Tag: Event

News & New Caches 179

A new mystery cache and an event for your diary:

GCB44PM Pi Puzzle Box by 9 Usual Suspects Mystery D4/T1

Event
GCB496T 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 76 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
When: Thursday 27th March, 2025
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

Event Review

GCB3F98 Pi Day Party by 9 Usual Suspects

This event was part of 9 Usual Suspect 10th anniversary celebrations. 10 years ago before 9US had a geocaching account ‘A Slice of Pie’ hosted by naturesbyte was the event where several of the original 9 Usual Suspects first met.

For this event we had already planned to have a lot of different pies when we received a message from RichieBlod ‘Do you think we will have 25 different pies. We could then qualify for the locationless cache. I’ll do a poster anyway’. We like a challenge so the hunt for 25 different pies was on. A team effort, with the scouring of several different super market shelves and we had the required 25 pies.

Here is the list of pies that were devoured at the event:
Steak & Kidney, Steak, All Steak, Steak & Cornish Ale, Chicken Ham & Leek, Creamy Chicken Smoked Bacon & Leek, Chicken & Mushroom, Beef & Stilton, Minced Beef & Onion, Chilli Con Carne, Spinach Feta & Pine Nut, Wild Mushroom, Cheese Leek & Potato, Sweet Potato Feta & Pumpkin Seed, Curried Chick Pea Red Pepper & Spinach, Mini Pork Pies, Mini Cheese & Pickle Pork Pies, Pork Pie, Pork Egg Gala, Melton Mowbray, Apple & Blackcurrant, Apple, Cherry, Mince Pies, Hot Cross Pies.


A lovely afternoon of eating, geochat and playing with RichieBlods green screen was had by all. The new cache was found and the log signed after some teamwork mainly by our junior attendees. Thank you everyone for attending and the donations of pies. Maybe in the future a ‘tart’ event?

Here are a few photos from our day:

News & New Caches 177

We have one new cache and and event for your diary:

GCB3YT3 Sit amongst the Daffs! by MonHunter Traditional D1.5/T1.5

GCAXGMC 2025 Community Celebration Event EHDoT Great Orme by evanshorndean Event D1/T2
Where: Great Orme, Llandudno
When: Wednesday 9th July, 2025
Time: 4pm to 6pm
EvansHornDean are holidaying in the area and would like to meet up with local and visiting cachers to discuss our fascinating hobby.

Event Reminders

GCB34QK CITO 2025 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects CITO D1/T3
When: Saturday 8th March 2025
Where: The Old Bridge, Morfa Parc, Caernarfon
Time: 2pm – 3.30pm

We will be meeting at the old bridge, Morfa Parc, Caernarfon, on Saturday 8th March at 2pm. 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 to Lon Eifion. If we get enough volunteers we will pick the wooded area behind Tesco.
Please arrive promptly to ensure you attend the safety briefing. The event will last for 1.5 hours finishing at 3.30pm and then we will have cake and a brew!

GCB34RZ 9 Usual Suspects Cake and a Brew by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
When: Saturday 8th March 20254
Where: Old Bridge, Parc Dre, Caernarfon
Time: 3.30pm to 4pm

Piratemania Camping

GCB0V77 Piratemania 17 Sudeley Castle – SAILING WEST

Camping is now open for those Pirates that would like a berth, you can find camping at this link:

Event Review

GCB34PF CITO, A487 North, Another Quick Pick by 9 Usual Suspects CITO D1/T4.5

Well we could have done without the wind, but at least it was dry. In an ideal world we would not have to do litter picks as everyone would take responsibility for their rubbish not throw it out their cars, but until then we will try and take care of our local environment. From this lay-by we collected 10 bags of general litter plus an array of bazaar items including a wall light, storage box, Radox shower gel, a pint lager glass, lid of a motorcycle top box, clothing including underwear, a pillow, pipe insulation, a tyre and road signs.
Here are a few pictures of our day:

March Equinox Souvenir

From March 20th to 23rd, 2025, find one geocache, Event Cache, or Adventure Lab® Location to earn the March Equinox Souvenir.

The artwork for this souvenir is inspired by the birds, crowned cranes, whose migratory patterns represent seasonal change.

Northern Hemisphere:
The Red-crowned crane represents harmony and the balance of life.

Southern Hemisphere:
The Grey crowned crane represents change and a renewal of life.

Festival of the Sea: Flint

This festival is outside our area but may be of interest to some of our readers.
The UK’s first Festival of the Sea celebrating all things marine in this beautiful coastal town of Flint.

Celebrate the sea around Flintshire at Flint Castle with activities and stands. This free family-friendly festival will have plenty for people of all ages and abilities. No booking is required, simply turn up on the day, some activities and workshops will be limited to a certain number. To make sure of a place sign up to any specific events on the day.

All activities, workshops and stalls are free to attend thanks to sponsorship by the Welsh Government Coastal Capacity Fund.

Attendees include: RNLI, The Royal Navy, Flintshire Coast Park, Keep Wales Tidy, Mold Pastic Reduction, Seawatch Foundation, Nature Keen, Kirsty Hall, Natural Resources Wales, and Rainbow Biz.

News & New Caches 176

Another quiet week for geocaching with no new caches or Ad Labs published in our area since our last post.

Event Reminders

We have two CITO events this week and on Saturday, an after CITO event where we will be offering refreshments to all our hard working volunteers. By attending either CITO events you will earn the following souvenir:

GCB34PF CITO, A487 North, Another Quick Pick by 9 Usual Suspects CITO D1/T4.5
When: Wednesday 5th March 2025
Where: A487 North Lay by
Time: 11am to 12pm

GCB34QK CITO 2025 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects CITO D1/T3
When: Saturday 8th March 2025
Where: The Old Bridge, Morfa Parc, Caernarfon
Time: 2pm – 3.30pm

GCB34RZ 9 Usual Suspects Cake and a Brew by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
When: Saturday 8th March 20254
Where: Old Bridge, Parc Dre, Caernarfon
Time: 3.30pm to 4pm

Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday

Today is Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, it is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. In the Christian calendar Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, was traditionally a time of fasting and by some is still observed today. The name Shrove Tuesday derives from Anglo-Saxon when Christians who went to confession the Tuesday before Lent were “shriven”, absolved from their sins.

Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year and falls between February 3 and March 9. In 2025 Shrove Tuesday will fall on March 4th.

Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients. A pancake is a thin, flat cake, made of batter and fried in a frying pan. A traditional English pancake is very thin and is served immediately.

The pancake has a very long history and featured in cookery books as far back as 1439. The tradition of tossing or flipping them is almost as old. In the UK pancake races often form a part of the Shrove Tuesday celebrations.

Every year a famous pancake race takes place at Olney in Buckinghamshire. According to tradition, in 1445 a woman of Olney heard the shriving bell while she was making pancakes and ran to the church in her apron, still clutching her frying pan. The Olney pancake race is now world famous. Competitors have to be local housewives and they must wear an apron and a hat or scarf. Each contestant has a frying pan containing a hot pancake. She must toss it three times during the race. The first woman to complete the course at the church door has to serve her pancake to the shriven bell ringer and be kissed by him to be declared the winner.

How will you have your pancakes? In our house it will be with lemon juice and sugar.

News & New Caches 174

It is so good to see some new caches appearing. Clueless_Goose has been very busy with 3 new Church Micros on Anglesey and a new series of 20 caches following the old Bryngwyn slate railway.

GCB3BGF Church Micro 15348…Heneglwys by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5
GCB3BG7 Church Micro 15347…Coedana by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCB3B9E Church Micro 15346…Llannerch-y-Medd by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3/T2

BST – Bryngwyn Slate Trail

A series of 15 caches following the trackbed of the former North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways ‘Bryngwyn Branch’ – now a community owned footpath. The railway once served the slate quarries surrounding Moel Tryfan, as well as passengers from Rhostryfan and Bryngwyn Stations. The line carried slate and passengers down to Caernarfon and beyond, but closed with the decline of the slate industry in the early 20th century. The rails were lifted during the 1940s for the war effort, though some interesting features still remain en route.

For the full experience you can step off the WHR train at Tryfan Junction, complete the series, and return for the journey back. By car, parking is easiest at Rhostryfan former station, allowing you to split the series into two halves. It is also possible to park on the verge at Tryfan Junction or up by the Drumhead right at the other end of the line.

The walk to Bryngwyn is easy-going with only a gentle (undetectable) uphill gradient. The permissive footpath along the trackbed ends abruptly at Bryngwyn Farm, where the final cache (15) is hidden, but if desired, you can roughly follow the remaining trackbed along lanes and the old Bryngwyn Incline to the ‘Drumhead’, where the railway once diverged into several private tramways serving the individual slate quarries. There are three SideTracked caches along the track, plus two additional bonus caches for those willing to follow the trackbed all the way from the end of the footpath to the Drumhead. All in all that’s 20 caches, some simple, others more challenging…


GCB34XH REALLY SideTracked – Bryngwyn by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5
GCB3CGP REALLY SideTracked – Rhostryfan by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5
GCB3F5A REALLY SideTracked – Tryfan Junction by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3.5/T1.5
GCB3CED BST 1 – Rhaeadru by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2.5
GCB3EME BST 2 – Twnel by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3/T2
GCB3F98 BST 3 – Mwsogl by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3.5/T2
GCB3ETN BST 4 – Giât by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2
GCB3F9E BST 5 – Golygfa Llanddwyn by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2
GCB3F9K BST 6 – Iorwg by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3.5/T2.5
GCB3F9V BST 7 – Pentref by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2.5/T1.5
GCB3CGG BST 8 – Giât Moch by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2.5/T2
GCB3FB3 BST 9 – Ffens by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3/T2
GCB3CG8 BST 10 – Steil by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3.5/T2
GCB3CG3 BST 11 – Onnen by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2.5/T3.5
GCB3CFT BST 12 – Pry Copyn by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3/T3
GCB3FBA BST 13 – Gwely by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2
GCB3CFH BST 14 – Postyn by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2
GCB3CFB BST 15 – Arwyddbost by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3.5/T1.5
GCB3CEY BST +1 – Inclên Bryngwyn by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2.5
GCB353C BST +2 – Y ‘Drumhead’ by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2.5/T2

Event
GCB3F98 Pi Day Party by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Saturday 15th March, 2025
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Time: 3.14pm to 5.14pm or when the last person leaves

This event is part of 9 Usual Suspect 10th anniversary celebrations, 10 years ago ‘A Slice of Pie’ was one of our first events.

Join us for a P, P & P! The plan is to have as many different types of pie as possible for us all to sample, I think we can do better than our first attempt. There will also be a new Mystery Cache appearing very close to this event enabling us all to get the Pi Day souvenir. See below:

Pi Day 2025 Souvenir

Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi), observed on March 14th because the date (3/14) corresponds to the first three significant digits of π (3.14). The tradition began in the United States and has since gained worldwide recognition.

To earn earn the Pi Day souvenir find and log any Mystery Cache between Friday 14th March and Sunday 16th March. All non-Premium Mystery Caches are open to everyone throughout the weekend on the Geocaching® app from 11:00:00 UTC on Friday 14th March until 10:00:00 UTC on Monday 17th March, 2025.

Llangollen Canal Boat Trip

We have booked a day boat for Saturday 17th May. Cost is £20 per person, to book a place we need a £10 deposit. We have a few spare places, if you would like to join us please contact us asap.

We will be starting at Trevor travelling to Llangollen, it takes just over 2 hours to reach the turnaround point. See map below:

All day boats are equipped with the following: cutlery, crockery, a kettle, 2 burner hob, fridge, sink and toilet. There’s indoor and outdoor seating on all day boats. We will be stopping for lunch some where en route, probably The Sun (marked on map) where we may hold an event. Dogs are allowed. Boat hire times are from 9am – 4pm so we would be meeting up around 8.45am at Anglo Welsh boat yard.
There are very few geocaches currently along the canal but we will make every effort to pick any up as we pass.

Any questions? Contact us.

News & New Caches 173

We have 4 new events for your diaries:

GCB34NR 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 75 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Thursday 27th February, 2025
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

GCB34PF CITO, A487 North, Another Quick Pick by 9 Usual Suspects CITO D1/T4.5
When: Wednesday 5th March 2025
Where: A487North Lay by
Time: 11am to 12pm

GCB34QK CITO 2025 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects CITO D1/T3
When: Saturday 8th March 2025
Where: The Old Bridge, Morfa Parc, Caernarfon
Time: 2pm – 3.30pm

GCB34RZ 9 Usual Suspects Cake and a Brew by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
When: Saturday 8th March 20254
Where: Old Bridge, Parc Dre, Caernarfon
Time: 3.30pm to 4pm

75th Nosh and Natter!

This months Nosh & Natter is our 75th! Our first N&N was on Monday 9th May, 2015, at the Antelope Inn, Bangor with 9 attendees. Who then would have dreamt that 10 years later we would still be meeting up once a month. Over the years we have had 66 different geocaching accounts log an attended from all corners of the world. We can’t find any photos of the first event but I have found one from our first Christmas Dinner:

CITO Season 1, 2025

CITO Season 1, 2025 souvenir will be available from Saturday 1st March through to Saturday 31st May, 2025. We have 2 CITO events published for the beginning of March that by attending will earn the souvenir. We are planning more CITO’s later in the season.

Treasure Collections Update

This new feature starts on Monday 17th March.
Collection 1: Geocaching origins
In this collection there are four Treasures inspired by the beginnings of geocaching. To find, simply find and log Traditional Caches.
We are still unsure if there will be a Treasure in every Traditional cache or only hidden in a selected few. Also will the Treasure be visible prior to finding the cache or only revealed on logging.

Collection 2: Celebrating 25 years
To unlock Collection 2, Collection 1 must be completed. This collection has five Treasures that can be found by logging any cache that has a difficulty rating of 1.5 or lower.

The Treasures feature will be available in the Geocaching® app and on Geocaching.com starting 17th March at 17:00 UTC. If you log caches using third-party or Geocaching API partner applications, you will still collect Treasure but it will not be visible in the app. and you will not receive in-app notifications when a Treasure is found. Progress can be viewed on the Geocaching® app and on Geocaching.com.

Event Review

GCB22FR 9US & Severn UK Mega Team present Ski Saturday by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T2

Firstly I must say very big Thank You to mutchie from the Severn UK Mega Team for visiting us, answering all our questions and concerns regarding this years Mega. Our Wii skiing event has become an annual fixture in the 9US calendar. This years event was the downhill, which I thought was one of the easier disciplines but the course proved to be a lot trickier than I remembered. As always the activity on the slopes was very competitive giving rise to lots of banter and laughter. Big thanks to Pete for being time keeper, making sure the technology behaved itself, printing the souvenirs and medals.

Highlights of our day:

News & New Caches 172

Again no new geocaches but we do have the folllowing new Ad Lab to report:

Secret Rhos / Cyfrinach Rhos created by smart_ginger 5 locations nonsequential
A circular walk around Rhos-on-Sea highlighting some of the interesting and less well known features of the town.

Severn UK Mega 2025

Since 2008, the UK Mega has been an annual roving event to showcase different areas of the UK. It is regularly attended by up to 2000 people and has become a fixture in the calendar of many geocachers, both from the UK and abroad.

In 2025 it will be held in South West England:
GCAWMQ8 Severn UK Mega 2025
When: Saturday 2nd August 2025
Where: Woodhouse Park Activity Centre, Fernhill, Almondsbury, BS32 4LX
Time: 10:00 to 16:00
On the day of the Mega Event there will be trade stands, refreshments, entertainment and some special Adventure Labs, plus the chance to meet old friends and make new ones. Camping and Side Events will run all week from 28th July to 3rd August 2025.

WOODHOUSE ADVENTURE PARK (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)


Woodhouse Park Activity Centre is a Scout activity centre and campsite to the North of Bristol run by Avon Scouts. The site occupies 36 acres (14 hectares) of land on the west side of the A38, to the north of Bristol. The centre is enclosed by woodland with views extending over the two Severn bridges and is easily accessible from the M4 and M5. The perfect location for this years Mega event.

Is this going to be the last UK Mega event of this format with a week of activities? As yet there is no confirmed UK Mega event for 2026.

Event Reminders

We have a special guest from UK Mega committee, Marnee, better known in the geocaching community as Mutchie, visiting our area to promote and answer any questions about this years Mega event. She will also be selling Mega merchandise to raise funds for this years event.

GCB23HF Boar on Tour Visits North Wales by Severn_UK_Mega_2025 D1/T1.5
When: Friday 7th February, 2025
Where: The Palladium, 7 Gloddaeth Street, Llandudno LL30 2DD (Wetherspoons)
Time: 6.30pm to 8pm

GCB22FR 9US & Severn UK Mega Team present Ski Saturday by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T2
When: Saturday 8th February, 2025
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Time: 2pm to 5pm or when the last person leaves

‘Ski Sunday’ is returning to the virtual slopes of the Nantlle Valley but this year on Saturday 8th February! Why Saturday? Because we will be having a special guest in attendance, Mutchie, a representative from Severn UK Mega 2025 team.
Wrap up warm, join us either as a competitor or spectator for a fun filled afternoon. Refreshments including hot drinks and, of course, the Cache Bar will be available throughout the afternoon. 

Please log ‘will attends’ to ensure an event souvenir, this also helps us with planning and catering of the day.

News & New Caches 169

Just 3 new events to report since our last post:

GCB22EV 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 74 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
When: Thursday 30th January, 2025
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

GCB23HF Boar on Tour Visits North Wales by severn_UK_Mega_2025 D1/T1.5
When: Friday 7th February, 2025
Where: The Palladium, 7 Gloddaeth Street, Llandudno LL30 2DD (Wetherspoons)
Time: 6.30pm to 8pm

GCB22FR 9US & Severn UK Mega Team present Ski Saturday by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T2
When: Saturday 8th February, 2025
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Time: 2pm to 5pm or when the last person leaves

Piratemania UK 2025

GCB0V77 Piratemania 17 Sudeley Castle – SAILING WEST
When: 26th July, 2025
Where: Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, Cheltenham GL54 5JD
Time: 10am to 10pm
Cost: £5 adult, £1 child Only payable for Day visitors

This year Piratemania is berthing somewhere in the 1,200 acre grounds of beautiful Sudeley Castle, a Grade 1 listed privately owned castle close to the medieval market town of Winchcombe.

The castle and gardens have featured in many films and is famous for being the home of Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII. Her elaborate tomb can be seen in St Mary’s church in the castle grounds. A little know fact about Katherine is she was married 4 times, her 3rd marriage being to Henry, this is a record for a Queen of England.

Currently we are waiting for details for camping, an announcement is expected around Easter.

Is This The Best Geocaching Challenge Ever?

GCAJFR0 České pivo, České zlato! / Czech beer, Czech gold! by Seedcorp Virtual D5/T1

One brewery that has to be visited

While planning a trip to Prague later in the year this cache came to my attention initially for the 5 difficulty rating. As most geocachers are aware many of 9US regular event attendees enjoy a pint of good beer. To claim this virtual cache 50 breweries/micro breweries have to be visited, a challenge we are excepting. The 50 breweries can be any where in the world, but must include the brewery at the cache page coordinates. Is this just an excuse for more P&P stops? Probably.
Join us on this quest and look out for forth coming events at our local breweries. Let’s start with this months N&N at Snowdonia Parc, Waunfawr, not just a pub but a microbrewery. Here is a link to the beers they brew Snowdonia Parc Real Ales