Vampire Series #76 - Premature Obituary Letterbox Tennent, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
By DARKSIDEDAN. on 05-Jul-18. Waypoint GC7TWE0

Found, signed and continuing south. TFTC!

Spending some time caching around the NSW/ACT southern tablelands with lots of side trips. TFTC.A great day out caching with a local group signing as VAT.The morning started with a few drive bys followed by a long hike down the Gudgenby River. Lots of blackberries, spiky scrub and even a wade along the river made a challenging yet enjoyable trek.Following this we all headed over to the Murrumbidgee River for another tough river walk. This one ended up hot, hazardous and up the steep cliff side so the walk was called off after the first find to end the great day.Nice quick find

A cache trip to the south of Canberra do some more of the Vampire series. Signing with VAT. A number of caches planned to pick up on the road and a second extra walk along the Murrumbidgee to round of a fun half day outing. and others added on the fly. A fun group outing on a beautiful late warm spring day. This cache: A quick find after a nice road space pull up. Thank you DARKSIDEDAN. for putting the cache out and maintaining it.

Well it is Canberra Geobash Mega time and Im spending 6 nights up here on the Mega site and also the ACT has put on some brilliant weather for us so far during the day.Well it is day 5 for me and it was a slight sleep in for me as I have had a few early mornings.After my morning coffee I set off back down to this beautiful area to collect a few caches.Orroral campground looks a good spot to camp and to explore the area.I had been down this way last Thursday collecting windmill information and was back again today to find some multis and a few others including this one.On my way back and I had to find this one so I could add my own Obituary.Found a spot to park and wandered off to GZ.Soon located the cache and added my name to the log.Thanks DARKSIDEDAN TFTC.

Dropped by to grab a letter box. Interesting location with a former quarry. Thanks for the cache.

MuggleGeorge was in the mood for a hike up to Boroomba Rocks tonight and I was keen for a cache or two, so it seemed like a match made in heaven! Made it up and back in daylight, but it meant not quite getting out to one of the caches on the plan, so we pulled in here to grab this guy on the way home to fill the gap Nice fast find at GZ, though the muscles are already stiffening up from the walk... Thanks for the cache!

Found with SA a while back. TFTC

We had ventured south for the day, but were met with a road closure further south. Turning around, we decided to have a look at the Gudgenby River which is flowing fast and well at the moment. We then took a slow trip back to Canberra and made a few stops along the way. For this one, we were able to park fairly close to GZ and took a short walk up the hill to add a stamp and our name to the log book.
Thanks Darksidedan
Domsky

Heading back to town after the event and stopped off for a couple of caches along Nass road with Smittengranny. Arrived at GZ to find the cache in great condition considering the weather we've had. Log was signed, cache returned and we were off for another one.

Thanks DSD....

Found whilst finding other caches on Mt. Tennant. Stamped my log and added my motto as well......
Thanks.

On my way home after a drive down South I pulled over as close as I could. Set the date in my stamp and backtracked to the GZ. Found the container without too much trouble and stamped my presence. TFTC.

A much cooler summer's day today, almost autumnal, and so I thought it would be a good morning to knock over a few of DSD's Vampire series. This was a straightforward find in the obvious location, thanks DSD. Stamps are cool!

TFTC Down in southern Namadgi after the rains of the past few days. RE growth looking amazing those those beautiful hills are so bare This container in good condition and the log book is dry. Grateful thanks to DSD for placing and maintaining this cache.

An exciting dash up the hill with my phone down to 3% charge, but fortunately a quick find. TFTC and it’s attributes!

After saying goodbye to AngelG27 and SpecimenX for the morning, I stopped by to pick this one up. TFTC DSD

A lovely day for an outing and the countryside is looking wonderful after the rain; so green. I can't get enough of the green. It was a short walk and a quick find. Cache and log are good. TFTC DARKSIDEDAN.

Found with Goldenwattle. TFTC.

A fast find while in the area for an event. TFTH

**This Cache**
Heading home after a furnish day in the office. Quick and easy pick up dodging prickly bushes and being bitten a couple of times before reaching GZ. And of course it’s always easier and safer to find you way out - LOL. TFTC DARKSIDEDAN.

**Our Day**
**Walk 1 (morning) -** this was to be a quick pickup on our way down the Naas Road for a long hike along the Murrumbidgee River. But it wasn’t to be that way. The 'Lanyon Limits' cache took us a close to 40minutes to find. With our GPS' jumping around and eventually settling very close to the correct location for the tricky find. But, not before searching 10m out from GZ and on small islands nearby - go figure! It is a very smart and clever hide particularly that it may at times be marooned when it rains. It was 2.47kms to reach this location with 29m ascent/44m descent. To get here and find the cache it took us 1.5 hours.

Then 'The Fish Need Your Help II' had us walking an additional 2+km as we over thought the 'sponsor' question ie: 'sponsor' V 'logo'. A checksum would have avoided this but we did thorough enjoy the easy beautiful walk a km or so further up stream seeing 3 large wombats but no kangaroos , and sadly a dead baby wombat and turtle. We took the opportunity to use a PAF to resolve our dilemma. Once resolved we walked back for a quick and easy find.

In all, we spent to just over 3 hours for 7.52kms for 121m ascent/descent.

**Walk 2 (afternoon) -** along the Gudgenby River/fence-line picking up a string of DSD caches while listening to the water gurgling in beautiful Winter ️ sunshine. We walked for a little more than two hours over 5.1km and 138m ascent/descent. With the bushland, close to the river, dense and full of thorny bushes we mainly took the path of least resistance along the fenceline. We looked for and found elements of beauty along the way taking photos to store our memories.

We did not see any kangaroos or wombats this way but on our way home looking for a road cache we found the skeleton of what looked like a dead brumby near burnt bushland from the Feb 2020 fires at the base of Mt Tennant.

Another interesting day in our outdoor office.

Took the opportunity to try for this one after going out to explore Apollo Road - no good, still closed. Sunshine Road was also a no go - Gudgenby Creek looks as wide as the Murrumbidgee here today and I decided not to put the Rav through any more trauma - me too - ha ha. I didn't take the right approach to one, getting myself tangled in bush when there was no need. The trip back to the car was so easy! TFTC

Log nice and dry. TFTC DSD

Out this way on a driving lesson with my middle daughter. We randomly stopped to grab caches on the way. A nice quick find, found with Chocolistick03. Signed as OK + CL3, TFTC.

A big day of caching with J+J.AU today. Starting in Mos Vale with a few quick aches just as light starts to appear. Then a long drive to and through Canberra to get to the part of the Murrumbidgy we were targeting today do finish of the vampire series. A lot of walking for some great d/t ratings and half of the time tracks were not really there! Of track is no problem however and enjoyed the day and perfect weather.
TFTC Wilbert67

Wilbert67 joined us today on a huge day of caching , our target was the vampire series and a few others along the way.
We left home super early and it was good to do some of the trails while it was cool.
The walk at the end our legs felt the effect of the day.
We spotted plenty of kangaroos and birds, occasional fly came to greet also.
Over all we felt quite accomplished with smileys we gathered.
Thanks for the placements of these.
A great day out.

19,156. Found with AngelG27 on a beautiful spring day in Canberra and surrounds.

After dropping minniek off for her (turns out) epic walk doing the CCT, AngelG27 and I met up for a good mornings caching. This was the next one on today's list. Always enjoy a LBH, and this was a short walk up for a quick find. Angel left a prophetic statement which applies to everyone.

Thanks DSD !! Fav Point !

Cache 5513 on 13 Oct 2019.

I was keen to get out and grab a few caches today, and Fitzy_1965 was at a loose end after dropping Minniek off at Pine Island, so we decided to combine our efforts and grab a few caches together. We decided to head down south of Tharwa to grab a few Tankengine caches and what ever else cross our paths! I got 11 caches which I was happy with, and Fitzy also got quite a few. A lovely morning caching and catching up on the gossip!

This cache: a quick walk into the bush and another LBH added to our finds. I left a short message!

Thanks DARKSIDEDAN. for the cache and thanks Fitzy_1965 for the fun!

Found at 5:17:00 PM

Someone has driven a bulldozer from the road right up to this cache. Now that's what I call an easy approach. I, however, managed to trip and rip the skin of my palm on the rocks! Doh!

Thanks DARKSIDEDAN.

Trip to country for some caches area with ALL7..
Choice stamp is hamburger on sign book...
TFTC

Attending the Queanbeyan Clear Waters mega event, this was my final day. I teamed up with e.gregory1 today, as we headed south from the city, and geocache in and around Namadgi National Park. Another nice day with great weather, apart from the thunderstorm that rolled through towards the end of a day. It wasn't a day of high finds, but some great targeted caches, awesome scenery, and interesting history at Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station, which was linked to assisting with communicating the moon landing.

My final cache for the day, and with a little bit of free time, we thought we'd grab this letterbox hybrid cache. A bit of a walk into the bushland before making the find. The cache container and contents were in good shape. Thanks DARKSIDEDAN. for its placement and ongoing maintenance.

Today was the final day of the Clear Water Mega event in Queanbeyan. I teamed up with a fellow South Australian geocacher and spent much of the day south of the city in and around the Namadgi National Park.

We had another day of great weather until late in the afternoon when a thunderstorm passed over. Fortunately we were pretty much finished and headed back by then.

A quick find as we headed back towards Canberra.

Thanks DARKSIDEDAN. for the cache.

[#code]
Found with Spikey Mikey
Back in Queanbeyan again for the MEGA and some caching with Spikey Mikey.

[green] - Found It on [DAYLONG] ... at [TIME]...

TFTC! - [blue][PLACEDBY][/blue] ... [/green]
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Logged with [GCDroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gcdroid).

21/04/2019

During the Mega.

The weather was perfect for us to travel road included the countryside so beautiful,
Found as team Lucky 9
Mostly good coordinate spot with hunt (it was helpful.)

Thanks DARKSIDEDAN. for organising the cache and hunt [^]

Found on a Easter Sunday drive with Geo-friends. “Lucky 9” Thanks

Visiting Canberra for the Mega Event and having a wonderful time touring the city with my host and sister Tealby, finding many caches in the process.
This cache was found on the way back home from completing the two great series in the area, and was great to find a Letterbox cache here to fill in another 'property' space on the Mega's Cacheopoply game.
Thanks for the cache DARKSIDEDAN.

A quick stop on the way home from the "Damned" "Nightmares" to collect this lone letterbox before heading back to the mega venue. TFTC DSD - another cacheopoly square ticked off for Urch.

After a short walk and a short search, the cache was in hand.
Out caching in the company of DocWho whilst attending the Clear Waters Oz Mega 2019 event.
TNLNSL TFTC

This sucker was hard to dislodge from its hiding space! It took a team effort. TFTC

Love it

Got it hard to pull up nice view

On the letterbox hunt again today with Snickersallan TFTC

Found on our way home from visiting windmills. Quick find.

Brewmaker was here. R.I.P. (not yet)

TFTC

TFTC DARKSIDEDAN.

Out in the lovely countryside with Bluewattle
trying to find many caches on our to-do list.
We took the long way off the road to get to this instead of taking the track. Neat hide here, log stamped and then an easy exit this time.

TFTC DARKSIDEDAN.
Found April 19, 2019

OCW the Bebes, MaxAdventurer, Brewmaker and Everest High during the Cw mega. Nice to get a letterbox cache. Tftc

OCW PelDroedGwin, Brewmaker, EverestHigh & MaxAdventurer

After chasing windmills we just had to stop for a vampire letterbox.

Log stamped, vampire drawn

Tftc

Nice short walk uphill to find this Letterbox cache. TFTC

My obituary? Well my name is mine. Haha.

Actually I do hope there will be many more tomorrow's but I'm not going to wait till one day to live my life any longer. I love the Horrace? poem with that line,

"Tomorrow do thy worst for I have lived today"

In Canberra for the Mega, having roadtripped down over the weekend with Seff (seffnjarah) and Lennondayz29 via Moree, Dubbo, and Wagga. Of necessity the roadtrip section consisted of a lot of shorter walks or park n grab type finds, and so Seff and I had planned for a hike today to stretch the legs, while Ldayz did some touristy things. Seff had identified a very unloved cache in the Namadgi National Park and I was really looking forward to a good testing hike to work off some of the naughty road trip calories... It certainly delivered on the testing front!

A bit shell-shocked from the hike (which was heaps tougher than we had been anticipating) we were back in Victor del Prado and heading towards Canberra, hot showers and big steaming piles of Mexican food, but had to stop for this one. TFTC

Dez (JezNDez) and I had travelled down from Brisbane with Lennondayz29 to attend the nearby Mega event over the Easter weekend. As most of our caching so far had been park and grab type caches (albeit caches selected to be away from the expected Mega hoards), Dez and I were eager to stretch the legs today and had planned a walk to Bog Hut in Namadgi National Park.

Having survived the brutal terrain (the only thing that could make it wore would be a healthy dose of Queensland lantana), we were glad to be on the road back to Canberra and a nice hot shower waiting for us.

We passed right by this cache on the drive back and managed to drag our weary bodies up to GZ where the cache container was quickly found. TFTC

Another long great day out with woolwood9 hunting containers.
SL - Stamped logs as TM/WW NZ or printed tm421/ ww9
*Big thank you to the cache owners who made our trip fun!*

Found while on a trip away with tmann421, heading to the MEGA in Canberra
Signed as TM/WW NZ
*Thanks for the placement*

After a morning caching up the Tennent scar with Marmaduke Rothschild, he was kind enough to humour me as a grabbed a couple of nearby Vampires. TFTC DSD.

Nice and fun in the Rain but quick found and placed back where it belong TFTC DSD

Today was based around the drive to and from Orroral valley for the mornings event. I stopped for a few caches on the way down and several more on the way home. An enjoyable trip with plenty of success.

Thanks.

26318.17 TNLN
Visited: World Traveling Gold GC A#6 & 11000 Finds A#253

**Albida**

Found with nissan 65 on a few days caching in Canberra. We headed up last night after work and stayed at our usual over night spot in Goulburn before heading out this way. Thankyou to all cache owners for placing these for our enjoyment

Found with cullum68 on a few days away thanks for the cache

IamCoust and I planned to pick up a few more of the caches down around here and this was one of them.

We started early this morning to beat the heat. We picked up a good number of caches within the day and all without too many major issues.

I am slowly knocking off all the Vampire Series with only a handful to go now. Only a couple more trips I think ; )

This cache was found all in good order, with easy parking and spot on coords. Tftc DARKSIDEDAN!!!

After a delayed but still early start my faithful driver dty73 and I finally made it out South for the attack on ‘Mount McCormack’. Had previously advised our intentions to the land owners, both promptly replying with a ‘best of luck’. Pulled over on Smiths Rd at the recommended parking, where there was some debate on which fence line to follow, 6 one way, half a dozen the other as it turned out. Heading across then slowly up, the cloud cover in our favour. Recent wet weather had kept the temperatures down, happy for that to continue. Made the summit and relatively quickly worked out GZ was on the other side of the newly placed high tensioned barbed wire fence. A quick sign and replace, a few Groot shots of the surrounds and back down we went. Drove out to Naas Rd and hunted for few not so recently archived caches, but no luck there. Worth a look, but didn’t spend too much time with it. Coppers pulled over next to us at one, but only to check that we were ok, and to ask about another car parked further back up the hill. Turned out it was just a couple of cyclists (they had returned to the car when we were driving back past them).

Headed back North collected Vamps #76, # 86 and the recently archived # 87. No issues with #87 at all, it was sitting there just fine. Continued onwards towards town, turning into the Namadgi Visitors Centre and parked down close to the river, dty73 blatantly flaunting with some dubious parking instructions. Picked up Vamp #88 and Mouat Tree without issue. A little closer to town, Point Hut Crossing to be exact, and a nice stroll along the river (and through patches of long grass) to ‘Murrumbidgee Madness’. Water levels down quite low, a little surprising with recent rains, so no difficulty in finding a path straight to GZ. A quick and sturdy find (solving the puzzle a little harder, but social media to the rescue). I liked this one, a favourite added. Back to dty73’s trusty geomobile, and a quick park and grab of ‘The Search for Pumpkinhead’ (which I had solved back in February 2017!!).

Decided that was enough caching for the day, a good mornings effort. It was heating up as well, the clouds had disappeared and family was calling. Of course, as it does, newly published cache alerts came a calling. A quick phone call to Tankengine and we met up just outside McDonalds Tuggers for an attempt on ‘Makku Mob – Tuggeranong’. A few glitches, either us or the software, but a nice find in the shade. Sat around chatting on the morning’s activities before wondering over to ‘Lakeside Library’. Unfortunately this one really does seem in need of owner attention.

Back to Macers and a cold cone and slushy the order of the day. The air-conditioning working in tandem with out treats we were soon refreshed, and it was really now time to head home. A quick stop at Autoco then back across the border to the Northside, dty73 dropping me off at the front door. A quick goodbye, a tentative commitment for another day soon, and it was inside for a cool shower, homemade pea soup, a refreshing ale and ‘Guardians of Galaxy’ with the kids.

Thanks to dty73 for the day, a great pleasure as always, and all the cache owners for placing and maintaining the caches. Oh yes, Tankengine, a happy birthday for tomorrow

Took the TB from here

I headed out with Smittengranny, Joolay, dty73 and aquilus1 today so SG could get some more caches on her way to 6000 finds. Lots of fun with these ladies and had a great day. TFTC

Out on a lovely day with Kittykatch and Smittengranny running around picking up missed caches and doing others. Weather was great and had a great day with great company. And sorry about the similar log. TFTC

Another fabulous day out on the caching trail today - this time with Kittykatch, Joolay, Aquilus 1 and dty73. We travelled in two cars but managed lots of relaxed chatting as we walked between caches. The Vampire Series were in our sights but we grabbed some smilies along the way. All caches attempted were found to be in good condition and now carry our names. Mostly mine is SG.
Thanks to all the COs for placing these caches for us to find. TNLN SL.

#9974 @0705
This one was well hidden. TFTC.

Three roadside caches finished off the day nicely although all proved a bit trickier to find than we expected. This one was especially well hidden with simple but effective camouflage. Thanks DSD for a great series and a rewarding day out.

Decided to head back this way to pick up this odd cache in the series. This took me ages to find. Went round and round the rocks, up and down and through lots of spiky bushes. Eventually decided to try something and found the well concealed cache.

Thanks,

This took a while but after doing a couple of circuits, I decided to trust the coords and there it was. Surprisingly effective camo. TFTC DSD

After clearing out the caches along the Naas I stopped by for this one. The hardest find of the day even though it was the biggest container and the gps was spot on. I walked around and around it before finally moving the camo to find. TFTC.

My brother and his wife came down to wish me happy birthday for tomorrow. We had lunch, and they've headed back to Sydney. In the meantime, the dogs need walking, and I feel like collecting a few letterboxes. So we fronted out here and I found a little track to pull into closeish to the cache, and decided the dogs need to stay in the car, since we seem to be in the national park. I jumped out, and headed towards GZ, through the bush. It's prickly. Nice hide for the container, and very apt. Thanks, DSD.

#4386 28th for today

A chilly days caching out past the Thawa sandwash, and it was not just the wind that sent a chill through our hearts. This is vampire territory and so the three of us: mtrax, CBRChic and myself came to stake our claim in the chests of the undead infesting these parts. We were well protected with garlic, crucifixes, holy water, silver bullets (although I argued that was for werewolves) and, of course, stakes and hammers. CBRChic kept tossing salt as she has a theory that vampires are OCD and were compelled to count every spilled grain. It seemed to work as we were not attacked today.

It wasn't an easy walk in this undulating territory and the cold, biting wind did little to raise our spirits, but it was a productive days caching. We will need to return in less oppressive weather to rid this area of the scourge.

We bush-bashed our way in, only noticing the road after the find. Typical.

Thanks also to the COs: DARKSIDEDAN.

Today was set aside to head further down into Namadgi for a couple of caches of the tougher kind with GreyHams. All was looking good weather wise but awoke to rain, and although the day ended up not being so bad the rock scrambles were always going to be challenging, with the wet rocks, more so, so the call was made for another safer day.

Plan B had us heading out the same direction but the decision was to see about finding some more of the Vampire series, with a few other caches along the way as we passed them.

We stopped in here on our way south and this was my first cache of the day, a little wet under foot but managed a direct way and not far from the car. Cache found easily enough and then off to the next. Thanks for the cache Darksidedan.

Aquilus1 and I were planning a more serious day doing some rock hopping and bush bashing in Namadgi, but with it still raining at my place I called it early that it wasnt the safe option. So, instead we determined that we could do one of the new vampire trails past Tharwa.

This was the fourth for the day

3:28:00 PM: (36 of 36) Find#11295
Fitting we finished on a Vamp cache I think we took the bush bashing way in and I took the sensible way out.. all good.
Heading down Namadji way to find some of the Vampire series, It was a day with mixed weather, some sun, rain and wind, but had a great day out with CBRChick and StrangeTrousers.

thanks DARKSIDEDAN.

Have been wanting to get my Buffy Vampire Slayer on for some time on and slay me some of the two fanged blood suckers. Finally, the stars aligned, and the day arrived. Dam it was too cold for my Buffy Outfit so it was on with the caching pants and puffer jacket – my other fav outfit with added garlic vampire extinguishing accouchements. StrangeTrousers skidded sideways into my driveway for the pick up on our way to gather mtrax whilst daylight was with us. Then onwards to the country and adventures.

The caching was great and views stunning as were some of the vertical trampling up and down hillsides. Loved every minute of it and am very grateful the gallant guys for me not leaving on the side of a hill as I slowly walked up them. Thankful that I was not doing it in Buffy boots and a short skirt – freezing. This series is so worth it for the views it gives, most importantly caches and that we got out alive with no fang marks in our necks. We were not able to get them all as it was a challenging course in some crisp and windy weather. Hope to be back with more salt to throw down for the vampires to count every grain when needed to escape.

TFTC Darksidedan

An extra letterbox cache here which we found to be an interesting spot with plenty of room to pull over and a track nearby. Hopefully this one gets found regularly given it is quite accessible and is a unique icon!

Thanks

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Joined up with DSD and ALL7 to go for a walk on a gorgeous and surprisingly warm winter afternoon! A very long drive down to the starting location from North Canberra, almost an hour as the Tharwa Bridge was closed for maintenance this week so had to take the long way around which added time to the trip.

A pleasant walk, and also an unexpected river crossing which wasted about 20 minutes, because we only crossed back again 10 minutes later after realising it was going to be way to hard given the terrain on that side and the fact that we were running out of time! Oh well, was fun to get our feet wet regardless!

Thanks again DSD for placing these caches and for the company. Really love this series just for the locations it brings you and the unexpected walks in land that isn't common for people to visit! Lots of places to explore and strange things to come across! One including the Flying Fox near the start which was an unexpected find!

Published

Chooo ooo [FTF] on a chilly -3° morning! I was aware of this little track here, I wonder if that used to be the old road? Thanks DSD.

I helped at time of placement caches to hide with DSD and Loci612.... Good fun...Thanks