SideTracked - Bell Preston, Victoria, Australia
By RoamingHowie on 27-Apr-23. Waypoint GCA6C4M

No luck here tonight, searched for about 20 min with head torch

Well we think we found it but the second lid is screwed on v tight and we couldn't open it!!

Both the Dromaniax were in Melbourne overnight, and while Mrs Dromaniax was at work, Mr Dromaniax headed out to complete 20 finds in the Darebin Local Government Area.A selection of caches was made, and we started at the Southern end and worked our way Northward.The weather today was variable. It was chilly, windy, and wet, and then the sun would break through, making it humid and quite hot in the direct sun.We had a successful day, finding all the caches on our hit list.This cache is in excellent condition.Thank you for this Traditional Sidetracked cache, RoamingHowie.

Venimus, Vidimus, Vicimus

Sometimes on a Sunday I enjoy a little detour on the way home from work to finish the day with some fun. And so much easier without the normal traffic flow around these areas. TFTC

A quick visit to drop off a Trackable. I have placed the TB in Sidetracked Bell. But another Bell is a picturesque country township, rich in pastoral and agricultural heritage and home to cropping and livestock farming. It is nestled between the Bunya Mountains and fertile farmlands Sidetracked Bell is in Preston. Another Preston is a city on the north bank of the River Ribble in Lancashire, England. The city is the administrative centre of the county of Lancashire So now this TB has sort of visited two new places

A nice quick find after alighting a train. No pen unfortunately but can provide photographic proof if requested from CO.Thanking you for the Traditional Cache that you placed RoamingHowie

A quick find with FMH1977 after stopping here after the BBQ event in Mernda.

I cant believe I could not find this first time around. Anyway found it now, thanks for the cache.

Couldn't find this one, despite the reasonably explicit hint and two sets of eyes. Will have to come back another time.

Second trip back after a clue - thanks!

Took 2 tries this afternoon but I found it! Well hidden and loved the squishy treasure

*Found on the 17 Aug 2024 @ 12:40PM.**Cache find # 15735.* I was just about to pass this one when I remembered that there was a cache here so I stopped for a look.I had a bit of a look and the cache was found, I must admit that the hint was helpful.**Thanks to RoamingHowie for keeping the game going by placing this cache.**

Took us like 10 minutes but we finally found it. This cache is so cool and make sure to keep your eyes peeled

That took some searching and once found I was surprised by the size. TNLN. TFTC

As others have done before us, looked right over the top of it several times. Got the train down from North East Vic to buy an ambulance! Theos was our train stop so of course we had to find it.

Great for the kids on our walk to the market this morning!

Literally stumbled on it TFTC

I found this cache today on my Mega Walk #17 - a 30,000 step walk firstly around Coburg, then from Preston to Reservoir and back to Bell. Now back at Bell, I collected a third Sidetracked cache. My favourite thing from this cache was that I found a bell whilst searching at Bell. A bike bell to be exact, which I actually needed as mine is broken. Thanks from D B-A

So I must have totally had my eyes closed. Even with the hint, I still looked back through the logs and it was totally where the hint said!

Worth the challenge, keep eyes extremely peeled.

Thanks for the Geo, found it with the kids

Heading to an apprentice reunionWas early decided to look for this one, found by spoiler photoUnfortunately forgot to pack a pencil, sent photo as proof to owner Thanks for a smile on a showery morning

We went on a SideTracked run and it was good to look for these on a weekend. There was plenty of parking available at each stop. Checked everywhere except the right place here. Had a look at the info available, tried again and wondered how we could have missed it. Thanks for this SideTracked cache go to RoamingHowie.

It was time for a sidetracked hunt with goinplaces2 and a lot of logs were signed to add to our tally for this series. Not a very quick find here. Managed to miss it totally at first, but had a second look. TFTC.

Tftc RoamingHowie. A warm summer night, a hotel bed, a restless night. Opportunity knocks for an early morning pre-dawn walk.Had an initial look, walked right past it, che ked your last maintenance comment, found it straight away thereafter.

On secondment to Melbourne, Australia, combined with short holidays here and there. Day 27/74, Saturday. Another really hot day so I decided to do some train-hopping and go here and there. Beautiful Bundoora was one of my targets because I wanted to see the RMIT campus over there. I also walked a lot today again. This was my first stop today. I chose to visit this cache because I needed a regular cache for my statistics today (oh my). The cache was in great condition. Thank you for the cache and greetings from Vaasa, Finland! Logged with [GCDroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gcdroid).

After the CITO in Coburg this morning I had to make a detour to pick up some dog food. This cache happened to be on the way so it was a win win! Thank you RoamingHowie for placing and maintaining SideTracked - Bell for us to find today.

Found after a little searching, but well hidden

We looked everywhere LITERALLY everywhere I think someone had taken (I am a beginner tho soooo)

I dropped by the cache today to check on it and it is still in place and ready to be found.Acquiring an accurate GPS signal here is always a challenge with the coordinates varying from 0m to 8m and back again while standing at GZ.I have added a spoiler photo to focus on on the correct search area, and added more info to the hint.

Third time was a charm for this very easy find. We didnt want to get down in the dirt or damaged plants so we missed it.

Forgot to log the TB I dropped in here

Suscoe was in Melbourne this afternoon and so we decided to find a few caches beofre heading home.A warm afternoon but at least it was dry. We were glad we were here on a Sunday afternoon as quite a few car parks were almost empty which was handy.Thanks to RoamingHowie for this hide.So much rubbish in the immediate area.

Came back here on a morning ride, with help from CO cache was soon found, there were two TBs in there and I had dropped them at other caches, so it was interesting to see them here , I dropped another TB Thanks RoamingHowie for SideTracked - Bell#6065

Over this way to drop something off. Luckily I also had time to find this cache. I can't imagine how we all survived with the old station system. Did a CITO as well, but there is still so much rubbish unfortunately as I could carry it all!! Thanks for the cache and for adding to this fun series.

I think this one has been muggled.

Found with a lot of help from the CO. TFTC!

Day off today and I decided to do some Sudetracked caches. A few on the Mernda line today then into the city for some adventures. TFTC RoamingHowie I walked from Preston to this cache as I had a 20 minute wait between trains and after searching for this cache I just made it with 1 minute to spare.

Nothing found apart from many beer cans

I stopped by to check on this one this afternoon and the cache is still in place. The sky was clear so I took the opportunity to check the coords again. Im not sure if its because of the overhead railway, however the coords continuously fluctuate at this location and ranged from 0m to 4m when standing at GZ. There is no need to venture too far for this one.

N tI was in th arena and the station often so I took this muggle free occasion to make the search. The cache was soon found. Thank you for the opportunity to add another sidetracked to my list of finds of which this was number 7000.

I had to get wet, but that's all part of caching.It's getting out of the comfort zone!

Found by The Empire
I was on my own today, a solitary adventurer following the railway tracks in the northern suburbs of Melbourne as the beginning of spring brought new life to the world around me. Plenty of people here, just had to be quick. Thanks for the cache RoamingHowie.
- M

Took a while to spot this surprisingly well-hidden cache, so was happy when it was finally in hand. All in good condition. TFTC

It’s been a long time since I’ve visited Bell station. Last time I was here it was nothing like what I saw today, quite unexpectedly. It looks more like an international airport than a train station. The way it was lit up at night was quite spectacular.
With a tennis match about to start nearby, I was thankful that the rain was staying away.
An easy find under torchlight with no one around.
Always love a SideTracked cache. Number 30 for us.
TFTC Roaming Howie.

Cool cash thanks for the hints in the activity

Is that a seal with a stick and a girl in an animal onesy. By the way I didn't need your help for this cache as Grub62 was able to find it. Cleverly hidden. Audacious. TFTC.

Bunadoorian and I had some time to killthis afternoon so a train trip out to Bell was in order. After a bit of tooing and frooing I soon gad the cache in hand. TFTC RoamingHowie.

Third or maybe fourth time is a charm. Digging around the foliage definitely helped. TFTC

Had to hunt for a couple of minutes, and in broad daylight. Once the pedestrians had disappeared, I was quick look around. Thanks RoamingHowie for hiding this cache.

OzHockeyChick stopped in today and checked on this one and confirmed it is still in place.

Not today, unfortunately.

After a kitty-litter run nearby, I mosied on over to this one for a look. Having checked out the 'obvious' spot for a few minutes without success, I decided to have a peek at the hint [8)]. That made me realise the error of my ways and not long after, I had the rather bold hide in hand at 13:25 to open our account for July.

TNLNSL, although a couple of our geocoins had a visit to mark the occasion. Thanks RoamingHowie.

All hidden as described. Pink piers are prominent! TFTC

I dropped by this evening to check on the cache. It is still in place.

I tried to check on the coords again but it was too stormy to get an accurate read. Just in the garden close to the seat should have you finding it soon enough.

No luck today, will have to come back!

Found at 22:00
Just enough time for one last cache and happily I found this quickly using the hint.
Thanks RoamingHowie for the cache

Out and about with echidna44 after attending a tree planting morning at. Coburg. Once we had done our bit we starting clearing some out in the area. Another of the side track series under our belt. Nice easy find. Cache in excellent condition. Thanks for the cache RoamingHowie

After two events (breakfast followed by planting) I had a day caching with xambo4u.
Roadworks made it a little difficult at first, but we got there, and found the sneaky hide. Thanks RoamingHowie.

Find number 12087 at 10:46:54 am on Monday the 19 June 2023
I had to drop my geoRanger off for service in Bundoora for it's pre-trip pampering prior to our trip north for the winter. So, with plenty of time to kill between drop off and pick up, well, what else could I do , a SideTracked onslaught...
A Whittlesea container, they're coming out of everyones ears , quick find!
**Thanks for placing this cache RoamingHowie**

---
Have you logged your will attend for the “Cachemas In July” event?
More details are available at: [GCA7WT4](https://coord.info/GCA7WT4)

If you are looking for some new caches to find, explore the nominees for the 2022 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards.
The Geocaching List is available [here](https://coord.info/BMC8QYR)!

I came here at night a week or ago, and had no luck. Today I came with the cover of doing a mini CITO so I could walk through the garden beds, because as luck would have it people leave shit everywhere. Speaking of shit, I suspected the sewer outlet, but thought it's best to leave sewer outlets alone until there are no other options, and sure enough the hide was spotted somewhere else closer to where my phone was pointing me, and in a spot matching the hint. Thanks RoamingHowie for SideTracked - Bell.

Wow, unbelievable how I missed it the first time around, when I was also considering the sewer system. Well placed for such a large container.

Found with a friend a geodog. Great way to pass some time. TFTC!

Found by caughtatwork on 11/06/2023 at 2:45:00 PM
A tricky cache find for us today. I assumed a size and checked every wrong location in the vicinity. It was only after checking the size that the cache hide location because so much more obvious. Doh!
Took nothing, left nothing.
Thanks for placing this geocache here for us to find today, for without those who like to hide geocaches, there would be nothing around for those who like to find geocaches.
*Overall Experience: 3*
GAFF1

Rated: for Overall Experience

Took me and geo kid a little while to Sus this one but had in hand eventually.

Thanks for bringing new Geo's to the hood!

I needed a cache today and this is one of the few left close to home.
We searched, we walked away and then we came back and the cache was quickly in hand. Tftc

Ye

Super easy find on my early morning commute to work. Took the chance to put some extra layers while I was signing the log as it was a little brisk out.

Found by Omegaman1971

Out and about with Rebel Acts today after finishing work early, we continued our obsession to find every available Sidetracked cache in Victoria.

Was great to have have a Sidetracked cache for my 12000 find!!!

Cheers RoamingHowie for the cache

Out and about with My good caching mate Omegaman1971, there are always plenty of laughs while we are turning caches into smiles.

This is one of the caches found today.

Thanks RoamingHowie for the cache.

Nice telarively easy one with the hint: David

Nice quick dusk find. Thanks for another dog walk find.

18:45
Well, I didn't expect to be here this evening...

A bit of drama involving a broken car key meant Traveling_Jack and I caught the train from Mernda. Rather than travelling all the way into the city, I said goodbye to our foreign guest here, heading for the bus west.

But first...

Thanks, RoamingHowie. Always good to find a decent sized cache in the burbs.

#7545

I was on my way to Fawkner and got a little SideTracked.
As you do.
Providence intervened at this hide.
Upon approach, I spied a familiar face with a log book in hand.
Nice to see you again so soon boabtree.
Ticking off the newer placements in this series, as Australia moves ever closer to 200 SideTracked caches.

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The beginning of a long and varied adventure for the day.

Next stop Fawkner to collect nirgalagrin and Traveling_Jack on our way north out of town.

Finds included the first cache hidden in Victoria and some nearby hides.
A coffee and caches in Whittlesea.
Finishing off the AdLabs and newer hides at Yan Yean Reservoir and the neighbouring, highly favorited WEGT series.

Thanks to all the COs and others involved in placing these caches for us to find.

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It was a pleasure to show off some of the highlights that geocaching in Victoria has to offer before Jack departs for Europe in the morning.

After having a big day caching yesterday, I checked the weather last night and saw that today was going to be fine but the rest of the week was looking poor. So I decided on another day's caching, doing the new Side Tracked series caches along the Mernda line. This one was found after a short search, and I was just replacing the container when I saw another geocacher walking towards me. This is a popular place to be at the moment.,

If I was a walker or a bike rider and I was in the near vicinity of the cache I would never find or even think there was something to hide and find. A fantastic area for a cache I might go ahead for awhile as I'm enjoying the ride and the day. I was able to leave a trinket and took nothing.
Greytiger

Coordinates changed from:
S 37° 44.701 E 145° 0.013

Coordinates changed to:
S 37° 44.704 E 145° 0.011

Distance from original: 20.7 feet or 6.3 meters.

The satellites have been a bit confused around this location owing to the nearby overhead structure no doubt. To avoid damage to the surrounding area, the coordinates have been altered and a further hint provided.

Tftc

Looking around for a quick cache to grab after attending a local event. Took a while to find and we almost gave up. Thankfully we didn't. TFTC

It was starting to get cold and dark now but I wanted to finish this section of the Mernda line before I started driving home. I looked around for a few minutes hoping to see or feel a cache but I couldn't find anything of interest. After reading a previous finder's log I widened my search and found the cache.
Now for a drive to Keon Park and one last cache before dinner.

Thank you RoamingHowie for another cache in the SideTracked series.

What a day!

We have been side tracked, explored Preston ad lab, picked up rubbish at the CITO, found some traditionals, solved a puzzle, had a BBQ, went to the awards ceremony and chatted with lots of friendly geocachers.

After the awards ceremony, JupiterPearl, Spiffy- and I were eager to explore more caches in the north. We set off to see what was was 'on the way' home.

We were on a roll with no DNFs and sped along to this cache.

Car parking was hard at this location (perhaps the northern residents don't park and commute?) and we each approached from different ways.

We were sidetracked for awhile with a jumping GPS and I was distracted by the cool koalas in the artwork mural nearby.

We over analysed the hint, and I over complicated the situation by then encouraging JupiterPearl to help me look at each individual plant along the path near the train line, thinking it may be a potential fake plant with a hidden cache. spiffy- applied more common sense and made the find.

Thanks RoamingHowie for the cache and pointing out the nice art.

##Published - thanks for contributing to Geocaching with this Listing.##
*Don't forget that regular visits to check on this cache will keep it healthy as well as keep seekers happy. Be sure to log an Owner Maintenance log each time you visit.*

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{FTF} 10.20am
I was heading down Spring Street to head towards the lake area for the CITO and the event and also a few more Side Tracked caches after finding a couple last night and my phone dinged at me.
I pulled over and checked the message and a notification had come through about a new side tracked cache.
I thought I might as well head to it as it was the furthest I would have travelled today.
I thought that a few more other cachers would be heading there as well and they would either beat me there or at least arrive when I was there.
Parked at the Arts centre and headed off.
My GPS did not want to help me so I read the hint and started looking everywhere thinking somebody will turn up.
I soon located it and then a quick log so not to upset anyone and of course the light rain started.
Back to the car and onto the next one.
I soon got a message and all I can say if you snooze you loose.

Thanks Roaming Howie TFTC.

2TF
Missed by 10 mins.
Thanks for bringing us here by placing this cache, RoamingHowie ??
~????????~

[2TF]
Found with OHC, GT37 and crank1 while on our way to CITO. Nice art! . RoamingHowie, thank you so much for placing it for everyone to enjoy and highlighting this area.

We missed the FTF as we came in 2TF. RoamingHowie, thank you so much for placing the cache and logging the log.??

Award nomination and CITO event day had arrived and I messaged Fleabag to see what he was doing to get here and he said he was leaving early so I headed off by myself and found a few caches on the way. After the event we made our way via quite a few caches back towards home and ended up finishing about 5pm.
I went around in circles and had a quick look which was a bad idea because I didn't initially spot it. Came back for a better search and there it was just sitting there.
Thanks RoamingHowie for the cache, the adventure, the hunt and the fun.

11:12

Heading toward the Edwardes Lake Park CITO, we found ourselves sidetracked by the colorful street art and the Preston Market, and then this one popped-up.

Satellites today had our GZ 7 metres N.N.E. of where we found the cache.

Thanks to RoamingHowie (F=12384 H=76) for adding this cache to the gameboard.
34843

{2TF}
OzHockeyChick, Pwala, Crank1 and Mrs Papi were heading to the CITO and COTY nominations event when this cache was noticed. They still had 6 minutes to get there when they noticed that Posums had already made the find. A quick call to congratulate and the ladies found that they had missed it by over 15 minutes. That is a very long time when it is an FTF. Thanks for placing this cache.

Last RHST-cache of the day.
What a magical place!

TFTC RH


-———————————————————
Have you logged your will attend for Cachemas In July? More details are available at: [GCA7WT4](https://coord.info/GCA7WT4)

If you are looking for some new caches to find, explore the nominees for the 2022 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards. The shortlist is available [here](https://coord.info/BMC8QYR)

The trio of Kristyadventures,Spiffy and myself headed for a few of the local caches after the GV event. The train line was troubling the GPS. Spiffy made the find after a broad search. Thanks RoamingHowie for the hide.

We were about to walk away, when we had a return message from the CO, then we quickly found it. GZ had us a long way from where we should have been.
It’s a fair way from the grass edge,unless one of the earlier finders moved it.
TFTC which was published today.
Mural is beautiful.