Tag: Geocaching Souvenirs

News & New Caches 87

Just one new cache and a couple of events to report since our last post.

GCA8FE7 Quiet time! by CheesyPasta Traditional D1/T1.5

GCA8D9R 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 57 by 9 Usual Suspects
For this months N&N we are back at the Anglesey Arms, lets hope for a lovely sunset!

When: Wednesday 31st May
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

Magic Maker Souvenir Event

To celebrate custom made geocaches HQ are awarding the Magic Maker Souvenir for anyone that attends or hosts a Magic Maker Event between June 13th to July 3rd 2023. We are please to announce our event has been approved. As part of the event we will be running a competition for favourite custom local geocaches giving everyone a chance to vote for the winner. Please nominate your chosen caches in your ‘will attend’ logs remembering to quote GC code.

GCA8D3G Maker Magic: 9US Get Creative…..

Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle. LL54 6BB
When: 1st July 2023
Time: 2.00pm-6pm (the bar will remain open until the last person leaves!)

North Wales Wildlife Trust

Looking for some inspiration for a wildlife garden? North Wales Wildlife Trust are holding an open day giving everyone the opportunity to explore their wildlife garden in Bangor. Advice from experienced wildlife gardeners will be available all morning. Free, no booking required but please sign in at the office.

When: Monday 15th May
Time: 10:00 – 13:00
Where: Llys Garth, Garth Road, Bangor

News & New Caches 86

We have just one new event for July and an event reminder to report since our last post.

GCA7B67 The Chens on Tour 2023 – Llandanwg by the Chens
When: Saturday 15th July
Where: Y Maes Caffi, Beach Car Park, Llandanwg LL46 2SD
Time: 11-11.30am

The Chens are a couple from Devizes, Wiltshire, and will be touring around Wales in their caravan. They would love to meet up with local and not so local geocachers while staying in LLandanwg.

Event Reminder

Just a quick reminder its N&N tomorrow night.

GCA72GP 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 56 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Wednesday 26th April 2023
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

Hope to see you there…….

Souvenir Challenges

Wheel of Challenges

Aprils Wheel of Challenges finishes on April 30th, there are only a few days left to reach the maximum cache find score of a 100 to qualify for all 3 souvenirs.
Are you ready to start the next challenge which starts on May 1st?

Mays Wheel of Challenges starts on May 1st and runs to June 4th, there are just 2 souvenirs to earn, easy and hard. To earn the easy souvenir you must earn 100 points, to earn the hard souvenir you must reach 1000 points. To help you keep track of your current point total it will be shown on your leaderboard. Here are this months point values :

Found a cache with 10+ Favorite points20
Received a Favorite point on an owned geocache50
Found it*10
*Log a Found it on any cache type including Adventure Lab® Locations

Blue Switch Day 2023

Prior to 2000, the U.S. military created and deployed satellites to produce accurate location information for military applications. Selective Availability restricted precise GPS data to the U.S. government. On May 2nd, 2000, the U.S. government “flipped the switch” and made accurate GPS available to all. The very next day, May 3rd, the first geocache was hidden.

Earn the Blue Switch Day 2023 souvenir by finding a geocache, Adventure Lab® Location, or by attending an Event between May 1st–3rd.

News & New Caches 85

Looks like everyone was out over Easter placing new caches, a good mixture of types, 3 Traditional, a Wherigo, Adventure Lab with bonus and an event all recently published.

GCA56PX Dylan gran by Dylansgran Traditional D2/T1.5
GCA70Q2 Reservoir Adventure by ClurPailing Traditional D2/T2
GCA70ZE Spring on the Seiont by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T2
GCA72H5 Cache y Cofi Dre by Clueless_Goose Wherigo D2.5/T1.5

Adventure Lab with Bonus Cache

Celtic Quest Created by RichieBlod 5 locations nonsequential

A circular route, see above map, following footpaths and back roads to visit ancients sites from the Neolithic period. Remember to collect the info for the bonus cache.

GCA714R Celtic Quest Bonus Cache by RichieBlod Mystery D2.5/T3

Event

GCA72GP 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 56 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Wednesday 26th April 2023
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

New Souvenir: Blue Switch Day 2023!

Prior to 2000, the U.S. military created and deployed satellites to produce accurate location information for military applications. Selective Availability restricted precise GPS data to the U.S. government. On May 2nd, 2000, the U.S. government “flipped the switch” and made accurate GPS available to all. The very next day, May 3rd, the first geocache was hidden.

Earn the Blue Switch Day 2023 souvenir by finding a geocache, Adventure Lab® Location, or by attending an Event between May 1st–3rd.

Aberlleiniog Castle Trail, Red Squirrels

Red Squirrel photo by Andy (YnysMonBirders)

If visiting Aberlleiniog Castle keep a look out for Red Squirrels. On a recent maintenance run we were rewarded by spotting high in the branches a Red Squirrel, as we watched it ran and jumped from branch to branch taking no notice of us. At this time of year they are easy to spot as the trees branches are bare only just coming into leaf, later in the summer when there is a full leaf canopy they will be much harder to see. This is the first time we have seen them here even though it is advertised they have been in residence for a while.

Return of the Glaslyn Ospreys

Aran, the male, returned on the 3rd April but sadly there is still no sign of his mate Mrs G, this would have been her 20th successful migration. The good news is that Aran has found himself another mate, an unrung female who he has been providing with fish and they have been seen mating.

Would anyone be interested in holding an event here? The centre caters for everyone with

  • Free car parking.
  • Toilets.
  • Disabled parking and access to the Visitor Centre and Toilets.
  • Dogs on leads welcome.
  • Picnic area with spectacular views.
  • A warm welcome from knowledgeable volunteers.
  • Steam trains on the Welsh Highland Railway passing nearby.

We suggest in June when, hopefully, there will be young in the nest and maybe have a picnic. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

CITO, Let’s Make Spaces for Wildlife

GCA5MYF CITO 2023 Season 1, Let’s Make Spaces for Wildlife by 9 Usual Suspects

This was the first 9 Usual Suspect CITO event that did not involve picking up litter. The activities ranged from making bat/bird boxes, insect/beetle buckets, bee-friendly seed bombs, nearly every attendee took something home.

Please let us know if your bat/bird boxes attract any residents and how many bees enjoy the flowers from the seed bombs.

Again we must thank everyone for attending and helping to make another successful 9 Usual Suspects event. A special mention goes to Bess’s Friends (Ray, the Woodwork Teacher and Julie) for all their hard work in manufacturing the bird/bat box, insect house kits and help in organising this event.

News & New Caches 82

We have no new caches or events to report since our last post.

Wheel of Challenges: First Challenge

Monday 3rd April sees the end of Signal’s Labyrinth Challenge and the beginning of the latest challenge series, Wheels of Challenges.

Are you ready for this new set of challenges?

The Wheel of Challenges first challenge is all about quantity, see how many caches and Adventure Lab® Locations you can find in a month. There is three new souvenirs to collect, easy, medium, and hard.

Easy: Find and log 5 caches to earn the first souvenir.
Medium: Find and log 10 caches to earn the second souvenir.
Hard: Find and log 100 caches to earn the third souvenir.

This challenge runs from April 3rd–30th. The May challenge will be announced on Tuesday 25th April.

CITO 2023 Season 1 Message

Message of thanks from Norman Hughes from the council

“Great work once again.
I have not been informed as to the intentions for the park however I will ask and let you know once I receive an update.
Please pass on our appreciation to all the volunteers involved during the weekend.”

New Section of Coastal Path from Aberogwen to Porth Penrhyn

Currently there is no public right of way along the coast from Aberogwen to Porth Penrhyn but this is all about to change with the opening of a new 3km section of the Wales Coastal Path. The existing route of the Wales Coastal Path takes an inland detour to Tal-y-bont, through LLandygai and along the A5 to Porth Penrhyn where it once again joins the coast.

Map showing existing Coastal Path

Back in May 2021 Gwynedd Council issued a ‘Public Footpath Creation Order’ to establish a public footpath through the Spinnies Nature Reserve and the Penrhyn Estate. After successful negotiations between Gwynedd Council, Penrhyn Estate and North Wales Wildlife Trust the new route was agreed. The new path will be accessed through the Spinnies main gate, then follow the estate wall crossing over Afon Ogwen via the old estate bridge.

It will then follow the coast giving spectacular views over Traeth Lafan before joining the existing Coastal Path at Porth Penrhyn.

New Route

There is no date set for the opening of the path but all work is expected to be completed enabling the path to open spring 2023.

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 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

2023 Souvenirs in the UK

Here is a list of current and forth coming souvenirs available in the UK. We expect CITO season 1 & 2, International Geocaching Day and International Earthcache Day to be confirmed very soon.

Full Sail 2023

Full Sail 2023 earn by finding any geocache, attending an Event, or completing an Adventure Lab® Location from January 1st–8th 2023.

2023 Hider Souvenir

2023 Hider Souvenir is available from 1st January to 31st December 2023, to qualify either place a cache or hosted an event that is published is 2023.

Signal’s Labyrinth The current Castle Maze challenge that started on 5th December 2022 runs to 6th February 2023. 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 Castle Maze attending an event is worth maximum 35 points, with lanterns being the bonus item earning an extra 50 points. Like previous mazes these 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
Attended an Event35
Found a Mystery Cache30
Found a Multi-Cache30
Found a Letterbox Hybrid25
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

The final Labyrinth Challenge starts on 6th February 2023 and runs to 3rd April 2023. Details and point scoring yet to be announced.

Labyrinth Challenge Bonus Souvenir this will be awarded to anyone who has earned the 12 Labyrinth Souvenirs.

Mega Event Souvenirs in UK

GC9MAXX London Calling 2023 Mega Event 11am-4pm Saturday, April 29, 2023

GCA2BBR Piratemania 15 Pirates Royalists & Roundheads Mega Event 10am-10pm 29th July, 2023

GC9V5J3 Milton Keynes UK Mega 2023 Mega Event 10am-4pm Saturday 5th August. 2023

News & New Caches 64

There have been no new Geocaches or Adventure Labs published since our last post.

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 has great views across the famous slate quarry with the fastest zip wire in the world running just metres away.

Coins will be available to purchase at £9.00 each.

Signal’s Labyrinth, Escape the Castle

Monday 5th December sees the end of Signal’s Hedge Maze challenge and the beginning of the Castle Maze. 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 Castle Maze attending an event is worth maximum35 points, with lanterns being the bonus item earning an extra 50 points. Like previous mazes these 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
Attended an Event35
Found a Mystery Cache30
Found a Multi-Cache30
Found a Letterbox Hybrid25
Found a cache with 10+ Favourite points20
Found a Signal’s Labyrinth item50
Found it*15

*Log a Found it on any other cache type

This challenge runs until Monday 6th February, 2023

CITO News

Tuesday we collected gloves, a couple of different design bag hoops to review and 7 boxes of bags each containing 200 bags! I’m not sure how much litter the council think we are going to pick but they are making sure we never run out of bags. Our next litter pick will be early 2023. Please contact us if you know of an area that could do with a tidy up.

9 Usual Suspects 2022

I am in the process of compiling a YouTube video of our 2022 Geocaching adventures. Have you any photos/video that you would like to be included? If so please email them to me, ann@birdbrook.net, in original or large format.

Snag the Tag

Toil: 854 – There’s a storm abrewing…

Congratulations Glyn on winning the race to find the cat, looks like a storm was definitely a brewing!