The Nile Song Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
By
Team Chaos on 08-Jul-06. Waypoint GA0491
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Traditional |
| Container: | Small |
| Coordinates: | S33° 48.895' E151° 0.750' (WGS 84) |
| 56H 316047E 6256589N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 7 m |
| Local Government Area: | Parramatta |
/151.0125,-33.814917,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Whodunit Geocache
Recommended (1)
Planned (2)
Watched (2)
Cache Tracker
Mayor
QR Code
Log Count
Rating
Description
I was standing by the Nile
When I saw the lady smile
I would take her out for a while
For a while...
While not exactly the Nile, the Parramatta River has played an important part in the history and development of our nation. The early settlers in Parramatta would have relied on its fresh water for their survival. The rich soils around the river provided the basis for the first attempts at agriculture. The river itself was a convenient means of trasportation for both people and goods between the settlements of Sydney and Parramatta.
The Gasworks bridge was completed in 1885. Originally called Newland's Bridge, its popular name derives from the gas works which stood near its southern end. The south side of the bridge was also the site of Howell's wind and watermill, which was built and 1828 and used until 1868.
The Bridge has a high historical significance as it is on a main road. It is a large bridge with long spans over a major river, indicative of the then burgeoning road network. It has historic associative value based on its ability to represent the endeavours of local settlers, with their need for safe and reliable access across the Parramatta River. It is associated with bridge designer John A McDonald and significantly helped open up western Sydney.
Aesthetically, the Bridge with its long lattice trusses and tall sandstone piers presents an imposing yet attractive reminder of the past. It has strong aesthetic lines that enhance the aesthetics of its environment. As such, the bridge has aesthetic significance.
Good luck finding The Nile Song, er cache, no, er song!
Hints
Gur pnpur vf abg n zvpeb...
|
|
Decode |
Logs
Today I had a birthday party lunch at Parramatta, why waste the morning when it can be used for other things?
I knew I had to get this one as the Team Chaos ones are getting rarer and rarer. TFTC!
I knew I had to get this one as the Team Chaos ones are getting rarer and rarer. TFTC!
We wanted to find a cache on ANZAC Day for a Dragonzone challenge and this one was close by after leaving the camping and caravan show at Rosehill. Mr Shifter stopped south of the bridge and Mrs Shifter walked to the cache which was located quickly. It is good to find a GCA cache that has been in place for so long. Thanks teamchaos.
others are right, it is an obvious location but not necessarily an obvious spot. gave me a magnetic feeling
Really clever hide and full of cool treasures 
Rated: for Overall Experience
Great to see these old ones still going strong. Not found for almost 2 years but still sitting nicely at it's GZ.
No problems and my name was soon in the log book
Thanks Team Chaos.....
No problems and my name was soon in the log book
Thanks Team Chaos.....
Rated: for Overall Experience
I was taking a wander through Parramatta and was intrigued to see if this long unloved cache was still around. Once at the bridge I realised where the cache probably was and as I still had an appointment to get to decided to save the actual finding for another day. Still unloved but now on the to do list.
Since I was close by retrieving a moveable I thought I should have a look for this one, no problem finding it. The obvious spot is the right spot!
Thanks for the neat cache.
Thanks for the neat cache.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Was here to complete a waymark at the same time, 6.15am on a Sunday morning, it’s nice & quiet 
, found after a little search 
, TFTC / TFTH / SL
, found after a little search , TFTC / TFTH / SLRated: for Overall Experience
Was in Parra today for lunch and this one was on the list. Walked to gz and looked here and there and eventually found the cache. Put it back exactly as I found it, and later as I drove across the bridge I could just see it as I whizzed past.
Thanks Team Chaos.
Thanks Team Chaos.
Went out for some fresh air this evening and a little walk. Found my way to GZ and was lucky that there were no muggles about at all - well, apart from those in cars, that made the bridge shake! Found safe and sound after a short search. TFTC x
Rated: for Overall Experience
While in Parramatta doing a study and some caches, walked over to this one before getting to the car. Stopped on the bridge, looked up, down, left and right and with no torch made it harder on myself.
Then realised I had a 'test' iPhone on me with a torch app. Shone it around and then found the bugger after reading Yurts log. 2 months unfound to the day...hehe...SL. TNLN and replaced. Nice little cache...TFTC.
Then realised I had a 'test' iPhone on me with a torch app. Shone it around and then found the bugger after reading Yurts log. 2 months unfound to the day...hehe...SL. TNLN and replaced. Nice little cache...TFTC.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Parked at the end of Stewart St after Bocce Anyone and thought there'd be a nice path along the river to GZ (hadn't read the description - this just came up as my nearest unfound after Bocce). Well there was a 'track' but it was so low I think it had only been used by hobbits! Made my way along it a bit Bear Grylls-style until I came up under the bridge. Was pretty sure it wasn't down here at sea level so scrambled up the bank and crossed the road. Walked along until my GPSr said 2m or so and looked in the right spot to make the find. Waited for the muggles to pass and then I grabbed it and signed then replaced. Fairly quiet at 1130am. Walked back via the road of course - Macarthur Girls High eh? Had a girlfriend from there once. Very long time ago.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Rated: for Overall Experience
Sitting around on a job nearby meant I could zip here and make the find at about 5.30am. There were surprisingly more muggles than I expected at that time of day, but after a couple of minnutes they all vanished asd I was able to look, an easy find in the forst spot I thought it would be. A great old bridge too.
Thanks.
Thanks.
After a short stroll from the hotel, spotted this one and made the find whilst dodging the muggles!
Thanks, Team Chaos !
Thanks, Team Chaos !
Cool bridge over a much improved river; had to mask my intentions with all the muggles but eventually had the cache in hand. TFTC!
212. Don't know how I forgot to log this one but I guess I need to load to GSAK from the GPS more often. I followed an elderly lady and her shopping trolley over and had to try really hard not to over take her. Once across she needed a rest so I had to wait even longer. Then came the hobo and even longer wait. Once the coast was clear it was a quick find. Top effort on the hide. Now back around on a loop and to the car.
TFTC and the Cleo.
TFTC and the Cleo.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Can't think how I forgot about this cache - it has been on my list to do since last year when I was clearing out all of the caches near my work, but I didn't get back to get this one. Corrected that oversight on my lunchbreak today. 1 km walk each way - I can claim I actually got some exercise in today as well!
This was a very clever hiding spot, took me a while to spot between muggle dodging. I was unlucky enough to arrive at the bridge just as school was getting out & hoards of school girls were swarming across the bridge. I had to linger at the end of the bridge making a phone call until they had all gone & I had the bridge to myself to search.
My GPSr tried to lead me astray, it kept suggesting I go to the other side of the bridge. That didn't seem a sensible idea, so I basically ignored it & just searched in what seemed like logical places. Eventually I looked at the right angle & spotted the cache. Retrieval was another matter - I could only just reach it & ended up with slight shoulder strain putting it back in place .
Retrieved the yowie swaggie to move to another cache soon.
This was a very clever hiding spot, took me a while to spot between muggle dodging. I was unlucky enough to arrive at the bridge just as school was getting out & hoards of school girls were swarming across the bridge. I had to linger at the end of the bridge making a phone call until they had all gone & I had the bridge to myself to search.
My GPSr tried to lead me astray, it kept suggesting I go to the other side of the bridge. That didn't seem a sensible idea, so I basically ignored it & just searched in what seemed like logical places. Eventually I looked at the right angle & spotted the cache. Retrieval was another matter - I could only just reach it & ended up with slight shoulder strain putting it back in place
.Retrieved the yowie swaggie to move to another cache soon.
Rated: for Overall Experience
While in Parramatta, the wife needed to some girls only shopping so I planned to do a quick cache while they shopped. Got close to the GZ and spotted the cache as soon as I got there. TNLN TFTC
I reached the likely spot fairly easily during my lunch hour excursion and searched the usual places -- in between a steady stream of passing muggle pedestrians -- for about ten minutes before becoming a bit worried? Had the so-called 'bold' hide finally come undone? Had it dropped into the Parramatta River?
However, I widened my search and quickly turned up the 'small' container, more or less hiding where you might expect. It was about 8-10 metres north of the published coordinates and may have been the victim of the well-known cache replacement 'migration' effect. Anyhow, after completing the caching formalities, I returned the container to a good spot that was 2-3 metres from the CO's coordinates. Hope this is OK.
Cache container was in good shape and the contents were nice and dry. I spotted Altaire's 'Nap the Honeygum Yowie' swaggie but -- while constantly pausing on and off for muggles to pass by -- forgot to take it along with me. But it's safe and sound and waiting for the next visitor, not far above the Parramatta River.
TNLNSL.
A fun experience! Many thanks to Team Chaos.
However, I widened my search and quickly turned up the 'small' container, more or less hiding where you might expect. It was about 8-10 metres north of the published coordinates and may have been the victim of the well-known cache replacement 'migration' effect. Anyhow, after completing the caching formalities, I returned the container to a good spot that was 2-3 metres from the CO's coordinates. Hope this is OK.
Cache container was in good shape and the contents were nice and dry. I spotted Altaire's 'Nap the Honeygum Yowie' swaggie but -- while constantly pausing on and off for muggles to pass by -- forgot to take it along with me. But it's safe and sound and waiting for the next visitor, not far above the Parramatta River.
TNLNSL.
A fun experience! Many thanks to Team Chaos.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Despite it being mid Saturday morning there were plenty of opportunities betwixt muggles to locate this one. Kinda knew the likely sort of hide it would be and were proved correct. Just a matter of peeking in the correct niche, ignoring the passing vehicular traffic. Did the cache duties and carried on to some other nearby caches. No swaps made however dropped off a swaggie.
Didnt take to long inbetween muggles this afternoon to locate the rather bold hide! Still in top nick and a nice surprise find while out chasing nearby mystery caches! Cheers.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Had good reception and found GZ easily. Something caught my eye straight away but then I lost it. No luck looking everywhere on the bridge while dodging the muggles for about half an hour.
Decided to try looking under the bridge for another fifteen minutes. No luck finding anything other than rubbish.
Go across the bridge one more time and decide one last quick look. Sure enough spot it easily!?!
TNLNSL. TFTC.
Decided to try looking under the bridge for another fifteen minutes. No luck finding anything other than rubbish.
Go across the bridge one more time and decide one last quick look. Sure enough spot it easily!?!
TNLNSL. TFTC.
Rated: for Overall Experience
After not having any visitors for nearly a year we thought it was time to check if this was still in place. All is good, searched for about 5 minutes and then spied it. After several days of very wet weather thought this was a good time to go searching as most muggles were not venturing outside. TFTC
With only the co-ords on my gps, I found the cache easily. Quite a sneaky hide considering the number of people crossing the bridge every day!
Took a while to find it's hiding place on a hot 40 degree summer's day, even the bridge was hot to touch. Had to avoid muggles by watching the river cat pass by, and viewing the large mullet in the river, but I wouldn't fancy eating them though. Clever hide. TNLNSL. TFTC.
found while walking back to my car after finding another cache down stream. Nice steady stream of muggles at 5pm made things interesting, luckily there are lots of nice things things to look at while wait for a clearence.
TNLN TFTC
TNLN TFTC
Walked straight up to it this time. Don't know what my problem was before. I guess sometimes the GPS doesn't want to come to the party. Coords were spot on.
No one about today on an Easter Monday holiday. Hardly any bridge traffic either. Of course the only person to cross the bridge had to do so when I was signing the log. they left me alone and I could return the cache without bother.
What a large cache you are too.
No swaps and thanks for the interesting bit of history.
No one about today on an Easter Monday holiday. Hardly any bridge traffic either. Of course the only person to cross the bridge had to do so when I was signing the log. they left me alone and I could return the cache without bother.
What a large cache you are too.
No swaps and thanks for the interesting bit of history.
Rated: for Overall Experience
I took some time out from exploring the area to log this one.
Thanks Loon, its an interesting place to look around.
Thanks Loon, its an interesting place to look around.
Found after a short search. Quiet day in Parramatta today, they must have been all sleeping it off from last night. TNLNSL, thanks Team Chaos.
Coordinates were spot on, and I had the cache in hand in no time - unusual for me! Fortunately I had timed it right so that the area was deserted, apart from passing cars, who would have seen a cyclist taking a break. I had passed on the odd occasion but never stopped before. TFTC.
Rated: for Overall Experience
DNF for me. I looked and looked but nothing revealed itself. Thought I looked everywhere short of climbing the rails themselves.
Any hints?
Any hints?
Rated: for Overall Experience
10.00pm Hooray Hooray I found it at last because last time I was trying to find for a cache for a long while. Thanks SL
I've driven over this bridge thousands of times but never walked it before. Thanks for giving us a reason. Took tiny torch, left rubber ducky. *socks* and sons
Couldn't believe that Sevabo found it before me... SMILE! Thank you for organise the cache and hunt.
Found at 20.00. It was sooo easy to find [about two mins] Co ords for GZ are perfect. Thanks for taking us there
Co ords spot on heaps of Muggle activity... Great hiding spot
TNLN SL
Thanks for the cache
TNLN SL
Thanks for the cache
Found this one with Abuseme after having dinner at the local. Bigmickb watched on. TNLN. Thanks for the evening cache fix.
Good hidey place, I tried well below the spot for ages, gave up and found it on way back to the car. Relieved. TNLN. TFTH.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Nice easy find during lunch. A bit of muggle activity resulted in my showing extra interest in the structure and the view.
Great day for a walk in the sun...thanks Team Chaos.
Great day for a walk in the sun...thanks Team Chaos.
Found easily on my second attempt. First time was a half-hearted effort after I finished another one nearby but ran out of time. Only had to use stealth twice while muggles passed by. Good to see another cache in the area. Thanks for good cache. TNLNSL.
Accurate fix made for a rapid find. I had been over this bridge numerous times without ever realising its history. Thanks for filling me in.
hells bells this was harder than i thought! wot with my altitude problem and the dark (1900hrs)i was just about to give up, wot with muggles everywhere and me with a torch lookin' all s'picious like and all!
when with one last look and 'Hullo!'
thanks for the hunt
acko
when with one last look and 'Hullo!'
thanks for the hunt
acko
No one in sight except for passing cars, found the cache dead on GZ and loved the container. only problem is i can't exactly remember where i took it from so i hope i put it back in the same place.
Thanks Team Chaos for a tops cache
Thanks Team Chaos for a tops cache
GZ appears to have been mugger and sufficantly muggle free at about 2030 to sneak in and grab the FTF. Rather a cold night to be out, so it was nice to make the trip worth my while. Thanks Chaotic ones!
Hmmm, well I had a quick go at this, since I had the cache owner riding shotgun today.
But this cache was not to be found by me today, as I was bing eyed off by a possible mugger,yes mugger not muggle, he stopped when I stopped, waited till I pasted and started following me. I waited til the traffic suited and crossed the road, but ignored Loon waiting in my truck, the best backup I could have was backup that this mugger didn't know I had...
I'll be back....
But this cache was not to be found by me today, as I was bing eyed off by a possible mugger,yes mugger not muggle, he stopped when I stopped, waited till I pasted and started following me. I waited til the traffic suited and crossed the road, but ignored Loon waiting in my truck, the best backup I could have was backup that this mugger didn't know I had...
I'll be back....
