TDOC23 - Christmas Past Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
By BrianandGreg on 19-Jul-23. Waypoint GCA9GNM

Thanks for the cache! Very original container!I appreciated the tool provided as I didn't pack my gears!

Always good to grab a TDOC cache. I was exploring the gardens today and opened the caching map to see I had this yet to be found cache. Unfortunately, many spoilers in the logs but thats my fault for looking. Got the cache and added my name to the log before replacing as found.Thanks for the cache here

Not having a pen I have left a picture for proof of find

Thought the tool was a decoy nice cache

Checked on this cache today. Happy to report that all well.

U beautiful

Nice hide, thanks for the wire retrieval device above it

Thanks for my first find!

We decided to come to Bendigo for a quick trip and we caught up with Micaparamedic. We went for a walk along Pall Mall to see the tulips lit up at night and he told us about this cache very close by. We didn't have any tools at all so we found something close by and Mrs ILT used her tiny little fingers and was able to get the cache from its hiding place. TFTC.

Clever placement of cache! #WH6

Tricky

Easy find and slightly tedious extraction but got it and logged at 5:15pm. TFTC!

No tool unfortunately. But found it many thanks

Our Christmas cache is all good and tucked up where it should be a contents well too.

Checked on this cache today. All is well.

TFTC

Sneaky lil guy. Great find and fun using the tools

The cache crawl was on and this year apart from the Friday night dinner which I couldn't make it to I will be doing the whole crawl. Eventually the weather got better later in the day.I came past here a couple of months ago and realised I didn't have the required TOTT but today, that problem was solved and I was soon signing the log. Thanks BrianandGreg for the cache, the adventure, the hunt and the fun.

We found this cache after attending the 2024 Cache Crawl lunch in Bendigo. TFTC

Tricky little blighted but luckily I had just the thing. Tftc.

First visited last night and couldn't retrieve the cache. Came back this morning with the required tool and retrieved it easily.If you're sensitive to smells maybe avoid this area.

Found by The Empire + HAs we entered Bendigo, we were immediately struck by the city's blend of historic charm and modern vibrancy. Bendigo, with its rich gold rush history, has preserved many of its grand Victorian buildings, giving the city a unique and timeless character.Our first stop was the Bendigo Botanic Gardens. Established in the 1850s, these gardens are a beautiful oasis of tranquility. We strolled along the well-maintained paths, admiring the diverse collection of plants and the meticulously landscaped flowerbeds. We were driving around, picking up some fun Adventure Labs and we grabbed this one whilst at the location. Luckily we had the right tool for the job. Thanks for the cache BrianandGreg.-M

Checked on cache today all good

Found with my fav Bogonghazy. Clever hide, was difficult to extract out, but thanks to Bogonghazy we got there. Thanks for placing the geocache

Found with LittleBoss2 after parma night at the Golden Square pub. Needed the attractor to convince this one to see the light. Perfectly placed and hidden so well. Adding to the faves, thanks BrianandGreg. Very very clever

Cache is now accessible again, albeit a lil tricky for a couple of days as the recent City event is packed up.

Cache is now accessible again, albeit a lil tricky for a couple of days as the recent City event is packed up.

Due to a local event on in the City, access to this cache is currently being prevented. We will enable the cache when this event is over. This will be on approximately the 15th of July.

Found with The X-Trailers whilst heading into town to food shop and finish a couple adv labs.TFTC

Easilt spottwd Used tott to retrieve Found with earthlightTftc

Found with Bullash on 9 March 2024

This was a late afternoon find and we were conscious that light levels would be dropping soon. An initial scan of the area didn't reveal many likely spots for a hide. We widened the search a little but then came back to our starting point and Lyn spotted a possibility. Fortunately we had an appropriate TOTT and were soon able to sign the log. Nice hide and a favourite point. Thanks to BrianandGreg for the cache.

Fun to find had a hard time getting it out though. Eventually got it

Sorry I missed logging this. Not sure exactly which day it was but it was this weekend. Pleased to have another TDOC at last. Thank you

Mrs Papi was in the area and after having a lovely dinner nearby, went to look for this cache before finishing for the day. Always time for one more. After checking everywhere it might be, the cache was eventually found. Thanks for this clever hide.

Found with 999HunterTFTC

After finishing in Puckapunyal, it was time to start heading towards the Loddon LGA via Bendigo. Neither of these LGAs we have cached in before. We are slowly working on the 12 and 20 geocaches in each LGA challenge, and we thought we would try to at least take a huge dint out of these challenges in these Local Government Areas. We got to Bendigo and had missed the local event. So we went and had a nice lunch on Pall Mall. Then it was time for a nice stroll to let the meal go down and collect a few geocaches. Got to this one and was able to find the geocache in the second place we looked, but how to get it? I didn't bring my geocaching kit bag. However, with a bit of ingenuity, luck, and a local tool, we were able to get the container and sign the log book.Thanks for the cache, Brian and Greg.Hunter

A good hide in a busy area but I was able to get my name in the log, thanks

Great hide. TFTC. Log is full and needs replacing.

Replaced with new log.

Can't find but there is needles in the bush not climbing and around in

Well it is that time again for Posums and GemmaSistema to catch up for another fun filled day of caching, laughs, to much walking and to also lets see on where the Geowagon can get us into where maybe it shouldnt go.We met up in Castlemaine and then I became the driver and Gemma the navigator to what we were going to find today.And today was another tour of Bendigo which is a place I really enjoy coming up to.In total 40 caches were found today in a very wide area of Bendigo and the suburbs.First one for the day and I had to go back to the Geowagon to get a handy TOTT to get to the cache.The area was pretty deserted so we were able to look for this one in peace.Thanks BrianandGreg TFTC.

Found with Grubbs1337 and ITWimdy. ??A great day out with Dad and his mate.Thanks for the cache ??

Found on a caching run in Bendigo with Posums. Thanks for the fun and adventure.

TFTC,Good to re visit few memories here

TFTC

Out and about with omegaman and ski pair around the Bendigo and Echuca area, there are always plenty of laughs while we are turning caches into smiles.This is one of the caches found today. That drain stank.Logs signed as RASPOMThanks BrianandGreg for the cache.

We have set off on our annual winter escape but with no real plans other than a set of ideas.Our first stop is Bendigo, a place we haven't visited for any length of time in the past. There appears to be much to see and a good variety of caches to keep us entertained.We met up with our caching buddies Rebel Acts and Omegaman for a few days as well which added to the laughs and fun.Caches logged as RASPOM or SKI Pair if they had already found them.This is one of the caches we have found to date.Thank you for your efforts in creating and maintaining the cache BrianandGreg.**SKI Pair****

I am hitting the road again with my Rebel Acts and Ski Pair to have some fun and explore new places. While I don't mind caching locally, there is nothing like a road trip for a few days putting smiles on the map. I had a great time with lots of laughter and caching fun. Today's logs are signed as RASPOM.

Nice find, just hard enough

After caching on the rail trail Ghihash had seen that their had been some maintenance since trying this cache a while back so while we were out and about we grabbed this cache then headed to our favourite out for some hot food and a coffee too. Ttfc

Nice one, tftc!

K9team had purchased the tool we needed to extract this cache some time ago. Being so close to home we never seemed to have it with us when we were in the area. Today was finally the day to pick it up and earn the smiley. Thanks BrianandGreg for the cache.

A bad smell in the area today meant we wanted a quick find here so we could get out of there, and that is what we got.Had the required tool and the cache was quickly extracted - but only half of it! Or is that all there is to it?The log sheet was in the piece we extracted so we returned it as found. Might be worth a check by the CO.Thanks Brianand Greg for a nifty hide and a favourite point from us.

Found top of cache, all good to go again.

Found

After so searching with little blue wren we found this clever little cachea favourite point from meSigned and replaced where foundNow its time to head homeTFTC

11:35During last year's Referendum, I was chatting with one of the senior electoral staff about my Grand Final trip to Lakes Entrance, and he expressed interest in exploring the state by train. Well, it's taken sixth months to organise, but we're on a trip to Bendigo and back.And while I'm here...My first physical cache in Bendigo. I stood at the coordinates for a minute and then thought, "Aha!"And fished this cache out without having to resort to a tool, to the astonishment of my muggle friend.Thanks, BrianandGreg. A neat hide and a very interesting container.#8797

Found, signed TFTC

Found it. No tott needed as it was visible to us eventually. FANTASTIC Park in Bendigo that i just love. Tftc

Collected this one today after having a look at it this morning. Unfortunately i didnt have any appropriate tools with me in the morning so came back after lunch with correct tools to make a quick retrieval. TFTC.

Nice quick one for us today as we knew where it was from a previous look but we were finally able to grab it today!

All good to go again

Checked on our cache and I am pleased to report all is good. There will be a lot of activity here in the next few days as people enjoy the Easter Festival in Bendigo.

I noticed when I went past this cache today that GZ has been blocked to traffic for an Easter Festival Event. It will probably be Tuesday the 2nd of April before I can make the cache active again. I will continue to monitor the situation over the next few days. Greg

Found the cache, but unfortunately didn't have the required TOTT

??

The second of our four for the 29th Feb.This was such a well constructed hide with so many possible locations. Completed with Nadsalator, GeoTamzy, Po and Popstar Adding a favourite tftc

Well hidden! Forgot the tool, lucky a handy geofriend had a spare!

A quick find with the correct TOTT. Found for leap year. TFTC

Checked on our TOTT cache this morning. Happy to report all is well.

My partner and I are on our way to Adelaide to the great leap forward mega and we stayed overnight in Bendigo and we are picking up a few caches this morning. This one proved harder than it should have been and a resorted to a PAF. I had already looked there, but not closely enough. I have found quite a few of the TDOC23 caches and I was happy to be able to tick this one off.

Find number 12911 at 12:09:28pm on Tuesday the 6 February 2024I'm off on a mini camping trip, well, for a week anyway, free camping on Majors Creek not far from Nagambie. Generally veging but doing some geocaching as well in my spare time Today I am off for a drive through Heathcote to Bendigo and then back through Tooleen and Whroo.Luckily I had the right tool and the prize was in hand in no time flat **Thanks for placing this cache BrianandGreg**---Don't miss finishing the Ballarat GeoTour before it ends on 4th March 2024. A list of the geocaches can be found [here](https://coord.info/BM9GWJ5). The final GeoTour Event is the [Farewell Ballarat GeoTour](https://coord.info/GCAFQ8B) on the 18th February 2024!You can also get prepared for the 2023 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards by checking out our preliminary lists [here](https://geocachingvictoria.com.au/information/great-caching-lists/).

Found but was a bit hard to get out.

dalerious and I had a wonderful day in Bendigo whilst the car was being serviced. We also took the opportunity to do a little shopping for some new swimmers which we will be utilising at an event in Geelong . Of course, caching was on the list to do as well, but it was more of a relaxed day in that regard, which was lovely since our caching style is usually "full on" .This clever cache was a ripper; so well made.Congratulations BrianandGreg for contributing to the awesome Cachemas series of caches.

Found with catnap777 after a quick trip to Bunnings where we bought the TOTT we hadn't brought. We were in a courtesy car while the "catmobile" was getting a service. So on the seventh day of Cachemas my partner gave to me.... a new thingamabob to whosit the whatsit and jigger the dodad. The clean dry log is signed and all returned as found in excellent condition. TFTC BrianandGreg and.....Merry Cachemas.

Unable to extract it but found its hiding spot tftc

Found on our way home from a 5 day caching stint in Swan Hill while half the Victorian population headed to the beaches and the other half grabbed their paddles and protected themselves from the floods or the thunder and lightening!This was the only unfound cache left available to us between leaving Swan Hill and getting home to Riddell.We enjoy doing these TDOC23 caches as they usually have a special challenge or twist. They are extra special and usually very doable.We also drive around with a cachers boot load of supplies, equipment and TOTTs as we have taken to helping the plight of hiders who go to so much effort to impress us and challenge us with their hides. So, we can do our bit to do a little maintenance along the way as we go.That is why we stand here today, having selected the appropriate TOTT from the car, with this clever cache in hand.TFTC

I think I found it but I couldn't extract it as I now have yet another DNF on Christmas

Checked on our lil Christmas cache, log book filling fast but all good.

Found by Mary and David at 08:35. We love TDOC23 caches, and this one certainly gets a FP. Reminded us a little of an early Romax cache. The retired engineer always has suitable TOTT available. Took us a while to eliminate a couple of other possibilities. Our thanks to BrianandGreg.

We located this one yesterday but we didn't have the correct TOTT with us, so we made sure it was in the car and not the van today. The cache was extracted very quickly and returned just as quickly while avoiding muggles in this very busy placeThanks BrianandGreg.

Checked on Cachemas (TDOC23) cache today and all is well.

I love looking out for TDOC23 caches as we travel around. We were in Bendigo for the weekend for LEGO events. We were displaying at the Bendigo Show on Friday and Saturday, then a Bendigo LEGO User Group meeting on Sunday. On our way out of town I insisted we at least find that cache. First thing Monday meant there werent any Muggles around to interrupt our search and parking really close to GZ. Thanks for the warning about needing a TOTT. As we were parked nearby it was easy to assess the tool needed and get it from the car. Great location too!

Making adjustments to cache.

Maintenance on part of the hide required. Should be back online in 24 hours.

All set to find again

Found but couldnt extrac. A good hide.Tftc

A quick find in the most likely spot with the prepared TOTT in hand. New container type for us. Our first TDOC23 cache find as we have been out of the state.TFTC SL TB's visited

Nice find. Took a while to get out. Thanks for the cache.

Didnt have the right tools but found it

TFTC SL - Spending a few days in Bendigo with the girls for a golf holiday but Im injured and cant play, so happy to cache This one was so much fun, had a passing muggle help as he had seen someone trying to retrieve it this morning

Day 30. A last minute plan had been hatched to make my by way to QOGM. Very little planning had been done but a very rough outline was in place and it was going to be a day by day trip.Was this really to be the last day? I could continue on. I guess we wont really know until the end of the day where I will end up.I arrived and was surprised to find ample parking available here in the middle of the day. I had a car full of TOTTs. Ones to help you climb high, ones to help you reach high, ones to help you find tiny things, ones to help you find dark things. It was almost like a Dr Seuss book. I referred to the cache page and I suspected the TOTT I may need.Sure enough, armed with the right tool, I spotted something at GZ and set about obtaining the log. Exactly as described, a different part of the TOTT aided in replacement, all whist not a single muggle was in sight.Thanks for participating in the Cachemas festivities and a favourite point is awarded for your efforts!Thanks BrianandGreg for adding this cache to the worldwide collection for us all to enjoy.----------------------------------------------------------The 12 Days of Cachemas series is now live. Check out the list of caches and work your way through the series. Full details available at [Cachemas in July](https://geocachingvictoria.com.au/events/cachemas-in-July) Voting is also now open for the 2022 Victorian Cache of the Year Awards. The shortlist is available [here](https://coord.info/BMC8QYR)[Make your vote count - Vote here!](https://geocachingvictoria.com.au/events/Victorian-cache-of-the-year-awards/2022-Victorian-cache-of-the-year-awards

Didnt have pen to sign TFTC

01/10/23 TFTC

During a stroll of the local market and the nearby Park, we decided to attempt this one. After wandering around for a moment, trying to find where it might possibly be. We ended up spotting it. Problem was we didnt have the required TOTT. After gaining the required equipment, we returned, and there were too many muggles, so we decided to attempt this a third time. After blocking our noses from a nearby foul odour, and the required toolset in hand. We were able to get this one rather quickly. TFCC!

Checked on our cache and hide today. Happy to report all is well

Good find.

Day 4 and final day of Chook and OzHockeyChick's "QOGM-consolation" roadtrip, targeting caches in three states over four days of fun, friendship, laughter and adventure.This cache certainly involved all of the above. Arriving at GZ, OHC realised she had left the relevant tool back home. Hmm this was one cache that was high on today's targets, so instead of moving on to the next cache, we hopped back in the car and hoofed it up to Epsom Bunnings to buy another tool. What kind of idiots do that sort of thing, just for a cache? Let's not think about that - geocaching is free, remember. Soon we had this cleverly hidden cache in hand and the log signed, and carefully replaced for the next person. TFTC BrianandGreg.

With a huge portion of the Victorian caching community enjoying their pilgrimage north to Longreach, chook(nchunk) and I decided to plan our own little mini-adventure, targetting adlabs, solved puzzles, faves, TDOCs and anything else that piques our interest along the way. Day Four: Maldon, Bendigo, Kyneton, Woodend, Macedon, Gisborne, Sunbury. This was another target on our list. What an adventure!!Firstly, upon arrival, chook read the description and we soon realised wed need a certain TOTT. Now a week ago, in preparation for a flight to Sydney with only carry-on luggage, Id removed most of my TOTTs from my backpack for fear of them being conviscated. Fast forward to this trip, and Id forgotten to put them back.Anyhoo, we had a look at gz and knew wed need this particular TOTT. I googled where the closest Bunnings was, and thankfully it was only 9 mins away (Epsom). So off we went.En route, chook researched the item so we knew exactly where to find it (aisle 9, bay 15 for others following in same footsteps). We went straight there and couldnt decide between two styles, so we bought one each.We returned to gz where our new TOTTs worked a treat. Finally with our names in the book, it was time to find a rewarding ice cream.Thanks for bringing us here by placing this cache, BrianandGreg ~~