Another day out in Dovedale

GC1VKFY - SOTL Thorpe Cloud




What can I say...Awesome Awesome Awesome Earth Cache. After completing a few of the SOTL series this was next on the list to do. The view of Thorpe Cloud as you approach is spectacular! The area was crawling with walkers and families just enjoying a day out in the sunshine with many kids splashing around in the river. Looking up at the cloud, there were a lot of people already on top and attempting the climb the hard way.

Looking at the map we decided to follow the public footpath round the back of the cloud hoping for an easier ascent on account of having the 3 puppies with us. Most of the walk was a fairly easy up hill climb until the last 500 metres or so where it really started to tell on our legs. We made it to the top quite quickly and was amazed at the views we got. The wind was extremely strong at the summit making my hair stick right up and looking like I was wearing a wig!!!

We made our calculation of the questions that were required and took a few minutes to look around at the great views taking the opportunity for a few pics as well.

Again it was decided that rather than attempt to go scree surfing on the way down, we made our way back the safer way. The noise from a nearby field where all the sheep were being herded into a neighbouring field was quite loud especially with the farmer beeping his horn ruining the nice peaceful sounds of the countryside.

All in all, it was one hell of a climb, an amazing view and certainly well worth the effort. One that I would recommend to all.

Many Thanks to PopupPirate for making this Earth Cache.

Keele Caches

GC1QR5N Dead Roman's Society
This was my second cache of the day. I parked in the Students Union carpark, a place that I've been to many times. Got out the trusty GPSr and followed the arrow. Well this is where I made my first mistake, as I had come into the woods in the wrong place and made a right old hash of it. I looked at the clue as where I was the co-ords seemed to be right out. Yep I'd gone through a tunnel and to a clearing but no cache. So I phoned a friend who had completed the cache and it all turns out that I was through the wrong tunnel. It seems bizaare that there would be tunnels in a wood like this but hey, there was a few. So after a few instructions I found where I was supposed to be and to be honest, I really should have trusted my GPS as the co-ords were pretty spot on. What a wonderful place to visit, it was amazing. There was a bridge with 4 little archways on it and up above was the tunnel that I had gone through. I so wish I had taken my camera for this one but I really wasnt expecting anything so spectacular especially on a university campus. This cache comes highly recommended from me.


GC14P9Y Keele Woods and Mud
This was my next on the list after Dead Roman's Society and thankfully I found the right track immediately. Another surprise for me, I hadn't realised there was a really impressive hall on the campus. The walk took us right past the hall and into the grounds passing a really lovely lake. I was fully expecting to get into the woods and as the title said....so get caked in mud. I found that the path had recently been done properly with a hardcore surface so was able to walk there with nice clean shoes. Got to the GZ and started looking at the likely places but nothing so resorted to the clue. I'm glad I did as my GPSr was showing 120ft out when I finally located the cache. The woods were really quiet so searching wasn't an issue.
Again the walk back was even more impressive as you got the full view of the hall with its lake and little weir with stepping stones going across it. What an ace place. Caches that I would certainly recommend.

In total I completed 10 local caches today, ones which had been on my closest to home for such a long time. There are many more to get around the area, but I keep being pulled to other areas.

Tomorrow is another caching day, I'm all prepped and have planned a couple of Earth Caches, about 18 traditionals and 5 Virtuals. We shall see if we get round to them all...especially with all the pups in tow. And this time I won't be forgetting my camera.

Different types of Cache that I've visited

Cache explanations courtesy of Geocaching.com


Traditional Caches - This is the original cache type consisting, at a bare minimum, a container and a log book. Normally you'll find a tupperware container, ammo box, or bucket filled with goodies, or smaller container ("micro cache") too small to contain items except for a log book. The coordinates listed on the traditional cache page are the exact location for the cache.

The general rule of thumb is, "If you take an item, leave an item, and write in the logbook." Some caches are themed, so make sure to read the description before going on a hunt.



Multi-Cache -A multi-cache ("multiple") involves two or more locations, the final location being a physical container. There are many variations, but most multi-caches have a hint to find the second cache, and the second cache has hints to the third, and so on. An offset cache (where you go to a location and get hints to the actual cache) is considered a multi-cache.



Unknown Cache or Puzzle Cache - The "catch-all" of cache types, this form of cache can involve complicated puzzles you will first need to solve to determine the coordinates. Due to the increasing creativity of geocaching this becomes the staging ground for new and unique challenges.



Earth Cache - An EarthCache is a special place that people can visit to learn about a unique geoscience feature or aspect of our Earth. EarthCaches include a set of educational notes and the details about where to find the location (latitude and longitude). Visitors to EarthCaches can see how our planet has been shaped by geological processes, how we manage the resources and how scientists gather evidence to learn about the Earth. For more information about EarthCaches, visit http://www.earthcache.org/.



Virtual Cache - A virtual cache is a cache that exists in a form of a location. Depending on the cache "hider," a virtual cache could be to answer a question about a location, an interesting spot, a task, etc. The reward for these caches is the location itself and sharing information about your visit.

Because of the nature of these geocaches, you must actually visit the location and acquire the coordinates there before you can post. In addition, although many locations are interesting, a virtual cache should be out of the ordinary enough to warrant logging a visit.



Letterbox Hybrid - A letterbox is another form of treasure hunting using clues instead of coordinates. In some cases, however, the owner has made it both a letterbox and a geocache and posted its coordinates on Geocaching.com. If there is a stamp inside a letterbox hybrid, it is not an item intended for trade; the stamp is meant to remain in the box so that visitors can use it to record their visit.




Event Cache - Occasionally, local geocachers and geocaching organizations designate a time and location to meet and discuss geocaching. After the event the caches are archived


Mega Event -
A Mega-Event cache is similar to an Event Cache but it is much larger. In order to qualify as a Mega Event, the event cache must be attended by 500+ people. Typically, Mega Events are annual events and attract geocachers from all over the world.


Wherigo -
Wherigo is a toolset for creating and playing GPS-enabled adventures in the real world. By integrating a Wherigo experience, called a cartridge, with finding a cache, the geocaching hunt can be an even richer experience. Among other uses, Wherigo allows geocachers to interact with physical and virtual elements such as objects or characters while still finding a physical geocache container. A Wherigo-enabled GPS device is required to play a cartridge. Learn more at Wherigo.com.



Now what are my favourites.....pretty hard to decide really. I've completed some fantastic Traditional Caches - generally the ones with higher difficulty/terrain ratings. Puzzle caches I love especially when the weather is dire or its evenings and I can't get out so I'll sit there at my computer and try and solve the different puzzles to get the co-ordinates. Can be very time consuming and also frustrating.

I absolutely love Earth Caches, Its amazing how much you can learn from just doing one cache about the history or geology of a particular area. I've also come across some amazing multi-caches that have had loads of stages but haven't been boring or repetitive.

But then again....a cache is a cache, it really doesn't matter to me what it is, it's about the enjoyment of getting outdoors and exploring new places that I never knew existed. Its also about the buzz of the hunt as well, and if you have ever seen a geocacher in action the head is down following the arrow and the closer they get, the quicker they move.....and that's still certainly the case with us.

Travelling Geocaches

GC45CC - Ye Ole Survey Monuments

Mmmmmm a travelling geocache...different...well yeah, it is!!

Ye Ole Survey Monuments is a travelling geocache that is owned by outforthehunt. The cache moves around the country and you could be looking for a specific survey monument, pillar, surface block, rivet or bolt. Unlike conventional geocaches with this cache you need to record the co-ordinates you find and make a note of them on your log. (Explanation taken from http://www.yosm.co.uk/)

I completed the cache over the Mega weekend whilst the cache was located at Brean Down in Somerset. As with a lot of pillars and trigpoints, the view was absolutely breathtaking however getting there wasn't particularly easy. It was one hell of a climb up the side of the hill.

So unlike the usual fixed caches, this one can be logged many times as long as you visit each location and take the required details.


Overlooking Brean Sands


Overlooking Weston Super Mare

So.....where is my next YOSM...actually not far up the road from my house so I think a caching visit is in order to log some more.

Fun Caching

GC1VK8N - Splish, Splash Cache & Dash






This has to be my favourite cache of the whole weekend. It definately begs the question "What would you do to get a cache"?. Luckily for a few, it was completed when the fountain was switched off, but for the rest of us great fun was had, not only grabbing the cache ourselves, but watching the fun of others doing it as well.

All packed and ready to go!!!

Well I had so many good intentions of being really really organised for going away this time, but as always it ends up as lastminute.com.

Now it really is my fault. I had spent a couple of evenings getting my laptop upto scratch and had loaded all my favourite geocaching programs onto it. There were only 2 problems with it.

1. Knackered battery - But this I managed to over come by use of an inverter in the car. Problem solved

2. No internet access -

So this resulted in a trip to carphone warehouse with all good intentions of buying myself a pay as you go mobile internet dongle but if you're anything like me, you can't resist something new.

So to cut a long story short, I ended up coming out of the store with not only a dongle, but a new netbook which was free with the contract, which actually is only about a tenner more than I would have been paying for PAYG. So you tell me....just how could I resist.

Next was get it home, after completing a local cache of course...oh with my new netbook still in its box, which was suprisingly good to lean on to sign a log sheet. I then had to start the process of uploading all of my stuff to it.

Mmmmmm 7 hours later I can gladly but very frustratedly report that it is now complete. Silly old me wanted this very small little gadget that would go in my rucksack and didn't even think about how I was going to get the software onto the damn thing. All I can say is thank you Dad...we certainly got there in the end after a lot of words unrepeatable for this blog. We ended up doing it by using our external hard drive and if those companies are going to try to stop us copying from one laptop to another...then think again....We did it!!!!

We even learnt tonight how to create a route on GC.com and now have them all uploaded to our trusy GPSr's and Nuvi.

So am I excited.....OOOOOOOO YES I AM!!!!

MEGA HERE WE COME!!!!! YEEHAH!!!!

My Caching Companion

My wonderful working Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel SPROCKET. Pedigree name Warburton's St Louis born on the 22/06/08.

Sprocket loves going caching especially as the team that I cache with, The Bignall Boppers who are also my parents have 2 Cocker Spaniels of their own from the same family. Little Sinders is Sprocket's sister and Harley who is 2 weeks older is their half brother.

All 3 enjoy nothing more than a really good walk and love leaping though long grass, jumping on and off rocks and swimming in rivers and streams. Yes they may get us absolutely filthy and often in knots but it just wouldn't be the same caching without them.

I vowed I would never get another dog as I have often felt tied in the past by not being able to go to certain places but I had my mind changed on a local walk. We had decided to do a couple of local caches when we first started and were minding our own business on a quiet lane when a huge dog came bounding out of a local yard. We didn't know what to expect especially when its a huge Rottweiler however he turned out to be about 9 months old and the friendliest thing you have ever come across. Apparantly he was supposed to be training as a guard dog. We tried to take him back but he kept running out with us and eventually followed us all the way on our 5 mile walk. We had a great time with him and he was absolutely hilarious. He was also really well behaved and considering we didn't know his name and had no lead, he obeyed our commands. At the end of the walk we put him in the back of our truck and took him home. I wish I hadn't bothered really as one of the workmen shut him in a barn...you should have heard him cry, it was awful. If I wasn't such an honest person, I would now be the proud owner of a really really huge friendly rotty.

But now I have my Sprocket...my little boy who is asleep on my bed by the side of me.