Three teams HDF, TVB and PW met at BILO, Burnt Bridge Shopping Centre, the one
at Burnt Bridge. Later a minimal YQN team of 2 joined the hounds on the second
hunt after giving up waiting for Cameron. Cameron, where are you!?
The first hunt was a two legged. First leg was run by John'BLN and David'XAJ.
The "old" fox running on 145.300, with halo (beware the deadly plastic spider!)
was hidden in a large clump of reedy bushes, behind a building, up an
embankment, on the south side mullum mullum creek (MAP 50, C3) - sort of behind
Car City. I know, I hnow, you'ld have to be crazy.... This worked just as
planned, with teams running West along the bike path on the *North* side of the
creek on Oban Rd. Tee Hee. One team member, apparently a PW, managed to cross
the creek. Very impressed. Once on the correct side, the reedy bush had them
bluffed! Eventually, they realised they had to walk _up_ the embankment and
_around_ the bushes. We were quite amused. HDF was second to find the fox on
this leg.
Once teams collected their ticket from the transmitter they headed off to the
second leg. Graham'ZKM and Laurel in the 'sub, were parked in a boggy paddock
adjacent to a new housing development at the the rear of Croydon Hotel (MAP 50
E2). Only two teams managed to successfuly complete this hunt, HDF first and PW
second.
For the second hunt, John and David hid the fox in some blackberries (especially
for you Adam!) in a hard-to-get-to-spot between some buildings off Elsum ave in
an industrial estate in Baywater (MAP 50, J11). We "hyperspaced" there in the
turbo Lancer. Off course, it's red and that *really* helps ;-). TVB was first
followed by HDF and then PW. Whilst waiting for Bruce 'YQN, Ron 'EHF has us
captivated with the finer points of some large steam generating machinery
located at the meeting spot. Apparently, you must _never_ let the water run
low.... Tell my wife!
All teams found the fox for third hunt, which Graham & Laurel hidden with the
transmitter at the northern end of Heathmont golf park (MAP 64 E1). This was
actually located in a green bit not shown on the Melways and it was accessible
from both Miller Rd and Canterbury Rd. TVB was in first, followed by PQ, YQN
third (sterling effort for a crew of 2) and finally HDF.
The fourth hunt was located in a narrow alley way behind a vacant builing off
Thornton Cr near the south Eastern end Mitcham Rly station (MAP 48 J9). We were
expecting teams to approach from the North side and so I'd jammed the gate
closed from the Northern end of the alley. Most seemed to follow each other to
Thornton Cr Mt Gambier style. Even so, it took them quite a while to realise
that the fox was not hidden in the car park, where we were parked. HDF was first
to twig, closely twigging by TVB, PW and YQN who had arrived by this time.
Hunt 5 was another 2 legged hunt. The first Leg was to be found in blackberries
(Tee Hee) in a freeway reservation off the end off the Eastern freeway (MAP 48
G5). Thanks goes to Graham for finding this spot. We got quite soggy
investigating the previous week.
The fox for the second leg was located with Graham and Laurel in the 'sub parked
in a paddock on the south side of the end of the Eastern freeway on the Western
side of Springvale Rd (MAP 48 F6). It was possible to enter via an empty house
block off Springvale Rd or apparently, if you work for Telstra and have a key
for the gate! Again, HDF was first, followed by PW, TVB and YQN.
For the supper hunt (6) John and David used that bastard leaky coax thing hidden
in some especially prickly bushes Adam, up on the railway embankment on the
South side of railway line in between Madden and New St Ringwood. It was like
watching ants at honey as sniffers each found their bit of radiating coax. As
expected HSD was in first, followed by PW, TVB and YQN.
Again scoring for the night was based on order, using raffel tickets attached to
the fox. First team gets a 0, second team scores 1 point, and so on. Teams that
don't "get in" will score two points more than the last team to find the fox. We
find this much easier to run compared to timed hunts; teams don't give away the
location of the fox and is a bit fairer to the novice teams. Any constructive
suggestions welcome.
BTW: Thanks for the positive feedback. We went to some trouble to ensure the
night went smoothly. We tried to keep them short and compensate by tricky
locations (inspired by previous month). Much thanks goes to John'BLN and Sophie
as this was the night of their wedding aniversary! Also thanks goes to Bryan for
kindling lending us a second fox.
Report by David VK3XAJ.
Copyright 2000 - Peter Fraser - all rights reserved.