Tag: Letterbox

News & New Caches 97

At last we have our two new caches on Lon Eifion replaced, still can’t believe they went missing before they were published. Both are different containers than the original but are custom made. There are no hints so we have increased the difficulty ratings.
GCAAH62 Lon Eifion, Depend by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D3/T1
GCAAH55 Lon Eifion, On the Defence 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D4/T1

This is the first Victoria’s Post Box cache in North Wales and only the second in Wales.
GCAB5H7 Victoria’s Post Box #170 – Llanfaglan by Clueless_Goose Letterbox D3/T1.5

All the other caches published this week are premium member only.

Premium Member Only

GCABBGQ Togetherness by Clueless_Goose Traditional D3.5/T1.5

Congratulations to Dawn, escapefromwork, on her 4th anniversary of geocaching and placing a new series of 5 caches to mark this occasion.
GCABEYH Happy Anniversary by escapefromwork Traditional D1/T1
GCABEYT Happy Anniversary 2 by escapefromwork Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCABEZ7 Happy Anniversary 3 by escapefromwork Traditional D2/T1.5
GCABEZM Happy Anniversary 4 by escapefromwork Traditional D2/T1
GCABF07 Happy Anniversary 5 by escapefromwork Traditional D1.5/T1.5

Event Reminders

It is a busy week for events with 3 local and the start of Piratemania.

GCAB60H CITO, A487 South, Quick Pick by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T4

When: Sunday 23rd July 2023
Where: Lab-by, Caernarfon By-pass
Time: 11-12pm

Please note there is a very steep bank involved in this litter pick. Parking is limited at the  published coordinates, if anyone could car share it would be appreciated.
Note: This not a souvenir event
I am hoping that the current weather forecast for Sunday is not correct.

GCAB75D The great garden of Gwynedd by Young Heed Event D1/T1.5
When: Monday 24th July 2023
Where: Garth Point Garden, Bangor
Time: 5-5.30pm
Young Heed is attending a conference in Bangor and would like to meet local and not so local geocachers.

GCAB6AZ 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 59 by 9 Usual Suspect D1/T1

For this months N&N we will be visiting The Cube a kebab/burger van at Brynrefail, a quick catch up before we head off for Piratemania. Our last event here was way back in April 2017. Let’s hope for a dry, warm, sunny evening!

When: Wednesday 26th July 2023
Where: The Cube, Brynrefail, Llanberis
Time: 6.00pm to 7.30pm or when the last person leaves

Please note the earlier start time.

Coastal Watch, Ponta Delgada, Azores

One of the guns still in place from WW2

GC7ZR5T JOKER PDGT – COASTAL WATCH – P. Delgada CANONS by PALHOCOSMACHADOD D5/T4

This letterbox cache explores a WWII defence post high on Pico da Castanheira over looking the city of Ponta Delgada and its harbour. Portugal was neutral throughout the war but the Azores Islands laying in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 870 miles west of Lisbon and 1,200 miles southeast of Newfoundland, Canada were strategically very important to both sides.

The CO pointing out the importance of the guns siting in relation to the harbour

After meeting the cache owner, Luis, at an event we took up his kind offer for a guided tour of this fascinating place. The three guns are all still in situ and in remarkable condition seeing they have been in place since 1940 with no maintenance since 1969 when operations here ceased.

Into the tunnels

On the cache page there is a map of the underground tunnels and rooms, it is advisable to bring a copy, as well as studying the attributes. The condition of the tunnels is remarkable, no sign of damp and seeing they are open to all there is no vandalism or graffiti.

The doors lead to one of the gun emplacements

The hunt for the coordinates of the final hide guides you around the battery exploring the different rooms and tunnels. As with all military establishments your rank determined conditions and facilities, with the Battery Commanders having proper toilets!

A latrine for the lower ranks

The tunnels eventually lead to the underground observation post which would have been manned at all times, here there was a machine gun, only the concrete mount remains today. All defences of the battery were positioned for a seaward attack.

View of the sea and Ponta Delgada from the observation post.

This is another one of those places that we would never have known existed let alone visited if it had not been for Geocaching. Having Luis as a guide with his knowledge of the history of the fortifications added to our understanding of how it operated and its position strategically.

We certainly did!