Chopsticks Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
By ssmc4 on 28-May-06. Waypoint GCW97C

Too much work going on around the GZ, so will archive this one (and possibly plan a Chopsticks 2?).
Many thanks to all who attempted Chopsticks - I got some great feedback.

Cheers, ssmc4

I was walking past here during the event today and the garden and cache have been dug up. You may need to confirm it, but it doesn't look good. A syringe was also found very close by, perhaps a different location is needed? It was a fun theme, I hope you can replace it.

Rob
Team Rubik

Hmmmmmm.......I know that the drought has been playing havoc with this once-lush location. I might need to ask for the wisdom of Confucious to see if I can resurrect this one.
Stand by.

Thanks to Team Rubik for the heads up.

Very nice cached. Mis-counted for G, but that soon became apparent when I calc'ed the final coords. Made some silly mistakes first time round, but then re-did the calcs and found it quite quickly.

found at 17.42 hrs
being convinced we counted the bollards ok we went on the circle tram only to find out we did make a mistake.
Once we figured that out it wasn't all that hard anymore and made more sense.

Find #8 of 10 on our Australia Day City Assault. Logged at 12:15pm.

One pass through Chinatown gave us all of the answers, but we had to re-read the instructions at WP5, after some confusion... the instructions are clear, we just weren't reading closely enough! We were dreading all of the counting, but it was really quick and easy.

Now for the hard part - GZ! You've done a brilliant job disguising this cache. It took us a good 20 minutes to find it, probably even touching it a couple of times before we realised it was there! The few muggles that were nearby were fortunately distracted by the FA18 Hornets flying overhead for the Australia Day festivities, so we quickly recovered the cache, signed the log and replaced it for the next lucky hunter!

Just a word for those who follow us... don't disassemble the sprinklers in the garden, it's not in there! :I

Do you mind if we learn from your brilliant cache construction, ssmc4? Many, many thanks for the inspiration!

Rated: for Overall Experience

Hi pwags, glad you enjoyed the Chopsticks experience. Feel free to take and use whatever lessons you've gleaned - it's all part of the geocaching continuous improvement cycle .

Lady Morris had been in town earlier in the week and gathered the information but it needed some checking. Verified coords with a previous finder and today on a quiet Sunday morning we were able to locate the very cache after an extensive search. We loved this one and it's worth all the counting. TFTC TNLN

Verified cache intact and added a new log sheet & pen. Happy munching.....I mean HUNTING.

Will attend to soon - thanks for the note.

Cache is there but no log that we could find.

Straight off the plane, after watching the Xmas pageant in Adelaide.....Hotel is just a hop skip and a jump away...
"Let's go to China town for tea....and there just happens to be a a geo-cache there." What better reason. So we wandered along and chose the restaurant of our choice, and then completed the cache. (We did it in one walk up and down, doing multi points all at once.)
What a magnificent cache! How very clever!!!
But we couldn't find a log either, so have marked it for maintance.
Loved this!![^][^][^][^][^][^][^][^][^]
Hope your seeking is muggle free.

Great spot in a great city. Took us a few times up and down the street to work this one out but got there in the end. Found the cache but i think it may have been muggled as there was no log and no chopsticks.

t4th

Cleaning up some CBD multi's I've been neglecting to do... in fact, this now clears my CBD cache list I think for the first time!

After wandering one way up Lt Bourke, I had to wander back down after not collecting Celestial's clue on the way. Then got to GZ to find the morning muggle mayhem was not yet complete, so left the cache until later in the day.

Returned around 9pm to look again, and after using a phone a friend to correct my search zone, cache was quickly in hand.
Very clever. Might look at something similar for another cache I've been planning.

The B Team had done all the work for this cache previously, then ended up finding the cache today on the 2nd attempt, so the A Team just came along to sign the log.
TNLN TFTC.

Rated: for Overall Experience

During a pleasant afternoon's urban caching in Melbourne. First we fluffed the numbers, then we double checked and arrived at GZ to be met by most of the students from the nearby college taking their aftrenoon break. Muggle madness abounded and managing this lot whilst trying for the find was intense. Lots of photos got taken, needless to say.

A damn clever hide. Mostly you overlook the obvious, don't you?

TNLNSL and TFTC
(found with Sweet P) The Turtle strikes again!

This multi took us a while to complete as we really didn't want to get any answers to those questions wrong. Also took us a bit longer than it should have to find the cache hide - even after utilising all the clues at hand. A clever hiding place indeed! SL at 3:50pm. TFTC - we enjoyed this one!

FlyingPigSquadron has landed!
Lived in Melbourne 35yrs but never really investigated China Town until today but did we really have to eat in ALL of the restaurants to get the clues?
TN left a pair of rare left-handed chopsticks
Only used GPS at the end TFT GREAT H.

I was at Parliament house all day for a teacher's conference - it's a strange place to be when the Premier announces he is quitting politics. It finished early so had time to complete a couple of caches. I was looking forward to this one as I love asian food and have a few chopstick sets at home. I didn't make any exchange today as I didn't find/couldn't reach any! I enjoyed the tour however.

Thanks,

R - B
[1008]

Checked 26/07/2007 - all OK.

Second of four cache finds for the afternoon on my trip into Melbourne to visit Rallywrxwagon who was laid up in hospital. At last my nemesis cache has been taken of the list. I found the cache at 17:25. Thanks ssmc4 for the cache and the hint.

I've added to the hint to let cachers know that there should be no need to go digging around and possibly encountering nasties. Good luck!

Today was my wedding anniversary 19 years, so I took Mrs Acts2YG into Melbourne for a cruise on the Yarra, can you believe it when she said we could do some caches. Unfortunately this was my second failed attempt at this cache, I had started it some time back and got sick of feeding parking meters, this time I made it to GZ and was put off by discarded needles Mrs Acts2YG was not happy about looking in such a location and I thought no smiley is worth getting pricked by a used needle. I shall return with some gloves.

Have walked up & down Chinatown many times, but always in search of food! Nice to take in some of the history (although being late on a sunday morning the Yum Cha was tempting!).
Fantastic hiding place!!!
T4TC, and sadly no chopsticks to leave....

In Melbourne for relaxing weekend and thought we would try and find a few caches. This was our first try for the week end and our first try at a muli-cache. Done all the counting and loaded co-ords ok but spent about an hour looking unsuccessful on Friday with out luck. After re-reading all the info I had on Friday night I returned on Sat and after about 30 min I located the beast. Very well concealed well done. Just a warning for anyone digging around here be carefull as we come across a needle.

Found by Bob at 1405

I'm not a big fan of the CBD, but today I braved its perils in the pursuit of plastic and this one was 1st cab off the rank. I thought it all seemed a bit confusing at first, but as I proceeded everything fell nicely into place and I was very pleasantly surprised/amused when I made the find . I now know why chopsticks are the preferred swap items, but I didn;t have any, so TNLN

Thanks ssmc4 - a very well designed and thought out cache

Got to the start.

Do you need the number of red rectangles on one side of the structure or both?

Upon reading the description we left this one for another day, not enough time today.

DJ

T & Geps did a round trip from AAPT, to the Christmas windows at Myers, through to Chinatown after midnight. Even though the instructions looked complicated, it really wasn’t. T looked after counting lights and reading inscriptions, whilst Geps counted restaurants and bollards up the street. Sitting down at the end there were a few short calculations before heading off in more or less the correct direction. The problem was that some of the bollards were removable, so we hadn’t counted enough. We worked backwards to find the real answer and ended up in the right place. However, it was late and our search was fruitless. We turned up early the next morning and shortly had the cache in hand. We weren’t exactly expecting what we got, but loved it anyway.
T: blue handled chopsticks
L: chopsticks to celebrate multiculturalism on Australia Day

Brilllliant 3rd found on quick visit to Melbourne, took 2 visits thank you

In town to meet EuDes herself's cuz (who is fast becoming my good luck charm), I thought we'd have a try for this one on the way to the rendezvous. Unfortunately, muggles prevented that.

On the way back to the car to pick up something before dinner though, the muggles had gone so I thought I'd give it a couple of minutes. Thankfully, that's all I needed and I had the brilliantly hidden cache in hand at 20:05.

TNLNSL. Many thanks ssmc4, a great 1st hide and now the taunting can stop (or should I say for now the taunting can stop !!)

The sole purpose of this note is to taunt EuDes!!!

Dear Ssmc4,

We found your cache at 3:25pm as the sixth of nine on our Father & Daughter's day out. We enjoyed the walk whilst doing this cache but once at GZ, we were getting very bad signals. Thankfully, although the cache was extremely well hidden, it was in the MOP (Most Obvious Place) and an educated guess paid off. Thanks for the cache.

Kind Regards,

D & K B-A

Had a nice Vietnamese dinner just a few meters from the starting point, and thus, well prepared for this work.
Found all the clues, but not the cache.
Went for the hint, which confirmed we were looking at a possible hiding place. But still, a DNF

Moomin & Snorkmaiden
The Hattifnatters island
Sweden

Got to the location but could not find the object. High concentration of muggles, makes it hard to search without being obvious.

Found on 30/09/06 @ 1105 AEST. 1st of 4 caches with Facitman for the day before the Grand Final.

Facitman had had a DNF on this cache a while ago, but it was on my first attempt today accompanying him that we had an easy find

TNLN

Cheers ssmc4

Found by Facitman in the company of Rhinogeo at 11:05am

Finally put this cache to rest. Rhinogeo and I stopped at GZ to find this cache on our way to Yum Cha prior to the Grand Final. Easy find as I knew what I was looking for after last time, took nothing, left nothing, signed log.

Thanks ssmc4, really enjoyed this cache, even if it took me three attempts to finish it

On my third attempt. A very good piece of cammo although once I did see it I knew it straight away. I was thrown a bit by it being more R than AR (I gather it has moved a fraction), and what is defined as a cngpu, but a good cache and an excellent hide nontheless. Thanks ssmc4.

Found by caughtatwork at 12:48
Nothing like a great piece of cammoflauge to get my spirits rising and this was one of the best I have seen. Far beating my CCCC series. I'll have to think more cunningly.
I spent around 15 minutes searching for what I knew it should be, but I reckon I moved it half a dozen times before clueing into the fact that that was the cache.
Took nothing, left nothing.
Thanks ssmc4. Please more of the same type of cammo. It was a pleasant change from a box under a bush.

I cant praise this cache too highly. I originally collected the clues when it first came out, failed to find the cache (but it turns out I was looking in the right area) The cache was then muggled and I have had a long wait to revisit and thankfully I have had the chance to do some of c@w's fiendish hides so I knew what to expect this time.Very clever camo.

I had collected the required information on an earlier trip into town but unfortunately there were too many muggles around that day to retrieve the cache. Late Sunday afternoon turned out to be a better option and the cache was soon in hand.
Thanks ssmc4 for the tour and the cache

Found 12:55, a pleasant strol and a nice location at GZ. I wonder if the resident at GZ realises he sleeps right next to a cache thanks to Mr. Coffee for the pointer [B)]

TNLN, thanks ssmc4.

Early in the morning (about 1am) ensured that there was not too many muggles still walking about. We had been here before not realising that it was offline (must update the PDA a bit more often )
Great hide, and a nice multi.
Thanks, Robmc.

My first attempt at geocaching. Did it over 2 lunch breaks in the city. Thanks Backpaqer.

Found today while at the caching event !
nice easy find

thanks for the cache

Found this one with Chefs on the Run, Farmers 5 etc etc etc on the 2CCCC It's a nice easy find when someone is already holding the cache for you

Got the booty today whilst on the caching event.What a great hide area and the hide actual location of the cache was a ripper.Thanks to ssmc4 for the exciting Chinatown cache and nice garden tour at the end...TNLN.

Found at 12:15pm Accompanied by Chewinprickles.
while between waypionts doing the 2nd CCCC event cache.
1st find out of 5 for the day.
TNLN, Signed Log. Thanx ssmc4...

After the CCCC2 event we decided to stop off for this cache. Not being able to find the cache I rang Dak for a hint and discovered I had entered the coordinates wrong (Doh)and the cache was found moments later
Many thanks ssmc4 for a clever cache hide, very good camo.
Regards Mr.Coffee and the "If I eat chinese I am going to the other nearby cache and getting a Fork" Clan.

Called in while doing the 2nd CCC event cache and finally finished this one. Pretty poor effort all told considering Oenze and I would have been FTF, had we been able to find it at the time. Also called in another time with Robmc not realizing it was then offline so I've well and truly visited this one.
Anyway thanks for a great cache with an excellant hide at the end, and I did find it without resorting to ringing anyone. No swaps though.

"Chopsticks" has now been resurrected with a new, larger, more robust cache container. I've also moved it a few metres away to a more camoflaged location to reduce the risk of muggling. The final co-ordinates are the same and will get you to the GZ OK but you will probably need the clue, which I've added to.

We feel like real cachers now, having gone through the experience of having a cache muggled. Many thanks to all those who've provided feedback, advice and encouragement - it has been very much appreciated!!

Aiming to get this one fixed up soon - ssmc4
(Here's hoping Facitman gets 3rd time lucky!)

Went to do this one a couple of days ago, spoke to pprass who confirmed I was on the wrong track. Went back this morning and apart from finding somebody asleep in the middle of the GZ, I found what I thought was the remains of the cache (Muggled), called Pprass who whipped down at lunch time and confirmed my worst fears. [:(!]

Sort of found by Facitman on 13th June then not on 20th June
I was in the city to lunch with a colleague (Yes, dumplings at a restaurant in Chinatown ) so I thought it only fitting that I attempt this cache. The lunch was fairly quick, 15 stream dumplings go down very nicely, so soon I was heading up Lt Bourke St counting thingys. Having collected the clues I plugged them into the GPSr to see if I had time to find today... soon was heading for GZ.
Arrived at GZ and was sent hither and yon by the GPSr . Allowed it to settle multiple times but every time I moved I was sent a long way in the opposite direction. Re-read the description (the CCCC reference) and spied a probably hiding place just as a smoker took up residence. waiting waiting waiting. he left, I found....nothing.
Decided to call it a day but after checking the hint I returned and had cache in hand very quickly! But, for reasons I won't mention here, I was unable to sign the log.
E-mailed owner to discuss and resolved my issue. Returned on the 20th to claim my find and as the chefs found... it was not found , got home to find it found the day before so decided I was going insane and would need to return to GZ, but alas no

Thanks ssmc4, I enjoyed my convoluted chase and hope the cache can be restored so I can actually log a find

What a cache! We spent a fair bit of time working this one out however we thoroughly enjoyed it. In between searching for the cache we had some fantastic Chinese food. Once we had the final set of coordinates we thought we were way out. After reading the clues a few times we discovered we had the final coordinates correct in the first place. The clues for this cache were great. The GPS seemed to a few meters out but in the general vicinity. With a little bit of searching being careful not to be sprung by muggles we found it!! Thanks very much for the cache we loved it.

Took: Wooden chopsticks with a blue and white pattern on the end.

Left: Bright Yellow Plastic chopsticks.

Had exactly 15 minutes after visiting the Gaol and while the girls were still shopping so decided to try this one. Reception was less than adequate but with the clue it certainly appeared that I was in the right area. Thinking about where I'd put it led me to something that looked a little odd at about 1629. The construction seemed a little delicate. I had no chopsticks but I almost left a knife, fork, and spoon. Thanks for placing it.

- NCad

I was in the CBD for a lunch appointment in Lt Bourke St, so I took the details of this cache with me. I walked the strip up and down twice to confirm that I had the correct number of 'Village' restaurants. When I sat down to work out the coordinates, I got unlikely figures. Hmmmmm! I found that I had misread the description for WP5. With that error corrected, my coordinates looked more likely. However, my GZ was in the middle of Spring Street! I cracked the hint, and set off to find out what it meant. With that information in hand, things seemed to make sense, so I set about looking for the cache. There were two possibilities, and I gave both of them an initial inspection. However, I decided that one of them was more likely. I was wrong. [B)] After some surreptitious searching, I decided to call pprass to confirm that my coordinates were correct, and to ask about which GZ was the one to search. I had the cache in hand shortly after at 1500. GAFF4, as pprass would say. The camo on this one is up to C@W's standard, and actually beats it, in my opinion! I hadn't brought along any chopsticks, so I made no exchange. Thanks to ssmc4 for a good (and entertaining) first cache.

Found at 12.45. Nice hide, good trip. Thanks. Full log on return. [logged by cellphone at 12.55]

My first FTF and find #40 (which I regretfully missed previous Monday at "Trainspotting"). Does it always have to rain the day after a new cache is released in Melbourne?
Very nice camo for this cache, impressive, good job!
But at WP4, I couldn't find any Celestial Place, only a Celestial Av. Am I wrong?

[This entry was edited by HTXman on Monday, May 29, 2006 at 1:20:35 AM.]

Needed to ge near the city this morning and thought there was a chance for a FTF here. Had we found it would have been, seeing we were there around 11.00 this morning. Reckoned we had the correct GZ but couldn't get a decent GPS signal to pin it down and had to give up after a while to avoid a parking fine.
Anyway as Arnie say's, "We'll be back" I should it be I'll be back.

Accompanied by Chewinprickles.
work out all the clues but as Chewi. loged the GPS wouldnt settle down but we had a good look all the same, all I could come up with was a girls wallet and glasses which I will have to bring to a Police Station.

Found at 2.45pm GAFF3. The area where this cache is set is just around the corner from where I am currently working – I am in one of those big black anonymous buildings near the corner of Exhibition and Lt. Bourke. During my lunch time break I gathered all the clues, went straight to where the cache is actually located (even though the GPS was indicating 20 metres away due to poor satellite reception) and didn’t find it after searching for 10 minutes. Then I misread the hint and decided that an email to the owner was in order to clarify what I had done. 2 hours later I suddenly realised what was going on and what I had to do (and what a dunce I had been earlier). Went back without a pen and located the cache in 5 minutes in exactly the same spot I was at earlier. What a good hide – especially for a first cache. I didn’t swap the chopsticks and I only scratched my name on the log with a dirty stick! Thanks ssmc4.

Minor log alteration to show "Celestial Ave." - thanks for the pickup HTXman & congrats on your FTF.

Published