New Caches

This week saw the publication of the long awaited extension to Mossfamilymacc’s Llanbedrog series, this was originally planned to be published way back in August 2020! The new trail of 7 caches takes you from the village centre, up onto the headland and back to the village, a walk of approximately 4 miles. If added to the first series it makes a longer circular walk of about 6 miles in total. We can highly recommend this series, choose a clear day to make the most of the beautiful views.

GC8XPK4 Llanbedrog #6. Village Hall by Mossfamilymacc Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GC8XPKW Llanbedrog #7. Zig zag by Mossfamilymacc Traditional D2/T2.5
GC8XPM5 Llanbedrog #8. Tree Tunnel by Mossfamilymacc Traditional D2/T2
GC8YY5G Llanbedrog #9. No through road by Mossfamilymacc Traditional D2/T2
GC8YY5P Llanbedrog #10. Rock and roll by Mossfamilymacc Traditional D2/T2
GC8YY65 Llanbedrog #11. Favourite tree by Mossfamilymacc Traditional D2/T2
GC8YY6P Llanbedrog #12. Another tree by Mossfamilymacc Traditional D2/T2

And not forgetting our Christmas Event:

GC9HTR5 Christmas Dinner, Nosh and Natter 43 by 9 Usual Suspects

Christmas Dinner

At last we can confirm our Christmas Dinner Event GC9HRT5

Date: Tuesday 30th November
Venue: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SW
Time: 7-9pm
Attire: Anything Christmas
Cost: £22.50 per head

Now the important bit,

MENU

Starters
Prawn Cocktail
Soup

Main Course
Traditional Roast Turkey
Vegetable Wellington

Dessert
Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Cheesecake

A £5.00 deposit along with your menu choices is required by 21st November

Daniel Niederhauser, Pfusi

Sadly we have to report the death of Daniel, a face many will recognise as he was a regular attendee at events across Europe. He lived in Switzerland but loved to travel and was very much a social geocacher attending 639 events.

Daniel had family connections with Criccieth and combined an annual visit to the UK for the UK Mega Events with a visit to his cousins. In August 2016 he hosted an event and it was here we learnt of his love of the area and especially Black Rock Sands.

GC6N81W Sharing Childhood Memories
“Here I stayed for my first time in life at the sea as a child and we had great times here. My brother an I liked to walk form Criccieth to the Black Rock. At low tide I was for us great fun to walk barefoot on the sand at the borderline of land and water. Every times when I am visiting my relatives in North Wales I will take the opportunity to do this walk. I have planned to do this walk on my stay this time too.”

International Geocaching Day where Daniels knowledge of flags gave his team an advantage

We would like to take this opportunity to send our condolences to Daniels friends and family, he will be missed.

New Caches

There has been just one new cache published this week and at the time of writing the FTF is still up for grabs!

GC9FHF3 A Fine Pair #1622 Llanwddyn (Lake Vyrynwy) by Mynyddwr Traditional D1/T1

We have had published two more events this week, please remember to log a “will attend” if you intend to attend as this helps us plan for catering etc.

GC8HK2F Community Celebration Event: Belated Halloween by Ann@Birdbrook 6.11.2021

GC9HE10 CITO Season 2 by 9 Usual Suspects 13.11.202
Please note this event has been brought forward a day and is now on the Saturday not the Sunday as previously advertised. By attending this event your efforts will be rewarded by CITO Season 2 Souvenir.

We have also received a tip off that Mossfamilymacc are going to publish the second part of their Llanbedrog series early next week. Will there be a race for the FTFs? Only time will tell!

New Caches

We have no new physical caches to report this week, but Event Season has begun, between now and New Year the local social geocaching scene is going to be very busy. Not only do we have Community Celebration Events, GIFF, CITO Season 2 to fit in but also this months N&N and of course Christmas Dinner.

For this years GIFF we are in Talysarn Community Centre, a bigger venue with plenty of parking but it is a lot more expensive to hire. 9US funds are not in a very healthy position so to try and alleviate this problem, as well as the raffle, we will be having a ‘Bring & Buy’ table. If you have any items that you wish to sell please bring them along, already priced, and any sales will be subject to a 10% 9 Usual Suspects Tax. There maybe some 3D printed containers…… For more details please contact us.

Confirmed Diary Dates
GC9G662 Aberystwyth: Meet on the Prom! by Rusty_Rustlers 17.10 2021 2.30-3.00pm
GC9H7A8 9 Usual Suspect – Nosh & Natter 42 by 9 Usual Suspects 26.10.2021 7.00-9.00pm
GC8ZDAZ Community Celebration Event / Halloween Special by martin&lindabryn 30.10.2021 6-11pm
GC9H8N8 GIFF Geocaching International Film Festival by 9 Usual Suspects 20.11.2021 2.15-4.30pm

Events to be published
All dates, venues and times of the following events to be confirmed on publication:
No Date Community Celebration Event by Moseley_Bach
6.11.2021 Community Celebration Event: Belated Halloween by Ann@Birdbrook
14.11.2021 CITO Season 2 by 9 Usual Suspects
30.11.2021 Christmas N&N by 9 Usual Suspects
31.12.2021 Community Celebration Event: New Years Eve by Naturesbyte

New Caches

Just one new local cache this week, and it’s not on Anglesey! No guessing needed for who got the FTF!


GC9GYTZ An Oak Goal by gosodcoeden83 Traditional D1.5/T1.5

Other Stuff

The souvenir image above illustrates folding of sedimentary rock.

Just a quick reminder this weekend, 9th – 10th October, is International Earthcache Weekend by logging an earthcache you will earn the above souvenir.

West Midlands Mega 2022

EARLY BIRD camping deals are available from the Mega shop. This offer is only available till the end of the year. A FULL 7 night deal for only £140 and a three night weekend deal for only £65, both these deals include electric hook up (EHU). More flexible options will be available in the new year but are unlikely to be at these Early Bird deal rates.
Book now and join us for a week of Mega madness.

Coastal Watch, Ponta Delgada, Azores

One of the guns still in place from WW2

GC7ZR5T JOKER PDGT – COASTAL WATCH – P. Delgada CANONS by PALHOCOSMACHADOD D5/T4

This letterbox cache explores a WWII defence post high on Pico da Castanheira over looking the city of Ponta Delgada and its harbour. Portugal was neutral throughout the war but the Azores Islands laying in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 870 miles west of Lisbon and 1,200 miles southeast of Newfoundland, Canada were strategically very important to both sides.

The CO pointing out the importance of the guns siting in relation to the harbour

After meeting the cache owner, Luis, at an event we took up his kind offer for a guided tour of this fascinating place. The three guns are all still in situ and in remarkable condition seeing they have been in place since 1940 with no maintenance since 1969 when operations here ceased.

Into the tunnels

On the cache page there is a map of the underground tunnels and rooms, it is advisable to bring a copy, as well as studying the attributes. The condition of the tunnels is remarkable, no sign of damp and seeing they are open to all there is no vandalism or graffiti.

The doors lead to one of the gun emplacements

The hunt for the coordinates of the final hide guides you around the battery exploring the different rooms and tunnels. As with all military establishments your rank determined conditions and facilities, with the Battery Commanders having proper toilets!

A latrine for the lower ranks

The tunnels eventually lead to the underground observation post which would have been manned at all times, here there was a machine gun, only the concrete mount remains today. All defences of the battery were positioned for a seaward attack.

View of the sea and Ponta Delgada from the observation post.

This is another one of those places that we would never have known existed let alone visited if it had not been for Geocaching. Having Luis as a guide with his knowledge of the history of the fortifications added to our understanding of how it operated and its position strategically.

We certainly did!