The Bells of Belbroughton - GC1Z9KQ
And so we returned to where we began, and back to the cache that we'd first been looking for.
This time I found it straight away, in a 35mm film container-sized holder, hanging behind a tree at the corner of the field.
So, with 11 new finds to our name, we called it a day well spent. As an extra bonus for Niknik, our route home took us past the Church Avenue cache on the Bromsgrove Feeder loop, so we stopped so she could make it 12 finds in two-and-a-half hours.
Saturday 10 October 2009
And now, the end is near
Out In The Fields - GC1Z9NV
Theoretically this was the last cache, but we still had to go back and find the first one!
As we entered the field containing ground zero, we could see a couple of people peering into the hedge in the distance - in the direction that our GPSr was pointing. We'd found our second hunters of the day - gibbon22.
We followed the public footpath signs, but these lead us to the wrong side of the hedge for the cache, so Dr Cath and Niknik bravely crawled through the hedge to get to the cache, which was hidden under a suspicious plank of wood!
Theoretically this was the last cache, but we still had to go back and find the first one!
As we entered the field containing ground zero, we could see a couple of people peering into the hedge in the distance - in the direction that our GPSr was pointing. We'd found our second hunters of the day - gibbon22.
We followed the public footpath signs, but these lead us to the wrong side of the hedge for the cache, so Dr Cath and Niknik bravely crawled through the hedge to get to the cache, which was hidden under a suspicious plank of wood!
I *heart* caches
Baz and Tina Love Cache No2 - GC1M356
Taking a break from the Bimble for a moment, this cache is just a 100 yard deviation from the route, so it had to be done.
The cache descriptions suggests gloves to gain easy access - and we had a pair with us - but Dr Cath elected not to use them to get at the log in the hedge that the cache was hidden in.
"Ow. OW!"
Perhaps the gloves would have been a good idea after all?
We took the Dark Side Of The Moon geocoin, and left one of the wooden "Art of Geocaching" tokens.
Taking a break from the Bimble for a moment, this cache is just a 100 yard deviation from the route, so it had to be done.
The cache descriptions suggests gloves to gain easy access - and we had a pair with us - but Dr Cath elected not to use them to get at the log in the hedge that the cache was hidden in.
"Ow. OW!"
Perhaps the gloves would have been a good idea after all?
We took the Dark Side Of The Moon geocoin, and left one of the wooden "Art of Geocaching" tokens.
We don't need no education
All In All, Its Just Another..... - GC1Z9NE
This was another excellent - and easy to find - hide. As the path splits into four directions, there's a brick pillar - probably part of an original wall - lurking on the right. On top of this was another brick. This had been partly chiselled out, and the cache was hidden inside it.
This was another excellent - and easy to find - hide. As the path splits into four directions, there's a brick pillar - probably part of an original wall - lurking on the right. On top of this was another brick. This had been partly chiselled out, and the cache was hidden inside it.
Nay
Horsing Around - GC1Z9NA
After finding the previous cache we were passed by our first horse of the day. After finding this one - which is just off the bridleway next to a field with a couple of horses in it - we were passed by another.
This one was located by Niknik, hidden below a holly-covered tree root.
After finding the previous cache we were passed by our first horse of the day. After finding this one - which is just off the bridleway next to a field with a couple of horses in it - we were passed by another.
This one was located by Niknik, hidden below a holly-covered tree root.
Just let your feet go...
Clippety Clop - GC1Z9N2
Another very simple on, hidden at the base of a post to the right of the bridleway, found pretty much instantly by Niknik.
Another very simple on, hidden at the base of a post to the right of the bridleway, found pretty much instantly by Niknik.
I can see the hill from here
Walton View - GC1Z9MF
This was the best hide of the day. At ground zero there are four new metal gates, and we knew from the clue that the cache was hidden on or near one of them, and was a micro.
There was a suspicious pile of wood next to the first gate on the left, but we had no luck in that. Because the gates were metal, we checked for magnetic holders, but no joy.
Dr Cath had noticed there was a hole in the top-outide frame of each gate, and had checked inside each one to see if there was anything obvious. There wasn't, but when I re-checked the first gate on the right, I noticed a very thin metal cord tied around the top hinge leading into this hole. Lo and behold, pulling this up lead to us finding the cache - a bison on the end of the cord. Cracking!
This was the best hide of the day. At ground zero there are four new metal gates, and we knew from the clue that the cache was hidden on or near one of them, and was a micro.
There was a suspicious pile of wood next to the first gate on the left, but we had no luck in that. Because the gates were metal, we checked for magnetic holders, but no joy.
Dr Cath had noticed there was a hole in the top-outide frame of each gate, and had checked inside each one to see if there was anything obvious. There wasn't, but when I re-checked the first gate on the right, I noticed a very thin metal cord tied around the top hinge leading into this hole. Lo and behold, pulling this up lead to us finding the cache - a bison on the end of the cord. Cracking!
We're cracking up
Crazy Paving - GC1Z9ME
Another simple one spotted by both Dr Cath and Niknik. At ground zero there was a suspicious-looking hollow in the right-hand hedge, and the cache was within. It was looking a little empty, so we left a golf tee and a Frankenstein sticker.
Just as we were about to leave, a fellow hunter appeared - Stokesy. He logged his find, and then we let him and his cachehound pass us; he was clearly a cache-and-dash kind of fellow!
Another simple one spotted by both Dr Cath and Niknik. At ground zero there was a suspicious-looking hollow in the right-hand hedge, and the cache was within. It was looking a little empty, so we left a golf tee and a Frankenstein sticker.
Just as we were about to leave, a fellow hunter appeared - Stokesy. He logged his find, and then we let him and his cachehound pass us; he was clearly a cache-and-dash kind of fellow!
Where's my honey?
Pooh Sticks - GC1Z9M1
Another easy one, this was hidden at chest height in the cleft of a tree - and the tree in question was the first one I looked at.
We took another wooden "Art of Geocaching" token, and left a "Mystery Machine" sticker.
Another easy one, this was hidden at chest height in the cleft of a tree - and the tree in question was the first one I looked at.
We took another wooden "Art of Geocaching" token, and left a "Mystery Machine" sticker.
Ding dong merrily
This weekend we were visited by good friend and fellow box hunter Niknik, so we decided to spend a day searching for more. Conveniently enough, yesterday evening my weekly Geocaching.com update email arrived - informing me that there had recently been a new loop of 10 boxes on a three mile walk around the nearby village of Belbroughton, called the Belbroughton Bimble 2 or BB2 for short. This seemed like an excellent idea, especially as a very nearby cache that is part of a different circuit meant we could collect 11 caches in one go.
We parked near to the church in Belbroughton, and were soon at the location of the first cache. However, a two groups of muggles decided to stop for a chat about 10 yards away, so we were forced to abandon our search - we would come back and find part 1 at the end. So, we headed off to start at part 2...
Was That You?? - GC1Z9KX
This was a very straightforward find by Niknik at the base of the left-hand post of a stile - a stile that was now disused because you could walk right round it!
We left our Templar Geocoin, and took a wooden token advertising the "Art of Geocaching" event.
We parked near to the church in Belbroughton, and were soon at the location of the first cache. However, a two groups of muggles decided to stop for a chat about 10 yards away, so we were forced to abandon our search - we would come back and find part 1 at the end. So, we headed off to start at part 2...
Was That You?? - GC1Z9KX
This was a very straightforward find by Niknik at the base of the left-hand post of a stile - a stile that was now disused because you could walk right round it!
We left our Templar Geocoin, and took a wooden token advertising the "Art of Geocaching" event.
Saturday 12 September 2009
A pat on the head
Smelly Cows - GC1GC8Q
This was the last cache we had a chance to find today - light was fading fast and we didn't think we'd safely negotiate fields and paths we'd never been to before in the dark.
The cache info warned about cows in the field, but these were nowhere in sight today. The cache was hidden about 10 yards after the stile into the field, against the right-hand fence, and it was hidden in a fake plastic cow pat! A fantastic box to find to end our day of hunting.
This was the last cache we had a chance to find today - light was fading fast and we didn't think we'd safely negotiate fields and paths we'd never been to before in the dark.
The cache info warned about cows in the field, but these were nowhere in sight today. The cache was hidden about 10 yards after the stile into the field, against the right-hand fence, and it was hidden in a fake plastic cow pat! A fantastic box to find to end our day of hunting.
A sign of the times
Sign Up @ Astwood Locks - GC1GC8M
This cache is part of both the Pipershill and the Worcester-Birmingham Canal series, because it's a magnetic nano on the Astwood Locks sign just at the side of the towpath.
This cache is part of both the Pipershill and the Worcester-Birmingham Canal series, because it's a magnetic nano on the Astwood Locks sign just at the side of the towpath.
Under the bridge
Bridge the Gap - GC1GC7X
This was really easy - there was a metal bridge at ground zero, and a large plastic container was soon located underneath it.
This was really easy - there was a metal bridge at ground zero, and a large plastic container was soon located underneath it.
Electric...
Avenue - GC1GC7A
Because we'd deviated from the main Pipershill route for the previous find, it took a bit of working out with regard to where to go to get to a footpath that would lead to this cache. In the end, we probably took a slightly longer route than we should have, but were soon entering National Trust land, where we found the tree-lined avenue easily enough.
We also found the tree stump containing the cache easily, but the cache itself was very well hidden and took a lot of searching - in fact, this is probably where we lost the time that would mean this series would not be completed today.
Because we'd deviated from the main Pipershill route for the previous find, it took a bit of working out with regard to where to go to get to a footpath that would lead to this cache. In the end, we probably took a slightly longer route than we should have, but were soon entering National Trust land, where we found the tree-lined avenue easily enough.
We also found the tree stump containing the cache easily, but the cache itself was very well hidden and took a lot of searching - in fact, this is probably where we lost the time that would mean this series would not be completed today.
Mushroom, mushroom!
Badger Hill - GC4A62
There were muggles on the benches at Hanbury Churchyard, so we had to be a little stealthy and stay on the main footpath until we dropped down the hill and out of sight of them. The field you have to go through is very deep in bramble and thistle, so it's just as well neither of us were wearing shorts.
After a short search we found the cache, at the foot of a large tree. We took a Geocaching Logo tag and left a rubber surfer tag.
There were muggles on the benches at Hanbury Churchyard, so we had to be a little stealthy and stay on the main footpath until we dropped down the hill and out of sight of them. The field you have to go through is very deep in bramble and thistle, so it's just as well neither of us were wearing shorts.
After a short search we found the cache, at the foot of a large tree. We took a Geocaching Logo tag and left a rubber surfer tag.
There were bells on the hill
Hanbury Church - GC1GC6W
Working out exactly which way to walk from the car park through the woods was tricky, but some inspired guesswork lead us to the correct path. This was a simple find by a gate that separated the farm access road from a field with a public footpath in it, and it's also a waypoint on the "Badger Tree" cache route. Although this cache isn't part of the Pipershill series, it's en-route so we decided to hunt for it next.
Working out exactly which way to walk from the car park through the woods was tricky, but some inspired guesswork lead us to the correct path. This was a simple find by a gate that separated the farm access road from a field with a public footpath in it, and it's also a waypoint on the "Badger Tree" cache route. Although this cache isn't part of the Pipershill series, it's en-route so we decided to hunt for it next.
Who pays the Pipershill?
After a morning and afternoon of serious decorating, we decided to do some box hunting. We chose a five-mile circuit called the Pipershill Series, but should have perhaps realised that we'd struggle to do the whole thing in one go because it was 5:30pm before we started!
No Gratuities - GC1GC6M
We drove to the car park mentioned in the cache info, and were intrigued to note that the first cache was at pretty much the exact same location. In fact, it was a magnetic nano clamped to to bottom of the metal car park information board, and the largest sign on said board was "NO TIPPING", hence the cache name.
No Gratuities - GC1GC6M
We drove to the car park mentioned in the cache info, and were intrigued to note that the first cache was at pretty much the exact same location. In fact, it was a magnetic nano clamped to to bottom of the metal car park information board, and the largest sign on said board was "NO TIPPING", hence the cache name.
Thursday 10 September 2009
Up hill, down hill, up hill...
Rednal Hill - GCRDMN
What happens when your GPSr plays silly beggers? You get to walk up a steep hill, walk straight past ground zero, walk down a steep hill, then turn 'round and walk back up it again - and then you find the cache and have to walk back down the hill to get to your car!
That's what happened here. No knowing where to park, we drove into Eachway Lane and spotted a layby on the left with a path leading up the hill away from it. The path seemed to be leading towards where the GPSr was indicating, so off we went.
After climbing the hill, we were walking along a path when we spotted a man and a young girl ahead of us. Suddenly, we heard a rustling in the undergrowth to our left, and a dog emerged! It then decided that it wanted to walk back the way we'd just come, which would have been fine if it hadn't belonged to the bloke who was up the path ahead of us! He turned around, and I noticed that he had a blue GPSr hanging 'round his neck. Was he a fellow box hunter?
We carried on for about a third of a mile, and our GPSr couldn't make up its mind where to send us. Evenutally, we went down a very steep hill, until we could see the Old Birmingham Road to our left and Lickey Hills Golf Club to our right. A quick look at the map and we could see were were in completely the wrong place! Dr Cath reprogrammed the GPSr, and it changed its mind again and pointed back in the direction of the car along another path - a path that steadily climbed the same hill we'd just walked down.
At the top of this part of the hill, we realised that we were at the point at which the bloke and girl had been when they realised that their dog was going the wrong way. Following the GPSr, we ended up retracing our own steps, until it pointed us away from the main track... straight towards the holly bush that we'd earlier seen the dog emerge from. And there, underneath the bush, was the cache - and yes, it had been found by someone else that day.
We were right, we'd kind-of met our second fellow hunter - Novalew. Hello there!
What happens when your GPSr plays silly beggers? You get to walk up a steep hill, walk straight past ground zero, walk down a steep hill, then turn 'round and walk back up it again - and then you find the cache and have to walk back down the hill to get to your car!
That's what happened here. No knowing where to park, we drove into Eachway Lane and spotted a layby on the left with a path leading up the hill away from it. The path seemed to be leading towards where the GPSr was indicating, so off we went.
After climbing the hill, we were walking along a path when we spotted a man and a young girl ahead of us. Suddenly, we heard a rustling in the undergrowth to our left, and a dog emerged! It then decided that it wanted to walk back the way we'd just come, which would have been fine if it hadn't belonged to the bloke who was up the path ahead of us! He turned around, and I noticed that he had a blue GPSr hanging 'round his neck. Was he a fellow box hunter?
We carried on for about a third of a mile, and our GPSr couldn't make up its mind where to send us. Evenutally, we went down a very steep hill, until we could see the Old Birmingham Road to our left and Lickey Hills Golf Club to our right. A quick look at the map and we could see were were in completely the wrong place! Dr Cath reprogrammed the GPSr, and it changed its mind again and pointed back in the direction of the car along another path - a path that steadily climbed the same hill we'd just walked down.
At the top of this part of the hill, we realised that we were at the point at which the bloke and girl had been when they realised that their dog was going the wrong way. Following the GPSr, we ended up retracing our own steps, until it pointed us away from the main track... straight towards the holly bush that we'd earlier seen the dog emerge from. And there, underneath the bush, was the cache - and yes, it had been found by someone else that day.
We were right, we'd kind-of met our second fellow hunter - Novalew. Hello there!
We're not stumped just yet
Bluebell Woods - GC19EBT
A short car ride took us to the Lickey Hills Visitor Centre car park, and a very short walk from there took us to the cache. On the way, we spotted a tree which looked a little like it had been used as a maypole, with bunting connecting it to 12 other trees that surrounded it. A closer look told us that the "maypole" decoration on the centre tree was, in actuality, a collection of "free Tibet"-related goodwill messages, and these were repeated on the bunting flags. Nice, but a bloomin' odd thing to find at the back of Longbridge (or maybe not, considering the remainder of the car plant is now owned by the Chinese).
This cache was hidden in the hollow at the rear of a tree stump, partly obscured by a rock. This stump is right by one of the main paths, so muggle spotting was the order of the day. After retreiving the box, we had to pretend that we were looking at the large number of brightly-painted bird boxes that were attached to the trees in this part of the woods!
To better hide the cache, considering how near muggles regularly pass it, we covered the box with the rock and a clump of fern leaves.
A short car ride took us to the Lickey Hills Visitor Centre car park, and a very short walk from there took us to the cache. On the way, we spotted a tree which looked a little like it had been used as a maypole, with bunting connecting it to 12 other trees that surrounded it. A closer look told us that the "maypole" decoration on the centre tree was, in actuality, a collection of "free Tibet"-related goodwill messages, and these were repeated on the bunting flags. Nice, but a bloomin' odd thing to find at the back of Longbridge (or maybe not, considering the remainder of the car plant is now owned by the Chinese).
This cache was hidden in the hollow at the rear of a tree stump, partly obscured by a rock. This stump is right by one of the main paths, so muggle spotting was the order of the day. After retreiving the box, we had to pretend that we were looking at the large number of brightly-painted bird boxes that were attached to the trees in this part of the woods!
To better hide the cache, considering how near muggles regularly pass it, we covered the box with the rock and a clump of fern leaves.
Monumental
Momentous Moments - GC4CFF
The great thing about box hunting is that you get to see stuff you never knew existed - and this bloody huge monument is just such a thing. I've driven along the Old Birmingham Road from Bromsgrove to Cofton Hackett many times, but I never knew this existed until today.
We drove to the junction of Monument Lane and Old Birmingham Road, parked up at the roadside and headed towards the monument. The hint suggested facing the plaque and finding the cache in the trees to our left, but when we looked at the plaque on the monument, our GPSr suggested that the cache was to our right instead. We had a quick look in the trees on our left, but our GPSr was insisting that we were in the wrong place.
When we checked the trees on the other side of the monument, we soon found the cache, hidden in the roots of a partly-fallen tree. It turns out that there is another, separate plaque on the other side of the monument, and the hint was referring to this.
The great thing about box hunting is that you get to see stuff you never knew existed - and this bloody huge monument is just such a thing. I've driven along the Old Birmingham Road from Bromsgrove to Cofton Hackett many times, but I never knew this existed until today.
We drove to the junction of Monument Lane and Old Birmingham Road, parked up at the roadside and headed towards the monument. The hint suggested facing the plaque and finding the cache in the trees to our left, but when we looked at the plaque on the monument, our GPSr suggested that the cache was to our right instead. We had a quick look in the trees on our left, but our GPSr was insisting that we were in the wrong place.
When we checked the trees on the other side of the monument, we soon found the cache, hidden in the roots of a partly-fallen tree. It turns out that there is another, separate plaque on the other side of the monument, and the hint was referring to this.
Like a bridge
Risky Bridge - GC1Q8P9
This one was a short walk from our pervious cache, and was a nice quick find, hidden in the roots of a fallen tree that had become a bridge over the stream.
This one was a short walk from our pervious cache, and was a nice quick find, hidden in the roots of a fallen tree that had become a bridge over the stream.
A Lickey end
A lovely Thursday afternoon and evening of box hunting - this time around the Lickey Hills near Bromsgrove.
BrumWorc Panorama - GCP356
We'd bumped into RuberyBlue whilst doing the Hagley Loop a few weeks ago, so we thought it was only right and proper to do a couple of his hides today, starting with this one - a puzzle-type multi.
Parking was easily found on the frankly huge car park mentioned in the cache description, and we were soon in the "castle" on Beacon Hill waiting for the muggles to shift so we could peruse the toposcope and solve the first part of the puzzle. The first thing I learned today was that Beacon Hill was given to the people of Birmingham by the Cadbury brothers - which was very kind of them, even though they'd probably have been happy with a couple of blocks of Dairy Milk each instead.
Toposcope perused, and we soon were examining a plate mounted on a trig point. With the cache coordinates in hand, of we pootled.
We soon found ground zero, and I spotted an out-of-place stump in the middle of a tree - a stump that wasn't fixed to anything, and had a bolt-on wooden section on the bottom of it, which at least explained why the cache hint suggested we take a spanner! We were slightly surprised by the close-passing dog walker, until we realised that we'd passed through most of the wooded bit and were very close to a second path.
We took the Knights Templar Geocoin.
BrumWorc Panorama - GCP356
We'd bumped into RuberyBlue whilst doing the Hagley Loop a few weeks ago, so we thought it was only right and proper to do a couple of his hides today, starting with this one - a puzzle-type multi.
Parking was easily found on the frankly huge car park mentioned in the cache description, and we were soon in the "castle" on Beacon Hill waiting for the muggles to shift so we could peruse the toposcope and solve the first part of the puzzle. The first thing I learned today was that Beacon Hill was given to the people of Birmingham by the Cadbury brothers - which was very kind of them, even though they'd probably have been happy with a couple of blocks of Dairy Milk each instead.
Toposcope perused, and we soon were examining a plate mounted on a trig point. With the cache coordinates in hand, of we pootled.
We soon found ground zero, and I spotted an out-of-place stump in the middle of a tree - a stump that wasn't fixed to anything, and had a bolt-on wooden section on the bottom of it, which at least explained why the cache hint suggested we take a spanner! We were slightly surprised by the close-passing dog walker, until we realised that we'd passed through most of the wooded bit and were very close to a second path.
We took the Knights Templar Geocoin.
Monday 31 August 2009
We Remember
Time for one last cache? Well, this one was kind-of on our way home.
A-Road Anarchy A456 - Remember the Fallen - GC1203Q
The Hagley War Memorial is easily spotted at the roundabout junction of the A491 and A456. This cache was a 35mm film container hidden behind the wall immediately on the right of the steps.
Eleven caches this evening, and five earlier in the day - we've more than doubled our find count in the space of 9 hours!
A-Road Anarchy A456 - Remember the Fallen - GC1203Q
The Hagley War Memorial is easily spotted at the roundabout junction of the A491 and A456. This cache was a 35mm film container hidden behind the wall immediately on the right of the steps.
Eleven caches this evening, and five earlier in the day - we've more than doubled our find count in the space of 9 hours!
Hedging our bets
Sand Pit - GC1NQD6
This was the last of the "Bromsgrove Feeder" series that we did today. The footpath leading to the cache started from opposite the end of the access road on which we parked for the previous cache.
It was a short walk to ground zero (with a cat leading the way!), but not such a quick find. Despite this being the largest cache of the series - an ammo box - it was nicely hidden in the hedge and took a few minutes to spot.
This was the last of the "Bromsgrove Feeder" series that we did today. The footpath leading to the cache started from opposite the end of the access road on which we parked for the previous cache.
It was a short walk to ground zero (with a cat leading the way!), but not such a quick find. Despite this being the largest cache of the series - an ammo box - it was nicely hidden in the hedge and took a few minutes to spot.
Calling occupants
Stoneybridge - GC1NQC3
This cache was conveniently placed next to an access road, so parking at it was easy.
The clue was "communication", and there was a pillar box and a telephone box at ground zero. Dr Cath soon found the cache in the 'phone box, in a magnetic box hidden on the back of the door closer.
This cache was conveniently placed next to an access road, so parking at it was easy.
The clue was "communication", and there was a pillar box and a telephone box at ground zero. Dr Cath soon found the cache in the 'phone box, in a magnetic box hidden on the back of the door closer.
We saw the sign
Hartle Lane - GC1NQCB
This too turned into a cache 'n' dash, more by luck than judgement.
We could see on the map roughly where the cache was going to be, and the clue was "sign". The point in question is where a B-road meets the A491, so there were plenty of signs around. I turned into the B-road and parked on the left.
As soon as we got out of the car, our GPSr indicated that we were right on top of ground zero - and indeed we were. I'd parked next to the direction sign for traffic exiting Hartle Lane onto the A491, and spotted the cache straight away - just next to one of the support posts on the rear of the sign, in a 35mm film cannister that was attached to the sign by a magnetic strip.
Just prior to finding this cache, it started to rain. We decided to leave the next cache in the series because it clearly involved a decent walk from the car. The cache after that is currently listed as "unavailable", so we moved on to the final two.
This too turned into a cache 'n' dash, more by luck than judgement.
We could see on the map roughly where the cache was going to be, and the clue was "sign". The point in question is where a B-road meets the A491, so there were plenty of signs around. I turned into the B-road and parked on the left.
As soon as we got out of the car, our GPSr indicated that we were right on top of ground zero - and indeed we were. I'd parked next to the direction sign for traffic exiting Hartle Lane onto the A491, and spotted the cache straight away - just next to one of the support posts on the rear of the sign, in a 35mm film cannister that was attached to the sign by a magnetic strip.
Just prior to finding this cache, it started to rain. We decided to leave the next cache in the series because it clearly involved a decent walk from the car. The cache after that is currently listed as "unavailable", so we moved on to the final two.
Crossing and hoping
Giles House - GC1NQA8
After the previous cache, we had to drive all the way back to our starting point in order to turn around and head back along the A491 in the right direction.
Thanks to one of the log entries for this cache, we decided to park in a lay-by just opposite ground zero and cross the A491.
Cross the A491 - we must be mental! Fortunately, the traffic lights just beyond here meant that at least one carriageway had nice long breaks in the traffic, and at least there was a proper crossing point here, because the footpath that the cache was hidden on has been intersected by the A491.
Over at ground zero, the hint was "corner". There was an obvious corner here, but a quick search yielded nothing. Dr Cath went off down the footpath to look for another corner, whilst I fixed the broken fence in order to properly examine this one. With the help of the lamp on my mobile phone, I soon found the cache - hidden behind the corner fence post, it was a 35mm film-sized container on a stick, meaning it looked a little like a rocket-type firework.
After the previous cache, we had to drive all the way back to our starting point in order to turn around and head back along the A491 in the right direction.
Thanks to one of the log entries for this cache, we decided to park in a lay-by just opposite ground zero and cross the A491.
Cross the A491 - we must be mental! Fortunately, the traffic lights just beyond here meant that at least one carriageway had nice long breaks in the traffic, and at least there was a proper crossing point here, because the footpath that the cache was hidden on has been intersected by the A491.
Over at ground zero, the hint was "corner". There was an obvious corner here, but a quick search yielded nothing. Dr Cath went off down the footpath to look for another corner, whilst I fixed the broken fence in order to properly examine this one. With the help of the lamp on my mobile phone, I soon found the cache - hidden behind the corner fence post, it was a 35mm film-sized container on a stick, meaning it looked a little like a rocket-type firework.
Our first cache 'n' dash
Meadowcroft - GC1N4RZ
Due to its location, this was a proper cache 'n' dash. The map and clue told us that it was clearly at the end of a footpath on the A491, but there was no obvious parking.
Thus, I pulled over in the acceleration lane from Bromsgrove Road, and Dr Cath set off after the cache - and she soon returned after an easy find. It had been hidden underneath a fallen log.
Due to its location, this was a proper cache 'n' dash. The map and clue told us that it was clearly at the end of a footpath on the A491, but there was no obvious parking.
Thus, I pulled over in the acceleration lane from Bromsgrove Road, and Dr Cath set off after the cache - and she soon returned after an easy find. It had been hidden underneath a fallen log.
Attack!
Orchard Lodge - GC1NQE3
We walked back to the car, and then took the public footpath which starts at the end of an access road to a number of properties off Church Avenue.
This is a terribly maintained footpath, and before long my jeans had been attacked by a barbed wire fence. With this on one side and a motley collection of thistles, nettles and brambles on the other, this was not pleasant!
At the end of this section was a stile (which needed repairing), leading to a field with two lovely horses in it. On the other side of this was another stile, and after this a very short secluded path lead to some steps up to the A491.
In this secluded section, on the right and well above head height, secreted in a tree amongst the ivy, was the cache - and pleasingly, the previous three hunters had failed to find it.
We took the Turquoise travel bug; it had rested there long enough!
We walked back to the car, and then took the public footpath which starts at the end of an access road to a number of properties off Church Avenue.
This is a terribly maintained footpath, and before long my jeans had been attacked by a barbed wire fence. With this on one side and a motley collection of thistles, nettles and brambles on the other, this was not pleasant!
At the end of this section was a stile (which needed repairing), leading to a field with two lovely horses in it. On the other side of this was another stile, and after this a very short secluded path lead to some steps up to the A491.
In this secluded section, on the right and well above head height, secreted in a tree amongst the ivy, was the cache - and pleasingly, the previous three hunters had failed to find it.
We took the Turquoise travel bug; it had rested there long enough!
Under the bridge
The next two caches were positioned such that we could park the car once and walk to both of them, so we drove on to Church Avenue and parked on the left, just after the public footpath that we would soon need to take.
Church Avenue - GC1NQ9B
Before going down that footpath, though, we walked back to the bridge taking the A491 over Church Avenue, and Dr Cath pretty much instantly found the next cache - in a large plastic box wedged behind a concrete gas main warning sign.
Church Avenue - GC1NQ9B
Before going down that footpath, though, we walked back to the bridge taking the A491 over Church Avenue, and Dr Cath pretty much instantly found the next cache - in a large plastic box wedged behind a concrete gas main warning sign.
Round and about
Violet Lane - GC1N4RD
The map showed that this cache was on (or near) to the roundabout junction of Violet Lane, Broome Lane and Bromsgrove Road, so that's where we parked.
The GPSr seemed to suggest that the cache was on the inside of the roundabout, so we spent quite a bit of time looking around here with no success. We did a lap of the roundabout, but found nothing.
Dr Cath must have noticed the GPSr pointing away from the centre of the roundabout, for she walked off to where the fence met the wall that shrouded the bridge support for the A491, and soon found the cache - hidden in a plastic stone-alike key keeper, secreted underneath a ball of brick and mortar.
The map showed that this cache was on (or near) to the roundabout junction of Violet Lane, Broome Lane and Bromsgrove Road, so that's where we parked.
The GPSr seemed to suggest that the cache was on the inside of the roundabout, so we spent quite a bit of time looking around here with no success. We did a lap of the roundabout, but found nothing.
Dr Cath must have noticed the GPSr pointing away from the centre of the roundabout, for she walked off to where the fence met the wall that shrouded the bridge support for the A491, and soon found the cache - hidden in a plastic stone-alike key keeper, secreted underneath a ball of brick and mortar.
Scrambling up banks
Clockwise - GC1N4R0
We parked in the first lay-by on the Bromsgrove-bound side of the A491 for this, and it was a short walk to ground zero - a large, ivy-covered tree halfway up the bank at the side of the road.
The cache was at around head height, and soon found.
We parked in the first lay-by on the Bromsgrove-bound side of the A491 for this, and it was a short walk to ground zero - a large, ivy-covered tree halfway up the bank at the side of the road.
The cache was at around head height, and soon found.
Into the unknown
We'd had such a good morning of box hunting that when we returned home we decided to do some more.
Dr Cath had printed out the necessaries for a group of 12 caches along the A491 "Bromsgrove Feeder Road", so we decided to give these a try. We knew that it would mean driving to pretty much each location in turn rather than doing them all as a loop, so off we went.
Gallows Brook - GC1N4QP
We parked in the lay-by on Park Road for this, and walked through the car park and overspill car park of the Lyttleton Arms public house. The public footpath proper starts at a metal kissing gate, and in the first field some way off were a group of horses. One of them started walking towards us, stopped as soon as he realised we were walking away from them, and turned round and wandered off... before roughly mounting a lady-horse! Filthy.
At the edge of the field, the footpath continued through a metal gate. The walking stick came in handy again because nettles had grown across the catch holding the gate shut.
The path on the other side of the gate was indistinct and very overgrown with nettles - not nice. After leaping over a trickle of a stream we soon found the tree containing the cache, and after moving a piece of loose wood found the cache hidden in the trunk. Whoever was 8th to find the cache (and everyone since!) had left the congratulatory token in the cache, so we collected it for prosperity.
Heaven knows exactly where the footpath went after this point - there was no distinct path - but it mattered not as we retraced our steps back to the car.
Dr Cath had printed out the necessaries for a group of 12 caches along the A491 "Bromsgrove Feeder Road", so we decided to give these a try. We knew that it would mean driving to pretty much each location in turn rather than doing them all as a loop, so off we went.
Gallows Brook - GC1N4QP
We parked in the lay-by on Park Road for this, and walked through the car park and overspill car park of the Lyttleton Arms public house. The public footpath proper starts at a metal kissing gate, and in the first field some way off were a group of horses. One of them started walking towards us, stopped as soon as he realised we were walking away from them, and turned round and wandered off... before roughly mounting a lady-horse! Filthy.
At the edge of the field, the footpath continued through a metal gate. The walking stick came in handy again because nettles had grown across the catch holding the gate shut.
The path on the other side of the gate was indistinct and very overgrown with nettles - not nice. After leaping over a trickle of a stream we soon found the tree containing the cache, and after moving a piece of loose wood found the cache hidden in the trunk. Whoever was 8th to find the cache (and everyone since!) had left the congratulatory token in the cache, so we collected it for prosperity.
Heaven knows exactly where the footpath went after this point - there was no distinct path - but it mattered not as we retraced our steps back to the car.
Tr-eesy does it!
Super Lynx - GC1DDCY
Our last find at Blackbush, and it's a lovely place to go box hunting. I'm a particular fan of seeing traces of the past, so wandering through the common land on what used to be RAF Hartfordbridge was fascinating - spotting the old runways, taxiways and other evidence of its former life.
This cache was another 35mm film cannister, hidden near the base of a silver birch tree covered in leaf litter. I found this one using the "poke it with a walking stick" approach, and was pleased that it was in the first tree I tried, considering how many there were in this area!
Our last find at Blackbush, and it's a lovely place to go box hunting. I'm a particular fan of seeing traces of the past, so wandering through the common land on what used to be RAF Hartfordbridge was fascinating - spotting the old runways, taxiways and other evidence of its former life.
This cache was another 35mm film cannister, hidden near the base of a silver birch tree covered in leaf litter. I found this one using the "poke it with a walking stick" approach, and was pleased that it was in the first tree I tried, considering how many there were in this area!
By hook or in crook
RAF Hartfordbridge - GCWRC7
Another micro (and another 35mm film cannister), quickly found by Dr Cath in the crook of a fallen tree.
We're staring to get the hang of spotting a likely hiding place as soon as our GPSr bleeps to let us know that we've reached ground zero - it's getting quite exciting, really!
Another micro (and another 35mm film cannister), quickly found by Dr Cath in the crook of a fallen tree.
We're staring to get the hang of spotting a likely hiding place as soon as our GPSr bleeps to let us know that we've reached ground zero - it's getting quite exciting, really!
Utterly stumped
"Where's My Lunch, Airstewardess?" - GC1DDD1
This one is fantastic - the most inventive cache location we've encountered so far.
Our GPSr was pointing off the main path towards a clump of trees, which seemed reasonable. In amongst this clump I spotted something that stood out - a tree stump, but a stump which was significantly thicker than the trunks of any of the other trees in the clump.
Magnificently, this tree stump was fake! To be more accurate, it was a "slice" of tree stump that had been partly hollowed out in the middle, so it would fit snugly over the Tupperware lunch box that was the cache - superb!
We took a Belgian 10F coin, and left a "scooby" man tag.
This one is fantastic - the most inventive cache location we've encountered so far.
Our GPSr was pointing off the main path towards a clump of trees, which seemed reasonable. In amongst this clump I spotted something that stood out - a tree stump, but a stump which was significantly thicker than the trunks of any of the other trees in the clump.
Magnificently, this tree stump was fake! To be more accurate, it was a "slice" of tree stump that had been partly hollowed out in the middle, so it would fit snugly over the Tupperware lunch box that was the cache - superb!
We took a Belgian 10F coin, and left a "scooby" man tag.
Treespotting
Harrier - GC1KEW9
We're getting good at spotting different types of trees thanks to all this box hunting! This time we knew we were after a pine tree, and as soon as we found the right one, Dr Cath spotted a telltale arrangement of sticks at the foot of it. A 35mm film cannister was buried beneath.
We're getting good at spotting different types of trees thanks to all this box hunting! This time we knew we were after a pine tree, and as soon as we found the right one, Dr Cath spotted a telltale arrangement of sticks at the foot of it. A 35mm film cannister was buried beneath.
Come fly with me
Yesterday, our good friend Sarah held the first of her two 40th birthday parties in Camberley. We thought we'd take the opportunity to zoom the geocoin we had in our possession "down south", and so we selected a route of five caches near to Blackbush Airport.
Originally we'd planned to do these yesterday - it's just as well we didn't, seeing as the UK's largest market takes place there every Sunday!
Spitfire - GC1KEVY
A nice easy start to our afternoon of box hunting, this regular-sized cache was pretty much visible from the main path, underneath a tree stump. We moved a couple of handy rocks to better mask its location, and because we reckon this is likely to be the most-visited of all five caches we did today (because it is the closest to Blackbush Airport car park) we left The RodgersClan's Green Gecko geocoin there.
Originally we'd planned to do these yesterday - it's just as well we didn't, seeing as the UK's largest market takes place there every Sunday!
Spitfire - GC1KEVY
A nice easy start to our afternoon of box hunting, this regular-sized cache was pretty much visible from the main path, underneath a tree stump. We moved a couple of handy rocks to better mask its location, and because we reckon this is likely to be the most-visited of all five caches we did today (because it is the closest to Blackbush Airport car park) we left The RodgersClan's Green Gecko geocoin there.
Saturday 29 August 2009
Stone me - a bench
Part 9 - GC1XMZC
The final part of a really excellent cache trail, this one was spotted by Dr Cath - a stone-effect key keeper hidden next to the left-hand leg of a broken bench.
All in all, a lovely walk through some pretty countryside, and nine caches to add to our total.
The final part of a really excellent cache trail, this one was spotted by Dr Cath - a stone-effect key keeper hidden next to the left-hand leg of a broken bench.
All in all, a lovely walk through some pretty countryside, and nine caches to add to our total.
Puttin' on the stile
Part 8 - GC1XMZ3
The public footpath signs lead off to the left, but the GPSr said to go straight on. I suggested that we follow the signs. I was wrong.
Fortunately there was another footpath at the edge of the field that lead back towards ground zero. This was another cunning spot; there used to be a stile to leave the field, but the boundary fence has long-since gone and the footpath simply goes around the stile, which sits forlornly at the edge of the field, serving no purpose...
...until someone hid a cache underneath it!
The public footpath signs lead off to the left, but the GPSr said to go straight on. I suggested that we follow the signs. I was wrong.
Fortunately there was another footpath at the edge of the field that lead back towards ground zero. This was another cunning spot; there used to be a stile to leave the field, but the boundary fence has long-since gone and the footpath simply goes around the stile, which sits forlornly at the edge of the field, serving no purpose...
...until someone hid a cache underneath it!
Tree-mendous
Part 7 - GC1XMYQ
This was a great hiding place - hidden inside a split tree, with a chunk of wood placed against it so that it couldn't be seen. The cache was at head height, and Dr Cath had to climb inside the tree to reach it.
This was a great hiding place - hidden inside a split tree, with a chunk of wood placed against it so that it couldn't be seen. The cache was at head height, and Dr Cath had to climb inside the tree to reach it.
Block party
Part 6 - GC1XMYC
This one should have been easy, but we'd gotten so used to the idea of looking for micros that it didn't initially occur to us that this would be a regular-sized cache.
There were a lot of muggles here, and so we took the opportunity for an orange squash break whilst working out where the cache might be. My suggestion of it being behind a concrete block at the corner of the boundary fence for the Norton pumping station was correct, and Dr Cath retrieved the cache.
This one should have been easy, but we'd gotten so used to the idea of looking for micros that it didn't initially occur to us that this would be a regular-sized cache.
There were a lot of muggles here, and so we took the opportunity for an orange squash break whilst working out where the cache might be. My suggestion of it being behind a concrete block at the corner of the boundary fence for the Norton pumping station was correct, and Dr Cath retrieved the cache.
We're not muggles!
Part 5 - GC1XMY1
Just before arriving at ground zero, we passed a couple out walking their dog going the other way - but Dr Cath had noticed that the man had been looking at a gap in the hedge until they spotted us.
It turned out that we'd spied RuberyBlue, who was looking for this cache as the final part of the Hagley Loop, having done it in the opposite direction to us. He was pleased to find us, because the battery had run out in his GPSr. They'd walked on when we appeared because they didn't know that we weren't random muggles.
We sent Dr Cath into the hedge after this one, and she found it straight away - it was another micro, the same container as part 4.
Just before arriving at ground zero, we passed a couple out walking their dog going the other way - but Dr Cath had noticed that the man had been looking at a gap in the hedge until they spotted us.
It turned out that we'd spied RuberyBlue, who was looking for this cache as the final part of the Hagley Loop, having done it in the opposite direction to us. He was pleased to find us, because the battery had run out in his GPSr. They'd walked on when we appeared because they didn't know that we weren't random muggles.
We sent Dr Cath into the hedge after this one, and she found it straight away - it was another micro, the same container as part 4.
You keep me hanging on
Part 4 - GC1XMXT
A cunning little blighter, this one, suspended from a tree at "head height" - a point just above my head. It was a micro metal container, similar to the one that micro 5 from Give Us A Clue was hidden in.
A cunning little blighter, this one, suspended from a tree at "head height" - a point just above my head. It was a micro metal container, similar to the one that micro 5 from Give Us A Clue was hidden in.
Boom bang-a-bang
Part 3 - GC1XMXA
We went straight to the correct tree for this one, and could see a suspicious-looking stone wedged into a gap at the base of it. Pushing the stone backwards caused it to clonk against the cache, but we couldn't get the stone out to get at the cache.
Then Dr Cath went round the back of the tree, and found that the cache could be easily removed from another hole there! This one was an ammo box, with lots of goodies inside.
We went straight to the correct tree for this one, and could see a suspicious-looking stone wedged into a gap at the base of it. Pushing the stone backwards caused it to clonk against the cache, but we couldn't get the stone out to get at the cache.Then Dr Cath went round the back of the tree, and found that the cache could be easily removed from another hole there! This one was an ammo box, with lots of goodies inside.
Name that tree
Part 2 - GC1XMWN
This clue required us to spot an oak tree - or more accurately, a specific oak tree from the many that were available!
The cache was a 35mm film cannister hidden in leaf debris at the foot of the tree.
This clue required us to spot an oak tree - or more accurately, a specific oak tree from the many that were available!
The cache was a 35mm film cannister hidden in leaf debris at the foot of the tree.
The Hagley Loop
This was a pretty new series of caches, only published a few days ago, and only a few miles from home. Despite the closeness, it's an area we'd never walked before, so it seemed like the ideal way to pass a couple of hours.
Part 1 - GC1XMW1
How high is "chest height"? Higher than Dr Cath's chest, at any rate. Despite this, she found the box - hidden in a camo bag - amongst the ivy on a tree.
Part 1 - GC1XMW1
How high is "chest height"? Higher than Dr Cath's chest, at any rate. Despite this, she found the box - hidden in a camo bag - amongst the ivy on a tree.
Thursday 27 August 2009
Try, try again
Trip #3 to Cannock Chase, and fail #3 with part six of Give Us A Clue. Before we next return, we'll be asking TheMightyShark for a hint.
Alchemy Quest ~ Tin - GCHJMQ
Too many trees here, so the GPSr was useless when it came to pinpointing the exact location. Instead we had to rely on the hint, which told us the cache was under a sloping tree. We could see one in the distance, but it was so far away from the bleep-point of our GPSr that we assumed it couldn't possibly be the right one.
Dr Cath eventually went to investigate, and lo and behold, it was the right one! Another successful mission.
Alchemy Quest ~ Tin - GCHJMQ
Too many trees here, so the GPSr was useless when it came to pinpointing the exact location. Instead we had to rely on the hint, which told us the cache was under a sloping tree. We could see one in the distance, but it was so far away from the bleep-point of our GPSr that we assumed it couldn't possibly be the right one.
Dr Cath eventually went to investigate, and lo and behold, it was the right one! Another successful mission.
Saturday 22 August 2009
If at first you don't succeed
Our second visit to Cannock Chase - with the bike this time - lead to disappointment when, after a long and pretty darn thorough search, we couldn't find the sixth part of the Give Us A Clue multi.
Never fear, there are plenty of other caches here.
Step Back In Time 3 - GCW79H
Another straightforward find; this one was hidden under a fallen tree, and I found it when I put my foot on the tree trunk to rest before starting the hunt! Dr Cath's GPSr bleeped to say we were at the location as she bent down to pick the box up.
We took TheRodgersClan's Green Gecko geocoin, and intend to zoom it towards Camberley next weekend, and left a heart-shaped paperclip.
Never fear, there are plenty of other caches here.
Step Back In Time 3 - GCW79H
Another straightforward find; this one was hidden under a fallen tree, and I found it when I put my foot on the tree trunk to rest before starting the hunt! Dr Cath's GPSr bleeped to say we were at the location as she bent down to pick the box up.We took TheRodgersClan's Green Gecko geocoin, and intend to zoom it towards Camberley next weekend, and left a heart-shaped paperclip.
Friday 21 August 2009
...continues here
A bit o' Saftness - Jumpin' Joe Darby - GC1AE4F
This one was a little trickier than the last because it was getting rather dark now, and there's good tree cover at the point where the cache is hidden. The intrepid Dr Cath dived into the undergrowth and emerged with the box.
We took the lickle green frog, and left the blue kazoo.
This one was a little trickier than the last because it was getting rather dark now, and there's good tree cover at the point where the cache is hidden. The intrepid Dr Cath dived into the undergrowth and emerged with the box.We took the lickle green frog, and left the blue kazoo.
Double success
Wanting to get off the mark with our box finding, we decided to see what we could do after Dr Cath returned home from work today. Since we're both Black Country folk, we chose two caches that were literally just up the road.
A bit o' Saftness - Dolly Allen - GC1AE4W
This was quite straightforward, really, thanks to my trusty walking stick - it's the best way to poke through leaves and other detritus and hear the telltale clonk of metal on plastic!
Nicely hidden by a tree stump, this was our very first find! Yay us!
We took a blue kazoo, and left a shiny sun keyring.
A bit o' Saftness - Dolly Allen - GC1AE4W
This was quite straightforward, really, thanks to my trusty walking stick - it's the best way to poke through leaves and other detritus and hear the telltale clonk of metal on plastic!
Nicely hidden by a tree stump, this was our very first find! Yay us!
We took a blue kazoo, and left a shiny sun keyring.
Thursday 20 August 2009
And we're off!
With Dr Cath wanting to do some cycling, we decided to travel to Cannock Chase. Therefore, a multi-cache seemed like a good way to start our box-hunting; this one, however, was a really tricky fella.
Give Us A Clue - GCXM16
This is a 9-stage multi, and we only got the first five found today:
[1]
The first was a tiny magnetic container, fixed to a bolt holding the leg of a bench to the backrest! This find was made harder because the picture clue provided by the hider showed the bench how it should have looked - unfortunately, the backrest was missing. Still, this was a pretty easy first find.
[2]
A 35mm film cannister hidden in one of the box sections of a weird "three triangles stuck to a triangle" bench thing. Lots of muggles around meant we had to bide our time initially. A search didn't reveal anything, so I decided to break out some technology: a mobile phone! Using the lamp and video function of my trusty Sony Ericsson, I chose one of the three box sections and filmed the inside of it - this very quickly revealed the micro. Handy!
[3]
A plastic stone-alike key keeper, hidden with some real stones beneath a tree, contained this micro.
[4]
This one took bloody ages to find. The location - a shelter for people eating lunch whilst enjoying Go Ape - was easy to find, but a tiny magnetic container wedged in the hole of a bolt that was holding one of the roof support struts in place, was not! Needed a pair of tweezers to extract the container.
[5]
Dr Cath struck gold with this one - again, not the quickest find, but a good one. It was in a plastic container, in a metal container, suspended by a thread from one of the drain exits from the pool that the waypoint lead us to.
[6]
We got to the location for this one, but with fading light and a car park that is ambiguously locked "at dusk", we called it a day.
Give Us A Clue - GCXM16
This is a 9-stage multi, and we only got the first five found today:
[1]
The first was a tiny magnetic container, fixed to a bolt holding the leg of a bench to the backrest! This find was made harder because the picture clue provided by the hider showed the bench how it should have looked - unfortunately, the backrest was missing. Still, this was a pretty easy first find.
[2]
A 35mm film cannister hidden in one of the box sections of a weird "three triangles stuck to a triangle" bench thing. Lots of muggles around meant we had to bide our time initially. A search didn't reveal anything, so I decided to break out some technology: a mobile phone! Using the lamp and video function of my trusty Sony Ericsson, I chose one of the three box sections and filmed the inside of it - this very quickly revealed the micro. Handy!
[3]
A plastic stone-alike key keeper, hidden with some real stones beneath a tree, contained this micro.
[4]
This one took bloody ages to find. The location - a shelter for people eating lunch whilst enjoying Go Ape - was easy to find, but a tiny magnetic container wedged in the hole of a bolt that was holding one of the roof support struts in place, was not! Needed a pair of tweezers to extract the container.
[5]
Dr Cath struck gold with this one - again, not the quickest find, but a good one. It was in a plastic container, in a metal container, suspended by a thread from one of the drain exits from the pool that the waypoint lead us to.
[6]
We got to the location for this one, but with fading light and a car park that is ambiguously locked "at dusk", we called it a day.
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