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, please note it is Premium Member only.
GCA21R9 Llun o Llandwrog by Clueless_Goose Mystery D4/T2.5
Event
GCA2704 9 Usual Suspects Visit Penrhyn Quarry by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
Where: Blondin Restaurant, Zip World Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda LL57 4YG
When: Sunday 4th December
Time: 2.30pm-3.30pm
This event is to promote our slate geocoins. Why this location? Because the slate used was quarried here at Penrhyn Quarry. Coins will be available to purchase at £9.00 each.
Christmas Dinner Update
GCA0TH4 Christmas Dinner – Nosh & Natter 52 by 9 Usual Suspects
Just to confirm we have now placed food orders and a reminder for those that wish to take part there will be the usual ‘Secret Santa’, presents price guide £5.00. We look forward to seeing you on the 26th.
Geocaching Souvenirs Latest News
Two new souvenirs to report while several souvenirs are approaching the end of their availability.
Two new souvenirs have been announced, Drop Anchor 2022 to close 2022 and Full Sail! 2023 to start 2023.
To earn Drop Anchor 2022 you have a week to find any geocache, attend an Event, or complete an Adventure Lab® Location from December 24th–31st.
To earn Full Sail 2023 you also have a week to find any geocache, attend an Event, or complete an Adventure Lab® Location from January 1st–8th.
CITO 2022, Season 2
CITO 2022 Season 2 finishes on Wednesday, November 30th, 2022.
Signal’s Labyrinth, the Hedge Maze
If you have not already earned Signal’s Labyrinth Hedge Maze Souvenirs time is running out as this challenge ends on Monday 5th, December.
2022 Year of the Hide Souvenir
This souvenir has been available since March 1st, 2022. If you have not already qualified either hide a geocache or host an event before December 31st 2022. Please note last day to submit an event or cache for review is December 17th.
Apologies for not posting an update in a while, before we get onto toil and trouble, cow did she get up there?….!
Congratulations CwmDJ for being the first to the final Watson tag in our area! The STT fire has certainly been lit and the cauldron of competition is bubbling away… this is where is starts getting more interesting with more players and less tags to go around…
Anyway, move away Watson, as a new top dog (or is it cat…) is in town!
Four (Thats right, 4!) mischievous cats have gone missing from their witch owners in our area, find yourself a ‘Toil’ cat tag and reunite her with her owner (who I believe is called Nebular) in the form of a free geocoin!
Keep an eye on the STT Celestial Witches Cat Hunt map, or set an alert on the STT page for when a new tag goes live near you, we have about 100 days still left to play!
Bubble, Bubble toil (but unfortunately no Trouble…) There’s a Witch’s storm Brewing…
The missing cache from the Mary Jones Took a Walk series has finally been published.
GCA1C13 Mary Jones Took a Walk 3 by martin&lindabryn Traditional D1/T1
Christmas Dinner Reminder
We have just 2 weeks before we have to confirm our booking, so please can you let me know menu choices etc.
GCA0TH4 Christmas Dinner – Nosh & Natter 52 by 9 Usual Suspects
Where: Tafarn Yr Afr/Goat Inn, Glandwyfach, Porthmadog LL51 9LJ
When: Saturday 26th November
Time: 7-9pm or when the last person leaves
Dress Code: Anything Christmas
For this years Christmas Dinner we are at Tafarn Yr Afr /The Goat Inn, Glandwyfach a new venue for 9 Usual Suspects. We have made a previsional booking for Saturday 26th November at 7pm, cost for 2 courses £22, 3 courses £25, please note the duck is £3 extra, also coffee and minced pies are £2.50. Menu choices plus a £10 deposit need to be with me by Saturday 12th November at the very latest.
Tafarn Yr Afr – 2022 – The Goat Inn Christmas Party Menu
Cream of Parsnip and Sweet Potato Soup (v)
Smoked Salmon and Prawn Salad with Marie Rose Sauce
Chicken Liver, Tequila & Cranberry Pâté Served with Red Onion Chutney and Wholemeal Toast
Crispy Halloumi Fries with Honey and Sesame
~
Traditional Roast Turkey Served with all the Trimmings
Braised Steak in a Rich Brandy and Onion Gravy
Grilled Salmon Fillet with a Lemon and Asparagus Sauce
Half Roast Duck Served with Morello Cherry Sauce (additional £3)
Vegetable Wellington with Madeira Sauce
(All of the above served with seasonal vegetables and roast potatoes)
~
Traditional Christmas Pudding and Brandy Sauce
Baileys Creme Brûlée
Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cheesecake
Raspberry and White Chocolate Pavlova
~
Coffee & Mince Pies £2.50
3 Course £25pp / 2 Course £22pp
Pre-order required, £10 non-refundable deposit required upon receipt of pre-order.
9US Slate Coins
We are pleased to announce the arrival of our 9US slate coins.
The slate is local from Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda, the coins are approximately 56mm wide, by 3mm thick with the design laser engraved, each coin will be trackable on geocaching.com.
The cost is a bargain price of £9 each. To order contact us through the comments, 9 Usual Suspect geocaching account or see us at an event.
We would like to thank Pesh, Rainbow Caching, for all his help in producing the coins, a service we can highly recommend.
Since our last post we have a new series at Bala by martin&lindabryn published to coincide with their Halloween event. Please note number 3 has not yet been published.
GCA1C1X Mary Jones Took a Walk 1 by martin&lindabryn Traditional D1/T1
GCA1C1K Mary Jones Took a Walk 2 by martin&lindabryn Traditional D1/T1
GCA1C1E Mary Jones Took a Walk 4 by martin&lindabryn Traditional D1/T1
GCA1C09 Mary Jones Took a Walk 5 by martin&lindabryn Traditional D1/T1
GCA1BZA Mary Jones Took a Walk 6 by martin&lindabryn Traditional D1/T1
GCA1BYK Mary Jones Took a Walk 7 by martin&lindabryn Traditional D1/T1
GCA1BXM Mary Jones Took a Walk 8 by martin&lindabryn Traditional D1/T1.5
We have one new Earthcache please note this cache is Premium Member only.
GC9V8XA Stromatolites by The Magna Defender Earthcache D2.5/T4
Snag the Tag
Not sure what Snag the Tag is all about? Click here to read Jacks post
Celestial Witches Cat Hunt
This new game started on 28th October, 2022 and runs until 28th February 2023 so plenty of time to get out and find a little cat.
Toil
Trouble
Stella and Nebula, two very mischievous witches have been amusing themselves all summer; however, they carelessly lost their familiars, cats that they rely on to harness their magical powers. Luna and Sola will be disappointed if the hocus pocus is not restored, and the cosmic equilibrium between the wizards and the witches will be threatened. We need your help to find their cats Toil and Trouble and restore the balance.
The game is simple:
(1) Go to a mystical place on the map where a green Toil (
) or Trouble (
) cat icon appears.
(2) If you get there first, you will find a cat tag waiting for you.
(3) Take the tag and claim it online as soon as possible.
(4) You will then receive instructions how to get a trackable Celestial Witch geocoin prize that combines with the tag! How cool is that?
New tags appear at random times so be sure to set an alert. As a finder you can find one of each cat. Get them both to restore the balance.
Redemption rules: Strictly one coin of each type per household (not per account or family member); One Trouble tag, One Toil tag, that is it! There is no cost for the geocoin, but you are responsible for any shipping charges.
Hider deadline: January 7th, 2023, Redemption deadline: February 27th, 2023
Game questions: support@snagthetag.com, Redemption questions: support@geoswag.com
We know it will be very competitive, remember hidden tags are published at 7am and 7pm. Good Luck!
We have no new caches or Adventure Labs to report just a couple of event reminders.
Event Reminders
Tomorrow night:
GCA0TG6 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 51 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Wednesday 26th October
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
Saturday night is Halloween Haunted Hill Event, the celebrations start in the morning with a new series of caches going live at 10am.
GC9Z0CN Halloween Haunted Hill by martinandlindabryn D1/T1.5
Where: Bryntirion Inn, Llandderfel, Bala, Gwynedd LL23 7RA
When: Saturday 29th October 2022
Time: 6pm-11pm
Limited Edition Slate Geocoins
We have placed an order for our first 9US geocoin, the design has been submitted and is awaiting approval by Geocaching HQ, once approved it should be 2-3 weeks before the coins will be delivered. Well in time for Christmas!
The slate is local coming from Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda, the coins will be approximately 56mm wide, by 3mm thick with the design laser engraved, each coin will be trackable on geocaching.com.
The cost will be a bargain price of £9 each. To pre-order contact us through the comments, 9 Usual Suspect geocaching account or see us at an event.
We have had 6 new caches published since our last post, all on the edge of our area.
GCA0EJ9 G’s 2nd by daisy4223 Traditional D1.5/T1.5
The following series of five caches takes you on a 2.5 mile circular walk around Foel Offrwm.
GCA0YG3 Foel Offrwm Walk 1 by Oldquincepie Traditional D1/T1.5
GCA0YH7 Foel Offrwm Walk 2 by Oldquincepie Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCA0YJK Foel Offrwm Walk 3 by Oldquincepie Traditional D1.5/T2
GCA0YK8 Foel Offrwm Walk 4 by Oldquincepie Traditional D1.5/T2
GCA0YM0 Foel Offrwm Walk 5 by Oldquincepie Traditional D1.5/T2
Limited Edition Slate Geocoins
As part of our on going fund raising we are currently looking into the possibility of having a custom 9US slate geocoin. The slate is local coming from Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda, and the coins will be approximately 56mm wide, by 3mm thick with the design laser engraved. The coin will be trackable on geocaching.com with 9US logo on the front and a Welsh dragon on the back. Estimated cost £8-£10, the coins would be available to purchase at our events or order through the website. If we get our act together they could be available in time for Christmas;) An example of a slate coin can be seen below.
Before we precede any further, we need to gage interest. Do you think it is a good idea? More importantly would you be prepare to buy one! Please contact us either through the comments or message us through 9 Usual Suspect geocaching account.
Just a couple of events and one new cache to report since our last post.
GCA0C7V Under Bess’s Friends Nose by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1/T1
A little something from their friends to celebrate Julie and Rays 20 years of Geocaching.
Events
GCA0TG6 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 51 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Wednesday 26th October
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
Christmas Dinner
GCA0TH4 Christmas Dinner – Nosh & Natter 52 by 9 Usual Suspects
Where: Tafarn Yr Afr/Goat Inn, Glandwyfach, Porthmadog LL51 9LJ
When: Saturday 26th November
Time: 7-9pm or when the last person leaves
Dress Code: Anything Christmas
For this years Christmas Dinner we are at Tafarn Yr Afr /The Goat Inn, Glandwyfach a new venue for 9 Usual Suspects. We have made a previsional booking for Saturday 26th November at 7pm, cost for 2 courses £22, 3 courses £25, please note the duck is £3 extra, also coffee and minced pies are £2.50. Menu choices plus a £10 deposit need to be with me by Saturday 12th November at the very latest.
Tafarn Yr Afr – 2022 – The Goat Inn Christmas Party Menu
Cream of Parsnip and Sweet Potato Soup (v)
Smoked Salmon and Prawn Salad with Marie Rose Sauce
Chicken Liver, Tequila & Cranberry Pâté Served with Red Onion Chutney and Wholemeal Toast
Crispy Halloumi Fries with Honey and Sesame
~
Traditional Roast Turkey Served with all the Trimmings
Braised Steak in a Rich Brandy and Onion Gravy
Grilled Salmon Fillet with a Lemon and Asparagus Sauce
Half Roast Duck Served with Morello Cherry Sauce (additional £3)
Vegetable Wellington with Madeira Sauce
(All of the above served with seasonal vegetables and roast potatoes)
~
Traditional Christmas Pudding and Brandy Sauce
Baileys Creme Brûlée
Terry’s Chocolate Orange Cheesecake
Raspberry and White Chocolate Pavlova
~
Coffee & Mince Pies £2.50
3 Course £25pp / 2 Course £22pp
Pre-order required, £10 non-refundable deposit required upon receipt of pre-order.
PanIQ Room, Christmas Special
PanIQ Rooms, 90 Stryd Fawr, Porthmadog, LL49 9NW
After Saturdays enjoyable escape room adventures in ‘Madog’s Asylum’ it was suggested a return visit to test everyones skills in ‘The Clairvoyants Curse’. Sadly this room is soon changing to ‘Christmas Chaos’ which will be available through out the festive period. Julie has made a provisional booking for 2 afternoon sessions on Saturday 26th November, same day as the Christmas Dinner! Interested? To reserve a place if not already on her list and for further details either contact us or Julie through Bess’s Friends geocaching account.
And Finally
GCA02D8 9 Usual Suspects Visit Summit by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T5
Again we were very lucky with the weather, no sign of the forecast rain until we were all back at home, though we could have done without the wind!
We would like to Thank everyone who attended this event especially Dave for the ‘pop up’ cafe, we all appreciated a hot drink. I apologise for the route up, it was not the best! Again Thanks Dave for the easier route down. Hope to see everyone for our next adventure…….
We have 3 new Earthcaches published in our area, just in time for International Earthcache Day.
Premium Member Only
GC9V8WH Black Rock Sands – Intrusion Cave by The Magna Defender Earthcache D1/T2.5
GC9V8WB Black Rock Sands – Crystal Colour Cave by The Magna Defender Earthcache D2/T2.5
GC9V8WA Black Rock Sands – Faults and Folds by The Magna Defender Earthcache D3.5/T2.5
Adventure Labs
We have 2 new Adventure Labs that explore West Llandudno and an interesting site on the Great Orme.
Llandudno – West Shore created by smart_ginger nonsequential
This Adventure Lab takes you along the west shore of Llandudno towards Deganwy with, on a good day, far reaching views along the beautiful North Wales coastline.
Great Orme history – WWII Coastal Artillery School created by smart_ginger nonsequential
This Adventure Lab explores the interesting site of the Coastal Artillery School, which opened in 1940 and is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Event Reminders
GC9YX0Y 20 Years Of Geocaching. by Bess’s Friends
When: Friday 7th October
Where: Bragdy Cybi, Unit 4a, Penrhos Business Park, Holyhead. LL65 2FD
Time: 7pm-9pm
Come and lift a glass or two to celebrate Julie and Ray’s 20 year anniversary since they started their geocaching career.
Paniq Rooms, Porthmadog
When: Saturday 8th October
Where: Painiq Rooms, High street, Porthmadog
Time: 11am-2pm
Ever fancied testing your puzzle skills in an Escape room? Why not join other local geocaches for a fun day with plenty of challenges.
For more details contact Julie, Bess’s Friends through her geocaching profile
International Earthcache Day & Event Reminder
By discovering an earthcache over the weekend of 9th-10th October you will earn a souvenir. I’m not sure why Geocaching HQ call it International Earthcache Day when to earn the souvenir a log on an earthcache anytime over the weekend qualifies, surely it should be International Earthcache Weekend!
If you do not have premium membership and use the Geocaching® app, limitations based on D/T ratings will be removed for this weekend on all non-premium earthcaches.
Event Reminder
GCA02D8 9 Usual Suspects Visit Moel-Y-Gest Summit by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T5
When: Sunday 9th October, 2022
Where: Moel-y-Gest Trig Point
Time: 2-2.30pm
This event is to celebrate International Earthcache Day and to enable all attendees to qualify for the above souvenir. We will be meeting at the trig point where there is a Lab cache stage for Highlights of Porthmadog, before discovering the newly published earthcache:
GC9V8XD Moel-Y-Gest Summit – Roche Moutonee by The Magna Defender D2/T5
and then heading to:
GC89RG2 Moel-y-Gest Stalactites by Rcrosby94 D2.5/T5
We have agreed with the earthcache owners that we only have to send one set of answers to cover all event attendees. Let’s hope the weather is good as the views are stunning in every direction and makes the slog up the hill worth while. Oh There will be cake……..
CITO 2022 Season 2, Thank You
GC9ZVCP CITO 2022 Season 2 by 9 Usual Suspects
Norman Hughes, Clean & Tidy Officer, on behalf of Gwynedd Council would like us to pass on their thanks and appreciation to all attendees for the work we do.
Christmas Dinner
I know we are only at the beginning of October and no one wants to think about Christmas, but we really do need to book a venue by the end of this month. Proposed date and venue is Wednesday 30th November back at the Anglesey Arms, Caernarfon. Please could you let us know if this date and venue are OK, once we have some rough numbers I will contact them to book the evening, obtain menus and most importantly the cost. At this stage there is no commitment.
GC9ZVCP CITO 2022 Season 2 by 9 Usual Suspects
Dinas Dinlle is beautiful whatever the weather, but today, the weather was perfect, blue skies, sunshine and just enough breeze to form some lovely waves.
Base camp was set up in the corner of the first carpark to be close to the amenities. After everyone was issued with equipment and had listened to Petes brief safety briefing we all dispersed and collected litter from a very wide area.
We came here a couple of weeks ago while looking for some where to hold a Season 2 CITO and there was quite a bit of litter around, plenty for a worth while litter pick. Today we found very little litter, either the high winds on Friday had blown the rubbish away or someone has had a bit of a clear up. We still picked several bags, mostly small bits of plastic and the usual drink bottles/cans plus a fish and large polystyrene box.
After the litter pick we all returned to base for refreshments of cold drinks and cake. Eventually, after lots of geochat and a few photographs, everything was loaded into the car and people drifted off home or to the chip/ice cream shop.
Thank you everyone for supporting us by attending and helping make another very successful event also not forgetting Gwynedd Council for suppling the equipment and their on going support of our events.
We have two new traditional caches and an earthcache to report, all Premium Members only.
GC9V8WT Black Rock Sands – Stack & Stump by The Magna Defender Earthcache D1/T1.5
GCA0ADV Pen draw’r byd! by Luby 29 Traditional D2.5/T2.5
GCA0AEJ Dechrau’r Diwedd by Luby 29 Traditional D2/T1.5
Event Reminder
GC9ZVCP CITO 2022 Season 2 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T2.5
When: Sunday 2nd October, 2022
Where: Dinas Dinlle, Caernarfon LL54 5TW
Time: 11am to 1pm
Our task for the day will be to pick up as much litter as possible from the beach and car parking areas. We have given the event a terrain rating of 2.5 due to the steep banks around the hillfort, but there are wheelchair accessible areas along the promenade. By attending this event your efforts will be rewarded CITO Season 2 souvenir.
Signal’s Labyrinth, the Hedge Maze
On October 3rd, 2022 Signal leaves the Cave Maze and starts a new challenge, to complete the Hedge Maze. Like the other maze challenges there are 2 souvenirs, you must collect 50 points to earn the first souvenir and 500 points to earn the second souvenir.
Each labyrinth in Signal’s Labyrinth challenge has different point values for finding geocaches, Adventures, and bonus items. Mystery Caches are worth more points for this round on account of the puzzle solving skills required to navigate through the elaborate hedge maze. Friendly goats are the bonus item earning an extra 50 points, like previous mazes these are awarded randomly. The maximum number of points you can earn for any cache log is 85 points.
| Found an Adventure Lab Cache (Adventure Location) | 10 |
| Found a Mystery Cache | 35 |
| Found a Multi-Cache | 30 |
| Found an EarthCache | 30 |
| Attended an Event | 20 |
| Found a cache with 10+ Favorite points | 20 |
| Found a Signal’s Labyrinth item | 50 |
| Found it* | 15 |
You have until the 5th December, 2022 to complete this challenge