28/12/10 - Cache 1000 - Kings Heath Urban meets Rural

Distance - 6.75 Miles
Number of Cache - 19
Starting Cache - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b2fad2e8-3d8d-4234-adee-e57c6f7fa9d8

I set myself a target of 1000 caches by the end of 2010 - which is two years since I found the first one.  This trail should more than comfortably get me to my goal.  19 caches on a stretch of the of the Stratford to Birmingham canal.

The day was pretty nasty - the snow from the last 10 days has melted into ice with top puddles of water.  Twice I nearly ended up in the canal after some spectacular slips.  Brasher hillmasters aren't made for icy towpaths.  It was also foggy and a bit of misery.

Scene at Cache 2

The cache trail is well thought out and makes the most of its theme - taking you along the quiet canal, along Chinn Brook, around Tritiford Mill Park and then back down to the canal for the return.

I would like to say that you don't know you are in the city.  This would be true, except for the rubbish - which the residents of Birmingham have been using to test the strength of the ice.  I think I lost track of what I saw, but it included

• A chest of drawers
• Chairs
• Kids plastic motorbike
• Bins bags of bottles
• All the life presevers around Trittiford Lake
• The ubiquitious Shopping Trolley
• Pants
• Socks

All a bit depressing really.

The caches were very amusing - especially number 2.  I looked hard and found something that I instantly dismissed.  Gave it up as a DNF and slipped/slided away only to reconsider with a "What If".  I was returned and was rewarded!

There were a higher than usual list of DNF or Did Not looks.  The snow was still quite deep in places and in respect to the detritus, I was not going to stick my hands in some places.

And the 1000th cache - if I got my counts correct, it was Number 10 by the lake. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=53ec1a71-5a06-4924-9d1b-87f10876baeb

Cue Fanfare - Cache 1000

So I achieved my goal by doing two rounds over xmas that couldn't have been more unalike.

The goal for 2011 - I think I am going to concentrate more on the walks than the caching!  I have been going after these big rounds of caches to keep the numbers up and I think I would like to concentrate more on the locations and quality of walks next year.

And do 100 in a month!

Thanks to the gogetters for setting this up.  Especially Cache Number 2 - that made me smile!

27/12/10 - Devauden Round - Annual Visit to Tintern

Walk length - 5 Miles
Number of Caches - 18 + 1 Bonus
Starting Cache - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=aa9796b0-7cc9-460b-a3c4-025478f9818d

Fifth year on a row that I have been down to Tintern at Xmas time.  Wasn't sure what the weather would be like after 10 days of snow in the midlands and -17 temperatures.  The thaw is starting today, so rather than a traditional walk from the Abbey, I decided on a round of caches about six miles way at Devauden.

This is a short trail across farmland and in woods with expansive views across the Wye Valley.  Mr Jackoboy is obvioulsy a man with a sense of humour, as the caches were often in unusual containers - inlcuding a rubber rat, several hollowed out logs, drilled into a stone and a personal favourite - under trick dog poo - although I am not sure that bodes well for future hunting.

Parked up by the river and headed out in order, up the green lane past the church to take in 1 and 2.  Met some dog walkers at Number 3, so had to admire the view.

Nightendale Cottage View

Could tell that no-one else had been this way for a while, as I had virgin snow on the descent.  The snow made many of the caches a challenge, as they required digging out.  Fortunately, the clues on this series were all very specific.

Virgin Snow

Continued across farmland, where some hardy sheep were out in a couple of fields before getting to Ledw pool and finding somewhere to balance the camera for a self portrait.

Been going steadily downhill until this point, so have to climb back up, eventually into Chepstow Wood Park.  The caches get more dificult as the snow is deeper but the more interesting recepticles are now in play.... This is the highlight of the walk, not least for the old fella trying to ride a mountain bike through 6" of snow.

Get back to the car and then drive down to the Abbey for a look and record the ice flows, as the thaw has defrosted the Wye.  What a winter!



Henry the VIII - Wife murderer and lead thief from Abbeys.

I shouldnt have been surprised the downstairs Khazi froze up - Icebergs on the Wye.

So a stunning walk and I get closer to the magic 1000 caches.  Then I can retire.  Thanks to Mr Jackoboy for the well thought out and maintatined cache trail.

17/12/10 - Tarn Hows

Distance - 7 Miles
Geocaches - None.

After the excursions of yesterday, we have a low level walk today.

Can you guess where we are?

This takes in the edge of coniston water and then heads up through woodland to the impressive Tarn Hows.  This is a series of man made lakes that sit in the middle of incredible views of distant hills.  Wish I could recognise more than Coniston Old Man that we climbed yesterday.

We walk around the lakes, completely frozen, and then head up for Torver intake for even better views...

Backdrop, on Torver Intake

We walk back down around Tom Heights (thankfully not climbing them today), to pick up the cumbria way, returning us to the town. 

A nice gentle one, after the excursions of yesterday.

16/12/10 - Coniston Old Man

Walk Distance - 8 Miles
Geocaches - 1 (Rocket was cold) - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=6ca53a56-78c5-48ef-b2a2-7424b6c11806
Weather - Blizzard, followed by clear skies, sunshine and views to die for
Number of pints - 9 (we lived at the Coniston Brewary and got there at 4pm).

Company today.  We had arranged a two day walking experience about 6 weeks ago, before Britain was gripped by the new ice age.  It was touch and go about whether we went, as there were concerns about getting snowed in and not returning.  As we were living in the world famous Coniston Bluebird brewary, I completed my snow dance to only minor affect.

Our home for the night..

We left Stourport at 6:30am and got there for 10:15.  Last 8 miles were down a country road and it just had to start snowing as soon as we got on it.  It looked like it might be trecharous to get out in th morning.  After spending nearly as long as it took to drive there getting goretexed up, we headed out of the village up Church Beck on the start of the ascent.

Faintly enthusiastic at the start

We continue the climb - not too bad in ascent terms but it does start snowing.  With the wind, I have never seen snow going upwards but this happens.  We make to the eerie old mine workings where I head off for the only geocache of the trip - a nice big ammo box snuggled under a boulder.  Take gloves off to retrieve it and freeze my hands off.  Then realise that the spout to my camel back has also frozen.  This hasnt happened before and indicates problems.  Realising that this might be my only cache, all trackables are dropped off.

Continue the climb to low water - momentary stop in snow and I have a futile look for another cache but even though sandwiches are eaten, the lack of movement means that Rocket starts to freeze up.  So we head on up....

Too cold for caching

In true testing fashion, as we hit the steepest part of the climb to Coniston old man - the path is also frozen, the winds start up so that it blows you sideways and then a blizzard starts that means we cant really see too much either.  Although we were pefectly safe, if we could have heard ourselves over the wind we might have talked our selves in getting to the pub early.  An heroic push fowards got us to the summit and we could see that it would be easier to carry on over the flat expanses of Brim Fell towards Swirl Band.

Thankfully we did, as the snow stopped and the cloud cleared for the most incredible views over much of the lakes, the sea, morcambe bay etc.  The only problem we had was the wind would pick up and snow blast your face.  Hence the red face in later pictures.  This was comfortable, easy walking and a great reward for the efforts of getting here.

They stopped for photos - I didnt leave them...

Swirl band takes you onto Swirl howl for our third and final Wainwright.  It has been slow going, so we miss out Little Carrs, Grey Friar and Wetherlam and after some synchronised luging on our waterproofed trousered arses, we descend the tricky Prison Band.  Rocket leads the way like some sort of wolly hatted mountain goat.  I can only assume he had clocked onto the fact that the pub was open.

Follow me to the pub

We head down a sheep assisted path (like dolphins and stranded mariners, they led the way to civilisation) to Lever's water.

Bonhomie and relief

What followed was a long gentle descent that seemed to go on for ever.... showed how far we had climbed quickly on the early pint of the walk.  We go past the old miners cottages and the YHA - both looking like spectatacular places to stay.

We arrive back in the town at around 4pm - which is perfect, as the darkness is falling.  Check into the hotel and agree to work our way from left to right on their real ales.  As our water froze, we are generally in need of fluid.  4 pints before we get changed for the night and head out to see what the night life of a Lakeland village has to offer.