SideTracked - Mount Kuring-gai Mount Kuring-Gai, New South Wales, Australia
By Calypso62 on 24-Nov-18. Waypoint GC7EEC2

Brutal force with our calculation as blue boxes made us confused TFTC Calypso62

This was another enjoyable multi in the sidetracked series. I walked down the trail to Cowan Creek which was spectacularly filled with mist. Had a snack down there before making the hike back up. I took the time in between trains to look for all the clues which were straight forward. The only clue I could not find was C. There are no numbers on the ramp boxes. But it was fairly easy to use the checksum to deduce what C was. At gz I spent 10 mins looking before making the find. Lovely hiding spot, just made for a cache. Tftc

Luckily after hopping off the southbound train from Mount Colah, the first piece of information that I needed to collect was right in front of me for the taking. The rest of the information was quickly collected with no ambiguous questions. The cache itself was also nice and close and was a surprisingly sturdy and reasonably sized hide for its location. Very high quality multi, TFTC!

We love the sidetracked series. Thank you Calypso!

Thanks for checking and replacing this after my previous DNF. After discussions with CO about where it should of been, i knew where it would be today. Nice container. TFTC. A great multi as usual from this CO.

Hopped off the train on our way back from the Central Coast. Had 30 minutes till the next train. We gathered our data with both of us comparing answers as we normally do. It seems that after 40 years of marriage, the only time we talk is whilst geocaching! We soon had a consensus on the GZ coords and raced to GZ nearly forgetting to tap off. With accurate coords as usual from this CO, we soon had CIH and we were able to return to the station with plenty of time to catch the next train.Thanks Calypso62

Thanks so so good

Cache on ...........

Came in November, but couldnt find it, searched for an hour. Thanks calypso62 for replacing it!

Cache was definitely AWOL. A new cache, with a mew log, pencil and a few goodies for the kids has now been replaced at GZ.

With two consecutive DNFs with one of those DNFs from an experienced cacher, the cache is more than likely AWOL. Disabling until I can check and replace. Hopefully, it won't take long.

So, I did the 2 stage multi in 6 parts bit, then out my hand where most muggles wouldn't, 3 times, but no joy. Double check it all, read some logs, just the hint is pretty specific, but nope.

could not find it at all searched for an hour

TFTC and the last Side-Tracked cache experience for the day. We started at 8:30am at Asquith and finished here at 4:00ish pm. 2Pods had already found this but 1 Pod came with us while Mighty Minions and I found all the answers and a short walk to the cache. Found a few trads after being here and arrived home at 7pm after leaving home at 6:30am. A fabulous day and found lots of your caches today.

My last cache finds on a great day out caching with techsavvy9 and 2pods, the math's were straight forward here and a quick find at GZ . Thanks for the cache Calypso62 tnlnn replaced as found sl

I don’t have an opal card ???

Another side track on our caching Easter Sunday. Clues collected, coordinates calculated, and off to GZ. Container was found after a bit of searching, but oh so hard to open. Possibly the previous finder had not read the instructions...

Happy 2023

Enjoyed this cache a lot. TFTC

Day 3 of our Christmas Travels. Travelling and caching with RoddyC to Canberra Bathurst and return.

Just a quick multi before we head to the Side-tracked event.

Happy Christmas everyone.

TFTCache Calypso62

On a five day trip to Canberra collecting the odd LGA here and there.

On our way to an event of a similar name.

Log signed and cache replaced as found at 8:56 AM on December 17, 2022. TFTC, Calypso62

While staaying at cousins place decided to take muggle cous for this cache and after collecting information wasn't long before we found container and had log signed and returned home. Thanks Calypso62 for cache.

We weren’t planning finding this one today but had a last minute change of plans and decided to get off here to find this cache. Thanks for bringing us here and TFTC

Really tight lid but this one was fun. Tftc

Thankyou this was a fun one to find

awesome

With a visit to Gosford on the program along with ilook4geo, it was decided to allow ourselves to get a little bit SideTracked while on the way. There was no problem in gathering the numbers needed and GZ was not too far away. We wandered in the right direction for a well placed find. The log was signed and all was replaced for the next cacher. Thanks for this cache placement and station wander go to Calypso62.

Stopped here with goingplaces2 on a trip north, worked out the new GZ and went off to make a nice easy find. Log was signed, all was replaced in the container with good camo and we headed off to continue going north. TFTC.

A unplanned day of caching between Hornsby and Brooklyn to finish the green Jolly . A nice variety of caches and a pleasant quality!
TFTC Wilbert67

I've now updated the listing with the new information needed for C, the checksum has been adjusted and the necessary calculations to find GZ has been altered.
This one is good to go again.

A maintenance check has been carried out and some new information has been identified to replace that information that is no longer available.
The lid on the cache was certainly on tight but I've managed to free it and replaced it in such a way as to make it easier to remove. There is no need to push the lid all the way home. Also, twisting the lid should make it easier to remove. Please let me know if there are any more issues in this regard.

A great place to park. We did not have to cross any major roads to get to GZ. Agree with previous logger about having to work out final coordinates from the checker because one of the andwers seems to be missing but that worked. Could not open container – will send photo to CO to show we were there.

This one needs some attention. Will get it sorted and back in play ASAP.

Had a bit of trouble with clue C - think it may be missing (will shoot details through to CO), so working backwards off the checksum came up with some coordinates that looked plausible.

Had a quick look and nothing turned up, so decided to continue walking and possibly chalk this as a DNF (particularly with the lower confidence I had in GZ)

Came back a bit later from a different direction and spotted cache quickly

Cache all in order - container does excellent job at staying dry.

Thanks

Good fun puzzle and good hide, thanks for the cache

After finding it’s sister cache at Mt Colah yesterday, it seems giant black and orange ants are using these cache containers as Teleporters. They were waiting for me and pounced! Cacher beware. I really like this series. TFTC!

The ant issue has been noted.

I've had word from Rama497 that he has checked on this cache and taken steps to prevent further infestations. Thanks mate for your assistance. This one can stay in play.

Fun little multi on our way hiking. Tftc

Now that the NSW Government is beginning to ease lockdown restrictions, it’s time to bring my caches back into play.

Just a reminder, a fundamental rule of geocaching is that, in order to be able to log a cache find online, you must retrieve the cache container and sign the physical log located in that container. Failure to comply may result in your online log being removed.

I know the Covid virus is still about so please take precautions to keep yourself and those around you from harm by doing things such as wearing gloves to handle geocaches as well as using hand sanitiser regularly.

Keep safe everyone and enjoy your geocaching activities.

Cheers,
Calypso62

The Covid situation in Greater Sydney is still critical. As a result, this cache remains disabled for the time being. I'm monitoring the situation and will bring the cache back online when appropriate to do so.

A maintenance check was completed by Rama497 while out on an exercise bike ride within 10km of his home base. He reports all is well with this cache. Thanks for your work Rama497.

To help stop the spread of Covid-19, the NSW Government has ordered everybody to stay at home unless you are: shopping for essentials, receiving medical care, exercising or travelling to work or education.

While some people would regard going geocaching as a form of exercise, it is my personal opinion that this activity is a non-essential one, perhaps involving unnecessary travel and therefore should not be undertaken during this time of crisis.

Who knows how long this current lockdown will last! Right now, every one of us has an important part to play in helping to keep our families, friends and the wider community safe in the fight against the spread of Covid-19, by staying home.

As a result of the health authority’s directive, I have decided to disable this cache and respectfully request that no person seek out and claim a find whilst this cache is disabled.

Thank you for your cooperation. I look forward to bringing my caches back into play as soon as the health crisis abates.

Regards,
Calypso62

Great hiding spot

#9183 15:30
Today EagleEyedMonkeyGirl and myself drove to Brisbane Waters NP for a bush walk.

A multi by Barefootjeff (Chasing Waterfalls 8 - Girrakool Loop) started at the parking lot, but with only a phone screen and no reading glasses, we decided matching the waterfalls against the minature photos on the screen would be a useless attempt so we decided to give that a pass. So after walking an enjoyable 9 kilometers, we were still without any finds.

So in need of a find we side tracked to Mount Kuring-Gai station. As a matter of fact we were there just hours ago as the original plan was to go to Wondabyne station for our walk. But as we just missed the train, we decided to go for plan B (Brisbane Waters NP).

At the station, all questions were answered and after a short walk the cache revealed itself.

Thanks for another Sidetracked, C62!

After lunch with MrSmith00 at pie in the sky, we drove back the back way and stopped off to solve and grab this multi.

We quickly acquired the requisite details and then soon after discovered Calypso62’s signature container.

Tftc.

Tftc, Azzepious needed a cache for his streak and we both needed lunch. Headed up to Pie In the Sky, the cache there is overgrown and you need a machete to access it. Grabbed a pie then headed down here. Knew there would be a good cache from C62.

Out on a geo hunt, geo dog unable to help in previous cache so we split up. The girls found this one pretty quickly.
TFTC

A nice day to be out caching.
After parking at the designated spot i headed over the highway and up into the station.
I had the entire place to myself for most of the time i was searching out the numbers.
Finding ‘F’ took mea little while but in the end there were only so many places the information could have been taken from.
Coords in hand i headed for the GZ and made a quick find.
I love visiting stations and the SideTracked series is turning into one of my favourites.
Thanks.
#1205

My first cache find!

Easy find

OCW morty8888. After a few caches around Galston we hit the Gorge and arrived here for the first of two Sidetracked caches. Not a lot of action on this station. Apart from a chap snapping goods trains as they rattled through, the platform was deserted. We collected the information and sat on the platform to determine gz which turned out to be close by.
Thanks for another SideTracked cache Calypso62.

OCW Oldmorty and headed through the gorge to get here. Haven't been up here since I used to deliver pizzas many year sago. No problem parking, no problem gathering data, no problem finding the cache. Enjoy these sidetracked multis. TFTC!

Got it!!

Found by nNanny and Bo on a lockdown Saturday morning
We patroled the station and got the numbers.
Finding the cache was straight forward
We took nothing and left nothing after signing the log
Thanks for this cache

Found this one while on our way home from some jobs up towards the Berowra area.

Nice little multi with an easy find.

TNLNSL
TFTC

Found with Smurfyguy. Was busy watching the trains while he did the calculations. We saw an interurban and a tangara train.

Was a little tired after my adventure today and was getting a little grisly, especially after my play at the Tractor Park.

Maybe Poppy could place a cache at that park one day soon. I did send him a video message asking him.

Nice cache to find while you have a bit of free time!

Hurray! 2 Calypso caches in one day!
With the downpour that's supposed to strike later today Hardlynoobish and I decided to get some local caches instead of gallivant around the city.
Glad to have this one smiley

Following C62's note that the cache was back in action, I visited the station to collect the numbers. After calculating the coordinates for GZ, a search there left me empty handed. I PAF to check if I was looking in the right spot. He agreed with me & contacted the CO. My mistake then was not logging a DNF.
When C62 announced that the cache was "back in service", I revisited the site today. I could say I was the FTF by signing the log but this was the replacement log, not the original one.
Two good things about C62. He has top caches & does maintenance when needed ASAP.
TNLN TFTC.

Cache has been replaced.

Cache on...

I've received intel that the cache is missing. It's on the radar to replace.

As the NSW Government is now beginning the process of easing some of the Covid-19 restrictions, it is appropriate that my geocaches be brought back into play.

**Please Remember - It is still very important to exercise social distancing while you are out and about and to practise good hand hygiene after touching caches out in the geo-wild.

To help stop the spread of Covid-19, The Australian and NSW Governments requires everybody to stay at home unless you are: shopping for essentials, receiving medical care, exercising or travelling to work or education.

While some people would regard going geocaching as a form of exercise, it is my personal opinion that this activity is a non-essential one, perhaps involving unnecessary travel and therefore should not be undertaken during this time of crisis.

Who knows how long this pandemic will last! Right now, every one of us has an important part to play in helping to keep our families, friends and the wider community safe in the fight against the spread of Covid-19 by staying home.

As a result of the health authority’s directive, I have decided to disable all my caches and respectfully request that no person seek out and claim a find on any of my hides whilst the caches are disabled.

Thank you for your cooperation. I look forward to bringing my caches back into play as soon as the health crisis abates.

Regards,
Calypso62

I'd been keeping this for a rainy day. Sadly, rainy days are a rarity but needing a find for the NY souvenir and not wanting to venture far in the heat, this was the perfect cache. I'd wandered the station to get the numbers ages ago, so today was a quick grab. Thanks Calypso62 and Happy New Year!

#4642:
I caught the train back downline from Brooklyn, making a change at Berowra. Glad this one was much easier than the one at Hawkesbury River. I had the numbers totted up, and made a swift find on the other side of the tracks. I found the cache uncovered at GZ, with an undated signature on the last page. Probably found accidentally by a muggle! I added my name and hid under some bark. TFTC.
___
202nd SideTracked cache found, and 20th in New South Wales.

9th cache found in New South Wales Shire of Hornsby.

TFTC

Found

Another Sunday, another SideTracked. Slowly gathered the clues but somehow stuffed up what should have been the easiest one (the phone number). So back for a recount then I had the right checksum. Once at ground zero a nice easy find, might be harder at peak hour. Today's count - 2 Central Coast H sets, a Pacific National northbound freight, a Berowra bound A set, and a city bound A set as I was leaving. Thanks Calypso62.

Brilliant fun and really clear clues. My daughter and I had great fun finding this one

Find #2800!!! Realised this was a kinda special number and decided to make it one of Calypso62's knowing it would not disappoint. Collected all the information and off to gz to make the grab. Another fun little multi and fave point from me before heading off to learn to drive a forklift. Had an awesome day topped off with a congratulatory phone call from our good friend the CO. Thanks again Calypso for making our adventures so much fun and worth while. Much love

out and about for IGD and needing a few more multis this was close to the event we were attending so headed over. Not being that good at Multis the final plot did not look that good but we decide it must be close so headed off and as we got close a likely spot so spotted and the cache soon found. We completed the signing duties and re hid. TFTC

My 41st SideTracked cache.
Very quiet here. No problems, except for H (Crosslands?), but I was able to work this out from the Checksum. A good sized cache. Have a favourite point for another SideTracked cache. TFTC Calypso62.

TFTC
Passing through the area, and I can’t pass up a Calypso Multi.
Got the numbers (correct the 2nd time) the checksum wasn’t right, but I put in the likely coords and bam.... CIH.
Cheers Calypso for another multi to my tally.

25 April 2019 at 09:39

Today I decided to go and ride some trains!!!! You have a lot to answer for, Mr Calypso, luring me away from the beach on such a beautiful sunny day !! But I forgive you.

As I live near North Sydney station, that was my starting point. I enjoyed the journey towards Hornsby where Circuit Training awaited, but pretty much at the last minute, I decided not to get off there. I knew there was a newish hide in the Side Tracked series at Mount Kuring-gai, and although I hadn't checked it out in advance, I remembered it was a Calypso cache and therefore would be well maintained. Also, I thought that Circuit Training would probably break my spirit, take me three days of hard slogging possibly in vain, and if I could find this Side Tracked cache, all would somehow not be lost.. haha.

So spontaneity won. I continued on, did the calculations and actually found the cache. YAY. Finishing just in time to catch the train back to Hornsby..

Thank you Calypso62. You rock !!!

I happened to be in the area and had time for one. It's always fun to find a train related cache as I cannot "find" my own. This was fairly quick and straight forward. As I was adding up the numbers the station master queried my behaviour and we had a chat about caching, just as 442s1 whizzed by hauling a new B set of suburban carriages.

Picked up the B2 bomber trackable.

Thanks for another SideTracked hide Calypso62.

Despite today’s very wet weather we decided to head up the North Shore rail line, taking advantage of the cheap Sunday $2.70 per head capped Opal Card fares, to visit a couple of caches in the SideTracked series. Also started our “Circuit Training”, with a couple of waypoints visited for the Circuit Training MultiCache. This was the 1st of 2 finds, plus 2 waypoints, for the day.

We had departed home in heavy rain, hoping that it would ease by the time we reached Hornsby Railway Station, but it wasn’t to be and we ended up getting quite wet whilst grabbing the required information for “Circuit Training” at WP1. Then it was back on a train to Mount Kuring-gai Station for this one, with the rain still tumbling down as we dashed from the train carriage over to the station’s undercover area. The station was totally deserted, with only us mad cachers out braving the inclement conditions.

With umbrellas in hand we quickly gathered all of the required information and soon had some final GZ coordinates to load into the GPSr. Off we all went, soon arriving at final GZ to make a quick find of the nicely stashed container. Whilst sheltering under an umbrella we signed the logbook, swapped TB’s, then replaced everything as found. TFTC Calypso62.

Find #3006

Oops! I forgot to change the checksum when I came up with a new value for "F". Sorry about that rozway and Bedlam2. All good now with a checksum of 86.

Did all the calcs but still could mot get a the check sum so we went with our gut feeling and located. Dropped of a TB

Did the numbers. Don’t know how these add up to 55 but we did the cords with what we had and cache was right there.

The issue for the value of F has now been sorted and the cache listing has now been updated.

Time for this one to come back into play.

Cache on.......

As I headed down the M1 I figured today was as good a day as any to get sidetracked at the Berowra exit and have a multi break at Mt Kuringai and Asquith stations.

I didn't realise this one had been disabled until I was at the station ready to undertake the required investigations ... but no matter, one missing number isn't a problem when there's a checksum there. As it turned out, however, I was able to read the semi obliterated number for F so there was no need for any fancy maths.

GZ turned out to be in a handy position for me so it didn't take long to complete the necessary formalities and get on my way to Asquith. Thanks for another well put together and enjoyable multi C62 ... love your work.

After our hike from Benowie to Kuring-Gai. Please note that the telephone number has changed and F is now F-2 (we looked hard enough to see through the glued sticker). TFTC.

Thanks to PranSima for highlighting the issue with the value for F. This one will be back in play shortly.

Another in the Side Tracked series collected this afternoon. More fun on the station although I became uncharacteristically geographically disoriented making my way to GZ. Must be getting old and grumpy!
SL TFTC

Found today after being a whole week early for a meet up with some other geocacher's at the "No one is forcing you to do this series". so we decided to detour down to Wahroonga \Hornsby to do the Sphinx Virtual cache and a few others.

Nice cache, must have been a lucky day to find this little hidey cave.
And surprisingly well- kempt station to find the clues within.
Thanks for the local one Calypso62
Dropped two trackables

Find #2641
After an embarrassing error this morning, where we turned up a week early to meet some friends for some adventure caches, we decided on pushing on down to Sydney for something different. We ended up with a handful of finds and no DNFs, always a bonus....
Another multi on our quest. I was a bit concerned we were on the platform without opal cards, but we hussled, gathered the info, one piece we used the checksum to back-calculate, then spotted it on the way to the hide anyway. Accurate coords had us on top of the hide in a few minutes, the kids loved the swag.... TFTC!

After finding the Wahroonga sidetracked multi yesterday, I felt inspired to find a couple more. We grabbed this one before visiting a nearby supermarket.

Good one, thanks Calypso62.

Found with Mr MR after gathering all the numbers and taking a short stroll. Great fun, thanks Calypso62.

Another multi on our day of caching in the drizzle. Amazingly we had parked within inches of GZ which made being discrete pretty easy. Left a TB.

Two trains arrived in the two minutes we were at the station. I think drivers assumed we were there to catch a train so they looked a bit bewildered when we waved them on! Ha ha

A fun one. TNLN TFTC

TB drop!

Have passed through a few times but never had to check out the platform till now. Thanks Calypso.

I was out with my son today getting his miles up for his Ls when i decided to grab this one. I knew there would not be a big hike involved. Gather the numbers and had the cache in hand quickly. Grabbed the TB to move on. All good at the cache. Thanks Calypso62 for the placement and continued enthusiasm for the game. Cheers

Visited for mileage
HQ82RQ 2016 Lackey Geocoin
ACD7B3 Geo-Achievement Finds 1,000 Geocoin
ACCHGH Geo-Achievement Finds 2,000 Geocoin
ACYNEE Geo-Achievement Finds 3,000 Geocoin
HCXJPG Hidden Creatures Geocoin
CCP4DX Nametag Geocoin
C4FEXR Travel Bug Dog Tag

A week ago we parked where suggested and walked through to the station. It did not take long to count but something was wrong, and GZ was a ridiculous distance from the station. I needed to head home right then but later had another look at our information. Hmm, maybe the numbers might turn out right if I had North and South the right way around? (Insert headslap here) Today, I parked on the highway with few commuters there and collected the correct remaining numbers then moved to GZ where we found the nicely hidden container in a logical place. Thanks Calypso62 for another great multi, we even had twice the fun.

At MrsFish's insistence, we took the three TBs to move on and left our last two.

I was passing so checked on the cache. All is looking good. I left the three trackables for another cacher to move.

Cache on......

I raced home from caching on Sunday in Berowra, and stopped in to collect the info, but didn't have time to do the calcs. A bit of a shame really, given how I walked right past the hide on the way out. Anyway, I managed to get there after work tonight to find the great hide. The sidetracked series are certainly a clever idea. Seems there was a bit of traffic at the cache today. TFTC!

Well here I am again on another train trip northbound. This was easy, one direct trip although things weren't running to time today and when I got off at Mount Kuringai the board said I only had 12 minutes before the return train instead of the 21 minutes I expected.

The necessary information was all found in a systematic manner, the checksum matched so I punched the numbers into the GPS and set off hoping I was going in the right direction as there was no satellite reception to start. All good, I was proceeding as required and soon saw somewhere worth investigating. Signed the logbook and grabbed a TB then turned to walk back to the station, just as a car parked adjacent to GZ.

On reaching the platform the board said I still had 7 minutes before the train!
Plenty of time so I stopped at Guide Dogs on the way home and made a Christmas Donation. They are so lovely to you there.

TFTC # 3005, Streak day #392