC.

Find #1729. Found @ 17:45.

Cache #2 of my Multi-March challenge.

I was able to manoeuvre events so that I could leave work early before meeting the family for dinner. There were a few multis on my radar, and this was the second.

I didn't quite use the correct method of solving this multi as I travelled by car.

It took me a few minutes to locate the numbers at WP3, but once I did, GZ and the container was located in short order.

Took nothing, left nothing, signed log and visited some trackables.
Thanks for the cache franklj.

Riding along so trails today so I thought that I would grab a few caches on the way. I have spent years riding across the Eastern Freeway bridges without really thinking about them so it was good to have to focus on them. A very interesting ride. TNLN. TFTC.

After doing some of the legwork over a few weeks cycling today was the day to come down to this bridge and get the S/N from the bridge and venture over to get the cache, which was nicely hidden away. Thanks for putting a multi here, a great idea, I was hoping to get this as my 800th hide, but some dnf's and change of plans meant I got this sooner.

I'd started this cache a few months ago but not got further than the starting WP as I'd run out of time. This evening, I needed to get out for some exercise and decided to cycle to complete this cache. All went fine until the last bridge, where I didn't seem to be able to find the S/N. I started to google from my phone but didn't get anywhere. I then looked up again and there it was ... I'd been standing withing 5m from it for the last 10 minutes. Cache was located quickly and is now covered a little better as it was clearly visible. TFTC, a fun multi!

Found it a while back just walking by so adding to the log.
Log pretty damp

Found after a pleasant bike ride through the koonung trail. Log book was a bit damp. Found with knudders TFTC

This entry was edited by georocks101 on Wednesday, 15 October 2014 at 07:54:42 UTC.

After a lovely ride through the koonung trail with georocks101 collecting caches on our way, we visited the bridges and then for some stupid reason muggles decided to plonk next to it so we went and did a few others and came back. TFTC

Had worked out all the wp's a little while ago and had not collected the cache. Today while we were passing by we made the find, thanks Franklj for the cache, I enjoyed the excerise in grabbing the numbers.

A quick find today, admittedly we were with Happy pants who had done all the work to get the coords (thanks bro). Thanks for the hide.

Found at 09:52
Out for a walk this morning and I found myself close by. I had noticed the NM log (which really should have been a dnf) so walked up the hill and find the cache in the second place I looked. It's still in position.

Looked for a long time. Found the tree and searched extensively with no cache found. Recommend the owner have a quick look to see if its still there...

Took a couple of trips but I quite enjoyed this cache and a great stroll on xmas evening. TFTC

Not being avid bike riders this one has been a work in progress for us for nearly 18 months after collecting the first piece of information. Today we collected the information off the last bridge worked out where we had to be and headed to gz enjoying he pleasant walk along the trail on a beautiful spring morning.
Once at gz we were happy that the cache was found quickly and at last our name has been added to the log
Many thanks frankij, this is probably our longest cache from start to finish.

I am currently concentrating on finding Multis so I can bring my found count up to 50 (almost there). I noticed this one this morning when I was scanning the map for ones to try.

Reading through the old logs, I saw that a previous finder had compensated for their poor eyesight by using a Melways to solve the clue to WP2. As my back is rather sore at the moment I thought I would use the same approach but different tool. In the end I was able to deduce the location of the cache all from the comfort of home.

Of course the proof is in finding the cache so I set out this afternoon on that quest. I parked on one side of the Eastern and used the third bridge to cross over the the cache...in so doing, I confirmed the VicRoads number for the bridge. After a bit of a hunt at GZ, I eventually put hand to cache and was able to sign the log.

Thanks Franklj for putting this cache together. I have driven under these bridges many, many times but this is the first time I have walked on them...well one of them.

This was our first multi stage cache. Loved it but took 2 goes searching at GZ. Thanks

Found GZ and the tree in the photo but no cache! Need a hint

I was able to follow josiey's footsteps up to this geocache. It's a quiet cool evening, no one is nearby.

I have wanted to do this cache for ages, probably by bike but today I decided to walk it as part of my training for the Oxfam Trailwalker. Some fine other caches on the way provided some great entertainment and slowed me down a bit. I met some fellow cachers, it rained, I took the wrong path to the last bridge then walked all the way back to the previous creek crossing because I couldn't check the map. As I mentioned, it rained. It took a little while to find the SN. But thankfully not long to find the cache. I headed back along the other side of the freeway. Which is where I am now. Thanks franklj for a nice big fat multi, which was just what I needed today. There should be more of them.

Found this one today. I had previously attempted this cache but got confused on the last bridge between the year the bridge was built and the serial number. On Monday I tried this again and collected the correct information but that night my gps batteries died just before I could enter the final waypoint. Today after entering the information for the final waypoint at home, today was the day to go and collect the final part of this cache. It was a nice easy find today in the second place that I looked. Signed log but didn't swap anything.

Thanks for the cache Franklj.

Found after a while searching with KM 74

Sorted out the multi component from the comfort of my living room, I was pretty happy to find the cache tucked away in the first of my 2 possible coordinates.

Did this one over 2 days while gathering other caches in the area. Was quite good watching the cars go by on all the different bridges. Log is very wet but was still able to write on it. I put it back in its resealable bag to keep it moist. TFTC.

21:12
Oooh... a multi in the direction I'm heading. Such a bonus.

Alternating the fun waypoints for this hide with the trads along the trail (including, and especially the wonderful Troubled Waters trio), I was passed by another cacher as I counted rods and spacers (we met at the nearby cache), and made friends with a small, friendly dog while looking for a serial number.

The eventual coordinates gave me a choice of hiding places, but I was at last able to dig the container from its hidey hole. The log sheet is damp, but signable.

Thanks, Franklj, for another fine adventure.

#1338

How brilliant. A multi, during which there are many traditionals to collect along the way. Once I was finally at GZ, I took a while to make the find as I moved away from where I first thought it was...before returning and making the find. It is where you think it is!

Thanks for the fun and for the cache, Franklj.

I don't have a bike, so I did his one by foot and car. At the first bridge, my eyesight was not good enough to read the information, so I used melway to help me out. On to WP2 to collect information successfully, then on to WP3. Found info. and completed this very interesting multi on a very hot day. Thanks Franklj

I have refurbished this cache today so it will be there until the local kids get at it again.

This was so much fun! Bikeriding with my daughter, we got all the clues and finally found the cache. It is such an appealing little hiding spot. I don't know how (especially considering where the cache is located), but unfortunately the entire container was filled with water, and there was only a plastic bag, but no log book inside. Thanks for such a lovely ride. I can't believe I walk along here all the time, and didn't realise there were caches around!!!

I'd been very busy at work recently and had been working up to 70 hours per week, working a full day then heading back in at night and doing another 6 or so hours. Tonight I had enough and needed a break so what better way to relax than go and find some caches.

I'd done the leg work on previous trips to the area. With the final coords safely stored away it was a good night to go and find the cache. I arrived at GZ and it took me quite a while to locate the hide. I moved from one location to the next but after searching a bit deeper the cache revealed itself. It was quite wet inside and the container had started to rust a bit, due to the large amount of rain this winter, but the log was still signable. I dried out the container and rehid the cache. Thanks for the journey Frankli.

After giving up (again) on Deep Dive, I thought about tackling another in the Northcote area, but being late in the day I decided against it and thought that heading down the Eastern to give this one a try would be a better option (having pieced together the information earlier today, and with the hope that I'd be running the opposite direction of the peak hour traffic). I headed to where I remembered GZ should be, only to discover that I hadn't updated the GPS data - Doh!

So I made a rough GZ calculation as to what I thought the last WP answer was (which turned out to be almost right) and I headed for this supposed GZ, but after a search I came up empty-handed... Luckily the final bridge wasn't too far away so I visited it to work out where I had made my error. It turned out I was one digit off-target, so I returned to GZ with the correct information but still found nothing!... Hmmm! I knew I was in the right place so I expanded my search based on cacher instinct and rechecked my original GZ more carefully - this time discovering the cache tucked away deep inside. As mentioned in the last log, the cache was wet inside - and rusty because of it - but the zip-lock bag had protected the log but it was a little moist so my pencil was starting to tear at it a bit as I made my entry - then had to correct it when I realised I was still on yesterday's date... Doh! (I must get a watch that has the date on it...) I resealed the log in its saviour bag, and rehid the cache as I had found it, and headed off home. TFTC

Great little adventure. Rftc

Thank goodness for mr zip-lok! Cache was full of water but log sound. Tftc

Found today on my 7 hour bike caching run along the Koonung Creek Trail. CamBendy has been gracious enough to lend me his pushbike for me to go caching. I must admit, after many years of not riding a bike and not exercising, my fitness level has gone terribly low..It did surprise me because I often cached by walking. And I did not realise that Melbourne suburbs had so many hills! It was really a pain going up those slopes and more often than not, I was pushing the bike instead of cycling up (I was that weak). Came to a point when I almost felt faint cycling. Thankfully, I managed to stop and find a place to have dinner and rest before I rode home on the train at Nundawanding station. Anyway, 13 finds today with 1 DNF.

This was one of my finds today. Collected the clues on bike and did a few caches on the way before heading to GZ. This was the last find of the day because by that time I was already flat out. Didn't notice the turn into GZ and cycled past somewhat 600m to a place that looked really similar to GZ on the maps. Obviously the cache isn't there after searching for 10 mins. I looked at the map again and then the compass and realised I was 600m away. Silently cursing to myself, I cycled back to where the sharp turn was and this time headed to the right GZ. Even then, it took me awhile of searching and it was getting dark then. Had to PAF to give a hint of where it was hidden. Found it at last and signed before leaving for home. TFTC Franklj

Had gathered some of the earlier clues on a previous visit to the area. Came back today and finished it off. GZ was a lovely location and my favourite part of the track. Took a little looking to find the cache, but soon found it tucked away safely. Thanks Franklj for the cache.

Found @1410 #653
Started this one a few weeks back and was at GZ in the dark with no luck, so return today in the daylight to see if this would help. Well I returned to the same spot that I had searched the previous time and what do you know but I found it within 1 mintue!!, how did I miss it the first time??... A nice multi this one, TFTC Franklj left blue stone.

Finally, got this one after three attempts. I keep riding past here without my GPSr, so I was never able to get a better fix on the spot. Turns out I was right the first time, just didn't search hard enough. The previous logger was right (nice little stamp, by the way, I gotta get me one of those!) the bridges are a popular place for contemplating life, or its end.

In a previous life, I did it myself a bit further along the Eastern. I kept walking though, and now I tell anyone who wants to know that no matter how bad things look, they can and do get better.

During the week, I finally got around to getting myself a geocaching stamp and today was the first day I unleashed it onto unsuspecting caches. Whilst picking up the clues on the first bridge of this cache, I was approached by a very concerned lady, who turned out to be a psychologist, who wanted to know if I was OK. Turned out she was concerned I was going to try and jump. I explained what I was doing and she was very embarrassed, but on the plus side, it’s still nice to know people care and that apparently, I look like I am about to kill myself, oh well. At the cache site, I spent far too long hunting around and eventually found the cache. I signed the log with my shiny new stamp. Thanks for the cache Franklj.

[This cache has been on my to-do list for quite some time. I had originally decided not to do the ride, but undertake it in pieces by car over several trips home, mainly because I haven’t got a lot of time to spare at the moment. I tried to cheat a little by doing the calculations using Google Earth/Maps, and I came up with a plausible final bridge to investigate. On my first attempt at WP3 I was unable to find the serial number, and I admit I was rushing home to go out that evening so I really didn’t spend much time there. Last Monday night I drove past WP1 and collected the information I needed] which coincidentally can be obtained from the Melway or Street View.
[I also obtained the information for WP2.] I was able to obtain the information for WP2 from Street View and NearMap.
[I then drove from work today to WP3, which coincidentally was the same place I have visited previously at night, and was able to see the serial number quite easily in the sun light. A quick calculation and I set off to find the cache. At GZ I search for a little bit in the obvious spot, and found the cache soon after. Thanks Franklj. Sorry I didn’t ride this one, but I enjoyed the views all the same.]

Found last weekend but I didn't have a pen so back today to sign the log and to claim the find. TFTC.

Pretty sure I got the final coordinates right, but the GPS wandered a bit at GZ. Spent about a half hour mucking about a few trees without luck. I did spot a couple of screws sticking out of a sawn-off branch at about head height right on what I think was GZ. Could this have been the cache at one stage?

I'd already completed the first waypoint while driving home from work and the second on a quick visit a few weeks ago. I wandered down to complete the last waypoint with the geokids while giving the wife a well deserved couple of hours quiet at the end of the school holidays. We checked the last clue then they played in the trees and collected pine cones while I searched. I was having one last look before giving up when I found it. It was then that I realized that I'd forgotten the pen in the car. The geokids are only in it for the swaps. "We don't really care about the writing bit Dad." So I couldn't convince them to walk to the car and back again. I'll come back solo to sign (and log the find) soon. Thanks Franklj for the cache, it's in good condition after a few months not found.

Slightly muggy day for a ride but made it - considering the lack of fitness . Anyway found it, tried to dry it and signed log. Took pathtag. TB that is logged here isn't here. TFTC interesting ride.

This entry was edited by littlemerpip on Friday, February 11, 2011 at 10:18:09 PM.

Thanks Franklj for replacing the cache. Came out on an early morning bike run and realised I hadn't taken the final coords with me. But I don't think I'll ever forget that tree, so it was an easy find. Left the pt for the next team, as I already have one of them.
p-boro
#1343

Nice easy find today! Thanks Franklj for replacing the cache. Left the Patrhtag as we dont worry about collecting them
GJMMelb

I apologise for being so long to respond to the DNF reports. I did visit the GZ with a new cache in my hand a couple of weeks ago but decided that it was now not suitable so I have put a much smaller cache (Eclipse) less than half a metre from the old spot.

Franklj,
given GJMMelb also logged a DNF, could you check the cache location and confirm the cache is still there? I would love to return and search for it again, but at the moment it looks more like NM.

GMelb and MMelb did the first couple of Waypoints this morning on their morning ride but the next WP was further again in the opposite direction to where they were wanting to ride so they left it for then.
This arvo JMelb and GMelb went to this WP and gained the final information and headed off to GZ.
We hadnt looked at the previous logs and so hunted around for a fair while then decided to re-check the info re the S/N.
After confirming this was correct we decided to go back to the car to look at the previous logs (we had forgotten to bring the car GPS with us) and we then discovered the previous DNF and so are now adding our own DNF log ...
Thanks Franklj
GJMMelb

A few weeks ago I ran about 13km to look for this cache, doublechecked my numbers, didn't find it. At the last event I asked around, two previous finders confirmed my coords and that I had been looking in the right place, in the fork of the tree. Today I went there again, by bike, searched with more confidence, but still couldn't find it.
I hate to write this, but I really think it is gone. Sorry franklj. It would be a shame to lose this cache, I really enjoyed the concept.
p-boro

Found 11:15, it's taken us some time to complete this cache, we collected the information at Wp1 some time ago, but today has been the first time that the course of this cache has coincided with our own.

TNLN, CSI=3, thanks franklj.

We found this cache at 2:00pm as the 2nd of 5 on a Mother's Day afternoon. Three of the rest of the team had gone off shopping so the last remaining two mopped up the last of our unfound nearby. This one had beeped at me every rime we passed the first waypoint on the Eastern Freeway but today, we finally had time to wander around the waypoints to finish it off. Particularly liked the area close to GZ. WP2 used to have a cache there called Highway Madness which was our 60th find. Thanks for the cache from D & H B-A.

Not logged until 28/11/2011.
Many thanks for the cache.

Being fairly familiar with the bike track, I thought I'd cut corners with some of the clues and of course found myself yesterday on the completely wrong bridge (the 4th one to the west of the others) searching in vain for the serial number. Then I got a puncture and had to pack it in - serves me right! Tyre fixed, I did the clues properly and got back on the right track this evening. Thanks for the exercise and a nicely worked out trail. TNLNSL

On a rare trip to Melbourne with my bike I decided to make good use of it to find this cache. No problems working through the waypoints and the weather threatened but held off long enough for me to complete it. I noticed the cache hadn't been found for a few months and when I approached I could see it sitting out quite exposed. I did my best to cover it up and hope it hasn't been compromised.

Thanks,

R - B

A bright sunny day today - fit for a good bike ride and geocaching!
Visited all the bridges mentioned and found this pretty easily.
Thanks for the tour of the bridges.

TNLN.