This week sees 9 Usual Suspects becoming Premium Members again. Throughout Covid we didn’t think it was necessary and that our limited funds could be spent on better things. Now that life is getting back to ‘normal’ and with more events etc planned it makes our lives a lot easier being Premium Members.
New Caches
GC9W3NT 1st Bethesda Cub’s Cache by 1st Bethesda Cub Scouts Traditional D2/T2 GC9W51K Nearly home by bikerchick252 Traditional D1.5/T1 GC9W4PD Snails 🐌 pace by bikerchick252 Traditional D1/T1 GC9W93W Valley Bridge by bikerchick252 Traditional D1.5/T1.5
New Series, Betws way
Map shows the 10 caches in the series plus GC2PHQE
This series by finlay101gray at Betws yn Rhos consists of 10 traditional caches along a 3.5mile circular route. It can be done on foot, bike or even as drive bys. The route is safe for children but just take care as you leave the village at the top of the hill and along the road to Rhyd y Foel but other than that you’ll be on quiet country lanes. The best place for parking is at #1. If you are doing the route in numeric order, clockwise, all but one cache will be on the right hand side of the road.
GC9WA06 #1 Betws way – no dialing tone by finlay101gray Traditional D4/T1.5 GC9WA0M #2 Betws way – a locked tree by finlay101gray Traditional D2.5/T2.5 GC9WA1T #3 Betws way – Stop? by finlay101gray Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9WA26 Betws way – stick or stuck by finlay101gray Traditional D3/T2 GC9WA2H #5 Betws way – keep up with the flow by finlay101gray Traditional D2/T1.5 GC9WA3C #6 Betws Way – Bryn Ffanigal D2.5/T2 GC9W8FF #7 Betws Way – LOST by finlay101gray Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9WA3N #8 Betws Way – what’s that smell? by finlay101gray Traditional D2.5/T1.5 GC9WA40 #9 Betws Way – how old? by finlay101gray Traditional D3.5/T2.5 GC9WA48 #10 Betws Way – the end by finlay101gray Traditional D2.5/T1.5
Maybe we should consider this for another 9US Sunday Stroll. Interested? Contact us either through the comments or message 9 Usual Suspects geocaching account.
GC9VYX8 Hanging around… by LauraandB Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9W18T Ffrodd hen path by Griff6147 Traditional D1.5/D2 GC9W19R Cacheview by Griff6147 Traditional D2.5/T4
Event
Please note from this month Nosh and Natters will be moving to a Wednesday evening. GC9VWFG 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh and Natter 47 by 9 Usual Suspects When: Wednesday 29th June 2022 Time: 7pm to 9pm Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ If you are planning to attend, especially if wish to eat, please could you log a ‘will attend’ as we need to let the pub know numbers.
The Gog. Gwynedd Trail
Clueless_Goose has been very busy with the publication of a new series of 20 caches. There is an interesting mix of cache types, including a Church Micro Wherigo which must be a first for North Wales. The 6 mile circular walk guides you around quiet country lanes, trails and paths highlighting areas of beautiful Gwynedd countryside that are too often ignored. Remember to make a note of the bonus information which is found in 6 of the caches either on the log book or container lid.
We are planning on attempting the series on Sunday 19th June and would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us. We will be meeting at 11am at Bangor Rugby Club, N 53° 12.645 W 004° 05.970. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink as it is forecast to be warm. For further details please contact us either through the comments or by contacting us direct.
GC9T4GO #1 Gog. Gwynedd Trail by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1/T1.5 GC9T4JN #2 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Gate by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2 GC9T4K9 #3 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Keep Me Posted by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2 GC9T4M0 #4 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – A Place by the Fire by Clueless_Goose Mystery D2/T2 GC9T4N8 # 5 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Prickly Customer by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2.5 GC9T6AJ # 6 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – A Fairy Good Cache by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/2.5 GC9T6B1 # 7 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Best Zipline in N. Wales by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5 GC9T6B8 # 8 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Rest & Recharge by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2 GC9T6E5 #9 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Sws Sws xx by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5 GC9T6EJ #10 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Sheep’s Lunchbox by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2 GC9TQP7 #11 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Pont Ogwen by Clueless_Goose Puzzle D2.5/T3.5 GC9T6FW #12 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Styling it Out by Clueless_Goose Letterbox D1.5/T1.5 GC9T9PZ #13 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Bottom of the Hill by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1 GC9T9QD #14 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Riveting Stuff by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2 GC9T9RB #15 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Be Ceffyl Now! by Clueless_Goose Multi D2/T1.5 GC9T9RZ #16 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Stick ’em Up! by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3.5/T1.5 GC9TABC Church Micro 14382…Tal-y-bont by Clueless_Goose Wherigo D2.5/T1.5 (#17 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Church Micro 14382…Tal-y-bont) GC9T9TE #18 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Don’t Slate It Now! by Clueless_Goose Letterbox D2/T2 GC9T9WE #19 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Pay up by Clueless_Goose Multi D2.5/ T1.5
GC9T9XF BONWS Gog. Gwynedd Trail by Clueless_Goose Mystery D2/T2
Mega Quiz Nights
Both Piratemania and West Midlands Mega have Quiz Events. We all had plenty of practice through lockdown with the weekly online quiz, so we know you all love a good quiz and feel 9 Usual Suspects should be represented at both events.
The Piratemaina Quiz night
GC9RQG4 The Pirate Quiz night by Piratemania Crew 7.30pm Sunday 31st July
Will you still be at Piratemania on Sunday 31st July? We are hoping to enter a 9 Usual Suspect Team, therefore we are looking for volunteers. We need a crew of 6, the £5 entry fee will be covered by 9US funds and if lucky enough to win the treasure chest all spoils will be equally divided amongst the crew!
West Milands Mega Quiz
GC9MDXX We want your Brains! by WMMega2022 7pm Wednesday 3rd August
The quiz will be hosted by Jay Flynn MBE, who hosts an on-line Virtual Pub Quiz every Thursday and Saturday evenings since March 2020, which has raised over £1,000,000 for charity. There will be prizes for the winners and maybe even a wooden spoon for those not so fortunate.
Interested? Please contact us either through the comments or message our geocaching account.
Paniq Rooms, Porthmadog
Have you ever fancied tackling an escape room? Why not step up to the challenge and join our team in its quest to escape from Madog’s Asylum. Julie, Bess’s Friends, is organising an escape day for geocachers, friends and family, at this stage we have no confirmed dates apart from that it will be a weekend in October. Cost is between £18-£22 per person depending on size of group. Please contact us or either message Julie through Bess’s Friends geocaching account for further details and to register interest. The following is taken from their website.
A little taster of what lays in store………
‘This gory room will take you back to 1963 and Dr G Williams has imprisoned one of your teammates! You enter the room to rescue them, but he locks you all in! He then sets fire to the building in hope of destroying all incriminating evidence of his experimental lobotomies and electroshock therapy treatments. You have 1 hour to escape before fire engulfs the building with you and your team inside.’
There are several new traditional caches and an Adventure Lab series to keep those that are not on the Ale Trail busy over this weekend.
GC9VN12 Take a seat in Pentrefelin by Ruthiejane Traditional D1/T1.5 GC9VN1P Red squirrel woodland by bikerchick252 Traditional D1/T1 GC9VQWC Rhosneiger by bikerchick252 Traditional D1/T1 GC9VVBN “Sods” Law by NOISY_ShortShot Traditional D3.5/T1.5 GC9VWRK Sticky situation by NOISY_ShortShot Traditional D3.5/T1.5 GC9VWT6 Sticks and stones by NOISY_ShortShot Traditional D3/T1.5 GC9VWC2 M&M by lizderham Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9VXFN Little pops by Griff6147 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9VXEM Shell footpath by Griff6147 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9VXF6 Orange by Griff6147 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9VHDE Pendyffryn view by Pheebelicious Traditional D2/T3
New adventure Lab
Dolgellau created by Oldquincepie 5 locations, nonsequential
Nosh and Natter Events
Please note from this month Nosh and Natters will be moving to a Wednesday evening. GC9VWFG 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh and Natter 47 by 9 Usual Suspects When: Wednesday 29th June 2022 Time: 7pm to 9pm Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ If you are planning to attend, especially if wish to eat, please could you log a ‘will attend’ as we need to let the pub know numbers.
An Event Update from the Piratemania Crew
Hear ye! Hear ye! All rapscallions and Privateers this is their current event timetable Thursday 28th July GC9RKE9 Piratemania Meet & greet 8 bells prompt! (that be 8PM for landlubbers)
Friday 29th July GC9RQEF Friday night with the pirates Sail with us from 8PM till late
Saturday 30th July GC9M3MTPiratemania 14 (2022) Pirates Pudding & Tarrrt’s The BIG Day itself!
Sunday 31th July GC9RQFC Pointy Pirates Flash Mob Day! Come dressed as a Pirates or be cursed! 10.00am
GC9RQG4 The Pirate Quiz night be on the evening tide at 7.30PM
A few new caches to keep everyone busy over the weekend plus some updates from Mega Events.
GC9VJ1P HMS Thetis memorial by Glaslyn1 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9VM36 Courtney’s Beach by bikerchick252 Traditional D2/T2 GC9VHJ8 Welcome to Tregarth/crosoe i Tregarth by cailbows22 Traditional D1.5/T GC9VCWQ Rockys by NOISY_ShortShot Traditional D2/T2
This weeks also sees an another addition to the Ratgoed Trail, one of three trails around the slate workings at Aberllefenni. GC9V2TZ Ratgoed Trail 9 by Oldquincepie Traditional D1.5/T2
Beginning of Signals Second Labyrinth Souvenirs
Monday 6th June sees the start of the second labyrinth challenge. Signal has now escaped the Enchanted Forest and is lost in a swamp. Like the first labyrinth challenge there are two souvenirs available and two months to accumulate the required points. You must collect 50 points to earn the first souvenir and 500 points to earn the second souvenir. The special bonus items, magic potions, are worth 50 points. Every time you log a geocache, you will have a chance of finding one. If you go geocaching with a group of people, there’s a chance that one member of the group might find an item at a cache, but others don’t. Is this fair?
Here are the point values for the swamp labyrinth:
Found an Adventure Lab Cache (Adventure Location)
5
Found a cache with 10+ Favorite points
25
Found a Letterbox Hybrid
30
Found a Mystery Cache
25
Attended any Event
20
Found a Signal’s Labyrinth item
50
Found it*
15
*Log a Found it on any other cache type The maximum number of points you can earn for any cache log is 80 points
West Midlands Mega 2022
The West Midlands Mega team have an announced that unfortunately it’s going to have to charge £5 for all adult visitors on Mega day. Children under 18 will get free entry when accompanied by an adult.
This does not include campers, they will get free entry for every person registered as being on site.
There will be stalls of various vendors, trade stands and other Geocaching related activities in the Racecourse Grandstand Exhibition Hall, plus a plethora of new caches in the local area, including some Adventure Lab caches.
A special guest appearance of Signal The Frog will take place on Mega Day!
All the side events for the week have now been published:
GC8NNDF The Imp Takes a Leek GC9MDXF A warm welcome to you all GC9MDXM Churnet Valley Railway GC9MDXR An evening at the Races GC9MDXT Mined How You Go! GC9MDXX We want your Brains! GC9MDXZ Birmingham, Life in the City GC9MDY2 Marchington, Life in the Country GC9MDY5 Christmas Party! GC9MDY6 Teddy Bear’s Picnic GC9MDY8 Send in the Clowns! GC9MDYC Tonight I’m gonna party, like it’s 1999! GC9NVQX It’s a ’Mega’ Community Celebration Event GC9MDYF Captain Ridley’s Shooting Party GC9MDYH WM Mega CITO GC9MDYT Auction and Farewell Party GC9MDYN Bap, Brew and Beggar Off
Mega Event London Calling 2023
We are giving you plenty of notice for this one, this could be your first diary entry for 2023. Looking for an excuse to visit London? This event could be it. What can you expect from London Calling 2023? A grand venue, fun and interactive lab caches, plenty of vendors, lots of fun, friendship and hopefully a few surprises along the way.
GC9MAXX London Calling 2023 by London Calling Mega Event D1/T1 Date: 29th April 2023 Time: 11am-4pm Where: St. Mary’s Church, Marylebone, London
The Gog. Gwynedd Trail
It has been pointed out to me that my original date for attempting this series was the day after the Ale Trail and that some local geocachers might be too hungover……… So the new date is 19th June, for more details contact us.
This week has seen the Mawddach Meander series by CazzaB80 extended by another 4 caches. The series will eventually follow the whole 9.5 miles of the Mawddach Trail between Barmouth and Dolgellau. For more details see our post 17th April 2022 HERE.
GC9V7F4 Mawddach Meander – Solo Silver Birch by CazzaB80 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9V7HQ Mawddach Meander – Gun Enplacement? by CazzaB80 Traditional D2/T2.5 GC9V7GP Mawddach Meander – Barmouth Bridge D3/T2 GC9V7FM Mawddach Meander – Boggy Business by CazzaB80 Traditional D2/T2
The Gog. Gwynedd Trail
Clueless_Goose has been very busy with the publication of a new series of 20 caches. There is an interesting mix of cache types, including a Church Micro Wherigo which must be a first for North Wales. The 6 mile circular walk guides you around quiet country lanes, trails and paths highlighting areas of beautiful Gwynedd countryside that are too often ignored. Remember to make a note of the bonus information which is found in 6 of the caches either on the log book or container lid.
We are planning on attempting the series on Sunday 19th June and would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us. For further details please contact us either through the comments or by contacting us direct.
GC9T4GO #1 Gog. Gwynedd Trail by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1/T1.5 GC9T4JN #2 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Gate by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2 GC9T4K9 #3 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Keep Me Posted by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2 GC9T4M0 #4 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – A Place by the Fire by Clueless_Goose Mystery D2/T2 GC9T4N8 # 5 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Prickly Customer by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2.5 GC9T6AJ # 6 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – A Fairy Good Cache by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/2.5 GC9T6B1 # 7 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Best Zipline in N. Wales by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5 GC9T6B8 # 8 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Rest & Recharge by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2 GC9T6E5 #9 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Sws Sws xx by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5 GC9T6EJ #10 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Sheep’s Lunchbox by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2 GC9TQP7 #11 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Pont Ogwen by Clueless_Goose Puzzle D2.5/T3.5 GC9T6FW #12 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Styling it Out by Clueless_Goose Letterbox D1.5/T1.5 GC9T9PZ #13 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Bottom of the Hill by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1 GC9T9QD #14 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Riveting Stuff by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2 GC9T9RB #15 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Be Ceffyl Now! by Clueless_Goose Multi D2/T1.5 GC9T9RZ #16 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Stick ’em Up! by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3.5/T1.5 GC9TABC Church Micro 14382…Tal-y-bont by Clueless_Goose Wherigo D2.5/T1.5 (#17 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Church Micro 14382…Tal-y-bont) GC9T9TE #18 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Don’t Slate It Now! by Clueless_Goose Letterbox D2/T2 GC9T9WE #19 Gog. Gwynedd Trail – Pay up by Clueless_Goose Multi D2.5/ T1.5
GC9T9XF BONWS Gog. Gwynedd Trail by Clueless_Goose Mystery D2/T2
Event Reminder
GC9TV0N 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 46 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1 When: Tuesday 31st May 2022 Time: 7pm to 9pm Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG If you are planning to attend please could you log a ‘will attend’ as we need to let the pub know numbers.
It’s been 2 weeks since our last update and there is a lot to report, new Events, Adventure labs, Traditional and Mystery caches.
GC9TVKK The Old Nantlle Line by Somot Traditional D1.5/T2 GC9TPEW Dyffryn Nantlle by Somot Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9T87D Same View, Same Query by Caneou (Relisted by Clueless_Goose) Traditional D1/T1.5
Premium Members Only The following series is a mix of traditional and puzzle caches.
GC9TNZH Astrology series #1 by EmAndKe Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9TP2T Astrology series #2 by EmAndKe Mystery D2.5/T1.5 GC9TP39 Astrology series #3 by EmAndKe Mystery D2.5/T1.5 GC9TP7P Astrology series #4 by EmAndKe Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9TP71 Astrology series #5 by EmAndKe Mystery D2.5/T2 GC9TP65 Astrology series #6 by EmAndKe Mystery D3.5/T1.5
Events GC9TVON 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh and Natter 46 by 9 Usual Suspects When: Tuesday 31st May 2022 Time: 7-9pm Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG If intending to be there, please log a ‘will attend’ so we can let the pub know numbers.
GC9TQP7 Meet and Greet in Llangollen by mcc_, 24940, TheHarleyRebel When: Thursday 2nd June 2022 Time: 7-7.30pm Where: Llangollen War Memorial, Castle Street, Llangollen LL20 8PB
There has been plenty of new caches published to keep everyone busy over the Bank Holiday weekend. GC9RYRT Harbour Bug by Jonesof3 Traditional D2/T1.5 GC9T26N GC Tree by Jonesof3 Traditional D2/T1.5 GC9T270 Old Octel Site by Jonesof3 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9RZD5 Slugs & kisses by 1jg 190992 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9T30Q Little Lanes & Roman Remains by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9T3MR Watch the hump by Hughesboys5 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9T3PM Grit for help by Hughesboys5 Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Premium Member Only GC9T06F Rhoscolyn Beach by PlasmaWave Mystery/Puzzle D3/T2
Event GC9RN8V On Top Of………… The Carneddau by Avid SockWearer Event 15.5.2022 D1/T4.5
Bank Holiday Sunday by RichieBlod
We would like to share the following poem log by RichieBlod, it sums a wet Bank Holiday Sunday perfectly. The log can be found on GC6A9KX Church Micro 8975…. Clynnog Fawr
“On a day like this, When it’s pouring with rain, But staying home, Would drive us insane.
When Muggles stay in, And wait for the sun, Geocachers relish, Some unhindered fun.
So a list was created, A picnic was made, Then off we set, On our crusade.
A beautiful church, And parishioners to boot, All dressed in their finery, In their best Sunday suit.
So we tackled the multi, Pen and paper in hand, Worked out the coordinates, Then scoured the land.
We tracked down the container, Spotted from a certain view, Crafted on a 3D printer, And how nice it was too!
We signed our names, And the log was dated, Stealth skills were used To replace where located.
Thanks for the cache, Is what we both want to say, For a fun packed adventure, On a rainy day!”
Just 2 new caches to find and a souvenir available over the Bank Holiday weekend. GC9N7XP The hole in the cliff face by Cacher247247 Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Premium member only: GC9R5YJ Dragon Quest by MonHunter Traditional D1.5/T2.5
Blue Switch Souvenir
It’s time to celebrate the anniversary of GPS technology becoming available to everyone. Until May 2000 Selective Availability made the use of GPS technology unavailable to the general public. In the United States, the military was the only entity with access to this technology. On May 2nd 2000, the U.S. government “flipped the switch” and made GPS available to all. For some unknown reason Geocachers call this day Blue Switch Day, and again this year Geocaching HQ are celebrating with a new souvenir! The Blue Switch Day 2022 souvenir is available from April 30th through to May 2nd, to earn find a geocache, Adventure Lab® Location, or by attending an Event.
There is something for everyone in this update, with a good mix of new caches that are scattered all over our area.
View from GC9QRZR Mawddach Meander – Secret Houses
GC9QRZR Mawddach Meander – Secret Houses by CazzaB80 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9RHAN Rainbow Bridge by louisap27 Traditional D1.5/T3 GC9R9M1 LR412 #1 by Gapjohn Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GC9R9JF LR412 #2 by Gapjohn Traditional D1.5/T3 GC9R8D2 Sneaky sheep by LauraandB Traditional D1/T1.5 GC9RE89 Town Walls Wherigo by Clueless_Goose Wherigo D2/T1.5
Premium Member Only
GC9Q4J8 Vitamin Sea by RichieBlod Traditional D2/T1.5
Event Please note this months N&N is on Wednesday not Tuesday, also if intending to be there please log a ‘will attend’ so we can let the pub know numbers.
GC9R5G0 9 usual Suspects – Nosh and Natter 45 by 9 Usual Suspects When: Wednesday 27th April 2022 Time: 7-9pm Where: Snowdonia Parc, Waunfawr LL55 4AQ
The Mawddach Trail runs between Dolgellau and Barmouth, approximatly 9.5 miles (15km) along the disused Great Western railway line and closely follows the southern edge of the beautiful Mawddach estuary. It is flat with a fairly even surface making it suitable for both cyclists and walkers. There are stunning views across to Diffwys and the Rhinogs, and up the estuary to Y Garn and the Arans beyond Dolgellau. Nearly the whole of the estuary is listed as a site of special scientific interest, there are two RSPB reserves, Taicynhaeaf and Arthog. See the map below for parking etc.
Map www.mawddachtrail.co.uk
We needed somewhere to test our latest geocaching equipment acquisitions, electric bikes. This trail looked perfect with 2 series of lab caches, 4 traditional, a mystery and virtual cache all on the trail. With a few slight divisions we managed to pick up another 3 traditional caches. We decided to find geocaches on the outward bike ride and lab caches on the return trip.
Start of the trail at Pont y Wernddu
We parked in the small car park at Pont y Wernddu which is 8 miles from Barmouth and very close to GC7XVA3 BRIDGE OF RIVETS by Chipshop Traditional D2/T2. ( a cache we had already found)
Naturesbyte close to GZ
Our first stop was for a 2009 cache that had been on our solved list for a very long time, a very easy find as at GZ it was laying in full view with the lid partially open. Luckily the cache is double ‘boxed’ so logbook and contents were dry and in good condition. We left it well hidden! GC1WK0E Mawddach Mystery by Gwyddno Mystery D2/T1
Path leading to the cache
Our next stop was for another even older cache, this time 2005. GCQKMW Mawddach Trail Cache by Tywyn Team Traditional D3/T3 As it is a short distance off the trail Pete drew the short straw and went up the hill into Coed Garth for the cache while I guarded the bikes. Here on the information board is a quote from John Ruskin, (Victorian painter, poet and philosopher) “that only one other journey in the world had views to compare with the one from Dolgellau to Barmouth, and that was the journey from Barmouth to Dolgellau”
The trail looking towards Barmouth
It was quite a long ride to the next cache, but very easy cycling and surrounded by beautiful scenery. GC4ADY5 Black Bridge by Linny bin Traditional D1.5/T1.5 So far we had been very lucky with very few other trail users, here it all changed. The bridge was a very popular spot, we managed to find the cache in a lull of cyclists and walkers but it took ages to replace. While waiting we watched a pair of shelducks, little egret and a heron feeding in the mud as well as appreciating the views.
Naturebyte with the cache
Our next stop was for a recently published cache, there had only been 3 finders before us. The cache is definitely hidden on an old piece of rail track. GC9QRY8 Mawddach Meander – An Old Rail or a Pole? by CazzaB80 Traditional D1.5/T2
Close to GZ
We made a slight detour off the trail for our next find GC9G4QF Mum and Dad enjoyed the view by svl379 Traditional D1/T1 It was then back the way we had come, through the gate and along the lane to another recently published cache. While I followed the arrow naturesbyte found the cache! A very beautiful spot. GC9QRZR Mawddach Meander – Secret Houses by CazzaB80 Traditional D1.5/T1.5
View near the cache
Our next cache was back on the Mawddach Trail, the closer we got to Barmouth the busier the trail became. We took far too long to find this cache, our excuse, there was an awful lot of walkers and cyclists. We eventually found it in a ‘traffic’ lull where we both had previously looked! GC9QRWP Mawddach Meander – Barmouth Junction by CazzaB80 Traditional D2/T1.5
The cache is hidden some where in the picture
The next cache is one we had already found way back in May 2019 while having a weekend in Barmouth with the Moseleys when there was only 3 of them. GC7B6PQ Barmouth Bridge by SidAndBob Virtual D1/T1
Team Convoy back 2019!
Here is my log on this cache ‘To walk over this bridge has been on my ‘to do’ list for a very long time, so while spending a long weekend in Barmouth with Team Convoy we took the opportunity to discover this virtual, walk across the bridge and return by train. A great day, beautiful 360 degree views and several caches what more can you ask for. Favourite point awarded for taking me somewhere I had always wanted to go! 3,462nd cache TFTC.’
After navigating the incredibly busy bridge we headed for the ice cream shop in Barmouth for a ‘surprise’!
The end of the trail.
It was now time to do the return journey and complete the Adventure Lab Mawddach Trail – Western that we started ages ago before attempting the eastern series.
We highly recommend this trail, choose a day with good weather to make the most of the views. CazzaB80 is intending to place more caches along the trail which will give us an excuse to return!
