This cache is my first puzzle – I have enjoyed putting it together and hope you enjoy the journey and the places it will take you. I have met some awesome friends through caching...however there are a couple that stand out and have become lifelong friends and what better way to say ‘thanks and glad we are friends’ than with their very own cache. The cache is not at the published coordinates, there is no need to visit those.
Gecko Man is first off the rank. He is an amazing person for whom I have a lot of respect, admiration and gratitude. He has patiently answered my caching questions (believe me I have picked his brain on many many topics) in addition to propping me up on days when I have needed it. Gecko Man has also encouraged me endlessly on my personal challenge to get fitter and take on some mountains. Without that encouragement, I would not have even been able to place this cache as the way points would have been way out of my league.
On several occasions I have asked Gecko Man how you get across a log, or over rocky terrain or some other challenging environment for me and his reply has been ‘I walk, but I am like a Gecko’. Hence the cache name and the location which will give everyone a chance to bring out their ‘inner gecko’.
Gecko Man likes to get out and about and enjoys caches that involve a walk, a bit of a challenge, something different. After a lot of umming and aaahing I decided on this location. Please take your time getting to WP1 – don’t attempt it in high winds or rain, the rocks will be very very slippery. Please take a buddy and let someone know where you are going....and don’t forget the camera!
Finally, I just want to say ‘Thank You’ Gecko Man, for being a fantastic person and a great friend to me. I hope you like this cache, which miraculously I managed to keep a secret.
I guess you are all thinking ‘Who is this Gecko Man?’ Sorry, not telling you! You will just have to work it out for yourself. Once you have found what you need to find, the leftovers will reveal the coordinates for waypoint 1.
To get to the waypoints, you will need to park at the provided parking coordinates and proceed from there. I had a little difficulty getting those coords - it is the parking for a well used trailhead, as you will see on arrival. Head down through the rainforest, after you cross a creek at the top of Morans Falls, you will need to head up. There used to be a track through the National Park along the fenceline, however it seems to be too overgrown to find. You will see an alternative through private property, which you are free to use. It is referred to as the 'Red Road' and should lead you up to the right toward Balancing Rock.
Message me if you would like some guidance. At WP1 there is a very distinctive tree. It has been struck by lightning and there is a tag attached to the trunk. What is the number on the tag. The answer = A
WP2 is at: S28 1(A+1).1(8*A) E153 0(A*2+1).2(A*3-2)(A*2)
You will need to find the following information at WP2
Number of the letter 's' in words on the heading of the sign = B.
Number of letters in the first word on the seventh line of text = C. (Hint 2 nd dot point)
Number of letters in the last word of the fourth line of text MINUS number of letters in the second word of the fourth line = D.
Number of letters in the last word on the eighth line of text MINUS number of letters first word of the eighth line= E.
WP3 is at: S(same as WP2) E153 BC.ADE
At this waypoint you will find 5 numbers – from the top down, these numbers are F G H I J
You should now have all the information you need to get to GZ, you need to get back to your geo-vehicle for a short drive to GZ so you may like to find a nice spot to work out the final coordinates on your way back to the parking spot. My recommendation is the little concrete bridge over the creek. To me, that spot is heaven on earth. The whole work should take approximately 4 hours, more or less depending on your fitness.
GZ (final) is at: S28 (H*I).(F+I)(D+E)A E153 GC.IH(I*2)
When you arrive at GZ – you do not need to enter more than one step into the forest area. Take care as right on the edge of the forest the bower of a Satin Bowerbird has been observed. Please, please, please do not tramp through it, let the kids tramp through it or take or add to his collection. The male Satin Bowerbird builds the bower to dance in to attract females, the bower is a beautiful thing to see and if he senses anyone has been there he will destroy it.