OLD ROAD-WEST Northmead, New South Wales, Australia
By Ruffasgutts4x4 on 24-May-09. Waypoint GC1RQJZ

Fellow geocachers thank you for all the feedback, I do apologise I have been quite unwell of late.
I can confirm the cache has been muggled and the area is far more advanced in bush than back in the day....
Still a lot of history in this neck of the woods that may be completely lost to the bush...
So this one archived too...

Regards Rags4x4

Could this cache please be archieved as has not been found for a long time even after numerous needs maintenance and DNF logs

This cacher would like to report that I've checked each rocky hide within a 10m radius and say nothing here... hope it will return. Thanks anyway

Could the CO please check this as cache has not been found for a long time. Doubt it is here anymore

Add my name yo the DnF's

I found a way down that wasn't too bad and had a good luck area, matching up to the big fallen tree in a few photos but I left empty handed

Maybe the DNF's spooked he maybe it's gone

The trail to this cache had become so overgrown after close to an hour bashing my way through and only getting about half way I tried to scramble up to the road. Not an easy task. Next person to attempt bring a machete or your not getting through.

As there have been a couple DNFs over a long period perhaps the CO could check this cache.

Searched high and low but thought it could have possibly washed away in this weekend's storms ): no luck

As part of our Mothers Day cache expedition we visited this GZ; unfortunately we could not find this cache.

We have visited some nice parks during our trip today in Northmead, Winston Hills, Baulkham Hills and Bella Vista and found this cache/ is wet.
TFTC
Team sissifalke

Nice quick find with Bluewattle, nice hideout and thanks ruffasgutts4x4 & TFTC.

Lucked it for this one, finally we chose the correct side of the creek to grab this one, found with Snickersallan

Found this one which needs a bit of care to find and retrieve. Great area. TFTC.

Feeling a ridiculous amount satisfaction at finally finding this. Came about a year ago with the geosons and got the couple that are around it. Went to get this one but got scared about hurting myself in the terrain and relying upon the geosons to get help (tits on a bull those kids). Geohubbie said, hey here's one nearby that you missed so off we went. And got it the harmless geocache!

Cache has been restocked with lots of swapsies for future explorers.
Found it. Trouvé. 見つけた

Finding this while it was wet and dark was probably not the best idea but it was found, sure enough one of us had to slip and it was me. Muddy bum and all.. TFTC

Encontrado
TFTC

Found it!! Great spot, awesome case.






Hint
It's on the side with the big fallen tree.

wooo!

Lans_92 and I picked a rainy day to do this for the extra challenge. We didn't die, and once at the spot, we found the cache pretty quickly. TFTC!

No hope in hell going down there with a geotoddler. So abandoned the search before it began:(

Have to come back when I have a babysitter;)

Awesome find took us forever found with alicat4kids and kimmykitkat

We found this one after looking for nearly an hour. But we were determined to find it and not give up. Great hide. Found with gabstar55 and kimmykitkat. Took a loom band and Lego rubber and left a dice and mini figure.

Great location, took a while to figure out how to get down! Had lots of fun trying to find it and its hidden in a great spot.

After circling the block a couple of times, we located the best route to make our way to the creek area. We began searching, with the GPS throwing us around to different areas. Funnily enough, we eventually located the cache at the point we first entered GZ.
Beautiful area and the cliff is quite a sight.
TNLN SL
TFTC

I needed visit this one again to discover the "black widow".........................

so back down the slope to the land of the mozzies!! Discovered the super hero & dropped off Rudolph the Reindeer TB!!

did I mention the mozzies?!! there were heaps of them................ reminder to self - pack the aerogard!!

This one was a lot of fun, challenging enough terrain for the kids, but no so much that they lost interest. While gingerly making our way down the slope from Huxley, both adults managed to lose our footing and slide all the way down on our butts, collecting lots of farmers friend while we were at it. GK6's eyes lit up - "looks like fun - can I try!?"

It's always lovely to see a well stocked large container at the end of a challenging scramble, so thanks ruffasgutts

Only negative was the mozziesat GZ - wear insect repellent!

Found with Mellish. Wasn't game to take the long drop route but found a safer path down to the creek about 30m north.
Great container, good hide.
Tftc!

Came in via the way of death. Geodog loved the cliff drop. With jpans and he placed black widow trackable tyftc

Mummy spotted this one once we worked out how to get down . Blake and Max were practically standing on top of it. Mia was scared there was a snake (thanks to big brother). Zac loves his soccer ball we traded, thanks! Great spot, beautiful location.

No luck but did find $5

A nice quick slide through farmers friends before a rock scramble. Just what makes a good cache hide!
Thanks for the cache.

The weather of the last few months made it hard for monkeydoodle_k, mdkd, Felix the spy and I to tread lightly as we descended to the cache. Anything that wasn't muddy was slimy. At GZ I spent a fair amount of time mucking around in corners with the hide right in front of my face before I noticed it. It's good to find a regular cache box in the city. Felix and monkeydoodle_k filled the air with bubbles from one of the cache swaps before replacing the bubble blowing bottle with a rubber Lego piece- there you go folks, what a spoiler! Thanks, ruffasguts!

I found this with artemidorus1 and midmy7.
I had fun blowing bubbles with midmy7.
TFTC.

#935 (2 of 2 today)

Continued on from El Guarda and decided to enter opposite 68 Huxley Drive, as suggested by celtical in her log.

Steep, but navigable - I think...

No real problem making my way down, made use of a few trees as support as I went. First area I checked was empty - but iPhone had me almost on top of it.

Continued down, aah. That looks like camo. CIH.
Much quicker find than at Riblit's cache.

Completed signing duties and grabbed the "Brownback Mountain (MT)" Green Jeep Travel Bug. ow to get back up.
You know it's steep when you can see your car on the road but still aren't sure you'll get there easily. My practice yesterday at Juan's Views must have helped.
Entry point was good for me both ways.

And a nice area for GZ was a bonus.

SLTNLN
TFTC

Streak Day #418 - Wishing i had popcorn for this one, after watching ris768 stack it down the slope trying to be graceful bwahahahaha took me a few mins to compose myself after laughing so hard, i made it down and after about 20mins searching i hear ris768 sing out that she has found it. Hooray its good to finally get this one off my list, getting a fav for the entertainment value and a good sized cache. TFTC

No grip shoes = slide down the slope with an elegant somersault thrown in for snoopy's entertainment. After a very delicate and careful balancing act in cliff edges and rocky clusters, I eventually came up with the goods. SL #1571 on streak day #789 TFTC needed to take off shoes for a safer climb back up.

found it today ............................

the story up to this point.................................

2/8/14
Having already found "El Guarda" eventually after several attempts, I thought - I'll take that nice easy path down and give that approach a try.......................... 130m from the cache I was neck deep in whatever Australian weed smells like cats piss!! So mission aborted & I scaled the steep hill to get out of there (thankfully there was a nice dead tree to help me up the slope)................ walked back along the road to the car. Drove it down a bit closer (40m from cache).................... got out.... looked at the cliff............. got back in again............................ Drove round the corner & parked again.............. a steep slope rather than a cliff this time (30m from cache)......... so down I slid into the farmer's friends!! ............. only 4m to cache now...... only snag being - it was down an even steeper slope..........

common sense prevailed - gave up for the day and scrambled back through the farmer's friends and up the slope to the car.

I will come back again with geoteen so she can call the ambos / fire brigade if required to get me back out again when I give it another go!!

** * * * *

6/8/14 - brought geoteen........................... as someone else had said earlier - the easiest way in seems to be opposite #68 Huxley Drive, (which is where I ended up on the first attempt), but having said that it is the easiest.................. it isn't easy. There is lots of debris, dead leaves etc on the last drop down to the creek. But once down there it was very pretty, quickly found the cache & dropped off a TB. Geoteen was having a ball pretending to be spiderman and finding easier ways back out, which ended up with us climbing up the rocks which were easier to see now, then a final scramble up the hill to the car...................... TFTC.

This entry was edited by celtical on Wednesday, 06 August 2014 at 06:05:18 UTC.

Harmless geocache

I'm not logging this as a DNF - this is a work in progress & I haven't made my final swoop yet

Having already found "El Guarda" eventually after several attempts, I thought - I'll take that nice easy path down and give that approach a try.......................... 130m from the cache I was neck deep in whatever Australian weed smells like cats piss!! So mission aborted & I scaled the steep hill to get out of there (thankfully there was a nice dead tree to help me up the slope)................ walked back along the road to the car. Drove it down a bit closer (40m from cache).................... got out.... looked at the cliff............. got back in again............................ Drove round the corner & parked again.............. a steep slope rather than a cliff this time (30m from cache)......... so down I slid into the farmer's friends!! ............. only 4m to cache now...... only snag being - it was down an even steeper slope..........

common sense prevailed - gave up for the day and scrambled back through the farmer's friends and up the slope to the car.

I will come back again with geoteen so she can call the ambos / fire brigade if required to get me back out again when I give it another go!!

Hidden very well left chook

What an absolutely gorgeous spot! Who would've thought that a little oasis such as this still exists amidst busy suburbia. Spotted an extremely cute long neck turtle on our steep scramble back out. Great hide in a great spot! TNLNSL / TFTC

Goo spot

Found after many attempts at different suspects locations as GPS was a bit confused by all the trees. Also managed a few painful bites from the angry ants crawling around the place.

TFTC, NazzoR

Quick find nice place only spoilt by the roar of lawnmowers TFTC

Found it. Hard find but worth it

This was an awesome one !

Came back down here to drop trackable and pick up geocoin

We intended to find just two Lake series caches but did it faster than expected. Looked nearby for a more challenging cache and decided to go for this one. Enjoyed the little descend / ascend in such a pictoresque place. TFTC!

Found, full log to follow.

Nice spot, took TB

TFTC.

Came here at night with my GeoSon. Parked, and found a winding way down to the creek, and then spent a while exploring some very likely spots. All the time the iPhone was saying I was a bit off, but I though the tree cover explained this, as I couldn't spot anywhere likely on the other side of the creek with my headlamp. After a while, we gave up, crossed over to then find a few more spots, and soon after the cache.

Took a rather direct route in from the north. Precipitous sure, but not too bad. Found the hide quickly and dropped a GC then wandered around this interesting gully for a bit before climbing out. Thanks ruffasgutts4x4, I enjoyed this one a lot.

Found it. What a nice place. I work in Seven Hills and I'd never been over this area before.
thanks for the cache

Scouted this spot a week ago but it was rediculously hot and windy and I was in sandals - not good!
Came back today with the 4x4 sneakers on and went scrambling.
So many likely hidey holes but soon had CIH.
Took the clock tower TB.
Returned to the car covered in farmer's friends and itchy welts. Must be allergic to something down there. Have to have a whinge here because when they hear how I got them the family will have zero sympathy.

Pleased to find this for my 450. Made my way in and wandered about. Great spot! Wasn't long and cache was in sight. May have got lucky. Thanks for bringing me here. TFTC.

as expected for my decision making abilities I came to this from the wrong side of the creek. found a slightly less dangerous way down and then wandered around trying to get a lock. eventually the gps settled and I realised where I needed to go but it still took me a good 10 minutes to get to the final gz. All in all this was a more difficult cache to get than it should have been but I still really enjoyed the challenge. a favorite from me

Well started from the wrong end and had to climb up and out then found the Easy way in and loved to spot Thanks

This entry was edited by pj205 on Sunday, 18 August 2013 at 07:03:21 UTC.

That was an enjoyable cache but really difficult with low GPS signal. I had to turn it off in the end. Took a photo of a reptile an friend seen on the way in liked the way harmless was written on the side of the box. Probably wouldn't normally give it a favourite but this time I am because its not a micro and was a little challenging but achievable. Tftc tnln

Had fun rolling down the hill to get here.
decent sized cache!
TFTC

Cache find #800 and I can't think of a better way to collect this milestone. A simple walk down and your presented with this beautiful bush sanctuary, it's only roughly 20 metres off the roadway but it might as well be a thousand.
The cache itself was made a little harder due to the sketchy reception at GZ, but really the hint narrows down the search and I soon had my hands on the prize.
Classic ruffasgutts cache

Thanks

11/07/13. 7:21 AM. Cache #743. Current streak: 305 days. I headed over to this one after an easy find at "Watch the Spikes". The fog had cleared a bit but the grass was still damp. I found a spot that sloped down from the road to a point not too far from the cache and so started searching various areas, where the phone was indicating I was under 5m away. I had to expand my search and move closer to the creek to make the find. Bit of a tricky one, this - well done. TFTC }:)

Hard to find, still hot it though, nice!

A challenging cache. I parked up on the west side and didn't like the look of the terrain as it looked very steep. Worked around to the other (eastern) side and found some reasonable access points and made my way down to the creek. Travelling along the creek was easy with nice broad rocks to hop onto.

Got to a low distance from GZ, and started looking in the obvious places but after about 20 minutes I thought I'd be facing a DNF. Satloc kept drifting around and I was just using the terrain as a guide to where it might be hidden. After reading the logs, I turned around and saw a promising spot on the other side of the creek, and bingo there it was. That's probably enough of a hint in what I've just written so good luck to those who follow.

Cache is a classic container full of goodies.

I'm really glad I perservered with this one and it gets an FP from me.

Thanks for the cache, ruffasgutts4x4

I chose the correct side to enter from and made my way carefully down to GZ. It had been raining so the slope was fairly slippery. I passed a low stone wall north of GZ but, as the rain was about to return, I did not continue on to inspect the bridge abutments mentioned in the description. That will have to be another time.

I took a circuitous route to GZ in an attempt to avoid the worst of the weeds but it did not take me too long to find the well-hidden container.

It’s certainly a very pretty spot, thanks ruffasgutts4x4 for placing the cache here.

Finally got around to having another look for this cache. The first time was around the time the cache was published. I could, and did, blame not bring able to find the cache and looking in the wrong area on my old GPSr, but you what they say about bad workmen blaming their tools.

Returned today and the newer Garmin Vista HCX led me straight to the cache, no mucking around. Glad to have finally found it.

Took Rags advice in the description and went off to find the optional bridge abutments.

I could see the WP given is just off a walking track according to OpenStreetMap. As is turns out, one of the walking track terminates at the abutments. It looks like part of the original or final wooden piers are still standing. Certainly worth a look.

From what I have found out, they are part of a former convict roadway to a quarry. Also served the orchard it's at the time.

Can't see this in the heritage register but there was a discussion about adding it.

Thanks Rags for showing us this place.

The Geoboy and Geodad have been looking for a good time to do this one and today was the day - geogirls were away at the chick's hardware (spotlight) and we were bush bashing. The high wind made it a little more of a challenge with dead branches falling all around us.

Spotted this one without too much trouble - cammo had fallen away over time so we spent some time packing more in before we left.

Thanks

tftc! first part of descent a bit slippery. now where to go? hey there is a cacher trail! bingo sl tnln tftc!!!

Returned and found it immediately without a GPS. I had entered from the correct side before and had been standing right on top of it the other day. Hopping down another 2 metres made it obvious to see its location and tick it off the list.

The mosquitoes finally beat me on this occasion although the obvious hiding places were bare. I will keenly view future logs for finds in case it has been muggled.

That was quite an adventure. Soon found out that I was on the wrong side of the ravine and cleated off to one end so that I could cross over. Of course that wasn't the finish of this search, as there is a ton of rocks and fallen trees and all manner of things to search through. Eventually, had the container in hand, carried out some first aid with my handkerchief ,signed the log. dropped off Evil Nemesis "Iron Man", had some fruit bars and a good swig of water and was on my way. Replacing the container back into it's rightful place of course.

Took small Dino for my Geo Granddaughter and left an appropriate coin for the effort put into this cache.
Thanks R A G's, all good.

A treck and a half. But found with team angry bird. Tftc...

TFTC found with team angry bird

Found with team angry birds

Found it while out with the dog. Had to leave the dog halfway up the slope while I scrambled down to find the nicely hidden ammo tin. TFTC

This was another great bush cache! Once I'd worked out how to get to GZ in my crappy shoes, I slid down the slope, and gave GZ a going over. Found the cache tucked safely away a few minutes later. It's always great to find an ammo can out there! SL&R...didn't notice the TB - hopefully it was tucked away under some of the other swaps?

TFTC, RAGS!

CC.

Good hide. Also a good idea to wear appropriate footwear for this one. Took travel bug and will travel to USA soon!

This entry was edited by teamjudymoody on Wednesday, 12 December 2012 at 11:33:57 UTC.

This is the second closest gepcache to my home location, so not sure why it has taken me almost 12 months and 70 finds before searching for this one.

After having lunch in the nearby park with Carl Brit & mat41174 we decided to go for a cache hunt and bush walk. After making the steep descent down to the creek it was by chance that I ended up in the right spot and quickly spotted the cache. The log was also signed quickly as the mozzies were in force. A geocoin was placed in cache (which I see below has already been retrieved) and then we retreated to a clearing to escape the relentless mosquitos.

Our next objective was to find the long lost bridge abutments. We followed the creek bed downstream but the going was tough as the entire valley is quite overgrown with lantana and other weeds. Eventually we scrambled all the way through to the creek junction near the "El Guarda" cache but unfortunately saw no signs of bridge abutments along the way. We climbed up the embankment from here to Churchill Drive and took the easy route back to the cars. It wasn't until reading the cache description later that I see the coordinates for this were provided and that we needed to continue further along the creek. This did not seem possible though without getting our feet wet, so we me have to attempt this journey another time from a different angle. I would certainly be interested in seeing pics from anyone that has found the abutments.

Thanks for the great adventure ruffasgutts! I am giving this one a favourite point based on the overall experience.

Arrived at the top of the creek and clambered all of the way down. After that, it was a straight forward find after checking out some of the old rock walls on the walk through.

Great area, very pretty yet still suburban.

Thanks for the cache!

Wooo found it nice and quick. Swapped the black beaded spider for mister krusty clown. Found with Lowebro.

Thanks for the cache.

Wooo found it nice and quick. Swapped the black beaded spider for mister krusty clown. Found with Lowebro.

Thanks for the cache.

I'll defy be back here just to enjoy the scenery TFTC

Well hidden, our first real challenge!!

Parked across from 68 Huxley, which turned out to be exactly the right spot.

Scrammed down the hill and had a fairly quick find, once I got close to GZ.

TFTC.

Found the cache! It was a lot of fun looking for this one at night!
Covered in webs, dirt, twigs etc

Picked up a Tin Tin TB (TGKCJA) and will go on adventures with it before letting it continue on it's amazing trip around the world!

EDIT: Added a Krusty the Clown figurine.

Terrain was a bit tricky for us - though will try again from a different approach and without geotot.

Very fun trying to find this one in the dark! TFTC!

#759 was found on a caching day that was suppose to be a crack a ton day however after about 6 hours and only 7 caches found it was determined that this was not going to be the day I meat the challenge and attending an event in the area was more important no that the challenge had basically failed. This being day 237 of continuous caching which ended up being the worst day after dropping a phone at the last cache and on the return to that location having an accident which has rendered the primary vehicle inoperative.

This was an easy find after a couple of DNF's on micros in the bush and it was the 13 of what turned out to be 15 for the day. It was another nice walk into bush land and a very rewarding location for this well hidden regular sized cache. The GPS took a while to narrow me in on the target however got there in the end. Log inscribed and the cache returned to its resting place.

Thanks ruffasgutts4x4 for the beautiful surroundings.

Great spot. TFTC.
Picked up TB

Exploring another part of Baulkham Hills. Thanks for the historic information, its great to get this sort of info from geocachers. TFTC Left TB

Covered in webs, parked on high side, slippery on access and found cache quickly

Many webs to battle to get down to GZ but not much searching needed. Had to keep moving today but this is definitely on the list for a more leisurely visit. Love the history. TFTC

Drove around to within 35 metres of GZ and climbed down the hill to the likely hiding spot. Bloody Spiders everywhere here. Found the cache and signed log. Thanks Ruffasgutts
Cheers
dkmacca

We pulled up on what we found to be the steeper side so had a little more of a walk to get to GZ. Saw countless number of eastern water cache guardians. Made the creek crossing and saw some old stone retaining walls. Made our way back down the creek to get closer to GZ. At about 10m out we thought we would let the GPSr settle as it has a little lag and while we were doing that we looked around only to see the cache behind some camo. Nice ammo can which was dry. SL and dropped in a TB and rehide. Saw a not to difficult climb up the steeper side which got us almost inline with the car.

TFTC

Had some fun getting down to this one. Needless to say, was glad to be back at the car afterwards. TFTC.

Nice to see a real ammo box in suburbia.

11.55am, GAFF2, after a few attempts at different directions, Geoson stayed at the top whilst I went down, talk about spiders, I have never seen so many [:o]

Once at GZ, soon had CIH.

SL, cache in good condition.

TFTC ruffasgutts4x4

GeoDad found it. Got Geokid4 Micro Geocoin out of it

Looked for it but did not find it. To many bushes.

Walking in and out of this location i was covered in spiders webs ,tftc.