23 November, 2024

Dan Q found GC4MDNM Foynes Forest Find

This checkin to GC4MDNM Foynes Forest Find reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

My mother and I are out in the West of Ireland in search of geohashpoints. Today’s attempt to find the 2024-11-22 52 -8 hashpoint was blocked by the river Arra breaking its banks and flooding our route, so instead we did some geocaching in Newcastle West then came up to Foyle to visit the nearby maritime museum and learn about the history of the flying boats.

After leaving the museum we figured we’d come up here for one last cache before the rain really set in. We tried coming at this cache from one path, then another, and eventually after a slippery scramble up a hill we had the cache in hand. SL, TNLN, TFTC, and greetings from Lancashire (my mum) and Oxfordshire (me), UK.

Dan Q found GC9DV9V GST 65 – Centre of tree

This checkin to GC9DV9V GST 65 - Centre of tree reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Recent winds have blown down trees here but thankfully not this one. My mum stretched to reach the hiding place and soon had the cache in hand.

Dan Q found GC9DV9P GST 64 – Lift me up buttercup

This checkin to GC9DV9P GST 64 - Lift me up buttercup reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

We almost gave up trying to find the hint object before spotting something that once had the colour of a buttercup but has since enjoyed some extra camouflage! Retrieving the cache was a bit challenging for my fat hands but my mum managed to help. FP awarded for this more-imaginative hiding place! TFTC.

Dan Q did not find GC9DV9H GST 63 – Greenway sign

This checkin to GC9DV9H GST 63 - Greenway sign reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

We’re moderately confident we know what we’d be looking for and where, but we didn’t find it here. 😕

Dan Q found GC9DV9F GST 62 – Ashgrove

This checkin to GC9DV9F GST 62 - Ashgrove reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Another speedy find for my nimble-fingered mother. Lid missing from cache and log very wet; barely signable and at risk of disintegration. TFTC.

Dan Q found GC9DV9E GST 61 – Cow shit

This checkin to GC9DV9E GST 61 - Cow shit reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

My mother kindly volunteered to be the one to put her fingers up a cow’s bottom… I mean… to find and retreive the cache at this location! TFTC!

Dan Q found GC9DV6A GST 60 – Squeezed into fence

This checkin to GC9DV6A GST 60 - Squeezed into fence reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Very quick find. Spent some time trying to retreive the cache container before deciding that it’s probably supposed to live in its hiding place and instead we just retrieved the logbook! Good hiding place! TFTC.

Dan Q found GC9DV69 GST 58 – Bison behind the block

This checkin to GC9DV69 GST 58 - Bison behind the block reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Second place we looked. Nice easy find. Liking these slightly bigger tubes! TFTC.

Dan Q did not find GCAP5TV GST 59 – Wired PET

This checkin to GCAP5TV GST 59 - Wired PET reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Gave up after a short search. No sign of this one that we could see.

Dan Q found GC9DV67 GST 57 – Greenway sign

This checkin to GC9DV67 GST 57 - Greenway sign reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Instant find! Exactly where I first looked. Log slightly damp but still usable. TFTC.

Dan Q found GC9DV66 GST 56 – Pet tube in tree

This checkin to GC9DV66 GST 56 - Pet tube in tree reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

After a brief search on the wrong side of the path, we eventually spotted the correct host and – after a running leap, pictured – soon had the cache in hand. TFTC!

Dan Q found GC9DV65 GST 55 – Bridge

This checkin to GC9DV65 GST 55 - Bridge reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

QEF for my mum and I on our walk. Not well hidden – was visible from the path. Replaced as found. TFTC.

Dan Q found GC9DV63 GST 54 – Train Signal

This checkin to GC9DV63 GST 54 - Train Signal reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Found after a short search. We tried playing with the signal but it’s rusted solid. SL, TFTC. Greetings from Oxfordshire and Lancashire, UK!

Dan Q did not find GC9DV5M GST 53 – Newcastle West Station

This checkin to GC9DV5M GST 53 - Newcastle West Station reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

We were heading to the 2024-11-22 52 -8 geohashpoint as part of a geohashing holiday but floods breaking the banks of the River Arra blocked our way so we parked up in Newcastle West to attempt to find a few geocaches instead. Despite the hint and previous logs, our search found nothing. Maybe gone?

Geohashing expedition 2024-11-23 52 -8

This checkin to geohash 2024-11-23 52 -8 reflects a geohashing expedition. See more of Dan's hash logs.

Location

Field East of Newcastle West

Participants

Dan Q
his mother

Plans

On the second full day of our geohashing tour of Western Ireland, we’ll try to drive to somewhere close to this hashpoint (maybe up towards Knockaderry?) and see if we can walk to it (and if it’s accessible when we get there).

Expedition

This part of Ireland’s been under moderate snow cover for several days, but overnight that turned to rain and as it warmed up early in the morning, the snow rapidly melted and poured down into the valleys. The River Arra burst its banks in several places, and our first, second, and third attempts to find places to cross it to get closer to the hashpoint were foiled by floods (too deep and fast-flowing to safely ford) and closed roads.

A road through a field and towards a river bridge is deeply submerged under fast-flowing water. — Yeah… I don’t think I’m gonna chance that (especially in a rental car!).

After seeing several fields of about the altitude of our target also deeply flooded, we opted to give up on this expedition for our own safety! Instead, we went geocaching in Newcastle West and then went up to Foyle where we visited the museum of maritime history and learned about the history of the flying boats that were stationed there in the inter-war years.