Th'art - GC1KDGP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.