Federation Square Meet & Greet Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
By Alamogul on 21-Nov-17. Waypoint GC7E1FX

Much thanks to all that attended. Cache-ya later

Thanks for setting up. Glad to meet and talk with some of the local cachers.

21/11/2017 12:34 Met Alamogul and a couple of familiar faces. This man is an impressive cacher with an incredible 176k find to his name. I was happy it was a lunchtime meet so I took the circle tram from work and got off at Fed square. Easy to find as I just looked for the cachers standing around chatting. Sad to see the nearby Webcam was boarded up and may even be archived now. TFTC Alamogul TNLN SL

Having just returned home from the amazing Mega at Alexandra, someone asked me "where are you off to next?" Since I hadn't planned anything at all after the Mega, I checked Events and, lo and behold, one to be held in Fed Square the next day.
A free Tuesday with nothing planned soon became a booked train trip to Melbourne. I'd posted in my Will Attend that I was looking for a caching partner from train arrival till Event time, but no offers were forthcoming.
Instead I checked the map and was delighted to see 2 traditionals, an EarthCache, and a new Virtual, within walking distance of Flinders Street Station. First trad in Degraves Junction defeated me, but a lovely cool visit in St Paul's Cathedral, a walk across the road to the Virtual, and, though very hot, it was good photography weather. Then a pleasant stroll along the Yarra netted me the other trad which had escaped me on a previous visit.
Turning up a bit early I was met by another couple who'd found a little shade they were willing to share with me, and when Micaparamedic turned up, we joined him in the hot sun. Soon there was a small geo congregation to meet our visitors from the States.
I cannot imagine how anyone could find that many caches in a lifetime, let alone a thousand in a day!
I've only celebrated my 4000th this week and it pales into insignificance beside his total.
It was a pleasure to meet ladioactive there who offered to join me this arvo to find a couple of caches on my todo list.
Thanks for running the event and giving me the opportunity of finding 5 different cache types in day before I have to catch the afternoon train back to Shepparton.

Arrived at GZ in Fed Square, not realising there were others there already hiding in the shade. I was taking up the little piece of shade at GZ. It was nice to catch up with Alamogul again after meeting him in Seattle some four or five years earlier.

After many caching stories exchanged with those present, I headed off into the CBD for a little retail therapy.

Thanks Alamogul for organising this event, I hope you enjoyed your short stay in Melbourne and that the penguins on Phillip Island made a good showing.

Planning on being there.

N will pop in to say Hi on her lunch break

Dropping "Muddle-Headed" trackable to swap with someone

Mucho thanks for such a great turnout. Come visit us on the west coast of the USA

Dropped by to quickly say hi and then disappeared into Transport next door for a beer and lunch as it's too hot to be standing around in the sun

My sincere apologies I was not able to get to this one.

Stopped by for 30 minutes or so then had to unfortunately go back to work while others were going off caching.
Thanks for the event and enjoy your stay.

Thanks for organising Alamogul. Nice to meet everyone.
Happy caching!

Nice to meet you two at lunchtime today. Enjoy your time in this part of the world!

Nice to meet other teachers. Thanks for setting this up

As I said in my Will Attend log I've never met a team that has found so many caches so I was dying to meet Alamogul, find out the secrets to their caching success and see what else they do in their spare time....if they have any!

I rarely travel by public transport but seemed to navigate it well today, without using my GPSr or smartphone. After being greeted by Alamogul I signed the logbook just after 12 noon and then chatted with some familiar cachers as well as others I had never met before. [^] Alamogul told us that their greatest number of finds in a day was about 1000, 100 finds per hour. They did say it was a special type of cache series where you just press a button at each cache (or something like that). An incredible effort nevertheless.

It was great to meet you Alamogul. I gathered your spare time is filled with travelling. Have a wonderful time on your Aussie travels and maybe I will see you in the U.S. sometime - I've been there twice but never to Reno.

I am pleased I got to attend this event and to catch up with others whilst meeting Alamogul on this warm day. I am impressed with almost 180k finds too!

I dropped off a couple of travel bugs that are keen to visit the USA and I left our hosts with a cache container to hide somewhere when they get home which I'm planning to accept the challenge of going and finding it


Thanks Alamogul for a great time, enjoy your travels downunder and have a pleasant return flight home.

Due to work commitments Geodad was unable to drop by, hope everyone kept cool on this warm day!

**Find #: 5617**
**Time: 12:01 pm**
**Date: Tues 21 Nov 2017**
A pretty hot day, but this conveniently located event at Fed Square enabled a train excursion into the city.
I've been aware of Alamogul for a couple of years, and they were in the 70,000s I think at that stage. It seemed an enormous number, and I can't comprehend at all how anybody can get over 176,000 which is where the total rests today.
So it was a great pleasure to meet this amazing team and hear their story.
A small group assembled in a location that was not the coolest around, but we braved the sun and enjoyed the conversation, and Alan even presented a FTF prize.
It was also good to meet Wandering Willy Suds who is a Canadian cacher, also on the Cruise with Alamogul.
After the event we all wandered off, and the Alamoguls joined a coach to Phillip Island to see the fairy penguins before their cruise ship leaves tomorrow.
**Thanks for the event Alamogul**

Thanks for hosting the event, enjoy the remainder of your trip!

We happen to be visiting Melbourne as well so intend to be there to meet you.

Hoping to make it along.

If the planets align, and our trains run on time, I will be in Melbourne at 9.10.
Anyone interested in caching locally till the midday event please send me a message, I'd love some company to fill in the time

If I get my work done this morning I will wander by at lunchtime

Thanks for inviting us when I met you in Wellington. Loon Lady and I hope to attend when the ship docks.

Geodad will attempt to attend this event during his lunch break. Hopefully see you there.

should be there...I only work 100m away

I hope to be there as I haven't been to the CBD for a while and there are now several caches I can look for after the event. Of course Alamogul it will be great to meet you too. I've never met a team that has found so many caches. My friends and I want to know whether you have time for anything else other than caching?

Was with Wandering Willy Suds. Did realize I hadn't logged this one. Small world since the owner was on the ship with us! Nice to meet everyone, and thanks for some tips. SL

Unfortunately with the change of date we will not be able to make it as we have commitments elsewhere in the middle of the day. Sorry to miss this event.

I will drop by. Probably be 15 minutes after the start time though.

I'm planning to attend. Can't miss an opportunity to meet a team who has found over 176,000 caches.

I need to change the event to the 21st as we had the wrong dates on our calendar. Hope this is ok with everyone

Won't now be able to attend, as we'll still be in Alexandra after the Mega.

27 October 2017 14:54 Absolutely be there, I will. Alamogul

We'll both be there.

I should be able to attend this...probably have a travel bug or two to swap.

Published

I will be there.