The West Lake Loop is probably the most picturesque of all the walking or cycling trails in Canberra. I myself very much enjoy riding parts of it occasionally to commute to work. The path is of a very high quality, and is shared by many users.
This West Lake Loop Wherigo is for The Walker
Stay on the bike path!!!! The App will not display anything while you are doing it.
Your challenge is to go, anti-clockwise (go west first!), within a certain amount of time. This loop is part of three Wherigo circuits.
- The Walker (GC7G6HH) - you have 5 hours to do it, at a leisurely pace
- The Cyclist (GC7HMFD) - you have 75 minutes to do it, at a leisurely pace
- The Maniac (GC7HMF7) - you have 45 minutes to do it, at a not so leisurely pace ( I am a big fat man and I can just achieve this, but I am very familiar with the circuit and have a fancy bike!)
When (if!!) you finish you will get ONLY the location of the cache your time corresponds to. My recommendation is to get a bike (not an electric bike or motorbike, be fair!!!) and go as fast as you can. If you miss 'The Maniac' you should still get 'The Cyclist', otherwise take your time and walk around the lake.
Link To Cartridge
There are several hills, unfortunately you have to climb the worst one, near the Governor-Generals house, but I have spared you the second worst, near Scrivener dam, you get to go downhill on that one!
Stay on the bike path! When in doubt, keep going straight! (see map) Going anti-clockwise, you need to :
- After Scrivener dam, after about 1 km... you need to KEEP LEFT and do not cross the foot bridge! Do NOT go to Weston Creek. (there is a government sign here)
- About approximately 1km after turning left above, KEEP LEFT again... go under the road and up the --horrible-- hill. Do NOT go to Woden (there is a government sign here as well)
- Make sure you go up onto Commonwealth Bridge and cross it
- After Commonwealth Bridge KEEP LEFT as much as you can to get back onto the bike path
- You can either go around via the National Museum, or the direct route OVER the Parkway Tunnel! (going over is MUCH quicker... but it is REAAAAALLLY tough!!
There are many hidden zones you must pass through, and also many forbidden zones (mainly roads), I have left a few visible so you know what I am talking about. As soon as the App detects you in the 'start' zone, the clock is ticking!!! I would strongly recommend you keep the App open at all times so it does not lose exactly where it is. If you go the wrong way or go on roads, you will not know you are disqualified until you arrive at the finish.
I would also very strongly recommend you record your attempt, using either a GPX 'track' on a GPSr OR via an App like Strava on your phone. If you have any issues, please send me information (GPX track or link to your online tracking) about your attempt via email.
WARNINGS:
- Keep the App OPEN... in my testing it didnt like being closed
- Once (if) you finish, the App will give you some coordinates... WRITE THEM DOWN as the App will not show them again!!!!
- All testing is based on single attempt... pause at your own risk
- There are few bubblers in the ~5km after the start.... but plenty after that!