Category: Events

News & New Caches

GC9N17R 9 Usual Suspects Go Peering Around the Pier By 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1

We have an event on 27th February at Garth Pier, Bangor published this week. After the event we hope to find GC9MJNM Friends and Piers by Clueless_Goose Mystery D3.5/T1.5.

February Reach the Peak Souvenir Challenge

The final stage in Reach the Peak Souvenir Challenge is the worlds tallest mountain Everest.

Everest and the Welsh Connections
Did you know that Everest is named after a Welshman? The mountain was named after Colonel Sir George Everest, who was born in Crickhowell, Powys in 1790. Sir George was a surveyor and geographer who worked as the Surveyor General of India between 1830 and 1843.

In 1802 the Great Trigonometric Survey of India was established to identify the world’s highest mountains. Over many years British surveyors used giant theodolites to measure the heights, and in 1852 analysing of the raw data led to “Peak XV” being officially verified as the world’s highest peak.

Although the surveyors attempted to preserve local terms wherever possible, there was no unified name for Peak XV. In November 1847, Andrew Waugh, the then surveyor general of India, proposed that the mountain be named after his predecessor, Sir George Everest.

Although Sir George opposed the suggestion, in 1865 the Royal Geographical Society officially adopted Mount Everest as the name of the world’s highest point.

Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tenzing trained for their famous 1953 expedition to conquer Everest here in Snowdonia staying at the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel. Here today many items are displayed connected with their training and the expedition.

Souvenir Challenge

The February challenge starts Monday February 7th, 2022 at noon UTC and finishes Monday March 7th at noon UTC. Geocachers must collect 425 points to earn the Everest Basecamp souvenir and 8,849 points to earn the Everest Summit souvenir. Geocachers who earn all fourteen Basecamp and Summit souvenirs in the Reach the Peak Challenge will also earn the Peak Performer souvenir.

Here are the point values for our climb up Everest:

Completed an Adventure975
Found a Mystery Cache900
Found a Multi-Cache850
Found a cache with 15+ Favorite points700
Found a Letterbox Hybrid550
Found an EarthCache650
Found it*425
Found an Adventure Location125

*Log a Found it on any other non-Event cache type, excluding Webcam Caches.

The maximum number of points you can earn for any cache log is 975 points.

News & New Caches

GC9MJNM Friends and Piers by Clueless_Goose Mystery D3.5/T1.5
The above cache is the first of its type in this area, as it involves team work and technology 9US are holding an event on Garth Pier, Bangor, Sunday 27th February, 2.30-3pm where hopefully afterwards we will succeed in finding the cache. (Please note the event is listed below but is awaiting review)

GC9MZ3R A Fine Pair # 1647 ~ Dothan by Glaslyn1 Multi D2/T2

Events

February sees the long awaited return of Nosh & Natters. We are back at the Anglesey Arms as some of our other regular venues are currently not serving food on a Tuesday. Please log in advance ‘will attends’ to ensure we book enough space/tables.

GC9MVER 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 43 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1

GC9N17R 9 Usual Suspects Go Peering Around the Pier by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1 (awaiting Publication)

Guess the Cache 3

This one proved a bit more of a challenge than I had intended………. it was only when I checked to see who had found it that I discovered only Bess’s Friends, Naturesbyte and myself had completed the task to log the cache. I can highly recommend this fun cache, it is no longer in the dilapidated shed.
Congratulations to Bryan for the only correct guess.
GC6VJQE GRUNDY BIN (Gadget trail) (read the cache page) by Dr Evil D4.5/T1.5

Guess the Cache 4

This is taken a little away from the cache GZ which is on the right of where the photo is taken.


News & New Caches

After several weeks with very little geocaching activity in our area I’m pleased to say this week we have an event, Adventure Lab series, a multi and 2 mystery caches all being published.

Adventure Lab Series & Bonus

This Adventure Lab consists of 4 Lab caches set on four peaks in the Carneddau with a physical bonus cache. I don’t think Ecobake will be doing a slight detour on his way home form work for this series!

Crown of the Carneddau by Clueless_Goose

GC9MHKC Crown of the Carneddau by Clueless_Goose Mystery D3.5/T4

Event

GC8MAT4 Community Celebration Event – Final Daily Grid by welshgirl11 & gmoseley88 D1/T1.5

Other Caches

GC9MKBP Y Coleg ar y Fenai by Clueless_Goose Multi D2/T1.5

GC9FKR2 Village Hall Series 1141 – Beddgelert by Flowerpot_man Mystery D2.5/T1.5

Is this the first Village Hall cache in our area?

Request your Free Kamp Koral badge trackable!

To celebrate the SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff, Geocaching has teamed up with Nickelodeon to release 7,000 limited-edition Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years character badge trackables across the globe.

Click on this link to apply Request your Free Kamp Koral badge trackable

If more requests are received than trackables available, Geocaching will randomly select people from the U.S. and other countries worldwide to receive them.

Guess the Cache 3

This one is proving a bit more difficult, so far no correct answers even though the cache does have 50 favourite points! Below is another picture clue.

News & New Caches

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!

News

Again another very quiet week with no new Geocaches, Adventure Labs or events published in our area. With Covid infection rates falling rapidly in Wales the current restrictions are beginning to be eased from 21st January. If the rates continue falling the rule of six, table service and two-metre physical distancing in hospitality will cease on 28th January, this means we will be able to resume Nosh & Natters in February.

New Souvenir for 22/2/22 – Deuces Wild!

Celebrate Deuces Wild by logging any two geocaches or Event Caches on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 to earn the souvenir. This just happens to coincide with Februarys Nosh & Natter, there might be a new cache or two……… enabling us all to earn the souvenir.

Guess Which Cache?

Well done everyone, the correct answer for Guess the Cache 1 was of course GC852T2 Les’s layby.

Now for a little harder challenge:

Guess the Cache 2

News

Another week with no caches, Adventure labs, or events published in our area.

Trackable Name Badges

Looking for something unique to wear at a Geocaching event? Want everyone to know who you are? Then a trackable name badge might be the answer.

Sporting the latest Geocaching logo as well as Signal the Frog, these durable name badges identify you as a Geocacher and can be supplied with your name, your caching team name and a tracking number.

Waterpoof and hard wearing too! Each badge comes with a safety pin fastening on the rear. Available with White, Mirror Silver, Mirror Gold, Brushed Silver or Delrin plastic.

The cost of the badges is normally £4.45 each but if we can place a bulk order with NE Geocaching Supplies they will give us a discount. If you would like to use an existing trackable code that you own deduct a £1.

For more details and to place an order please contact us through the comments or email us
admin(at)9usualsuspects.uk. (replace (at) with @)

News

January Nosh & Natter Cancelled

Sorry folks, here in Wales the rule of 6 still applies in hospitality settings so we have no option but to cancel Januarys Nosh and Natter. Hopefully Covid restrictions will have eased for N&N’s to resume in February.

2022 Souvenir Dates

Geocaching HQ have published the following dates for 2022 souvenirs:

  • Cache In Trash Out®, Season 1: March 1 through May 31
  • Deuces Wild: 2/2/22
  • Blue Switch Day: April 30 through May 2
  • International Geocaching Day: August 20
  • Cache In Trash Out®, Season 2: September 1 through November 30
  • International EarthCache Day: October 8 and 9
  • Goodbye 2022: December 25 through 31

North Wales Wildlife Trust

Do you have some spare time and want to get involved with wildlife projects? North Wales Wildlife Trust have many on going projects needing volunteers, from beach cleans, intertidal surveys and restoration projects, they also have many guided nature walks and talks in their busy event calendar.

For more information visit North Wales Wildlife Trust

Guess Which Cache?

This is the first of an occasional series, the picture below is taken either from GZ or very close by to a cache. A nice easy one to start with. Can you name the cache?

Which Cache? 1

Answers to the Big 2021 Quiz

Here are the log awaited answers to the Big 2021 Quiz. How did you do?

  1. Who was the winner of the Grand National? Horse & Jockey

    Minella Times ridden by Rachael Blackmore who became the first woman to win the race

  2. Which country won the Eurovision Song Contest?

    Italy won with the song “Zitti e buoni” by Måneskin

  3. Pete & Ann were away on holiday for nearly all September, Where were they?

    Azores, Portugal

  4. Which county was this years UK Mega held in?

    Lincolnshire

  5. In which month did Prince Philip die?

    April 9th

  6. What vehicle did Prince Philip choose to carry his coffin at his funeral?

    Land Rover Defender TD5 130

  7. A new £50 note entered circulation in June this year. Which scientist is celebrated on the new note?

    Alan Turing

  8. A ship blocked the Suez Canal for days causing worldwide delays: What was the name of the vessel?

    Ever Given

  9. A legal dispute hit the headlines in April when Colin launched legal proceedings against Cuthbert: Who are Colin and Cuthbert?

    Caterpillar cakes, from Marks & Spencer and Aldi respectively

  10. Bitcoin became the official currency in which Central American country?

    El Salvador

  11. The Zoom meeting of a UK council went viral this year, with one guest memorably exclaiming “You do not have the authority, Jackie Weaver!” What council was it?

    Handforth Parish Council

  12. The cast of which long-running American sitcom reunited for the first time since the show’s finale in 2004 this year?

    Friends

  13. Who was the female tennis star from South London who won the US Open this year?

    Emma Raducanu

  14. Which American singer terminated a 13-year legal conservatorship giving their father and others control over their finances and personal life?

    Britney Spears

  15. This year ITV announced they had axed The X Factor – what year was the show first aired?

    2004

  16. What is Adele’s long awaited album called?

    30

  17. Matt Hancock resigned as Health Secretary in June, after being caught doing something in his office – what was it?

    Cameras caught him snogging his aide Gina Coladangelo

  18. In January 2021, online retailer Boohoo acquired which brand and website for £55 million?

    Debenhams

  19. Which news channel was launched on 13 June?

    GB News

  20. Who was the former owner of a Ford Escort sold at auction for more than £52,000?

    Princess Diana was the owner of the 1981 Ford Escort Mk 3 Ghia

  21. Police are called as hundreds flock to Diddly Squat Farm Shop – who is its famous owner?

    Jeremy Clarkson

  22. What is the name of the new James Bond film?

    No Time To Die

  23. September saw the eruption of a volcano on which Canary Island?

    La Palma

  24. The 2021 Labour Party conference took place in which seaside resort?

    Brighton

  25. The contactless payment limit is increased from £45 to how much?

    £100

  26. Alec Baldwin was filming on the set of which upcoming film when a terrible and fatal accident occurred?

    Rust

  27. Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenne visited which British non-league football club’s stadium for the first time since buying it earlier in the year?

    Wrexham AFC

  28. Voyage is a studio album released on 5 November 2021 by which group?

    Abba

  29. Which supermarket chain spoofed the John Lewis Christmas advert?

    Iceland

  30. At the end of November, which country became the world’s newest republic?

    Barbados

  31. The northern part of which English county saw a massive swing from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats in a by-election?

    Shropshire

  32. Where was “I’m a Celebrity 2021” held?

    Gwrych Castle

  33. Who was the winner on “I’m a Celebrity 2021?

    Danny Miller

  34. What is the is the current Geocaching Souvenir Challenge called?

    Reach the Peak

  35. In February, Captain Sir Tom Moore passed away, aged 100. He raised more than £30m for NHS charities by initially walking how many laps of his garden?

    100 laps of his 25 metre garden in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire

  36. In July, Unesco removed its world heritage status from which UK site?

    Liverpool, because new buildings undermined the attractiveness of its Victorian docks

  37. On which planet did Nasa fly a small helicopter called Ingenuity, bearing a fragment of the Wright brothers’ first aeroplane?

    Mars

  38. Name the drummer of the Rolling Stones, who died aged 80?

    Charlie Watts

  39. Who controversially won the Formula 1 Championship in Abu Dhabi?

    Max Verstappen

  40. Which sports personality was awarded an MBE for their campaigning to help vulnerable children?

    Marcus Rashford

  41. In June which MP defected from Conservative to Labour, calling his former party “reactionary, populist, nationalistic and sometimes even xenophobic”?

    John Bercow former Speaker of the House of Commons

  42. Which landscape in Northwest Wales is given UNESCO World Heritage status?

    The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales

  43. AUKUS, a trilateral security pact with was formed between the UK, Australia and the United States to provide what to Australia?

    Nuclear Submarines

  44. Who was the first civilian aboard his own winged rocket ship to reach space, attaining an altitude of 53 miles above ground—three miles beyond the threshold of space?

    Richard Branson

  45. Who filed a lawsuit against Disney — the parent company of Marvel Studios — over their decision to stream Black Widow on Disney+ simultaneously with the theatrical release?

    Scarlett Johansson sued Disney, accusing Disney of breaching her contract

  46. We all have heard of PCR Covid tests, what does PCR stand for?

    Polymerase chain reaction

  47. Which famous BBC DJ passed away on Christmas Day?

    Janice Long

  48. Who was the above’s famous brother?

    Keith Chegwin

  49. Which European country’s flag change went largely unnoticed?

    France, the blue is now a darker shade

  50. Slovenia laid claim to having the largest pile of which substance in Europe?

    Charcoal

News & New Caches

Firstly we would like to wish everyone a very HAPPY 2022, let’s hope that this is the final wave of Covid and life will return back to some form of normality.

New Caches

We have just one new cache to report:

GC9KR0A A Game of Patience by Squaddie 101 Traditional D3/T1.5

Souvenir Reminder

The Once Upon a Time 2022 souvenir is currently available, to qualify find a cache or Adventure Lab before 8th January 2022.

January Reach the Peak Souvenir Challenge

January’s challenge starts mid day UTC time on the 3rd January. This month we are heading south to Argentina and the tallest peak in South America, Aconcagua. At a towering height of 6,960 meters Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the Andes mountain range and the tallest outside of Asia.

Cachers must collect 350 points to earn the Aconcagua Basecamp souvenir and 6,960 points to earn the Aconcagua Summit souvenir.

Here are the point values for your climb up Aconcagua:

Found a Multi-Cache775
Found a Mystery Cache750
Found a cache with 15+ Favorite points725
Found an EarthCache700
Found a Letterbox Hybrid550
Found an Adventure Location450
Found it*350

*Log a Found it on any other non-Event cache type, excluding Webcam Caches.

The maximum number of points you can earn for any cache log is 775 points.

Nosh & Natters Current Situation

Under current Covid restrictions here in Wales the rule of 6 is in place (only 6 people can meet in a hospitality setting), therefore we have no option but to suspend N&N’s until the rules are relaxed.