Geohashing expedition 2024-11-22 53 -8

This checkin to geohash 2024-11-22 53 -8 reflects a geohashing expedition. See more of Dan's hash logs.

Location

Field East of Abbey, Ireland.

Participants

Plans

When my mother proposed that we take a holiday together somewhere, and that I could choose the destination, I started by looking at the Geohashing Expeditions Map.

Where, I wondered, could I find a cluster of mostly-land graticules (“square” degree of latitude and longitude) in which nobody had ever logged a successful expedition? I’ve been geohashing for ten years now and I’ve never yet scored a “Graticule Unlocked” achievement for being the first to reach any hashpoint in a given graticule.

So this week, we’re holidaying on the West coast of Ireland, doing a variety of activities that take our fancy and, hopefully, finding a geohashpoint or two in previously-unexplored graticules!

Looking at the nearby hashpoints, we decided that this was our best bet. An hour and a half’s drive from our accomodation to a village near the hashpoint and we might be able to make the rest of the way on foot.

Expedition

Snowy roads.
Driving conditions were sometimes suboptimal, but okay.

My mother’s never been hashing before, but unlike most people I’ve told about the hobby she didn’t turn her nose up at the idea so she was happy to accompany me on this unusual adventure.

Random dog we met along the way.
We met a surprising number of dogs out, alone, “taking themselves for a walk’. Like this one.
Dan driving.
Our rental car did a pretty good job.

We drove to Abbey, which turns out to be a delightful village, and parked outside the community centre (where my mother was able to use the bathroom).

Abbey Community Centre, plus a car.
Parking was plentiful in Abbey.
Sign saying The Lazy Wall.
We still don’t know what makes this wall “lazy”.

Then we switched to foot, walking along the banks of the stream and following the road to the East, towards the field where we’d hoped to find the hashpoint.

Dan walking down a road.
We anticipated there being nowhere closer than Abbey to park and get to the hashpoint, so we spent most of our time on foot.

A quick survey around the outskirts of the area suggested that it was, indeed, in what had once been an active pasture but had been abandoned and disused for many years. The grass and brambles grew high and were caked in snow, but we hopped the gate and pressed on for the final hundred metres.

GPSr showing 106m, snowy overgrown field ahead.
Very close…!

We made the right choice: the hashpoint was just barely inside the disused old field, and we were able to get to it with only slightly wet feet and without disturbance (except for some kind of nesting bird that was unhappy to see us, and some kind of medium-sized mammal – possibly a fox – that ran away as we approached).

Snowy field.
View from the hashpoint.

We reached the hashpoint at 11:24.

Dan and his mum grinning.
Obligatory silly grins.

Flushed with success at this relatively easy victory, we continued our walk to a nearby dairy to see if they’d sell us some cheese (their farm shop was shut), and then crossed the river and climbed the nearby hill to find the fantastic geocache at Pallas Castle.

Pellas Castle.
The castle was a wonderful diversion on our way back.

Circling around from the hilltop to return to the car, we drove back home, completing our expedition (hashpoint, cache, and all) in a little under 7 hours.

Dan raises his arms in victory.
Success!

Tracklog

Map showing our driving route.

Map showing the walking part of our route.

Download tracklog.

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Dan Q found GC34G3G Coventry – Hertford Street

This checkin to GC34G3G Coventry - Hertford Street reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

The rest of the family and I are visiting for my youngest’s birthday to do a handful of fun activities. Geocaching didn’t make the list, but that wasn’t gonna stop me finding this QEF while putting our swimming stuff back in the car before we eat our lunch. Thanks to the hint, this was in almost the first place I looked. TFTC, and greetings from Oxfordshire!

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Dan Q found GC656RM Church Micro 8564…Ducklington

This checkin to GC656RM Church Micro 8564...Ducklington reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

The dog and I came out to Ducklington today for a spot of geohashing, in search of the 2024-11-14 51 -1 geohashpoint. After a walk around the fields to the East we had to give up on that expedition (for reasons that’ll be described in my geohashing log) so we decided to console ourselves with a hunt for this nearby geocache, instead.

Solving the first part was made harder when I failed to read the description properly and started counting letters in the sign, rather than the plaque, but once we’d corrected that mistake we were on our way.

At the GZ there was a clear trail that looked likely, but the dog took some coaxing to join us. As soon as I was at the coordinates (feeling like I was hiding in a bush!) and followed the hint instructions the cache was an easy find. TFTC!

Geohashing expedition 2024-11-14 51 -1

This checkin to geohash 2024-11-14 51 -1 reflects a geohashing expedition. See more of Dan's hash logs.

Location

Field East of Ducklington, West Oxfordshire

Participants

Plans

Not certain, but might be able to make this one!

Expedition

The dog and I drove out to Ducklington, parking near the church, and walked out to these fields. Unfortunately the hashpoint turns out to be 33+ metres into a field full of sheep. That _might’ve_ been the kind of trespassing I’d have been willing to consider, were it not for the combination of the amount of pedestrian traffic (a whole platoon of birdwatchers, armed with extra-long camera lenses, and every dog walker under the sun!) and the fact that I had the dog with me (who’d have to have waited unhappily outside the field: not taking her _into_ a field of sheep, even by only 33 metres).

GPS receiver in front of a field. The compass points deeper into the field and the screen reports that the destination is 32 metres away. Sheep are (barely) visible in the field, in the distance.
So near, and yet so far…

Instead, then, we took a pleasant walk around Ducklington and found the GC656RM “Church Micro 8564…Ducklington” geocache, so it wasn’t entirely a wasted trip. The dog’s come home and zonked out in her basket after a decent walk, anwyay!

Dan and his dog on a footpath with a field in the background.
Sad-face Dan and dog, near the hashpoint.

Tracklog

Map showing a walk around Ducklington, including out to near a field to the East and back.

Download tracklog.

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Geohashing expedition 2024-11-10 51 -1

This checkin to geohash 2024-11-10 51 -1 reflects a geohashing expedition. See more of Dan's hash logs.

Location

Barnard Gate, where the A40 cycleway briefly diverges from the main road.

Participants

Plans

After brunch, I reckon I can get to and from this hashpoint… Tron-style!

Expedition

I planned a slightly circuitous route to this hashpoint in order to make a Tron achievement possible. I got my bike lightcycle out of the garage, checked the brakes and tyres, and set off in the opposite direction of the hashpoint! My thinking was I could cut up Tar Lakes Road to Cogges Farm, join the A40 cyclepath at Witney, follow it all the way to Barnard Gate, and – after passing through the hamlet and hopefully the hashpoint – turn _back_ along the opposite side of A40 (for the section that doesn’t have a cyclepath) and then cut through South Leigh to get back home.

Dan setting off cycling along a country road.

My first hazard came just three minutes out of my door, where a motorist failed to give way to me at Stanton Harcourt Roundabout, entering the junction even though I was already half-way across it from the other direction. They had to slam on their brakes to avoid smashing into the side of me, and I’ll admit I may have sworn at them at least a little as they pulled guiltily away.

The Tar Lakes road remains a delightful route from Stanton Harcourt to Witney, which I’ve enjoyed cycling many times. It was a little busier than usual, perhaps because it’s Sunday and folks were off to and from the fishing lakes along its path to do some angling or to walk their dogs, but it was still a fast and easy journey. Reaching Cogges, I turned back towards the hashpoint and joined the A40 cyclepath which, I hoped, would bring me right through it.

Roadworks ahead.

Approaching the hashpoint, I was concerned to see that the road was closed ahead, but a sign reassured me that it was still open to pedestrians, so I dismounted my bike. This also provided an excuse for me to slow down and pay attention to my GPSr as I counted down the metres. I got within the circle of uncertainty at ~3m away, as I leaned over the dyke that separates Pear Tree Cottage’s garden from the byway.

GPSr within the circle of uncertainty (shows 3m).

I snapped the regulation silly grin selfie at 14:44.

Dan smiling, wearing a cycle helmet, holding a GPSr by the side of a narrow road, with roadworks in the background.

Photo taken, I then had to continue to push my bike all the way through the roadworks: the fastest way home would have been to turn around, at this point, but I didn’t want to be robbed of my shot at the Tron achievement, so I pressed on.

Back the way I came.

At the far end of Barnard Gate I determined that cycling back along the A40 without the benefit of a cyclepath was perhaps a little too dangerous (especially after my scare earlier), so I adapted my route to instead head East towards Eynsham, crossing the main road at the Evenlode pub to get onto Old Witney Road, through Eynsham, and back onto the road home.

Presssing on.

Returning home, I made sure to cut the corner short as I turned into my driveway so I didn’t cross the path I’d taken as I’d initially exited, an hour earlier. A successful trip, and a fresh achievement!

Tracklog

Map showing the journey described above.

Download tracklog.

Dan Q earned the Tron achievement by reaching and returning from the (51, -1) geohash without crossing his own tracks on 2024-11-10.

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Dan Q found GCAAD6C El pont sobre el riu #14 Set a La Pobla Cérvoles

This checkin to GCAAD6C El pont sobre el riu #14 Set a La Pobla Cérvoles reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

My family and I are staying in El Vilosell, so this morning I borrowed a bike to take the trail over the hill from there to here. The ride was beautiful, and the easy downhill rides between cliffs and terraces more than made up for the tiring and bumpy sections of uphill pedalling. At the highest point, I met a fox, on his way to bed I guess as the sun crested the hilltops.

Despite the recent heavy rain the Set riverbed was almost dry: just a trickle of a stream. From the description, I was initially worried that the cache might be underneath, which looked challenging, but a peep at the hint reassured me that there were more-likely hiding spots.

A little finger-work and the cache was in hand. Nice spot! That’s when I discovered that there was a hole in my pocket and my pen had escaped! Oh no! I hope a photolog will be sufficient to show that I found this cache.

Grey shorts with a hole in the pocket.

TFTC/GPC. Greetings from Oxfordshire, UK.

Dan, holding a small geocache logbook. A bike and a road bridge can be seen in the background.

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Dan Q found GCAA274 Garrigues #23 – El Vilosell

This checkin to GCAA274 Garrigues #23 - El Vilosell reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

The geokids and I are staying nearby and came out for a walk this morning to discover this under-appreciated cache. What an amazing location and such a great view! We searched many “obvious” locations without luck, then translated some logs to get a clue. We should have checked the attributes! A little danger later and the cache was in hand. SL, TFTC/GPC! FP awarded – thanks so much for bringing us here. Greetings from Oxfordshire, UK!

Dan and two kids look excited atop a castle in rural Catalonia.

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Dan Q did not find GC448J6 EL TRESOR DEL POU DEL MON

This checkin to GC448J6 EL TRESOR DEL POU DEL MON reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

The geokids and I had to give up after an extended search. We solved the riddle (we think) and counted steps, but, being unsure, hunted for a nearby map and attempted to un-do he farmer’s mistake. Still no luck. 😔 Sadly it’s our last morning in the city so this one might have to remain a blue spot on our map for a while, though I’m sure I’ll think of something I missed when I get back to my computer.

Dan Q found GCA8R9X Xemeneies a Barcelona #2 Foneria Giralt

This checkin to GCA8R9X Xemeneies a Barcelona #2 Foneria Giralt reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

An early morning walk from my hotel while I waited for the rest of my family to wake up brought me to this, another old chimney. I’ve really been enjoying discovering these relics of the industrial history of this part of the city.

Unusual and well-disguised cache container! 😁 First name in a clean new log sheet too; thanks to the CO for maintaining their caches! ❤️ SL, TFTC/GPC. Greetings from Oxfordshire, UK!

Dan waves in front of an old brick chimney surrounded by modern office and retail buildings.

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Dan Q found GC1788D Torre Agbar

This checkin to GC1788D Torre Agbar reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

My 7-year-old, who’s really interested in skyscrapers, was excited to point this one out to me upon our arrival in Barcelona on Saturday, observing that it looks very similar to “The Gherkin”/30 St Mary Axe, a highly-recognisable London landmark. He’s right, it does, and it’s a shame he couldn’t join me on this geocaching expedition but he was still around asleep when I set off.

I stood pretending to wait for a bus for a little while, then quickly found, signed, and replaced the cache. TFTC/GPC!

Under a cloudy early-morning sky, Dan gives a thumbs-up in front of a gherkin-shaped skyscraper.

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Dan Q found GC6TKBN MALIP – Monument a les il·lusions perdudes

This checkin to GC6TKBN MALIP - Monument a les il·lusions perdudes reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

After failing to find this yesterday, I came back earlier this morning for another go. Thanks to the hint, I was pretty confident I’d been looking in the right place, and a message from the CO helped confirm this (gracias!).

There are, in my mind, two significant challenges to this cache:

1. It’s a challenging and unusual hiding place and you will need to use the hint. I see from previous logs that some people used the hint… and still got stuck! Got to look around and see what it could mean. This bit… I got right. In fact, I touched the cache yesterday but just didn’t know it for sure!

2. It’s a busy area in which searching for a geocache… looks a bit suspicious! I came at almost 08:00 yesterday and, probably because it was a weekday, the area had lots of muggles. I felt self-conscious hunting for the cache and that made it harder. Coming back today an hour earlier made all the difference.

A really sneaky cache good enough to hunt for twice. TFTC/GPC. FP awarded. Greetings from Oxfordshire, UK.

Dan, on a pre-dawn city street, smugly shows the front cover of a little-finger-sized geocaching logbook.

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Dan Q did not find GC6TKBN MALIP – Monument a les il·lusions perdudes

This checkin to GC6TKBN MALIP - Monument a les il·lusions perdudes reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

An extended search bore no fruit this morning. Worth help of the hint and an initial survey I was pretty confident in what kind of thing I was looking for, but though i inspected many candidate hiding places I couldn’t quite find it. Perhaps I’d do better at a less-busy time.

Dan Q found GCARWF7 Antigua Fábrica de Tallada i Lora

This checkin to GCARWF7 Antigua Fábrica de Tallada i Lora reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Visiting from Oxford, UK, I woke up early this morning and decided to come out for an explore before my partner and the children got up. A walk through the park brought me to this delightful piece of industrial history! With the hint, the cache was soon in hand and the log signed. GPC!

Dan points at an old brick chimney, standing alone among modern glass office buildings.

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