News & New Caches 128

A couple of new caches plus 4 events have been published since our last post:

Parc y Dre after its recent council make over

GCAMC25 Parc y Dre by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2
GCAMJ97 The White Rabbit by seanx90 Earthcache D1.5/T1.5

Events
GCAMM4Z 9 Usual Suspects Cake and a Brew Event D1/T1
When: 23.3.2024
Where: Parc Dre, Caernarfon
Time: 1-1.30pm

GCAMVAX 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 66 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: 28.3.2024
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

GCAMKWG Six Peaks Adventure – Hello from Llandderfel by terrapintim & GeoPaul Event D1/T1
When: 22.4.2024
Where: Bryntirion Inn, Llandderfel, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7RA
Time: 7-8pm

GCAMKV0 Six Peaks Adventure – Snowdon Meet & Greet by terrapintim & GeoPaul D1/T4
When: 23.4.2024
Where: Snowdon Summit
Time: 12-12.30pm

Old Anglesey Aluminium Site Demolition of Chimney Stack

Orthios Site in Holyhead Continues With Demolition

March 20th sees the demolition of the iconic 122 meter chimney stack which has stood for last 50 years at the old Anglesey Aluminium site. The demolition is to make way for the new Anglesey Freeport.

Would you like to push the button? Holyhead RNLI are running a fund raising draw in the memory of their crew member Iwan Williams to press the button signalling the demolition.

Single prize draw entry starts from just £3. Entrants to the draw must be 18 years-old or over, but the winning entrant can bring a friend or family member to accompany them to the event (this person can be under 18).

To enter visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/holyhead-chimney-stack-prize-draw

Village Hall Week 2024

The Village Hall Series started in 2013 with the first cache placed by GeoJaxx in Denmead, Hampshire.  It has steadily grown in popularity and currently can be found in 72 counties in England, Scotland, Wales, The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

​The geocaches can be set in any hall which is used by the community for local groups or available to hire for private functions (but not social clubs and halls for members only). They have various names including village hall, community hall, parish hall, reading room, church hall to name a few. There are thousands of halls within our communities so there is plenty of scope for the series to grow considerably. 

There are very few Village Hall caches here in North Wales and only one event in the whole of Wales but the following profile badges are available to download for:

  • Placing a cache/Hosting an event
  • Attending a village hall event
  • Finding a village hall cache

News & New Caches 127

Just one new event and an event reminder to report since our last post:

GCAMJH4 CITO 2024 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T3.5
When: 23.3.2024
Where: Parc Dre, Caernarfon
Time: 11am-1pm
Another CITO Event meeting on the old bridge. We will be litter picking the usual area but hope to extend to include the beginning of Lon Eifion cycle path. An area in desperate need of a tidy up. By attending this event you will earn CITO 2024 Season 1 souvenir and this event will also count towards the March Equinox souvenir.

Event Reminder

GCAJE8C Carrotking 🥕👑 @ White Rabbit 🐰 by Carrotking Event
When: 10.3.2024
Where: Promenade Shelter, Llandudno
Time: 5-5.30pm
Carrotking is visiting our area from Vorderer Odenwald, Germany and would like to meet up with other geocachers to discuss our great hobby.

March Equinox Souvenir

This week Geocaching HQ announced an extra souvenir for the March equinox.

The equinox happens twice a year when the Sun shines directly over the equator. It occurs because of Earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits the Sun. When Earth reaches a certain point in its orbit, neither the North nor the South Pole is tilted towards the Sun, making the sunlight spread evenly over the Earth’s surface. This celestial event helps us understand more about our planet and its journey around the Sun!

To earn this souvenir, geocachers must find a total of 3 geocaches, event caches, and/or Adventure Lab® Locations between March 17th–23rd, 2024. Why three caches? Because March is the third month of the year!

Cotoneaster and the Plant Swap Scheme

Do you have cotoneaster growing in your garden? Did you know that this non-native plant has a detrimental effect on some of the most plant and insect-rich habitats in the UK? As it spreads here in North Wales it smothers limestone grasslands and is also beginning to colonise our redundant quarries. Limestone grasslands are some of the most plant and insect-rich habitats in the UK and can have over 40 plant species per square meter.

Photo Christine Winston Flickr

Cotoneaster berries were once thought to be a good winter food source for birds but now we are aware of the harm this plant is doing to our environment. Birds eat the berries that then pass through their digestive systems leaving the seeds intact and viable causing the progressive spread. Acting as a seed source, garden cotoneaster is escalating this issue. Cotoneaster is now considered in the top ten species having a negative impact on our protected sites in North Wales.

What is the Plant Swap Scheme?
The Plant Swap Scheme aims to reduce the spread of invasive non-native cotoneaster onto our landscape by removing cotoneaster from our gardens and therefore this seed source.
By ridding cotoneaster from your garden you are eligible to apply for a FREE £20 National Garden Gift voucher or The Woodworks Garden Centre voucher.

For details how to remove cotoneaster from your garden and apply for your voucher click on this link North Wales Wildlife Trust

News & New Caches 126

We have a few new caches to report since our last post:

GCAJ1GP Tŵr Marcwis by RichieBlod Multi D1.5/T2.5 Premium member Only

As part of our Leap Day celebrations 29 new caches went live on Lon Eifion. There is a varied mix of D/T’s and containers, some easy and some not so. Warning, there are no hints but there may be clues in some of the titles. The lack of hints is reflected in difficulty rating.

GCAJNTY Lon Eifion, Another Tree by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAJNTZ Lon Eifion, Araneae by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1.5
GCAJNV0 Lon Eifion, Afon Seiont by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D4.5/T1.5
GCAJNV2 Lon Eifion, BOT by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAJNVC Lon Eifion, Posted by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAJNVE Lon Eifion, The Crossing by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D4/T1.5
GCAJNVJ Lon Eifion, Rail Bridge by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D3/T1.5
GCAJNVP Lon Eifion, Fron Goch View by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAJNVQ Lon Eifion, Gated by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAJNVW Lon Eifion, Meet Ivy by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAJNWJ Lon Eifion, Meet the Bison by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAJNW6 REALLY SideTracked – Bontnewydd by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D5/T1.5
GCAK6FF Lon Eifion, Afon Gwyrfai Bridge by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1.5
GCAK7VY Lon Eifion, Fence by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAK6FZ Lon Eifion, Meet Nagini by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1.5
GCAK6GC Lon Eifion, Gate Crossing by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAK6MK REALLY SideTracked – Dinas by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D1.5/T1.5
GCAK6MY Lon Eifion, Meet Kermit by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1.5
GCAK6N1 Lon Eifion, Hole in One! by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAK6N4 Lon Eifion, Meet Hazel by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D3/T1.5
GCAK6N6 Lon Eifion, Rotcelfer by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1
GCAK6NC Lon Eifion, Deathly Hollows by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAK6NE Lon Eifion, Meet Roland by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAK6NJ Lon Eifion, Gates by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T1.5
GCAK6NP Lon Eifion, Oak Tree by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D4/T1.5
GCAK6NW Lon Eifion, Sycamore Gap by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2/T2
GCAK6P3 Lon Eifion, Design by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D2.5/T1.5
GCAK69C Lon Eifion, Tafarn Pennionyn by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D3.5/T1.5
GCAK6PA Lon Eifion, Inigo Jones by 9 Usual Suspects Traditional D3/T1.5

Leap Day Events Review

To celebrate Leap Day 2024 we hosted 3 events.

Starting with a breakfast event at Caffi Gerlan, GCAJWJ6, a conveniently located cafe to begin the day’s adventures. During this event our first batch of new caches went live. After hearty breakfasts accompanied by plenty of geochat we regrouped in the car park at Groeslon for the start of our CITO, GCAKA5E, and the walk to Caernarfon.

A grey day but luckily the rain held off. As well as finding the 29 new caches we collected 3 bags of general litter leaving the cycle path looking a lot tidier. Congratulations to Bess’s Friends who found their 8,000 find.

We completed our mission in a record time leaving us with several hours before our final event of the day. Once everyone was reunited with their cars we all headed to 9US headquarters for well earned refreshments before heading back to Caernarfon for our final event, GCAJXR3, at the Anglesey Arms. 

A few photos from our day:

CITO 2024 Season 1

Friday 1st March saw the start of CITO Season 1 which runs to Friday 31st May. To earn the souvenir simply attend a CITO event. We are in the process of planning another litter pick around Parc Dre and Afon Seiont area of Caernafon.

Piratemania Update

GCAH4MB Piratemania 16 Dinton Pastures, Eight Bells Nigh! 
Where: Dinton Pastures Countryside Park, Sandford Lane, Hurst, Wokingham RG10 0SU
When: July 25th-29th

Booking for Piratemania 16 camping is now open. Have you booked? We have!

Click here to book your berth here Piratemania 16

News & New Caches 125

One new cache has been published since our last post:

GCAKTK4 The Old road. by ArfonDJ Traditional D1.5/T1.5

Community Celebration Events

Community Celebration Events (CCE) will return in 2025 as part of the 25th Geocaching Anniversary celebrations. This event type, with its own icon, is a special community party/gathering held during significant milestone years in geocaching. The last Community Celebration Events were hosted between 2020 and 2022 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of geocaching.

Anyone who has opened a geocaching account before 20th February, 2024, placed both a geocache and hosted an event from 1st January to 31st December, 2024 will receive a Community Celebration Event. Those who receive a Community Celebration Event must host it between 1st January, 2025 and 31st December, 2025. Events must be a minimum of two hours, and cannot overlap with events associated with a Mega-Event, Giga-Event, or Block Party. Each primary account hosting a Mega-Event, Giga-Event, or Block Party in 2025 will also receive a Community Celebration Event.

Ski Sunday Event Review

GCAJMC4 9 Usual Suspects Present Ski Sunday 2024 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T2

After a week of heavy rain we were very glad that the rain held off and it was not too cold on the slopes of the Nantlle valley. A good turn out for this years Ski Sunday with the competitive competition taking place on the ski jump. Pete did a great job in seeing fair play and ensuring everyones jump distances were recorded. With the main action in the tent the refreshments of snacks, fondue, cake and drinks were consumed in the Cache Bar. To celebrate Steve’s birthday Mossfamilymacc brought ample supplies of Prosecco and non-alcoholic Prosecco which was appreciated by everyone and especially by our junior attendees. A big thanks to Pete for the 3D printed event souvenirs, medals and the amazing dragons.

Medal Table
1st GeoJade2013 with a distance of 89.78 meters
2nd Steve, Mossfamililymacc with a distance of 87.35 meters
3rd Welshgirl11 with a distance of 82.96 meters

The Gallery

News & New Caches 124

Two new caches, a traditional and earthcache, to report since our last post.

GCAKH87 B5113 by hyruleknight007 Traditional D1.5/T1.5
It looks like the parking is a bit out or it is a very long walk.

Premium Member Only
GCAKEDN Moe’s Tavern by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D4.5/T5

Event Reminder

GCAJMC4 9 Usual Suspects Present Ski Sunday 2024 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T2

Ski Sunday is returning to the Nantlle Valley. We can’t guarantee perfect snow conditions for our afternoons skiing but we are sure there will be plenty of banter and lots of laughter.
This year we will be attempting the ski jump! Will we discover another ‘Eddie the Eagle’?
Wrap up warm, join us either as a competitor or spectator for a fun filled afternoon. Light refreshments including hot drinks and, of course, the Cache Bar will be available throughout the afternoon. 

When: Sunday 18th February 2024
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Time: 2-5pm

Please note parking will be at the house not in the field.

Piratemania 2024

Look who has made the cache page for this years Piratemania:

Will you be joining this famous pair? We are still waiting for camping booking to open but you can log a ‘will attend’ here:

GCAH4MB Piratemania 16 Dinton Pastures, Eight Bells Nigh! 
Where: Dinton Pastures Countryside Park, Sandford Lane, Hurst, Wokingham RG10 0SU
When: July 25th-29th

News & New Caches 123

One new cache and an update on our Leap Day celebrations:


GCAC12F Banksy on Tour by RichieBlod Puzzle D3/T1.5 Premium Member Only

Leap Day Update

We can now confirm there will be 2 events, a CITO and a new series of 29 caches going live as part of our Leap Day celebrations.

GCAJWJ6 The Extra Day, Leap Year 2024 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Thursday 29th February 2024
Where: Caffi Gerlan, Inigo Jones Slate Works, Groeslon
Time: 10.30-11.15am

GCAKA5E Lon Eifion CITO by 9 Usual Suspects D1/T2
When: Thursday 29th February, 2024
Where: Groeslon Carpark
Time: 11.30am

GCAJXR3 9 Usual Suspects, Leap Day Nosh & Natter 65 by 9 Usual Suspects
When: Thursday 29th February 2024
Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG
Time: 6pm-9pm or when the last person leaves

North Wales Wildlife Trust

North Wales Wildlife Trust are holding several events over half term, these events are free, open to everyone, children and adults alike. If interested booking for these activities is essential, follow the link to their web page.

Love Your beach! Porth Neigwl Beach Clean, Nr Abersoch
When: Wednesday 14th February, 2024
Where: Porth Neigwl, Abersoch, Gwynedd
Time: 11am-2pm

One in a series of winter beach cleans with aim to remove lots of rubbish and help local wildlife. As well as cleaning the beach they will be looking for shark egg cases and nurdles.
The event organiser speaks basic Welsh, please feel free to use Welsh or English during this event.

Activity Day at the Spinnies Aberogwen
When: Thursday 15th February, 2024
Where: Beach Carpark, Spinnies Aberogwen
Time: 12pm-3pm

A bit of half term fun aimed at everybody, whether you come with a family or not. There will be a walk around this small coastal reserve, have a look for birds and do some fun activities for children.
Bring sturdy footwear, warm clothing and some snacks or a packed lunch..
The event organiser speaks Welsh, please feel free to use Welsh or English during this event.

Traeth Borth Wen and Porth Y Corwgl Beach Clean, nr Rhoscolyn, Anglesey
When: Sunday 18th February, 2024
Where: Traeth Borth Wen carpark Rhoscolyn, Holyhead LL65 2NJ
Time: 10.30am-1pm

One in a series of winter beach cleans with aim to remove lots of rubbish and help local wildlife. As well as cleaning the beach they will be looking for shark egg cases and nurdles.
The event organiser speaks basic Welsh, please feel free to use Welsh or English during this event.

What are Nurdles?

Taking action on nurdle pollution | Fauna & Flora

Nurdles are small plastic pellets about the size of a lentil, that are melted down to make almost all plastic products. Billions of nurdles are used each year to make products, but thousands of tonnes also spill directly into the environment around the world.
For more information on nurdles go to THE GREAT NURDLE HUNT

News & New Caches 120

Since our last post we have one new Earthcache and an Event:

GCAJN3E War Memorial #1977 ~ Bangor by 74jen Earthcache D2/T1.5

Events

GCAJMC4 9 Usual Suspects Present Ski Sunday 2024 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T2

Ski Sunday is returning to the Nantlle Valley. We can’t guarantee perfect snow conditions for our afternoons skiing but we are sure there will be plenty of banter and lots of laughter.

This year we will be attempting the ski jump! Will we discover another ‘Eddie the Eagle’?

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. 

When: Sunday 18th February 2024
Where: Plas Gwernoer, Nantlle LL54 6BB
Time: 2-5pm

Event Reminders

We have 2 events in the forth coming week:

GCAHZKC 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 64 7-9pm Snowdonia Parc, Waunfawr
When: Thursday 25th January, 2024
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

First N&N for 2024. Please note this event is on Thursday night not Wednesday.

GCAHCV4 9 Usual Suspects Pop a Lock 2-4pm The PortaCabin, Cwm y Glo, Llanberis
When: Saturday 27th January, 2024
Where: The PortaCabin, Brynrefail, Llanberis
Time: 2-4pm

Why not join us for a lock picking workshop where our expert Cemlyn, MFW, will be on hand to demonstrate and instruct us on the use of racks, hooks, combs and jigglers, he may let you have a play with his bump and ball picks! All tools will be provided.
Light refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.

Virtual Cache Award Update

Are Virtuals BACK?!? - PodCacher: Geocaching Goodness

Thank you for all the comments and ideas of where to place our Virtual Reward Cache. There are so many places here in North Wales that deserve a virtual cache from historic sites to fantastic landscapes, we are spoilt for choice. Should it be placed some where accessible to everyone or maybe a trek to a location that is rarely visited? So many questions to be answered that we have decided to hold an event to discuss all the possibilities followed by a vote to decide the final location.

Watch this space for further details.

News & New Caches 119

A couple of new earthcaches and an Ad Lab in a stunning mountain location with a bonus cache to report since our last post.

GCAJDN7 Victorian Drinking Fountain by 74jen Earthcache D2/T1
GCAJ9AC Alveolar Weathering by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D2.5/T2.5 note Premium Member only

Yr Eifl created by Clueless_Goose Sequential
This Adventure Lab explores the mountain ranges of Pen Llŷn. The adventure begins in the car park and takes a gradual uphill climb to Bwlch yr Eifl, then onward to the top of Mynydd Gwaith. You will then head back down to the bwlch and up Garn Ganol to the summit of Yr Eifl and highest point on Pen Llŷn. You’ll finally follow the trail to Tre’r Ceiri and ultimately head back down to the car park picking up the bonus cache:

GCAJ5A0 Yr Eifl by Clueless_Goose Mystery D2.5/T4

Geocaching Statistics for 2023

Most geocachers like numbers and statistics, to fill a grid is often what drives us to find those extra and more difficult caches. Geocaching HQ put together stats:

9US Event Stats

2023 was a very busy year for 9 Usual Suspects here is some statistics on our achievements:
We hosted 26 events, 11 of which were Nosh & Natters and 3 were CITO’s.
We had 70 geocaching accounts register a find on an event with our event at the SS Denham the most popular having 40 logged attended, a record for us and one that will be difficult for us to beat.

Can You Help?

We are looking for someone with a sewing machine who would be prepared to make us some camouflage bags to be used in a new series we are planning to publish as part of our Leap Day celebrations.

We will be supplying all materials. For more details please contact us either in the comments below or email us at talktous@9usualsuspects.uk

News & New Caches 118

We have 2 Earthcaches and 3 Events published since our last post:

Premium Member Only
GCAJ24B War Memorial #1969 – Beddgelert by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D1/T1
GCAHP83 Fossil Hunt by MrMagnaDefender Earthcache D3/T2.5

Events

GCAHZJ0 CITO, A487 North, Quick Pick 10.30-11.30am D1/T3
When: Friday 19th January, 2024
Where: Lay by A487 North, Caernarfon
Time: 10.30-11.30am
Please note this event is on a Friday

GCAHZKC 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 64 7-9pm Snowdonia Parc, Waunfawr
When: Thursday 25th January, 2024
Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ
Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves

GCAHCV4 9 Usual Suspects Pop a Lock 2-4pm The PortaCabin, Cwm y Glo, Llanberis
When: Saturday 27th January, 2024
Where: The PortaCabin, Brynrefail, Llanberis
Time: 2-4pm

2024 9US Geocaching Event Calendar

We have decided to move Nosh & Natters to a Thursday night due to the continued uncertainty of some venues opening week nights.

20th January GCAHZJ0 CITO, A487 North, Quick Pick 10.30-11.30am D1/T3 (Please note this event is on a Friday)
25th January GCAHZKC 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 64 7-9pm Snowdonia Parc, Waunfawr
27th January GCAHCV4 9 Usual Suspects Pop a Lock 2-4pm The PortaCabin, Cwm y Glo, Llanberis
18th February Ski Sunday
29th February Leap Day 2024 Nosh & Natter 65 7-9pm
16th March CITO 2024 Season 1
28th March Nosh & Natter 66 7-9pm
25th April Nosh & Natter 67 7-9pm
30th May Nosh & Natter 68 7-9pm
27th June Nosh & Natter 69 7-9pm
24th July Nosh & Natter 70 7-9pm
25th-29th July Piratemania 16, Eight bells nigh!
3rd August GCAAB24 South East UK Mega 2024 by South East UK Mega 2024 Team
The Mega Event will be on Saturday 3rd August 2024 from 10am-4pm
Camping and Side Events will run all week from 29th July to 5th August 2024
17th August International Geocaching Day
29th August Nosh & Natter 71 7-9pm
15th September CITO 2024 Season 2
26th September Nosh & Natter 72 7-9pm
12th October International Earthcache Day
31st October Nosh & Natter 73 7-9pm
30th November Christmas Dinner Nosh & Natter 74 7-9pm
31st December Farewell 2024

News & New Caches 117

A couple of new caches to report since our last post:

GCAH73T Happy Christmas 2023 by escapefromwork Traditional D1/T1.5
GCAA66Y War Memorial #1964 – Colwyn Bay by The Magna Defender Earthcache D1.5/T1.5

Event Reminders

GCAGXT5 9 Usual Suspects Say Goodbye 2023 by 9 Usual Suspects

Our last event of 2023 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!
A new venue for us, we will be in the garden room. This is a small venue so please log “will attends” to ensure we book enough space for everyone.
When: 31st December, 2023
Where: Scoops, 8 Palace St, Caernarfon LL55 1RR
Time: 11am-12pm

GCAGY4V 9 Usual Suspects Say Hello 2024 by 9 Usual Suspects

Our first event of 2024! Why not join us at Traeth Lafan Nature Reserve?
When: 1st January, 2024
Where: Bangor LL57 3YH
Time: 12-12.30pm

Depending on how awful the weather is, after the event we invite you to join us to explore part of the new section of the Wales Coastal Path and find the following cache:

GCA9KNY Bath House Ruins View by Qniu25 Traditional D2/T2.5

Please note after all the rain we have had this path will be wet and muddy.

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 2024 be a year full of fun and adventures.