Checkins – Page 51

Geohashing expedition 2018-08-07 51 -1

This checkin to geohash 2018-08-07 51 -1 reflects a geohashing expedition. See more of Dan's hash logs.

Dan cycling to a hashpoint. — Setting out by bike to the hashpoint.

Overgrown footpath. — This footpath is less overgrown than I feared it might turn out to be.

Dan in a field. — The first field I found myself in was – just about – navigable by a (pushed) bicycle.

Dan's bike by a narrow footbridge over a dyke. — But eventually my bike had to be left behind and I carried on alone.

Dan at geohashpoint 2018-08-07 51 -1. — Success! Silly grin engaged as I stand at the hashpoint.

First field on the geohash expedition. — The fields had recently been harvested of their corn.

Panorama around hashpoint 2018-08-07 51 -1. — It’s a whole lot of fields (panoramic photograph).

Surprise gasometer — On the way home, I spotted a gasometer and photographed/filmed it for my US friends (they’re even rarer in the US than here)!

Gasometer entry gate — For obvious reaosns, they don’t let idiots like me get up-close with enormous containers full of flammable gas, even when (like this one) they’re actually empty.

Screenshot from Geohashing app showing hashpoint reached — Success! Because I didn’t EXPECT to be hashing today, I didn’t have my GPSr and so didn’t make a tracklog, but my phone managed to get me there.

Location

A field South of Oxford

Participants

Dan Q

Plans

My meeting this afternoon got cancelled and my nearest hashpoint is only 6.5km (4 miles) away from my office. I can get this!

Expedition

After a productive morning’s work, I was genuinely slightly disappointed that a meeting I was scheduled to have this afternoon had to be rescheduled. But on the other hand… that meant that I could get away with extending my lunch break slightly and getting out to the hashpoint! I’d initially worried that it’d be inaccessibly buried on private land when Google Maps and satellite photography showed it to be deep in a block of cornfields, but OpenStreetMap came to the rescue and showed a public footpath somewhere in the very close vicinity of the target coordinates. And so, jumping aboard my bike, I set out!

600m from the coordinates I ran out of road and switched to the footpath, which I was pleased to discover was in reasonably-good condition: many underused local footpaths are not being very well-maintained at the moment and are often overgrown, but I was even able to bring my bike along this one and into the first field, although I had to push it rather than ride and I soon learned the error of my ways when the terrain got even rougher and I reached a narrow bridge – too narrow for my bike – spanning a dyke and entering the second field. Both fields had recently been cleared of corn, and whatever route the official footpath was supposed to take became rapidly unclear, but that’s probably for the best because I’m pretty sure I wasn’t on it by the time I reached the edge of the next field.

The hashpoint seemed to be along the fence somewhere so I followed it along – waving to some nearby cows – until my phone told me that I was under 3m from the spot. Hurrah! I snapped a panorama photo and started heading back, pausing a few times when I realised that I really, really couldn’t find where I’d left my bike. On the cycle home I passed a Gasometer which, because I’m told they’re super-rare in the USA, I thought I’d snap a picture of for those of you who ‘hash on the other side of the pond to oggle at.

Video

I actually remembered to shoot video of this expedition (well, all within a kilometre of the hashpoint and mostly within the last 350 metres!). It’s mostly just me rambling as I ramble, although there’s (brief) explanation of the Surprise Gasometer for those of you who live in countries where you don’t routinely see these interesting structures:

Photos

Geohashing expedition 2018-08-04 51 -1

This checkin to geohash 2018-08-04 51 -1 reflects a geohashing expedition. See more of Dan's hash logs.

Location

Looks to be deep in the bushes alongside the unnamed road that connects Kidlington Road (to Islip), the sliproad exiting the A34 Southbound, and Bicester Road (in Kidlington).

Participants

Dan Q

Plans

The nearest road is about 10 minutes cycle from my (Dan Q) house, so I plan to zip out there either overnight (perhaps aiming for a Midnight Geohash?) or early in the morning. If you happen to plan to hit this hashpoint too, though, let me know and I can try to synchronise plans (but I ought to be spending the day studying, so I might not be able to!).

Expedition

At 2018-08-03 23:02 (BST – local time) I started packing a bag and set out to the hashpoint. Suddenly it didn’t seem like such a good idea as it had in the warm sunlight, earlier: a dark and moonless night isn’t the best time to be cycling along unlit roads. But fully-equipped with lights and supplies, I set out nonetheless. I’d left longer than I needed and had about a quarter of an hour sitting by the side of the road before midnight came and I was able to visit the hashpoint (thereby gaining my Midnight Achievement).

Photos

Dan ready to set out on a nighttime geohashing expedition — GPSr in hand, ready to set out into the dark.

Dan's bike — My vehicle for this adventure.

Advertisement for geohashing — A convenient roadside barrier was the perfect place to put a geohashing poster!

Dan in the dark — I’m getting Blair Witch vibes out here!

Stars — Whoever said you can’t do good long exposures on a mobile phone… was probably right, actually.

Dan at a midnight hashpoint — Success! Midnight, and well within the circle of uncertainty.

Tracklog map for Dan's expedition to hashpoint 2018-08-04 51 -1 — My GPSr conveniently recorded my route to and from the hashpoint

Dan Q posted a note for GC6P6WR Pub Quiz

This checkin to GC6P6WR Pub Quiz reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

I just received a message from user LesHommesSauvages who’re so close to solving this puzzle. Here’s hoping that the mild hint I gave them about which digit they’d gotten wrong is enough to have their “Found it” message be the next log on this cache!

Dan Q found GLWG7T19 Blind-House Lacock Revisited

This checkin to GLWG7T19 Blind-House Lacock Revisited reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

In Lacock on an “away day” with colleagues from the Bodleian Libraries to visit the Abbey, I found a spare few minutes to seek this cache. Spent some time puzzling over the first stage because somebody seems to have physically removed one of the studs! Worked out what must have been meant after a while and soon reached the GZ. SL, TFTC.

Dan Q performed maintenance for GC7R0HB The Fairy Elevator

This checkin to GC7R0HB The Fairy Elevator reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Came by to check up on this cache following the previous log entry. Everything is fine here; tucked the paracord away a little more-tidily and did a little litter picking, and my preschooler took a pink flower with which to decorate a nearby fairy door.

Carry on ‘caching!

Dan Q posted a note for GC54KVD Oxford Medical History #2: Grey matter

This checkin to GC54KVD Oxford Medical History #2: Grey matter reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

(With owner’s permission) moved cache container about 30cm closer to the road in order to put it under better cover, as the bush that used to provide for its concealment has been severely cut back. Cache still intact and happy (but thanks to wynner71 for the shout).

Dan Q performed maintenance for GC7Q9FF Oxford’s Wild Wolf Two

This checkin to GC7Q9FF Oxford's Wild Wolf Two reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

You think when you chain a container to an abandoned concrete block that’s been “just standing there” fire years that it’ll be safe, don’t you? Turns out: not necessarily! Looks like a super-heavy vehicle managed to push this one over, damaging the cache!

I’ve replaced the container but for the time being it’s missing a pencil. Hint isn’t quite accurate any more either but it’s slightly-more visible anyway. Going to see what I can do about all of the above, soon, but for now at least this cache is back in functional health. Happy wolf-hunting!

Dan Q found GLW6DXB2 Moor or Less

This checkin to GLW6DXB2 Moor or Less reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Lunch break from a conference in the Barbican Centre gave me an excuse to introduce a colleague to geocaching. Couldn’t have done it without the hint! TFTC.

Dan Q found GLW6FJQ9 A Meating place for Martyrs

This checkin to GLW6FJQ9 A Meating place for Martyrs reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

An easy find although as I approached the GZ I was concerned that some roadworks that are underway might have prevented me from getting to find the Wills and Bill, but they turned out not to be too near the actual location I was heading for. Answers sent. TFTC!