Keeping the fun in Geocaching
The 9 Usual Suspects have been around since 2014, we are a group of Geocaching friends based in North West Wales of diverse ages and abilities. Our primary purpose is to get together, place caches, hold events, leave our environment in a better state than we found it and most importantly have fun. On average we hold about 20 events a year from monthly Nosh ‘n’ Natters, several Cache in Trash Outs (CITOs) and hosting the Geocaching Souvenir moments.
Just one new cache to report since our last post, please note Premium Member only.
GCA5YRH Thomas Hughes Port by Glaslyn1 Traditional D2.5/T2
CITO Event Thank You
GCA5C5J CITO 2023 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects
For this event we returned to Caernarfon to one of our regular CITO sites Morfa Park/Parc Dre and the wooded area behind Tesco. This being our 6th CITO here since April 2018. We have increased the area picked but it is always disappointing to find so much rubbish when the park litter bins are emptied weekly. On the positive side there isn’t the fly tipping problem that we first encountered.
Again the ‘Weather God’ looked after us, holding off the rain for the litter pick, the cake, paned and geochat, even for the visit to the recycling centre but sadly not for the unloading of the car.
Another trailer filled with all the usual cans, bottles, fast food containers and general litter. The odd finds included a couple of bread trays, part of a lifebuoy/ring stand, a silver sequinned stiletto shoe, a pair of glasses, a couple of old milk bottles and a Japanese soft drink Codd-bottle.
According to the guy at the tip the oldest milk bottle, pictured above, is from the 1960’s due to the telephone number for the dairy being Chwilog 251.
The design for the above bottle was patented in 1872 by Hiram Codd a carbonated soft drink manufacturer from Camberwell, London. The original bottles were made from thick glass to withstand internal pressure with a chamber to house a marble and a rubber washer in the neck. The bottles were filled upside down, pressure from the gas in the bottle forces the marble against the washer, sealing in the carbonated drink. The bottle is pinched into a special shape to provide a chamber into which the marble is pushed to open the bottle. This prevents the marble from blocking the neck as the drink is poured.
Ramune (ラムネ) (Japanese pronunciation: ɾamɯne) History
In 1884 at Kobe, Japan, a British pharmacist, Alexander Cameron Sim, started producing a carbonated lemonade drink in Codd-bottles. This soon became very popular with the local Japanese after it was advertised in the Tokyo Mainichi Newspaper as a preventative for cholera. Today the drink remains a popular soft drink, sold worldwide, under the name of Ramune and is still available in Codd-bottles. There have been 57 different flavours which include peach, melon, and bubble gum, some of the more unusual flavours include takoyaki, curry, and wasabi. In Japan the empty bottles are recycled.
What have the council done to the park?
We quote Norman Hughes from the council, ‘I am pleased to confirm that Cyngor Gwynedd have completed work at “Parc Dre” hopefully you will notice a great improvement and will lessen some of the workload for all volunteers.’
How could you not notice, I think the best description is they have implemented a scorched earth policy. Gone are all the massive Rhododendrons that surrounded the lake leaving vast areas of stumps and wood chip. It will be interesting to see how the council maintain their ‘improvements’.
A big improvement to the park would be the re-opening of the toilets.
A very big Thank You to all who attended, your efforts are, as always, very much appreciated.
Just one new event published since our last post:
GCA5YNK 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 55 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
When: Wednesday 29th March
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
Event Reminder
GCA5C5J CITO 2023 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T3
Our task for the day will be to pick up as much litter/rubbish as possible starting from our base on the old bridge, around the park then following the River Seiont towards Lon Eifion plus the wooded area behind Tesco. By attending this event you will earn ‘CITO 2023 Season 1’ souvenir.
When: Saturday 18th March 2023
Where: Caernarfon
Time: 11am-1pm
Do you remember when our litter picking efforts made the headlines? Well, maybe not headlines but page 9 of the North Wales Chronicle. Let’s hope the weather will be better on Saturday.
Geocaching HQ Latest Blog
Do you follow Geocaching HQ blog? It poses us with an interesting question.
The following is taken from their latest blog:
‘Geocaching groups and organizations enable players to make wonderful and sometimes lifelong connections with like-minded people. They help beginners learn the game, host awesome Events, do important work with land managers around the world, and much more!
You can find a geocaching group in your area by visiting this list and map of geocaching groups and organizations. This list of orgs was “vetted” with input from community volunteers and Geocaching HQ staff.
The list is a work in progress. We expect to expand it to other countries and add groups and organizations that are active in their communities and are contributing to geocaching in positive ways. Reach out to us with the group you’d like to see included.‘
The question is do you think we should be on the list/map? Please let us know through the comments or 9 Usual Suspect Geocaching account.
Another quiet week in the world of geocaching, just one new traditional cache and a CITO event to report since our last post.
GCA5NGT Great wall of pentrefelin by ClareSion14 Traditional D1.5/T2
CITO Event
GCA5MYF CITO 2023 Season 1, Let’s Make Spaces for Wildlife by 9 Usual Suspects
We have a wide variety of activities planned, from making bat/bird boxes, insect/beetle buckets, bee-friendly seed bombs and learning to recognise the diverse wildlife that surrounds us while out geocaching.
We will be suppling all materials and tools, the Cache Bar will be open with drinks available on a self service basis and it wouldn’t be a 9 US event without cake!
When: Friday 7th April, 2023 (Good Friday)
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle, Caernarfon LL54 6BB
Time: 2.00-4.00pm
To help us with planning the day please remember to log a ‘will attend’ stating the number of adults and children that will be attending.
Event Reminder
GCA5C5J CITO 2023 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T3
Our task for the day will be to pick up as much litter as possible starting from our base on the old bridge, around the park then following the River Seiont towards Lon Eifion plus the wooded area behind Tesco. By attending this event you will earn ‘CITO 2023 Season 1’ souvenir.
When: Saturday 18th March 2023
Where: Caernarfon
Time: 11am-1pm
This a rough guide of our events for 2023. Please note dates, times and venues may change and will be confirmed on event publication.
March
18th Saturday GCA5C5J CITO 2023 Season 1, Litter picking around the park at Caernarfon 11am-1pm
29th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 55, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
April
7th Friday (Good Friday) CITO 2023 Season 1 A different kind of CITO, we will be making Bird/Bat Boxes, Insect Houses and taking a look at the nature that surrounds us while out geocaching. Pete & Ann’s 2-4pm
26th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 56, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
29th Saturday Mega Event GC9MAXX London Calling 2023 11am-4pm
May
28th Sunday GCA5EAK 9 Usual Suspects Re-visit Ynys Enlli 12-4pm
31st Wednesday Nosh & Natter 57, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
June
11th Sunday Coed y Brenin 10.30-11am followed by, what may be an ambitious, walk to find the 11 caches placed on the forest trails.
28th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 58, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
July
6th Thursday Ballast Island an evening event 6.15pm-6.45pm to be confirmed
26th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 59, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
29th Saturday Mega Event GCA2BBR Piratemania 15 Pirates Royalists & Roundheads 10am-10pm
August
5th Saturday Mega Event GC9V5J3 Milton Keynes UK Mega 2023 10am-4pm
19th Saturday International Geocaching Day, 2-6pm Pete & Ann’s
30th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 60, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
September
2nd Saturday An event at the site of the wreck SS Denham. This event is governed by a very low tide being between 8-8.30am giving plenty of time to walk out to the wreck. While at the wreck site we will be discovering GC9P8M2 RIP SS Denham Virtual D5/T5.
16th Saturday CITO 2023 Season 2 details to be confirmed
27th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 61, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
October
7th Saturday International Earthcache Day, suggested location Black Rock Sands but this depends on tides.
25th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 62, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
November
19th Sunday GIFF 2-4pm venue to be confirmed
29th Wednesday Christmas Nosh & Natter 63, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
December
31st Sunday Goodbye 2023 times venue to be confirmed
Dates still to be arranged.
An update on Porthmadog’s PanIQ Rooms, Christmas Chaos closes on 5th March once the ‘The Clairvoyant’s Curse’ is back up and running we will arrange an afternoon event in the Australia while the non-competitive teams try to escape the Clairvoyant’s Curse.
A day trip to Dublin.
One new traditional cache an a CITO event have been published since our last post.
GCA5C3D Maiden Hide by Ironknights1908 Traditional D2.5/T3
CITO Event
GCA5C5J CITO 2023 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T3
Our task for the day will be to pick up as much litter as possible starting from the the bridge, around the park then following the River Seiont towards Lon Eifion plus the wooded area behind Tesco. By attending this event you will earn ‘CITO 2023 Season 1’ souvenir.
Ynys Enlli/Bardsey Island Trip Update
GCA5EAK 9 Usual Suspects Re-Visit Ynys Enlli by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T4
Well this trip proved to be far more popular than expected, we have booked all the places on the 11.30am boat.
Important Information
As trips are dependent on good weather please be aware that our crossing may be subject to cancellation at very short notice. Sailings are confirmed around 6.30pm on the evening prior to departure. Bearing this in mind payment is made on the day in cash, therefore no deposits are needed.
Fares: Adult £45.00 Child £25.00
The parking is in the National Trust car park, (N 52° 47.941 W 004° 43.915, Sat Nav LL53 8DA, Grid Ref SH163255), from here there is a 10 minute walk to Porth Meudwy along a rough fisherman’s track. There is no parking at point of departure.
You are advised to wear waterproofs for the crossing. Life jackets are mandatory and will be issued before departure.
There is a café at Tŷ Pellaf farm, run by the Roberts family, which serves a limited variety of drinks, ice cream, snacks and homemade cakes. It is advisable to bring your own supplies as the café can sometimes run low!
Dogs are not permitted to visit the island.
The Bardsey Island Trust does not permit the flying of private drones anywhere on the island.
We will give more details nearer the day.
We are trying to organise a day trip to Ynys Enlli/Bardsey Island. Would you be interested?
A Bit About the Island
It is suggested the island was inhabited from as early as the bronze age. It is known as the island of 20,000 saints, owing to the Celtic and Christian monasteries established there since the 6th century. The population of Ynys Enlli, which is 1.5 miles long and no more than half a mile across, has fluctuated over the centuries. Today the permanent winter population is two but In the summer they are joined by visitors who help work the land, record the bird and wildlife and manage the 9 self catering cottages. The island is off-grid with most of the buildings unchanged since they were built in the 19th century.
Bardsey Island is the first site in Europe to receive a dark sky sanctuary certification, thanks to low light pollution and pristine night skies.
As well as puffins and seals there is plenty to explore and history to discover. Currently there are 2 sets of Adventure Labs and 2 traditional geocaches, we will also be holding an event on the island.
The Plan
Proposed date is Sunday 28th May leaving Porth Meudwy at 11.30am.
Cost £45.00 per adult and £25.00 per child
There are only 12 adult places on this boat.
We will be on the island for approximately 4 hours.
You do not have to be a geocacher to join us.
If you would like to join us please contact us ASAP so that we can book, being a Bank Holiday weekend places are already limited.
We have two new traditional caches and an adventure lab published since our last post.
GCA52BT Cerdded yn y Coed / Walk in the Woods by Hitch-Hikers Traditional D2/T2
GCA5663 West End parade by ___einierwilliams Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Colwyn Bay created by escapefromwork Nonsequential
This 5 stage lab cache takes you on a tour around this pretty seaside town. Apologies to Dawn for missing this one off our last post.
Event Reminders
GCA4CH4 9 Usual Suspects Get Puzzled by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1.5
When: Sunday 26th February, 2023
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle, Caernarfon LL54 6BB
Time: 2.30-4.30pm
Are you stuck on a puzzle cache? Maybe we can help one another with hints and some fresh ideas, so come and join us for an afternoon of puzzle fun. We will also have a wide selection of puzzle boxes, some easy and some to drive you mad!
Not interested in puzzles caches? Then still join us for a geochat, the Cache Bar will be open, hot drinks will be available on a self service basis and it wouldn’t be a 9US event without cake!
Parking is at the house, please note our gateway is very narrow and the pillars are not forgiving!
GCA4W8J 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 54 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
When: Tuesday 28th February, 202
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
For this months Nosh & Natter we are returning to the Anglesey Arms, Caernarfon, I’m assured that they will be open for food……… Please note this event is on Tuesday 28th.
Thank You
GCA4ENX 9 Usual Suspects Visit Martin & Linda by 9 Usual Suspect D1/T1
We would like to thank Martin and Linda for their hospitality, PPR for setting the adventure lab and bonus cache, and everyone for joining us on a very cold Sunday.
Firstly we would like to thank everyone who responded to our ‘Event Suggestions’ in our last post. Looks like we are going to have a busy fun filled year. We will shortly be publishing an event calendar for 2023.
One new Adventure Lab plus bonus has appeared since our last post.
Premium Member Only
GCA4HY7 Y Felinheli Hike Bonus Cache by escapefromwork Traditional D2.5/T2
Adventure Lab
Y Felinheli Hike by escapefromwork Nonsequential
This Adventure Lab explores the pretty village of Y Felinheli, situated on the banks of the Menai Straits with beautiful views across the water to Ynys Mon. Remember to collect the bonus information.
Event
GCA4W8J 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 54 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
When: Tuesday 28th February, 2023
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
For this months Nosh & Natter we are returning to the Anglesey Arms, Caernarfon, I’m assured that they will be open for food……… Please note this event is on Tuesday 28th.
Event Reminder
GCA4ENX 9 Usual Suspects Visit Martin & Linda by 9 Usual Suspect D1/T1
When: Sunday 19th February, 2023
Where: Bryntirion Inn, Llandderfel, Bala LL23 7RA
Time: 12-1pm
We are heading to the Bryntirion for a couple of reasons, Sunday lunch and to discover this Adventure Lab cache ‘Whodunnit at the Bryntirion Inn?’
Join us as we play detectives to solve the classic murder mystery and then find the bonus cache.
GC9G549 Whodunnit at the Bryntirion Inn – Labcache Bonus by PhilPamAndRob Puzzle D3.5/T2.5
There is no online menu but for Sunday lunch there will be a choice of roast beef, lamb, or chicken and 3 vegetarian options for £11.95.
Need a lift? Contact Pete or Ann.
Valentines Gift from HQ
Geocaching have updated the Geocaching® app so all players can see highly Favourited caches at a glance. Caches are highlighted by their Favourite point total above their cache icon on the map. To commemorate this occasion, they are giving all Premium members an extra 10 Favourite points to award. Furthermore, to recognise that there wouldn’t be caches to find and give Favourite points to without our community’s ingenious hiders, all Premium members who own a geocache, will receive 20 extra Favourite points.
This caused great amusement in our household due to Naturesbyte’s reluctancy to parting with favourite points, he has accumulated the grand sum of 237 unused points, with the addition of the ‘bonus 20’ his total currently stands at 257. Can anyone beat this?
One new cache to report since our last post:
GCA4KZ5 Church Micro 14669…Llangristiolus by Glaslyn1 Premium Member Only Traditional D2/T2
Announcement from the Piratemaina Crew
GCA2BBR Piratemania 15 Pirates Royalists & Roundheads by Piratemania Crew Mega Event
‘Arrrrrr pirates the crew are proud to announce that camping booking is now open click on the tent icon below to take you to the shop to book your pitch Arrrrrrrr’
This year there are ONLY 2 on site camping options
Option # 1
Camper / Caravan / Muti occupancy tent
WITH EHU OPTION
10m x 10m pitch
(2 adults and child / children under 18 included).
1 Night (+£28.00)
2 nights (+£54.00)
3 nights (+£78.00)
4 nights (+£100.00)
Option #2 Camper / Caravan / small tent
NO ELECTRICS
5m x 5m pitch – berthing “as crew see fit”
(1 adult & child / children under 18 included).
Additional adults will be charged at £8 per night per person
Booked. See you there…………
Event Suggestions
We are in the process of putting an event calendar together for 2023 which includes the usual N&N, CITO’s and UK Mega Events. But what about other events and activities? Below are some suggestions which we would like feed back on, but we would also like to hear from you with your ideas for events, trips and visits.
Trip to Bardsey Island
There are currently 2 traditional caches and 2 Adventure labs on the island. The trip is £45.00 per person and £23.00 per child. You are on the island for approx 4 hours. To see the puffins we need to do this event before the end of May/beginning of June.
Day Trip to Dublin
Stena are offering ‘booze cruise day trips’ from £12.00, since our last visit to Dublin we have left the EU which means there is an opportunity to purchase Duty Free. It is a long day leaving on the 9am ferry and arriving back in Holyhead around midnight.
PanIQ Rooms
A return to Porthmadog’s PanIQ Rooms to attempt ‘The Clairvoyant’s Curse’.
Trip to Wirral
GC9P8M2 RIP SS Denham by Conoronoc Virtual D5/T5
The above cache is only accessible at low tide when it is possible to walk out to the wreck. To make a day trip there are many caches in the area for us to find.
BBQ & Beer Festival
This event would be at Pete & Ann’s. We are very lucky to have several very good local breweries that supply mini kegs which would make this event possible.
Event at Coed y Brenin
Before Covid we spoke to Coed y Brenin about holding an event here. There is 11 caches to be found on the walking/mountain bike forest trails. As well as the visitors centre with café there are children’s play areas and plenty of picnic tables.
The parking charges are: £2 for 2 hours plus 40p for every additional 20 minutes (maximum £7 per day)
Since our last post there have been one new cache and 2 new events published all by 9 Usual Suspects.
GCA4DX7 Bats, Bats, Bats by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D3/T1.5
Congratulations Ecobake on FTF.
Events
GCA4ENX 9 Usual Suspects Visit Martin & Linda by 9 Usual Suspect D1/T1
When: Sunday 19th February, 2023
Where: Bryntirion Inn, Llandderfel, Bala LL23 7RA
Time: 12-1pm
We are heading to the Bryntirion for a couple of reasons, Sunday lunch and to discover this Adventure Lab cache ‘Whodunnit at the Bryntirion Inn?’
Join us as we play detectives to solve the classic murder mystery and then find the bonus cache.
GC9G549 Whodunnit at the Bryntirion Inn – Labcache Bonus by PhilPamAndRob Puzzle D3.5/T2.5
There is no online menu but for Sunday lunch there will be a choice of roast beef, lamb, or chicken and 3 vegetarian options for £11.95.
A message from Southerntrekker ‘Hope you enjoy your day out, my favourite ones are the ones that involve a pub!’
GCA4CH4 9 Usual Suspects Get Puzzled by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1.5
When: Sunday 26th February, 2023
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle, Caernarfon LL54 6BB
Time: 2.30-4.30pm
Are you stuck on a puzzle cache? Maybe we can help one another with hints and some fresh ideas, so come and join us for an afternoon of puzzle fun. We will also have a wide selection of puzzle boxes, some easy and some to drive you mad!
Not interested in puzzles caches? Then still join us for a geochat, the Cache Bar will be open, hot drinks will be available on a self service basis and it wouldn’t be a 9 US event without cake!