How Far Down? (Book Exchange) Berowra Heights, New South Wales, Australia
By Yurt on 04-Feb-14. Waypoint GC4Y1PB

Need a walk to test my back specially after the chiropractor and physio work has been done on it lately yeah system ridiculous amount of lying down as of lately.Parked at the suggested waypoint and noticed a lot of downward slope towards GZ left the trail exactly waypoint marked waypoint by team Merlin.I walked past the quiche and explore the cave a little further around and realised Id reach the dead end are returned and saw the cache container on my return back.Signed log, noticed 2 x books Catch22 by Joseph Heller and Daddys Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark. Great spot down here, thanks Yurt

Got this one with teammerlin expedition. Thanks Yurt for put this one out Cheers

Being in the area today we made our way to the parking waypoint and proceeded to walk down the fire trail. Initially missed the faint track and overshot the point, but after realising our error we entered the bush and picked up on the faint track. At around S33 35.139 E151 06.499 we left the track and bush bashed our way to GZ. This is when our search began...with our initial elevation showing around 35m we scouted out some nice looking hides, but alas nothing found. We readjusted our elevation down towards 25m searching all the spots, finally ending in a big cave overlooking the waterway below...but again no luck with the hide. After this we headed back up the steep slope and checked around our initial search location and at the point of calling it a day, we noticed the container in a much smaller location that what we were expecting. With the cache in hand, we signed the log then replaced everything as found. Thanks for the cache Yurt - this one gets a FP...great location and a good sized container.The following TBs came through for the mileage: Bob geoMinion, Dave geoMinion, Evil geoMinion, Jerry geoMinion, Larry geoMinion, Mary Hyde's Treasure, Stuart geoMinion, teamMerlin's 7 Deadly Ducks Tag (Lust), Vanlith The Youngling, Hidden Creatures Geocoin TB, teamMerlin's Football

Find #: 3,374Companions: Solo expeditionMuggles: None (mostly)Weather: Hot spring morningCache condition: GoodI'm most of the way through running all of the streets and trails of Hornsby Shire (a lockdown legacy, when we were limited to a small radius other than including our whole LGA), and have finally got to Waddell Ridge trail, which also gave the opportunity to visit this lonely cache. I parked at Calabash Trail and headed down the narrow road to the end and onto the fire-trail (down down), and then down (down down down) Yurt's Track (a previous cacher must have had an OpenStreetMaps account). It was a bit overgrown, but I'm actually more surprised it was accessible at all given how few people must go down it.Once at the end I bush-based down towards the cave, and then started my search for the cache. The search was far from smooth sailing, as my phone's GPS stubbornly fixated on a precarious spot, with the risk of a roll-and-splash. The altitude reading was an enigmatic 40 meters, and, most significantly, there was no sign of the cache. As I scoured the area, a group of kayakers glided into the bay below, seemingly oblivious to my presence, and eventually paddled away towards open waters.Frustration mounting, I made the difficult decision to abandon my initial search and retraced my steps uphill. Determined not to leave empty-handed, I noticed another rock formation that beckoned to be explored. This time the stars aligned, and every clue fell into place: the GPS indicated a distance of a mere 2 meters away, at the expected 30-meter altitude, and lo and behold, there it wasan ammo can, marking the triumphant culmination of my quest. I completed the necessary formalities (alas, no books to exchange) before making my way back to the car.Thanks, fun little Sunday adventure.

Tftc

Wandered down, and down and down some more with my little one. It was perfect weather for snakes and lizards according to couple we ran into on the track, but with the songs we were singing we scared them all away long before we had a chance to spy them.

Spent a decent amount of time at the creek and when the little one asked for a swim I was happy to oblige. The water was clear and cool, a perfect way to cool down before walking back up the hill to sign the cache and power our way back up the trail.

An enjoyable little walk.
Pic attached - view from creek and location of a previous geocaching adventure.

I stumbled across this track and the cave about a month ago, but didn't realise there was a cache here until afterwards. I decided to come back by kyack and after quite some searching the cache was found.

If you do come from the water, it's pretty shallow at low tide. I'm going to have to walk the kyack for a bit to get back out. Anyway thanks for the lovely cache.

I took Just take my heart and left Catch 22.

After finding Berowra Berries and Views of Home I pointed the Kayak toward Calabash Bay in pursuit of their great cache. I came prepared with a book to swap, but I momentarily thought about skipping this one and heading home. I'm so glad I didn't. This was the first time I've paddled into Calabash Bay despite going past here time and again. It's such a pretty spot (and it's just as pretty from up at the Pub with No Beer). I found spot to tie up the kayak and there was a bush track that took me right up to the correct elevation. After a little bit of searching I found the container. I took a copy of "The Men Who Stare at Goats" and left a copy of "Ready Player One". This place has really gorgeous views and so I stopped to eat the second half of my lunch before heading back to Berowra Waters. Thanks for bringing me to this lovely spot.

I was out for a bit of paddling on Berowra Creek today, launching the kayak from the boat ramp at Berowra Waters. With the tide close to high, it was a bit tricky finding a spot to land, but I ended up on a low rock shelf just west of the cave. From there, it was a slight bush-bash through the prickly scrub (not ideal in just board shorts!) to the bottom of the track. Once at what appeared to be about the right altitude, it was a quick scramble across fairly open ground to make the find.

Traveling light, I didn't have any books to swap so left the library untouched. The cache is dry and in excellent condition. Many thanks for the hide.

#700 (yay!)

I started the day with the milestone of my 700th cache in mind. I was contemplating the Monty Python multis at Oxford Falls but then decided to go for some special caches closer to home. Hitched the MTB to the back of the car and set off through the gorge with Hawkesbury Lookdown Book Exchange and Point of Some Regard as my first targets. That little adventure (including a visit to Denny trig) took 3hrs 15min. That still left time for the important #700.

Drove around to the end of Calabash Rd from Bloodwood Rd. Unhitched the MTB but soon realised that it would be a bit too steep for the trip home so left it near the gate. The legs could feel the effort from the earlier 20+km round trip and it was only going to get harder on the way back. Finally made it to the end of the fire trail and followed the bush track to the cave. What a top spot. The views from on top were awesome. Third ammo can for the day and all were in the first spot I looked (that doesn't happen very often!).

Time for the return trip and I was feeling a bit weary from the day's effort. On top of that I hardly had any water left. Would definitely need heaps more doing these 3 in summer. Yurt's time of 32 minutes seemed out of the question, so I was surprised to be back at the car in 33.

Well it's been an awesome day finding caches in locations that I love. Much better than finding 100 urban nanos!!! All of the day's caches would have been worthy for my milestone and I'm very appreciative of the CO's for placing caches in these spots - that I would never otherwise visit.

Thanks Yurt! Fav pt coming as soon as I earn another one.

EDIT 31-07-16 Fav pt added

The oars have been withdrawn from the water, the wake has subsided and the two men in the dinghy have disembarked from the SS Minnow. Able Seamen Chudles and EDF are back on dry land, and it is time to note a few recollections from the success that will be come to be known as the Excellent Adventure on the Hawksbury and her tributaries.

After (How Far Up?) Lookdown Exchange it was a relief to have this one at a lower level. But the tide was low and the mudflat was troubling the SS Minnow. We made it but only after mixing a fair amount of mudflat with our propellor. We got out and headed up. I slotted one of the volumes that I had found at the other Book Exchange into the cache but yet again had to retrieve another. I ended up with Velocity by Mandy Sayer and The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. I will get round to them when I have finished a few others!

TFTC Yurt

Cache #5 on the SS Minnow expedition with EDF.

So far, amazingly, the trip had gone without incident. Narrowing in on this one, suddenly the boat made a dramatic slowdown. Stood up to realise we were in ~50cm deep water. However, from the bow I could see a deeper passage, so with some confusing instructions, I tried to guide the Captain. 'There's shallower water on the left'. 'Actually, I meant deeper water. And my left, not your's' etc

With the motor lifted slightly, and weight redistributed we managed to get to GZ, find the cache, and get out. From here on to the end of the trip, I was confident that we could no longer get stuck ...

Awesome place. Cache was a great excuse to visit Calsbadh Bay.

I had organised a short-ish paddle day from Dusthole Bay Marina with a few friends today.
And so the three of us paddled here and made or way up the track to first hear, and then find, a whole family of muggles checking out the cave. I gingerly asked if anyone was geocaching, but everyone looked lost, but very interested... and so began our cache hunt with several muggles in tow...born naturals all of them... looking in all sorts of places.
I eventually made the find and the youngest boy muggle had a grin from ear to ear!
I handed the log book around for everyone to sign., they were all really excited over the experience, and the fact the cache showed then an even better view than from below, which would of otherwise been missed.

[green] - Found It on Sunday ... at 11:30 AM ...
TFTC! - [blue]Yurt[/blue] ... [/green]
Total Finds now ... 1693
[blue] This log was posted with CacheSense v4.212, available on Android and BlackBerry ![/blue]

Arrived by kayak and followed the track up to the cave and then on to the cache.
Introduced a number of muggles on a bush walk to caching.
TFTC

To provide some holiday fun for the geokids (and geoadults) we hired a boat and did some exploring on Berowra Creek. The aim also to try and add to our current streak and also to seek out the fabled "Giant's Leg" that we believed to be somewhere near Collingridge Point. (You'll have to search Google for "Berowra & the Unsolved Mystery of its Amazing Ridge" to find a picture.) The temperature was no where near as warm as yesterday and the sun was mostly hiding behind the clouds. Set off from the marina at Berowra Waters in a small underpowered tinnie a bit after midday. We had three hours of hire time. Tide was just starting to go out. Headed around into Calabash where we went the wrong way and found ourselves surrounded by Mangroves. Numerous mullet were jumping and girls wanted to fish so set the rods up and we had a go but didn't catch anything. Then around the narrow inlet to the base of the rocks. There is a good spot to pull in. Some minor fuss getting ashore then scampered up the slope, with the girls on fishing duty below. There were schools of mullet swimming around the mangroves. This might be a little trickier at low tide. There is a narrow track up from the water. Quickly found the right egg and cache was in good shape. Had neglected to bring any swaps so left the selection and signed the log and replaced. Streak added to (#42) we then went in search of the "leg" but unfortunately didn't find anything, perhaps its closer to Crosslands?? Ended up fishing for a a short time in Square Bay and then headed back with light rain falling, ending up at the Marina with our 3 hours clocked up.

Thanks Yurt! Fav point when one becomes available.

After Coba ridge for morning tea, we drove out to Waddell Ridge for our lunch walk. It was another lovely walk with plenty of spring flowers out and birds calling in the bush.

We listened to a pair of whip birds as we walked along. I'd just learnt that their call is usually a duet between the male and female, the male makes the long note and whip crack and the female sings some following notes.

We were having so much fun that we started to climb a bit of a hill and it seemed a bit sus to me. Read the cache description...oh...follow the little foot track now! Down to the cave for a look at the scenery and then back up the track a bit and we headed off to where the gps pointed. As it turned out, our gps co-ords were not too accurate and we ended up on the wrong side and looking at a bit of a steep hillside. I started to wonder what Yurt did with his eggs at breakfast time - maybe he preferred scrambled?

So we went back to the track near the cave and then headed straight up the hill from there - much better luck! After signing the log, we enjoyed lunch and the scenery before heading back.

Thanks Yurt, another lovely walk

What a great cache! Thanks for bringing us here. Coming via Berowra Creek does not mean it is easier..

Now this is what geocaching should be all about. Enjoyable walk in, interesting and beautiful spot, nicely finished off with an ammo container. Thoroughly enjoyable adventure although a bit humid for the walk out. Toook about 75 minutes car to car.
Was tempted to read a book, but headed back home after a short look around.
SL TFTC

I thought this would be another of Yurt's and lasramblas's attempts to place the most avoided cache, but this one is proving surprisingly popular, for the moment.
I'd picked a still, humid day to do this. Not a great choice but the track isn't that long and is mostly downhill, so not too demanding, particularly if you take the lower route and avoid a steep and unnecessary hill. I passed the old car in the pics and wondered if it was yet another Nissan (often dumped, it seems, and occasionally harbouring geocaches). Further on are several rock wall constructions that tantalise the imagination as to what once went on here. Finally, I lobbed into the cave that surely has stories to tell, spanning generations and cultures.
Back to searching and I found several empty hiding spots and figured I should be looking for a less obvious spot. Climbing back up, I saw just that spot. I'd come prepared but two little books had to make way for my larger contribution. This bush library is a great idea but would benefit from the next size can.
After swaps I headed back, mostly uphill this time but still under an hour in the heat, and captured some track data for OSM.
These bush caches deserve encouragement awards. Should be more of 'em. Thanks Yurt.

Found it on a pleasant Sunday.
Just over 1 year after finding Yurt's other book exchange we decided to go and find his new cache. Even though this walk wasn't as far it probably did take us longer as the hills were quite steep and we did spend a bit of time at the cave.
When we arrived at the track intersection we were amazed that anyone knew there was another trail and speculated that early settlers must have placed the dressed stones at the edges. The trail was overgrown but still easy to follow.
Coming close to GZ we overshot it and explored the cave first, geohubby then headed down to the creek (where he has been before by kayak) while I then set off to find the cache. The hint was spot on and we soon were signing the log, we didn't bring any books but, after looking at the "Men who Stare at Goats" book I will be adding it to my "to read" list. We also took the TB "Der Froschkonig".
Thank you very much for this cache Yurt and we're looking forward to more in this area.

I woke early to a clear day that deserved a good bushwalk. And Yurt has certainly served up a good one. The trail down the hill is through lovely bushland with savoury, bushy smells and a background symphony of birdcalls and cicadas.

The older part of the trail (off the fire trail) is interesting with whAt appear to be small rock retaining walls of some antiquity. Got to the turn off and followed the trail until 25m from GZ and straight-lined down the hill. Found JRS there with the box at his feet - the easiest find I've had in ages.

Nice spot overlooking the creek. After a bit of time there I followed KRS to the cave (interesting stuff) and then I did some exploring down to the creek and along the parts of the fire trail I hadn't seen on the way down.

IN: The Elegance of the Hedgehog (donated by Mrs T).
OUT: Spooks, a history of MI5.

Thanks Yurt. The cache is in good shape and all the coords are spot on. Took Lifeboat TB. LN. Found at 8:15 am.

Now, off to find Waddell Trig.

8/02/14. 7:50 AM. Cache #1327. **FTF** I had a look at all the new caches about before I left this morning and seeing this one was still unfound, it was first in my sights. I set the Parking WP and saw that was almost an hours' drive away, despite being under 20km in a straight line. Arrived and there were no cars there, a good sign. Scrambled down the at times rocky & steep firetrail with the Turnoff set as my next target. Once there, I thought about heading for the cave but decided to save that for after the cache. Got to about 25m from GZ, and then a straight line approach seemed to make sense, and was not that much of a tangled bush bash. Found the hint object and then the cache soon after. Opened to find an empty log, confirming the FTF.

I swapped 2 TBs in for 2 TBs out. But I was kicking myself for not having brought a book, especially as the cache has some good ones there. In the spirit of using the book exchange, I sat down and read the first chapter of "The Men Who Stare At Goats"; what a great read. While reading, I could hear voices a fair way off and down; these were probably the anglers I later spotted lazily drifting towards the nearby Berowra Waters Inn.

There was then a thrashing in the bushes nearby and no voices, possibly a lone cacher. Yep, Tyreless soon popped out and climbed towards me. I still had the cache at my feet so he got an easy find! After a bit of a geochat, I showed him where to return it, and then I headed on down to the cave for a look. Then returned the way I came, all the uphill climbing and the morning sun giving me a good old sweat. Thanks for a great bushwalk cache, Yurt. What with this and Tyreless' recent trio near Duffys Forest and the pair I did near Great Mackeral Beach the other day I'm getting some really good exercise! A fave. TFTC.

This entry was edited by Kid Ron Satan on Saturday, 08 February 2014 at 01:43:40 UTC.

I just don't have the FTF thing in my veins. I was up early today and thought I should head over to this one but I needed to go to Galston in the afternoon anyway so put it off. Not sure I would have got there before KRS and Tyreless in any case, although it would have been a close run thing.

So late this arvo, with my brother in tow, we drove out and parked then began the descent. The first few hundred metres are the worst part of the whole trip I think. Steep with plenty of loose rocks. I could see where others had slipped (possibly this morning?).

The CO's instructions on getting there are, as usual, very helpful. The wall on the first side-track is fascinating, as is the stonework on the final track. We saw one huge wallaby - or maybe it was a roo. Very dark fur. It bounded away through the thickest scrub with dismissive ease.

Speaking of which, the scrub between the track and gz was thicker than I expected but not too bad. We got to gz and I read the hint to my brother who looked at a likely candidate and said "it's gotta be this" but I was not convinced. Of course he had the cache seconds later.

I had a book picked out to bring for a swap, but as it was one that my brother gave me I thought I had better not.

Swapped TB's though. Some stylised pics my brother took from near gz are attached. The CO has another cache claiming to be in Sydney's most beautiful bushland, but this one gives it a run for it's money for sure. Great spot.

The walk back wasn't too bad either. Thanks Yurt.

Published

TB drop (2).