Walk into History Ada, Victoria, Australia
By geofreak on 02-Nov-04. Waypoint GCKZQD

Walk into History was transferred from Cache Guardians to user MuggleWifeDoes

Last pit stop for the day since crossing the river to walk to the 4th cache in this area was not entirly appealing A=walk the plank risk falling off or B=rock hop and get your feet wet...hmm nope so instead I systematically looked for this cache thanks to spying a very typical GC formation in was soon in hand and signed. From the Ada carpark it was a nice 2.5hour return journey. Down load your off-line maps their is NO service and bewarned their are both snakes and leeches in this forest, yep both were sighted only 1 variety killed. But the walk is awesome.

Thanks for the Cache Geofreak,
Wow what a huge structure this would have been, the logs are massive! Found the Cache in good condition. Great walk this one eh!
Regards from Victourer

walked over from our campsite at ada no. 2
encountered two snakes in the afternoon sun
a curled-up brown that scuttled away at our footsteps
and a big red-bellied black snake that slithered towards us down the trail so we backed off until it found something juicier to nibble on

all is well with the cache
great spot

Walk into History was transferred from day1976 to user Cache Guardians

Walk into History was transferred from geofreak to user day1976

After walking through lots of mud to arrive here, I was greeted with a bridge that looked more like something my kids had made and then smashed up. Hard to imagine what this used to look like, but great spot to sit and listen to the trickling of the creek

*24 Feb 2019, Found @ 2:50 pm, Find # 8967.*

Today I headed out with biggles1024 to attempt to find at least 4 of the Lord of the Rings series as well as some old placed caches.
This is one of a group of old caches placed many years ago and finally after seeing the signs to the Ada Tree for many years we actually made it to this huge, wonderful tree.
We made our way passed the tree, on to the mill and then made our way to the broken bridge where we stopped to check it out and then find the cache which didn't take too long, the log was signed and then e headed back to the car.

**Thanks to geofreak for placing this cache.**

**24/02/2019, 14:48**
**Find #3452**
**Traditional Cache Find #2340**

I headed out early with SteMicMitSar to find some more members of the LotR series and some other old caches located deep in the forest. Fresh from success in finding Federal Mill, we proceeded here to find this cache. A lot more dead fall was across the track and that slowed our progress somewhat. Arriving in the vicinity of GZ, there didn't appear to be too many hiding places. I checked the most obvious one but it was empty. Steve checked the same type of object a few metres away and found the cache. Another nice old cache.


SL TFTC

**Thank-you to geofreak for placing this geocache**

This was well worth the extra 850 meters (there and back) that I cruelly forced the family to add to our walk. They grumbled a fair bit, till we got here and then spent a while "panning for gold" with their water bottles in the beautifully cool and fresh creek water. The find was easy (thanks for the maintenance Day and OHC etc) and that's good as it gave me a change to admire this bridge, which kind of reminded me of something off donkey Kong, with the rolling and tumbling logs. Lovely.

Found during our Federation Bushwalking Weekend at Warburton.
The Federation Walks Weekend is a Bushwalking Victoria (BWV) event. Each year one or more walking clubs affiliated with Bushwalking Victoria take turns to host the event in a different location. The event comprises a set of walks either on one day or over a weekend and is open to all members of affiliate or associate clubs and to individual members of Bushwalking Victoria.

We did http://www.fedwalks.org.au/files/2017_Walk_Descriptions/Walk_9_-_Ada_Tree_Three_Sawmills.pdf

Just passing through and stopped here for a break.
TFTC

Coordinates changed from:
S 37° 49.650 E 145° 51.028

Coordinates changed to:
S 37° 49.628 E 145° 51.032

Distance from original: 135.3 feet or 41.2 meters.

Updating coordinates.

2:05 pm #3134
A maintenance run into the hills? Hell yeah! The (now sitting very low) geomobile didn't miss a beat, with day1976, ~nirgal~, Cliff5009 and myself on board.
I loved the walk along here! The flora, ferns, animal & bird noises, the peace, the track - everything was just gorgeous. We even accumulated a total of 14 leeches between us.
Thankyou for bringing me to a place that I definitely never would have discovered, nor visited, geofreak.

14:05
A maintenance run in the hills to caches there's no way I'd get to otherwise? How could I resist?

So OzHockeyChick, Cliff5009 and I found ourselves being chauffered through the hills by day1976, to see how much mud and dust we could add to his better half's Suby.

This was our second destination along the trail this afternoon, and what a location! That structure must have been even more impressive when it was intact, as it's quite imposing now.

With the arrow pointing in a direction that was improbable, we worked by the hint... with four of us, of the cache was still there, it would surely be tracked down. And so it was. I happened to be the lucky finder.

The cache and log were badly degraded, so were replaced from our dwindling stock of spares.

Oh, and a set of coordinates was averaged while we were there. See day1976's log.

Thanks again, geofreak.

#3462

Entire cache replaced. (DG)

found while on maintenance run with day1976, ozhockeychick, and -nirgal-, about 35-40 metres from where GPS was pointing, but 4 sets of eyes with some geoknowledge made for a swift find, but cache was not in any condition to stay, signed in replacement and enjoyed a bit of rest, and viewing the area

Its always nice to change a DNF to a Found it log. I have been here twice before and not been able to lay my hands on it. Today I was back with company and after a bit of a search the cache was revealed, approximately 35 meters from where our calculated GZ was.

The cache was cactus as the lid wasn't on properly. I have replaced it with a 200ml sistema with a new log book, in the exact same position. I have brought the old cache home and dried it all out. If the CO would like the original cache and log book for posterity then please get in contact with me.

Thanks for placing this cache in such a wonderful location! I have added an updated co-ordinate to this log for future finders which hopefully will help them.

Cache was found approx 40m from where GZ was pointed to. It may of been moved or the gps coordinates needs to be changed.

New logbook needed.

#428 - #4 of #6 caches that I attempted today for the unloved.

After finishing The Gap multi, I decided on a route in to grab this cache. The best I came up with was drive to the South of the cache where there seemed to be a track that would take me to GZ.

Parking at the start of the track, GZ was 2km away as the crow flies but the track to get there was very windy so I knew it would be a lot more.

I am so glad I came in from the direction that I did though, the route was absolutely stunning! Arriving at a campground unlike any other I had seen before, the amount of old machinery was incredible.

The amount of mud on the track was also incredible, it was like walking through pits of quicksand at times.

Arriving at GZ I was also amazed by the beauty. I think that I got extremely lucky finding this cache, it about 40m from where the gps was pointing to. The log book was soaked but between two pens that I had in my caching kit, I got the logbook signed.

88andy88 bet me to this unloved though!

Even though I missed out of the unloved, I am still super glad I made the big walk and did this cache.
The journey and the destination was fantastic so you get a Goat point from me.

Yesterday's unloved: about 44 months
Today's unloved: about 22 months so far.
(Will sort out exact dates later with GSAK).

This entry was edited by -Mountain Goat- on Monday, 14 September 2015 at 14:21:12 UTC.

On my first out today i left home quite early and hit the trails for this little unloved number....I knew it would be in a bit of a state as most of the unloved suckers are but this one was so wet that i did manage a signature to say i have signed it but the log book is really in a sad way....if i had of had another on me i would of replaced it.....anyway....awesome little hike from the strategic position i drove too.....

This entry was edited by 88andy88 on Monday, 14 September 2015 at 09:53:34 UTC.

Found the cache. The log book was pretty sad looking and terribly wet. Advising the next person who visits could possibly upgrade the container or replace the log book. Tftc

Tftc. Was terribly wet, waterlogged. Needs a new log book.

Date: 30 August 2014
Time: 17:12
Find #4071

After attending the morning event in Langwarrin, I had decided to make the rest of the day unloved cache day. My GPSr was giving me trouble around here, so eventually after crossing the river twice, I checked the hint and not long after had the cache in hand. Container was slightly open and log book is saturated.

Thanks to geofreak for placing this cache.

Out on a weekend hike with my venturers i ran into kmmndavis while waiting at the starting location for everyone to arrive. She was waitng for her scouts who were doing the same hike as me only backwards. Crazy little kids walking up the Highlead. After the car shuffle we were all set and headed out to find the caches.

This cache took a bit longer to find. As i followed the clue to all the places it matched though wasn't hiding in. Due to the bad GPS reception in the area it too awhile. Then finally it was spotted in a very logical area. Quickly signed and then we moved on with our hike.

Found while on a scout hike from High Lead carpark Incline to Starlings Gap
Met a fellow Geocacher along the way who was much more prepared than me
Left a path tag

Found at 14:12 on a walk from Starlings Gap to the Ada tree.
The GPS was not playing well so I had to search a few locations before I found the right one. It's a pity the bridge isn't in usable condition. Would be nice to see it in place.
Thanks geofreak for another cache on this lovely walk.

I Had a Quote to do in Launching Place, so came over from Warragul via Noojee,Yarra Junction. After finishing I decided to cache my way back to Warragul as I don't get out this way much, This was the last cache for the day.Thanks geofreak for the cache. Cache is soaking wet lucky I have a stamp to sign as pen had trouble, cache need attention.

Had a pretty free day to go for a caching adventure with josiey and our two youngest sons. We found three caches near Starling Gap then headed on down to do a walk through to the Ada Tree. The tracks were muddy and it was cold, but when walking we didn't feel it much. I recommend doing these caches but summer may be a better time, and get someone to do them in reverse then swap cars. Josiey and the boys went through to the Ada Tree carpark while I soloed back to our car so they would have less of a walk. The conditions were quite challenging for young kids today. It is an excellent walk though.
The caches were:
1. [url=http://coord.info/GCKZQC]The Killing Fields[/url] - one I had previously done
2. [url=http://coord.info/GCKZQD]Walk into History[/url]
3. [url=http://coord.info/GCM3VG]Federal Election[/url]
4. [url=http://coord.info/GCH47J]What A Big Girl You Are[/url]
There was a creek crossing here that presented a challenge as the water was over the usual stepping stones and the bridge is not in good shape (I'll post a photo). However the boys shimmied across the mossy logs of the old bridge while Josie and I improvised over the stones and other fallen debris. The cache was a quick find but pretty damp inside. It wasn't good drying weather but signing was still possible. Thanks for bringing me to this lovely spot.

Came through here on part of an epic caching walk through more mud than I've ever seen with drjim7, lobster6 7 and robotic chicken from Mars. The creek was high and uncrossable by the usual stepping stones. We were all getting pretty muddy by now and I managed to plunge my foot into the creek while crossing. The boys used the mossy logs from the old bridge to cross the creek and we all got a lot dirtier. Thankfully lobster6 7 made quick work of the cache, although this was also about 40m from where the cache was supposed to be but the clue was very helpful. TFTC.

Another adventure out into the mountains for geostepdaughter and myself. Found 2 out of three caches today but would have like to attempt more, but time was against us all day with many tracks being closed, mums Subaru did quite a few kms today through a lot of mud. Don't think she will notice when she gets home though.

This was our DNF for the day. Found the structure that I think was mentioed in the hint, but it seemed to be about 40meters away from where GPSr wanted me to be. And that 40meters seemed to be straight down the creek. Searched around in a few likely hiding spots, but after half an hour gave it up for another day.

Second one for the day TNLN
Great day for a walk!:)

Together with schotje27, it was à beautiful day for à walk, and very happy to find this one. My first accounter with leeches, but that could not take away the fun. TFTC and grtz from the Netherlands

Found cache to be full of brown mouldy water. Log book is sodden.

3rd find of the day, and 3161st total find at 3:31:00 PM.

We arrived at the start point a little late in the day (yesterday), so we decided that discretion was the better form of valour, and retreated to the comfort of our camp site to return again.

Today we're "gunna" do this, and the others in the area. We're loaded up with backpacks, sandwiches and drinks.

A stroll through the rainforest in the early morning , with the sunlight streaming through the trees is really a lovely sight to behold. It's really interesting to see that the forest has two faces, one is typical of rainforest - covered in moss and ferns etc, but upon further exploration the other face is more dry and uncluttered.

Little did we know that this was to be our last find in our six hour epic journey where we battled leeches and mozzies along ill maintained tracks, forded icy streams in our bare feet and sank up to our ankles in smelly swamp mud.

(No it's not *just* about the numbers )

Took: Nothing
Left: Nothing
Thanks geofreak for the cache

This again was a great place for a picture to be taken thanks for the walk here

It was quite a decent hike here from the road to the south, and probably best done when it's not recently been raining. One, it's rather overgrown in parts, so the ferns cover you with water, and two, leeches abound! I had ten or so of them on me and was still bleeding hours later. It's my fault for wearing ankle socks though.

GZ is really interesting - it looks beautiful and it's interesting to imagine how it must have looked when it was still functional. Thankfully the river was low enough to cross without having to take my shoes off. I was grateful for the clue, for it would have been hard otherwise with the trees blocking satellite coverage.

Found at 1205 hours, after doing a couple of caches from Ada tree car park, they really knew how to build bridge back then with what they had around.
TNLN SL
Also enjoyed the 3km walk back to the geomobile(GPSr distance was 1.8km, wish some time I had wings).
TFTC

Such a hide is no problem for a possum. Weather was fine and the cache was dry. Found on our walk from Starlings gap to Ada Tree. A great bit of history. Thanks Geofreak.

Walking on from Federal Election this old tramway makes for lovely going. Once at gz the gps had me miles away but the clue kicked in nicely and the cache was found fairly easily. The old structure was something then, but to be avoided these days. Thanks geofreak for a hide in a great spot.

Visited the cache 01/05/07 and replaced the container. The new container is really only big enough to fit the log book so exchanges are no longer possible.

Found at 2.20pm GAFF1 - we are pleased to report considering that we didn't have any reception for the last 60 - 100 metres. We got around that by looked at the position of the cache on the map of our GPS and then looked in a couple of spots and pulled the cache out - whew! what a relief after such a long but enjoyable walk. The area here is quite magnificent. Thanks geofreak.
ps - the cache was full of water, however the log book was dry.

Container was half full of water. The cache swaps are ruined, but the log book is ok in its clip lock bag.

Having to leave the muggles at the nearby Federal election we came here to give them a chance to disperse. What a fantastic bridge, even though we crossed the river twice we decided not to use it. The GPS kept insisting that we should be heading off into no mans land, so we deciphered the clue. With this information we broadened our search radius and the cache was quickly located.
Like others before us the GPSr was showing 46 metres from Gz with an EPE of fourteen metres
Thanks Geofreak for a bringing us to this fascinating location

Last cache for the day this one took a bit of looking and had to use the clue as GPS showed GZ was about 40 meters downstream. TNLN

Decided to try this one since we were close anyway. The GPS signal was very poor and had GZ about 60 metres out from reality. But Ibu Robin found it despite these hardships.

Didn't find at at 6:40pm. After completing "The Killing Fields" 5:45pm and having left spare batteries and torches in the car, we decided to make a run and see if we could get up as far as we could before leaving ourselves enough time to return in the light. It was an incredible look into history but the track was well overgrown, fallen trees blocked the track and the recent rains all helped to make passage along the trail fairly tough going and we were fast running out of time. When we reached the bridge, we looked high and low but couldn't find away to get over and we were not equipped to get wet. "S" decrypted half the clue but we unfortunately had to admit defeat and started back for the car.

Thanks Geofreak from D & S B-A. Next time.

Part two of the long walk.. 7th out of 7 found today..

Wow what a walk. Stumbling across old bridges and water crossings and having a few slips here in there. Glad to be in tact after nearly falling off a wet log on the way back. We all came to this cache from the wrong end. We decrypted half clue but we all knew that the worst had come.. Nearly giving up because we knew it must be on the other side. With nowhere to cross the master wabbitt was not going to pass up on this one after such a grueling walk so he went barefoot in the creek. Leaving S and I to have a fight with the locals. errrmm I mean the vampires.. nnooo no I mean leeches. they were everywhere. I had about 6 bites on my ankle and they were crawling up my pants. S had one on his shoulder. After clearing them off we realised that they were breeding right where we were standing and starting to get into the Wabbits shoes and socks.. Oh boy.. The master wabbit found the cache after a 5 minute search on the other side. A enjoyful walk.. Much better than the milgrove track.. We knew it was getting dark soon so we had to ruch back to the car. We somhow got back 2 times as fast as it took to get here.. Thanks from M.B

TNLN

"S" said we should decrypt the rest of the clue and I said "Well, why not. We were already here". When we saw how close we were to GZ, I said "Darn it, we haven't come this far to miss it by mere metres. We WILL be having your cache Mr Geofreak". The only option now left was to pull off my socks and shoes, roll up the pants and wade the stream. I tried a few spots that fitted the clue before finally finding the right spot. At this time I heard a call from the other side that they had found leeches everywhere and here I was with no shoes. Also found that I had lost my good pen whilst searching in other areas and had to retrace my steps for that too.

Exchanged a pair of batteries for a large squeaky frog which was all we had. This was not a fair swap of which I was concerned but in the failing light it was getting to the stage that we may need them on the return trip. I will make it up when we return next time for the nearby "Federal Election" which we were too late to do tonight. Also we had to leave the frog on the cache rather than in, as it is too large so hopefully the next finder can take it.

Waded back across, wiped my feet with a hanky, re socked and shoed and headed back to the car. For some inexplicable reason, even though we were moving very fast on the way to the cache, the trip back to the car took half the time.

Found at 6:45pm. Thanks Geofreak from D & S B-A. We really enjoyed this one. PS apparently I slipped a leech into my sock which I didn't find until we got home. Messy.

Tenth of twelve Yarra Valley caches with Muzza, Alan-san, and kiwideb. The others had already logged this one, but as it's only 440m from "Federal Election", we decided to go the extra distance so I could log it. Predictably, GPS reception was hopeless and I didn't have the cache sheet, so I couldn't decrypt the clue. Alan-san and Muzza gave me a gentle nudge in the right direction, and the cache was mine at 1845. I didn't have anything suitable to swap, so I made no exchange. There was no shortage of leeches here, and we all copped a couple. Kiwideb did not have fond memories of her last visit, when it was wetter, and the leeches were thick on the ground. [xx(]

our third cache for the day on our youth group hike, left most of the group at the federal mill as they did'nt want to walk on anymore, they were to find a hiding place for our second cache while me, jeremy, glen and kevin went for the cache. on geting half way down the track i realised i had forgot to input the co-ords in to the gps. we found the bridge searced every where, could not find so went on the track looking for another bridge, came bck to this on searced again just about to give up when glen found it.
no leeches on us, but those back at federal mill coped a few.
thanks Geofreak.

[This entry was edited by acts2youthgroup on Saturday, November 20, 2004 at 3:46:43 PM.]

After finding "What a Big Girl You Are", we set off to this cache. In the pouring rain we though we were safe in our wet weather gear until we found the leaches had found a way inside. So after many stops we removed what seemed like hundreds of these little critters. The walk wasn't too bad and being in a group of three it was pretty good.

Once arriving at the location we though we would need to cross to the other side of the river, as that is what the GPSr said. The recommended way through the stream seemed wrong so we crossed the other way only to find it wasn't on that side. So back we go and after searching a number of locations Muzza came up with the goods. Now it is just a matter of navigating our way back along the shortcut, hopefully past the leaches and back to the car. That all worked out well and we changed into leach free dry clothes. That's one thing we've learnt, you need to take at least one change of clothes when doing country caches.

Thanks geofreak, I swapped a ball out for a frog in.

This was a cache and a half. We stopped so many time as we were being bombarded by leeches. 1st of all Alansan had leeches all on him, then I did. Leeches don't like the Muzza. which i think is not fair.
Back to the cache. EPE was all over the place we crossed the bridge and still it was everywhere. Had to decipher the clue before we could find the cache. Which was found at 0650.
Then I realised I had heaps of leeches all in my coat. So we all did a search to get rid of them.
When we arrived back to the car the guys changed at the back of the car while I change in the car. More leeches.
Then when I got home in showered more leeches. Needless to say, don't go in the wet, the leeches are tiny but they are horrible suckers.
Thanks geofreak sorry we couldn't make it to "The killing fields. Maybe next time. My 6th and last cache for the day.

Though not planned this way, this turned out to be our last cache for the day. By the time Alan-san, Kiwideb and myself arrived and found this one, there was not enough daylight to make it to 'The Killing Fields' and return to the car. In addition, none of us fancied the bridge crossing in the dark.

Part way between 'What a Big Girl You Are' and this cache, the leaches made their presence felt. Most were simply flicked off our waterproof clothing, but unfortunately the odd one made it onto our face, neck, ears, eyelids, etc. and for a while, more time was spent deleaching each other as was spent walking. We made it to the rough area of GZ but satellite coverage under the trees and rain clouds was not good. At times, I had EPE of 100 metres.

The sign said not to use the 'Bridge' as it was dangerous, but the suggested alternative route seemed more likely to end in tears due to the recent rains in the area. After crossing the bridge and checking a couple of possible locations, we decrypted the clues and then checked all likely spots. I eventually came up with the goods. Under the protection of my large golf umbrella, we each made our log entries, then headed back to the car the easier/quicker route. I took nothing and left nothing.

Thanks Geofreak for the cache and for taking us to such a lovely area. We will need to return for 'The Killing Fields', so hopefully we will get to see the area in its full beauty in dry weather.

Lesson 1:Do not bring a bike if comming from the "Killing fields" it is a waist of time now days.
Lesson 2:Do it after it has been dry for a few days.

After walking and riding and mainly walking from the other cache I finaly got to GZ. After the experience at "Killing Fields" I made good use of the clue. The hardest part was keeping cache and log book dry. TNLN After this the ride improved on the way to the Macca cache nearby that was found today. When I got back to the car I didn't notice all the leaches until I was driveing after a few stops most were dispatched. Its almost 3 hours ago now and I am still bleeding. Nastly little suckers[:(!]. Just hung up the rain coat/pants and it has still got 4 or more leaches on it.

A lovely area in the dry I say

Thanks Geofreak

The walk to this cache was a bit of an ordeal as it was raining and there was bad sattelite coverage. The track is a bit overgrown and the wet bush was giving me a good shower as I walked through. Lost GPS signal for a while but thought I'd just keep walking until it returned. Got to the mill site & finally got signal again but it was telling me it was many km away. Walked almost to the Ada tree before giving up on it and decrypted the clue. There was only one spot that fitted the description so back I went to find it. When I got back to the mill site the GPSr decided it had played with me for long enough and pointed me in the right direction and distance. Once at GZ I checked a few spots that fitted the clue and found it in the third place I looked (about 10 mins search). Put in a butterfly & took nil. By now it was 6.15pm so I had to get back quickly before it got dark. Finally got back to the road just after 7pm and started picking off the leaches. My advise to those doing this cache is; dont do it when it's raining and allow plenty of time. It's worth doing this one and 'Killing Fields' together. Really enjoyed the walk and a couple of first finds for the effort. Thanks Geofreak.