The Palindromic Alchemist Victoria, Australia
By maccamob on 25-Jun-02. Waypoint GC689B

Took my daughter out for the night. Took a little to find it

After visiting the. LocalMarkets we decided to try here. Great thanks.

24 September 2024 12:19pm Find #725Out exploring Ballarat and its history so out here looking at the Blast Furnace. It'd be rude not to sigh aLOG while here... But which one?TFTC

We are staying at our sons place in Smythsdale and headed out for a drive pretty much at random and ended up here. As soon as I saw the cache name I remembered it from years ago, always intending to get here sometime but no idea it would be today. Very pleased to make this find at last! If I could give several favourites I would but I guess one will have to suffice. Coming up to twenty years playing this game next Feb and one of your caches was my very first. Pity this one wasn't a milestone for me but since I didn't plan today I'll have to take it as it comes. Thankyou very much David and Mary.

TYFTC. Great hide. Excellent clue!

Nice short walk. The ftc

Another amazing area knowing that this was once a busy area. Very calm and peaceful forest now with hints of the history that has been. Wandered down to GZ with the hint repeating in my head. I wandered around with the map as it was jumping around a bit. With that hint in my head I kept looking for what it could be and then in a fairly timely manner I had the well hidden cache!! Log signed and returned to its very sneaky hiding spot!! TFTC!!

Found with FeatherWaite on a 4-day trip to Victoria. From Adelaide.Our main aim was to complete the Ballarat Geotour and other caches of interest in the broader Ballarat area. There were also a number of events and a CITO to attend.The weather was on the warm side, but not too bad for this time of year, which made for pleasant camping each night. The cache was found in good order.Thanks maccamob for the cache.

Found during an extended weekend in the Ballarat area with e.gregory1, with the main aim of completing the Ballarat GeoTour, but taking the opportunity to attend a number of events and CITOs, and searching for a good range of caches while touring around the district. Thanks for the cache maccamob!

Harder then expected

Found It!Some interesting history here. Found the cache after a short search then wandered over to the earthcache.TFTC

Dried out container, replaced missing seal.

Harder than I expected. Cache had water in it: David

Easy find whilst visiting this historic area.

First visit I missed this. Today was here for the Breaky in the Bush event. Found this with Sol de lune. great spot for a cache and great spot for an event.
Thanks for placing this traditional cache maccamob.

I collected this cache whilst at a nearby event. It’s such an interesting area here and I can’t wait to come back and explore more + find the other caches I missed out on today. The cache was inn good condition with plenty of room in the log. TFTC

hopped down to this cache very quickly after eating a delicious egg and bacon roll. ignoring the barking, i collected the cache

tftc

In the early enjoying a Breakfast in the Bush and while things were cooking, I headed over to try this one. Took a minute find the right spot, however all was good and the cache was soon in hand. Log signed and it was back to taste the breaky offerings.

Thanks for this one maccamob...cache all good.

I met the COs at the brunch event just this morning. I had a day of targeting oldies today, and this was on my list, with deanside as great company, as always. A very weird landscape here, bringing us here is just what caching is about. Thanks so much.

Apart from coming to a beautiful location, I snagged a pathtag

Thanks maccamob for placing this cache and contributing to this great game. Happy trails, Deanside

No luck for these two beginner cachers today! Heading back from a holiday in halls gap and came across this lovely little spot. Maybe next time

TFTC. First in years for me. Beautiful little spot

Today the snuggle muggle was catching up with her friends for a ladies day, which meant I had the whole day to myself. So of course what am I going to do with a whole day of free time...

Cache of course! So I decided to make a day trip up to [Ballarat](https://www.visitballarat.com.au/) and cache along the way. Today's main focus was on finding oldies and virtuals, but I did grab a few others along the way.

This one was my sixth find for the day. It is always such an amazing feeling finding a cache that is 20+ years old. I can just only imagine how different the game must have been back in 2002. So cool that this one is still around.

It is always so rare to find a cache that has been around for 20+ years. It is another type of rare to be able to meet the CO of a cache that has been around for 20+ years. However, I can say with great pleasure that I have gotten to meet the famous [maccamob](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=a50e4bd2-6d69-4af7-a203-19897cf3814b&wid=3d5751ce-8a8d-414f-8a9f-33b67f0d93d2&ds=2) duo, so when I get the opportunity to not only find a [maccamob](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=a50e4bd2-6d69-4af7-a203-19897cf3814b&wid=3d5751ce-8a8d-414f-8a9f-33b67f0d93d2&ds=2) cache, but one of their earlier ones you know its going to be a great day.

The weather finally started to improve today, and after a cool foggy morning, the sun was shining and the weather was perfect. I ended up parking at the nearby parking lot, and although there were several cars parked. There were no muggles around.

So I made the short walk over to GZ and began my search. After exhausting the obvious beacons and coming up short, I expanding my search radius a bit and then finally spotted the well concealed cache.

*Woohoo! Another oldie found!*

It is always such an amazing feeling finding a cache that has been hidden for over 20 years, just so neat to find a relic of caching history!

A big thanks today goes to [maccamob](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=a50e4bd2-6d69-4af7-a203-19897cf3814b&wid=3d5751ce-8a8d-414f-8a9f-33b67f0d93d2&ds=2) for maintaining this one for all these years.

This one of course earns a favourite point from me!

**Cache Maintenance Status**

The cache container was in good shape and the logbook was clean and dry with plenty of room for future cache finders to sign.

P.S. I left my favourite point pathtag for the [CO](https://www.geocaching.com/p/?guid=a50e4bd2-6d69-4af7-a203-19897cf3814b&wid=3d5751ce-8a8d-414f-8a9f-33b67f0d93d2&ds=2) or next finder to have.

Found with goblinrider whilst camping here with the family.

Tftc

Pete

Found with Juggling Ogre

No luck today, not in any of the obvious hidey holes at the coords

Great wee spot for the cache in a lovely area. I didn't plan to geocache tonight...... Many thanks

I seem to be having a bit of a slow cache day today. Im just taking it easy and cruising. This was a nice quick find though in an interesting historical spot.

Nice little walk to find it, very well hidden.

Tftc!!

Nice Find
TFTC maccamob

We received a call from Sims_family asking if we would like to go out with them to join them when they made their 6,000th find.

With cache #6,000 safely put to bed for Sims_family, we stayed in the area to pick up the other few caches.

We had completed the 4WD driving, and this was a great place to stop. Easy walking to this cache and fascinating track to walk as well.

As we approached, we saw two options to get to GZ. We chose the high road, which was an excellent choice.] It took us straight to the cache.

We found the cache in excellent condition, the o-ring was in the cache itself, so we carefully placed it where it will keep the water out. The cache was as dry as a bone.

Thank you for this cache maccamob.

Nice simple find while checking out the nearby blast furnace.
Thank you

Fantastic

Spending today together with AlexiKatty trying to stay on target for my milestone for the Wangaratta mega in January. It's a nice day and beautiful to be out hear on this sunny day. Very happy to add this smile to my map.
Tftc

I finally found it!!!! What a brilliant hide! Coords we’re spot on.

Thank you so much. I’m so excited.

Cache replaced close by.

New cache in place.

Coordinates changed from:
S 37° 40.855 E 144° 4.355

Coordinates changed to:
S 37° 40.856 E 144° 4.351

Distance from original: 19.9 feet or 6.1 meters.

New cache moved slightly.

We expect to have this cache available again by mid-December 2021.

Cache is missing. Off line until we can replace after we're released from lockdown.

The sun was shining, and regional covid restrictions meant we could at least get out past our 5km zone, so we seized the day and headed out to Lal Lal to explore an area neither of us had been to before.

We had a good look around for this cache before we resorted to a PAF. Then we contacted the CO who verified via photos that we were looking in the right place and that sadly this cache seems to be missing. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this lovely area and to see the Blast Furnace, and we look forward to returning one day. Thank you anyway maccamob - we will be back.

A camping and caching trip out towards the Brisbane Ranges, we were not as prepared as usual so freestyle cached our way around. The last day of our trip, we found some caches closer to camp and then started back towards home, grabbing a few more on the way.
We noticed this was just replaced a few days before, so figured it shouldn't be too tricky. Day1976 had informed me he was not good at finding maccamob caches, that must be why I found it, just a short distance from coords-but being an older cache we had expected this.

Always good to get a maccamob cache. Even if they do tend to take me a while to find. Had my good luck charm with me today (ilukaperi), so we made short work oif it. A very interesting spot, thanks for bringing me here and thanks for maintaining.

Replaced damaged container and restocked it at 1510.

Found it this morning.
TFTC

Container is drenched. Removed a piece of wet geo-rubbish. Thankfully the log book is nice and dry! TFTC!

Find number 8670 at 11:03:54 am
After a long year and too much isolation I finally got a chance to travel up to Ballarat to visit a long time mate before Christmas. Decided it was time for an earthcache run along the way, seven in two days oughta do it
A nice quick find and less paperwork compared to an eartcache
Outer container full of water, drained, inner container and log were dry as a bone.
**Thanks for placing this cache maccamob**

---
We’re all going to Wangaratta to participate in Victoria’s next Mega!
*Are you coming to join in the fun?*
[**The Wangaratta Event 2021**](https://coord.info/GC8EW45)
*13th & 14th November 2021 - GC8EW45 - Wangaratta - Victoria*

Well that was fun, a way to learn and cache at the same time. Great story out hear. The cache was wet but the log book was fine.

Found it after a bit of search. My gps was right.
Interesting to wander around here.
Thanks for place the cache here

#279 slightly difficult to find but it was okay! Great place to come visit!

Took a while but found it

This find took us over half an hour with Phone showing GZ way off.
I finally used sat imagery to pinpoint location.
Thanks.

Enabled following rleaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions in Regional Victoria

Disabled for the duration of the renewed Covid-19 lockdown. We believe the responsible thing is to disable all our caches until this latest crisis passes.
Thanks.

7th July 2020
#251
Happy Birthday Dylan

Seems to be attracting a bit of water inside it but still a good cache.

TFTC

Enabled following rleaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Disabled for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis. Although exercise is ok, beaches, parks etc are gradually being closed, and we are being asked to stay home. The virus can be transmitted by surface contact, so please don't take the chances. Geocaching is a game, and we are dealing with a serious Public Health issue, so we need to get our priorities in order. Please stay at home!
We believe the responsible thing is to disable all our caches, until this crisis passes.
Thanks.

A little bit of hunting was required for this one. Under these rocks? No. In this wall? No. Got there eventually though.
Perfect day to be out exploring new areas. Such a pretty spot around here. Tftc

A gentlemans estate here. Well manicured, green grass, rolling hills, rock hills, and wooden fencing aorund the parameters. Surrounded elsewhere by Ironbarks, shale and dry bushland. After a bucket list tick off taking Aysen into a mine nearby, I couldn't resist this oldie.

The find here however was much trickier than expected, which so many areas to search! For anyone stuck, the cache is on the uphill path side. Eventually located after a through search for the area. Another brilliant location, thanks Maccamob!

ON only the third day of Spring Sims_family ventured to Lal Lal and surrounding areas for was a was a lovely day exploring in our magnificent bush land. Before we enjoyed a picnic lunch that Sims_family mum had packed for us it was a must for us to learn something about the area and its use in the late 1800's. The blast furnace still standing strong more than 100 years later was a highlight for me. The four Sims_family kids that were with us today scattered looking for this cache without much direction from dad who had the GPS. Just following the line Dad was walking miss 9 found the prize when dad was still 20 meters away.
Thank you maccamob for placing this cache and maintaining it. Its great finding caches that have such great history

Nice find.log book was nice and dry.

Found by The Empire + H
Another sunny, winters day on the July school holidays, another chance for a lovely drive. Another maccamob cache ticked off the list. This one was in a great location - we took some time to check out the surrounds. Thanks for the cache, maccamob.
- M

@empiregeocaching

Removed wet log and other wet items. Added new "rite-in-the-rain" log in a new inner container. Please ensure O-ring is in place on inner container before rehiding.

Found with some fellow scout leaders. Lid is cracked and cache was full of water. We put it back upside down.

Just visiting and picked up the TB. Everything was very wet - the contents were completely submerged, slimy and smelly, so definitely needs some TLC.

Found at the end of a scouting activity

This geocacher reported that the container is damaged.

Box has damaged lid a bit wet

Great cache. The lid is broken so have left it upside down

Firstly, apologies for the lateness in logging.
Despite my tardiness, you can be assured I enjoyed each and every cache found and not found.
Apologies if this is a generic log, my memory is good, but not that good.

On this day I was out with Sorceysal and Tessie the geodog

Thanks Maccamob

Out and about with bogonghazy to clear up some local caches, well almost local. Surprised to find 3 caches in this camp ground. Made the short walk to gz and BH quickly had the log signed. A bit of an accident going to the next cache saw him with skinned knees. Thanks for showing us this great area Mary and David.

After a night out camping nearby, this cache begged us to get it. A short tip and we soon had the cache. It is an interesting area to visit and see the history long gone of the area. thanks.

Dropped TB

FBTJ #2455

Found on a beautiful day out exploring and caching! TFTC

Today we set off with a plan to do as many caches as possible to try and reach our 200 finds.This was our 4th find we found this cache at 2:35pm on the 29/09/18

Found without anyone around TFTC

Found it, tftc

Quick easy find some 5 - 6m from our GZ
TFTC

Found It.......On the last day of holidays it was decided to head up this way and pick up some more caches. After getting the nearby multi we stopped here and got this one as well. We had a quick walk to GZ as it was raining and blowing but we spotted something from where we stood but it was MrH_3 who made the decent down the slope to sign the log. Thanks maccamob for the cache and bringing us here

Rainy day for Sunday funday. Interesting site but pity about all the rubbish

Camped overnight south of here and diverted down this road to find a bunch of caches. When I arrived at the deserted picnic area I wandered over and soon had the log signed. Thanks for tempting me into such a lovely area maccamob

Bit tricky clambering up to this one 4 weeks post acl (knee) reconstruction, so let Benny_McBeardy and the kids go off ahead for the find. What an amazing slice of history here! Love it! Tftc!

What an interesting and amazing place, worth coming here just for the walk and to read about the history. Found with kejajo89 and the geokids.

Tftc!

Found with jelly_bean14 at the event.
Mum and Dad had found this years ago but we teamed up with Na'wal and kids to find this one!
Wow such an historic cache too!
Thanks maccamob for the cache hide.

Found with Geo_Eddie and Na'wal and kids.
A nice hide here in a really old location.
Thanks for the cache hide.

Diane was looking at the map as we pulled up here and noticed that this one was unlogged even though Joleen said , we've been here before Dad and found a maccamob cache that we had obviously forgoten to log so today we started wandering in that direction only to find a few teams standing around with a suspicious looking container so basically all we had to do was add our name to the log.
We obviously didn't do the walk this time but really enjoyed it on our last visit.
Many thanks maccamob for the cache that we finally have logged after three visits.

**Find #: 5359**
**Time: 11:04 am**
**Date: Sun 8 Oct 2017**
This very old maccamob cache was found, almost in their presence as they were visible across in the car park, or they had been a little earlier.
The cache was found with a small group of other cachers, and was in good condition.
**Thanks for placing this cache maccamob**

Found this lovely old cache with n0w0rries soon after the owners had left the event today.
Nice to see you both, as always.

Find # 4650

Found wile attending the "International Earthcache Day 2017 Lal Lal" event.
The old GPSr decided to have a little hissy fit and had me doing circles, decided to pocket it and look for something "out of place"
Woo Hoo, that worked

WOW... I didn't notice until logging it tonight how old it this one is... COOL

TFTC maccamob

After walking to the area with Bushfire to see what we could find, took a little while before the required 'here'tis' was heard. (not by me either). On the way a very large hungry ant mistook me for dinner. I am often thankful that our tiny friends are not the size of dogs. TFTC

The next oldest maccamob cache in the (still extensive) list of unfound caches (by me) can now be crossed off. I remember eyeing this one when planning a trip to attend wozzle68’s event at Sailors Falls and thinking that I’d find it one day.
Well given the shift in venue in honour of International Earthcache Day (weekend?) today proved to be the ideal opportunity for I and Lukie1987 to find it today. We went the long way around but ended up doing the drunken bee dance for a bit until Luke sang out that he had found it. Now back to the event and contemplating the next maccamob cache....

Round and round and round we go,
Some searched high and some searched low.
Where could it be? Maccamob know!
Found with a group, to end our woe.
Thanks for the search,
And the cache,
For making new friends,
And a smiley face.

The geo family had decided to make our way up to the Lal Lal Historic area for a nice picnic and to explore the area. And what a fantastic area it is. So much history here and a great day out. While the event was going we moved off with others to make a few finds in the area. The kids had lots of fun finding this one themselves without any troubles. Stamped and returned as found.

**Thanks for this traditional cache maccamob**
**Smile # 5237**

Well this ended up being a big day out. Me and leafotwind headed towards balarat for an event and a bout 15 odd caches along the way there and home again.
We had a ball found some great caches along the way. Thanks heaps to all the hiders.

Cool TFTC Cheers

Found during the International Earthcaching Day 2017 event. Good to see you both.

TFTC!

Today, Sheppythekid, geobub and myself spent the day in the Lal Lal area grabbing the caches in the area. This is a fantastic area with a great mix of landscape, history and geology to be seen. We had a great day even though it rained of and on with a really strong wind in the exposed areas.

I had known about this area for many years through bushwalking, but had never made it here until today and caching brought me here. We have not been very good at preserving our history in the past, but some things managed to last and now we are better at managing them. This is a great piece if history, showing the ingenuity and the hard, manual labor that went into building these places of work that didn't quite work out for the people that invested money into it.

Thanks to maccamob for placing this cache that finally brought me to this great piece of Australian history.
Cheers, BWBandit

Was out with the Bandit and Geo daughter love this spot learnt a lot the old Kim or smelter was fantastic the craftsmanship in these old buildings are really amazing thanks for putting a cache in here