Apologies everyone, Ecobake has kindly pointed out that I missed a new cache on the Great Orme in the last post. Not making excuses, but the date placed for this new cache is 23.11.2020! So……. it didn’t show up in my search. At the time of writing this there has only been one find so 2nd to find is still up for grabs.
GC931C0 Fossil Fiesta by WildeFamily2 Traditional D2/T2
Guess the Cache?
Answer to Guess the Cache 2 is GC1QH55 Penrhyn Slate Train: 2, The Tunnel
Well done everyone that correctly guessed, this weeks cache is a little further a field but once done never forgotten.
Guess the Cache 3
Guess the Cache? Number 3, GZ is in the picture, a clue this one needs teamwork!
Only one new cache and one new event published this week. The event is a bit out of our area but for anyone wanting to visit a beautiful beach on New Years Day this event by Pink icing should be considered.
GC9KBDP Happy New Year at the seaside by Pink icing Event D1/T1.5
GC9JT53 Promenade Across The Causeway by Clueless_Goose Multi D2/T1.5
A lovely multi cache which takes you along Belgian Promenade that can be combined with this Adventure Lab Gateway to Ynys Mon – Exploring Menai Bridge created by escapefromwork.
GIFF Results
This year’s Signal Award winner is…
First hide – Geocaching Documentary from Finland
“Braija returns with “First hide – Geocaching Documentary from Finland.” This year, he’s a Community Volunteer Reviewer here to help a cacher with his first geocache hide. He shares tips and tricks which can help every new cache hider!” Geocaching HQ Blog
This year’s People’s Choice winner is…
Signal Academy – Froggy’s Dream
“Signal Academy – Froggy’s Dream shows a day in the life at Signal Academy – a school for cute miniature Signal the Frogs! From Dr. Professor Signalus’ lessons to Outdoor Recreation class, there’s lots going on at Signal Academy.” Geocaching HQ Blog
I’m not sure if we all agree with the peoples choice vote result. There were 61 film submissions from 15 different countries, 17 of which made the cut for this years film show. The next GIFF will be in 2 years time, 2023, due to Geocaching HQ 20th anniversary celebrations. Could we do better?
Other Stuff
A big Thank You to everyone who attended last nights online party and Pete for sorting out all the technical stuff etc. Let us hope that next year we will all be meeting up in person and not online events.
Another elf dance from last year, take it away Pink icing and Jude100………
And as it is not quite Christmas here’s another cracker joke…….
Who says “Oh, oh, oh!”? Santa Claus walking backwards
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.
After five and a half years planning we are here in Flores, the most westerly point of Europe, surrounded by the Atlantic ocean, next stop the USA. The scenery is truly amazing and we find ourselves repeatedly exclaiming WOW. With Waterfalls over half a kilometre high and volcano calderas two a penny here it’s hard to describe the beauty. Geocaches however are a contrast often a small fragile plastic bottle from a popular local non alcoholic drink being abandoned in strategic locations, without the respect of private property or stone walls. Our lack of Portuguese is a handicap even with google translate often the text and hint are often incomprehensible.
GC9DYMV Millys place by bobwedge Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9E517 Lovely view of amlwch and Irish sea by paulfelix92 Traditional D2/T1.5
New Events
We are pleased to announce the return of Geocaching events to Wales, but there are still some restrictions, so at present only outside geocaching events are allowed. The CITO will be the first 9US official event since the 14th March 2020, hopefully it will be the first of many and the end of online events!
GC9DYQ6 CITO Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects CITO Event (Litter pick) D1/T2 by attending this event your efforts will be rewarded with CITO Season 1 2021 souvenir.
GC8QABW Let’s Celebrate International Geocaching Day! by 9 Usual Suspects Community Celebration Event D1/T1
This cache type was originally known as the Lost and Found Event Cache. It was created for events that were hosted by geocachers from April 30, 2010 to May 3, 2010 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of geocaching. Just 362 Lost and Found Events were held, so a very limited number of cachers earned the icon. By attending this event you will earn both the Community Celebration icon and a souvenir.
Balsam Bash
Here is the coordinates for the beginning of the lane N 52° 59.202 W 004° 05.247, it is right on the nasty bend. We will meet up by the cattle grid at the beginning of the lane at 10.30am, please bring gloves, drinks etc. The forecast is OK, maybe a shower but it will be a lot cooler than it has been. For more information contact us.
GC9CPCG Madam Wen Bryngwran by TegwenEdwards Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Premium Member Only GC9DVA7 Bricks Glore by TaffyLewis Traditional D2.5/T2.5
Looks like events could be back………… watch this space!
New TB Race
As part of our International Geocaching celebrations we are going to be starting a new TB race, with prizes for the furthest travelled, for the most countries visited and for any TB’s that make it back to 2022 International Geocaching Event. On the website there will be a new page to keep track of all the competing TB’s progress.
Rules 1) The race will last for one year, starting on International Geocaching Day 2021 and finishing on International Geocaching Day 2022. 2) The start will be from 9US International Geocaching event or if geocaching events are still not allowed TB’s to be ‘dipped’ into the nearest cache to the event. 3) The TB can be ‘dipped’ by the owner into another 2 caches before it is to be released into the ‘wild’. No hanging on to it and bringing it to next years event! 4) A country is as defined by Geocaching.com. 5) TB’s distance to be recorded in KILOMETRES not miles and start at zero! 6) There is no limit to how many TB’s you can enter.
Geocaching is both a game and a business Groundspeak who manage Geocaching are a business. Groundspeak shows adverts on their website if you are not a premium member but this is minimal and restricted to a couple of small ones in your sidebar. They don’t get into big contracts to promote other people’s wares, so the money has to come from somewhere! Premium membership is their primary source for funds and about 7p a day, it isn’t a bad deal for Website in 26 languages, iPhone and Android Geocaching App, Adventure labs & Wherigo. Hours of fun for a few pence a day!
The orginal design of a Geocache
Play Fair Don’t be a Geocaching tyrant, it’s a game played by many people most of whom you will never meet or know anything about. When Caching, it’s helpful to remember that the cache belongs to the owner, and if they say no photos of logs, signatures required, they are perfectly within their rights to delete your log if it doesn’t live up to the requirements set out in the geocaching page. If you don’t like this, then avoid that users caches, there are millions more out there. While there are rules, people’s interpretation of them may differ from your own. Rules like leaving a throw down when the cache is obviously there goes without saying, but deleting someone’s log for not signing because it’s too wet isn’t fair play IMHO.If you are a cache owner, please try to be understanding. People from all walks of life and all abilities cache, not everyone is as perfect as you might like. When submitting a new cache remember that reviewers are people, volunteers, and fit Geocaching in around their lives. Reviewers try to be objective and ensure everyone follows the same rules, but they are Cachers, like you and I, work with them to get your caches published. Check what is required before you submit a cache and make sure all the required information is on your submission, missing information is the largest cause of rejected caches. It’s not the reviewers job to do the leg work for you when you submit your new entry, if a reviewer rejects a cache and you don’t understand why, ask them.
Damp conditions at Cwmorthin
Go equipped Having the right equipment makes for a great day of geocaching running out of battery or getting soaked is not. The primary item of course is a pen or pencil, and maybe a spare or two, there must be thousands of ‘lost’ writing implements left by Caches each week. Spare batteries or a power bank is essential for a day’s intensive caching, constantly using the GPS on your device is a heavy drain on batteries, and there’s nothing more infuriating than coming towards the end of lengthy series, only to have your phone die on you. If you are heading up to the moors or into the mountains, appropriate footwear and waterproofs are the absolute minimum, snacks, water and a whistle should be carried as well. There are many articles on what to carry in your day bag online that can help you better than I can. Check the weather before you set out, because in the UK, it’s not unusual to have 3 seasons in one day. If venturing up a mountain or moors, it is worth noting as you gain altitude, the temperature drops surprisingly fast, around 1°C for every 100m, cold, wet and miserable isn’t a great day and possibly the quickest way to put someone off caching. If you are going into the wild and off the paths for a day hike, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, it might just save your life, and don’t forget to let them know you are back at the end of the day. Carry extra logbooks and pencils. We all know that it’s the Cache Owners’ responsibility to keep caches maintained, but sometimes life gets in the way, if you discover a cache with a full or wet log, please be kind and drop a new log in for them, don’t forget to message the cache owner and let them know what you have done. Please don’t slap a “Needs Archiving” on straight away, a simple message to the cache owner or a “Needs Maintenance” log is sufficient.
Ready for any weather
Get Social and meet other Cachers Geocaching can be a lonely game, it is usually played in secret, and that’s half the fun. There are lots of events where Cachers gather and share stories of their adventures and great finds. There’s all sorts of social events from Cache In Trash Out which could be a litter pick or working with an environmental group to remove an invasive species from an area to a get together for a chat. It’s a great way to make new friends and catch up with old ones.
SWAG People who cache with kids love SWAG (Stuff we all get), it makes the day more exciting searching for treasure and primes the next generation of Cachers. The golden rule about SWAG: if you take something, leave something of equal or higher value. Kids and some adults love to find treasure, and it’s so much better if they can take a new toy away and leave something behind for others. If we want to keep the sport alive and growing, it’s our responsibility to pass our enthusiasm to the next generation. Ideas for what to put in: Small toys, Key Rings, souvenirs like woodies or path tags, Trading cards (in a waterproof seal easy bag), foreign coins, rain ponchos Do not put in: Perishables, e.g. sweets that go horrible quickly and mess up a cache, non family friendly items, fireworks, lighters, drugs, alcohol and any illegal materials should also not be placed in a cache, although if someone is considering placing any of the above items they really need to have a word with themselves.
A well stocked Cache
Lastly it’s a game have fun and help each other, it’s not that difficult 🙂
Cwm DJ’s favourite 10 caches (to date) Who, other than geocachers, would repeatedly put their hands into nasty disgusting crevices in search of a container to log a smiley face? Such is the ‘sport’ of geocaching.
Though I’ve been caching since 2007 my find rate has been relatively low compared to my friends (1,384 finds as of June 2021). However, this doesn’t mean I haven’t had great enjoyment out of Geocaching. Also, despite the fact that my caching area has been slight, it has taken me to numerous places I wouldn’t have otherwise. I’ve seen some spectacular views, visited historical locations, places with industrial heritage, geological features, engineering, chapels & churches, & not to mention the birds & animals encountered on route. In fact, my first wild deer sighting was while doing the Rhobell Fawr series & my first otter sighting was also while out caching. So here are my ten favourite caches which I’ve listed in the order they were found.
No. 3 – Folly Foot Castle (GCG7BH) – BESS’S FRIENDS – 5th Aug 2007 How often have we seen in a log ‘Thank you for bringing me to this location that I never knew existed’. To prove this, my first choice is with only my third ever cache find. Though it is less than 4 miles from home, I never knew it existed until geocaching brought me here, so thank you Bess’s Friends.
No. 325 – Yllethr Cache (GC19FN2) – thefortytwa – 12th March 2013 Though dry, there had been a really cold spell prior to me getting this cache beside Llyn Bodlyn (Reservoir). Combined with a strong wind, which had blown the reservoir’s water over the dam, resulted in an icy spectacle. Ice had accumulated on the rushes as though they were frozen fingers. Ice clad steps & guardrail.
Extent of the overtopped ice formation.
No. 474 – Suitable for Miners! (GC4YHHG) – A Mine Explorer – 24th Feb 2014 Though only a small section of the mine was encountered the spectacle that greeted you as one ventured underground to find the cache was mesmerising. The toil the miners endured to retrieve the copper from the mine must have been backbreaking, their legacy now mainly forgotten. The vivid colour of the percolated copper bearing rock was worth seeing.
No. 556 – Dee Bore Earthcache (Cheshire/Flintshire) (GCND09) – Jan and the percey boys – 14th July 2014 Though I now know what pillow lava is & what it looks like, the signs left by receding glaciers & various geological features due to earthcaches, this is the earthcache I chose as a favourite. It may not be as spectacular as the Severn bore & definitely nowhere near the scale & grandeur of the Grand Canyon (give it another 5 million years, who knows), it is still a spectacular natural phenomenon.
No. 599 – Sunny Day at Siabod (GC58XCM) – meltdiceburg/the Magna Demarooner – 17th Sept 2014 This was a film cannister cache on the island in Llyn y Foel, to the east of Moel Siabod. It hadn’t rained for 3 weeks (What? Yes, I know this is Wales) so I was hoping that the water level in the lake would be a bit lower than normal, to make for an easier crossing to the island. The water level was certainly lower than usual, by about 60 to 90 cm I’d say (2 to 3 feet). This exposed more rocks to make the crossing easier, but you still had to get your feet wet. The water never reached my knees though on the route I took, but you had to be very careful of the very slimy & slippery submerged rocks.
No. 603 – Gwyddno’s Mountain Challenge (GC1D3GX) – Gwyddno – 24th Sept 2014 The challenge consisted of finding clues from one multi-cache & four traditional caches scattered in remote locations across Eryri. Once all the clues were found you needed to work out the location for the final mystery cache. Not only was this a memorable challenge series but my first 5/5 also. There are still only 24 finds of this cache in its 13-year existence.
No. 747 – Crag Lough (GCJ3QF) – THE SMILEYS – 24th June 2015 I’ve not ventured as far as many of you have & my favourite, out of the few I’ve done outside Wales, was while walking a 3 day walk along the central section of Hadrian’s Wall. Situated at Sycamore Gap, made famous for its scene in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner as Robin Hood.
No. 885 – Tyrau Mawr (Great Towers) (GCQFE6) – climber1958 – 17th Sept 2016 This was a letterbox hybrid cache on the modest peak of Tyrrau Mawr; a western outlier of the Cadair Idris range. Spent some time here admiring the spectacular views while having a bite to eat. Llynnau Cregennen below & Barmouth & the Mawddach estuary beyond. Still only 36 finds in its 15 ½ year existence.
No. 929 – Halloween tunnel – day or night – it will be dark (GC6W42F) – sionyn68 – 13th Nov 2016 I doubt that any local cacher wouldn’t have one of sionyn68’s caches in their top 10. The ingenuity, workmanship & trickery in his caches are renowned across this fabled land. On this occasion it was the location & what greeted you which stands out. Since I mainly cache by myself, venturing into those dark & forbidding places brings the heightened sense of adventure.
No. 1073 – 9 Usual Suspects Go Swashbuckling on Cei Ballast (GC76XBB) – 9 Usual Suspects – 15th July 2017 It was difficult to pick out an event that stood out amongst all the others, as they have all been superb. The hospitality, hearty fare, comradery & friendship, with puzzles, games & quizzes. Not to mention all the Nosh & Natters, CITO’s, GIFF’s & Christmas parties (pre-Covid). There’s one constant in most of these events that needs special attention I believe & that is to Ann & Pete’s dedication & commitment in showing us all a good time; & Ann’s scrumptious cake of course. In the end I picked this event as it involved us making an effort by dressing up & then the expedition to Cei Ballast. The fact that I won the award for the best event log of 2017, at that years’ Christmas party, tipped the balance.
For the video of 9US pirates raiding and plundering Cei Ballast click here
As you can probably tell from my choice of favourite caches, I tend to cache in some of those remoter Eryri locations.
Submitted by David – Cwm DJ. If you would like to share your top caches or locations please let us know.
This weeks new caches, 9 caches in total, all on Anglesey.
Shall we go for a walk series by Jonesof3
We can highly recommend this new series around a long disused oil storage facility that has been taken over by nature. There is plenty of evidence of its past industrial history but at this time of year it is full of wild flowers, birds, butterflies, damsel and dragonflies, all things I love. The geocaches are all interesting hides and containers, though we do feel the difficulty rating on some is a bit on the low side. After following in the footsteps of the master FTF shark Ecobake for most of the series, we did manage a FTF but sadly the last cache in the series eluded us on our first attempt. But NOT being competitive First to Finders we have since rectified our failure with a lot of help from the CO!
GC9BZ2D Shall we go for a walk #1 by Jonesod3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BZ2G Shall we go for a walk #2 by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BZ2N Shall we go for a walk #3 by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BZ2V Shall we go for a walk #4 by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BZ2Z Shall we go for a walk #5 by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BZ33 Shall we go for a walk #6 by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BZ37 Shall we go for a walk #7 by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BZ3E Shall we go for a walk #8 by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Anglesey is this weeks hot spot with the only other new cache also placed there. GC9C67C Cae Mynydd Bryngwran by TegwenEdwards Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Return of Nosh & Natters
We had hoped that we would be announcing the return of N&N’s at the end of June but it is looking highly unlikely that Covid restrictions are going to be lifted to allow group gatherings in a Pub/Restaurant and therefore Geocaching UK will not be reinstating events. So we have a suggestion, as groups of 30 people can met outside at an organised event, how about a “*Pot Luck” BBQ at ours? This will also give Pete a chance to show off his posh BBQ acquired in lockdown. We are thinking either the weekend of 25th/26th or the evening of Tuesday 29th June as this should have been N&N night. Please register interest in the comments and your preferential day. * Pot Luck – everybody bringing a contribution
There has been 6 caches published in our area during the last 7 days and I am sure Ecobake has already found them all.
GC9BGKD Radio Waves by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BF65 Grit your teeth by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BF5X Cache Windfall by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BR7F Lets fence it, magnets are fun! by Hayley and the kids Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9BR7Q Track it down by Hayley and the kids Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Premium Member Only GC9AWPM Cefn Y Meusydd Isaf by Ruthiejane Traditional D1.5/T1.5
CITO Update
We can confirm that the council have picked up all the bags but have left the road cone!
Bags have now gone but the cone is still on the wall
Thanks again to everyone who attended.
Glaslyn Ospreys Latest
For those following the Ospreys it has been a very traumatic week, terrible weather leading to floods, injury of the male, Aran, and the loss of the first chick.
The latest statement from Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife can be found here
