Geocaching abbreviations

Geocaching logs and descriptions are often littered with abbreviations and some are more straightforward than others. These are the few more common abbreviations that initially had me flummoxed. 

BOT - Bottom Of Tree

DNF - Did Not Find. Used in logs to show the geocache wasn't found. 

FTF - First To Find. Denotes the first geocacher to find a new geocache. 

GZ - Ground Zero. The point where your GPS device shows that you have reached the geocache location. At ground zero, you are zero feet (or zero meters) away from your destination.

MTT - Multi Trunked Tree

SL - Signed Log. 

TB - Travel Bug. A trackable tag with a unique code that attaches to an item. This allows you to track your item on Geocaching.com. The item becomes a hitchhiker that is carried from cache to cache (or person to person) in the real world and you can follow its progress online. 

Saturday 3rd October 2015 - Little Shrewley

Time started: 9:30am

Time finished: 11:25am

Caches found: 9

DNFs: 4

Day's step count: 8,527

Another early start for a Saturday morning and another successful adventure before lunchtime. Unlike the disappointing but expected large tally of DNFs along Coventry canal last week, this week I was expecting a decent haul and was aiming for 15 finds. 

Luckily the maps app on my phone picks up on traffic because I was planning on getting to Little Shrewley along the A46 but I could see the red line denoting a jam so went the country side way. When I'd arrived in The village, I had no idea where the footpath began so after doing a 3 point turn using the driveway in a country lane, I parked the car, checked the map and lo and behold, I looked out of the window and right beside the car was the stile that would lead me to the first cache!  Beyond the stile were a couple of small green areas with more stiles which led me to the lane containing the first caches. (I've just had a chuckle while typing this up because I've looked back at the map and dicovered the lane is called Coffee Pot Lane!)

Cache #1 - Rudolph #5

After you've found several caches, you begin to recognise common hiding place so as I was approaching the first cache I'd already spotted this particular tree. The clue - '6' - also became clear as you can see in the photograph. For some reason it took me an uncharacteristically long to time to find the cache even thought it wasn't particularly hard!

Cache #2 - Rudolph #6

The clue here was BOT and after searching around the wrong trees, I spotted some sticks laid very carefully at the base of another tree and quickly found the cache underneath. 

I've said it before (or at least thought it several times!) that geocaching takes you to some beautiful or interesting places that you wouldn't have visited had you not gone geocaching there and I thought the same thing as I walked across the fields towards with woods where the next cache was hidden. 

Cache #3 - Rudolph #7

Navigating along the edge of the woods, I quickly recognised the tree where the next cache would be hidden - a very unique fallen tree, perhaps struck by lightening or eaten by insects because the tall remains were hollow. Initially I began to search the hollow too low but after reading some of the  previous, I raised my eyeline and quickly found the film canister. It was very cleverly hidden. 

Cache #4 - Rudolph #8

There wasn't much of a description for this one but the clue (BOP - Bottom Of Post) took me straight to the stick and a great bit of camouflage. Unfortunately I still haven't added tweezers to my geocaching tools so I couldn't retrieve the log to sign. 

DNF - Rudolph #9

Geocaching in the British countryside brings an appreciation for the quantity of footpaths and bridle that exist in the UK and has also given me a renewed love of OS maps! It also brings a realisation that there is a lot of maintainance involved in keeping the numerous footpaths accessible. The path to the next appears to be overgrown so I had to teeter along the edge of the farmer's field to the gate and location of the next cache. 

Rudolph #9 should've been a straightforward find with several gates at GZ on Hockley Road and the hint saying 'post' but it became incredibly frustrating with a long search, no recent DNFs and ultimately no cache in hand. 

Cache #5 - Rudolph #10

Now that I'm writing up this blog, I'm left feeling slightly bemused by this cache. I believe im correct in thinking that the cache was near this kissing gate (and I have to admit I was impressed by the 'bridge' leading to it!) but I can't catcall recall where I found it! My log reads, 'Not in the obvious place but soon found it when I realised the camo wasn't litter!' and the following log agrees; 'Like Hazel I thought this was litter too!!!!! tftc.' Now, the only cache I recall looking like litter was along Coventry Canal!

Rudolph #11

I was faced with a dilemma when I reached Rudolph #11 because as I approached the GZ, the hiding place was clear but the tree I needed to reach was beyond a rope which looked like it was electrified. It was too high to climb over and too low to limbo under. Coupled with the fact that there was a farmer working in the field behind the tree I decided to skip this cache. 

 Further down the field I did have to scale the fence, over a stile and then through a small stretch of tall corn. 

Luckily the farmer had created a flat track with his tractor so I was able to find easier way across to the road at the other side of the green expanse. It was a close escape though because just after I'd crossed Station Road, the farmer passed on another loop of the field!

Dasher #1

Concerned that I was going to contend with the wrath of the farmer for crossing the field while he was working, and feeling a little shaken by my close encounter, I decided not to search for Dasher #1

Cache #6 - Blitzen #8

After crossing another field I reached Hockley road again and I was faced with a steady stream of cars whizzing past but luckily I managed to cross to the safety of the path on the other side. Although I was continuing north, I crossed back to find Blitzen #8 which was easily found but I had to lean over a fence to reach it. 

Rudolph #1

Rudolph #1 flummoxed me because although it appeared to be clearly next to the road of the map, GZ was astray from the footpath sign which I needed to follow. My patience was tested and I didn't know where to look so I continued to the next cache. 

Cache #7 - Rudolph #2

This cache was carefully hidden in one of the posts supporting a wire fence and I could frustratingly see it but my hands were too big to retrieve it! I had to post a photo of my find in place of signing the log. 

After a pleasant walk in open fields I was soon walking along a narrow track and then alongside some rather posh houses. It seemed like the rather well to do local residents tried to hide the footpath to deter countryside ramblers!

Cache #8 - Rudolph #3

The next clue was 'stile' and this particular one didn't lead anywhere! It was an easy find underneath with lots of swag. 

Cache #9 - Rudolph #4

Now the car was in sight and I almost missed the final cache of the day. It wasn't in the obvious places and I had to ferret about in the hedge to find this cleverly made magnetic cache. 

The final photo show what an amazing parking spot I found with the two stiles (beginning and ending the route) on either side of the road!

Travelling home, I was glad I'd avoided the A46 on my outbound journey because the southbound carriageway was closed at the Warwick Parkway junction and the queue of traffic was at a standstill from here to beyond the Leek Wootton junction. I discovered when I arrived home that there had been on overturned lorry. 

My geocaching adventures in 'print'

I've often thought I should keep a record of some of the stories that have come about while geocaching so I've finally done it. Here it is. A new blog to document my geocaching adventures. While I was geocaching along Coventry Canal I was creating the first post in my mind and it came together rather like Bridget Jones' Diary. Unlike her journey through singleton which measures the success of a day through weight, alcohol units, cigarettes and calories, my geocaching days would be measured in the hours spent caching, number of finds and DNFs, along with my days' total step count. 

A few stories are too amusing or thought provoking to leave undocumented. During a camping trip during the summer of 2015, Stuart, Jamie and I used a gap in the rain to take on a huge loop of geocaches. After finding a cache up a hill, we watched a horse and rider walk through a huge, muddy puddle. Jamie ran down the hill towards the puddle and I called after him, 'Don't go into the puddle.' Of course, he did and he soon began to sink! I charged in after him and while I tried to pull him out, his wellies sank even further. One last try and his boots almost overflowed. I had to recuse Jamie and leave his boots behind before Stuart procariously balanced and levered the boots out with a big stick. His boots were so deep, they can't even be seen in the photo!

Luckily the rest of the day was successful with 22 finds and only 1 DNF. 

Another trail worth mentioning is one around Leek Wootton when I found 16 caches and logged 2 DNFs. *spoiler warning* There were a couple of thoughtful homemade caches...

...another speciality cache similar to the rocks I've previously found, but this time a pine cone...

...and a well camouflaged magnetic cache (the small bolt) which had me stumped for ages. 

From here on in I plan to write a blog for each geocaching session after they've happened. Let's see how I get on!

Saturday 26th September 2015 - Coventry Canal

Time started: 10:30am

Time finished: 1:45pm

Caches found: 13

DNFs: 13

Day's step count: 19,324

Usually, if I wake up at 7am on a weekend, I groan and roll over for an extra couple of hours. Today, however, was different. When I saw the clock saying 7:00 my first thought was, 'Great! I can get geocaching earlier!'

It took a bit of planning to reach the start of this trail and to make sure I had transport at the end because it wasn't a circular route. So even after a leisurely start to the day I still managed to leave the house at the respectable time of 9:05am. When I arrived in Coventry, it took a few laps around the block to find a free parking spot near the Canal Baisin and I walked to Pool Meadow to catch the bus up to Arena Park Shopping Centre. 

During our long geocaching adventure in the Cotswolds, Stuart and I were relying on our phones to guide the way. At one point, it wasn't clear where and how the footpath led to the next cache so we ended up having to double back on ourselves and follow the edge of a very soggy field, which wasn't the actual path and our footwear ended up heavily caked in mud. From then, we agreed that we should always check or copy the OS map for the walk before we leave.

To begin my walk along the canal I was glad to have the map with me because from the Ricoh Arena and the shopping park, it isn't obvious how to access to tow path but the map clearly showed the bridge over the canal and onto the path. From the bridge I got a contrasting view of the bright blue sky, new housing, glimmering reflection and graffitied brickwork. 

Cache #1

Coventry Canal - Bridge No. 9

Approaching the tow path, and checking the Geocaching app I realised I was incredibly close to the 1st cache for the day and I had in fact crossed over bridge no. 9.  I almost searched around the wrong tree but after checking the location quickly spotting this chunk of wood out of place and the cleverly camouflaged cache. 

Cache #2

Coventry Canal - Stadium View

I wasn't sure I completely agreed with the name of this cache because the stadium wasn't actually visible from the location. Nevertheless, I had a good hunt and quite a surprise when, feeling underneath the metal girder for the magnetic cache, I felt a squishy slug!

Along the route of the canal there is also a sculpture trail and although I was full of the best intentions to read about them when I got home, I inevitably lost interest and simply enjoyed their visual appeal. 

DNF

Coventry Canal - Open 24 hours

From here I did get a good view of the Ricoh which made up for my earlier disappointment but I couldn't find the cache. Admittedly it was tricky to have a goods search because there was a canal boat moored on one side with the inhabitants just beginning to emerge, and duck feeding muggles on the other.  Nevertheless I had a quick look in the obvious nooks and crannies of tree roots before giving up. 

Cache #3

Coventry Canal - Wood Yard

This was a quick find because the 35mm film canister hadn't really been hidden - it was lying, clearly visible, amongst the grass behind a fence.  When I hid it after signing the log, I hid it behind the fence post. 

DNF

Coventry Canal - Acetate

This cache had me well and truely stumped. The clue should've pointed me in the right direction; "Low. Pull down. 4 paces from bridge." It certainly didn't help that the bridge was no longer there but a difference in concrete on the tow path showed where it once was. The only obvious place for it to be was underneath the corrugated metal fencing that lined the path. On my knees, I cautiously felt below a couple of gaps between the grass and the fence but was only met by prickly bushes. I even took the advice from a tactic left in a previous log and used the front facing camera of my phone to peer up behind the fence but again, no luck. 

Coventry Canal - Little Heath

After passing a rather suspicious looking character, who was still visible from GZ, I decided to continue past this cache. 

Along the route of the canal, although suburban, there's some gorgeous sights.  There was a number of brightly coloured paintings and its a shame they weren't respected by graffiti artists. 

This fencing was another in the sculpture trail, adjacent to the next cache location. 

Cache #4

Coventry Canal - Missing Gate

Feeling disappointed after the two previous DNFs, this was a quick magnetic find and my 100th! As the title suggests, there once would've been a gate here but all that remains are the posts.  The description of he cache explains that, "A series of gates were once installed along the canal to prevent motor cycles using the towpath."

Cache #5

Coventry Canal - Spring Road Bridge

With the hint of 'magnetic', you are automatically drawn to anything metallic but with a tall, metal fence stretching along the side of the path, there were a lot of options! Not quite knowing where to begin, I started feeling around the joints between the vertical and horizontal struts. Suddenly my geocaching senses pointed me towards a little corner tucked away from the path and BAM! The cache was quickly found. 

Here's another sculpture, which is part of the trail, and it reminded me of the topic we?re currently studying in school - World War II. 

Cache #6

Coventry Canal - Steep Bank

The caches so far had either been straightforward or non-existent so when I was close to this one I was slightly flummoxed that the app was directing me a substantial distance directly into the bushes adjacent to the tow path. Perplexed, I looked for an opening and saw a teeny path into the undergrowth but soon found myself scrambling up a steep, overgrown bank, clothes and bag continuously being snagged on brambles and hands/forearms being scratched to smithereens! With a terrain rating of 3.5, this was by far the hardest cache I've found in terms of access and even when I thought I'd found the post described in the hint, I still couldn't find th cache. At this point, I took a deep breath, admired the view and assessed what my next move would be. 

As I looked round I saw another post and breathed a sigh of relief when I found the cache at it's base.  Now I was faced with the challenge of getting back down to the tow path. Fear told me that if I attempted to go back down the way I'd come, I ended up sliding down and ending up in the canal (I've since read in several other logs that the geocachers ended up sliding down on their bottoms!). Instead I followed the sound of the traffic towards the main road, concerned that I might encounter some dubious characters as I followed a track through the trees and long grass (luckily I didn't!). In the end I found another track that too, me back down the the town path, around 100m from where I'd scrambled up. Had I realised when I first passed this opening, I could've avoided the difficult climb!

DNF

Coventry Canal - Children Playing

I feel like this cache should've been easy. With the title of the cache, matching the title of the sculpture and the hint being 'Low. Near signature,' I was expecting it to be tucked inside the work of art somewhere but after dodging lots of muggles and having a good search, I had to disappointingly log another DNF. 

Cache #7

Coventry Canal - Weeping Willow

I managed to find this cache behind a tree stump but wasn't able to sign the log because of passing muggles. 

Cache #8

Coventry Canal - Spiky Pipe

There were a number of muggles walking past here so had to hover for a while before climbing to the tree where a 'fun guy' (boom boom!) was looking after the cache in a nook of the tree. 

The next cache was somewhere in this tunnel but of course the GPS on my smartphone could receive signal so after walking back and forth through the tunnel 3 times and realising I'd missed the steps where the cache was hidden every time, I gave up and moved on to the next cache. 

Cache #9

Coventry Canal - Stoke Heath Baisin

With a clue of 'Pink wall. Head height,' I thought this cache would be straightforward and it was; tucked in a little crevice of a pink painted brick wall. 

DNF

Coventry Canal - Chimney View

Like the previous cache, this one was supposed to be head height (from the hint) and from GZ it seemed as though it should be attached to the fence but after a good look and feel, I had to log another DNF. 

DNF

Coventry Canal - Fishy

This cache had an obvious location as the low metal fence was adorned with fishes but there was a group of men sitting on the fence sinking beers so I wasn't able to search. There were a number of interesting sculptures brightening the area nonetheless. 

Cache #10

Coventry Canal - Priestly's Bridge

The clue directed me to the left hand support of the advertising board, just past the bridge in the photo.  I stupidly began to search around the right hand support but as soon as I realised my mistake, I quickly found the cache comfortably nestled. 

Cache #11

Coventry Canal - Signs of Nature

Even with a clear hint - to the left of the post with a white spot sprayed on it - I still started to search next to the wrong post! I must've been getting tired by this point. This was another cleverly adapted 35mm film canister with magnets attached. 

After finding the cache there were some more quirky sculptures. 

Cache #12

Coventry Canal - Engineering

A cunning hint including trees and the number 64 led me to the next cache but I had to wait for muggles to disappear again before I could begin searching. 

Close to this cache was another of the pieces along the sculpture trail but unfortunately the beer cans and unattractive graffiti were characteristics of much of this inner city section of the canal tow path. 

Luckily the man add eyesores are outweighed by the beauty on the canal and there were a couple of kayakers making the most of the fine weather. 

The next stint of 3 DNFs proved that I had made the right decision to start at the Ricoh rather than the city centre. All three had a multitude of DNFs leading up to my attempt and if I'd started here I'd have been feeling demoralised before I'd even begun!

DNF

Coventry Canal - RIbbons

DNF

Coventry Canal - Electric Wharf

DNF

Coventry Canal - Daimler

On a positive note, I did manage to explore this Daimler sculputure!

This adventure was a real mixed bag. It's very unusual to have to log so many DNFs in one session but I guess that's the nature of geocaching in an inner city environment and luckily I was prepared for some disappointments. Having said that, it was very satisfying reaching the car after over 3 hours of walking and by the end of the day I'd clocked up more than 19,000 steps! I was also covered is geocaching wounds from my scramble up the steep bank!