Between the Bridges (Porthaethwy)
Step UP over the Menai (Bangor)
4KT (Bangor)
The Marquess Column cache (Llanfair PG)
Coastal Castles Cache No 8 Big and Brash (Caernarfon)
Dock on the Bay (Caernarfon)
Lion in Wait (Britannia Bridge)
(Did not find: Llanfair PG village vexation)
Partners in Caching geocoin: "Carwyn"
Travelbugs (x2): "Polly parrot", "TB Joynie 1"I have always enjoyed forays up to Gwynedd. There have been several memorable ones over the years for social, political, personal, cultural and just plain old work reasons. Last week was the latter - a dull business trip livened up by geocaching.
Luckily, there was a good choice of geocaches to be had on both sides of the Menai. Pictured is the original Thomas Telford Menai Bridge, around which my caching was based last week.
First up was a cache hidden in woodland in Porthaethwy village. Chuffed to get this one as it was a tricky find in the dark. I called it quits for the night to get a good nights sleep for the following 2 night's caching.
The next two caches involved a 3-mile walk to Bangor. Eager to pick up a geocoina in geocache "4KT". The coin emanates from America, a pretty icon, and the coin is named after the owners pet dog, "Carwyn"!
Then it was onto the train from Bangor, back across the Straits to Ynys Mon. Hopped off at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyndrobwllantysiliogogogoch, where there was a devilish micro cache in store at the famous railway station.Unfortunately, after 30 mins searching, I gave up. Not to worry - a short walk took me to the Marquess of Anglesey's column, a local landmark with a geocache in wait in the grounds.
Unexpecetedly, my third night offered a chance at a couple of caches in Caernarfon. I picked these off easily in daylight. "Dock in the Bay" was my 175th find, so I look forward to launching a commemorative geocoin anytime soon. It was a pleasing one to find, as it was a magnetic micro in an area in full view of muggles.
The evening took an unexpected twist. I hasd called in to eat with two friends. The subject turned to geocaching. I informed my friend that I was intending to do a cache under the Britannia Bridge. Imagine my surprise when he responded enthusiastically "let's do it!". The cache was called "Lion in wait" and was located at the foot of the Britannia Bridge. Near the cache site was a relic of the original Britannia Bridge structure that was accidentally burned down by childreen in the 1970s.
We reached the site easily enough, but couldn't find the cache. Then came a joyous sound from my friend, who had found the damn thing! When I got back to log my activities, I noticed that my friend had already logged on with a new geocaching account, calling himself "Anhysbys" - Welsh for "anon." I look forward to future forays with Anhysbys (and possibly his partner, a former work colleague who was the original reason for calling in on them in the first place!)
Not expecting much caching activity over the Easter - unless I manage to unscramble a couple of old DNFs in Ceredigion.
