Territory Gate Jerrabomberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
By SecretSquirrel-BJC on 21-Jun-07. Waypoint GC13RQD

Goodbye - it was fun

Listing has been updated because WP1 container seems to be missing and I am not going to replace it given that the cache will be archived.

[I have been looking at this puzzle for a long, long time. I never really had a clue about it. Then at an event in Nowra I was told: "Territory gate! That's easy. ]It's Morse code." [So then I looked at it more and more and more. I even found a syte that would give all the possible] Morse code[ solutions for any amount of ]dots and dashes[ without spaces. I looked at it forwards and backward, inverted and not and nothing came out.

Then on another caching trip I was told in no uncertain terms that it was NOT] Morse code. [After that another possibility presented itself and out fell a set of coodynates.

A couple of weekends ago I decided to pop out and have a look at WP1. I looked and looked and looked and rearranged the landscape significantly and after now having spoken to the previous finder to me and discovering that THEY couldn't find the micro either I am pretty confident it isn't there.... A phone-a-friend gave me a general description of GZ and I drove down that way only to find a muggle in a broken down car nearby. Not finding the feature I was after and wondering if the phone-a-friend had misjudged the distance from WP1 I drove the long way around to a similar feature I knew about only to find it ]demolished and new one being constructed. [Sigh.

So an email to the owner revealed the final GZ coordinates and a look at GE showed me I had approached it twice from both directions and stopped 100m short each time.

Today I tried again and found a] raging torrent[ in my way. Up onto the infrastructure I went, tied up the dog and headed in. I think from the] flattened grass and the amount of mud that the water probably got about 1 metre from the cache. But it was high and dry [and everything was safe. What a treasure trove was found inside! If only the geoboy had been with me this time his eyes would have fallen out of his head!

A great puzzle SS. Hard but not too hard, even though I couldn't solve it without assistance.]

If this cache can please remain active for just a little longer, I'll be up within the next 3 months to find it!

Notice - archival will occur in 1 month's time....after a final chance for last finders
Or perhaps even much sooner..depending on news from Norkmeister

Thanks old friend - I will remember you fondly.

A double ammo box loaded with loot.
The puzzle was the result of being told that my first puzzle was SOOOO easy LOL!
Take that! LOL!

The cache has had its time and as Sarah Brightman says TTSGB!

I am archiving some of my metro caches, and am not adopting them out.

This cache was pointed out to me by MV a few months back and between us we through around a few ideas. A showed the puzzle around to a few mates and quite a bit of team work was needed before we got some numbers we liked. Phew!

Flash forward to today and I was starting to wish I had a more suitable car for the trip. A few months back I got bogged in similar circumstances and late last year M.V. and I got stuck over near Mildura as well, although on that occasion we managed to get ourselves out. I'm not sure why M.V. lets me do all the driving!

The final cache was a whopper and I thank the owner for placing a few ammo cans around the place. The wombat hole looks like it could have housed an elephant but we didn't stay around long enough to find out.

Many thanks,

R + W - B

Reperio at 1110. I have been looking at this one for quite a while, and when it seemed like I had some viable numbers, I still couldn't get them to line up right. Enlisted the help of Rubik, and after much deliberating over numbers, we had something that look OK. Today we swung by to see what we could find, and once we made the initial find amidst broken glass and charred rubble from what appeared to be a recent gathering, it was on to GZ. Arrived at GZ and couldn't believe the size of the wombat hole that lay before us. Did not want to see the the creature that lived in that thing. Cache was found soon after and we made it out alive.

Gratias SS for another different puzzle.

While pondering this puzzle a couple of weeks ago, and re-reading the text, it suddenly dawned on me where the answer was - a quick look on Google maps seemed to confirm I was on the right track, so I added this cache to my to-do list.

I was in the area today with geoson, and we decided to take a look - sure enough, there was the "gem", and it led us to GZ where it was a fairly easy find. I now understand O319's regret at having the wrong geovehicle, and I was regretting having a geotrailer attached to my own unsuitable geovehicle today.

TNLNSL (cache is still well stocked with goodies, but we had nothing with us to trade).

TFTC (but not so much for the puzzle - it is still a complete mystery to me, even though I now have coords from the GPSr while supposedly at the solution. Also a bit confused by the reference to the cache's guardian, as I didn't see one).

BTW, while finding the "gem", a car came through the gate, wound down its window, and warned that there had been a lot of brown snakes around recently, so take care!

This puzzle has been on my unfound list for some time, have read it and thought "What the?" However this morning it dawned on me where WP1 was without solving the puzzle, even the cue in the puzzle text made sense.. Headed off with Mrs O319 and Justjessie and my suspicions were correct. Procceded to GZ regreting that we had brought the wrong Geovehicle, however was not going to let this get in the way of finding a cache that had not been logged for over 13 months. Cache container found in near perfect condition. Took a Fire engine and left a Beanie bear.. Thanks Mr Squirrel....

Quick find once O319 worked out where WP1 was likely to be. Took balls, left frog and tape measure. TFTC

Found with LordJimbob55 after reciving hints from O319. Becasue we know the area it was easy to figure out. Had to hang on for dear life while LordJimbob55 went up and down the hills in the 4WD.

Nice spot to sign the log. Good view of the sunset.

found it after receiving hints from O319, as i like to haunt the area doing a bit of 4X4 is figured it out pity easily. nice quick find and i also decided to torment Cookiemonster by doing some pity rough 4X4 on the way.

Finally got it sorted and solved the puzzle....

Nice big box with lots of swaps and an excellent place to hide it.

TFTC
MC KENNA

I actually have to thank FarmerFrentzen for this find. He stumbled upon the approximate location of part of the cache while placing a cache, armed with this information we came tonight and took the brute force approach we soon found the Gem and were on our way to the castle. A top spot that I had been looking at GE for a hide but not yet gotten to it. The local didn't make an appearance as we signed the log and then headed on home.

Thanks SecretSquirrel-BJC for a top cache, maybe one day you might be kind enough to explain how I should have found the cache...

TNLNSL

As indicated by Big Matt I stumbled across one of the waypoints on this one some time ago, when after placing a hide I was required to move it due to the cache saturation rules.

I decided to come back to the area with Big Matt and conduct a brute force search to turn up the vital clue that would lead us to the GZ. After 15 minutes or so under torchlight we came up with the clue and were on our way to the GZ.

It was just plain luck that we stumbled across the WP with it not being set as Q to A. Also lucky there was no sign of the local at the GZ. TNLN and TFTC.

Well, had been looking at this one on and off for quite a while when it suddenly dawned on me that I knew where to look to find the gate. Mention of contemporary ruins nearby confirmed what I thought I knew. Checked a spot on this hunch and was rewarded with the gem which lead to the cache. I still don't have a clue about reaching the solution to the puzzle image but c'est la vie and I'm happy to take whatever inspiration works. TFTC, TNSL and L a clan pathtag. Cheers .

#114

The annoying thing about this puzzle was I knew exactly what to use to solve it, but couldn't figure out the specifics. And then it dawned on me today at work. So some quick working out while my computer was being stupid and I had the coords. Unfortunately I also had 6 hours until I was free to go an hunt for it.

Ran home after work , grabbed Mc Kenna and headed out. Took ages to find the first part, but after that it was simple. Being 5'2" has its advantages.

Thanks heaps for this puzzle. It was heaps of fun.

Gwen

17.50pm This was the last one for the day and what a fantastic cache. I did this one with HumphreyBBear and the geokids. We arrived at GZ and I sent HumphreyBBear in as The human sacrifice, as it turns out one wasnt needed today. I am SO happy to have found this one.
T-bouncy ball L-matchbox vw car

TFTC We had a great time finding it.

(#103) Found 17:50 On a run with Team Dean. We had found the "gem" late the day before and attacked this one as last one for the day. I'm sure after today the "resident" knows all the bad words....did the customary banging of the head on the architraves......was made the sacrifice and forced (you can't fit a BIG round log into a little round hole....no matter how hard she pushed!!)into the lair. Had to act like a tree as some muggles rode past which is hard when you wearing a striped blue and white shirt!! TNLN TFTC!!

This certainly warranted the difficulty rating for the puzzle. I had no idea, until some random scribblings I'd made on the whiteboard suddenly crystallised into potential coordinates. Phew!

Headed to GZ as my last attempted find for the day, with the sun setting fast and roast dinner beckoning at home. Annoyingly, it took longer than it should have to find the cache at GZ - but I think that was because I was expecting it to be obvious once I got there and didnt take the time to search methodically.

I did eventually locate the cache, but had to stand in the resident's front room, and I bumped my head several times - I was hoping that all my noise and swearing wouldnt cause the inhabitant to venture out and see what was causing the fuss!

Fortunately I was able to sign the log and be on my way apparently without upsetting the locals.

Thanks SS-BJC for another brain-taxing adventure

Rated: for Overall Experience

Ha!

#253 - This one has been eluding me for quite some time now. At the morning coffee event we were given a hint that sent us down a new path and shortly revealed the answer (and explained the hints - isn't that often the way?
Visited the castle today, twice actually as the first time there was a guy in a car reading a newspaper and very curious about me driving up.
Came back after doing a couple more caches and managed to track the treasure to the castle ramparts. Didn't take any though,
Thanks SS-BJC for the puzzle and the hunt.

1233. After missing last weekend, and not being able to get near GZ during the week, this morning it was time to do the last bit. Managed to drive up to within 50m dodging many puddles on the way. Got to GZ and then had to go back to the car for some extra help. Once I had illuminated myself it was back to GZ and a quick find.

I wonder which has made the most tracks, I assume the animal that lives in the hole, as it's been a while between finds.

TFTC and a bit of nostalgia as well.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Ah - another kiss of death to one of my caches by McPhan - LOL!

Ok - I have replaced the small container at WP1 which contains the next fractionals for the GZ.

I will also make a couple of minor adjustments to the listing.

Didn't find WP1. When I widened my search I almost located some syringes by touch. Please take care in the shadow of the gate.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Hooray!!!! No muggles at the waypoint so finally made it to the cache. Still a challenging hide. Loved the loot - kids made off with balls and left golf balls and snuffy. TFTC!

Found @9:30am

Finally managed to figure out the clues to this cache (with a couple of small hints from SS-BJC.

Located the first WP easily but then suddenly had a lapse and overlooked the obvious hints for the GZ. Spent ages searching high and low, then finally had to resort to "phone a friend" to set me on the right path. Found cache quickly in the end.

Took: TB and Coin

It pays to go to events, I managed to pickup a hint for this one that clicked with all the bits and pieces mentioned in the description. Worked out the initial co-ords and off to the rest of the cache spots. Strangely I found another pair pair of specs on the way, broken this time!!.
No footprints nor broken or laid down grass, No disturbance of any kind around the GZ. Looked like I had beaten the CSFamily to the cache, Going by their logs it looks like they ran into a few problems.
Swapped a toy for a large lightstick and a GC and TB.
I ran into a bunch of 4bies on the way back so the area is a bit popular even with all the current mud holes that could make it a bit difficult for a 2wd.

Ahhhhhhh! The puzzle (with help) got us to the first WP with the disaster of muggles playing with remote controlled cars everywhere. Decided to go back two days later in the rain to find muggles bogged 5 meters from aforementioned WP!!!!!! Will have another go next time we are out this way.

I found it with Eynowd. I took the sheriff's badge and left a slinky. TFTC

#417 at 1340

When this one first came out, I had NO idea how to crack it. Little did I realise that it was only the beginning of SS-BJC's obsession with mystery multis....

It wasn't until Winglen pointed me in the right direction that I was able to figure out this puzzle.

It took me until today to get out there to find it. Found WP1 easily enough, then found the cache shortly after (well, actually, it was xtumech who found the cache).

Took: Pony
Left: jumbo cards

TFTC!

This was so tricky for me months ago when it popped up, but this this time when i saw it, it clicked immediately. It took longer for me to work out what the contemporary ruins were but now i know! (no ducks today...)

TFTC!!!!

A place I have been to before, but forgot this where it was. Once I evtually worked out what I was looking for it all worked out OK. Thanks.

4.TNLN
Visited: World Traveling Gold GC A#6 & Earth Geocache GC A#17

Albida

Didn't print the clue, just looked and looked and looked at it on the screen. Did half of what was required, but there I stopped. Sought advice from SQ, Ah, OK, down that line I went, and went and went, exploring many avenues and side tracks. More SQ help - Ah, it was that side-track, just needed some fine tuning.

Got to cache, going around MUD and a fresh load of RUBBISH someone has dumped out there.
I have ridden my bike past here MANY times, also, 25 yrs ago, this was a HIVE of activity on weekends.
Found cache, Hmmmm, Hmmmm & very Hmmmmmm.
Dropped off a TB, took one too.

Thanks Secret Squirrel, for the location and puzzle.

Found it withj Tealby on the way to playing a soccer game in cooma. TFTC. TNLN.

After being pointed in the right direction by winglen I finally managed to crack the code & Biggles303 & I headed out to an area I had never previously had cause to visit (despite it being relatively close to home). Found the WP with little drama - other than some muddy feet then proceeded on to GZ. As previously said, this is a very well stocked cache - I took the opportunity to swap an Aries paperweight for some B&D sunglasses to replace the sunnies that I broke yesterday while out caching! Very timely. Left the TB for the next cacher as I have previously moved it. Thanks for the adventure.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Yippee *FTF* - great cache! Mind you I don’t know about the easy bit! (I’d shudder to see a hard one!). Spent over an hour staring at the puzzle, trying this and trying that! In fact I had about 5 lines of inquiry happening! In the end I got too bogged down in it all, and sent an email asking whether any of my lines of thought were on the right track! – One was, and I was actually very close to having solved it, but unfortunately gave up on that line of thought a tad too early in favour of another... As mentioned, loved the puzzle, and the final location was new (and interesting) to me also! Took gem and TBs, and left geocoin. P.S. – this has got to be one of the best stocked caches I’ve seen in a long time! I should have taken the kids along! Thanks SecretSquirrel-BJC for a fantastic cache! - *Overall Experience: 5*

Rated: for Overall Experience

Well, a second to find after TE is as good as a FTF any day - we took the STF gem, thank you very much. we must have spent three hours cumulatively working on many lines of enquiry and kept giving up in frustration. Even had the teenager (who normally develops something akin to an anaphylactic reaction to anything related to geocaching), get involved in one conversion possibility. The clues were very cryptic and think a three star difficulty is underrated - the added clues definitely helped. Still, the hardest ones are the most rewarding.

This is an interesting location. Loved the medieval gates, but not so sure about the Shrek clue. Best stocked cache by a big margin - a substantial investment SS-BJC!

T: Spring GC and train magnet.
L: Hitch a Ride TB and sunglasses.

Glad to have this behind us and to get our weekend back. Hopefully we'll sleep better tonight!!

Thanks Secret Squirrel,it was good fun.

[This entry was edited by winglen on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 11:00:02 PM.]

Well i've eaten a whole block of snack chocolate and still no closer to an answer.......

Published