There has been lots of caches published since our last post:
GCAV1CG YOSM #0115 Porth Ysgaden by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2 GCATH1R Abersoch REBORN by rubenxamber Traditional D1/T1.5 GCATH2E Dune Discoveries by rubenxamber Traditional D2/T1.5 GCATJC8 Abersoch’s Beachside Mystery by rubenxamber Traditional D1/T1 GCATJD5 Abersoch Pre-Beach Treasure by rubenxamber Traditional D1/T1
View from Sailors Secret
GCATJBM Sailor’s Secret by rubenxamber Traditional D1/T1 GCATRHJ Lobster’s Lair: Potted Treasure by rubenxamber Traditional D1/T1.5 GCATRGX Dockside Delight by rubenxamber Traditional D1/T1.5 Multi GCAV82C It’s all Shakespeare to me by Clueless_Goose Multi D3.5/T1.5 Earthcache GCATK97 Royal Charter Memorial by 74jen Earthcache D2.5/T3 Mystery GCATXCK Age of AI by Clueless_Goose Mystery D3/T2.5 Wherigo GCATD9A YOSM #1127 Douglas Hill by Clueless_Goose Wherigo D2.5/T3 Event GCAV1Z4 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 69 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1
Cosmic Quest Challenge
The Cosmic Quest starts on July 22nd and runs to September 1st with the possibility of three souvenirs available, two to be individually earned and one by the geocaching community reaching a target of 15 million fuel points.
See the table below for information about how many units of fuel different geocaching actions generate:
Activated a trackable
1
Attended an Event
3
Received a Favorite point on an owned geocache
2
Found an EarthCache
5
Found it*
1
*Logged a Found it on any other cache type, excluding Webcam Caches.
Players can earn the Super fuel cacher souvenir by generating 20 units of fuel and players can earn the Ultra fuel cacher souvenir by generating 100 units of fuel.
We have several new caches to report. Is this due to a slight improvement in the weather?
GCATDNK Bwlch Cwm Dulyn by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T3.5 GCAT0GF YOSM #1113 Twthill by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2.5 GCAT0H8 YOSM #1114 Penmynydd by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GCAT0J2 YOSM #1115 Mynydd Llwydiarth by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T3 GCATC9J YOSM #1126 Garnedd Goch by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T4 GCATCNW Llysfaen Walk by Cymroboi Traditional D1.5/T2.5 GCATDKK Up and over the bridge by CaraThom D2/T3
Premium Member Only GCAT50Q YOSM #0314 Garn Pwllheli by Clueless_Goose Traditional D2/T2.5
It is nice to see five new additions to the YOSM series here in North Wales. YOSM is a new numbered series. Ye Ole Survey Monument (YOSM) is a captivating series of caches that pays homage to the remarkable legacy of OutForTheHunt’s YSM series (GC45CC). YOSM caches are strategically positioned at or near Trig Points. These triangulation stations have played a pivotal role as surveying landmarks, contributing to the mapping of expansive territories.
Event Reviews
Ray’s Birthday GCAN2QB Meet and Greet, Mine’s A Pint. by Bess’s Friends
Happy Birthday Ray from all your geocaching friends. A lovely event to celebrate Ray’s big birthday in the perfect location, the highly acclaimed Bragdy Cybi. And, yes, they can organise a piss up in a brewery!
A Great Day Out GCCAN2QT Meet and Greet, Tanygrisiau. by Bess’s Friends
What a great day we had. We were picked up by Julie’s taxi, a service I can highly recommend, which we had booked well in advance! Not knowing how long it was going to take us to walk back our taxi was parked in the small parking area by Llyn Mair not the station carpark which gates shut at 4pm. We all followed our guide Ray up through the very pretty woods to Tan y Bwlch station. With plenty of time to spare before our train to Tanygrisiau we enjoyed a coffee from the station cafe. I love these beautiful old steam trains. The journey takes you through some stunning scenery which is enhanced by travelling on the old train.
At Tanygrisiau we joined Ali & Bry for the official bit of the event and of course more refreshments. The walk back roughly following the rail tracks takes you through some beautiful countryside and woodlands. Being in the company of the CO’s we were guaranteed a find of the 3 geocachers en route even though they struggled to spot a couple of the hides due to the increased foliage.
We were very lucky with the weather, though overcast it stayed dry and was not too hot. Of course our day would not be complete without a P&P stop….. the Oakeley Arms Hotel obliged.
A very BIG Thank You to our hosts for the day….. Just need a few more caches along the route to give us an excuse to repeat the adventure!
Cost of the train from Tan y Bwlch to Tanygrisiau was adult £7.50 dogs £1.00. We purchased our tickets with cash on the train. The 5.5 mile walk took us 2.5 hours.
Another very quiet week for geocaching, just one new event and a couple of reminders:
GCARXD8 SideTracked – Abegale and Pensarn by Bradshaw65 Event When: 28.6.2024 Where: Abergele & Pensarn Station Time: 12.15-12.45pm
A quick event at this popular railway station. Note plenty of free parking.
Event Reminders
This is TONIGHT!
GCAN2QB Meet and Greet, Mine’s A Pint. by Bess’s Friends When: 14.6.2024 Where: Bragdy Cybi, Unit 4a, Penrhos Business Park, Holyhead. LL65 2FD Time: 6.30-9pm Join Bess’s Friends to celebrate Ray’s big birthday at the highly acclaimed Bragdy Cybi. We can recommend the beer and let’s see if they can organise a piss up in a brewery!
GCCAN2QT Meet and Greet, Tanygrisiau. by Bess’s Friends When: 18.6.2024 Where: lakeside Cafe, Tanygrisiau Time: 12-12.30pm
Since our last post a new Earthcache, Event and 3 Traditionals have been published:
Earthcache GCARH7C Church Micro 15169…Llanfairpwllgwyngyll by ECOBAKE Earthcache D2/T2
Traditional Caches GCARHF1 Y Foryd: Hide the Bird by Clueless_Goose Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Premium Member Only GCAR9TA Pack your trunks by Skylark65 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GCARJBP Nant y Pandy by CheesyPasta Traditional D1.5/T1.5
Event GCARMJM 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 68 by 9 Usual Suspects When: Thursday 27th June 2024 Where: Parc Snowdonia, Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 4AQ Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
For this months Nosh & Natter we are back at the Snowdonia Parc, Waunfawr.
Moe’s Tavern Event Update
photo courtesy of RichieBlod
We had proposed Sunday 14th July for this event but after checking the tide timetable we find high tide is in the middle of the afternoon, so we are postponing this event until Sunday 15th September.
Event Review
GCAQVE7 9 Usual Suspects Celebrate Their Virtual Award by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1.5
It was so nice to sit outside in the warm sunshine on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon to catch up with our regular attendees and to meet cachers holidaying locally. The brave and energetic climbed the 115 steps to the top of the tower to enjoy the spectacular far reaching views. We would like to thank Delyth and her team for the delicious refreshments and making us all so welcome. I’m sure we will be back here…
GCAPJD7 9 Usual Suspects – Nosh & Natter 67 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1 When: Thursday 30th May 2024 Where: Anglesey Arms, Harbour Front, Caernarfon LL55 1SG Time: 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves
GCAQVE7 9 Usual Suspects Celebrate Their Virtual Award by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T1.5 When: Sunday 2rd June Where: Anglesey Column Time: 3-4pm We are returning to the Anglesey Column to celebrate the publication of our virtual cache. Why place our virtual cache here? Because from the viewing platform at the top of the column you look out over our ‘patch’. Refreshments will be available from the cafe, but no purchases have to be made to attend this event. We can highly recommend the cakes……
June Solstice 2024 Souvenir
The solstice on June 21st marks the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere. To celebrate the solstice HQ are issuing a souvenir, to qualify simply find a cache of any type of geocache including events and Adventure Lab stages between 19th – 21st June.
Just 2 new traditional caches have been published since our last post:
GCAP46W Can you see the monument by Coxystar79 Traditional D1/T1.5 GCANYPN Porth Swtan byTheAngleseyClarkes Traditional D1/T1.5
Please note there will be NO Nosh & Natter this month, but they will resume in May.
Llanfaglan Church
GC8DH3W Church Micro 12800…Llanfaglan by 9 Usual Suspects Multi D2/T1.5
While enjoying a guided history tour of Caernarfon we met Ifor Williams who takes care of this lovely old church on behalf of the charity Friends of Friendless Churches. He has kindly offered to give us geocachers a guided tour of this fascinating church. The tour would last between 30-45 minutes. Our plan is to hold an event here, either a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, to include the tour and a BBQ or picnic just down the road by the ‘pirate ship’. Are you interested? Please let us know as we need to have a rough idea of numbers before making any further plans.
Blue Switch Day
On May 2nd, 2000 the U.S. government opened up accurate GPS technology for public use, prior to this day the technology had only been available to the US military. The very next day the first geocache was hidden and the beginning of the game we all love. Known as Blue Switch Day geocachers like to commemorate this day by finding a cache and earning a souvenir.
To earn this years Blue Switch Day souvenir simply find one geocache, attend an event, or Adventure Lab® Location between 2nd to 5th May, 2024.
With the column reopening to the public at the beginning of the year it was only a matter of time before we hosted an event here. The column closed to the public very shortly after we moved to Nantlle. Many times we have looked up at the Marquis and said ‘I bet the views are fab from up there’. We can now confirm the views are amazing. The 115 step climb to the top was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I’m not that confident when it comes to heights but the substantially built platform and railings made you feel very safe even when looking down over the edge.
The weather was not perfect but good enough to give us some incredible views, especially of the bridges and straits. After taking lots of photos and videos we all made our way back down the steps to join the not so brave attendees for some well earned refreshments in the new cafe. Another lovely afternoon spent with our geocaching friends.
For the geocacher there are currently 2 caches here, a multi and an earthcache. We highly recommend visiting, not just the column but also the cafe as it does a very good paned and homemade cakes.
For details on opening times, prices and history of the column follow this link Anglesey Column
Here are a few photos of our day:
Virtual Cache Award Update
We would like to thank you for all the comments and ideas of where to place our Virtual Reward Cache. After visiting Anglesey Column we have decided to place the virtual cache here, from the top of the column you look out across our ‘patch’. There will be another event for the launch of the cache…. watch this space!
Happy Easter! Since our last post a new series of 6 drive-bys with a seasonal theme have been published. Please note they are all premium member only.
GCANFM7 #1 Easter Egg Hunt 2024 by Squaddie101 Traditional D1/T1.5 GCANFMC #2 Easter Egg Hunt 2024 by Squaddie101 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GCANFMK #3 Easter Egg Hunt 2024 by Squaddie101 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GCANFMQ #4 Easter Egg Hunt 2024 by Squaddie101 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GCANFMT #5 Easter Egg Hunt 2024 by Squaddie101 Traditional D1.5/T1.5 GCANFMX #6 Easter Egg Hunt 2024 by Squaddie101 Traditional D1.5/T1.5
So, are you ready for the 115 step challenge to the top? Please note there is a charge to climb the steps to the viewing platform but not to attend this event. The cost to climb to the top of the column is for adults £7.50 and for children £3.50. Please note the climb is not recommended for children under 3 years.
GeoGuessr Souvenir
GeoGuessr, we love this game and spent many hours travelling the world playing this game in Covid lockdowns. So what is GeoGuessr? It is an interactive geography game that ‘drops’ players to random locations around the world using Google Street View, the objective being to guess where you are. Players must use their knowledge and deduction skills to guess their precise location. The more accurately a player guesses, the more points they earn.
A special limited-time collaboration between Geocaching HQ and GeoGuessr allow all geocachers a free trial of ten places inspired by real-world geocaching locations. By playing the game geocachers can earn a limited edition souvenir!
In order to earn the limited-time souvenir:
Play The Geocaching Challenge between March 26–April 12 and correctly identify at least one location.
Find the hidden tracking code on the completion message screen.
If you couldn’t find the hidden tracking code, don’t worry—a second tracking code will appear at the end of the game after guessing all ten locations. Discovering either tracking code will earn the souvenir.
NOTE: Geocaching HQ gives permission for these trackables to be discovered virtually.
The best experience is on desktop and this game will not appear in the GeoGuessr mobile app.
A new virtual cache on Anglesey has been published since our last post:
GCAJGPY Wonderful Views by familykemp Virtual D1.5/T3.5
Event Reminder 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
Event Reviews
GCAMJH4 CITO 2024 Season 1 by 9 Usual Suspects Event D1/T3.5 GCAMM4Z 9 Usual Suspects Cake and a Brew Event D1/T1 Saturday 23rd March saw us picking litter at our regular site Parc Dre, along the Afon Seiont and the woodland behind Tesco’s. We manage to extend this area to include part of Lon Eifion cycle path allowing attendees to find some of the caches placed for Leap Day.
Results of our Efforts
Despite the awful weather forecast of rain, sleet and snow, the day stayed dry though very cold. Surprisingly there was a very good turnout of hardy volunteers filling the trailer with all of the normal cans, bottles, fast food containers and general rubbish. After everyones hard work we regrouped at ‘base camp’ for hot drinks and cake which was accompanied by lots of geochat and general banter.
Here are a few photos:
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Drained & Exposed
We have all admired Thomas Telford’s incredible Pontcysyllte Aqueduct over the River Dee. Have you ever wondered what holds the water? This video may give you second thoughts about crossing the aqueduct either on foot or by boat.
For a great adventure we can highly recommend hiring a narrow boat from Anglo Welsh for a day trip from Trevor to Chirk. Cross the aqueduct, pass through the tunnels, cruise the picturesque canal, before turning at the Chirk turning point. An ideal place to have a P&P stop plus lunch at the Poachers Pocket before the return journey to Trevor. The cost of a days hire is very good value at £120 for a weekday or £180 for a weekend or Bank Holiday. Maximum of 10 passengers.
There are several geocaches and an Adventure Lab along the route.
So, are you ready for the 115 step challenge to the top? Please note there is a charge to climb the steps to the viewing platform but not to attend this event. The cost to climb to the top of the column is for adults £7.50 and for children £3.50. Please note the climb is not recommended for children under 3 years.
GCAN2QB Meet and Greet, Mine’s A Pint. by Bess’s Friends When: 14.6.2024 Where: Bragdy Cybi, Unit 4a, Penrhos Business Park, Holyhead. LL65 2FD Time: 6.30-9pm
GCCAN2QT Meet and Greet, Tanygrisiau. by Bess’s Friends When: 18.6.2024 Where: lakeside Cafe, Tanygrisiau Time: 12-12.30pm
Event Reminders
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.
GCAMM4Z 9 Usual Suspects Cake and a Brew Event D1/T1 When: 23.3.2024 Where: Parc Dre, Caernarfon Time: 1-1.30pm
Anglesey Column, a Brief History
The column was designed by Thomas Harrison to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo which took place on June 18th 1815. The building of the 27 meter tower commenced a year later in 1816 and was finished in 1817. It is built of limestone quarried from Moelfre quarry.
On the foundation stone there is an inscription in English, Welsh and Latin:
“The inhabitants of the counties of Anglesey and Caernarvon have erected this column in grateful commemoration of the distinguished military achievements of their countryman HENRY WILLIAM, MARQUESS OF ANGLESEY the leader of the British Cavalry in Spain throughout the arduous Campaign of 1807 and Second in Command of the Armies confederated against France at the memorable battle of Waterloo on the 18th of June 1815. Thomas Harrison Architect.“
Installing the statue
It was not until 1860 that the Paget family added the brass statute of Battle of Waterloo hero William Henry Paget, the first Marquess of Anglesey, to a plinth at the top of the fabulous landmark.
The Column was listed grade II as a building of special interest in 1952 – its designation was lifted to grade II* in 1992.
Due to the deteriorating condition of the Anglesey Column it was closed to the public in March 2012. In 2017, the 200th year of the column’s existence, a charity, the Anglesey Column Trust, was set up to look into the possibility of repairing and re-opening the column. Close to £1.4million was raised, with the majority being from The National Lottery Heritage Fund plus donations from local charities and general fund raising. The results are impressive, the column has a new staircase and a general makeover, the original tiny cottage has been extended to provide a cafe, toilets and information centre with nature trails currently being constructed in the grounds.
While visiting remember there are two geocaches here:
GCAJ1GP Tŵr Marcwis by RichieBlod Multi D1.5/T2.5 Premium member Only GC2G80B Geomon #7 Llanfair PG Blue Schist by The GeoBEATS Earthcache D1.5/T3.5
