To the Styx

Thursday , 20 March 2014

From the top of the head it sounded plausible; go on a bushwalk to Mount Styx and because it is not a long walk collect some geocaches on the way, plus stop for a coffee at Mount Field. On the return stop for coffee and get some caches by taking the alternative road back to New Norfolk.

But I had forgotten how much longer it takes to get from Mount Field through to the Styx Valley and didn’t factor in the stopping times for each cache. The result was the completion of in first half of the plan only at 5:00 PM and obviously the second half was completely out of the question. That will have to wait until another day.

IMG_9472

View of Nevada Peak from Mount Styx

Derwent Valley Trail #1 Bryn Estyn.

When driving up the road we did not get the GPS settled until past GZ so it was attempted on the trip back. The road was quiet and the car was parked on the right hand verge beside numerous warning signs about an electric fence and surveillance cameras. We saw the bracketed part of the hint and wondered if tx4000 is going to put in a substitute when the current one disappears into the earth.

Derwent Valley Trail #2 Train Bridge.

A car pulled up soon after we arrived and we wondered if this was a geocacher; but turned out to a muggle stopping for photos of the train bridge. Sue was quick to spot the clue.

Derwent Valley Trail #3 Salmon Ponds

Were a bit undecided whether to stop but decided it was not far off the main road. It took us a while and were about to give up when Sue spotted something that matched the hint.

Derwent Valley Trail #4 Redlands

Sue went straight to this and had it in hand very quickly. Peter hardly had time to get out of the car before it was all over.

Derwent Valley Trail #5 Reid Fruits

Took Sue a few moments to find.

Derwent Valley Trail #6 Valley Views

We were so busy talking that the cache was well behind by the time we realised that we had missed it. Done on the return journey, which had the advantage of not having to cross lanes. Sue spotted the objective while Peter was watching the chooks disappear down the hill.

Derwent Valley Trail #7 The Text Kiln

This was great as we didn't know this interesting place with old buildings existed, and that is one of the things with geocaching; it can take you to places that you may never otherwise see. Peter finally managed to find one before Sue.

Styx River Walk

Under there said Sue and sure enough it was.IMG_9487

One of Natures Giants

It was a quick find especially with the hint, and we had to be swift because some muggles were approaching who were the only people about at that late hour; it looked like they were going to stay in their travelling van overnight there.IMG_9490

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