Not a bad month for caching, a total of 207 caches found in the month, a cracking weekend in the Lake District, and 6 FTF's.
Series completed this month:
Wheaton Aston Walk - a nice stroll around the countryside and along the canal.
Max's Favourite Walk - a figure of 8 around Packwood House
Jason's Jaunt - a beautiful walk in the Lakes near Staverley
Cleobury Country Wanderings - 5 caches near Cleobury Mortimer
Rambling Along The River Rea - one DNF (the clue, a number, appears twice, very annoying)
Hinchwick Valley - nice series of 7 caches
I also managed to (finally) complete the infuriating Big Kids Challenge near Pelsall.
I've also managed to fill in a couple of gaps on my D/T grid, and also completed a cache find on every calendar date in May.
Caches found at time of posting.....2168
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Thursday, 28 May 2009
An Evening in Bracknell
I'm away on business today and tomorrow, and I'm booked into the Hilton Hotel, Bracknell for the evening. Hopefully I can get away from work about 6pm, and after a quick change at the hotel, provided the weather is favourable, I'll be out caching for a couple of hours.
I've got plenty of choice, as there seems to be alot of new caches in the area since the last time I went hunting around here.
There is a series of 20+ caches in Swinley Forest by "Lord of the Cachers" which sounds good, although it would involve a walk of about 6 miles, but I've looked at them on the map and I could just do half of them.
There is also a series called "Sign of the Times" around here, that appears to be a multitude of nano's on the back of road signs, so if the weather is a bit iffy, that could come in handy!
I've got plenty of choice, as there seems to be alot of new caches in the area since the last time I went hunting around here.
There is a series of 20+ caches in Swinley Forest by "Lord of the Cachers" which sounds good, although it would involve a walk of about 6 miles, but I've looked at them on the map and I could just do half of them.
There is also a series called "Sign of the Times" around here, that appears to be a multitude of nano's on the back of road signs, so if the weather is a bit iffy, that could come in handy!
Lake District - Day Three
Despite the weather forecast predicting some rain, Bank Holiday Monday proved to be a nicer day than Sunday, with sunshine all day and temperatures in the low 20's.
After packing up the tent and the kit, we decided to head into Windermere, park the car, and do a bit of a leisurely circular walking, taking in the banks of the lake, and of course a few caches along the way.
Nothing more to report! Oh, my neck got sunburnt!
Caches found at end of trip.....2134
Caches found at time of post.....2137, courtesy of 3 new caches within a couple of miles of home.
After packing up the tent and the kit, we decided to head into Windermere, park the car, and do a bit of a leisurely circular walking, taking in the banks of the lake, and of course a few caches along the way.
Nothing more to report! Oh, my neck got sunburnt!
Caches found at end of trip.....2134
Caches found at time of post.....2137, courtesy of 3 new caches within a couple of miles of home.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
The Lake District - Day Two
Day Two began nice and early with a hearty breakfast at the campsite, followed by a one and a half hour drive to Wasdale Head to the starting point of our trek to the summit of Scafell Pike.
The weather seemed to improve as we got closer, and when we arrived, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Lots of people around, and we only just about managed to park the car!
We were toying with the idea of going up to the top of Lingmell, and then across to Scafell Pike, but in the end we decided on the more conventional tourist approach, mainly so that I could grab The Path to Death or Glory on the way up.
I did find it, but on the way down, as a 10 minute search on the way up proved fruitless, and on the way down I found it straight away...isn't that always the way?
There were some fantastic views of Wast Water on the way up.
Finally, after almost four hours of steady climbing in the heat of the midday sun, we finally made it to the summit, where 2 more caches (one Trad, England's highest physical cache, and one Virtual, the highest cache in Engalnd) awaited us, along with the incredible views across the Lake District.
It was pretty busy on the top, must have been 200 people up there, and a constant stream of people leaving and arriving, we only just about managed a photo!
After a quick bite to eat and a drink, we started to make our way back down again. It's just as tough coming down, very hard on the knee joints!
Once back at the bottom, the day started to get weird. We were making a brew in the back of the Cachemobile, and a guy with his wife and two kids came up to us and asked us if we were camping at Wasdale, which obviously we weren't, and he asked us if we would give them a lift to the head of the valley so that they could get a bus back to their B&B near Keswick.
For those of you unfamiliar with Wasdale Head, it's a dead end up a 5 mile long road, and has no bus service! Apparently, some friends of theirs had told them they would meet them there and give them a lift, but they had called and let them down.
After a bit of a discussion, we decided that we could do far better than a lift to the bus stop, and as we were going to go for a bit of a drive anyway, we offered to take them back to their B&B, a journey of 15 miles in a straight line, but 43 miles on the road!
As we made our way north then east towards Keswick, somehow the conversation turned to geocaching, and the young lad, Daniel, seemed very keen, so I promised that when we got to their B&B, if there was a nearby cache, he could join me on the hunt. As luck would have it, a cache was to be found only 320ft from the car when we parked outside the B&B!
After a quick beer, Daniel and I plodded off to find the cache, and during our search his sister, Lucy, and his mother, Linda, joined in the search, and with 4 pairs of hands, the cache, HERRIES HOUSE - The Herries Chronicles, was soon found. I got Daniel to sign the log, and gave him the GC code and some brief instructions on how to join up and log the find....I have the cache on the watchlist!!!!
We returned to the bar, and said our goodbyes, but not before Mike presented us with a very nice bottle of red wine as recompense for our kindness! Nice one!!
An interesting day! At the end of it, I'd climbed the highest peak in England, found 5 caches (two more boxes filled in on the D/T grid), and met some interesting people!
I also realised whilst at Wasdale Head that I found the cache at Wasdale Head Inn last year, and forgot to log it, so that has now been rectified.
Caches found at the end of Day Two.....2128.
The weather seemed to improve as we got closer, and when we arrived, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Lots of people around, and we only just about managed to park the car!
We were toying with the idea of going up to the top of Lingmell, and then across to Scafell Pike, but in the end we decided on the more conventional tourist approach, mainly so that I could grab The Path to Death or Glory on the way up.
I did find it, but on the way down, as a 10 minute search on the way up proved fruitless, and on the way down I found it straight away...isn't that always the way?
There were some fantastic views of Wast Water on the way up.
Finally, after almost four hours of steady climbing in the heat of the midday sun, we finally made it to the summit, where 2 more caches (one Trad, England's highest physical cache, and one Virtual, the highest cache in Engalnd) awaited us, along with the incredible views across the Lake District.
It was pretty busy on the top, must have been 200 people up there, and a constant stream of people leaving and arriving, we only just about managed a photo!After a quick bite to eat and a drink, we started to make our way back down again. It's just as tough coming down, very hard on the knee joints!
Once back at the bottom, the day started to get weird. We were making a brew in the back of the Cachemobile, and a guy with his wife and two kids came up to us and asked us if we were camping at Wasdale, which obviously we weren't, and he asked us if we would give them a lift to the head of the valley so that they could get a bus back to their B&B near Keswick.
For those of you unfamiliar with Wasdale Head, it's a dead end up a 5 mile long road, and has no bus service! Apparently, some friends of theirs had told them they would meet them there and give them a lift, but they had called and let them down.
After a bit of a discussion, we decided that we could do far better than a lift to the bus stop, and as we were going to go for a bit of a drive anyway, we offered to take them back to their B&B, a journey of 15 miles in a straight line, but 43 miles on the road!
As we made our way north then east towards Keswick, somehow the conversation turned to geocaching, and the young lad, Daniel, seemed very keen, so I promised that when we got to their B&B, if there was a nearby cache, he could join me on the hunt. As luck would have it, a cache was to be found only 320ft from the car when we parked outside the B&B!
After a quick beer, Daniel and I plodded off to find the cache, and during our search his sister, Lucy, and his mother, Linda, joined in the search, and with 4 pairs of hands, the cache, HERRIES HOUSE - The Herries Chronicles, was soon found. I got Daniel to sign the log, and gave him the GC code and some brief instructions on how to join up and log the find....I have the cache on the watchlist!!!!
We returned to the bar, and said our goodbyes, but not before Mike presented us with a very nice bottle of red wine as recompense for our kindness! Nice one!!
An interesting day! At the end of it, I'd climbed the highest peak in England, found 5 caches (two more boxes filled in on the D/T grid), and met some interesting people!
I also realised whilst at Wasdale Head that I found the cache at Wasdale Head Inn last year, and forgot to log it, so that has now been rectified.
Caches found at the end of Day Two.....2128.
The Lake District - Day One
We arose early (well, early for us anyway) at 7am, loaded the X-Trail up and set off for the Lakes around 8am.
Following a brief "comfort break" at Sandbach Services (there was a cache there, obviously), and after battling our way through the Bank Holiday traffic, we finally arrived at the campsite just after noon.
Got the tent up in double quick time, and then realised that Julie had brought the pump for the air bed, but not the adaptor to plug it into the car!!!!! Luckily the guy setting up his tent next to us had one, and he kindly loaned it to me.
Had a quick brew, and as planned, made a short drive to Staveley to have a crack at the Jason's Jaunt series of caches, based on Jason and The Argonauts. I'd planned these in advance, and from the listings they seemed as though they may be tricky, as they were all micros except for the final bonus cache. As it turned out, all the micros were contained in a further container, that made them far easier to find, and we managed to find every single one, although a couple still needed a bit of a search. Managed to pick a further cache up that wasn't in the series, but was on the route, making 13 caches in all for the day, not a bad start for the weekend.
We got back to the car around 6.30pm, and got the kit out for a well-earned brew and a bite to eat, closely followed by an early night ready for our assault on Scafell Pike in the morning!
Unfortunately, the air bed decided to slowly deflate through the night, and we woke up on a cold hard floor.....never mind....
Report on Day Two to follow.
Total caches found at the end of Day One......2123.
Following a brief "comfort break" at Sandbach Services (there was a cache there, obviously), and after battling our way through the Bank Holiday traffic, we finally arrived at the campsite just after noon.
Got the tent up in double quick time, and then realised that Julie had brought the pump for the air bed, but not the adaptor to plug it into the car!!!!! Luckily the guy setting up his tent next to us had one, and he kindly loaned it to me.
Had a quick brew, and as planned, made a short drive to Staveley to have a crack at the Jason's Jaunt series of caches, based on Jason and The Argonauts. I'd planned these in advance, and from the listings they seemed as though they may be tricky, as they were all micros except for the final bonus cache. As it turned out, all the micros were contained in a further container, that made them far easier to find, and we managed to find every single one, although a couple still needed a bit of a search. Managed to pick a further cache up that wasn't in the series, but was on the route, making 13 caches in all for the day, not a bad start for the weekend.
We got back to the car around 6.30pm, and got the kit out for a well-earned brew and a bite to eat, closely followed by an early night ready for our assault on Scafell Pike in the morning!
Unfortunately, the air bed decided to slowly deflate through the night, and we woke up on a cold hard floor.....never mind....
Report on Day Two to follow.
Total caches found at the end of Day One......2123.
Friday, 22 May 2009
Lake District Here We Come!
I'm a bit over-excited today! A long weekend, a trip to The Lakes, Scafell Pike, and of course a few caches along the way!
We'll be up early in the morning so that we can get pitched at noon and spend the afternoon doing a series near Staverley, then a bit of pub grub followed by an early night. Up early on Sunday for the ascent of Scafell Pike so that I can complete my set of highest caches in England, Wales and Scotland at long last.
The weather forecast has been getting progressively better as the weekend draws nearer, the forecast for Sunday is almost cloud free, so we should get some great views as we climb.
Full report upon my return!
Caches found at time of posting......2110
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Chased.....by Chickens
Over the years, I've been chased by cows on many an occasion, once by an irate farmer, and even once by some sheep with an attitude problem, but today, a definite first....we were chased by chickens.We spent the day cocooned in waterproofs due to the persistent rain, and tottered around Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire in the process of grabbing 16 caches.
I didn't take many photos today, as it really was raining all day, except for the last hour when we got chased by chickens!
Nothing more to report, caches were OK, mostly micros, mostly easy, some good walking despite the rain!
Completed a series of 10 caches along the river Rea, then a small series of 5 through the countryside, and grabbed a couple of available ones en-route.
We had one DNF, which I think has gone missing, and one nano I nearly gave up on. Just as I was fiddling with the Oregon for the next cache, Julie cried "There it is!"....smug....
And here are the chickens, chasing us.....
Caches found at time of posting.....2097.
Saturday, 16 May 2009
What do you do when it's raining?
You go caching obviously!!!!!
Had a very pleasant days caching with Julie and the dog (Sophie), the rain kept off for most of the afternoon, just a couple of showers.
Parked up, and before we got to the first cache, Julie spotted an "urn" at the side of the footpath...just sitting there....for no reason. We exchanged glances, and I decided to open it....
Looked like someone's ashes, or it could have been sand and grit, who knows? Strange place to leave someone's ashes if that's what it was!
We had planned a 9 mile route, taking in series of 12 caches, plus 4 more just to the west, a cracking walk considering the weather, and no DNF's today, which makes a change!
Rain brings puddles, and puddles makes a dog happy....when we first had Sophie, she wouldn't go anywhere near water, now we have trouble keeping her out of it. Thankfully she had a "shake" straight away, rather than doing it right next to me like she normally does.
Last but one cach
e of the day, a Mighty Oak.
Caches found at time of posting.....2081.
Had a very pleasant days caching with Julie and the dog (Sophie), the rain kept off for most of the afternoon, just a couple of showers.
Parked up, and before we got to the first cache, Julie spotted an "urn" at the side of the footpath...just sitting there....for no reason. We exchanged glances, and I decided to open it....
Looked like someone's ashes, or it could have been sand and grit, who knows? Strange place to leave someone's ashes if that's what it was!
We had planned a 9 mile route, taking in series of 12 caches, plus 4 more just to the west, a cracking walk considering the weather, and no DNF's today, which makes a change!
Rain brings puddles, and puddles makes a dog happy....when we first had Sophie, she wouldn't go anywhere near water, now we have trouble keeping her out of it. Thankfully she had a "shake" straight away, rather than doing it right next to me like she normally does.
Last but one cach
e of the day, a Mighty Oak.Caches found at time of posting.....2081.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Lucky FTF's
After work tonight, I reluctantly returned to GC1R4VK Drayton Cache Series 4a after doing the 3.2 mile round trip for a DNF earlier in the week. I'd had a little hint from a previous finder, so went with a little more confidence this time.
Job done, I set off back to the car with the geo-mutt sniffing around contentedly. Just as I arrived back at the car, e-mail arrived, alerting me to 2 new caches less than a mile from where I was, in fact, I'd just walked within 0.1 miles of one of them on my return journey!
Not fancying the long walk back, I decided to move the car a little closer and access them via the PF rather than the canal towpath.
With the FTF hounds round here, and light fading, I needed to get my skates on. I parked up at 7.55pm, and made the short walk, 0.12 miles, to the first new cache GC1RB2E Mad4Cache Stash15 and spent 10 minutes trying to find it without success.
I decided to run to the next one, about 0.44 miles further down the track. Maybe if I was quick, I would still be able to get FTF on this one on the return leg!
Arrived at GZ for GC1RB2C Mad4Cache Stash14 and due to spot on coords and a bit of lateral thinking I realised where it was immediately, in fact, I could hear it, but I couldn't see it! I had to use my car keys to prise off the top of a post to access the cache, and found a blank log!
Now for the dash back to the other one. As I ran across the canal bridge, I spotted a fellow leisurely leaning against the wall, and he said "Did you find it?", turns out to be the cache owner, Mad4Cache, spying on the FTF! Sadly I couldn't talk for long, I did have a cache to find after all!
Got back to the first cache, and thankfully found it almost immediately in a place I'd looked in before...isn't that always the way?
Got back to the car all hot and sweaty, but happy!!!!
And I was late for dinner....but who cares?
Caches found at time of posting......2062.
Job done, I set off back to the car with the geo-mutt sniffing around contentedly. Just as I arrived back at the car, e-mail arrived, alerting me to 2 new caches less than a mile from where I was, in fact, I'd just walked within 0.1 miles of one of them on my return journey!
Not fancying the long walk back, I decided to move the car a little closer and access them via the PF rather than the canal towpath.
With the FTF hounds round here, and light fading, I needed to get my skates on. I parked up at 7.55pm, and made the short walk, 0.12 miles, to the first new cache GC1RB2E Mad4Cache Stash15 and spent 10 minutes trying to find it without success.
I decided to run to the next one, about 0.44 miles further down the track. Maybe if I was quick, I would still be able to get FTF on this one on the return leg!
Arrived at GZ for GC1RB2C Mad4Cache Stash14 and due to spot on coords and a bit of lateral thinking I realised where it was immediately, in fact, I could hear it, but I couldn't see it! I had to use my car keys to prise off the top of a post to access the cache, and found a blank log!
Now for the dash back to the other one. As I ran across the canal bridge, I spotted a fellow leisurely leaning against the wall, and he said "Did you find it?", turns out to be the cache owner, Mad4Cache, spying on the FTF! Sadly I couldn't talk for long, I did have a cache to find after all!
Got back to the first cache, and thankfully found it almost immediately in a place I'd looked in before...isn't that always the way?
Got back to the car all hot and sweaty, but happy!!!!
And I was late for dinner....but who cares?
Caches found at time of posting......2062.
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Scafell Pike
Way before I started this blog (last July in fact), my non-caching girlfriend decided it would be a great idea for her to visit relatives in Greece without me.
Who am I to discourage a week of relative freedom (for me, not her obviously)?
I therefore planned a week to attempt to find the highest geocaches in England, Wales and Scotland (which are where you would expect them to be, on Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis).
So, the geo-mutt and I set off on our quest, but to cut a long story short, we failed at Scafell Pike, as the weather during our 2 day stay at Wasdale Head wasn't conducive to climbing a mountain, so we spent the day in the Wasdale Head Inn and got drunk instead!
We did, however, manage to get to the top of Snowdon and Ben Nevis, but annoyingly both were under heavy cloud cover at the time, so there was nothing to see at the top other than the trig point.
This has been nagging at me for some time, so I've now managed to pursuade Julie to purchase a tent, a couple of sleeping bags and a few bits of camping paraphanalia, and visit the Lake District during the forthcoming Bank Holiday for another attempt.
I've got three alternatives.....
Who am I to discourage a week of relative freedom (for me, not her obviously)?
I therefore planned a week to attempt to find the highest geocaches in England, Wales and Scotland (which are where you would expect them to be, on Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis).
So, the geo-mutt and I set off on our quest, but to cut a long story short, we failed at Scafell Pike, as the weather during our 2 day stay at Wasdale Head wasn't conducive to climbing a mountain, so we spent the day in the Wasdale Head Inn and got drunk instead!
We did, however, manage to get to the top of Snowdon and Ben Nevis, but annoyingly both were under heavy cloud cover at the time, so there was nothing to see at the top other than the trig point.
This has been nagging at me for some time, so I've now managed to pursuade Julie to purchase a tent, a couple of sleeping bags and a few bits of camping paraphanalia, and visit the Lake District during the forthcoming Bank Holiday for another attempt.
I've got three alternatives.....
- Ascent from Wasdale Head and up Brown Tongue
- Ascent from Wasdale Head and Lingmell
- Ascent from Boot/Eskdale
Last time I went for option one, but due to the amount of rain we'd had, the stream was a raging torrent, and I reluctantly turned back.
Maybe option 2 this time......full report on my return!
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
There's a Thief About!
I've often heard of cache containers getting stolen, but until now it has never happened to me.
I had a
"Found" notification on one of my caches today; Collector Cache 6 : Consumed Fence which seemed to indicate that they had found a 35mm film pot, rather than the rather posh metal camoflaged container I placed. I haven't yet been to check, but I have contacted the last 2 finders, who both claim to have found a film pot.
The third last finder (uklifesaver) took a photo of the cache at GZ and uploaded it to his log, so it must have happened recently.
I'm absolutely furious, what sort of dispicable w****er would do something like this? They even moved the original log sheet into the film pot.
I have of course put a notice on the cache page suggesting that the culprit returns and replaces the cache as it was.....but these sort of people generally won't have a conscience.
On a brighter note, I managed to find 2 caches today that have been causing me problems, namely Flip The Pancake and Big Kids Challenge 11 of 13. Bizarrely, they are only about 0.25 miles from each other.
Grabbed 4 of a new series locally this evening while walking the dog, so.....
Caches found at time of posting.....2055.....
I had a
"Found" notification on one of my caches today; Collector Cache 6 : Consumed Fence which seemed to indicate that they had found a 35mm film pot, rather than the rather posh metal camoflaged container I placed. I haven't yet been to check, but I have contacted the last 2 finders, who both claim to have found a film pot.The third last finder (uklifesaver) took a photo of the cache at GZ and uploaded it to his log, so it must have happened recently.
I'm absolutely furious, what sort of dispicable w****er would do something like this? They even moved the original log sheet into the film pot.
I have of course put a notice on the cache page suggesting that the culprit returns and replaces the cache as it was.....but these sort of people generally won't have a conscience.
On a brighter note, I managed to find 2 caches today that have been causing me problems, namely Flip The Pancake and Big Kids Challenge 11 of 13. Bizarrely, they are only about 0.25 miles from each other.
Grabbed 4 of a new series locally this evening while walking the dog, so.....
Caches found at time of posting.....2055.....
DNF Spectacular
There's a series of caches near me, along the canal near Drayton Manor Park. They've been there for a while, and I'd done them all...... until last weekend when the CO went out (maybe doing a little maintenance) and decided to place another one!
Now, you'd think that a cache on a canal would be fairly straightforward, and you'd be wrong in this instance. The parking for the cache is 1.61 miles from Ground Zero, which isn't a problem if you're doing the series, but it's one hell of a hike for one cache!
Needless to say, I couldn't resist popping out after work last night, only to be confronted by a cache with no hint, somewhere in the general area of a steel bridge surrounded by holes, trees, ivy and litter.
I spent 45 minutes searching, I even e-mailed the only previous finder via my iPhone in the hope that he was online to give me some assistance, but he wasn't.
I have since found out that the cache is on the steel beam of the bridge, but as I had a fingertip search of the beams, I'm not so sure, although I could have missed it.
So, 3.22 miles and two hours later, no find.
Caches found at time of posting....you guessed it.....2045...same as yesterday!
Now, you'd think that a cache on a canal would be fairly straightforward, and you'd be wrong in this instance. The parking for the cache is 1.61 miles from Ground Zero, which isn't a problem if you're doing the series, but it's one hell of a hike for one cache!
Needless to say, I couldn't resist popping out after work last night, only to be confronted by a cache with no hint, somewhere in the general area of a steel bridge surrounded by holes, trees, ivy and litter.
I spent 45 minutes searching, I even e-mailed the only previous finder via my iPhone in the hope that he was online to give me some assistance, but he wasn't.
I have since found out that the cache is on the steel beam of the bridge, but as I had a fingertip search of the beams, I'm not so sure, although I could have missed it.
So, 3.22 miles and two hours later, no find.
Caches found at time of posting....you guessed it.....2045...same as yesterday!
Monday, 11 May 2009
Cache Maintenance
I don't know why, but I have no problems with my caches generally, but when I do, they come in batches..
I had a notification last night that "A Bridge to a Bridge" needed maintenance, seems some "yoofs" have spread the component parts of the cache over a large area. Luckily a newbie cacher did precisely the right thing by reassembling it and putting it back. It was their first cache too! Hopefully their next few caches will be better. They were extremely chuffed when I e-mailed them and told them to log a "Found" log!
Went out this lunchtime and re-stocked the cache with a new log and pen, plus a few goodies.
I also seem to have problems with Middle England - Bridge, which has had 2 DNF's in a row, and is an easy find, so I think that's gone completely. It's one of a series of 13, and ironically it's not the easiest one to get at on it's own, so I need to make a 1.5 mile return walk to replace it. An excuse to walk the dog I suppose!
These things normally come in three's, so I'm waiting with baited breath for the next problem!
Caches found at time of posting....same as before....2045.
I had a notification last night that "A Bridge to a Bridge" needed maintenance, seems some "yoofs" have spread the component parts of the cache over a large area. Luckily a newbie cacher did precisely the right thing by reassembling it and putting it back. It was their first cache too! Hopefully their next few caches will be better. They were extremely chuffed when I e-mailed them and told them to log a "Found" log!
Went out this lunchtime and re-stocked the cache with a new log and pen, plus a few goodies.
I also seem to have problems with Middle England - Bridge, which has had 2 DNF's in a row, and is an easy find, so I think that's gone completely. It's one of a series of 13, and ironically it's not the easiest one to get at on it's own, so I need to make a 1.5 mile return walk to replace it. An excuse to walk the dog I suppose!
These things normally come in three's, so I'm waiting with baited breath for the next problem!
Caches found at time of posting....same as before....2045.
Sunday, 10 May 2009
A Sunny Day in the Cotswolds
I spent 4 hours doing an 8 mile figure of eight walk today taking in the Hinchwick Valley series, plus four other trads to the north-west, all by Stag Ramblers.
Lovely sunny day, great views, nice caches....sweet as a nut....
Caches found at time of posting.....2045......
Lovely sunny day, great views, nice caches....sweet as a nut....
Caches found at time of posting.....2045......
Which Way Would You Go????
I saw this sign yesterday half way up The Wrekin....
"The Other Way" pointed to the summit, so I went that way.....
"The Other Way" pointed to the summit, so I went that way.....
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Plodding Along
I've been plodding along with the cachin' this week.
Managed 12 on Thursday, mainly cache and dashes along the Bromsgrove Feeder road on my way to Brockencote Hall for a fabulous dinner.
Did the new series of caches based on Hindu words near Meriden over a couple of evenings while walking the dog. Incidentally, these caches have completely scuppered my forthcoming series for the summer, as most of them are on my proposed route! I'm currently searching for an alternative route, maybe one near Shustoke.....
Been out to climb the Wrekin this afternoon with the dog and the girlfriend (not one and the same I can assure you!), and grabbed the 4 trad's and completed the Earthcache. Not bad visibility up there today, so I took a picture or two.
Julie and the mutt at the summit trig point.....
View from near the summit......
Caches found at time of posting....2034.
Managed 12 on Thursday, mainly cache and dashes along the Bromsgrove Feeder road on my way to Brockencote Hall for a fabulous dinner.
Did the new series of caches based on Hindu words near Meriden over a couple of evenings while walking the dog. Incidentally, these caches have completely scuppered my forthcoming series for the summer, as most of them are on my proposed route! I'm currently searching for an alternative route, maybe one near Shustoke.....
Been out to climb the Wrekin this afternoon with the dog and the girlfriend (not one and the same I can assure you!), and grabbed the 4 trad's and completed the Earthcache. Not bad visibility up there today, so I took a picture or two.
Julie and the mutt at the summit trig point.....
View from near the summit......
Caches found at time of posting....2034.
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
FTF Mayhem!
Left the office late this afternoon, and the iPhone bleeped as I was stuck in traffic....4 new caches less than a mile from where I was!
Luckily not far from home either, so a quick change, drop the gpx files into the Oregon, grab the dog and back for the hunt.
Found the first one, a multi, and a blank log book....yippee!!!!!
Moved on to three traditional caches and 3 more blank logs. Bumped into the cache owner, "uklifesaver" and "fatface" on the way back to the car, then a phone call from Team Balders, who had just started the caches from the other end and admitted defeat when he saw my name in the first log book! Soz Kev!
Nice way to start the week!
Caches found at time of posting.....2005!
Luckily not far from home either, so a quick change, drop the gpx files into the Oregon, grab the dog and back for the hunt.
Found the first one, a multi, and a blank log book....yippee!!!!!
Moved on to three traditional caches and 3 more blank logs. Bumped into the cache owner, "uklifesaver" and "fatface" on the way back to the car, then a phone call from Team Balders, who had just started the caches from the other end and admitted defeat when he saw my name in the first log book! Soz Kev!
Nice way to start the week!
Caches found at time of posting.....2005!
2000 Up!!!!
I wasn't expecting to do any cachin' this weekend, but after doing all the shopping etc on Saturday....Julie (my non-caching girlfriend) wanted to go out for a walk as we are off to do Scafell Pike in 3 weeks and she needs to get some "practice" in before we go.
She therefore offered to accompany me and the dog on a caching expedition in Gloucestershire to do a little "Hillside" series of 9 caches, plus another one on the way round.
This is the first time she has been out caching with me, as she maintains it's a bit sad (which it is) for sad people (of which I'm one).
She actually spotted one of them before I did, so although she won't admit it, she "gets it" now....I think....
Anyway, on Sunday we headed for the Clent hills for 6 caches I'd identified a few weeks ago, so I wasn't expecting to reach 2000. However, the wonders of the PQ ensured that the 5 new caches placed in the Clent Hills by the National Trust gave us 11 to attempt, and we found the lot!
Cache No.2000 turned out to be GCD488 Clent Eastwood (Worcestershire), and it wasn't a micro, it was a big ammo can! A fitting cache for the 2000th!!!!
Caches found at time of posting.....2001!
She therefore offered to accompany me and the dog on a caching expedition in Gloucestershire to do a little "Hillside" series of 9 caches, plus another one on the way round.
This is the first time she has been out caching with me, as she maintains it's a bit sad (which it is) for sad people (of which I'm one).
She actually spotted one of them before I did, so although she won't admit it, she "gets it" now....I think....
Anyway, on Sunday we headed for the Clent hills for 6 caches I'd identified a few weeks ago, so I wasn't expecting to reach 2000. However, the wonders of the PQ ensured that the 5 new caches placed in the Clent Hills by the National Trust gave us 11 to attempt, and we found the lot!
Cache No.2000 turned out to be GCD488 Clent Eastwood (Worcestershire), and it wasn't a micro, it was a big ammo can! A fitting cache for the 2000th!!!!
Caches found at time of posting.....2001!
Friday, 1 May 2009
A Great April for Caching!
Now April is over, it's time to reflect on another record breaking month for yours truly;
Most find in a calendar month : 290
Most finds in a day: 84
Most finds in a weekend: 84
Most consecutive days with a find: 63 up to 24th of April
Other highlights of the month:
4 FTF's
Broke through the 1700, 1800 and 1900 barriers
Series done this month:
8 more of the March Mayhem caches
Swynnerfield Circular: 12 caches
AWebbie Wander: 12 caches
Sent2Cov series: 13 caches (still a few to do though!)
Witton Weavers Way: 65 Letterbox caches done so far, lots more to do!
Completed the Chiltern Hundred by grabbing the 5/5 Bonus cache
Not a bad month all being said. I don't think May will be as productive...but I remember saying that a month ago!
Been out today and completed the Waterside Wander series near Moira starting from the Conkers place, nice walk, good caches, 14 of 'em!
Caches found at time of posting: 1980.....not far to go to the 2000!!!!!
Most find in a calendar month : 290
Most finds in a day: 84
Most finds in a weekend: 84
Most consecutive days with a find: 63 up to 24th of April
Other highlights of the month:
4 FTF's
Broke through the 1700, 1800 and 1900 barriers
Series done this month:
8 more of the March Mayhem caches
Swynnerfield Circular: 12 caches
AWebbie Wander: 12 caches
Sent2Cov series: 13 caches (still a few to do though!)
Witton Weavers Way: 65 Letterbox caches done so far, lots more to do!
Completed the Chiltern Hundred by grabbing the 5/5 Bonus cache
Not a bad month all being said. I don't think May will be as productive...but I remember saying that a month ago!
Been out today and completed the Waterside Wander series near Moira starting from the Conkers place, nice walk, good caches, 14 of 'em!
Caches found at time of posting: 1980.....not far to go to the 2000!!!!!
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