Out for a walk today with a small detour for a cache :)
GC23HQ8 - Hidden Bramhall - Anyone For Tennis?
Hidden along side some Tennis courts in a tree. Nice hide, except the path was a bit overgrown and covered in dog mess. nice!!!! not.
Whilst we were out, dropped the "2008 Wisconsin Geocoin" into the Fred Perry Way - The Troll Bridge cache.
Now only 4 caches off 100 finds so planning a walk tomorrow to meet this milestone.
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Ynys Môn aka Anglesey - Part 2
25/08/2010
Two Caches along Benllech Beach today whilst the family sat in the sun and played on the beach. Yes its not all Geocaching whilst off on holiday ;) . Benllech Beach is one of the best beaches in Anglesey and is very popular so get there early to bag a decent pitch.
Two Caches along Benllech Beach today whilst the family sat in the sun and played on the beach. Yes its not all Geocaching whilst off on holiday ;) . Benllech Beach is one of the best beaches in Anglesey and is very popular so get there early to bag a decent pitch.
GC1V3RA – Benllech Bonanza
This was a hard cache to find and possibly a bit in the dangerous side if your not careful. Hidden is a previous rock slide from some time ago. The GPS was bouncing all over the place and would not settle which did not help. The cache was a few metres away from the final zero'd co-ordinates. Spent about 30 mins looking for this one.
GC26EWC – Benllech Berries
There are lots of ruins of small huts/buildings along the beach and the cache is near to one of these. Easy to get to via the coastal path or along the beach.
27/08/2010
GC1WB9R – Dingle Dangle Benllech
Back to give this cache another go. No muggles about this time so easier to find without having to stealth search. Sometimes some of these are so obvious that you cant see them for looking. A good spot by the wife who found it straight away.
GC1Z6DT – Royal Charter Church
Another good find from the wife who found it almost straight away. A 35mm film canister with the usual log and pencil.
GC1Z6A6 – Literary Brothers Cache
A drive up the road to the last cache of the day. This cache was just off the road on a circular route near to a monument. Small clip lock box with some swaps in.
28/08/2010
Final cache of the holiday as we left Anglesey to head home.
GCFF46 – Between the Bridges
Nice to see a big cache and a great hiding spot too. Found a “2008 Wisconsin Geocoin” (Shape of a cow) which wasn't logged in the cache, so dipped it in and out to log its latest mileage.
Lauched the "Maritime Cannon" Travel Bug in this cache, our third and final TB (6th in total). Visited the Church Island. A woman was putting fresh flowers into the small church and invited us in for a look. Nice views of both the bridges from here. Recommend going up to the war memorial monument as you get a better view from up top. A great place to spot birds across the estuary and mud flats. Saw lots of waders and gulls. This is a great example of a cache leading you to a place you wouldnt have normally found.
Ynys Môn aka Anglesey - Part 1
Just back from a weeks holiday on Ynys Môn aka Anglesey, just off the coast of North Wales. Whilst visiting the island we took the opportunity to find some caches as we went around.
21/08/2010
On the way to Anglesey we stopped off at the RSBP in Conway and after a walk around the nature reserve there, did a cache just outside the reserve.
GCKKKN - Watch the Birdie
The cache was hidden in amongst a stony bank onto the estuary. Great hiding place but not good when the GPS bounces about a bit and you have a few stones to look under. Good view of the Conway Suspension Bridge from this cache.
22/08/2010
A visit to Holy Island and the beach of Porth Dafarch for the day.
GC1FE2D - Porthdafarch Heights
Great stealth needed for this cache! Although hidden well, it was in plain view of a caravan park and lots of muggles were sitting out enjoying the sun. The cache itself was hidden inside a green plastic bag that was the quietest of materials!!! very noisy which didn't help my stealth tactics.
En-route back to where we were staying we did a few caches on
GC23EMF – A5 Drive-By – Historic Route / Llwybr Hanesyddol
Cleverly hidden micro cache. I was almost going to give up on this one until I spotted a piece of wire hanging that when pulled, produced the cache container. Mirco's are okay, but I find its sometimes a pain to re roll the log small/thin enough to get back into the containers. Remember if your out caching to take a pair of tweezers with you. A very handy piece of kit for retrieving logs that have fallen down into the container and not easy to get out,
GC23EKQ – A5 Drive-By – FAB
Nice easy find this time with the favourite 35mm film canister. Sometimes these are so obvious you miss them looking to hard.
23/08/2010
GC1BF4Q – Ghost House
A visit to Trearddur Bay and the Ghost House cache. Its not really a Ghost/Haunted house, but it does have that look and feel to it, almost like it should be in an episode of Scooby Doo. Launched the fourth of my travel bugs (first this holiday) – Search and Rescue II
GC23EMP – A5 Drive-By – Now this is a view!
Another one in the A5 series. Parking near to a great view of the Menai Straights and both bridges. A good size cache in a lay by.
Decided to do a section of the A5025 back to our accommodation in a Cache and Dash style. Quick stops in lay bys.
GC1V4QZ – 3 Camps Conumdrum
Small cache hidden just off the road.
GC1YQFJ - “Please share my Umbrella”
One of the problems with caching on a busy road is how do you look like your not Geocaching and not look suspicious!. One of the logs for this cache reads “A very busy road so lots of my daughter pretending to be sick!!!” Interesting tactics. Usually the cars are going that fast that you dont normally get a second glance. Find sometimes its best to just get on with it.
GC1YQFE – The Ancient Station
Final one of the day for Drive by Caching.
24/08/2010
We went to Beaumaris for a look around and a visit to the castle, however the heavens opened and the rain and wind made the visit not pleasant. We were hoping to go on to Puffin Island, but no chance in this storm. So bravely between downpours we did two micro caches.
GC11JKD – (Almost a Concentric Castle View)
As we didn't want to get soaked by the weather as the Castle was ruins and open, the next best thing was a quick look at the outside and pass by. Will do it another time. So this cache was well placed near to the castle.
GC227KP – Beaumaris Micro
***SPOLILER***, just to point that out before you read on about this particular cache.
This is the second cache I have found that is hidden within a post of some description. The cord attached to a sign and then going under the post cap gave it away. Not sure if these are a good idea as you need to stand there and force the cap off but we managed signed the log and carefully replaced the cap correctly.
Moving back inland and to get some shelter from the weather;
GC2AT33 – Can't see the wood for the trees!
Still raining we stopped in a small lay by and I went to retrieve the cache. This lay by leads to a Squirrel Walk, pity it was raining as Anglesey is one of the only places left in the UK where you can find the native Red Squirrel. I found the cache and returned to the car to check its contents and sign the log. As I opened the car door and bent inwards, the wife let out an almighty shreek, as sitting on my back was a large spider. LOL. Soon put the little!! (which was of course HUGE!!) spider back in the undergrowth.
GC1TKG8 – The Behind Bodafon Scuttle TB Hotel by the Sea
Though we would visit a TB Hotel and launch another Travel Bug – second this holiday “Aces High”. There was another cache that we went to look for before this one “Dingle Dangle Benllech” but with a muggle working on his van near by it was difficult to look. Wish we had put our walking boots on for this one or wellies as the path to the TB Hotel was fairly muddy. Got there in the end after doing some jumps and odd strides to miss the worse of the mud.
GC1WB9J – The Old Kissing Gate
Tweezers were needed on this one. The log was well and truly within the cache container. Signed and moved on after carefully rolling very tightly back.
The weather by this time had cleared up and the sun came out. We decided to do our first Earth Cache, and a nearby cache as well. There were actually 2 Earth Caches, just in walking distance of each other.
GC1V3R7 – This chicken got religion!
The nearby cache to the Earth Caches an short walking distance of the parking spot. There was a large plastic spider in this cache so swapped that out and thought about giving it to the wife based on the earlier arachnid incident.
GC1G4KQ – Din Lligwy Village
Din Lligwy is an ancient Romano-British settlement and is built on and from a weathered pavement of Carboniferous Limestone. The settlement covers an area of about half an acre and has been dated to the 4th century AD. The site includes the remains of 9 huts, two of which are circular. Remains of hearths and the debris they contain indicate that iron was smelted here.
This well-preserved and well-known complex of stone houses is located within a stone enclosure on Anglesey. Its an interesting combination of round and rectangular huts, which some historians have suggested is indicative of an Iron Age villa. The houses stone walls and defences comprise limestone slabs, standing up straight on their edges. Some of these buildings would have been domestic, others were workshops. Finds including metalwork, pottery and glassware indicate a settlement which continued into the Roman period.
21/08/2010
On the way to Anglesey we stopped off at the RSBP in Conway and after a walk around the nature reserve there, did a cache just outside the reserve.
GCKKKN - Watch the Birdie
The cache was hidden in amongst a stony bank onto the estuary. Great hiding place but not good when the GPS bounces about a bit and you have a few stones to look under. Good view of the Conway Suspension Bridge from this cache.
22/08/2010
A visit to Holy Island and the beach of Porth Dafarch for the day.
GC1FE2D - Porthdafarch Heights
Great stealth needed for this cache! Although hidden well, it was in plain view of a caravan park and lots of muggles were sitting out enjoying the sun. The cache itself was hidden inside a green plastic bag that was the quietest of materials!!! very noisy which didn't help my stealth tactics.
En-route back to where we were staying we did a few caches on
GC23EMF – A5 Drive-By – Historic Route / Llwybr Hanesyddol
Cleverly hidden micro cache. I was almost going to give up on this one until I spotted a piece of wire hanging that when pulled, produced the cache container. Mirco's are okay, but I find its sometimes a pain to re roll the log small/thin enough to get back into the containers. Remember if your out caching to take a pair of tweezers with you. A very handy piece of kit for retrieving logs that have fallen down into the container and not easy to get out,
GC23EKQ – A5 Drive-By – FAB
Nice easy find this time with the favourite 35mm film canister. Sometimes these are so obvious you miss them looking to hard.
23/08/2010
GC1BF4Q – Ghost House
A visit to Trearddur Bay and the Ghost House cache. Its not really a Ghost/Haunted house, but it does have that look and feel to it, almost like it should be in an episode of Scooby Doo. Launched the fourth of my travel bugs (first this holiday) – Search and Rescue II
GC23EMP – A5 Drive-By – Now this is a view!
Another one in the A5 series. Parking near to a great view of the Menai Straights and both bridges. A good size cache in a lay by.
Decided to do a section of the A5025 back to our accommodation in a Cache and Dash style. Quick stops in lay bys.
GC1V4QZ – 3 Camps Conumdrum
Small cache hidden just off the road.
GC1YQFJ - “Please share my Umbrella”
One of the problems with caching on a busy road is how do you look like your not Geocaching and not look suspicious!. One of the logs for this cache reads “A very busy road so lots of my daughter pretending to be sick!!!” Interesting tactics. Usually the cars are going that fast that you dont normally get a second glance. Find sometimes its best to just get on with it.
GC1YQFE – The Ancient Station
Final one of the day for Drive by Caching.
24/08/2010
We went to Beaumaris for a look around and a visit to the castle, however the heavens opened and the rain and wind made the visit not pleasant. We were hoping to go on to Puffin Island, but no chance in this storm. So bravely between downpours we did two micro caches.
GC11JKD – (Almost a Concentric Castle View)
As we didn't want to get soaked by the weather as the Castle was ruins and open, the next best thing was a quick look at the outside and pass by. Will do it another time. So this cache was well placed near to the castle.
GC227KP – Beaumaris Micro
***SPOLILER***, just to point that out before you read on about this particular cache.
This is the second cache I have found that is hidden within a post of some description. The cord attached to a sign and then going under the post cap gave it away. Not sure if these are a good idea as you need to stand there and force the cap off but we managed signed the log and carefully replaced the cap correctly.
Moving back inland and to get some shelter from the weather;
GC2AT33 – Can't see the wood for the trees!
Still raining we stopped in a small lay by and I went to retrieve the cache. This lay by leads to a Squirrel Walk, pity it was raining as Anglesey is one of the only places left in the UK where you can find the native Red Squirrel. I found the cache and returned to the car to check its contents and sign the log. As I opened the car door and bent inwards, the wife let out an almighty shreek, as sitting on my back was a large spider. LOL. Soon put the little!! (which was of course HUGE!!) spider back in the undergrowth.
GC1TKG8 – The Behind Bodafon Scuttle TB Hotel by the Sea
Though we would visit a TB Hotel and launch another Travel Bug – second this holiday “Aces High”. There was another cache that we went to look for before this one “Dingle Dangle Benllech” but with a muggle working on his van near by it was difficult to look. Wish we had put our walking boots on for this one or wellies as the path to the TB Hotel was fairly muddy. Got there in the end after doing some jumps and odd strides to miss the worse of the mud.
GC1WB9J – The Old Kissing Gate
Tweezers were needed on this one. The log was well and truly within the cache container. Signed and moved on after carefully rolling very tightly back.
The weather by this time had cleared up and the sun came out. We decided to do our first Earth Cache, and a nearby cache as well. There were actually 2 Earth Caches, just in walking distance of each other.
GC1V3R7 – This chicken got religion!
The nearby cache to the Earth Caches an short walking distance of the parking spot. There was a large plastic spider in this cache so swapped that out and thought about giving it to the wife based on the earlier arachnid incident.
GC1G4KQ – Din Lligwy Village
Din Lligwy is an ancient Romano-British settlement and is built on and from a weathered pavement of Carboniferous Limestone. The settlement covers an area of about half an acre and has been dated to the 4th century AD. The site includes the remains of 9 huts, two of which are circular. Remains of hearths and the debris they contain indicate that iron was smelted here.
This well-preserved and well-known complex of stone houses is located within a stone enclosure on Anglesey. Its an interesting combination of round and rectangular huts, which some historians have suggested is indicative of an Iron Age villa. The houses stone walls and defences comprise limestone slabs, standing up straight on their edges. Some of these buildings would have been domestic, others were workshops. Finds including metalwork, pottery and glassware indicate a settlement which continued into the Roman period.
GC1G45H – Din Lligwy Burial Chamber
The Burial Chamber is an ancient communal burial place which when excavated in 1908 the bones of several men, women and children were found. There were also remains of animal bones, shells, flint tools, pottery and a bone pin in the chamber. The pottery style indicates it was in use from the late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Limestone Fissures In Anglesey the Carboniferous limestone is cut by numerous fissures that are filled with Mesozoic sediments (sedimentary dykes, neptunian dykes).
These places are steeped in history and tell many stories.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Poynton Pool and Randoms
Off to do some more caching today. Bit random in our choices today, but it was good fun and the caches wernt that far apart. Yes we did miss some on the way but we will be back to do those another day.
GC10VPY - Norbury Brook
Started out at Norbury Brook, which is one of serveral caches place around brooks in the area. This one was hidden under the old caches favourate - the felled tree. They make great hiding places for caches. This cache was of a reasonable size and had some good swaps.
GC1KWFC - A walk Around Poynton - Poynton Pool
After a short car journey we parked up at Poynton Pool. Im supprised that there are not more caches around the pool as there are some great hiding places here. Again this cache was place in.... yes another felled tree. Only a 35mm canister to sign.
On walking round the pool we spotted a Terrapin sunning itself on a log in the water. There have been Terrapins at Poynton Pool since I was a young nipper (No I didnt put them them there!), and occasionally you get to spot one.
GC1T31F - herb's Home Cache
A nice walk around the pool to the other side and Poynton Park where they hold an annual show (which is in a fortnight on the bank holiday weekend). Found this cache nice and easily, another 35mm film canister.
GC24MQR - Deanwater
Another short drive to this cache. Thought we would do a bigger cache today as we have had lots of small 35mm caches recently. This cache was excellent once located. Its a good job I was wearing long pants though as the cache was hidden in amongst some brambles. Its one of those that you dont notice it unless you are looking for it. Some good swaps in this one, so left some good swaps in return.
GC10VPY - Norbury Brook
Started out at Norbury Brook, which is one of serveral caches place around brooks in the area. This one was hidden under the old caches favourate - the felled tree. They make great hiding places for caches. This cache was of a reasonable size and had some good swaps.
GC1KWFC - A walk Around Poynton - Poynton Pool
After a short car journey we parked up at Poynton Pool. Im supprised that there are not more caches around the pool as there are some great hiding places here. Again this cache was place in.... yes another felled tree. Only a 35mm canister to sign.
On walking round the pool we spotted a Terrapin sunning itself on a log in the water. There have been Terrapins at Poynton Pool since I was a young nipper (No I didnt put them them there!), and occasionally you get to spot one.
GC1T31F - herb's Home Cache
A nice walk around the pool to the other side and Poynton Park where they hold an annual show (which is in a fortnight on the bank holiday weekend). Found this cache nice and easily, another 35mm film canister.
GC24MQR - Deanwater
Another short drive to this cache. Thought we would do a bigger cache today as we have had lots of small 35mm caches recently. This cache was excellent once located. Its a good job I was wearing long pants though as the cache was hidden in amongst some brambles. Its one of those that you dont notice it unless you are looking for it. Some good swaps in this one, so left some good swaps in return.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Benja Fold - Cache and Dash
Today's Cache and Dash.
GC24CP6 - Hidden Bramhall - Benja Fold
I've been meaning to do this cache for a while and today presented an ideal opportunity whilst I was in the area. Parking free on a Sunday in the local car park so made it even better to do. This cache is on one of the local footpaths in the area. Nice easy find and back to the car fairly quickly after some cache swaps and signing the log book.
GC24CP6 - Hidden Bramhall - Benja Fold
I've been meaning to do this cache for a while and today presented an ideal opportunity whilst I was in the area. Parking free on a Sunday in the local car park so made it even better to do. This cache is on one of the local footpaths in the area. Nice easy find and back to the car fairly quickly after some cache swaps and signing the log book.
Mega Events
I could not make the recent Geocaching 2010 Mega Event in Scotland this year, however the next couple of years dates and locations are out so will be planning to make a visit to these.
Click the links to go to the sites
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Useful links for Geocaching
Logs and Stash Cards
So where do you get your logs from? I use this site for the micrologs as they are the right size. Print out on A4 paper and then I cut them up to size. There is also a stash card you can print out and use for your caches.
http://www.techblazer.com/geocaching-log-sheets/
Geocaching shops
There are a good number of Geocaching shops on the internet which can be used to purchase trackable items such as tags and patches. I tend to use UKGeocachers or Geotees but others are available :)
http://www.ukgeocachers.co.uk/
http://www.geotees.eu/shop/
http://www.cachezone.co.uk/
http://www.ukgeocache.com/
http://www.thegeocachingshop.com/
http://www.geotastic.com/
Geoswag
My favourate place for Geocaching Swag is of course the pound shop. You can get some really good items to place in caches.
So where do you get your logs from? I use this site for the micrologs as they are the right size. Print out on A4 paper and then I cut them up to size. There is also a stash card you can print out and use for your caches.
http://www.techblazer.com/geocaching-log-sheets/
Geocaching shops
There are a good number of Geocaching shops on the internet which can be used to purchase trackable items such as tags and patches. I tend to use UKGeocachers or Geotees but others are available :)
http://www.ukgeocachers.co.uk/
http://www.geotees.eu/shop/
http://www.cachezone.co.uk/
http://www.ukgeocache.com/
http://www.thegeocachingshop.com/
http://www.geotastic.com/
Geoswag
My favourate place for Geocaching Swag is of course the pound shop. You can get some really good items to place in caches.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Caches Published
The three new caches that were planted at the weekend have now been published on www.geocaching.com.
One of them has already had a First To Find not long after going live. Shouldnt be long before someone else finds the others.
One of them has already had a First To Find not long after going live. Shouldnt be long before someone else finds the others.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Whats in your Cache
With releasing some caches today, thought I'd explain what I put into them.
For the typical cache container I have picked the old favourate of the tupperware box with the click locks. The lid contains a rubber seal that when shut creates a waterproof seal to stop water and condensation getting into it.
To help conseal the cache, I have painted the outside of the box using green and black paint. As the outside of the box is smooth and shiny, its is important to lightly sand the surface to give the paint something to key to. You can purchase camo bags to place caches in if you don't want to paint one. However, some hiding places don't need you to paint/disguise the container. I have a selection of unpainted ones for decent hiding places.
The label on the underside of the cache is printed from the internet and stuck to the underside using gaffer tape. Gaffer tape has a better adhesive than other tapes and allows the label to stick to the underside of the lid. Gaffer tape also has the ability to resist water so lasts longer. The area for the label was masked off during painting.
Log Book
The log book is a blank notepad from a pack purchased from the pound shop. The label on the front is again from the net. A plastic bag protects the log book incase and water gets into the container. For the smaller containers I use the same log books, but cut them down using a sharp craft knife and steel rule (remember to watch the fingers and use a bread board).
Pencil
The log book requires a writing implement, so I have placed a pencil into the cache. I need to place a pencil sharpener into the cache at a later point. These days most of the Cachers do have a writing implement with them, however you do need to leave one just in case.
FTF
First To Find. With a new cache, its tradition to leave something for the first person to find the cache. You can purchase FTF items such as badges etc from Geocaching shops on the internet, however I have decided to make something more personal using a blank keyring and printing out an FTF label. The rear of the label has a message to the FTF person. (You'll have to find one of my caches to read it).
Cache Card
The Cache Card has been created and printing out, explaining what the cache is and what geocaching is for in case a Muggle finds the cache. The card is covered with sticky plastic to protect it from the elements.
Swaps
To start the cache off, I leave a small handful of swaps for the kids when they find the cache. These differ cache to cache and depending what I have lying around in my swaps bag.
For the typical cache container I have picked the old favourate of the tupperware box with the click locks. The lid contains a rubber seal that when shut creates a waterproof seal to stop water and condensation getting into it.
To help conseal the cache, I have painted the outside of the box using green and black paint. As the outside of the box is smooth and shiny, its is important to lightly sand the surface to give the paint something to key to. You can purchase camo bags to place caches in if you don't want to paint one. However, some hiding places don't need you to paint/disguise the container. I have a selection of unpainted ones for decent hiding places.
The label on the underside of the cache is printed from the internet and stuck to the underside using gaffer tape. Gaffer tape has a better adhesive than other tapes and allows the label to stick to the underside of the lid. Gaffer tape also has the ability to resist water so lasts longer. The area for the label was masked off during painting.
Log Book
The log book is a blank notepad from a pack purchased from the pound shop. The label on the front is again from the net. A plastic bag protects the log book incase and water gets into the container. For the smaller containers I use the same log books, but cut them down using a sharp craft knife and steel rule (remember to watch the fingers and use a bread board).
Pencil
The log book requires a writing implement, so I have placed a pencil into the cache. I need to place a pencil sharpener into the cache at a later point. These days most of the Cachers do have a writing implement with them, however you do need to leave one just in case.
FTF
First To Find. With a new cache, its tradition to leave something for the first person to find the cache. You can purchase FTF items such as badges etc from Geocaching shops on the internet, however I have decided to make something more personal using a blank keyring and printing out an FTF label. The rear of the label has a message to the FTF person. (You'll have to find one of my caches to read it).
Cache Card
The Cache Card has been created and printing out, explaining what the cache is and what geocaching is for in case a Muggle finds the cache. The card is covered with sticky plastic to protect it from the elements.
Swaps
To start the cache off, I leave a small handful of swaps for the kids when they find the cache. These differ cache to cache and depending what I have lying around in my swaps bag.
More FPW Caches
Ive hidden another 3 caches along the Fred Perry Way this morning and submitted the logs to be published.
Great walk this morning, looking for hiding places along the way. Managed to hide 3 so far today.
Fred Perry Way - Railway Bridge - GC2CMNH
Allotment View - GC2CMNM
Fred Perry Way - Broken Tree - GC2CMNY
Caches are yet to be approved and listed.
Great walk this morning, looking for hiding places along the way. Managed to hide 3 so far today.
Fred Perry Way - Railway Bridge - GC2CMNH
Allotment View - GC2CMNM
Fred Perry Way - Broken Tree - GC2CMNY
Caches are yet to be approved and listed.
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