Tag: Geocaching Events

2023 Event Calendar

This a rough guide of our events for 2023. Please note dates, times and venues may change and will be confirmed on event publication.

March

18th Saturday GCA5C5J CITO 2023 Season 1, Litter picking around the park at Caernarfon 11am-1pm
29th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 55, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed

April

7th Friday (Good Friday) CITO 2023 Season 1 A different kind of CITO, we will be making Bird/Bat Boxes, Insect Houses and taking a look at the nature that surrounds us while out geocaching. Pete & Ann’s 2-4pm
26th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 56, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
29th Saturday Mega Event GC9MAXX London Calling 2023 11am-4pm

May

28th Sunday GCA5EAK 9 Usual Suspects Re-visit Ynys Enlli 12-4pm
31st Wednesday Nosh & Natter 57, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed

June

11th Sunday Coed y Brenin 10.30-11am followed by, what may be an ambitious, walk to find the 11 caches placed on the forest trails.
28th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 58, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed

July

6th Thursday Ballast Island an evening event 6.15pm-6.45pm to be confirmed
26th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 59, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed
29th Saturday Mega Event GCA2BBR Piratemania 15 Pirates Royalists & Roundheads 10am-10pm

August

5th Saturday Mega Event GC9V5J3 Milton Keynes UK Mega 2023 10am-4pm
19th Saturday International Geocaching Day, 2-6pm Pete & Ann’s
30th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 60, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed

September

2nd Saturday An event at the site of the wreck SS Denham. This event is governed by a very low tide being between 8-8.30am giving plenty of time to walk out to the wreck. While at the wreck site we will be discovering GC9P8M2 RIP SS Denham Virtual D5/T5.
16th Saturday CITO 2023 Season 2 details to be confirmed
27th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 61, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed

October

7th Saturday International Earthcache Day, suggested location Black Rock Sands but this depends on tides.
25th Wednesday Nosh & Natter 62, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed

November

19th Sunday GIFF 2-4pm venue to be confirmed
29th Wednesday Christmas Nosh & Natter 63, 7-9pm venue to be confirmed

December

31st Sunday Goodbye 2023 times venue to be confirmed

Dates still to be arranged.

An update on Porthmadog’s PanIQ Rooms, Christmas Chaos closes on 5th March once the ‘The Clairvoyant’s Curse’ is back up and running we will arrange an afternoon event in the Australia while the non-competitive teams try to escape the Clairvoyant’s Curse.

A day trip to Dublin.

News & New Caches 77

One new traditional cache an a CITO event have been published since our last post.

GCA5C3D Maiden Hide by Ironknights1908 Traditional D2.5/T3

CITO Event

GCA5C5J CITO 2023 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T3
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 plus the wooded area behind Tesco. By attending this event you will earn ‘CITO 2023 Season 1’ souvenir.

Ynys Enlli/Bardsey Island Trip Update

GCA5EAK 9 Usual Suspects Re-Visit Ynys Enlli by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T4

Well this trip proved to be far more popular than expected, we have booked all the places on the 11.30am boat.

Important Information

As trips are dependent on good weather please be aware that our crossing may be subject to cancellation at very short notice. Sailings are confirmed around 6.30pm on the evening prior to departure. Bearing this in mind payment is made on the day in cash, therefore no deposits are needed.

Fares: Adult £45.00 Child £25.00

The parking is in the National Trust car park, (N 52° 47.941 W 004° 43.915, Sat Nav LL53 8DA, Grid Ref SH163255), from here there is a 10 minute walk to Porth Meudwy along a rough fisherman’s track. There is no parking at point of departure.

You are advised to wear waterproofs for the crossing. Life jackets are mandatory and will be issued before departure.

There is a café at Tŷ Pellaf farm, run by the Roberts family, which serves a limited variety of drinks, ice cream, snacks and homemade cakes. It is advisable to bring your own supplies as the café can sometimes run low!

Dogs are not permitted to visit the island.

The Bardsey Island Trust does not permit the flying of private drones anywhere on the island.

We will give more details nearer the day.

News & New Caches 76

We have two new traditional caches and an adventure lab published since our last post.

GCA52BT Cerdded yn y Coed / Walk in the Woods by Hitch-Hikers Traditional D2/T2
GCA5663 West End parade by ___einierwilliams Traditional D1.5/T1.5

Colwyn Bay created by escapefromwork Nonsequential
This 5 stage lab cache takes you on a tour around this pretty seaside town. Apologies to Dawn for missing this one off our last post.

Event Reminders

GCA4CH4 9 Usual Suspects Get Puzzled by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1.5

When: Sunday 26th February, 2023
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle, Caernarfon LL54 6BB
Time: 2.30-4.30pm

Are you stuck on a puzzle cache? Maybe we can help one another with hints and some fresh ideas, so come and join us for an afternoon of puzzle fun. We will also have a wide selection of puzzle boxes, some easy and some to drive you mad!

Not interested in puzzles caches? Then still join us for a geochat, the Cache Bar will be open, hot drinks will be available on a self service basis and it wouldn’t be a 9US event without cake!

Parking is at the house, please note our gateway is very narrow and the pillars are not forgiving!

GCA4W8J 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 54 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1


When: Tuesday 28th February, 202
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

For this months Nosh & Natter we are returning to the Anglesey Arms, Caernarfon, I’m assured that they will be open for food……… Please note this event is on Tuesday 28th.

Thank You

GCA4ENX 9 Usual Suspects Visit Martin & Linda by 9 Usual Suspect D1/T1

We would like to thank Martin and Linda for their hospitality, PPR for setting the adventure lab and bonus cache, and everyone for joining us on a very cold Sunday.

News & New Caches 75

Firstly we would like to thank everyone who responded to our ‘Event Suggestions’ in our last post. Looks like we are going to have a busy fun filled year. We will shortly be publishing an event calendar for 2023.

One new Adventure Lab plus bonus has appeared since our last post.

Premium Member Only
GCA4HY7 Y Felinheli Hike Bonus Cache by escapefromwork Traditional D2.5/T2

Adventure Lab

Y Felinheli Hike by escapefromwork Nonsequential

This Adventure Lab explores the pretty village of Y Felinheli, situated on the banks of the Menai Straits with beautiful views across the water to Ynys Mon. Remember to collect the bonus information.

Event

GCA4W8J 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 54 by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
When: Tuesday 28th February, 2023
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

For this months Nosh & Natter we are returning to the Anglesey Arms, Caernarfon, I’m assured that they will be open for food……… Please note this event is on Tuesday 28th.

Event Reminder

GCA4ENX 9 Usual Suspects Visit Martin & Linda by 9 Usual Suspect D1/T1
When: Sunday 19th February, 2023
Where: Bryntirion Inn, Llandderfel, Bala LL23 7RA
Time: 12-1pm

We are heading to the Bryntirion for a couple of reasons, Sunday lunch and to discover this Adventure Lab cache ‘Whodunnit at the Bryntirion Inn?’
Join us as we play detectives to solve the classic murder mystery and then find the bonus cache.
GC9G549 Whodunnit at the Bryntirion Inn – Labcache Bonus by PhilPamAndRob Puzzle D3.5/T2.5
There is no online menu but for Sunday lunch there will be a choice of roast beef, lamb, or chicken and 3 vegetarian options for £11.95.
Need a lift? Contact Pete or Ann.

Valentines Gift from HQ

Geocaching have updated the Geocaching® app so all players can see highly Favourited caches at a glance.  Caches are highlighted by their Favourite point total above their cache icon on the map. To commemorate this occasion, they are giving all Premium members an extra 10 Favourite points to award. Furthermore, to recognise that there wouldn’t be caches to find and give Favourite points to without our community’s ingenious hiders, all Premium members who own a geocache, will receive 20 extra Favourite points.
This caused great amusement in our household due to Naturesbyte’s reluctancy to parting with favourite points, he has accumulated the grand sum of 237 unused points, with the addition of the ‘bonus 20’ his total currently stands at 257. Can anyone beat this?

News & New Caches 72

One new traditional cache has been published since our last post and one event awaiting publication.

GCA47BR Mural by Glaslyn1 Traditional D2/T1.5

Event

GCA4CH4 9 Usual Suspects Get Puzzled by 9 Usual Suspects

When: Sunday 26th February, 2023
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB (Pete & Ann’s)
Time: 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Are you stuck on a puzzle cache? Maybe we can help one another with hints and some fresh ideas, so come and join us for an afternoon of puzzle fun.

Not interested in puzzles caches? Then still join us for a geochat, the Cache Bar will be open, hot drinks will be available on a self service basis and it wouldn’t be a 9US event without cake!

February Nosh & Natter

Please note this event will be Tuesday 28th, venue to be confirmed.

Signal’s Labyrinth Challenge, The Dragon’s Lair

Monday 6th February sees the end of the current labyrinth challenge and the beginning of the final labyrinth in this challenge, The Dragon’s Lair. Like the other maze challenges there are 2 souvenirs available, you must collect 50 points to earn the first souvenir and 500 points to earn the second souvenir.

Each labyrinth in Signal’s Labyrinth challenge has different point values for finding geocaches, Adventures, and bonus items. In the Dragon’s Lair finding a multi cache is worth the maximum 35 points, with the bonus item, hams, earning an extra 50 points. For some reason Geocaching HQ believe a dragons favourite food is ham! Like previous mazes the bonuses are awarded randomly. The maximum number of points you can earn for any cache log is 85 points.

Found an Adventure Lab Cache (Adventure Location)10
Found a Multi-Cache35
Found a Mystery Cache30
Attended an Event25
Found a cache with 10+ Favorite points20
Found a Signal’s Labyrinth item50
Found it*15

*Log a Found it on any other cache type

This challenge runs until Monday 3rd April 2023. If you’ve earned all 12 available Signal’s Labyrinth souvenirs from each of the 6 labyrinths, you will be awarded the “You brought Signal back to HQ” souvenir.

Save the bees: but which ones? (Menai Bridge) by North Wales Wildlife Trust

Nothing to do with geocaching but may bee of interest. This free lecture about bees and the threats they face is by Jonathan Garratt. You do not have to be a member to attend. For more information and to book visit North Wales Wildlife Trust .

When: Wednesday 22 February 2023
Where: Thomas Telford Centre, Mona Road, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5EA
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm

News & New Caches 63

Just one new cache, a tricky puzzle to get the brain cells working.

GCA29G4 Let’s Arrange It! by Clueless_Goose Mystery/Puzzle D4/T2

Event Reminder
GCA2704 9 Usual Suspects Visit Penrhyn Quarry by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T1
Where: Blondin Restaurant, Zip World Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda LL57 4YG
When: Sunday 4th December
Time: 2.30pm-3.30pm

To celebrate the arrival of our slate geocoins we are visiting Penrhyn Quarry the source of the slate. The Blondin Restaurant offers a combination of indoor seating and an outdoor terrace with views across the famous slate mine and over the turquoise waters of the lake in Penrhyn Quarry. According to their website, ‘it’s a modern, bistro-style venue featuring locally sourced delights’.

Coins will be available to purchase at £9.00 each.

PanIQ Room/Christmas Dinner 26th November

The weather might have been awful but that didn’t matter as all our planned adventures where for once inside. A pint in the Australia is always a good start to a day of fun and again was the perfect base while the ‘non competitive’ teams completed the challenge of the Christmas escape room. Did the best team win? Well, one team now holds the record for the fastest escape ever!
A big Thanks goes to Julie for arranging.
The Clairvoyants Curse returns in March, anyone interested in joining us for another fun day in the PanIQ Rooms and Australia?

PanIQ Rooms, 90 Stryd Fawr, Porthmadog LL49 9NW

GCA0TH4 Christmas Dinner – Nosh & Natter 52 by 9 Usual Suspects

It was our first event at Tafarn Yr Afr/Goat Inn, the olde world pub with the lovely Christmas tree and festive music made for a very Christmassy atmosphere. Pete’s ‘Home Bargains’ Christmas jumper lowered the standard and would have won the worst jumper in any competition. It was not long before everyone was seated and the food began to arrive. Gwenllian and Pete took the opportunity in a lull between courses to deliver the ‘Secret Santa’ presents, I must say there was a high standard of gifts this year. I’ll be very interested to see what Sion does with his wheels! I think we all ate far too much with this meal being one of the best we have had at a 9US Christmas Event. It was a shame the coffee & mince pies never showed up but I don’t think we had room for them anyway.

Tafarn Yr Afr/The Goat Inn, Glandwyfach, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL51 9LJ

Up and Coming Events

In the past, pre-covid, we have held events on New Years Eve and New Years Day. Should we re-start the tradition? Let us know your opinions by either messaging us or through the comments.

January N&N is scheduled for Wednesday 25th, due to local staffing problems and the general economic situation we are concerned that many pubs may not be open mid week or may have restricted opening hours, so we are considering moving N&N to either Friday 27th or Saturday 28th. We will review the situation early in the New Year.

Ski Sunday is coming to the Nantlle Valley in January, proposed date Sunday 15th. More details once plans have been finalised.

In February we are planning a puzzle solving event, with puzzle boxes and the ultimate challenge

Have you any suggestions for 9US events and adventures? All suggestions very welcome.