Excel Yourself (BONUS) Creswick, Victoria, Australia
By Pyrenees Kid on 05-Sep-03. Waypoint GCGV8Z

20/09/2016 12:52:00 PM
After having DNF'ed this one sometime ago before it was replaced I decided to have another go and made an easy find today on this old and unloved cache.

Suscoe headed north of Ballarat to the Creswick area today in the great company of our mate Bushfire.
It was a cool Summer's day with plenty of cloud cover during the morning and as the day went by the sun poked through every now and again. It rained and drizzled early on but even that dried up during the later parts of the day.
We had a terrific time visiting caches and enjoyed the various hides, locations and containers.
This was our 9th find for the day.
Thanks for the work done with this series.

Caching in and around the Creswick district today with Wozzle68 and Bushfire we had this series on our to do list. Even though we have been sitting on the answers for such a long time , we haven't had the opportunity to search for them and add our name to the log. Its unfortunate that this series has since been archived as it is a very old, unique historical cache . All 4 caches are still in place and mostly in good condition.
Thanks Pyrenees Kid for your early innovative style of cache series.

After working out and locating #3 we were on the road again to this old guy so parked in the nearby parking area and a short walk to find this the last of these old caches.
Thanks again to the owners for placing these caches so long ago.

Found these long archived caches each still in tip top condition while in the area with some out of town cachers. It's a shame they could not have been maintained and went the way of the dinosaurs.

Putting a NA on this to bring it to a reviewers attention as there has been no response to some NM logs on caches in this series. All 4 in this series need some serious attention (#1 is already archived). A NM was put on this series of 4 caches in May 2013 that was not addressed by the CO then. I also put a NM in June this year however I note the CO has not been online since November 2013 and another Cacher (Fergzter) has tried in the past to make contact.

This is a great series that needs to be fixed, or removed. Using the NA log as a last resort.

As part of a series with the first one already archived this one should be also.

Well, this completes the series for me. Disappointed in the whole series really- #1 is archived, #2 needs maintainence, #3 has some serious issues with another cache and this bonus one is a temporary one placed by another cacher nearly a year ago. I'm guessing the CO is not in the area, not caching anymore (for whatever reason) or simply doesn't care.
Ah well, they can't all be good I suppose.

Sages4 of Creswick completed the package of four Excel Yourself 1,2,3, Bonus today. Temporary site only though. Cache in maxi tag, no cache out.

Sages4 of Creswick found this one after the other Excel Yourself 1,2,3. Cache in maxi tags and no cache out of this "temporary only" cache holder. Will try for original in the daylight another day!

Happy to get this off the list after many years since my first attempt. Did the main series years ago and redid it to try to clean up the bonus which kept showing up on my Creswick list but still it wasn't there. Emailed the owner but recieved no answer so pretty much wrote it off. Today we passed by so I thought I'd take one more look and thanks to 6Hinemoa2 I can finally put it to bed. Great series but a pity it is apparently no longer supported by the owner.

Signed replacement log by 6Hinemoa2. Thanks for the help!

The bonus cache was the next one I tried to find. I trusted the co-ordinates and found a very likely hiding spot. The container was missing as I expected. I had brought another container and log book along to replace it just in case.
Like I said I have experienced the frustration of working out a puzzle and missing out at the end either because the container had walked or the owner had archived it. I don’t want that to happen to others.
I had contacted the owner but to no avail. Anyone who is stuck on a question, I am only to willing to help.
All I can say is thanks Pyrenees Kid for setting up this fun cache.

(This NM log will be copied for all four caches in this series as it is based off the same Excel spreadsheet and waypoints)

Multiple waypoints have undergone changes since the creation of this series ten years ago and the spreadsheet has not been solved for almost a year - the most recent Found log before mine is based on answers obtained in the past.

The waypoints that have changed are:

WP5: Presumably refers to a sign, but only a pole remains.

WP10: Another sign that must have been removed. I obtained my answer through brute force - keying in every year since the town's creation to cache's year of publication.

WP15: *Might* be my fault? There is just one structure here, and I used every synonym I could find for it but could not obtain the answer. Note that I also tried the term(s) for it as it is also shown on the map of the area in the carpark a few hundred metres away and was still unable to get it right.

WP19: This information has been missing for at least a year, according to a previous log. There is a circular mark on the ground where a sign must have previously stood.

I also tried to use the 'monument cheat', however either the spreadsheet is bugged or my version of Excel is incompatible. Obtaining the random 'OK' answers only fills in the '?' with '0' for all the missing digits in cache coordinates.

As a result, I had only enough information to locate Excel Yourself #1 and insufficient answers to 'trigger' the bonus questions which might have allowed me to find #2 and #3, let alone the Bonus.

Lastly, the Bonus cache's log is in the hands of Fergzster, another site member, who has been attempting to contact the CO without success so far.

This entry was edited by storchburp on Thursday, 02 May 2013 at 11:17:17 UTC.

DNF, see NM log.

Oops seems I forgot to log my DNF for this one lots of potential spots for a cache at GZ but none had a container in them. Picked the other 3 in the series up today but alas not the bonus!

Rather disappointed not to find this one after redoing the whole Xcel thing over quite a lengthy period. Will send a separate email with some details and hopefully I can complete it sometime.
Thanks anyway

Finally completed the co-ords, so ST37E and I set out to find them.

Nice hide, great series.

TFTC!

Nice quick find and the final in a great and interesting
Series

TNLN

TFTC

An unusual series, nice "Excel" work! Questions were easily solved and gave us a good insight into the area. Enjoyed it all the way, right down to finding the bonus.
TFTC

A little over a month ago, my very patient boy friend accompanied me and the geoScotties on a day trip to Creswick from Melbourne for the day. We work away and drove around Creswick, very diligently collecting all the clues for Excel Yourself series. It was really very wet that day, all of us were very wet by the end of the day and unfortunately we had missed out on collecting two of the clues! Oh No! I emailed Pyrenees Kid, as I was fairly sure things had changed since 2003 when this excellent series was set up. A couple of pointers and a return visit today proved that at least one place has changed (I have emailed owner). Today could not have been more different from our last trip, as today was all sunshine and blue skies. We had a great little trip around the town and I am happy to say have been the first cacher to be able to pick up all four caches in the series since GJMMelb in September 2010. Thanks sooooooo much for the series Pyrenees Kid

2nd one in the series for us to find. Very hot and dry in here in January.

Wow, what a day we had!!!
We started off collecting the information around the town and really enjoyed the way this series of caches was put together!
As we were driving along we were getting more and more conscious of the dwindling battery power on the lap top lol, and ended up closing it down in between the longer waypoints.
One WP required asking the inhabitants for the info and they were most obliging.
We had a bit of a fright at another Waypoints with a Police car there etc, where it is currently a crime scene ( a rock thrown through a window) however the Police allowed GMelb to obtain the info required!
Shortly after this the Laptop died at Q20!!!!!!!!!!
We had managed to look at Q20 before it died but couldnt find the answer at GZ. We decided to come back to the house we are staying at in Ballarat to recharge the PC as MMelb wasn't feeling the best. An hour or so later as GMelb went to visit a cache near Mt Franklin to get the info for the final in that series he decided to grab 2 of these caches on the way back, so he grabbed this one and No 3 in this interesting park just as it was approaching dusk. TNLNSL
We hope to come back to Creswick to grab the other 2 and some others around the town tomorrow if MMelb is feeling better
Thanks Pyrenees Kid for the unique cache
GJMMelb


This entry was edited by GJMMelb on Friday, 24 September 2010 at 15:43:14.

This entry was edited by GJMMelb on Friday, 24 September 2010 at 15:45:53.

Last for the excel yourself series. Nice walk over to this one, and we were able to get 3 all within a few hundred metres of each other . TNLN SL TFTC

Good concept

Find 4/12 for the day, a bonus smiley for my account

Solved the puzzle a little while ago and we are gradually doing the series as time permits.
Great Puzzle. A good way to find out about Creswicks story.
T grasshopper
L dog
SL
TFTC

Great to complete the series and get the Bonus, thanks to Fozzy for replacing the cache . !!

TFTC.

After doing this series without a laptop ages ago, and falling at this last one when it had been muggled, it was very pleasing to get this today. Many thanks to Pyrenees Kid for setting it up so well in the first place, and also to Fozzy778 for replacing the container. Once of my most enjoyable series.

A late log. Found with RoundCircle.

TFTC

Found 1.55pm
Having answered all the questions correctly we made the walk from another in the series for a quick find.

TNLNSL

TFTC Pyrenees Kid

At last, completed the series.

No swaps today.

TFTC.

Found it at last. Should ahve been two days ago but for a wrong digit when entering the numbers into my GPS. Getting old really does suck.
Thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and learned a lot about the area, visiting several places I haven't been since moving here some years ago. TNLN.
Thanks Pyrenees Kid for the cache and for the initial help in solving the software difficulties when my copy wouldn't unlock.

Found at 1225. Answered all of the bonus questions except one, in which I knew the correct answer, although 'computer said no'. The mistake is either a human or software error. As it was, obviously didn't need it to find the cache.

Fantastic cache series the likes I haven't seen before.

T - Benchmark GC

TFTC.

Cheers to Fozzy778 for becoming custodian of the cache and bringing it back online. Found where we thought it was last time we were here. Cheers to Pyrenes kid for the series.

Finally able to finish this series and clean out Creswick while we're here, found with highrod and GeoJess(woof) at 11am.
Thanks to Fozzy for replacing the cache.
TNLNSL TFTC

Found with MrsFJ1 & geoDy.
Thanks to Fozzy for replacing the cache, It is full of great swaps.
T: Girls doy doll, L: koala
TFTC

An early morning find today and a great finish to a series I began 18 months ago. Thanks to Pyrenees kid for a great concept and also to Fozzy who kindly maintains this cache so that all of us who once experienced disappointment at this site can now experience joy. Great to meet you too Fozzy today whilst in Ballarat on a few other caching errands.

Found by McAdies.
It is good to see this one is back on line again. We found it pretty easily once at GZ.
Left the Benchmark Geocoin.
Thanks for replacing this one Fozzy

It's great to see the cache back on line, thanks fozzy I look forward to the find.

Standby for an update and replacement of this cache.

After conversations with the Pyrenese Kid, I am allowed to replace the Bonus cache to allow cachers to complete this very good series.
I have logged it as well, so find this one all and sundry.
I am allowed to keep an eye on this series to keep up the maintenance and any issues that arise.
Happy caching!!
Find # 309 TNLNSL

As it appears as though the owner has lost intrest in this cache I am requesting it be archived.

Like others before we came away feeling disapointed.

Has anyone heard from the Pyrenese kid lately?
I've dropped 3 emails and have not heard anything.
I'm thinking of replacing the cache myself, to enable finders to complete the series!!

Bonus still appears to be missing or extremely well hidden.
Hoping its up and running soon

I think I'd have to agree with former seekers. We don't think this one is still in existance.
Thanks anyway for an interesting and challenging series.

It's not fair!!!! We got all the questions but couldn't find the final. Boy, pissed off or what!
Hope this is replaced before we come back this way.
Thanks for the series, it was great.
Robmc.

Pyrenees Kid i think this one has been raded and muggeled maybe would like to check it out.

Like Feathertop I came up a blank on this one. I wasn't sure of the coordinates on this one but having gotten home and checked them they were correct. There was one obvious hide and some rubbish (some less now) and I searched for some radius with no result.

I went to a very likely place to place a cache but came up dry. A lot of rubbish around gz. I will watch this cache and maybe return to finish the series one day. Thanks anyway pyrenees kid for a great concept.

Dear Pyrenees Kid,

We found your cache today at ?:??pm as the seventh of eighteen on our Circumference de Ballarat Tour II. Thanks for an excellent series. We had a ball. Thanks for our 4th Pyrenees Kid cache.

Kind Regards,

D & H B-A

well we found all 4!
took us ages cause for a while we were on foot and had only a home computer ( a lot of backwards and forwards there) so we were very relived to finally get them all.

It is not very often that a cache hunt takes you on such an informative tour of the area and then as a bonus you get to log four finds as well. It probably took a lot longer than necessary to complete this cache but we had a fantastic day laughing and joking our way through it with the Coffee Clan and the Pyrenees Kid. Not only did the cache owner add to the fun of the day but also supplied us with an excellent lunch to boot.
Our thanks to the Coffee Clan and the pyrenees kid for a great day's caching. You really did EXCEL yourself on this one

After gathering all the information needed we headed for this cache
And it truly was a bonus cache for the Coffee Clan.
In the company of Team Crackers and the owner of the series The Pyreneees Kid, lunch, coffee, fun, laughter and a great tour of the district we feel that everyone had an EXCELent time.
Many thanks Team Crackers and PK for a great day and weekend.
Regards Mr.Coffee and the “Excel will never be the same again†Clan.

Found easy enough. Enjoyed solving the puzzle and seeing this lovely town.

R + B

Found at 6:30pm with assistance from the Mrs. as Navigator and Scribe.
5th find out of 6 for the day.
Not realising that I had selected the bonus cache and not the 3rd one
worked out OK since this is my 300th find makes it that much more special.
In: Car, Out: Mondo, Signed Log.
Thanks Pyrenees Kid....

Found at 3.35pm GAFF1. We were struggling at first to get the co-ords for this cache as we thought we had the answer to the first question, but we later found out that we needed the plural version of the word. It didn't matter as we skipped that question and the correct answers to the others gave us the required co-ords. We later on plugged in the correct word and got all of the questions right. The cache was found in a lovely spot and apart from the huge downpour we enjoyed the hunt. Thanks PK for a very well put together cache. tn/ln

Found bevfre 9.10 am thanks to romax for the hint
took small toy left KFC ball
Thanks to Pyrenees Kid for the tour round Creswick

Found by Roma and Max.
We had the answers for the bonus questions but couldn't get the program to unlock and accept them so we had to "wing it" with a grid search finally locating the container.
This has been a great series and other than the hiccups with the program we really enjoyed the experience.
We took a set of Fluffy Dice and left a Mondo Figurine.
Thanks Pyrenees Kid for this challenge.
Romax.

A great series PK, really well planned and great way to see around a beautiful area.
We found this one first for the morning.
Took the "Chaz the Spaz" travel bug..... stay tuned for where he will turn up next...
left Godzilla toy.
Once again thanks for a great job PK, and thanks for the help with the emails.

Cheers

I'm logging this cache really quickly because I put Chaze the Spaz into it but no one has known for a while. Sorry.

Great cache series. We had great fun finding all the clues, also had a lot of fun in the forest because we were trying to find this cache without a map. It took a second go later.

Thanks so much PK. Now we're living in Ballarat we will hopefully doing more of your caches (although when working 75 hours per week one doesn't have that much time.)

Found by caughtatwork and brother-in-law at around 11:45.
A nice easy place this one was and we only took a moment to grab the cache from the hiding place.
We took a Dolphin Bowl and left a Car and a Stretchy Frog.
Thanks to Pyrenees Kid for a challenging but interesting set of caches.

Argh found it now! Had spent ages search a spot 30m away, getting frustrated going off and finding #3 instead, then coming back and still not finding it, going back to the car on the verge of giving up, then a recheck of the coordinates revealed they had been incorrectly entered in the GPSr! Coordinated corrected and the cache is found within 30 seconds at the right location.
TNLN

Found under the watchful eye of the Pyrenees Kid & Mikita our second find for the morning after having sampled the hospitality and fine dining of Pyrenees Lodge; Thanks to the Pyrenees Kid, Mikita & Betty for a great evening.

Took small pot of yellow paint and left a travel chess set, Pyrenees Kid.

Finally found this one in the fading light with hall of fame

Took chess set left crocodile toy

Had much fun finding tis enitre series and hoping for another sometime???

Found final cache just on dusk.took shaker & left medal.

We found this one after I realised I hadn't changed the coordinates in the GPS and Niece's boyfriend was standing in the middle of the street with it saying that there is no pothole big enough to hide a cache here!!! Oops, they grabbed an icecream whilst I changed the coordinates, jump back in the car and a short trip later and we had bagged it! Swapped a duster for a photo frame.

Found at 4.20pm.
After 2 no finds in a row, it was good to find this one easily.
No exchange made.
We finally found out today what Co. the Bartholomews have.
An interesting answer I didn't think of.
Thanks for all your work PK
K&M

This one was quite near the third cache in this series, and it made its presence known in quick time.

Too much fun!

OUT: Floppy Disk mailer
IN: 2 x Christmas Tree baubles

Imagine the suprise to a 6yr old when there is a cache so close to the other one (I will have to have a serious talk to you Darryn about the close placement of caches - admin voice ). We took Geoffry the TB from here but it seems not to have been recorded...I'll sort that out.

Thanks for a great day out! This is a must do.

Found this one at 4:25 in the company of Alan-san and Kiwideb. I took a pack of Cord Holders and left a Static Duster. Thanks again for a great set of caches.

Last of the caches of this series. Muzza, alansan and I raced to be the 1st to find this. Alansan found it 1st then muzza and after looking in all the wrong places I finally found it. Found at 1640 swapped elecrical tape for bambam and pebble.
Thank you so much for these sets of caches it was such fun to do.

Found at 4:25 ahead of Muzza and Kiwideb. It's been a great day out where we've all had fun and success, and now I can start to feel the sun bite at this time. Muzza is handing out celebration lollies, so everything is well now. My swap was a cherrie fragrance shell out for a wooden looking comb in. After a good day out this is where I've dropped off TB i!Geoffrey. Thanks Pyrenees Kid for the continuing fun.

Found by Mary & David at 1420. A fitting end to this wonderful series. We really had a great time tracking down all the answers and seeing a lot of Creswick and the nearby countryside. Took curling ribbon, left Garmin coaster. Pyrenees Kid - you have truly Excelled Yourself. Many thanks.