REALLY SideTracked - Ballypalady Station Traditional Geocache
REALLY SideTracked - Ballypalady Station
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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2nd replacement of lost original container.
This cache is hidden at the former railway station of Ballypalady near Doagh.
The station and/or the area around it straddles the main Belfast to Antrim and beyond railway line that was reopened several years ago. The line was constructed in the early half of the 20th century and used to have 2 sets of tracks. Since it was reopened it now has only one set of tracks with occasional passing places.
The station and/or the area around it are today part of an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI). This was declared on the 31st of March 2005. It is a well studied site and one of the richest in Ireland of material from the Tertiary Interbasaltic fossil plant material – Important from a palaeobotanical viewpoint and gaining insight into this period. This site falls within the boundaries of Translink boundaries and was designated specifically due to fossil exposure from railway works.
Thanks to Translink and The Wildlife Trust for the information.
There is not really any good parking nearby except for the cement works. Do not obstruct the entrance to the cement works please. Do not park at any of the corners as the bends are quite tight and use sense when walking to the cache location. Because of the bends vehicles are forced to slow down but follow the normal rules of walking roads with no pavement. There is another parking spot at a wide access to a couple of fields but again its best not to take too long.
3rd generation container is a medium/small tab-lock box and when placed contained:
A few pens
A Japanese/Christchurch Earthquakes Geocoin.
The first container originally contained
A SideTracked Supporters Geocoin
and a few other little things.
It is located at the original public access to the station. I can remember when this was traversable but today it is completely overgrown. If you are wearing shorts and/or sandals/flipflops you will be stung by the nettles. The cache may become difficult to reach as the foliage grows back in the spring/summer periods.
Please return the cache ensuring that it is out of sight.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ba evtug unaq fvqr bs evtug unaq cvyyne. Oruvaq byq srapr cbfg bhg bs fvtug. Nobhg 5.5 srrg be 1.65zrgerf nobir tebhaq yriry. Cyrnfr erghea bhg bs fvtug. Gunaxf.