GCB0V77 Piratemania 17 Sudeley Castle – SAILING WEST
When: Saturday 26th July, 2025
Where: Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, Cheltenham GL54 5JD
Time: 10am to 10pm
Tag: Event
GCB22FR 9US & Severn UK Mega Team present Ski Saturday
GCB22FR 9US & Severn UK Mega Team present Ski Saturday
When: Saturday 8th February, 2025
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Time: 2pm to 5pm or when the last person leaves
News & New Caches 167
We hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. In our area there has been no new caches or Ad Labs published since our last post. But we do have some event reminders.
Event Reminders
GCB0QRK 9 Usual Suspects Say Goodbye to 2024 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1.5
When: 31st December, 2024
Where: Anglesey Column Cafe & Information Centre
Time: 11am-12pm
Our last event of 2024 and a chance for a quick catch up before the New Year Celebrations begin. There is no better way to start your celebrations than meeting up with your geocaching friends! Please log will ‘attend logs’ as we need to give the cafe numbers in advance.
GCB0PTH 9US Discover 2025 with a Beach Clean by 9 Usual Suspects CITO D1/T3
When: Wednesday 1st January 2025
Where: Beach Car Park nearest the Airport
Time: 11am to 12pm
Why not blow away those New Year cobwebs and join us for a litter pick along the beautiful beach of Dinas Dinlle?
GCB16T1 9 Usual Suspects TB Race Launch by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
When: 1st January, 2025
Where: Airport Cafe, Dinas Dinlle, Caernarfon LL54 5TP
Time: 12.15pm – 1.15pm
An event to launch our 2025 TB Race. TB race rules can be found here. Not entering the TB race? This is a chance to catch up, swap TB’s and enjoy some geochat while watching the airport activity.
New Year Souvenirs
Celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of 2025 by earning two new souvenirs, Logged 2024 and Discovering 2025. To earn the souvenirs find one geocache or Adventure Lab® location, all geocache types count including events.
Logged 2024 is available from 24th to 31st December.
Discovering 2025 is available from 1st to 8th January.
Quiz Answers
- Which song includes the lyrics “They’ve got cars big as bars, They’ve got rivers of gold” Fairytale of New York, The Pouges (1987)
- In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, what was the first name of Scrooge?
Ebenezer - What colour are mistletoe berries?
White - Which song includes the lyrics “It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid”
Do they know it’s Christmas – Band Aid (1984) - In Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone what did the Dursleys give Harry for Christmas?
A 50p piece - Which single has been number 1 in the charts in 2023 & 2024, but only made number 2 when it was released in 1984?
Last Christmas – Wham (It’s been in the charts 21 times over 117 weeks) - Elvis Presley isn’t going to have a White Christmas, he’s going to have a….?
Blue Christmas - According to the song, what did my true love give to me on the eleventh day of Christmas?
Eleven pipers piping - What fruit is used to make a Christingle?
Orange - Three of Santa’s reindeer’s names begin with the letter “D.” What are those names?
Dasher, Donner & Dancer - If you’re born on Christmas day, what’s your star sign?
Capricorn - What is glühwein?
A German version of mulled wine - When do the 12 days of Christmas start?
Christmas Day - What is the Grinch’s dog called?
Max - How many states in the US have a town called ‘Santa Claus’?
Three – Indiana, Arizona and Georgia
Happy New Year
We would like to take this opportunity to Thank everyone for their support and wish you all a very Happy New Year, may 2025 be a year full of fun and adventures.
News & New Caches 166
We have one new cache to report since our last post:
GCB11G4 War Memorial #2225 ~ Ysbyty Ifan by two nosy parkers Multi D1.5/T1.5
And just one bad cracker joke:
Why are Christmas trees no good at sewing?
Because they alway drop their needles!
9US Christmas Quiz
A little something to keep you entertained while waiting for the turkey to cook.
- Which song includes the lyrics “They’ve got cars big as bars, They’ve got rivers of gold”?
- In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, what was the first name of Scrooge?
- What colour are mistletoe berries?
- Which song includes the lyrics “It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid”?
- In Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone what did the Dursleys give Harry for Christmas?
- Which single has been number 1 in the charts in 2023 & 2024, but only made number 2 when it was
released in 1984? - Elvis Presley isn’t going to have a White Christmas, he’s going to have a….?
- According to the song, what did my true love give to me on the eleventh day of Christmas?
- What fruit is used to make a Christingle?
- Three of Santa’s reindeer’s names begin with the letter “D.” What are those names?
- If you’re born on Christmas day, what’s your star sign?
- What is glühwein?
- When do the 12 days of Christmas start?
- What is the Grinch’s dog called?
- How many states in the US have a town called ‘Santa Claus’?
Answers in the next post…..
And Finally
We would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas/Nadolig Llawen
News & New Caches 165
We have one new event published since our last post. We have lots of dates for 2025, souvenirs and our events.
GCB16T1 9 Usual Suspects TB Race Launch by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
When: 1st January, 2025
Where: Airport Cafe, Dinas Dinlle, Caernarfon LL54 5TP
Time: 12.15pm – 1.15pm
An event to launch our 2025 TB Race. Not entering the TB race? This is a chance to catch up, swap TB’s and enjoy some geochat while watching the airport activity.
2024 9US Video
We are currently putting together a video of our 2024 adventures. If you have any pictures or video you would like included please contact us.
Confirmed Souvenirs for 2025
Here are the confirmed souvenirs for 2025 and dates that they are available:
- Discovering 2025 January 1st-8th
- Cache In Trash Out®, Season 1: March 1st–May 31st
- Pi-Day: March 14th
- March Equinox: March 20th-23rd
- Pajama Day: April 16th
- Blue Switch Day: May 2nd-4th
- June Solstice: June 20th-22nd
- International Geocaching Day: August 16th
- Cache In Trash Out®, Season 2: September 1st-November 30th
- World Postcard Day: October 1st
- International EarthCache Day: October 10th-12th
- Adventure Day: October 17th-19th
- Geocaching International Film Festival (GIFF): November 6th-16th
- Farewell 2025: December 24th-31st
9US Event Calendar 2025
Please find below our event calendar for 2025. Event dates may change up until publication.
Wednesday 1st January GCB0PTH 9US Discover 2025 with a Beach Clean D1/T3
Wednesday 1st January GCB16T1 9 Usual Suspects TB Race Launch D1/T1
Thursday 30th January Nosh & Natter 74
Saturday 8th February Ski Saturday The Severn Mega will be in attendance
Thursday 27th February Nosh & Natter 75
Saturday 8th March CITO Season 1
Thursday 27th March Nosh & Natter 76
Thursday 24th April Nosh & Natter 77
Saturday 17th May Llangollen Canal Boat Trip
Thursday 29th May Nosh & Natter 78
Saturday 7th June Bardsey Island?
Thursday 26th June Nosh & Natter 79
Wednesday 23rd July Nosh & Natter 80
Thursday 24th-27th July Piratemania
Monday 28th July-3rd August Severn Mega
Saturday 16th August International Geocaching Day, 9US 10th Birthday Party
Thursday 28th August Nosh & Natter 81
Thursday 25th September Nosh & Natter 82
Thursday 30th October Nosh & Natter 83
Saturday 1st November Halloween Party
Sunday 9th November GIFF
Saturday 29th November Nosh & Natter 84, Christmas Dinner
Wednesday 31st December Farewell 2025
Llangollen Canal Boat Trip
Saturday 17th May Llangollen Canal Boat Trip
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.
Cost will be around £20 per person. There are 10 places per boat, if enough interest we will try to book 2 boats. To book a place contact us, we will need deposits of £10pp.
Any questions? Contact us.
News & New Caches 162
We have one new cache and three events to report since our last post:
GCB0NY4 Hand-me-down by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Events
GCB0MMV Christmas Stroll up Tryfan by swindon_leys D1/T5
When: 25th December, 2024
Where: Tryfan Summit
Time: 12pm-12.30pm
No plans for Christmas Day? This event could be just what you are looking for.
GCB0QRK 9 Usual Suspects Say Goodbye to 2024 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1.5
When: 31st December, 2024
Where: Anglesey Column Cafe & Information Centre
Time: 11am-12pm
Our last event of 2024 and a chance for a quick catch up before the New Year Celebrations begin. There is no better way to start your celebrations than meeting up with your geocaching friends! Please log will ‘attend logs’ as we need to give the cafe numbers in advance.
GCB0PTH 9US Discover 2025 with a Beach Clean by 9 Usual Suspects CITO D1/T3
When: Wednesday 1st January 2025
Where: Beach Car Park nearest the Airport
Time: 11am to 12pm
Why not blow away those New Year cobwebs and join us for a litter pick along the beautiful beach of Dinas Dinlle?
This event will see the start of a new TB race, see below.
2025 TB Race
As part of our 10th anniversary and geocaching’s 25th anniversary we will be having another TB race starting on 1st January 2025 finishing on 31st December 2025. There will be prizes for the furthest traveled and most countries visited. Rules and details in our next post.
TB Race 2021 Update
Do you remember this TB race? The original race was for one year, starting on International Geocaching Day 2021 and finishing on International Geocaching Day 2022, with prizes for the furthest traveled.
We decided to continue the race as a test of endurance with the winner being the last TB in circulation.
6 TB’s took part in the original race there are now 4 still traveling.
HQ Win the Race TB owner lostnwet
Traveled: 136,706km
Current Location: France in the hands of *Mana*
13 Countries Visited: UK, Ireland, France, Canada, USA, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Sark, Jersey, Guernsey
Racing Dragon owner Ann@Birdbrook
Traveled: 72,903km
Current Location: Czechia in the hands of Pe_Bo
10 Countries Visited: UK, Portugal, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Denmark, France, Poland, Czechia
Draco owner Naturesbyte
Traveled: 57,168km
Current Location: Puppy Dog’s TB Hotel, Nevada, USA
10 Countries Visited: UK, Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, France, USA
Welsh Sea Pottery owner escapefromwork
Traveled: 9,168km
Current Location: RAL [7] Whitby Road, Bristol, UK
2 Countries Visited: UK, Ireland
Halloween Video
GCAZ0QW Come and Monster Mash with 9US by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1.5
We would like to thank everyone for attending and taking part in our activities. Bet you can’t wait to see what we are planning for next year!
News & New Caches 159
Two new events have been published since our last post:
GCB07G5 CITO 2024 Season 2 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T3
When: Sunday 24th November
Where: The Old Bridge, Morfa Parc, Caernarfon
Time: 12pm -2pm
Haven’t already got your CITO 2024 Season 2 souvenir? Then come and join us for our 25th CITO event, a litter pick at our regular site in Caernarfon. This may be your last chance to acquire this souvenir as CITO 2024 Season 2 ends on November 30th.
GCB03DF Caernarfon yn Rhagfyr (Caernarfon in December) by FfiLli and Blueteddy
When: Monday 2nd December 2024
Where: Tafarn y Porth, 9 Eastgate Street, Caernarfon LL55 1AG (Wetherspoons)
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Two Hampshire cachers are visiting Caernarfon and would like to meet up with local cachers to discuss our fascinating hobby.
Free Public Transport
Do you have a Welsh Concessionary Travel Pass? Did you know you can travel free on some trains in Wales?
You can travel for free between:
- Wrexham – Hawarden Bridge (Borderlands Line)
- Machynlleth – Pwllheli (Cambrian Coast line) – October to March only
- Llandudno – Blaenau Ffestiniog (Conwy Valley line)
- Shrewsbury and Llanelli/Swansea (Heart of Wales Line) – October to March only
You’ll need to get a free ticket from the ticket office before you travel. If there is no ticket office or if it’s closed, you can get one from the Conductor on the train.
We can highly recommend a trip on the Cambrian Coast line, we recently travelled from Porthmadog to Machynlleth. The line was completed by 1869, an incredible feat of Victorian engineering following beautiful coastline for most of the journey. The railway line is pretty dramatic; in places it clings to high cliffs and burrows through tunnels hewn from the rock.
Machynlleth is a very pretty town full of character with many independent shops, lots of cafes and restaurants, well worth a visit.
For the geocacher there are currently the following caches and Ad Lab:
GCA1D24 A year at Kew visiting Machynlleth by LizMar2010 Multi D2/T1.5
GCAR3R6 War Memorial #2091 – Machynlleth by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D4.5/T1
GCAR3QE Machynlleth Clock Tower by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D2/T1.5
Ad Lab Machynlleth- Ancient Capital of Wales created by Oldquincepie
Here are a few photos from our day out:
News & New Caches 158
We have four new caches, 2 traditional, a mystery and earthcache since our last post. Please note 2 are Premium Member only.
GCAZZDZ Bwlch Mawr by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T1.5
GCB00T0 Ffynnon Gybi by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T3.5
Premium Member Only:
GCAZP4R Church Micro 15278…Borth-y-Gest by ECOBAKE Mystery D3/T2
GCAZT5M Church Micro 15283…Dolbenmaen by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D2/T1.5
Event Reminders
Saturday 9th November sees ChepstowRomans, Storming the Castle 2024 series of events. They are hosting 6 events at castles from Conwy Castle to Goodrich Castle, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. Looks like a fun road trip.
GCAZDVE Storming the Castle 2024: Conwy Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomans D1/T1.5
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Castle Square, Conwy
Time: 8am to 8.30am
GCAZDVQ Storming the Castle 2024: Gwrych Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomans D1/T2
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Gwrych Castle
Time: 9am to 9.30am
GCAZDVEY Storming the Castle 2024: Flint Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomansD1/T1.5
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Flint Castle
Time: 10.30am to 11am
GCAZDW3 Storming the Castle 2024: Whittington Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomans D1/T2
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Whittington Castle
Time: 1pm to 1.30pm
GCAZDW7 Storming the Castle 2024: Ludlow Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomans D1/T2
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Ludlow Castle
Time: 4pm to 4.30pm
GCAZDWP Storming the Castle 2024: Goodrich Castle by ChepstowRomans D1/T1.5
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Inn on the Wye
Time: 6pm to 7pm
On Monday 11th November why not join the Chester Cache Chasers on their day out in North Wales for a quick lunchtime get together.
GCAZ9W6 Trearddur Troubadours by Chester Cache Chasers D1/T1
When: Monday 11th November 2024
Where: Sea Shanty Cafe, Lon St Ffraid, Trearddur Bay, Holyhead LL65 2YR
Time: 12.45pm-1.30pm
Event Review
GCAZ0QW Come and Monster Mash with 9US by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1.5
For this years Halloween event we started planning several weeks ago. We decided to make a couple of new simple props for the evening but after being inspired by several YouTube videos our ideas became increasingly more complicated. The 3D printers have hardly stopped, our kitchen table became an art studio and the garage a spray paint/carpenters workshop. Amazingly all projects were completed on time. With the dry weather we were able to start setting up outside a few days before enabling us to have a test run on lighting.
We would like to thank everyone for attending and taking part in our activities, Pete for the BBQ, souvenirs and 3D printing and all the special effects.
I’ll check the Bingo next time!
Carole, RichieBlod, has made the following excellent short video:
Here are a few more pictures:
I bet you can’t wait for next years event… I already have a few ideas!
News & New Caches 157
Another quiet week for geocaching in North Wales with no new caches or Ad Labs, but we do have some new events.
Fancy a road trip and not doing anything on Saturday 9th November? ChepstowRomans, Storming the Castle 2024, may be the answer. They are hosting 6 events at castles from Conwy Castle to Goodrich Castle, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire.
GCAZDVE Storming the Castle 2024: Conwy Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomans D1/T1.5
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Castle Square, Conwy
Time: 8am to 8.30am
GCAZDVQ Storming the Castle 2024: Gwrych Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomans D1/T2
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Gwrych Castle
Time: 9am to 9.30am
GCAZDVEY Storming the Castle 2024: Flint Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomansD1/T1.5
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Flint Castle
Time: 10.30am to 11am
GCAZDW3 Storming the Castle 2024: Whittington Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomans D1/T2
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Whittington Castle
Time: 1pm to 1.30pm
GCAZDW7 Storming the Castle 2024: Ludlow Castle Bonus by ChepstowRomans D1/T2
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Ludlow Castle
Time: 4pm to 4.30pm
GCAZDWP Storming the Castle 2024: Goodrich Castle by ChepstowRomansD1/T1.5
When: Saturday 9th November 2024
Where: Inn on the Wye
Time: 6pm to 7pm
Event Announcement
GCAZ0QW Come and Monster Mash with 9US by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1.5
If you are planning on attending and would like to receive an event souvenir please log a ‘will attend’.
Holyhead Maritime Museum Free Open Day
On Wednesday 30th November Holyhead Maritime Museum is open to the public free of charge.
Situated at picturesque Newry Beach, the museum is a fascinating family experience. Take a step back in time in the oldest Lifeboat Station in Wales. Learn about shipwrecks, gallant rescues and pirates. Find out what it was like to sail on the Irish Sea over 100 years ago. Visit the WW2 Air Raid Shelter and marvel at the collection of WW1 and WW2 memorabilia.
We would like to thank Julie, Bess’s Friends, for bringing this to our attention.
News & New Caches 155
We have 2 new earthcaches published on our patch so there are no excuses for not getting your International EarthCache Day souvenir:
GCAQQM1 Under Caernarfon Castle 🏰 by 74jen Earthcache D1.5/T1.5
GCAZ0TF REALLY SideTracked – Dinas by ECOBAKE Earthcache D2.5/T1
Event
GCAZ0QW 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 72 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
When: Thursday 31st October 2024
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
In for review but not yet published:
GCAZ0QW Come and Monster Mash with 9US by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1.5
When: Saturday 2nd November
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Party Starts: 5pm
Party Ends: 8pm or when the last person leaves
Attire: Optional Halloween Fancy dress
Wrap up warm, as, weather permitting, we plan to have some outside activities including a pumpkin lantern competition. There will be prizes for adults and children, to enter bring your carved pumpkin on the night. Of course there will be a BBQ and the bar will be open to late.
International Earthcache Day
This coming weekend is International EarthCache Day (weekend). To earn the souvenir visit any EarthCache and complete the logging requirements from Friday, October 11th through Sunday, October 13th, 2024. All non-Premium EarthCaches are open to everyone throughout the weekend on the Geocaching® app.
Warlock’s Chamber Escape Room at Castell Conway
At Castell Conwy, just for Halloween, Cadw are opening a spooky escape room.
Discover the secrets of notorious Welsh magician Maldwyn mab Diafol, and test your skills by escaping the warlock’s chamber! Over seven hundred years ago, the King of England captured one of his deadliest enemies, the Welsh magician Maldwyn mab Diafol. Maldwyn was kept prisoner at Castell Conwy, locked in the chapel tower for a year and a day. However, on the morning after Halloween night in 1303, Maldwyn’s guards unlocked his chamber to find the wizard had vanished! Over seven hundred and twenty years later, Maldwyn’s cell has finally been reopened. Visitors will get the chance to solve the mystery of Maldwyn mab Diafol, and to escape from the warlock’s chamber themselves!
From Monday 28th October to Sunday 3rd November 2024 11am to 4pm
For teams of 2 – 6 players; £4 per player
Prices: Normal admission charge. Plus £4 per player to take part in the activity.
Suitable for visitors 10+. All children under seventeen will require adult supervision.
Anyone interested? Please contact us.