Not Drowning, Caching - Cowes Jetty Silverleaves, Victoria, Australia
By Hell+Back adopted by Gonefishen07 on 19-Sep-08. Waypoint GC1GDEG

Very sad but it is time to let this one go

Out on another maintenance run with the CO. It was quite warm today but not as hot as the rest of the week has been. Muggles everywhere but all so absorbed in what they are doing that they don't even see us. After a short search I spotted what I was looking for.
Thanks Gonefishen07 for the cache and the fun day

Saying hi to fishermen and passerby to distract them from what was really going on. Took a little fossicking but come up with the booty. As previously the cache is cracked but otherwise in good order tftc

Our last cache we found on our trip to the island, left tb

Cache container needs some tlc, edges are cracked however log is dry

Found with my family - becca85, boo09 & chan02 as well as GemmaSistma & boys on a roadtrip for the school holidays. Sorry for the very tardy logging. TFTC

Found during our super fun roadtrip to Phillip Island with my Team Clarmensma family - becca85, GemmaSistema, neisha07, Adam & Lukey. We found lots of caches and saw lots of different animals- including a penguin in the wild! TFTC!

School holiday time once again which means Team Clarmensma is formed (myself+GemmaSistema+neisha07+boo09+Adam+Luke) and one lucky destination gets to host us.
This time it was Phillip Island and decided to make a 3 day road-trip of it.
The weather treated us fairly well and we enjoyed the many beautiful views and landscapes that we were taken to before caching our way home on day 3. TFTC!

Finally found this one after solving it in workshop this morning. Correct coordinates help. TFTC

A group assault on this cache after solving it at a Puzzle solving session at Cowes Library earlier. A nice easy find here, thanks Gonefishen07.

With ceebee2013 and bendsinister. TFTC.

Yay! Thanks to some help with the puzzle from everyone at the puzzle solving event we got this one ! Tftc

Found it after the puzzle cache event. TFTC

Found with Pinkpiggy7 just before the rain hit.

This one we solved at the puzzle solving Workshop.
Found with pinkpiggy7 just before the rain hit
With Zedaycee and Angelique Anja.

We popped off to find this one after solving it at the Event this morning. Thanks for the help everyone. SL at 12.21pm Left: frog #4034 Now time for some lunch and then hoping to find some of the Rail Trail caches. TFTC & the puzzle Gonefishen07

In Philip Island for a few days of caching with becca85 and our geokids - Adam, Luke, neisha07 and boo09. Today was our final morning and we wanted just a few more caches this morning before heading home. Another nice quick find here - the kids enjoyed this location mot than us though! Ha ha! Many thanks

This cache was solved by a group effort at the nearby puzzle cache workshop, so a number of us made a group find as well after the event. Thanks for bringing us here and thanks for the cache.

01/10/2016 - 12.42pm - No. 687 - 3rd for the day - with dgfb33 & teamed up with BendSinister to make the find then a little later Surefoot24, mcsee&petal, Papillon4506 & buhfuhguh arrived for their finding/signing bit. We all noticed the rain coming so bid a leisurely retreat from the potential of getting wet. It was also nice to get away from the very brisk breeze from off the ocean! TFTC

I too was at the puzzle event where this one was solved. I'm glad it was this particular puzzle from this series, as I've struggled with it more than any of the others. My brain doesn't really do fuzzy cryptic stuff particularly well. A great many of us trickled down in waves to find the find the cache. Thanks Hell+Back and Gonefishen07!

Found this cache/ participated in this event during a long day of caching with Surefoot24 and her partner. The day started with catching the ferry from stony point to cowes, unfortunately the ferry was a tad late and whilst waited for the ferry me and the other passenger of the ferry waiting with me both managed to get locked inside a shelter. Once we got on the ferry we both got a refund which was ok. After the ferry trip I was picked up by Surefoot24 and went out and had breakfast before the event. After eating the breakfast out we were running a bit late for the event but got there in time . The event was great success with many people showing up. During at which everyone worked together to get the nearby multi and working together on a local puzzle and finding it together in order to teach some puzzle solving tools on the internet. After this Surefoot24 her partner and I slowly headed to my event doing several caches on the way. Anyway thanks for the cache I really appreciate all the work that is put in to making these caches
-Buhfuhguh

Found on a tour of the area - so many caches, some many nice spots to stop and suck in the oxygen. Found this in the last place I looked which was not the first place I looked....

Thanks to Gonefishen07 and *clear skies* from TeamAstro. Cache the planet!

4th search for this one and still can't find. A few Muggles around even today!

We ate lunch on the grass overlooking Cowes Jetty and then a short stroll along the foreshore to GZ. Quick find and SL. TFTC

Team effort sorting out the puzzle and locating cache with Mark&Kelly and Vanessa&Aodh. I left hubby & kids in the play ground. Tftc

Found it! Must say we had some interesting moments with the puzzle for this cache, we had a couple of different combinations and none of them would go though the checker. Even our team mates on this trip couldn't get any closer than us. Finally we resorted to a quick call to the Melbourne Puzzle master (OHC) who came up with the same as us and pin-pointed it to a likely structure nearby.
When we finally got our weekend away with Morcs4 and Vanessa & Aodh, and made it to the GZ we had a few muggles to wait for before making a reasonably easy joint grab. Container is slowly being nibbled away by the wee critters that live here but for now the log was dry and has 3 more signatures...TFTC...

The first find on our long weekend of (mostly) kid-free Phillip Island debauchery. We had arrived the night before with a file full of solved puzzles and the will to take out all the caches in Phillip Island. This puzzle was a real mindbender with all of us coming up with different interpretations. I still insist that 'lovecube' was the answer to the sixth pictogram, but the others disagreed. Killjoys.

At GZ we left Morcs 2, 3 & 4 at the playground and searched for this cache. Nice hide, glad we didn't find the critters that were eating away at the container. Thanks Gonefishen07.

TFTC, at least it won't be washed away.

I had great fun solving the rebus/pictograms to find the final co-ords. This cache is on a well travelled muggle trail and I had been thwarted in a previous attempt to claim the prize. The weather's timing was perfect today, because as I reached GZ a Scotch-mist descended sending all the muggles scurrying. Tftc.

Geodaughter found quite quickly

We had heaps of fun finding this one fantastic safe multi

Went to my coordinates and poked around. Couldn't find it.

This was a "must find" on our short trip as it is across the street from our lodgings! Found a quiet moment in between groups passing through.
Container desperately needs replacing as there are multiple holes where animals have chewed through. Log book is in remarkable condition considering the bag is split and container is compromised!!
UPDATE: I found a clean sandwich baggie in my bag and was able to replace the bag containing the log! Hope that holds till container can be replaced!
Great place to sit and watch! TFTC!

While out to lunch with geo husband, thought I would clear up a couple of caches in the area. This was one I had worked out a while ago.

TFTC GF07

Last day to grab a few more caches on the island before we move on leaving many caches unfound and I don't like that as I may never be back but time will tell.
A cool day and even bought a hoodie to keep out the chilly wind and wandered down to have a hunt for this guy.
This cache was the next on our list today and it will need a visit ASAP because some thing has chewed a couple of holes in the container and the plastic bag has no bottom so is useless but the log book is OK. I guess it's location has prevented the moisture penetrating.
I put a moth ball in some of my caches because animals don't like the smell as do a lot of cachers but bad luck. My non geocaching wife cannot stand the smell so I have to keep them in my workshop.
Thanks for the cache. As normal NINO.

Not Drowning, Caching - Cowes Jetty was transferred from hell+back to user Gonefishen07

With the great weather, we decided to drive to Phillip Island for a day of caching.
We were not disappointed as there was a good variety of cache hides and containers.
which kept us busy all day. We also had the pleasure of meeting 2 other teams on our travels.
Thanks to all the owners, for the effort that you put into the construction and the hides.
Many thanks for placing this cache, hell+back, for us and others to find.

Arrived early so we have to wait for the lodgings to be made available so we thought that we would while away a few hours at the beach. I had solved most of the puzzles a few days ago so it was just a case of retrieving them. This was a quick find. As noted in a previous log the container has a hole in it and the bag protecting the log has split. All is in good condition for now. TNLN. TFTC.

Date: 5 January 2015
Time: 10:25
Find #4409

After a reasonable nights sleep at the Big 4 Caravan park, it was time for an early start on an anti clockwise loop of Phillip Island. The weather was looking simply Awesome, so off I went in high spirits ready for a big day caching.

Another one off the list. It was a bit early for lunch, so I continued on down the coast.

Thanks to Hell+Back for placing this cache. TNLN

Solved the problem before arriving. A nice find on my early morning holiday walk. SL TFTC

This puzzle had Mr Tardis jumping through a few hoops as he struggled to make sense of one or two of the diagrams, but it all came together in the end. Due to a remarkable lack of muggle activity at GZ this morning the find came almost too easily & we were soon on our way to the next. We confirm a couple of small holes from animal nibbling. All's good for now but they will let water in.

Had to outwait muggles but its a nice place to wait.

In Phillip Island for the day to attend th CITO once that was finished we found some of the local caches. The container at this one has some holes in it looks like animals have eaten it and needs replacing.
Thanks Hell+back for the puzzle,
Regards The Coffee's.

Another day of caching on the Island with the family....another day of changeable weather. Great excuse to be out and about. I always enjoy finding a good sized cache hidden under muggle noses. This would be a busy spot in summer - but a great spot to watch the jetty from. TFTC.

Found this with the familiy. Mum and Dad worked out the puzzles then we all went to find them together. Thanks for this series - it's been great fun!

Woke up to a dull & dismal wintry Wednesday; just the sort of day for geo-caching on & around the Island beaches. We decided to start on the northern beaches today and work anti-clockwise around the coast, hopefully finishing up at Shelly Beach.

A short walk and search soon had this one in hand and our confidence somewhat restored.

A sunny morning, calm seas & a lovely walk to cache, fist NDC of the day.

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For info on the next NZ mega, and to pre- register, go to:
www.nzmega2015.com

Found with LV.

After just finding Lovers Walk I thought I'd keep the legs moving and walk to this one, while the geodaughter and geogranson drove around. Nice park for the young one to play in while I grabbed the cache. A nice easy find in such a pretty spot, thanks 'hell+back'

Found with Liz & Bruce on a perfect day for caching on Phillip Island. I was very lucky to be able to tag along with this team today, well ok maybe I chauffeured them around soon as how I knew the roads a little better. We had a fun filled day and it was great to be able to show Liz & Bruce around the island, which was made easier by Hell + Back hiding caches in some great places. A variety of hides some very hard to get at some not so. A great day all round [^] Took a bit to find this one Liz found in a place I thought I had looked Thanks to hell+back

We just could not leave this area without revisiting Phillip Island in an endeavour to finish off the Not Drowning series and to collect some other caches in the area that have been on our list for a long time. Again we were lucky to have a perfect day to go exploring this most scenic island and with what better company than Gonefishen07 and Zobo04 (after school hours). A short search and we found this nicely tucked away cache. Thanks to hell+back.

Not able to locate this one. At first I tried a spot higher up the slope but way too many picnickers about. I then tried lower down the slope but couldn't,t spot anything. About halfway I there was another promising spot but there sat a couple enjoying the brilliant weather. I'll never know.

Thanks for the hunt he'll+back

it's still there!

Will try next time we are back on the island

Muggles everywhere. Stealth and patience required. TNLN TFTC

We went looking for this cache in the dark last night but didn't have any success. We returned early this morning and searching was much easier in the full light. After a few minutes the cache was located. It was in good condition. TFTC hell+back. One more closer to the Endgame.

Loved the puzzle but didn't find it. Got really wet looking. Will have to come back on our next visit.
Thanks hell+back

A few weeks solid work saw us work out a number of these caches. We struggled with finding this one, and eventually contacted the CO for assistance. The cache was found 6m south of the co-ords. When we found it, the clue then made sense. Enjoying the challenges hell+back
TNLN SL
TFTC
cheers
greynomads - Bill and Diana

We found this cache on our May caching holiday to Phillip Island.
The area is really beautiful and we got on the bikes for over 50kms for the 4 days we were in the area which we would never have usually have done on a holiday before geocaching!
Thanks to the cache owners for the fantastic caches you have placed in this area of Victoria.

Found with Mum & Dad on a holiday to South Gippsland.
The weather was fantastic and the caching was fun.
Thanks to everyone who hid caches for me to find, I had so much fun!

Once again co-ords about 8mt south but the hint was enough to get the result.

This was one of my favorite puzzles. After having fish and chips for tea on Cowes beach we found the cache and signed the log. Thanks for the challenge hell+back

Solved this one over the Christmas holiday but there was to many mugglers around to retrieve so I left it for today, just before Australia Day mugglers turn up. Grabbed info required sl Thanks Hell & Back for the cache.

muggled again...
replaced at same coordinates but in a higher, hopefully more secure, location
hint updated accordingly

A very enjoyable puzzle which kept the members of the scientific expedition of which I was a part amused while we waited. I was pleased to solve all of them myself, and armed with the correct numbers, and having successfully concluded this aspect of our research, I had time to go caching! Cowes was packed as crowds gathered for New Year's celebrations, but I was able to grab this one unobserved. Thnaks for the cache hell+back

Rated: for Overall Experience

Mrs Madstars loved this cache. She really enjoyed the puzzles. My mind blew up after the very first part. Lol

Mrs Madstars kept to it and solved it completely. She then went off to find it while I watched the kids play in the park.

Thanks for a great cache.

Looking for about an hour. Not found. Hard to search due to muggles. Will come back soon.

Another one bites the dust! Our 5th for the day.
Unfortunately we still have a long way to go to clean up the series, but we're having lots of fun on a mild winters afternoon.
Thanks Hell + Back

# 645. Found on a day out and about doing a cache-check on the island with the CO and Robmc. This was one I hadn't solved so now I have signed the log I have to go back to the drawing board and complete the puzzle. I hope. Took: Nothing, Left: Pathtag. Thanks H+B.

log replaced

#2853 Abolutely loved the puzzle concept behind this cache.....once it twigged ....and then enjoyed the information gathering for a set of co-ords. At GZ we found the replacement container opened with the logbook gone with the exception of a few pages. Looks like a local minor muggle(s) might be seeking this cache out - a change of tact might be needed [?]. Luckily the clue was still obtainable. Our thanks to Hell+Back for the puzzle and series, we're having a beaut time [^]

After a full school term with exam after exam, I didn't get to do much caching. This was all going to change however when I started to plan an assault on Philip Island. I started to think of which town would be best to assault to raise me from the dead after my abysmal effort in the earlier months. With 3 different series, a power trail, and a handful of other caches, Philip Island was the place to go. So I started solving the puzzles and making a few phone calls so I would have the best chance of finding a heap. I solved most of the puzzles, however some of them required a bit of a nudge or someone else to realise my error. I started to think about my route in a way that would get me the most finds possible. We ended up with 55 in one day, and 87 for the whole weekend which was a fantastic effort . The weather was very on and off for the whole weekend which made some journeys quite unpleasant, however on the whole it was awesome. The Nobbies was a definite highlight for me. We started off the day with the 'Pathway' and managed to complete it and all of the other caches along the trail in just over 4 hours. What an awesome weekend! Thank you to all of the owners who contributed, but especially hell+back and The Three Geo Amigos (you know who you are)!

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The first for the day. It was quite chilly, but we will do anything for a smiley . A nice quick find when at GZ. Thanks hell+back

10/06/12 6:04 PM Find #1052 Its cache skirmish for ABL973 and Square_Pegs today on Phillip Island and this was one that we found. TThe coords were out but the hint helped find an exposed cache which we covered up. Thanks hell+back.

I was very pleased to see this one come back online again before our return trip back to Phillip Island. It was just on dusk and we had walked along the pathway from the previous find as it was quite nearby. Our GZ was a tiny bit off today, but thanks to the clue we soon spotted the container. It was exposed and visible from above, so we added some camo. This is a great beach, and I could imagine the difficulty would certainly increase in the summer! Thanks for the cache.

replaced, many thanks to TrailRunning

Found on another "HUGE" TDC - The Demolition Crew night. The usual crew including Quasar3671 and TrailRunning were together again for the second round at the Island, cleaning up what we missed on the previous fortnight. With us again was Roostaman from Wagga, who wanted equally as much to clean out the area.

As bad as the weather was, we still made the pilgrimage, with rain and howling winds all the way. Many weather and environmental challenges met us, including ankle deep water and impassable roads to some caches due to flood water. At some of the caches we spent time rock hopping and surf dodging. I luckily had on adequate boots in the form of my "Caching Taipan Boots" but rain protection in the form of a waterproof coat, I did not, so I made do. The weather itself added to the excitement of the night, and it is one that I will not forget. It is the most extreme conditions I have cached in to date. As Roostaman said in his log, the wind topped out at almost 60kph gusts, awesome stuff. It did fine up a little at the end, enough to get a glimpse of the partial Lunar Eclipse which was also happening on the night.

In spite of all the above, still able to do 25 or so caches on the island, including 9 mystery, several multis, an Earthcache and a Nightcache, and a handfull of trads. In the end, not a late night, being in bed by about 2.45am. Thanks to all the cache owners in the area.

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Replaced this one with permission of the owner. Thanks to TrailRunning for the new container preparation.

Found on another hell of a wild night ride around Phillip Island with TrailRunning & Black Legend.
Early on it was raining heavy with 35km winds, so what do we do, get out of the car and go for walks along the beaches, etc thankfully it was low tide, and search for hidden plastic, not short strolls either, and some jogging was done to get there quicker sometimes. My jeans were soaked by the time we returned to the car at the first cache and that was just the start of one long night of mad mayhem and adventures.

This was extreme caching Vic style and it went on for several hours. The wind gusts almost reached 60kmh and nearly took a door off the car. My socks were soaked inside my boots from walking in small flowing 'tracks' and wet grass, then they somehow dried, then we managed to find more puddles to walk in, just as the night drew to a close. We did also get a glimpse of the partial lunar eclipse through a break in the clouds and rain, and later saw the full moon shine down onto one of the many beaches we visited during the night.
The way we experienced the Island this time will go down as a big favourite and be in my memory banks for a long time. My thanks to the Demolition Crew for the opportunity to join in when I could have been snug and warm in bed.

This one escaped us last time, but it was much easier now that it had just been replaced.
Thanks for the cache and the great series, Hell+Back,
Roostaman.

Two weeks ago The Demolition Team took a Monday night caching trip to the island where a good number of caches were collected. At that time, we knew that we would have to come back to complete the island and tackle some of the harder multi’s. So once again we headed south to collect as many more as we could with the limited time we had available. Once again the Roostaman joined in the fun on this very wet and very very windy night for what turned out to be one of the most extreme rock hopping, surf dodging caching nights any of us had done. The wild weather added to the excitement of the night and every cache presented the team with an environmental challenge or two. Good thing I was wearing my GP’s. With the permission of the cache owners, a number of caches were replaced as they had gone missing, our way of saying thank you for such an eventful couple of nights on the Island. Our only regret was missing out on a number of the western caches as we did not realise this part of the island is closed at night to protect the penguin population for human interference. With a full night of caching we probably would have completed all the active caches remaining available to us, but time tonight was limited and we headed home at a reasonable hour, cold and wet, but very pleased with our efforts. Thanks to all the cache owners, and in particular Hell+Back, for her caching placement efforts.

This is one cache we replaced for the owner. Having a previous finder, made the placement in the correct spot easier. Thanks.

disabled until I have a chance to do a maintenance run

Another legendary night caching run by TDC (The Demolition Crew) + 1. A sensational 78 find run to Phillip Island and back with the usual TDC members - myself, TrailRunning and Quasar3671 and one other, the legendary "Roostaman" from Wagga. The trip started in the Dandenong area, and progressed around Westernport and all the way to the other end of Phillip Island. There were several foci for the night, those being the powertrails up the middle of the island, as well as the Drowning, Not Caching puzzle series. We didn't get all the puzzle series done, but we did smash the powertrail. A sensational night, great company, chicken rolls, and an impromptu stop at an abandoned lounge suite on the side of the road, which made for a great "chicken roll" break.

As stated by the others, big, big search, no cache. Next time maybe.

No luck for us either, it must be gone.

Well it was another Monday night, and it was time for the Demolition Crew to get out and grab some caches. This time the Roostaman joined us for a night fun in the area of Phillip Island. As Quasar3671 had already done many on the Island, he joined Blacklegend and I in the wee hours of the morning to collect those caches he had not yet done. All in all it was a fun night with cheerful banter, chicken rolls and the odd refreshment. While we were not able to clear out the whole island, we grabbed as many as we could, with only 2 DNF in 80 caches. The run started in Dandenong, with a few caches for Blacklegend, but we soon found an area where all of us were happy to collect the smilies.

With four of us searching here in every conceivable spot, and even with a previous finder of this cache we now believe it has gone.

Not a good start to the day. I thought I had the puzzle worked out and had a reasonable search but no luck today. Maybe next time.

No luck on this cache tonight on a 24 cache run with Marcus Vitruvius. Never mind - gives un an excuse to return to this beautiful part of Victoria!
Thanks hell+back

One of the many DNF's we had in this series throught our 24hr run.

Went to get this one with sksjd as she had forgotten the clue sent me off to look for it but alas after searching high and low got confirmation off her and it's not where it was when she found it so I'm guessing it's gone but thanks anyway

found it but lost our pen along the way so couldn't sign the log

Needed stealth due to many Christmas muggles. Success! Good one!

8013 A most enjoyable puzzle. Quite a few families out and about enjoying a late afternoon BBQ and picnic, nice spot.
Out: Kangaroo TB
In: Nil

Greetings from New Zealand
Thanks for the cache and series Hell+Back, Cheers YuGeo4

Checked in on this one today, it's where it should be

Found

without the puzzle

I only have gps but the clue led to only 1 likely location.....

had to return later in the day as there were way to many muggles first time past.

tftc

have figured out a few of the others for next visit to the island..

Found @1930 #804
This is the 2nd cache which I believe I have saved today. I wasn't able to get confirmed coordinates, but from reading previous logs I had an idea where to start maybe? Tonight the weather was clear and there was no one around so with my geo senses set to 11 I scotted the area and soon came upon the cache spotted at a distance with its contents on show. Luckly the clue card was still there as well as its log and swaps. Sign log and clue noted with the cache returned to its assumed location. Yay!! not often you find a cache with no coordinates. TFTC hell+back another of yours completed.

Loved the puzzle for this one!
Solved while sitting on the beach watching the young'ens. Was worried about muggles at GZ but cache was out of sight so found with the help of the clue. TFTC

The kids went Yay, a playground and off they zipped as their caching care factor dropped away! Caching was left to the adults which was duly found. TFTC

Had this cache solved long ago but have only just had the opportunity to get here to retrieve it. A couple of muggles playing in the playground were no match for the soaring powers of Walchief. Cache was quickly located while the youngest members of the clan distracted the enemy in the playground. TFTC

Great spot
TFTC

Found 3:45ish
A dreary muggle free day. Found easily after some head scratching to get coords. A lot of fun.
Looking forward to doing more in the series but do not expect to find the final.
Log full! May need help.
Took TB LN.
TFTC.

This entry was edited by Magery on Monday, 11 July 2011 at 00:57:49 UTC.

checked this one today, all's well

I was on the island today and was going to finish what I started on the Monday - an island caching run. Really enjoyed doing the puzzle for this cache. Parked the car and headed dwon to GZ. Searched for about ten minutes and was almost going to give up when one last search and feel around and I managed to grab the cache. I'm not sure exactly how it was supposed to be positioned but it seems the spot I found it in may not hold the cache for long, especially it it rains heavily. TFTC.

Found on another caching jaunt with my best mate Slink1 and in company with the Bright Beavers TFTC SL