Tag: Cadw open Doors

News & New Caches 150

A couple of new traditional caches and events published since our last post:

GCAXA2K Welcome to Holyhead by Glaslyn1 Traditional D2/T2
GCAXN5G Dyffryn Nantlle by sionyn68 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 Premium Member Only

Events
GCAXW35 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 71 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Thursday 26th September 2024
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

CITO Season 2 Souvenir for 2024

GCAXW19 CITO 2024 Season 2, Let’s Plant Trees! by 9 Usual Suspects
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle
When: Sunday 6th October, 2024
Time: 2.00pm-4.30pm 
For this CITO we will not be picking up litter, but we will be planting a variety of native tree seeds to grow until they are large enough to plant in our local shared spaces next autumn. Our area has been hit very hard with the ash die back virus, the loss of these beautiful ash trees is changing our landscape and woodlands. Our aim is to replace these lost trees with a variety of trees that are resistant to this virus.

We ask all attendees while out and about geocaching to collect a few seed/berries to bring to this event. We will be supplying compost, pots etc. By attending this event you will earn CITO Season 2 Souvenir for 2024.

Souvenir Updates

Cosmic Quest Challenge

Cosmic Quest: Lift off souvenir

This challenge finished on Sunday 8th September. After extending the challenge by a week there was a final boost of points from the geocaching community ensuring the 15 million point target was achieved enabling the Cosmic Quest: Lift off souvenir to be awarded to all participants. Here are the stats for this challenge issued by Geocaching HQ:

  • 111,205 players earned the Super Fuel Cacher souvenir by generating 20 units of fuel
  • 40,829 players earned the Ultra Fuel Cacher souvenir by generating 100 units of fuel
  • 18,981 earned the secret Discover the Spaceship souvenir by discovering a special Cosmic Quest virtual trackable

I find it surprising how few geocachers took part, after all it is a global game!

September Equinox

The September equinox represents a moment of balance in Earth’s orbit with nearly equal amounts of daylight worldwide. As the reverse of the March equinox, it marks the start of autumn in the northern hemisphere and the start of spring in the southern hemisphere. Geocaching HQ created a souvenir for geocachers to celebrate the September equinox. To earn this souvenir, geocachers must find a total of 3 geocaches, Event Caches, and/or Adventure Lab® Locations between September 22nd–28th.

CADW Open Doors

A quick reminder that CADW Open Doors has many historic sites, landmarks and hidden gems open to visitors free of entry charges throughout September. Here are a few of the places open this weekend:

Bodnant Gardens

Bodnant Gardens are open Sat 14 Sep – Sun 15 Sep 2024 from 9:30 – 17:00
It was created over 150 years, with plants collected and brought to Britain from far afield, and with the incredible vision of generations of the McLaren family. It’s a haven of rarity and beauty, with a stunning backdrop of the Carneddau mountains of Eryri.

Plas Newydd House and Gardens

Plas Newydd House and Gardens Sat 14 Sep – Sun 15 Sep 2024 from 10:30 – 17:00
The ancestral home of the Marquess of Anglesey sits majestically on the shores of the Menai Strait, a family home enjoying breathtaking views of Eryri. The house is home to a Waterloo-inspired military museum, works of art, regular exhibitions and, at its heart, Rex Whistler’s famous 58-foot fantasy landscape painting.

Rug Chapel

Rug Chapel Sat 14 Sep – Sun 15 Sep 2024 from 11:00 – 15:00
Step inside 17th century Rug Chapel and prepared to be wowed by its decorative flourishes.
Tours will be at 11am and 3pm. No booking required.

To find out what is open in your area click on this link CADW Open Doors

News & New Caches 147

A new earthcache and a traditional have been published since our last post:

GCAW8PE Bwa Gwyn & Bwa Du by ruhrPod Earthcache D2.5/T2

GCAWZAG REALLY SideTracked – Bontnewydd by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1.5
This cache replaces the previous cache we had here. Half of the original cache has gone missing making the hide too easy for the D/T rating. It’ll be a very easy find for all who found the last one!

Event Reviews

GCAVXKP Beaver Badge Celebration by MonHunter
An event to celebrate the completion of MonHunters Beavers Personal Challenge which was to cache every day for a fortnight, either finding caches or maintaining others. It’s always nice to have an excuse to return to the Anglesey Column, as always, the refreshments lived up to expectations, the sun shone, there was plenty of geochat, in all a good time was had by all. Just one last thing to say, well done, MonHunter.

Attendees

GCAVXAQ Meet and Greet Holyhead Maritime by shavonrg
A beautiful day for geocaching and perfect for an event outside the Maritime Museum in Holyhead. The event was organised by a group of very friendly American & Canadian geocachers who were on a day visit from the huge cruise ship just visible in the corner of the photo. Lots of geochat and swapping of TB’s before our hosts had to head back to their ship. We would like to wish everyone a lovely stay in the UK and hope the good weather follows them!

CADW Open Doors

This September, more than 200 of Wales’ historic sites, landmarks and hidden gems will offer visitors free entry, events or guided tours. It’s all part of Open Doors — Wales’ annual contribution to the European Heritage Days initiative, which invites heritage organisations, private owners, local authorities and others to open their doors or offer activities to the public free of charge during September, several of which are usually closed to the public.

To find out what is open in your area click on this link CADW Open Doors

Harlech Castle

We are planning on taking advantage of the free entry by hosting an event at Harlech Castle on Sunday 29th September.

Community Celebration Events 2025

One of the ways the Geocaching community will celebrate geocaching’s 25th anniversary in 2025 is by hosting Community Celebration Events (CCEs). These events are specially designated community gatherings held during significant milestone years in geocaching. CCEs will start taking place in 2025, but if you want to host one, there are a couple things you must do in 2024!
To qualify for a CCE geocachers must:

  • Have at least one cache published between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. 
  • Host at least one Event (including CITOs) between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. 
  • Must have created a Geocaching account before the announcement date of February 20, 2024.

If you meet the criteria, you are guaranteed to receive a CCE before the end of 2025. From July 1, 2024, Geocaching HQ will distribute up to 2,025 CCEs each month, continuing until all qualifiers have received one.

So if you haven’t already, now is the time to start putting together that Event and planning your new cache hide!

9US Community Celebration Event
We have already received our Community Celebration Event. As 9 Usual Suspects is 10 years old in 2025 our plan is to hold a combined birthday party and International Geocaching Day event on Saturday 16th August 2025.

News & New Caches 104

GCAE2X5 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 61 by 9 usual Suspects Event
When: Wednesday 27th September
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

Event Reminder

GCADQC3 CITO 2023 Season 2 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Saturday 16th September 2023
Where: Parc Dre/Morfa Caernarfon
Time: 11am-1pm

Why not come and join us for another litter pick at one of our regular sites. Our task for the day will be to pick up as much litter as possible starting from the the bridge, around the park then following the River Seiont towards Lon Eifion cycle path. By attending this event you will earn CITO 2023 Season 2 and 75 points towards this months Wheel of Challenges souvenirs.

Cadw, Open Doors 2023

Cadw is a Welsh word meaning ‘to keep’ or ‘to protect’ and is the historic environment service of the Welsh Government. Cadw works to protect the historic buildings, structures, landscapes and heritage sites of Wales.

This September, more than 200 of Wales’ historic sites, landmarks and hidden gems will offer visitors free entry, events or guided tours. Explore some of the country’s lesser-known and smaller-scale sites ― several of which are usually closed to the public.

Why not take the opportunity to visit Barclodiad-y-Gawres Burial Chamber.

When: Saturday 23rd Sep – Sunday 24th Sep 2023
Where: Barclodiad-y-Gawres Burial Chamber, Ty Croes, Anglesey, LL63 5TE
Time: Tours will be at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Meet at the monument.

Barclodiad-y-Gawres is a partially reconstructed Neolithic burial chamber, famous for its decorated stones. The spectacular, cliff side position of this later Neolithic monument is one of its great attractions and accessing it provides a short pleasant walk.  Barclodiad-y-Gawres means ‘The Giantess’s Apronful’ and is a traditional local name.

To find out what is happening near you click on this link Open Doors

2025, A Big Year for Geocaching

2025 sees not only the 25 anniversary of Geocaching but also 9 Usual Suspects 10th birthday – there will be a lot happening. Below is the first event that has come to our attention:

Piratemania Germany

Save the date! Piratemania Germany 4th-6th July 2025

It has recently been announced that in 2025, Piratemania will travel from England through the English Channel across the North Sea and through the Rhine to Germany. The event has yet to be published but will be somewhere in North Rhine-Westphalia. We will keep you updated as more information is released.

Hopefully we will be there…….. will you?