Cruising the Creek Lara, Victoria, Australia
By Na'wal on 15-Aug-15. Waypoint GC61F22

Cleaning up. Time to open the map to some new caches ??

Answers sent. My first cache of this type. Quite enjoyed the walk.

Answers sent to the CO.

It’s always nice discovering new places that highlight the geological features in an area. Hovell Creek brings back memories of the day we took to the river with the kayak, battling the mud, manoeuvring around the mangroves. It was a day we’ll never forget:)

Today was a lot easier to navigate to each waypoint and we enjoyed the walk along the track with such lovely scenery.

Thanks Na’wal for bringing us to these locations today.

Found recently while out caching around the area. A nice walk along the path and a very interesting native garden at the end which was a nice surprise.

Such a beautiful spot to walk along and stretch the legs. It was good to see some local community members cleaning up around the Kevin Hoffman Walk and keeping it looking smick. TFTC

Having completed our early breakfast, we thought we could head out and find a few more caches in the beautiful weather we had today. We enjoyed all four Waypoints, and while we were looking for WP4, we went to the wrong side of the river and revisited the Kevin Hoffman Walk, which is a stunning garden and gives a good view of WP4. We really enjoyed learning more about the geology of this area and are really pleased that this was the 50th Earthcache we have visited. Earthcaches are our favourite type of cache, and we really appreciate the time and effort Earthcache Owners put into finding and creating these informative caches. Thank you for this cache Na'wal. An FP from us as this is a great multipoint Earthcache.

Have been given the go ahead to mark as ‘found’. Our first Earth Cache which is only 3-4kms down the road from our home. We enjoyed the extra challenging. Thank you Na’wal

We had started this one some time ago but it continued in the wrong direction. Today we had the time to complete it before heading off to Geelong. Thanks for the cache and the stroll.

Headed down to Geelong for a night so took the opportunity to collect some smileys on the way.
Finally got the chance to finish this one. Lovely day for a stroll. Thanks for the cache.

23 June 2020, received ok to log this after correct answers received. Really enjoyed this walk with puppy as I've driven past many times on my way to my favorite nursery just around the corner. Thanks for the cache!

*Found on the 14 Dec 2019 @ 6:50 pm.*
*Cache find # 10268.*

Answers sent to CO by GemmaSistema.
Out and about for the day of Christmas events.
It was now coming up to part 5, the dinner event and seeing that we had a little bit of time to fill in, I headed over to this series with GemmaSistema and Posums to see what we could find.
We headed to the various stages for this one while finding the others in the series but at the posted coordinates I did get a little fight when we headed over to inspect the rock when only a metre away a snake was coiled up taking what there was of the sun.
I quick backward step but them it was of quick as a flash towards the water.

**Thanks to Na'wal for placing this cache.**

We collected the information for this EC today as we went along looking for another series. GemmaSistema, SteMicMitSar and myself enjoyed the lovely walk along here.
A great little track along the creek and at WP1 we got a fright as we peered over we noticed a snake coiled up which soon took off back to the reeds.
Info was sent by Gemma on our behalf and logging with approval.

Thanks Na’wal TFTEC.

We collected the information for this EC today (myself, Posums and SteMicMitSar). A lovely walk along here. Amazing what is hidden off the beaten track. Without geocaching we would never know! Many thanks for the cache, answers have been sent.

Travelled to Geelong today for the Christmas series on events and to also revisit a few of my past DNF's to correct their status.
Visited today but have now realised that I missed the last waypoint in my tired state after a long day, I will be passing again sometime in the future to finish this one off.
**Thanks for placing this cache Na'wal**

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Big things are continuing to happen in Victoria! *Are you joining in the fun?*
[**The Whittlesea Event 2020**](https://coord.info/GC8EW40)
*14th & 15th November 2020 - GC8EW40 - Whittlesea - Victoria*

I know this creek very well. I have cached a long it, paddled its lower reaches and performed CITO's on it. I have now walked it too and considering what was pulled out of it during CITO's it is a wonder it has any life in it at all. But it does and this earthcache shows a couple of interesting sites.
Many thanks Na'wal for this earthcache, one of so many you have put out for us to enjoy.
A fav point from me

Love this area

Enjoyed several walks around here collecting the information with my dog. An area of Lara I hadn’t actually explored properly! Thanks for this one. Found it interesting!

TFTC Na'wal This one nearly had me undone. Read on and have a laugh. Tired and weary we approached GZ on the deadly treadly, cresting a rise and looking ahead, did not notice a rapidly descending sleeper staircase. Well, this wasn't going to be pretty. Brain and aging limbs switched into survival mode clamping on to handlebar and brake lever in the left hand, GPSr dangling from a couple fingers on the right and trying desperately to cling on like a limpet, while trying to slow down. Thank goodness for suspension. Wide eyed and shocked to have made the decent in one piece and upright. Stopped, looked back and thought the better of letting Mrs Spook try it. LOL (may not get fed anymore) Shouting a warning as she crested the hill much slower than I did, therefore ensuring my rations remain available. To answer your question, "what do you think happened here". Refer to the above near disaster. LOL

Thought this would be a quick stop on the way home from work. Was actually 3 quick stops. Note to self: do your research! Interesting cache, thanks for setting this up. Logging in the field, will send answers through later.

School holidays is great to teach the kids a few things. Having a geologist as their grandfather makes explaing all this so much easier. Thanks for taking us here.

GEd and Gedella

A pleasant day for a stroll along the creek with our geopug "Lizzie B", gathering the information, and sent off answers.
Thanks to Na'wal for setting up this earth cache, we enjoyed the stroll today.

nice to see so many plants in bloom along the way.

Enjoy walk along the creek to answer the questions as request.
Good to learn about this area.
Thanks Na'wal for bring me here and earth cache.

We were heading down to Portland to see dad stopping and grabbing a few caches in between the showers to break up the drive.

As we really enjoy earth caches this one was on our must do list. The weather wasn't being too kind to us but we collected the required information which has been sent off to the CO and then wandered back to the car discussing things we wouldn't have normally noticed with out this earth cache.
Many thanks Na'wal for setting up this earth cache, a favourite point from us.

Collected this EC info in reverse order today. Enjoyed learning about the creek, which I spent a good part of today along. Even rock-hopped across it near WP4. Very nice. I always enjoy ECs - TFTEC.

This log is well overdue, having finally sent the answers to the CO almost a year after we gathered them! We've enjoyed completing the range of caches in Na'wal's Hume and Hovell series and collected a few along the way with the waypoints for this cache. Thanks for the history and locations.

I do enjoy visiting an Earthcache as it really does slow me down to checkout where I am and why or what happened a long time go. It seemed way warmer than the 26º my iPhone was telling me it was and then there was the bugs annoying me and what's that rustling noise over there? Hmmm. Anyways I collected my geological survey collecting the answers. Thanks Na'wal for another cool EC, crazy to think this used to be underwater.

Doctor Owl and sushilord are off on a long weekend trip to find some quality caches in Mexico. We suffered the laughs, joys and frustrations normally experienced on a caching trip and bonded as geobrother and geosister.

An enjoyable earthcache which we did in reverse order. It's nice note to have to answer questions about erosion, grain size and colour.

Thanks for the experience Na'wal.

Owl and Sushilord decided to vary their puzzle trip with some other types and a new goal of as many as possible in one day was formulated. They made it to fine and this was the earthcache contribution. It was interesting following the trail by car and some local muggle knowledge was sought for the best way to access the waypoints. The information was gathered, answers approved and a fun diversion was turned into a smiley. What more could you ask for?

MEGA - The Surf Coast Event 2016

DAY 2

I have planned ahead well before my trip and have solved the puzzles back home in Germany.
It took hard work and fun to solve them.
Today, I stopped along the way at all important sights and nice view points.
I was happy about the geological features and beautiful place in this region and have found many caches along the way.
We are in the process of sending out the answers for the earth caches.

Thank you for the nice Earthcache and best greetings from Germany

Team sissifalke

We have had this one on the to-do list for ages, but very often seem to be away from home when we have time to cache. We had thought it would be good to do during the day, but time got away, and it was early evening before we got going. As a result, we had the company of millions of mozzies. Three different brands of bug spray applied in various layers helped to minimize the number of bites though. We worked our way through each of the stages, collecting the necessary info. along the way. While the early stages are in an area quite familiar to us, the last one took us to a section of the creek much less travelled by most of the family. Thanks to Na'wal for placing this cache for us to enjoy.

Needed an EC find for International EC day 2016 souvenir and this was it! I've been saving this cache because it's close to home. Drove from WP to WP. Dodgy time of year to be doing this cache. Green grass, very long and overgrown. Start of snake season. Very cautious approaches to the creek edges. A few WP's were a little tough due to grass and reed coverage. Hopefully my answers are correct. TFTC Na'wal.

16:52
Our geo-map indicated a smorgasbord of caches around Lara, so we set out today in an attempt to appease the hunger. Yes we had been cruising the creek - searching for caches and information.
Logged with an OK from the CO.

Our thanks to Na'wal for placing this cache.
16370

Logging with permission from the CO.
I had intentions of doing this earthcache the same day as the 2 local events. But with fading light, I decided to leave it for another day. I returned here on my day off and started my journey by cruising the creek !! I didn't realise just how wide this creek is in places, very surprising. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here, visiting the waypoints and collecting the info. Thanks for another informative EC so close to home. I'm already planning to visit my next one !! TFTEC Na'wal

After the first event today it was decided to grab the last unfounds in the area with DAB in readiness for the Birthday Event Dinner to follow. As we wandered along the creek we met up with a group of very suspicious looking people that just had to be cachers as they were hovering over the Hovell just at GZ. After determining what the answers could be we enjoyed the sun setting making the ordinary water glow with the hues from the sky.
Thanks Na'wal for another well informed Earthcache , we now have a more informed view of the area.

Visiting our 100 EarthCache finds tag in our 100th EarthCache find
Thanks for the EarthCache!

Out at the events in Lara and finding the hume and hovell series with Honeysucker and No Worries we gathered the info just on dark.
I really enjoy learning about earthcaches and this one was again enjoyable.
With permission from the owner at dinner we are happy to log this earthcache,
Our thanks to Na'wal
Regards
The Coffee's

Not being a local to this area today's adventures took me on a journey of exploration.
From one gathering to another, with most of the time between spent exploring Hovells Creek and surrounds.
Gathered the clues with Honeysucker and The Coffee's whilst taking some great photos of the colourful sunset.
Pelicans and other water birds joined us this evening.
A most pleasant experience. [^]
After that it was off to the "local" for a celebration with the CO and others.
Logged with permission.
Thanks for the Earth Cache Na'Wal.

We decided to enjoy a Saturday down in Lara for the 2 events that were happening today.
Having not been down here before we had a heap of caches to enjoy looking for.
This EarthCache caught our eye and we made our way to it after the event. Met up with other teams and trecked out to GZ eventually.
Got to WP 2 as it was getting kind of dusky and at WP 4 it was really dark.
Thanks for the EarthCache.

Found with the family.
I enjoyed the day in Lara and the fun caches we found.
Thanks for the hide.

Found with Mum, Dad and Eddie.
The weather was perfect for some caching in Lara.
I had a great time and the caches were fun to find.
Thanks for hiding them.

Thanks for a wonderful earth cache Na'wal. Email sent. Favorite given

Logging with permission. Decided at the last minute to go down to Lara and collect the outstanding green boxes there.
I enjoyed walking to the first 3 way-points and then opted for the car to the last one. The creek was in prime condition today and the weather perfect for a stroll. I was thinking all along that the kayak should have been used. Not too sure where I would have launched it by myself though.
Really didn't see any wild life but at least I took more notice of the area than I did last time I was here.
Thanks for bringing me to this spot again so that I could enjoy looking around at both the creek and the nearby houses.

**Find #7601...**

*Logging with Permission..*.

A beautiful day to be out and about in this beautiful area grabbing some smilies with TR!... A beautiful area highlighted by this Earth Cache...

A short stroll, found the required information and took in this lovely area...

Thanks for maintaining this cache for my enjoyment Na'wal...
- P

Thanks Na'wal for bringing me to within 50 metres of my childhood home, and this section of the river was always out of bounds when we were growing up, as it was on private property.
Completed this earth cache with Snap Happy in tow, helping us with the answers, so I have submitted on behalf of both teams.
Thanks again Na'wal for helping to renew our interest in earth caches, although we aren't very good at them.
TFTEC.

We really enjoyed exploring this area after the event this morning. Yet another spot we had not visited previously. Answers e-mailed. Thanks Na'wal, we always enjoy your earthcaches. Caching today with Tomstache.

Cool earth cache. We took a walk after the event today on Australia Day. Thanks Na'wal, we learnt something today about this area. Answers e-mailed.

Loved the area and the slow wander around after my fast and stressful pace of the last few days.

It was quite warm but as I approached the water and looked for the rocks, a cool breeze blew over me as if to reward me for looking at the local nature. The caching Gods were watching. I kept wandering.

Thanks to Na'wal and clear skies from TeamAstro. [^] Cache the planet!

[teal]Find #562 EarthCache #10!!! [/teal]

A fun EarthCache!
I saw this when it was published, but it was out of my 'area' and I had homework I needed to complete, so I decided I wouldn't go for the first to find.
Today we were up in Lara doing some caches that I had wanted to for a while and this happened to be one of them. This was the 3rd cache we attempted, but due to the different waypoints, the fifth that we found.
We parked and the first locations and headed out for WPTs 2 and 3. Waypoint 2 was nearby, and I took note of the bank on the other side. Strolled down to WPT3, seeing a few blue wrens and a blue tongued lizard's head. Again, I took note of the bank and then turned around to go to WPT1. Another beautiful stroll alongside the river, many beautiful points of it and it's surroundings. A highlight was getting up relatively close to a few different birds. I finally arrived at WPT1 and found the cute little cliff. Wrote down it's texture, colour etc., and headed back to the car after a little more caching business nearby.
We drove around Lara, found some other caches around the area and had a quick lunch at the bakery.
Before we left for home, I wanted to be able to claim this as a find, so we drove over to WPT4. Parked the car reasonably close, and sprinted over to the final WPT. I rapidly got the information and bolted back to the car again and we raced off (I don't mean speeding) to quickly arrive at home and prepare for a friend's party.

Thanks Na'wal for yet another brilliant EarthCache along the river/ creek. I especially liked the rocks at WPT1! The coordinates were all very accurate and questions well thought through. Well done on an awesome EarthCache!

Two visits to Lara in eight days - this time we managed to cruise the creek.
Following a wonderful time-travelling tour with an old friend, we decided to park the Wings near the freeway and another couple of cache targets were on our list anyway.
We enjoyed our walk along Hovells Creek this afternoon, taking in the peaceful atmosphere of lots of worlds meeting: A waterway, some birdlife, the well-maintained path along the back yards, farm land, roads and the trains.
Our answers have been sent.
Thank you for inviting us to Hovells Creek!

On a quiet arvo had the chance to swing by here and check out the creek. A spot that became a lot more interesting after reading the info from this earthcache as well! All quiet on the tracks.

Some interesting formations here, and some stretches that would be nice to paddle, altho it looks like it becomes reed city pretty quickly.

Answers sent and logged, making this Earth Cache number 50.

Cheers and thanks for another great Earthcache!

Quick detour on the way home turned into a slightly longer trip along Hovel's creek. Found a beautiful house backing onto WP2 / 3 that was for sale, unfortunately it was under offer. This is an inspiring part of "old Lara" with some strange decisions made by some land owners. The track is one I need to spend more time using perhaps then I'd be master of the caches along there, buwahahaha.
Oh and I'll send the email as soon as I hit "Submit Log Entry" no really I promise..

Found by The Empire @ 12:00pm
Today was International Earthcache Day! Unlike last year (where I was playing Ingress and forgot about it), I was determined to not only get one earthcache for the day - but multiple. I've walked this track for a series of caches by Red Paw a few years back, it's still as nice as it was back then. This time, being able to stop occasionally for some geological features was good. Thanks for the cache Na'wal. This was earthcache find number 122 and overall find 7,370.
- M

Logging with permission of the CO
Was familiar with this area after doing a few caches in the past. Arrived at wpt1 to have someone take a seat as I arrived so I walked down past them out of sight trying to look normal & inconspicuous. Once information was gathered I made my way to wpt2 where I was getting suspicious looks from a female walker and yet again at wpt3 further down, I tried to not to draw attention to myself so I gathered the information quickly and dissapered. Luckily for me wpt4 was some distance away so I approached from the less trodden side to not bring more attention to myself.
I've driven over and around this creek on many occasions taking time now to learn and appriciate the area.
Thanks for the Earth Cache Na'wal

Logging this EC with the CO's permission as we had been out this way to tackle those QR codes caches out at the You Yangs and this was like a walk in the park so to speak.
At wpt1 you would walk past these features and not even know they were there and I did discover an interesting feature under a low tree.
Suscoe and the ageing Bushfire wandered along the bank to the lagoon and were intrigued by what we saw and then worked out what we thought had happened so with a tick of approval we are adding another EC to our growing number.
Thanks for the time and effort required to place this cache.

Logging with the permission of the Earth cache owner.
As has been stated by the Red Ant, we wandered around here on Saturday after a somewhat challenging walk in the You Yangs.
That too its toll on the legs and so a pleasant stroll here was a walk in the park compared to a few hours ago.
So we came, we saw and we pondered the meaning of it all and after agreeing on the details the Red Ant took control of submitting the info for both teams.
Thanks to Na'wal for placing this EC.
Starting to get quiet a few around the area now.

First to Find!!!
Logging with permission from the CO and with apologies to Darth Bridgi! As is becoming common, I received the notification of another Earth Cache just as I was in no position to do anything about it . Fast forward to this morning and with the geofamily packed off to school and upstairs to "work" from home, I was off to Lara and surrounds.
All was quiet as I approached the first WPT, collected the required information and then decided on a stroll to and from WPTs 2 and 3. As I departed WPT1, a dodgy-looking bloke in a hoody who had ridden up on his bike then ridden away, returned once again as I headed off and then went and stood pretty much where I had been...hmmmm....don't know that that was about.
Anyway, I continued my walk , located the next WPTs and then due to distance and the incentive of a FTF, elected to retrieve the Geo6E and drive to the final WPT. Once there, I found for the first, but not the final time today that I was separated from my objective by water. Oh well, I was close enough to get the information I needed, so I took note and headed off to grab another nearby cache before heading home to answer a few questions.
Thanks Na'wal for increasing the extent of my knowledge once again and for the excuse to see this pleasant little creek again. The birds were out in force this morning (as were the local dogs) and it was a nice morning for a stroll !

Published

Logged with approval from CO.

Had too much on this morning to get out here so had to bide my time.
dropped the wife off at where she needed to be and headed off to the first WP.
Parked close by and gathered required information before heading off to the last WP almost tempted to drive right up but thought better not.
Sent answers off hoping for an FTF only to be told I was pipped at the post by Bucklybabe.
Thanks Na'wal for the EarthCache and Smiley face
#1770


This entry was edited by Darth Briji on Thursday, 20 August 2015 at 05:27:46 UTC.