Murphy’s Cottages

Geocaching can sometimes be a physical challenge, and this was the case walking up the track leading to our next geocache search for today – one of the steepest gravel roads I’ve ever had to walk up. Murphy’s Cottages (GC13C21) by daznat99 is located up a very steep gravel road on the Koolewong side of the bridges at Woy Woy. Once you ascend the track, and the steps, you are rewarded with magnificent views across Brisbane Water, Woy Woy Bay, and the township of Woy Woy. 

Steep Stairway on the way to GZ

Unusual Rock Formation

Wolfie overlooking Woy Woy

After a brief hunt we managed to locate the medium-sized cache. The lack of camouflage was surprising, however, I figure not many people have a reason to go walking over this way so it’s probably pretty safe exactly where it is. Inside we found some historic photos of the Murphy’s Cottages.

We left the North Yorkshire Travel Bug race CD in the cache, took nothing. Returned the cache just how we found it.

The trip back down the hill was quite a challenge. This is a very steep, gravel, road – and we found it more challenging to descend – trying to maintain a footing without slipping on the surface… but we made it down in one piece. Back at the bottom we had a new found respect for the little cottages by the waterfront, and took another photo opportunity.

Wolfie with Murphy's Cottages

Thanks for another great hide daznat99. We appreciate the cache, and we appreciate the history lesson, the views and landscapes up here. Thanks!

Mangrove Glen

Mangrove Glen (GCP2X5) is a large-sized geocache by Grank, and is one of a cluster of caches located near the Stickland State Forest. We had been keeping a casual eye on this one for a couple of weeks, driving by – checking out the various tracks running off Mangrove Road, and looking at Google Maps for the best access options.

A few days ago I took a walk down the track on the north-side to survey the terrain to see whether this shorter route is a viable access route, but although a pleasant walk, I discounted this track as an option when it became obvious we’d need to do some serious “bush bashing” to get there. By reading the logs of this cache it was apparent that some avid caches do get to the cache from this direction, but we like to take the easier route wherever possible.

So TeamWolfie returned today to head up the longer-but-easier track that takes us almost to ground zero. Google Maps is almost useful, but don’t be mislead! The “Road” you need to walk down is by no means a road, and is quite well camouflaged – so from the sealed road you really do need to park your car (on the nearby sharp corner is a good option) then look for a track.

Except for the dumped cars and eroding car parts, it was a pleasant and quiet walk. A pretty easy walk too, with just a couple of puddles and minor creeks to negotiate along the way. Our main obstruction seemed to be thin invisible spider webs that had been strung across the the track at face-height every few metres.

As ground zero approached, we examined the hint and established we’d need to head 10m or so off the track, up a fairly steep and slippery embankment. It wasn’t too bad, however, and we were soon rewarded with the discovery of another bucket-sized cache full of some nice treasures.

Wolfie inside the cache, with CD Travel Bug

Given our lack of quality items to trade we made no swaps here, but we took the travel bug attached to what I thought was a DVD, which I hoped contained an interesting message from the owner… Turns out I should have actually read the note inside – it was part of a “race” that ended over six months ago, and it was not a DVD with an exciting message, but a boring old CD which people were supposed to load pictures onto, but nobody had bothered to. So really – little more than a boring useless round piece of plastic!  Oh well…

The cache was a great find, the travel bug not so great. I even went to their website www.harrogatehunters.org out of interest to see who won the race, but the site isn’t even there anymore.

Thanks for the cache Grank. We’ve found a few of yours now, and its obvious you put a lot of thought and effort into your quality hides.

Trafalgar Square

Our third geocache find for the day at Kincumber Recreation Reserve, was also our 52nd find, and our 4th find in the Monopoly series of caches by cphoenix – this one being red game square Trafalgar Square (GCYBTP).

Just another 5 or so minutes flat walk further along from The Road Not Taken, this had us a little stumped at first. Sometimes hints should be interpreted carefully. “Beyond the lookout sign” does not necessarily mean behind the sign – so one should trust one’s GPSr here until one gets closer to GZ and then start looking in the obvious cacheable hidey holes.

Wolfie owes another $20 rent

We took a little paper Aussie Flag and left a swappable travel bug. This guy is called “Clockwork Orange” and he has traveled over 19000km from the UK, and still going strong. Unfortunately the little digital clock on the poor guy no longer works and the battery in it is missing. Hopefully someone will find him a new battery and get him working again.

Bye Bye Clockwork Orange

A great location for our 52nd find, and a perfect spot to drop off this cute little traveler. Good luck in your travels.