GeekTeacher's Hike and Seek

Molly - Woodside - GC2WWDT

2011-11-24T13:01:00.003Z

Second time lucky with this one - I was so miffed at not finding this one earlier in the year that I didn't even bother to log a DNF. I pretty much new where it was, but the bramble and thorns were high and it so was dark and gloomy (and raining too) that I couldn't bear to look for long. I can't say that I like this type of cache environment much.

Anyway, today it was bright, sunny and very mild for mid November, and so I decided to have another go. It also helped with the CO having checked it was still there and some other geocachers finding it recently. This time I went straight to it without using the GPSr after getting the first bearing. Bingo!

Indigo Ninja - GC35GWG

2011-11-24T12:59:00.001Z

Today I found the eighth and final cache in the Ninja series, after just missing picking it up last week. It was a bright, sunny and unusually mild mid-November morning and so I set off of my bike with high hopes of success. I didn't need to use the GPSr much for this one, as I had a pretty good idea about where it was from doing the previous caches in the series. Within a minute or so of reaching GZ, I had located the cache and had signed the log.

After finding the cache I met a friendly walker and we chatted for a while about how nice it is for walking and cycling round here, particularly on a day like today. He told me all about the local farmer and his family and what was going on where in his fields. It was really nice to learn a little more about this area.

Yellow Ninja - GL6ZJGWV

2011-11-19T18:58:00.004Z

This Ninja cache took us a little longer to find than any of the others in this series, as there were so many possibilities that matched the hint. In fact we were about to head off for home but after 'just one more look', I managed to find it. This was not before putting my foot deep in some bright orange swampy gunk which stained my boot with it's iron-rich pigment. Seasoned cachers usually quickly 'get a feel' for where a cache is going to be when they get near to GZ - to us however, this one was not in what we would call the 'obvious' place.

We decided to leave the only Ninja cache we hadn't done (Indigo) for another day, as it would have meant backtracking a little along a route we'd already cycled (and in the direction of the dog mentioned in previous logs), and by now the sandwiches were calling us from home! But we were quite happy to have found 5 out of 5 caches on our little cycling expedition around the outskirts of Leigh and Tyldesley.

Sensei Ninja - GL62ZJG1Y

2011-11-19T18:56:00.006Z

Still shaking off the mud from the over-excited dog attack just before the previous cache, I suggested to Sarah that we did this cache next, rather than Indigo Ninja, so that we could cycle in the opposite direction to the one in which the dog was being walked. So we headed off along the excellent cycle paths in search of the Sensei Ninja, whatever that means.

This Ninja cache was a lot easier to find that it might have been, being quite a small container and fairly well-hidden. However, I found it quite quickly, mainly thanks to some of the vegetation in front of it having been recently trampled down. After signing the log we cycled along the sandy footpath trail to what would be the fifth and final cache of the day for us.

Purple Ninja - GC35GWZ

2011-11-19T18:55:00.003Z

This was the third cache on our circular cycle route list for today. Just before we arrived at GZ, I was enthusiastically 'attacked' in a playful way by a large bulldog type dog (probably called Winston) whilst its owner pathetically ordered it to stop from a distance. I came to an abrupt halt when the dog got in front in my front wheel and stopped it, nearly bringing me off my bike. It was nothing serious, but it did cover parts of me in unwelcome mud which I tried to shake off, whist the owner made some less than convincing attempt at an apology.

When this little episode was over, Sarah and I continued towards the cache with me explaining why it was not a good idea for her to cycle alone along the canal towpath to work, just in case something like this happened and she ended up in the canal. We found the cache very quickly and then decided to alter our cycle route to avoid meeting the dog again.

These Ninja caches seem to be multiplying quite regularly as I'd already done some of the earlier ones a little closer to home in Tyldesley. They've been great for exploring this area by bike and, true to form, we found some more new places doing these caches today. We're looking forward to the next batch appearing soon.

Leigh - Secret Passage - GC34ADJ

2011-11-19T18:49:00.002Z

After redesigning our circular cycle route to make it a little shorter, we reached GZ without much difficulty from the previous location. It was in another unexplored part of Leigh for us, close to Leigh Bowling Club, which we'd never seen before.

The cache was quite a straightforward find as we knew the type of magnetic container we were looking for and reckoned it would only be a matter of time before we located it, which indeed it was. After signing the log, we headed for the Avenue and Lilford Park to get on the Ninja trail.

It's a walk in the park - GC31W9Y

2011-11-19T18:36:00.008Z

Sarah and I decided to use this unusually mild and sunny mid-November morning to do a spot of geocaching by bike. I'd planned a circular route around the outskirts of Leigh and this was the first cache on the list. We've driven past this small park thousands of times on our way to Leigh without really noticing it, although it does look to have been 'spruced up' fairly recently.

It was quite a straightforward find except for the lady muggle who was throwing a ball for her two dogs with one of those ball-throwing contraptions - she must have thought we were mad as we skulked about in the vegetation looking for the cache container! However, unperturbed by her presence, Sarah continued to look and eventually found it.

Red Ninja - GC2YG57

2011-08-28T20:25:00.007+01:00

I came to this final cache in the Ninja series along the muddy footpath from Black Ninja. I walked some of the way to avoid splashing mud everywhere and getting dirty. Once again the countryside opened up from wooded footpaths into open fields with cattle and horses in different locations. From here I could see the churches in both Tyldesley and Atherton as well as over to the Howe Bridge area in Leigh.

As I approached GZ I noticed what I thought was an obvious place for a cache and indeed it was there - I didn't need to recheck the GPSr or read the hint to find it. Although it was in a good hiding place, I'm not sure how long it will survive here due to the number of passers by and the fragile nature of the location.

Anyway, having completed the short Ninja series, I headed off happily homewards along the cycle track.

Black Ninja - GC2YG4Z

2011-08-28T20:00:00.004+01:00

I came to this cache from White Ninja. I needed to backtrack a little down the footpath before crossing over Miller's Lane onto another footpath at right angles to the lane. It was very muddy down here and so I decided to walk with my bike to avoid splashes and getting dirty. I didn't walk far before the proximity beeper went off on my GPSr and so I parked my bike and headed off into the trees.

It took a few minutes before I saw what seemed to be an obvious place for the cache container - I oouldn't see the wood for the trees, so to speak! I found the cache soon after after but I must confess to still not understanding the meaning of the hint given. Unfortunately I couldn't sign the log because it was missing - I looked around to see if it was on the ground nearby but didn't see it. However I did take a photo to prove I as there as well was the 'Key to the Cat Flap' travel bug to move on.

White Ninja - GC2YG4W

2011-08-28T19:38:00.000+01:00

I came to this cache from Blue Ninja - the countryside had now opened up into expanses of green fields from the woodlands of the previous area. The cache location was down a slope with a stream at the bottom where there were several possibilities for hiding a container. It took me about fifteen minutes to actually find the cache as it was very well-hidden, but I was enjoying being out and about in the morning sunshine and so the time didn't matter. And most importantly, I found it!

Blue Ninja - GC2XZZB

2011-08-28T19:26:00.005+01:00

I went out geocaching by bike again today as this group of four Ninja caches have recently appeared close to my home. Although I have lived in this area for over 28 years, I have never found the time or had the inclination to wander around these footpaths before. However, my relatively new hobbies of birdwatching and geocaching have given me the incentive to do this now, and they have opened my eyes to this wonderful area of countryside so close to my home.

I started off by riding along the paths at the back of the Gin Pit sports and social club until I met Squires Lane, which I followed until it became a public footpath through the fields which met Miller's Lane. Here I turned right and soon I had come to the route of the old railway line which is now a wooded path. It took me longer than expected to find the csche, even though I had an idea of where it was almost immediately - the woodland camouflage was excellent.

After taking a couple of pictures of the area, I was on my way to the next one. A great start!

Firebolt 2 - GC2TC4C

2011-08-20T20:01:00.002+01:00

Today I was out geocaching by bike for the first time and, after a successful find at Pirate's Path which is also in Lilford Woods, I checked my 'phone for other caches in the area. This cache was a bonus as I didn't know it was here before I set off.

I started by cycling along the lower path through the woods and avoided the temptation of diving into the trees the moment my GPSr arrow changed direction as I knew the path turned back on itself a little further on. This proved to be the right move as the cache was located only a few metres off the top path.

Unfortunately, being on my bike I had not brought a pencil with me and there wasn't one in the cache container, so I just had to take a photograph of the box to prove that I found it.

A great place!

Pirate's Path - GC2V9YN

2011-08-20T19:43:00.002+01:00

Today I finally got round to going geocaching by bike. I'd been thinking of cycling from Tyldesley to Lilford Park in Leigh along the footpaths and bridleways for ages and, with the prospect of a cache and perhaps a green woodpecker in Lilford Woods, today was the day I went for it.

It turned out to be a lot closer than I had realised and the footpaths were great for cycling, so very soon I was in the woods and looking for the cache. The tree cover didn't prove to be much of a problem as it it often is and soon I had the cache in hand.

Unfortunately I had forgotten to bring a pen with me (I usually have one in the car) and the pencil included in the cache container had not been sharpened on either end. After failing miserably in thinking of some way to leave my mark in the log, I just took a photograph of the box as evidence that I actually found it - I may return to sign the log on another day.

P.S. Shortly after leaving the cache location I met a lady walking her dog who engaged me in conversation for over 25 minutes (actually, she did most of the talking!) about all sort of stuff ranging from the history and geology of the area and the use of its plants in homeopathy to how unhappy she was with Wigan Council about their plans for this beautiful part of Leigh. She was a little eccentric, but very knowledgeable and I may put a fuller account here later.

Mark's Wardle Cache - GC12698

2011-08-17T23:03:00.001+01:00

This was to be the last cache of the day for Sarah and me - we'd found six caches around Watergrove Reservoir and had DNF'ed on one. The slope was quite steep up to this location, but it was short and we found the cache easily. After one last look at the wonderful views and to check where we were heading, we set off for home.

P.S. On the way back to the car we had another look for the cache we'd missed earlier (Beautiful Wardle) but still no luck.

Dam Fine View - GC1B840

2011-08-17T23:01:00.001+01:00

Sarah and I got the approach to this cache wrong having just found the Holy Stone cache, We should have kept our height and walked along the same contour line instead of going back down to the bridleway below. Consequently we had to climb up the slope again and this time it was even further with a fence in the way.

When we got to GZ we once again admired the wonderful views over the reservoir and surrounding hills - it was a great place to be on a sunny August day.

Holy Stone - GC245ZY7

2011-08-17T23:00:00.001+01:00

This was the third find of the day for Sarah and me on our sunny walk round Watergrove Reservoir. We could see the holey stone from a way off but it took us a little longer than we hoped to get there as our breathless bodies trudged up the steepish slope from the bridleway- we're not as young as we used to be!

Th'art - GC1KDGP

2011-08-17T22:59:00.001+01:00

Sarah and I came to this cache from Bluepot Tunnel West after a short walk round the reservoir in which we paid our respects to a friend who's ashes are buried in the 'Life for a Life' memorial plantation here. At first we couldn't see what Th'art was, we just thought it was a wall, but on standing back and having a better look we noticed it was very creature-like with a long spiny back.

Bluepot Tunnel West - GC15BTN

2011-08-17T22:54:00.012+01:00

This was the first first find of the day for Sarah and me on a sunny walk round Watergrove Reservoir. Sarah had been to this cache before so it wasn't hard to find without resorting to the hint. It's a shame the tunnel is now gated as we might have attempted to get to the cache on the other side. Nice view of the reservoir from here.

Another Note To Self

2011-08-17T18:13:00.004+01:00

I need to blog and log these caches:

Beautiful Wardle - Not Found
Bluepot Tunnel West - Found
Th'Art Cache - Found
Holy Stone - Found
Dam Fine View - Found
Mark's Wardle Cache - Found

Normal Service Will Be Resumed Shortly

2011-08-16T19:43:00.000+01:00

Well, after a break of around four months, I'm back with a new blog design and some more cache finds. I had to put my blogs on the back burner due to the pressure of work and lots of other things that I needed to do, but I hope that normal service will be resumed from now on.

Details and photographs of some caches that Sarah and I did yesterday around Watergrove Reservoir in Rochdale will be posted here shortly. See you soon.

'Twa Lads - GC10M7D

2011-04-24T17:35:00.001+01:00

This was the seventh and final find whilst out on a sunny Easter Day stroll up Winter Hill with CathyMay and RiggyRob. We would have found it a lot quicker if I'd put the correct co-ordinates into the GPSr. After looking fruitlessly for ten minutes or so (much to the bemusement of a family of muggles sitting at the cairn above us) I decided to check the numbers and found that one of them was wrong.

After much tutting from Cathy and Rob, I entered the new numbers and searched for the final cache alone whilst they basked in the afternoon sunshine. In another ten minutes I'd found it, although it still wasn't particularly easy with all the rubbish seemingly stuffed into various nooks and crannies by some of the tourists.

A great place with excellent views and a good end to the day. BTW - there seem to be three 'lads' there now!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - GC2KN6F

2011-04-24T17:17:00.002+01:00

This was the sixth find on a sunny Easter Day stroll up Winter Hill with CathyMay and RiggyRob. For some reason we'd missed this one on our approach, so we went for it on the way back. We're not sure about how the title relates to the cache location, but we found it anyway. A clever hide which is a little awkward to get at and sign at first sight.

Seek the Dead Scotsman - GCHKZP

2011-04-24T17:14:00.000+01:00

This was the fifth find on a sunny Easter Day stroll up Winter Hill with CathyMay and RiggyRob. We'd by-passed this one on the way up so we could have lunch at the top a little sooner. On the way back down we made a slight detour along the public footpath which was well-marked with paving flags. It was RiggyRob's turn to find one here, so we let him get on with it after telling him the clue. He soon came up with the goods and, after signing the log, we were on our way again.

Winter Hill - GCTQBJ

2011-04-24T16:58:00.000+01:00

This was the fourth find whilst out on a sunny Easter Day stroll up Winter Hill with CathyMay and RiggyRob. Well this was surely the pinnacle of our acheivements today - a high point on our travels. Rob stood up high on the trig point and held out his hand like the Angel of the North. A great place!

Where Angels Fly - GCXPYP

2011-04-24T16:50:00.003+01:00

This was the third find on a sunny Easter Sunday stroll up Winter Hill with CathyMay and RiggyRob. We'd decided to do this one next so that we could have lunch at the top whilst enjoying the views. Although it was a little hazy today, it was still a great place to be. When I told Rob the clue he said "oh thanks" (you'll understand when you get there) and I let him have a look on his own before giving him a hint - "Look for something obvious or a little different" I said, but he still couldn't find it. So I started looking and after a few minutes I came up with the goods - a large ammo box cache filled with stuff.

After signing the log and thinking about the poignance of the location for a moment, we had a little snack and then set off again on our travels. A great location and I'll be back here just for a walk sometime in the future.

Left Whiskers Travel Bug.

By 'eck Petal - GCT3K6

2011-04-24T16:45:00.001+01:00

This was the second find of the day whilst out on a sunny Easter Day stroll up Winter Hill with CathyMay and RiggyRob. After a short detour off the road, CathyMay found this one without much difficulty. The aerial on top of Winter Hill was starting to loom large now, so on we went on our quest for the top.

Mountain Mine - GC29YK7

2011-04-24T16:36:00.000+01:00

First find of the day on a sunny Easter Sunday stroll up Winter Hill with CathyMay and RiggyRob. It took a few minutes to find but reading the logs of other cachers helped. Dropped off Dex the Dog Travel Bug after signing the log.

Time For Bed - GC2TBHW

2011-04-23T18:09:00.000+01:00

I should have been FTF this one, daggnabit! It's the closest one to my house apart from my own caches. And I've bought a matress or two from this place too over the years. As I hadn't been out for a while I decided to go for this one on my bike and do a circular route through Colliers Wood whilst doing a spot of birding too.

After I found the cache, took the TB and signed the log, I set off into the Wood. There were loads of Chiffchaffs and Robins singing, a Blackbird and House Sparrow or two and I even saw a Jay, but no Kestrel or Owl today. A great place though!

Note to Self

2011-03-12T10:35:00.002Z

I still need to blog the following geocaches:

Alfred Burnt the Cakes - 4/3/11
A Small Series - Bonus Cache - 4/3/11
Max Cachehound - 5/3/11
Lioncache 1 - 5/3/11
Lioncache 2 - 5/3/11
Lioncache 3 - 5/3/11
Lioncache 4 - 5/3/11
Lioncache 5 - 5/3/11
Lioncache 6 - 5/3/11
Lowton - Old Crossroads - 6/3/11

A Gate No More - GC2KJBP

2011-02-24T20:59:00.003Z

I went for this one on my way home from doing some geocaching and birding in the Ladybridge and Deane area. I parked on the short road near the roundabout that led to some works and then made my way down the muddy footpath through several gates across the fields. Although every gate had a notice on requesting that it be shut properly because of the cattle, I didn't actually see one cow or sheep anywhere whilst I was out there.

From reading the title and description, I had a good idea of what I was looking for and it soon came into view. It took me longer to get the log out of the container than it did to find it. I had to use two spaces in the log to sign it because it was cold and windy that I couldn't write properly - sorry about that!

Photos to follow ...

Tom the Tank Engine - GC2GWAN

2011-02-24T20:57:00.001Z

I found this cache whilst out doing some birding in the Ladybridge and Deane area. Having just seen some Waxwings near the Ladybridge Community Centre, I was given directions by a local out with his dog about how to get to the Middlebrook Trail. Using these directions I parked by Deane church and made my way down Deane Clough towards GZ.

Finding the cache was fairly straightforward using the clever hint. After doing the admin I carried on walking along the brook towards Ladybridge. I saw a Grey Heron, a male Teal and the bird I was looking actually looking for, a Dipper. It shot along the brook like a bullet in a straight lne just a foot above the water making its distinctive call. I didn't manage to see a Kingfisher though.

So two for the price of one of this trip - great place!

Photos to follow ...

The Old Warke - GC2KVRT

2011-02-19T20:49:00.009Z

This was to be my third and last cache of the day before returning home to watch Man U play Crawley in the FA Cup. I took the advice mentioned in the description and walked up Mill Brow from the main road - it's been many years since I last came this way as a kid. I looked with envy at the fantastic white cottages on the left side of the lane all the way up to Worsley Woods.

Once in the Woods I reached GZ much more quickly than I had expected and the coordinates were pretty much spot on. As I approached I thought I had spotted a likely place but the GPSr suggested otherwise, and it was right.

The going was quite slippy and needed a stretch to get the container out of it's 'rotten' hiding place. WARNING: Don't be tempted to pickup any small blue or black bags anywhere near here - you know why!

After signing the log I had a look round the area, including walking up to Warke Dam where I met a fellow birdwatcher looking though his binoculars at the water. Like me he'd seen some Teal and Mallard, but he'd also seen a Cormorant which I'd missed. He told me that there were also lots of Nuthatches past the old house a little further into the Woods - I'll be coming back to look for those sometime soon.

After a nice chat we both went our separate ways to watch the match, where the score was 1-0 to Man Utd's second team. Come on you Reds!

The Green - GC2KXDT

2011-02-19T20:46:00.007Z

This was to be my second find of the day and all the way to this cache I was wondering where I was going to park because it can be difficult to find a space around here. In the end I didn't have a problem, I just parked in a side road facing the green, so a load of fuss about nothing.

I walked across the Green and took some photos of the beautiful old black and white houses which give this area its distinctive character. I also hads a look at the brick fountain made from the base of a works chimney stack which used to be here in Victorian times.

The GPSr coordinates were pretty much spot on for me and took me mor or less straight to the cache location. However, as there were plenty of muggles about, I decided to take some pictures of the wonderful cobbled bridge and the Bridgewater Canal before descending on GZ.

When the coast was clear, I quickly did the admin and was on my way to Worsley Woods for my third and last cache of the day.

Gimme A Sign - GC2H5ZK

2011-02-19T20:44:00.007Z

I found this one on a quick trip out of the house before Man Utd met the mighty Crawley in the FA Cup this afternoon. I love the Roe Green area and can remember coming here once or twice as a kid to play football, cricket or to fly kites on the green. A very clever hide - there should be more like this, although I did have to wait quite a while to return it due to passers-by.

I'm a "Lumber" Jack and I'm OK - GC2KXEF

2011-02-06T22:58:00.003Z

This was to be the last cache of the day in a set of seven for Sarah and me - I say 'was to be' but it actually wasn't as we'd failed to find one of the previous caches and would have to go back for it on our way home - we can't bear DNF's!

Sarah knew Lumber Lane and so we got to GZ without using the GPSr, only turning it on for the final few metres. After reading the hint it was a fairly straightforward find. Although I'm actually a United Fan (don't mention Wolves today), I would have liked to have gone to see where Alan Ball used to live, but the cache we hadn't found earlier was calling us back for another look.

So we took the Loopline footpath back under the bridge which carries the East Lancs and headed back to the car.

Pictures to follow ...

A Small Series 6 - Boris' Place - GC2N7JX

2011-02-06T22:56:00.009Z

So Sarah and I finally reached the last cache in the Small Series after a short but pleasant walk down the steps and through the trees which follow the old Tyldesley to Worsley Loopline.

We could see this structure which spans the water-filled gulley from quite a way off, and were very glad to read that we didn't need to cross it to find the cache.

Sarah spotted the general whereabouts of the cache location fairly quickly, but after a few minutes of searching, I couldn't find it. I knew it must be in there somewhere, but I retreated to let her have a look. She found it quickly and when I saw what it was, I explained why I thought it was called Boris. WHO knows, I might be wrong.

I took some pictures of Sarah as she sat outside Boris' place signing the log and then we set off to do one last cache at Lumber Lane which is not in this series, but which is close by.

Postscript:

We knew we still had to return to number 2 in this series and as it's a linear trail we'd be walking back past it to get back to the car. On our way back past this location we met fellow cacher Tech17 (Andy Evans) who was just about to look for Boris. We chatted for a while about caching, his Garmin Chirp devices and Ham Radio and then we asked him if he'd found number 2 in this series. He had, and he was more than happy to give us some useful hints about where it was - we knew then that we'd been looking at it but not seen it.

Leaving Andy to get on with finding Boris, we set off to visit number 2 again, and heard him squeal (with either horror or delight) when he found him! He later rejoined us at the location for number 2.

A Small Series 5 - Board Walk Fiend - GC2N7JM

2011-02-06T22:52:00.004Z

And so into the latter part of this series. I've driven down the East Lancs Road for over 25 years and never knew that this footpath or boardwalk existed - but I guess that's true of so many of us who just go about our daily business without noticing the things on our own doorstep.

It took a few minutes to work out what the numbers in the hint meant, and we found could interpret them in two main ways. As it turns out, my first guess was right, but I didn't inspect the area carefully enough and so went off in another direction. When this yielded no result, we returned to my first suggestion and on closer inspection I realised where the cache was - another clever hide.

I let Sarah remove the cache container and do the admin (so kind of me) whilst I swanned off taking pictures and looking for birdies. I saw a Chaffinch. a Great Tit and a Blue Tit in the reedy swamp area which the boardwalk overlooks. A nice little place.

A Small Series 4 - Aslan Effigy - GC2N7JD

2011-02-06T22:51:00.004Z

After two previous caching successes today, Sarah and I were starting to get on a roll. The path was becoming wider and a lot more interesting with bigger and more diverse trees and more birdlife - there was even a little pond to one side.

We reached GZ fairly quickly and had soon located the cache container in a nice little spot. I got it out of its hidey hole, Sarah signed the log and then we were off again.

A Small Series 3 - Spore - GC2N7HZ

2011-02-06T22:49:00.002Z

After an initial DNF at the previous cache location (we did find it later), Sarah and I were determined to be successful at this one. Everything was pretty straightforward here with the hint making it fairly obvious where to look.

I started searching first, but when it required a little crawling under the trees I decided that Sarah was better equipped for the job. Through the conifer branches I could see a likely place, and so I directed Sarah to it and there indeed was the cache.

The container was quite unusual and wanted to roll down the slope every time Sarah put it down and we're not quite sure how it relates to the cache title. Eventually she adopted a very unusual position of steadying it with one knee as she signed the log. Of course I had to take some photographs of that!

The series continues ...

A Small Series 2 - Splinter - GC2N7HP

2011-02-06T22:47:00.005Z

This should have been the second cache of the day but it turned out to be the last on our renewed exploits in geocaching today. Sarah and I don't like DNF's, they really spoil our trips and so after spending 15 minutes looking for this one the first time, we inevitably came back for a second look before going home.

Our first foray in this area had led to me getting scratched on the forehead by a very sharp hawthorne branch as well as becoming entangled in creeping brambles which I HATE!. This in turn led to foul tempers and so we moved on quickly to the next location.

A little before our return we met fellow cacher Tech17 (Andy) at another cache location - it seems that he'd been about 15 minutes behind us in doing this series today. He'd already found this one and so gave us some serious hints as to where it was - which was actually in a place we'd been looking earlier. If we'd read the description a little more carefully, I think we would have probably found it unaided - the title really says it all. It's an excellent hiding place - so sneaky I've made it one of my favourites.

Anyway, job done we chatted with Andy about geocaching, ham radio, Chirp and other things before returning home for a little brunch. Great series.

A Small Series 1 - Love your Streets - GC2N7HB

2011-02-06T22:45:00.003Z

We've not been out geocaching together for about two months mainly because of the poor weather and family commitments, but today Sarah and I decided to resume our caching activities. The main reason for this was that this new series had appeared close to home and so we could bag a few caches without it taking up the whole day - and if we got wet we could get home quickly.

We parked in the road by the side of the Woodside restaurant and set off walking down the East Lancs Road. Our first dilemma was whether to go up a muddy footpath into what seemed to be a wooded trail running alongside the Lancs, or just to stay on the cyclepath next to the road. We decided on the latter as the description stated that the cache could reached from either side of the fence. This proved to be a wise decision later as many parts of the 'trail' path were flooded.

Soon we reached GZ and the title of the cache became clear. After a quick look round Sarah came up with the goods in a somewhat unique container. She did the admin whilst I took a few photos for my blog and then we were off again looking for the next one. A good start!

Marsland Green - GC2MYNB

2011-01-29T22:43:00.004Z

I found this one on a solo mission whilst on the way back from doing some birding at Pennington Flash. I'd read the description and clue beforehand, and so I didn't need to use my GPSr to find the location.

I've lived in Tyldesley for over 26 years, but I've never been down here before. The houses that back on to the canal are fantastic, some have patios on the canal bank and some have their own boats. I'd love to a house somewhere like this.

On the birding front, I've never seen so many house sparrows in one place before - in one garden next to the canal there must have been 25+ in just two trees, And in another nearby house there was a dovecote with some beautiful pure white doves in and around the garden.

Signed the tiny log - oops, I've dropped it in the canal (no I haven't, only joking!). A great little place.

Irwell Sculpture Trail no. 7 – The Lookout - GC1BGH4

2011-01-08T14:41:00.002Z

I came to Clifton Country Park to do a spot of birdwatching and especially to see the red-headed Smew which is fairly rare around these parts.

The lake was largely frozen except for the part in front of the viewing platform and that's where all the birds had gathered, including the Smew. So, after half an hour of taking photos and chatting with fellow birders, I set off to find the cache.

I could soon see the 'Lookout' sculpture from the path and so headed towards it for a look round GZ. It took me longer than it should have done because I was undecided about which mass of fallen leaves to start looking under first.

Luckily I know the names of some trees and so I eventually picked the right one to investigate and soon I had the cache container in my hand.

What a great little place this is with free parking and a nice visitor's centre. I'll definitely be coming back to have a look round the Wet Earth Colliery industrial archaeology site here.

MC Lake Cache - GC2DWKF

2010-11-17T21:28:00.015Z

Yachts on Hollingworth Lake

We found this cache whilst out doing a spot of twitching for the rare Pied-billed Grebe which was on Hollingworth Lake this week. After spending an hour so looking at the bird and taking photographs at the nature reserve pond, Sarah and I moved on to look for this cache a little further round the lake.

View across the lake

It was a straightforward find and I've often thought about leaving a camera in one of my caches, I just haven't got a spare one.

Autumn colours

Unfortunately the one here is either full of photos or the batteries need changing, as it kept switching off every time I took a shot. If you want to see the Pied-billed Grebe have a look on my birding blog.

A little geocaching gnome

Burnden Park - GC1F3WR

2010-11-07T18:56:00.006Z

This was to be the last cache of the day for Sarah and me, but the one that took the longest to find. We knew what we were looking for, we knew approximately where it would be, we just had to find the little bu**er! After ten minutes we still hadn't got it and so Sarah decided to pop into Asda and get some catfood whilst I continued to look like a prat hunting for the cache on the car park.

Fortunately, although it was busy, very few muggles paid me any attention - perhaps they see this ritual every Sunday! So I just kept on looking, going over the same area until eventually I did find it - hooray! I hate ending a day's caching on a DNF - it's as if you haven't found anything at all that day, even if you have.

A sneaky little hide!

P.S. Bolton 4 Spurs 2 today :)

Oscar's Prowl - GCG1VB

2010-11-07T18:55:00.006Z

Sarah and I continued to this one after finding the previous cache, 'This one's for Fred' a little further upstream. It was a very pleasant walk in the autumn sunshine until we realised we were going to have get down a steepish, leaf-covered bank to river level. We saw the item mentioned in the hint but decided to walk past it until a suitable place for getting down appeared.

Eventually we did find a place and then had to walk back to GZ along the leafy river bank. Once there Sarah found the cache container fairly quicky and she did the admin whilst I took a few photos. Then it was back up the short but steep and slippy bank to the footpath at the top. Although I didn't actually fall, being of portly shape and size, it took me a couple of tries before I found a successful route back up.

On the way back to the car Sarah wondered how the cache owner knew that Oscar honed his hunting skills down here - it seems so far from any houses. Anyway, a good little place - we enjoyed it in spite of being in a cemetery!

This One's for Fred - GC11Y9D

2010-11-07T18:54:00.016Z

Fred Dibnah's House in Bolton

This cache is all about a famous son of Bolton, Fred Dibnah, who sadly died in 2004. As I knew where Fred used to live, Sarah and I decided to go straight to his house from the previous cache. After looking around all the familiar places in his garden that we've seen on TV, we realised that the cache wasn't actually here but down the steep sided valley at the back of the house and across the narrow river.

Fred's Workyard

We remembered that Fred used a bow to fire an arrow carrying a line into the trees and down into this valley, but we can't for the life of us remember what for - was it something to do with erecting his pit head and coal mine? We'll have to checkout the DVD.

Cemetery Gates

Anyway, after taking a few pictures of the house we got back in the car and drove round to the cemetery on the other side of the river where Fred is buried in view of his beloved house and workshop. We parked just outside the gates and walked across the cemetery towards GZ. I wasn't sure at first that this was the way we were supposed to go - however, by doing this we had actually made a bee-line straight for the cache location.

Can you see it yet?

Using the hint I quickly found the cache container, but it was very well-camouflaged and could easily be missed by the casual glance. In it was a splendid Matchbox BattleKings Hovercraft that I just had to take, in spite of not having anything worthy to leave in its place, sorry. I'll need to come back later and leave something in exchange.

On the the edge of the cache location

This was a great place to visit although it was tinged with more than a little sadness now that Fred is no longer with us. A great bloke who is greatly missed.

Memorial plaque outside Fred's house

Steam Hammer - GC1F3W4

2010-11-07T18:41:00.001Z

This was the first cache find of the day on quick spot of geocaching in Bolton with sarahjones65. Being a Sunday it was nice and quiet with no students to wonder at what we were doing. We parked in the student car park on the other side of the road and could see the steam hammer from quite a way off.

Shortly after we crossed the road Sarah had found the cache container, although getting it out was a little more difficult. Before leaving I took a few pictures of this massive machine - I wouldn't have liked to get my hand stuck under that one. A great place!

Gone With The Wind - GC1BPM4

2010-10-29T22:22:00.011+01:00

This was to be the final cache of the day for Grandad Bob, Sarah and me. We'd just come down the road from the cache at Rufford Sluice and an interesting conversation with the farmer there and now the light was starting to fade quite rapidly.

We parked on the corner of the bend and headed down the public footpath across the fields, which crossed two small bridges on the way to GZ. By now it was very windy but there was a beautiful sunset in the sky and wonderful sound of rustling leaves in the trees.

In the distance we could see the TV mast lit up on Winter Hill and Ashurst Beacon which, together with the very moody grey and white clouds, made for a very dramatic backdrop to the large bales of hay in the fields.

I took a picture of Grandad Bob doing his 'Moses' impression towards the angry-looking heavens as Sarah got on with finding the cache. We had to resort to using the clue though, as it still hadn't been located after five or more minutes.

In the end it Grandad Bob who suggested looking under a large stone and 'hey presto', there it was. A great end to a fairly successful day with 4 out 5 caches under our belt. We trampled happily back across the fields to the car and then off home and Shepherd's Pie for tea.

Sarah and Martyn complete with 'sticky bobs' on shoulder

Rufford Sluice - GCIXV0Y

2010-10-29T22:20:00.005+01:00

After a walk round the Mere Sands Wood nature reserve and seeing no birds except for the 'usual suspects', Grandad Bob, Sarah and I carried on to do this cache. The light was starting to fade and it was quite breezy after the calmness of walking in the woods. We parked at the bridge and set about finding the cache. Soon Sarah came up with the goods and the little quiz inside, for which we wrote one entry as required.

Just as we were finishing off a farmer in the nearby field drove over to us in his big tractor to find out what we were doing lurking about in the bushes. I decided to 'come clean' and explain about geocaching to put his mind as ease that were not drug dealers or criminals up to no good. He seemed happy with my explanation (and even said we didn't look like criminals) but I'm not sure he thought we were all 'full shillings' so to speak.

Anyway he soon drove off to carry on muck spreading in the field and we headed off for the final cache of the day a little further down the road.

Sluice Post - GC2EJMX

2010-10-29T22:19:00.006+01:00

This was the second find of the day for Grandad Bob, Sarah and me. From the previous cache location we continued to walk along the public footpath by the side of the stream until it came out at a small road. A little backtracking revealed the cache and we let Grandad again have the honour of opening it.

We were very pleased to find this one after not finding any turtles a little further down the stream. Then we returned to the car via the footpath but taking a shortcut past an old farm with wooden greenhouses and some rather nice houses.

Burscough to Tarleton Canal Walk - Causeway Pump - GC1CAXQ

2010-10-29T22:16:00.012+01:00

This was the first cache of the day whilst Sarah and I were out showing Grandad Bob the geocaching 'ropes' in Lancashire. We parked in a nearby housing estate to avoid leaving the car on the main road and walked back across the small swing bridge over the canal to the cache location.

It was very windy but it's a great location along the canal although the slope down the canal bank was a little slippery. We'll have to come back to do some more caches on another birdwatching visit to Mere Sands Wood which is just round the corner.

Showing Grandad Bob the Geocaching Ropes

2010-10-29T20:00:00.000+01:00

Today we went out to Lancashire to for a spot of geoacaching with some birding thrown in at Mere Sands Wood. The details will follow shortly but for now here is a list of the caches we found:

We did have one DNF at Do They Have Turtles Here Abouts? - the first in ages :(

Pictures to follow too ...

River Croal - The Lost Arches - GC1YNRN

2010-10-28T11:09:00.011+01:00

Bridge over the River Croal

After doing the previous cache in Queen's Park, I crossed the brightly coloured bridge over the River Croal and headed on down past the Driving Test Centre towards this location. On the way I passed some gas storage containers which looked strangely beautiful in the morning mist, especially with the trees in front wearing their autumn colours.

Gasometers in the Mist

As I was walking I got a phone call from my son Robert who told me he'd finished his Theory Test with great news - he had PASSED. As I was so close I decided to pop back and meet him outside the Test Centre before we both continued on to this cache.

Robert with his Theory Test Pass Certificate outside the Test Centre

We walked down a leafy back alley between some buildings towards the river and soon saw the road bridge over it. Staring through the railings I had my first glimpse of the Lost Arches, but I realised there would be a better view on the other side.

Autumn Leaves

After a quick feel around I located the tiny magnetic nano cache almost immediately - I'm getting used to finding these now! But I'd made the classic cacher's mistake of not bring anything to write with and a nano is too small to contain a pen or pencil. So I couldn't sign the log and had to make do with standing on the wall and taking a photograph of the cache location - I'll need to come back to sign the log another time.

The Lost Arches

A good little place - I wouldn't have seen these without this cache being here.

A Red Rowan Leaf

P.S. I wanted to go into Bolton and celebrate Robert's success with a hot chocolate and some breakfast, but all he wanted to do was go back to bed - he doesn't generally see daylight much before 1pm in the holidays, having to get up at 6am every morning to get the college bus. Perhaps he also realised that I wanted to do some more caches in Bolton Town Centre too - "It's so unfair" (Kevin).

GoldenPie - GC12W1F

2010-10-28T10:47:00.011+01:00

Autumn Glory

I had to take my son Robert for his Driving Test Theory exam in Bolton at 8am today, so knowing I would have a hour or so to kill I decided to do some caching. It was still dark when we set off but we got there in 25 minutes from Tyldesley and found the Test Centre without any problem.

Queen's Park, Bolton

After dropping him I off I used my PDA to find the nearest cache and this was it. I entered the coordinates into my GPSr and set off to find the closest place to park to it which was on Chorley Old Road, more or less in front of some small entrance gates to Queen's Park.

The 'Pie Crust'

There was a lot of activity with men, machinery and vehicles near the gates I used and I thought it might be difficult to find the cache without being stared at. I saw the 'pie crust' very soon after walking into the park and then headed off away from it towards GZ. The items mentioned in the hint soon became evident and then it was only a matter of finding which one - it didn't take me too long and thankfully no-one was watching.

GoldenPie Cache

Once the admin was done I took some photos of a New Zealand Travel Bug called Jule's Quartz that was in the cache. A note asked for it not to be taken because the owner was coming to pick it up, but when I checked the logs that was in August and the TB was still here - maybe they've forgotten. I noted the TB tracking number so that I could log it anyway, but I missed the geocoin in the cache. Ah well, I might return for it later.

Artistic or What?

I spent another 15 minutes in the park having a look round and taking some artistic pictures - well I think they're artistic, check out my blog and see what you think! It's a great place - the trees were wearing their autumn colours and the birds were singing like mad. As well the usual Magpies, Woodpigeons, Blackbirds and Carrion Crows I spotted some Long-tailed Tits and a Robin. I also think I might have heard the 'shrike' of a Jay, but I didn't actually see it.

Bridging the Gap

Then I headed off across the bridge for the second cache on my list: River Croal - The Lost Arches. It was quite a surprise for me when I ended up walking past the Driving Test Centre, as I'd done a full circle without realising it. "Well, it will be easy to come back to pick Robert up" I thought.

River Croal in October

Blackleach Country Park - 3 - GC2FZ0W

2010-10-25T11:25:00.020+01:00

This was to be the fifth and final cache of the day. By now there was quite a contrast between the sunny and shaded sides of the reservoir as can be seen from these two pictures.

As I walked away from the reservoir a small wall apeared with a bench on one side. After I've completed this cache , I'll sit and log my FTF's there using my phone there I thought. But when I sat down on it was covered in frost and freezing cold, so I got up sharpish.

The cache was a cunning hide and could be easily missed - in fact I did at first and I only found it on my second inspection. I knew it had to be there I just couldn't see it at first.

Blackleach Country Park really is a great place and one I've never been to before, so thanks for making me get up on frosty but sunny Monday morning and seeing it in all it's autumnal glory - I could have stayed in bed as I'm on holiday, but I'm so glad I didn't.

Mission accomplished with five caches under my belt including two FTF's, I skipped happily back to the car and breakfast.

Blackleach Country Park - 1 - GC2FZ0A

2010-10-25T11:20:00.007+01:00

After the previous three successful finds I decided to pick up the remaining two caches here which I'd missed being released over the last couple of days. As I walked round the south-eastern corner of the reservoir a series of fishing platforms came in to close view.

Today the water was very serene as I looked out from the platforms, but I can imagine in the height of summer it gets very busy with families and children. And perhaps even the buzz of model boats being whizzed over the water by some men in their later years - this type of activity seems to have died out with the screenagers of today who seem to want instant gratification without any effort.

The sign at the end of the platform made me think of my dad who sadly died much too early in June 2008. He would have liked it here because he used to build radio-controlled boats and gliders. When he resurrected an old model he'd built of the German warship Scharnhorst about ten years ago, we looked around for somewhere to sail it and ended up going to Moses Gate a little further up the road in Bolton. I can't imagine that he didn't know about this place but maybe it wasn't set up for boating then.

This cache was well hidden and it took me a couple of goes to find even using the hint. I took the wonderful 10-10-10 geocoin (I just couldn't resist) but sorry, I had nothing to leave today. It's going to be hard to part with this but I think I'll put it in one my own Birdwatch caches sometime soon.

With just one more cache to go I set off on a leisurely stroll back along the eastern bank of the reservoir, taking photos on the way and generally enjoying the peace and quiet.

Blackleach Country Park - 2 - GCFZ0G

2010-10-25T11:10:00.003+01:00

After the previous two new finds I decided to pick up the remaining three caches here which I'd missed being released over the last couple of days. It was quite light by now as I walked down the path to the reservoir.

The reservoir came into view as I walked up the bank from the path - it was stunning. There was a mist over the water and a slight haze blurred the church in the distance - it could have been a watercolour painting. The ducks, geese and swans added to the effect making a scene that would have graced any Christmas card.

I just stood for a while and took it all in - it looks like it could be a good place to come to for birdwatching, but that's another hobby and blog. As I walked along the bank I could soon see somewhere which looked interesting form a caching point of view, and sure enough, that's where the GPSr was pointing. After a quick look at the hint I went down the steps and had the cache in hand shortly afterwards.

Blackleach Country Park - 5 - GCFZ15

2010-10-25T11:05:00.006+01:00

Having been FTF at the previous cache, I walked optimistically to this one as if I knew where I was going. Obviously I didn't and after a good start along the main footpath I took a minor footpath (it was signposted) into a vegetated area. This made hard work of getting to GZ because of the wet, muddy ground and tree branches.

When I eventually did surface again I noticed that the original path I'd been on had turned a corner and would have been much easier to follow than the one I chose. It had got much lighter by now but it was still cold - however that didn't seem to deter the frequent joggers and dog walkers who were starting to appear quite frequently on the path in front of the cache location.

Using the hint I found the cache quite easily (in between the muggles passing by) and I was very happy to see that it was another FTF for me today. I signed the log and took a little plastic Stegasuarus dinosaur souvenir - I don't know why but I've started to collect dinosaurs from caches, so when there's one present in a cache I just have to take it.

After doing the admin I took a few photos and then headed off for the reservoir. Things were looking good.

The cache was originally logged on www.geocaching.com with this message from my phone whilst out in the field.

'Yay - My 2nd FTF of the day.
Checkout my blog for more details later.'

Blackleach Country Park - 4 - GCFZ11

2010-10-25T11:00:00.010+01:00

Having been beaten to the First to Find crown on the 'Blackleach Country Park 1' cache, I got up early this morning to attempt two further FTF's that had been activated yesterday. An additional two caches had also been placed this week making a nice total of five to aim at for a morning's geocaching.

I set off in the dark at about 7am and the almost full moon was still burning brightly in the sky when I got to this location. It was -1.5 degrees C and the ground was crisp with frost as I found the public footpath that lead to cache. When I saw where the GPSr was pointing my heart sank as I wondered how on earth I would find in the darkness.

With my thoughts also wondering if anyone had beaten me to it, I launched myself in amongst the trees and started looking for an item mentioned in the hint - there were lots of them. I tried using my 'phone for light, but it wasn't much good, so I just had to resort to feeling my way through the branches.

And then, success! I can't believe how I found it in the dark. There were no other signatures in the log so it was a FTF - the first I've had for ages. I did my best to sign the log, but I couldn't really see what I was doing and my fingers were freezing cold. Sorry for the muddy, scruffy writing!

After I returned the cache to its home, I checked the GPSr for the next FTF on my planned route and set off with a spring in my step as the dawn was starting to break. The path led alongside the M61 motorway which was now starting to buzz and hum with noise of the traffic starting the working day. There was a wonderful orange glow in the sky and some manmade objects created beautiful silhouettes against it.

The cache was originally logged on www.geocaching.com with this message from my phone whilst out in the field.

'Yay - FTF !!! and my first cache of the day.
Checkout my blog for more details later.'

Blackleach Country Park

2010-10-25T10:35:00.000+01:00

I was up early this morning on a mission to collect two brand new caches activated in Blackleach Country Park last night and to be the First to Find (FTF). I'd recently missed the chance of five FTF's all close to home including three here and so I set off at 7am in the dark determined not to be pipped at the post on these two. Whilst there I collected the remaining caches in the series making a total of five caches found all before breakfast:

It was an amazing October morning, cold and frosty and yet very bright and sunny when the sun eventually came up. Come back later for more details and pictures.

Turton and Entwistle Reservoir Caches

2010-10-24T12:28:00.000+01:00

Sarah and I did the following caches around Turton and Entwistle Reservoir today and had a great time in spite of it taking longer than we'd planned and missing the Man. United game.

.... and no DNF's (eventually!)

Details and piccies to follow shortly.

My New Cache Series - Birdwatch

2010-10-17T09:56:00.005+01:00

Today I placed the first cache for my new series which I've called Birdwatch. The aim is to take people to some of my favourite birdwatching sites that I visit quite regularly. All of them are nice places to go just for a walk, even if you're not geocaching, and some of them are in quite unexpected areas of beautiful scenery.

This first cache is called Birdwatch 1 - It Moss Be Here Somewhere and in situated along Moss Lane on the edge of Astley Moss. I actually had to change its location due to needing to get permission to put a cache in the original place on a nearby Nature Reserve. Hopefully that will soon be resolved and Birdwatch 2 - High Hopes will be activated too.

You can checkout the cache description and logs here on www.geocaching.com.

My Final Jabberwocky Series Cache

2010-10-15T19:20:00.002+01:00

Great News! The final cache in my Jabberwocky cache has been found again - the first time this year! It's only been found five times since I placed it at Easter in 2009. I've been meaning to do maintenance checks on all the other caches that lead to this final puzzle cache location but had not got round to it yet. I'd almost given up hope that anyone would ever find it again.

Here's what Gordianus (the finder) had to say about it in his log:

"FTF this year- incredible. I'd got most of the caches more than a year ago, and then lost the strips of paper. I found them last week after clearing out my car (I know I should do it more often). The only one I was short of was the Frumious Bandersnatch. However I discovered that I had enough info to make an informed guess as to the missing number. I put the coords in and the spot looked more than likely. Managed to call late in the afternoon. Parked up, a short 300+ft walk and voila!!. There it was. Happy days.

The cache is in very good condition. Photo to follow. By the way the pencil needs sharpening, and I had nothing with me to do it. Signed with my pen. Many thanks for an interesting series. It was great to re read the poem again."

Well done Gordianus, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Here's a link to another cache in the series for anyone who may be interested in doing it. You'll need to find out how many others there are by investigating the Tyldesley area yourself.

What, No Canal ? - GC29YMQ

2010-10-10T16:52:00.009+01:00

This was to be the last cache of the weekend for me and what a nice one to end on. I've driven past this area loads of times, but especially when going to Moses Gate Country Park in Bolton for a spot of birdwatching. I'd noticed the entrance last week when I was down there, so I knew I could park right in front of it. They've done a really job of reclaiming this area and turning it into a public amenity, as is witnessed by the many groups of muggles out walking their dogs or taking the kids cycling. Hopefully it will also attract some wildlife too.

The blue locks themselves are interesting - from a distance I thought they might be real ones that have been relocated, but on close inspection I realised they were a piece of artwork. The 'canal' which they span is a drainage ditch and it is full of wetland vegetation such as reeds. I talked to a couple of people who were interested in what I was doing lurking down in the ditch - I just used the excuse of taking photos of the locks and bridges as artistic statements instead of mentioning geocaching.

One guy to whom I spoke thought I was from the Forestry Commission at first and started telling me that they had pollarded the row of trees alongside the drainage ditch too early - they were too young to be cut back so severely and may suffer for it it the future. When I asked him if there was ever a real canal here he said 'No, it was a colliery and all the canals are underground' as is explained in the description for this cache.

An interesting place with a bit of history and a nice walk - thanks for bringing me here as I wouldn't have been otherwise. Now off to Moses Gate for another birdwatching session on a wonderfully sunny Sunday October afternoon - bit of an Indian Summer, I think.

Took the 'Twenty Thousand Mile Sneaker' TB and left 'Routemaster' Bus TB in its place.

Monton Lighthouse - GC2FWXV

2010-10-10T16:50:00.004+01:00

Well I might not have been the FTF daggnabbit, but I'll sure as hello be the first to log it! I'm also claiming a moral FTF as I was in this exact location caching yesterday and so I would have found it then if I'd known it had been published.

It's a shame that the lighthouse is no longer clearly visible from the road as it used to be before the Medical Centre next door was built. I couldn't see a way of getting up close either - is it possible?

The cache location isn't actually near the lighthouse, this is just the first stage in a two part puzzle. After finding the cunningly hidden container, I entered the second set of coordinates into my GPSr and saw that it was about half a mile away. So I decided to go back to the car and drive to it, as I had other stuff to do today.

Fortunately the second location was just down the road in a rather odd little place near a pub - I'm not sure whether it still serves or not as it seemed a little derelict. I found the cache container quickly in a place I'm not sure will last long, unless the owner lives in the pub. And in spite of not being FTF I left the 'Artificial Horizon' travel bug I was hoping to swap anyway - well it is 101010 today.

Take a Walkden on the Wild Side - GC2G728

2010-10-09T16:47:00.002+01:00

Damn - I missed FTF by 1! I did this one today on the way home after cleaning up a few caches in Worsley. At first I thought I must have entered the coordinates wrongly as the GPSr was taking me towards Tyldesley and away from Walkden. But then at Mosley Common the route turned a sharp right and I was heading back towards Walkden. I parked at the end of road which became increasingly narrower and more potholed. A footpath led into the fields and soon I was surrounded by farmland and trees. The golden sun was starting to go down and the temperature was dropping but I was here in a T-shirt in early October in what could easily have been a late summer's evening.

I followed the path round along the barbed wire fence and this led me to the first location. At first I walked past GZ having missed the item mentioned in the hint. But after I backtracked I found it and quickly spotted the cache container lying exposed on the ground. It was a very clever container which I've never seen before, but it had obviously become detached from it's proper location. After reading the contents I replaced as best as I could in what I thought was the right place, and then set off for the second location which wasn't too far away.

The cows were in the field as mentioned in the amended description and previous log but I walked past them and over the stile into the next field before realising a route through the herd might have been more direct. As it turns out this was probably a better way as it avoided the cows but it was quite by accident that I did this. There was a convenient gap in the fence where people obviously climb through, so I did too and soon I was on the other side of the cows at the top end of the field. I reached GZ and shortly afterwards had found the cache which was also exposed although more discretely.

I signed the log and took the wonderful trackable GeoGem - I can already feel it's power and a touch of Gollum inside me, my precious! Sorry, but I'd didn't have anything to leave today, but I couldn't leave the precious there. After returning the cache to it's hidey-hole and covering it a little better, I set off for home quite satisfied with the afternoon's caching. A great little puzzle series in a nice place I've never been to before, despite living fairly close by.

Which Direction ? - 2 of 4 - GC29VP6

2010-10-09T16:45:00.011+01:00

I found this cache today after I returned to the Woods with the new coordinates, although they did seem a bit out according to my GPSr. On my way I went past Dumbledore's old house again and I visited the location of last night's previous cache 'in the woods' to see what it looked like in the daylight.

When I got to GZ I started looking according to the hint and got stung by nettles which were six feet off the ground and so I decided it couldn't be right. Groups of muggles passed by regularly and at one point I started taking pictures of the fungi so as not to look suspicious.

After a few minutes with no success, I put my 'cachers eyes' an eventually found a promising place - yep, there it was. I can see why it had to be moved from the previous location, as the water level was still fairly high under the bridge today. Another good little spot.

Loop-line Cache - GC24VHK

2010-10-09T16:44:00.003+01:00

After ending up caching in the dark last night, I decided to revisit this area in the light today to clean up the remaining caches. I parked next to the church in Monton Green and soon discovered the footpath along the old railway line. I've been on the other end of this path in Worsley, but never here before - they've made a really good job of it and I, like many others, didn't even know it was here. I'll probably come back for a bike ride along it's full length sometime as it's nice and flat.

It soon became evident that I was walking along a raised embankment with quite steep sides and, as I knew iI needed to scramble to the bottom, I began to fear the worse. Some of the place were very steep indeed - was it going to be tricky for a fat old bloke to get down?

As I approached GZ I quickly spotted the fallen tree and I breathed a sigh of relief to find that it was on the slightly less steep side facing the golf course. There were a few trees which aided my slip down to the cache but I'm afraid I left a few muddy skid marks which the next cachers may see if they come soon. Fortunately I didn't sit down or fall on my backside as I would have got pretty muddy doing this.

Once at GZ I managed to find the cache fairly quickly, although I was always standing on a slope or soft ground and I nearly toppled once or twice. A great place and I enjoyed the challenge of getting there.

Into the wood - 3 of 4 - GC29VPF

2010-10-08T16:44:00.002+01:00

Well this was definitely going to be the fourth and last cache of the day, as it was very dark when I entered the Woods tonight. There were still a few people out walking dogs as it was only 7pm, but I knew finding a cache was going to be difficult without a torch. I know the area as I've done other caches in the vicinity and I've been past the lovely old house before. Tonight it looked even more fabulous in the fading light as I could see into the front room which was filled with books and old wooden furniture - it could easily be Albus Dumbledore's country cottage!

I carried on further 'into the wood' and my GPSr beeped for being at ground zero - then I just had to start looking. Well actually more feeling then looking as I really couldn't see that much. I tried several areas without luck and was about to give up defeated by the dark when I decided to widen my search and have one last try. Eureka! I put my hand into a smelly patch of water and out came the cache and few sticks. Fortunately the contents were dry and so I signed the log by the light of my phone.

A great place and one I'm sure I'll return to in the light.

Wadsworth's Boundary - GC2G705

2010-10-08T16:43:00.005+01:00

This was my third cache find this evening after doing two previous caches in Worsley and the woods. It was starting to get a little dark but I decided to go for it anyway. I found the path to the left of the cricket club entrance and was soon making my way through the many branches towards GZ.

I found the exact place using the hint and signed the log whilst leaning on the cricket club fence, watched by a passing dog walker I'm sure. I was very tempted to take the torch but, as I didn't have anything to leave in its place, decided against it. "If I hurry up, I might just manage one more cache before it's completely dark", I thought as I quickly made my way back to the car.

Bethany's secret - 1 of 4 - GC29VN4

2010-10-08T16:41:00.007+01:00

This was my second find of the evening in the Worsley area. I parked on the edge of Roe Green and walked back towards the cricket and tennis clubs to the start of the woodland trail.

The wooden flower sculptures that appear at intervals along the path are wonderful, and they came in very useful for me when I had to explain what I was doing lurking in the woods to some passing muggles. "I'm just taking pictures of the sculptures", I said and I think they believed me.

I found the cache fairly quickly and signed the log. It's a great place and I'm sure I'll be back.

This Daughter Likes To Live In The Fast Lane - GC29RE

2010-10-08T16:39:00.008+01:00

I parked in the layby outside St. Mark's Church a little further up the road as the car park here is now a 'Pay and Display' type when it used to be free. I hate paying for parking especially when I'm not going to be very long, but I also don't like risking getting caught without paying - so I'd rather walk a little further.

At first I set off on the wrong side of the canal and so I had to retrace my steps to get over it and on to the right side. I took a few pictures of the arched road bridge over the canal and the derrick which I think is used to lift the wooden gate into the canal when it needs draining. Once on the correct path I made for the motorway bridges and had no difficulty in finding the cache.

A great historic location with lots of interesting things to see, even if you're not caching.

The Weekend's Caches

2010-10-08T16:30:00.000+01:00

Over the weekend I did the following caches in the Worsley and Monton areas starting on Friday night after work:

Friday 8 October

Saturday 9 October

Sunday 10 October

I also picked up and dropped off a few trackable items. More details and piccies to follow shortly .

Farnworth Park - Monument - GC2E2RC

2010-10-05T21:37:00.004+01:00

This was my second find in Farnworth Park tonight after visiting the buzzy bees at the previous location. The light was fading quickly as I walked up the splendid tree-lined avenue between the two monuments in the park towards the steps at one end. I could soon see the black metal railings around the monument to Thomas Barnes (I have a work colleague called the same name) and so, knowing the type of container mentioned in the hint, I already had some idea of where it would be.

That said, it still took me longer than I expected to find it, which I eventually did (obviously!). I then struggled to find somewhere to lean on to write in the tiny strip log and my fat fumbling fingers found it difficult to roll it up and get it back into the cache container. Phew, I did it!

A good hide in an interesting place.

Farnworth Park - This Wall is Buzzing - GC2E2RY

2010-10-05T21:20:00.001+01:00

It took a little while for the penny to drop with this one as I was using the description and hint from the other cache in the park - d'uh! I'd even taken some pictures of the swarm of buzzy bees before I sussed that I was supposed to be looking here! After re-reading the description and hint on my PDA phone I realised my mistake, and then I quickly worked where the cache was.

But even though I knew where it was (within a few feet), I still couldn't find it and it was starting to get dark. It was also getting to be muggle city, especially with those dog-walking types, but by now I didn't care - I was scrabbling around on my hands and knees desperately looking for the cache before the light went. Just before I was about to give up and move on to the second cache in the park, I noticed something - yes it was part of the cache container and a very crafty hide. So in the end I found it and, after signing the log, (again observed by muggles) I happily moved onwards and upwards to the next location.

A great wall, a nice place and a good hide. Thanks, I enjoyed it (in the end!).

The Porridge Pot Cache - GC15G3G

2010-09-26T18:48:00.015+01:00

This was the 15th and last find today for Sarah and me whilst out in the Clitheroe area. We'd had a great day out and had resumed talking again after the accident at WWB 14. The cahe was located in an interesting little park with various wooden and metal sculptures including the Porridge Pot itself.

It was a very unusual porridge though, full of fossils. After a quick look round the park we set off for a look round Clitheroe museum and castle and then some fish and chips for tea. Lubberly!

Clitheroe Castle

GeekTeacher and Pendle Hill

WWB 2 - Waddow Hall - GC29PNX

2010-09-26T18:38:00.011+01:00

This was actually to be the last cache in the whole series for us as we'd started at WWB 3 and carried on anti-clockwise to WWB 4 and the rest of the caches in this great circular route. At the start of the day we'd debated about where to go after WWB 3 and for a short while we thought we'd be doing this one as the second cache of the day. But when we realised we were closer to WWB 4 we decided to pick this one up on the way back, as we were doing now.

There were some great views of Pendle Hill along the road to this cache, although the cement works are a bit of blot on an otherwise beautiful landscape. Soon the cache location came into view and we set about finding the container. Sarah and I were just about talking by now (see WWB 14 and WWB 1!) and so when we found it we finished the series on a good note, although we didn't actually get to see Waddow Hall - where is it?

A little further down the road our trusty old car came into view, and we yet again breathed a sign of relief that it was still there. Just one more cache to do today in Brungerly Park and then off into Clitheroe Museum for a look round. A great end to a great series in a lovely part of Lancashire - thanks for bringing us here. We've proudly added the badge to our profiles!

WWB 1 - Waddington Millennium - GC29PNP

2010-09-26T18:37:00.011+01:00

If you've read my previous log at WWB 14, you'll know I was pretty angry at this point as I'd just walked on a brand new pair of binoculars and broken them in two. Sarah and I weren't speaking for a while because I thought it was actually her fault (she'd left them on the ground where they couldn't be seen) and so now she'd marched off with the GPSr on her own to avoid my wrath.

I took a few pictures of ducks along the stream (or culvert) at the front of a row houses to calm myself down before I caught up with her.

By the time I got here, Sarah had found the cache and was signing the log and so there was nothing for me to do except take a few pictures. The container was well hidden but, as we've seen this method before, it didn't prove too hard to find.

WWB 14 - Coronation Gardens - GC29PNG

2010-09-26T18:36:00.007+01:00

After doing WWB 13, we emerged from the Alley into the beautiful village of Waddington. The footpath we were on actually continued across the road and on stepping stones over the river to GZ - wonderful. But we did not go there directly, deciding instead to have a look round the very picturesque Coronation Gardens which were pretty much still in full bloom despite being well into the month of September.

Around the gardens, over the little bridge and back towards GZ, Sarah led the way while I took a few photographs. By the time I got there, Sarah though she had looked everywhere but to no avail. There were two possible places it could be, but only one really bearing in mind the nature of the cache. Even I couldn't find it for a while, but after re-reading other people's logs about it falling down and being replaced, I decided to go over the location with a fine toothcomb. It was worth it because I eventually came up trumps after Sarah had just about given up.

We sat on the bench and signed the tiny log - there was no space for the date so we just left our names. Then I went to replace the cache container and this is where the trouble starts - look away now if you don't like conflict. I was on my knees and half upside down to replace the cache and when I got back up I heard a huge crunch - I'd walked on the brand new binoculars I'd only given Sarah this morning. The silly woman had left them on the floor whilst she was looking for the cache and being small and black I just hadn't seen them. She hadn't even picked them up after signing the log and so the air became blue with expletives because they had snapped in two and were clearly damaged beyond repair. We put the crumpled bits back into the bag with out speaking any further and Sarah marched off with the GPSr towards the next location.

Needless to say, we fell out big time for a while - it lasted until well after the next cache because I was so annoyed - unfortunately this took the edge off what was a really lovely place.

WWB 13 - Waddington Alley - GC29PN9

2010-09-26T18:35:00.005+01:00

We came to this curious little place from WWB 12. There were the root remains of a massive tree growing through the wall in a neighbouring garden and the opposite wall where the cache was located was itself full of cracks probably due to root disturbance. We found the cache fairly quickly although on another day it might have been another story - a sneaky little hide!

After signing the log we headed off down the well-maintained alley between the houses on the left and the church grounds on the right. What fun the kids (if there are any) round here must have chasing along this path - we really enjoyed it too. A great little place, but the best was yet to come.

Pendle Hill

WWB 12 - Welcome to Waddington - GC29PN7

2010-09-26T18:33:00.017+01:00

We could see the above sign saying 'Welcome to Waddington' a long way off and so we basically knew where we were heading. It was made of a beautiful light brown sandstone with large oval rings of iron deposits and was located next to a stile which led to a public footpath.

We found the cache quite easily but signing the log was a little more difficult as a member of the 'Lace Curtain Brigade' was watching our every move from a house across the road. So I stood with my back towards her shielding Sarah from view while she wrote in the log. Then we hopped over the stile and walked across the field to the next cache.

WWB 11 - Primary School - GC2203T

2010-09-26T18:32:00.005+01:00

We came from WWB 10 and although we could see Public Footpath signs we couldn't always make out the route across the farmer's fields. Eventually we just decided to head for the road, as you don't generally get primary schools in the middle of a field.

Once on the road the GPSr recalculated the route and we found that we were naturally heading in the right direction. Soon the school came into view and we'd cracked it. I could see the date we needed from a way off and Sarah found the phone number on a poster outside the main gates. Sarah did the puzzle and came up with the coordinates which pointed along a nearby footpath and so this seemed right.

Whilst walking along this path we had a great view of a sparrowhawk circling round and being surrounded by ten or so much smaller birds. Then all of a sudden the sparrowhawk swooped down as if to go for one if the smaller birds, but it didn't seem to get it and so continued soaring and eventually went out of sight. So the new pair of lightweight binoculars I'd bought for Sarah and given her this morning came in really useful here, but read what happens in WWB 14.

We went back to the primary school and sat down on the bench outside the main entrance to have a cup of coffee from our flask whilst enjoying the view and planning the next cache.

WWB 10 - Tributary - GC29CQT

2010-09-26T18:31:00.004+01:00

We walked from the previous cache at WWB 9 along the side of another maize field and saw that some of the stems had been broken and the maize cobs nibbled by something. We also came across a freshly deceased pheasant which looked as if it had been killed only today by something, not sure what.

The ground got quite boggy around here as we approached the tributary, and a little jump was needed to get to the other side. The cache was easy to find but difficult to get the log out of, as it had expanded in the bottle and the neck was quite narrow. After a few minutes poking fingers and pen into the bottle we eventually got it out and managed to sign the log.

WWB 8 - Old Hall - GC29CR2

2010-09-26T18:30:00.005+01:00

Out doing the whole WWB series with sarahjones65 on a wonderfully sunny Saturday in September. What a beautiful little village West Bradford is, even though it sounds as if it should be in Yorkshire! Whilst admiring the old houses and the converted mill, we walked past the road that led up to GZ and so had to backtrack a little to get where we needed to go. It didn't matter because the place was so nice just to amble around.

We soon found the cache and took a quick breather on the bench, only to be barked at by a dog in the Old Hall grounds. After a minute or so it soon settled down and so there wasn't a problem. Nice place.

WWB 9 - Sycamore Tree - GC29CQY

2010-09-26T18:30:00.004+01:00

Out doing the whole series with sarahjones65 on a wonderfully sunny Saturday in September. Great series, great little village. Didn't see any members of the Lace Curtain Brigade today, only sheep.

Took two TB's to move on somewhere nice but could only leave one in return as the other was too big for the container. Sorry about that.

WWB 7 - West Bradford Bridge - GC29CRG

2010-09-26T18:29:00.004+01:00

Out doing the whole WWB series with Sarah on a wonderfully sunny Saturday in September. From the previous cache at WWB 6, we walked along the edge of the maize field to the river, and then along the fast flowing river towards the bridge. Another straightforward find in a very scenic little area.

WWB 6 - Wood - GC29CT0

2010-09-26T18:27:00.002+01:00

Out doing the whole WWB series with sarahjones65 on a wonderfully sunny Saturday in September. We walked past GZ at first heading for the field of tall maize plants through the second gate, before realising where it was. After backtracking a little, we soon found the interesting little cache container. A nice little place.

WWB 5 - Stile - GC29CT6

2010-09-26T18:26:00.006+01:00

On the way to the stile I saw the red breast of my first Kingfisher shoot past us along the path of a stream - fantastic! Sarah was quite miffed that she didn't see it. - haha! A straightforward find across the fields in a lovely location.

WWB 4 - River Ribble Bend - GC29CTC

2010-09-26T18:21:00.002+01:00

After debating which was the best cache to do after WWB 3, we settled on this one - seems obvious now doesn't it, but for a while we were considering doing WWB 2.

Another straightforward find and shortly afterwards I saw the red breast of a Kingfisher shoot past us along the path of a stream. I was made up with this because I'd be hoping to see one all year. A lovely place and I'm sure we'll be back just for a walk along the river.

WWB 3 - Brungerley Bridge - GC29PPA

2010-09-26T18:18:00.002+01:00

Out doing the whole WWB series with Sarah on a wonderfully sunny Saturday in September. We started here because we found a place to park nearby - no other reason. A nice and easy start to a great series. Love the bridge.

Caching in Clitheroe

2010-09-26T17:43:00.001+01:00

Here's a summary of the fifteen caches Sarah and I did today in the Clitheroe area. We did them in this order:

This is the most caches we've ever done in a single day. Will write them up later with piccies.

Treecache - GC2F1J6

2010-09-17T19:34:00.008+01:00

Sarah and I found this cache as the last of three this evening. Well, Leighgeogers (the AS Level Geography students caching team who set this cache) didn't go far for this fieldtrip did they! It's right on the doorstep of the new Leigh Sixth Form College.

We parked in a housing estate on the Pennington side of the college and found a pretty little footpath past a private fishing lodge which led to the back of the college, which we first saw through a narrow bridge. However we didn't go under the bridge , but turned left and carried on along the footpath. After another right turn the GPSr announced with a beeo that we had arrived at Ground Zero.

One particular tree stood out as being likely candidate - it was a great shape and seemed a prime place for a cache in this location. Yep, that's where we found it, covered in a few sticks and leaves. Sarah stamped our stamper, wrote the date and I took the insect Travel Bug to move on somewhere else.

As we'd never been on these footpaths before we took a different route back, having a quick look round the college buildings and sports facilites. Then off to Aldi to buy some pizzas for tea!

Jam Series - Thick as Thieves - GC12H0X

2010-09-17T19:33:00.005+01:00

This was the second of three caches we found today. I'd been down here before for another cache which now seems to have gone and so I had a fair idea of where to go. There was a new road here now, which when I first came was just being started, but we stuck to the footpath at the side.

On arriving at Ground Zero there were several candidates that matched the clue, and one particularly had a great little hole in which to hide something - but it wasn't there. After a quick look round some other likely places Sarah went back to the first spot and nearly broke her ankle down a boggy hole which appeared out of nowhere. This shook her up a little and she very quickly decided that she was going to give up on this one. I, on the other hand, persevered and eventually found it, in a familiar container for this series - it's a pity that many of the others are now defunct.

This is a great location and you almost feel that you are out in the countryside instead of in reclaimed industrial wasteland where there was once a colliery. One day I'll have a good look around the adjacent flash for birdies - it looks like it could be a good place for them.

Firebolt 1 - GC29TW4

2010-09-17T19:32:00.007+01:00

It was a sunny Friday afternoon and so, after a week of work, I decided to go out caching with Sarah (sarahjones65). This cache was quite close to home, but as we'd never been here before we planned a route to take in this one and two other caches in the area.

We parked just off the main road in a residential area and walked back to the public footpath which used to be the railway line here. It was a very pleasant stroll along this now leafy trail towards Ground Zero and before we realised it we had arrived. After a short scramble up a small hillock we were in amongst the trees in prime geocaching country and after a few minutes we'd found the cache.

It was a great place and an even greater container - it was a huge and full of good quality stuff such as old OS map of Stoke, an ipod case and some mini sparklers - none of your usual tat here! Sorry, but being a semi-serious newbie bird watcher I couldn't resist taking the bird playing cards even though we didn't have anything to leave today - I'll have to come back with something soon.

Bolt Upright - GC28J76

2010-09-12T22:23:00.007+01:00

After spending most of the weekend doing DIY jobs in the kitchen, I went out with Sarah for a quick spot of geocaching for a bit of a break. We parked just off the main road and soon found the footpath up this pretty little wooded stream. As we approached ground zero, we could just see the tops of two giant bolts through the rampant vegetation which has grown much taller than us.

Carrying on up the path we found the stream mentioned in the description but the bank seemed too steep and slippy to get down. So we walked a little further up the path hoping to find an easier place to cross - no luck however.

We decided to return to the previous crossing place and found it not to be as bad as it had first seemed. There were a couple of pieces of corrugated metal conveniently placed across the stream as a makeshift bridge and soon we had safely got down the bank and had crossed over the water.

As we counted down on the GPSr, the two large bolts came into full view. They were amazing and we'd never have known they were here without doing this geocache - it's such as shame that they have been covered in grafitti.

Using the hint we found the cache fairly easily as it was lying quite exposed on the floor - it seemed to have fallen out of its correct location. We normally only take travel bugs to move on nowadays, but for some obscure reason we also collect dinosaurs from caches and as there was one here we couldn't resist. Sorry we didn't have anything to leave today.

After doing the admin of signing the log, Sarah decided to replace the container where she thought it should have been, in a position in keeping with the hint but a little more hidden. On returning to the crossing point we met a group of two geocaching teams also looking for this cache - their GPSr gave them away so we knew what they were doing right away, As it turns out they knew me from my job and after a pleasant conversation we set off in opposite directions. Good luck GreenMachine et al - I hope you found it.

Thanks for bringing us to this little gem of a location which is on our doorstep but was previously unknown to us - that's what's so good about this hobby.

First caching trip in September

2010-09-06T20:27:00.002+01:00

Here are five more caches I need to write up:

Piccies to follow soon ...

Anglesey

2010-09-02T22:00:00.003+01:00

Write-up and piccies to follow ...

Harley Bear - Pennington Flash

2010-09-02T21:55:00.002+01:00

Found whilst doing a spot of birding at Penny. Will write up later with piccies.

Vallone dei Mulini (Sorrento) - GCJMJF

2010-08-05T15:35:00.030+01:00

Well, due to the pressure of work it's been quite a long time since I've been geocaching and my last log here was nearly two months ago. But what a cache with which to start back, not because it was particularly challenging, but because it's our first cache outside the UK. And it's not every day that you come across an active volcano either!

Sarah, Robert, Cathy and myself were holidaying for a week in Sorrento, Italy and were having a great time. I'd loaded my phone with details of all the caches within 20 miles of the hotel and this was the closest. In fact there weren't that many in the whole Campania region, and those that were there would all need a good trek to reach, except for this one.

Earlier in the day we'd taken a hair-raisingly dangerous coach ride along the first part of the fabulous Amalfi drive to the fantastic coastal village of Positano, which has been described as the world's first vertical village as each and every building seems to be on its own level down the steep sided valley cliffs above the sea.

Due to leaving it very late, we'd missed the opportunity of doing the Author's Cache in Positano as the last ferryboat trip was leaving before we could do it. I was a bit miffed about this as I'll probably never be back this way, but we'd had a good day out so I soon forgot about it and the view from the ferry as we left Positano harbour was amazing.

After a 40 minute or so cruise we arrived back in Sorrento with the buildings on the cliffs overlooking the Marina Piccola harbour lit up by the golden sunshine.

This was our first look at Vallone dei Mulini (valley of the watermills) from below as we'd only seen it from the bridge on the edge of Piazza Tasso before. On our way back up the steps to the piazza I took out the GPSr, checked the hint and set about looking for this cache. Sarah, Robert and Cathy had shot off up the steps and I found it quickly before they had chance to look.

Whilst Sarah did the admin I took some (more) pictures of the views from near this area - the one of the distant Mount Vesuvius must surely be one of the best photos I've ever taken from a cache, don't you think? A great day out with a very satisfying ending.