i!8: GET SMART Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
By Ideology Geocaching on 06-Oct-02. Waypoint GC9733

Greetings from Geocaching.com

I have been looking at caches in the area that have been temporarily disabled for a while now and it looks like your cache has been under the weather for some time. While I feel that Geocaching.com should hold the location for you and block other cachers from entering the area around this cache for a reasonable amount of time I don’t think we can do so any longer. Therefore, I have archived this cache. If you haven’t done so already, please pick up any remaining cache bits as soon as possible.

When repairs to this cache are completed and it is time to have it reposted, it will be no problem. Just drop me a note and let me know the GC waypoint number of the cache or better yet, the URL of the cache page. You will still be able to access your cache page just as before by going to your My Cache Page and clicking the link of your cache.

I will be more than happy to take a look at your cache again to see if it is still is within the guidelines of the Geocaching.com website for cache placement and posting.

I want to thank you for the time that you have taken to contribute to geocaching in the past and am looking forward to seeing your cache up and running in the future.

Thanks,
swampgecko
Geocaching.com

NOTE: Do not select reply in your e-mail program if you wish to respond to this message from the geocaching.com mail bot. Email Swampgecko via the email link in my profile: http://www.geocaching.com/profile/default.aspx?A=37328 or email me directly at swampgecko@NOSPAM , referencing the cache URL, or waypoint number. Also, do not remove any admin notes as they aid other Geocaching.com admins if they need to work with you on your cache.

I started this adventure back when the teaser appeared on "The Boys'" website... I managed to guess that the theme was based on one of my favourite TV show... GET SMART.... very apt title my friends.... I was unable to join in the spyclasses but I managed in my own way to plod along with it. After 4 rain soaked attempts the3rd waypoint fell, the next was a cunning little challange, onto WP5 which was not to be found..... after some delay and promoting , an alternate wp was sourced... after a leap of imagination following a discussion with MS i maged to nut it out...

The finalle was great, I needed to be "pushed" in the right direction but I got there.... mind shattering I how I would have to sum up a fanastic adventure

A very wet nite in the old steak and kidney,

Had the Ginger headed one with me tonite. We were both stuck on wp4, so we decided that tonite it would reveal it's secret to us. About 5mins after we got there, we had our hands on the wp. then it was off to WP5.

WP5 didn't want to reveal itself tonite, though I had an enjoyable time scrambling all over the place and watching the city views

I shall return, be it with or with out the Loon.

User's web page
WP4 gave itself up easily
WP5 required a bit more effort to find, as the local homeless KAOS agents with million dollar views had control of the satellites and directed us to KAOS central instead of the waypoint. Once we employed the CONTROL anti-gps jaming technology the waypoint was found easily.
The puzzling clue yielded easily, and we enjoyed the music on our way home.
Awaiting response from Seigfried to continue our mission...

Agent 86 to CONTROL. Do you read me? Bomb has been disarmed with the assistance of Bushrat. Mission accomplished. Bushrat reports that they had the best fun ever, even though they had to pay off the odd homeless person along the way and dodge numerous KAOS agents. What a finish!
Thanks i!!!!

Team Phanargh have now completed this devious cache. We had a great time with excitment around every turn. Having to steal the cache back from the KAOS agents was a great twist thanks guys.


TEAM PHANARGH
Jo, Nicci and Rex

Chief,

Oky's mates are pleased to report that they have successfully completed the mission as assigned. We were in constant danger (of mental exhaustion), and loved it! We even faced imminent death whilst saving the life of a demented old lady who was choosing to walk aimlessly across a six lane highway in peak hour. Parking in a No Stopping zone, and running out into the oncoming traffic took courage, but Oky's mates (trained agents as they are) always step up to such a challenge. Fortunately the little old lady (and Oky's mates) survived but we wondered if she was just another KAOS decoy trying to stop us from getting our hands on the microbomb.

After finding waypoint 4 we knew we needed to call on all our years of spy training to complete the mission. Two heads were better than one at waypoint 5 and expert triangulation solved the poor satellite reception problem. But we were puzzled by what we found. We listened often and carefully. We did our sums and cubed the result. Finally we knew we had cracked it, but KAOS still had the bomb.

Now to retrieve it. We visited Carlton and assembled all the spy gear we thought we might need and then some. We loaded up our inconspicous spy vehicle and headed off. We arrived at what we thought was the final location to find KAOS agents where all around. Everywhere we looked - there they were- looking at us. Who could we trust. Was the CONTROL six man rescue team in position if we needed them? We couldn't tell. We were fearful of a double cross, however we kept our cool and calmly followed all the instructions. But KAOS still had surprises in store for us. At wits end we finally came up with a solution that enabled us to get to the bomb and disarm it.

In true CONTROL agent form, we managed to give KAOS a little of their own back in this case - just enough so they know not to double cross us in future dealings.

Thanks Ideology for a great cache - the best we have done to date. We enjoyed the intrigue and challenge.

User's web page
Ok, we couldn't resist, we came back to WP3 after our first failed attempt which involved the usual search methods. We knew non-standard cache hunting techniques were required and we had a real good idea where it was this time.
Turns out our theory was right (for once) and we bagged WP3 in a few minutes without the GPS.
There were plenty of the usual crowd around - homeless guy right next to us, sun bathers, tennis players, poodle walkers and picnicers - so EcoNic donned the WonderWoman outfit to distract everyone while I grabbed the stash.
Nice waypointing i!

Then it was off to what we thought was WP4, which seemed like the right location, but we came away empty handed. Some people who refused to budge did limit our search area somewhat though.

Still WIP...

This one was easy, but I etched my initials on a tree near the cache container to make it easier for others.

Kidding!

Joined Leek and KitPie last night for the final chapter in this ideo-adventure and words can't do it justice without giving too much away. Like Leek, I'll write something up and post appropriately mysterious photos soon.

Thanks a million i!


[last edit: 1/8/2003 5:13:56 AM PST]

Not only is this my 100th cache find (coincidentally / intentionally), but it was by far the most challenging and satisfying cache hunt I have so far experienced...

What a finale... Hopefully the photos below will capture the atmospehere of the last stage of the cache, but will keep everyone guessing...

Congratulations and thanks to the i! team for a very well thought out, perfectly constructed and devious cache hunt...

I may have to change the photo on my home page now...

[last edit: 1/7/2003 9:28:40 PM PST]

Sandy Megs has a 1:1 reproduction of the puzzle which can be played with at your leisure. She might part with it for the right price.

All right, all right. Bushrat is VERY ratty tonight after yet another fruitless ferreting (or is that ratting) around at WP3, with kids and dog in tow as decoys. Had a few exciting heart-stopping moments when we found a priceless looking crystal perfume stopper in a tree and a promising pink plastic straw. In true spy fashion we stalked a likely fellow geocacher for a while but to no avail. We are thinking of setting up infrared video to catch Team Chaos when they return to make the pickup.... Or maybe we'll just give up and go to bed instead. Guess we should have gone to spy school...

Spy school was a great help at the time but probably will not help you find WP3 maybe you should do as Ideology said and sit and ponder for a while.

Thanks for the hint, Sandy Feet, but we've sat and pondered till our little botties were sore. What colour does it come in? Is it inside or outside the car? (oops, wrong game...)

Inspired by Leek and Mind Socket (and not to be outdone by them) Oky's mates went back with reinforcements to locate WP3. We sat and pondered again! We sat on the seats, we sat on the grass, we sat on the path, we even sat on the stormwater drain. Previously we have sat in the grandstand and behind the tennis courts but on this occasion we knew it had to be nearer to the sunbakers. We read the clues again and we kept eliminating hiding places that weren't overt. Inside the stormwater drain, as previously searched was considered definitely not overt. (Mind you this didn't stop us from opening up another steel plate on the ground). We looked up, we looked down, we even used binoculars. We drew a few stares - others also looked up and down, wondering what we were looking at. After 1/2 an hour of searching the apprentice spotted the waypoint . We wasted no time retrieving it - no sunbakers yet- just a few dogwalkers and tennis players.

We immediately decoded the clue and gambled on being correct headed straight for the next waypoint. Satellite reception at waypoint four was much better and we quickly narrowed the search area down. Before long we had the waypoint in our hand. Just as we were about to put it back, two Kaos agents disguised as council workers emptying garbage bins arrived. We weren't fooled by their disguise. We didn't let on that we were CONTROL agents and waited patiently for them to leave before replacing the waypoint.

Using all our codebreaking skills we decoded the clue and headed on to waypoint 5. Unfortunately the apprentice had a lunch date, so a solo Oky's mate continued the hunt. Satellite reception at waypoint 5 was even worse than waypoint 3. For most of the time our estimated error was 60 - 70m (which isn't much help when the GPS says the waypoint is 70 mt away). We narrowed our search area a little, and climbed around in the heat of the day. We got ourselves into a position were the terrain rating would definitely be a 3 plus (if not a 4 for our Dickie Knee) and the heat was taking its toll. We called it a day for today, just proud to have found 2 waypoints in one day.



[last edit: 1/4/2003 11:23:10 PM PST]

Congrats Oky's mates. You're still only 1 WP behind us More detailed logs to follow soon.

The day started at 7am. Leek picked up KitPie and myself and we headed off for what became a 10 hour caching marathon covering many kilometres.

The fourth and final cache attempt of the day. After touring the Marine Trilogy, Leek, KitPie and Mind Socket (which, when our powers are combined, shall be known as Team Memory Leak), assumed our Control agent guises and assembled at Get Smart WP4. A great deal of inconspicuity (if that's not a word, it is now) was required as we scoured the area. After climbing, swinging, sliding, crawling, lying down, lying to passers-by (I've lost my keys) and avoiding nasty used syringes (grrr) we were ready to give up, and nearly did. Whilst attempting to verify that we were at least in the right location, a twist was revealed. WP4 was discovered soon after, and it amused and impressed us no end. We did the Get Smart shuffle, collected evidence and sat down for lunch, whilst absorbing the new information.

After lunch, we got moving and continued our quest with gusto. We had the distinct feeling that we'd been here before. Poor satellite coverage, tough terrain (that's a 2???) and a strange neighbour (homeless, we think) hampered our efforts, both our GPSr's were swinging wildly from 0m - 150m from one second to the next. Eventually, not long after chuckling at the news of a fellow agent struggling at WP3, the next WP was found by chance and plucked from its location. Ve puzzled over zee contents for a vile before deziding to call it a day. The ride home was a belly-laugh (you'll see why for yourself if you get there).

Thanks for the fantastic cache i! . Looking forward to solving it.

I have absolutely nothing at all to add to MS's log below, except:

- We very nearly went to a drastically different location for WP4, but with correct justification, (and a few kind words from Ideology) we managed to find the right place...

- The locals at WP4 are SOOooo friendly... We used the 'lost my keys excuse' more than once and each person offered to help us look (not questioning the yellow electronic device in our hands for one moment)...
We should especially acknowledge the efforts of the gay/guy with the poodle who provided us with very practical advice on how to find what we were looking for (none of which was relevant!)...
We also owe thanks to the mother of two who offered to enlist the help of her toddlers in finding what we were looking for... After my fatherly advice that she should be more careful as there were used syringes around, she soon cleared off...

After finally cracking the location of WP4 and laughing and eating a lot, we motored to a very familiar location and commenced a multi-level scouring scan pattern in order to find WP5... We promptly packed away our yellow things in favour of instinct (especially as all the sats were in a perfect straight E-W line and therefore pretty useless).

After much scouring, we eventually found what we were looking for, but handled it very carefully initially as you never know... (exploding waypoints and all that!)

We puzzled over the contents for a very long while, but had to flee the area due to the demands of my wife who wanted to be taken to dinner at a reasonable time...

The story continues...

p.s. It's really a shame you didn't plant this cache earlier i!... (if you know what I mean) Never mind... there's always next year... GREAT FUN (so far)!!! THANKS VERY MUCH... You have given me something to aspire to...

[last edit: 1/5/2003 5:52:39 AM PST]

I knew that this would be difficult, 99, but this is riDICULOUS! So many seats to sit and think about it on! We even used the end of the spoon, but to no avail. WP3 evaded us, and geodog was pining for his midnight snack, so we went home empty handed, after first debating whether to bed down for the night with our fellow itinerant rubbish bin raiders in the cricket pavilion. We did come across some rusty keys (for the i!Cacheracer?). Back to the drawing board.

Progress at last!

Leek tells it best below. Needless to say, things were looking a little dicey.

OK... Went back under the cover of darkness to retrieve WP3 this time (just before the sale ended) and couldn't find it coz it was too dark...

MindSocket and mate Bill came along and in the spirit of the game and also because he insisted very strongly I let him find it for himself...

We avoided the gaze of late night tennis players and dogwalkers and retrieved the WP from its hiding place...

On to the next one...
Infra-red picture of WP site attached...

[last edit: 1/3/2003 4:13:55 AM PST]

[last edit: 1/3/2003 1:24:11 PM PST]

OK... I've found it (WP3 that is), but I'll have to go back another time to retrieve it... Far too many sunbathing KAOS agents around today...

User's web page
We had a quick go at this one today, straight to WP3 as given.
We ended up just as Leek did, the co-ords put us in the middle of the tennis court, east goes further into the courts, which is presumably not public land?
We sat and thought in the usual ways in the usual places to no avail.

WIP for us too. Won't get back there any time soon though, it's too far for us.

Is there any clue from the previous waypoints that we need?, we haven't attempted this cache since the reset, are we still looking for the shoe phone at WP3?

Spent another wonderful hour at the location this morning doing my best impression of Rodin's The Thinker, considering the clues supplied but inspiration didn't strike me...
My GPS still insisted that I needed to be in the middle of the tennis court and a correction 5m East would have put me even further into the tennis court...
I'll try again next year...

User's web page
Missed it by that much! (We know, you asked us not to tell you that...) WP3 is overt and in excellent condition. Have you sat and thought about it?

User's web page
In the interests of your safety, you do not need to stick your fingers in any tiny holes for WP3. Unlike the previous WP3 which was adjacent to a certain amusement park, we are pretty sure this one is on public property so there's no need for a tennis booking. We checked WP3 this morning and found it 5m east of the published coordinates, but considered that within tolerance. Please refer to our previous posting for four important clues.

I asked you not to tell me that.

Glad to hear we don't need a tennis booking for this waypoint because that is exactly where our latest CONTROL issue software placed the waypoint.

As Leek said, this is a WIP for me too.

Spent close to 2 hours looking for WP3 (or is it WP1) with MindSocket this afternoon. Mini-leek served as a distraction for the locals, while we searched every likely hiding spot and many that weren't likely (e.g. bottle tops)... Couldn't get near the provided coordinates as there were tennis matches in progress and we weren't game to interrupt play to search the nets...
Didn't have a good time with i! caches today as we also had a wild goose chase on i!5 - Achilles Reloaded...

p.s. be very careful when searching the trees at this spot, coz we found a syringe in one of them... Look before you stick your hands in holes...

Can we have a few more work in progress postings, it is fun to watch. With 20 watching the logs, you cant ALL be mere by-standers.

Sorry Chief, but we still haven't found agent 33,151. With coordinates confirmed by CONTROL headquarters and freely available to all KAOS members we expected a rush at the location. Thought we would try a new tactic - that is - sit back and watch whilst all the other operatives searched for agent 33,151. We expected it to be a shoe in. However after 1 and a half hours near GZ we hadn't identified a single CONTROL agent - just 4 KAOS operatives faking a game of tennis, 3 KAOS operatives walking their dogs and 2 KAOS operatives jogging round and round the site and 1 little old lady (not sure which side she was on). Looks like we will have to go back with reinforcements (to reduce the suspicion our searching is creating). Don't tell us we missed it by that much!

Typical - they reduce the item you already have. Why can't waypoint 4 be on special?

I suppose you think that's funny after I struggled to get the first 2 waypoints before Christmas - It took me 3 visits to get near enough to waypoint 2 (and probably half a tank of petrol)... Never mind, I suppose its like buying that expensive Christmas present only to find out its 40% off in the Sale... I'll join the crowd at WP3...

S 33° 52.412 E 151° 13.738
User's web page
The post-Christmas sales are in full swing, and Ideology comes to the party with the world's first Post-Christmas Cache Clearance!

The Ideology Cache Clearance features a stunning 30% off i!8: GET SMART. That's right: for one week, we're offering to waive the first two waypoints of our most exciting cache to date.*

The coordinates of Waypoint 3 are listed above. Hurry, stocks are limited: the coordinates will change back next week.

* Terms and conditions apply. Offer available on i!8: GET SMART only. Offer available while stocks last. As this is a genuine clearance, cache contents may vary over time. Not all waypoints accessible at all times by all cachers. No lay-by. No rainchecks. Personal cachers only. First finder prize has already been awarded.

OK... Decided to start on this one today. Found WP1, but my version of the coordinates for WP2 put me in the middle of private property... I'll clearly have to think some more about this...
Work in Progress...
p.s. After reviewing the background briefing, I now know where I went wrong... Back tomorrow...


[last edit: 12/17/2002 9:53:01 PM PST]

User's web page
Missed it by that much! The waypoint is intact. No further instructions required.

Sorry Chief. Oky's mates were unsuccessful in completing our mission. Unable to locate agent 33,151 at our prearranged meeting place. Tried both by night and by day without success. KAOS agents all around disguised as joggers, picnickers, sunbakers, tennis players, dog-walkers, book-readers and homeless men. Will await further instructions.

I was going to quote from the song We are the champions, but at the risk of sounding cocky, I will quote from the Redgum song ASIO instead.

White door ninth floor silent number
It's autumn on a cold avenue
Telex intercept, sips a cigarette
Warms up his VDU
He gets his kicks from microchips
His orders from the CIA
Birobugs and lasers, casual survellance
Of boardrooms and communiques

Don't use your phone and don't use mine
Don't speak treason, they're tapping the lines
Break in, stake out, tell it in code
Everything is legal, anything goes
The night's getting darker and the ill wind blows
Your life's in a databank in ASIO

To Get Smart you have to be smart.
The combined efforts of the Sandy Feet and AlternateRoute teams have defeated the evil plans of KAOS and saved Sydney from the MicroBomb.

We had to communicate with experts in Japan to finally crack the case, which unfortunately led us to a sleezy hotel in a remote Sydney sububrb.

Through dimly lit car parks, surrounded by security guards and hassled by unexpected alarms, we struggled on to gain the prize that is the envy of all Sydney Geocachers.

Thanks to Ideology for the most varied, exciting and challenging geocaching experience to be had.
Though maybe next time, can you just stick it at the base of a tree in a patch of Lantana?

Just like Alternate Route said to Get Smart you must be Smart. Especially when you have to do the whole thing twice.

After working through waypoint after waypoint on the first round only to have KAOS cause the abandonment of the mission, we headed off on the second round only to find we had to start right back at the very beginning but this time we managed it without the help of spy school however we did require one visit to Arts and Craft school.

Secret meetings with dodgy characters in even dodgier pubs finally led us to the microbomb but then it needed disarming.

That done and Sydney saved we collected our Ideohats made our swaps and celebrated.

Thanks Ideology for a very fun cache.

[last edit: 11/3/2002 1:45:42 PM PST]

Out again with the usual suspects (now called Sandy Feet to hide their true identity) with well trained eyes, we diced with death and managed to make it to WPx before being trapped by Seigfied's fiendish Steinhaus project. Make sense? I hope not.
This is a work in progress.

Do the teams who have found WP2 have to revisit it to find the new WP3 co-ords?

User's web page
Would you like to try for two out of three? The mission is now re-enabled, bigger and better than ever! Nothing is the same: report to the location above for further instructions. Remember: stealth! To maintain the fun for all, agents compromising the mission will be ineligible for the prize. We suggest night missions where possible.

User's web page
Threats of arrest... Surveillance helicopters... Thong phones... Would you like to try for two out of three? i!8: GET SMART returns at midnight this Friday!

Sitting on the grass listening to a shoe phone. Approached by security guards and threatened with arrest if we returned to the area of WP3. Apparently it is private land opened to the public by the grace of the owners.
Were also told that the fenceline is to be redefined next week.
We had the shoephone on us but couldn't return it under threat of arrest.
Game over temporarily. Await further orders from the Chief.

User's web page
This mission is temporarily disabled due to threats made by KAOS agents. We will reposition waypoint 3 shortly.

Progress so far, missed it by THAT much. (And have the handcuffs to prove it).
Persued all day by EcoTeam and the Ginger Loon, but always one step ahead.
Spy training session helped a lot, (even though Scubadoo had already found a better cone of silence than Ideology did).

[last edit: 10/12/2002 1:52:40 AM PST]

Got off to an early start in order to beat anyone attending spy school. After finding what had to be the next waypoint, got stuck and decided schooling was a good idea after all. Thanks to Ideology for pointing us in the right direction (but we had found a far superior cone of silence). From there it was waypoint after waypoint until ideas and the fading light got the better of us. We will continue.........



[last edit: 10/29/2002 3:18:33 PM PST]

User's web page
We turned up a bit before Spy School hoping to crack the first waypoint, and we did, once we realised we had the wrong first location co-ords!
Last weekend we were looking around 52.842 12.416, and could have sworn we got those co-ords from both the cache page and the Ideology page, we can't explain it. So if anyone is using those co-ords they are wrong! Good thing we lost the printout and printed another one before we headed out today. The new co-ords put us at the correct GZ and we found the first waypoint easily.
Spy School then started (late!) and we were off following Ideology, Alternate Route, Scubadoo, and the Ginger Loon, criss-crossing paths all day.
After failing at WP3 we headed off home and bumped into the gang again who had found it easily, so we went back for another try.
Failing light beat us, and we were busted by one of the security guards from the adjacent facility. Apparently they had been watching all of us all day long (a video camera nearby is pointed at GZ), and wondered what we were up to. They made it clear that we shouldn't be there (on public property!) and if they saw any of us again they were going to call the cops, as they have had recent trouble at GZ. So things are red hot at WP3, watch out!
We told them it was a game (didn't mention Geocaching) but they were playing the rent-a-cop routine...
Photos to come...

User's web page
The security guards are KAOS agents. Watch for cameras. A key part of this mission is to use your spy skills to avoid compromising the mission for you and your fellow agents.

User's web page
SPECIAL OFFER: Due to popular demand, Ideology Geocaching will be holding a spy training school this Saturday at 2pm at the above location. Hurry, places are limited! Details on our website.

[last edit: 10/11/2002 1:26:31 AM PST]

Given the tardiness of todays modern spies, G1 and Arfur have come out of geocaching retirement to save the world from being turned into a kewpie doll.
We made our entrance in Max's time honoured manner. Stooping to answer the pesky shoephone, we discovered the Central clue was 8.
Off to meet at the cone of silence...

Recon report follows:
Nothing suspicious at the mission coordinates. Mission on hold pending bright idea. The locals started to get suspicious but I fooled them with my walking around in circles looking mad trick.

Spent some time there this morning with Scubadoo and came up with nothing.
It is surprising how hard it is to get decent satellite coverage even in the middle of the car park. (But then again, a bad workman always blames his tools.)
The search is not over yet.

[last edit: 10/12/2002 3:34:33 AM PST]

User's web page
EcoTeam were in attendance disguised as agent 13, hidden inside the solar powered parking meter.
We came for a quick reconnaissance mission expecting to find nothing, and we found, well, not much, which is better than nothing. A productive effort we thought. We have a few leads though and are on the trail. Logged as a Work in Progress...

After a quick disscussion in the Cone of Silence we arrived to sweep the scene. A few ideas we immediatly quashed but a few still prevail. How many others tried the bubble gum idea? This cache has certainly pushed our button.

User's web page
SPECIAL OFFER: The first agent to find this cache will receive a flight in the i! GeoCopter, with first-class transfers in your choice of the i! CacheRacer or i! GeoKart, and a banquet lunch at McDonald's!

Conditions apply: See our website.

So, I guess we've missed the train on this one,are we too late?
We know of at least one other team, who woked even harder on this than the GeoMonkeys, and stll came up empty- handed...(Guru?)
I think we must have really missed the train on this one.


[last edit: 10/6/2002 3:09:19 PM PST]

Team Phanargh looked high looked low couldn't see anything. Then we found a monkey truck.
We found no cache only two monkeys.

[last edit: 10/6/2002 3:33:04 PM PST]