Waterways

This month we are celebrating our Waterways!

Us Queenslander’s definitely have a love of paddling down our rivers and creeks collecting caches.  If you search through the Terrain filter on your preferred geocaching app you see plenty of caches pop up in the T4.5-5 range along various creeks and rivers in the South East corner.

Plenty of trails for a longer adventure or a just the quick stand-alone cache.  Many, many occasions of a group floating kayak squad out and about on a grand adventure.  Often there will be call out on Facebook group with an open invitation to join a group attack, this can be a great way to get yourself out meeting people, getting some exercise and of course collecting smiles.

Not only do Queenslanders love caching on the water, but it seems we are also a little fond of cleaning up our waterways with quite a few water based CITO’s organised in the past years.  Of course anytime out on the kayak is a good time to collect any floating rubbish and dispose of it thoughtfully back on land.

Here are a few waterways with trails:
Sunshine Coast: Muru-kutchi Trail, Eenie Creek, Paynter’s Peaceful Paddle, Cooroibah Creek, Cooloothin Creek
Brisbane Region: Four Mile Creek, Jackson Creek, Nudgee Creek, Pine River, Lake Kurwongbah, Lake Samsonvale, Lake Manchester, Lake Wivenhoe
Gold Coast: Coombabah Creek, South Stradbroke Island, Wave Break Island

Of course it should be no surprise that we also have water based Geo-Art! (Yes, we do have an abundance of art).  Both of these current offerings are from 4Andos.  Probably helps that they have a JetSki, but all are accessible by kayak or boat.

Fish and Cache: Is a series of 24 challenging puzzles forming up to create, of course, a fish!  Located in and around the islands to the north of the Gold Coast, you will need to have not only your paddling skills going, but you will find yourself walking some beautiful sandy beaches.  Keep your eyes out some local wildlife as well, with mentions of sighting whales, crabs, stingrays.

Dark Side of the Cache: Is a visually stunning series of 110 caches in the shape of Darth Vader’s helmet based at Lake Somerset.  These are land based caches, however you will need a watercraft to access them all.  The puzzle are sure to delight any Star Wars fans, and of course we all know that May the 4th is Star Wars day, so what better time than now to start to solve these creative puzzles.

How do you pronounce Dayboro?

This question, recently asked by ambassadors Peter & Cat (pprass), quickly had the committee divided … was it:

* Day-bra
* Day-borrow
* Day-bro
* Or something completely different?

We couldn’t agree so we took the question to the locals!
 

With just over 50 replies here is what we learnt … With a respectable 6 votes we have the pronunciation ‘Day-bo-rah’ – sounding like the name Deborah.

With a few votes each we heard: DaybOrO, Day-ber-ahh, Day-bro, Day-burra, Day-bore, Day-borough, and Day-bowrow! Getting only one vote each, are these two gems (and our personal favourites!) Dee-Town, and Da town a yesta-year!

However, the clear winner coming in with a combined 27 votes (over 50% of the total) is ‘day-bra’ or the very similar ‘day-bruh’.

Mystery solved! Thanks for the great question pprass!

Who do you go geocaching with?
My Dad.

What do you like best about geocaching?
I like to go kayaking and climbing trees.  Let’s talk about kayaking (because that happens to match this month’s theme…)!

Do you have your own kayak?
At first, I went in Dads kayak but when I turned 10, I got my own kayak that is green and white.

What was your first kayaking cache like?
It was on a creek and we (Dad and I) found it not long from where we started to kayak. We found it on a tree branch and at first I couldn’t see it and I told Dad “ I want to find it myself” and the next moment I found the cache!

Where else have you kayaked?
Dad and I have been to a lake and on a couple of rivers and creeks.  We have explored hidden pathways off the side of creeks.  After one really long kayak we found hidden door in a tree!

Any other fun kayaking adventures?
One time Dads friends came and kayaked with us but the funny thing was that we had to dress up! It was really cool to see what the other people had dressed up as. When we stopped at the island and we were coming back on our kayaks we had to push it on the water, but the funniest thing is that two people fell in the water. They couldn’t get back in so they pushed the kayak back to the ledge then did it again, they were finally successful!

Adult Bit: Kayaking L Plates was put out by JACS Team as a great location for first time paddlers.  She discovered the spot of course by a nearby cache, but also as a place to test her new kayak and give both her son and his cousin their first kayaking paddle in a safe space. This is designed to be an easy find with no need to exit the craft (see middle pic).

“I was impressed by how unbelievably clear the water is! Many small lillies growing around was extra nice. It’s relatively shallow, protected, serene place – actually ideal for learning to paddle! Being competent in the kayak though, I slowly cruised along, drinking in the surrounds (and picking up a few floating plastics). As I got closer, I spent longer than is normal looking into the water at the rocks and logs below. Did I mention how clear the water is?  Another thoroughly enjoyable paddle geocache – one I’d also recommend for those new to the kayaking game. Thanks for this little waterborne adventure, JACS Team :)”

Captain Terror – 8/19

Each month in the lead up to the main event we are running a little contest for you to collect code words.  These will come in handy – so don’t leave it until the minute to solve. 

Last month we ran a CITO contest where you just had to email the committee letting us know the most unusual thing you’ve found on a CITO.  We received serval entries and using a random generator the winner is … Waz and Vik, who found koala’s during a CITO they attended here in Petrie.  Congratulations they won the 2020 CITO trackable.

Find the first code word once you have solved the crossword.  Save each code word as they will be required at the Dayboro Event!!!

8(5)9(4)2(2)4(3)2(1)2(8)7(4)3(1)9(9)9(4)8(8)6(1)

What’s Next

On the 15th we will be sharing with you the latest information from the Committee as we nudge ever so closer to April 2021! We will also be sharing the rest of our amazing Ambassador team. Talk about what we got up to for Blue Switch Day and a feature on Queensland first geocache.