Dan Q

Tag: cache log

Dan Q found GC2CWQ7 #036 Just Northamptonshire

This checkin to GC2CWQ7 #036 Just Northamptonshire reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

As a semi-regular at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention who likes to get up earlier then the others I share my tent with, I’ve done my fair share of early morning geocaching in this neck of the woods.

Of course: over the years this practice has exhausted most of tree caches local to Cropredy and my morning walks have begun to take me further and further afield. But this is certainly the first time I’ve walked to the next county in search of a cache!

A doe and her fawn stand alert in a harvested grain field, alongside a tower of cuboid hay bales, in the light of a summer morning.

Coming across the fields from Williamscot via Prescote Farm treated me to gorgeous rolling hills free fields of freshly-harvested corn getting picked at by families of deer, while the red kites above went looking for their breakfasts.

The final hill up to the GZ required a bit of a push for my legs which were dancing until late last night, but soon I was close and the cache was quickly found in the second place I looked.

In front of a gate with a 'cattle crossing' sign, Dan waves to the camera with a hand whose wrist has a Cropredy 2025 wristband.

TFTC. Oxfordshire says hello!

× ×

Dan Q found GCAJH34 Jonah’s Oak

This checkin to GCAJH34 Jonah's Oak reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

My little tribe and I have, in some form of another, been attending Cropredy for decades: intermittently in the past, but lately with more regularity every year. For me, it’s coincided with the growth of our family: I’ve been attending with my partner and her husband approximately since our eldest child, now 11, was born.

As our group’s early riser, I’ve a longstanding tradition of getting up while everybody else lies in, to take a walk and perhaps find a geocache or two. Of course I soon ran out of caches in Cropredy itself and my morning walks now take me much further afield!

Last year I was very ill and had to be sent home from Cropredy before I had the opportunity to log this cache, but I’m back again this year and taking a moment at the Oak to reflect on those we’ve all loved and lost.

Jonah's Oak; a large and well-kept oak tree in the middle of a hedgerow, with plaques on and around it, with festival workings in the background.

Answers to follow as soon as signal permits. TFTC.

×

Dan Q found GC8Z1F6 Church Micro 13672…Great Bourton ⛪️

This checkin to GC8Z1F6 Church Micro 13672...Great Bourton ⛪️ reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

My family and I have made a tradition of our regular attendance of Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. There I – being the earliest riser of us – have in turn made a tradition of getting up early to find a nearby geocache on any morning that I’m up before the kids.

This practice has already eliminated all of the caches in Cropredy itself, and so now my morning walks take me further afield. This morning I opted to follow the footpath over the fields to Great Bourton to investigate the two multicaches commencing in the churchyard.

Having determined the coordinates for both and (unsuccessfully) attempting the other cache first, I was optimistic for a smiley face here. The GZ was easy to find – I’d stopped here to check my map on the way out! – and I was soon searching in earnest.

In the low-angled light of the morning sun, the shade of the thick leafy canopy made for challenging conditions, so I flicked my torch on and pointed it in the direction of the host object… and there, clear as day despite its camouflage, was the cache. Easy as pie! SL.

I was briefly tempted to re-try the cache I failed to find earlier, under the assumption that the container would look similar to this and the same technique might bear fruit. But I didn’t feel like doubling back twice more while my stomach was rumbling, so I carried on towards Cropredy to see whether any others if my party were yet ready for some grub.

TFTC.

Dan Q did not find GC91EH6 War Memorial #1,340 ~ Great Bourton 🌹

This checkin to GC91EH6 War Memorial #1,340 ~ Great Bourton 🌹 reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

My family and I have made a tradition of our regular attendance of Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. There I – being the earliest riser of us – have in turn made a tradition of getting up early to find a nearby geocache on any morning that I’m up before the kids.

This practice has already eliminated all of the caches in Cropredy itself, and so now my morning walks take me further afield. This morning I opted to follow the footpath over the fields to Great Bourton to investigate the two multicaches commencing in the churchyard.

Solving for both was easy enough, and I opted to seek this one first, given that the other could become part of my route back to my tent. As others have observed, finding the right footpath was slightly tricky: it looks a bit like a communal driveway, to begin with… and then, for the moment at least, looks as though it might become a building site!

But I pressed on towards the target coordinates and soon spotted a likely host. I searched for a bit without luck, then hit up the hint: looks like I need to go deeper, I figured, and pushed into the foliage.

But after 20 minutes or so of searching all around the conceivable spots, I was still struggling. Plus I’d narrowly avoided kneeling in something truly gross and couldn’t face another round of crawling about under a hedge. And further, I realised I’d soon need some breakfast so I gave up on this one and made a move for the second. Maybe another year!

Dan Q found GCA6CCW Purple door

This checkin to GCA6CCW Purple door reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

It’s possible that cycling this path wasn’t the wisest idea, I realised, as I dodged brambles on both sides. So focused was I on riding safely that I forgot which GPSr I’d brought with me and listening for the beep it gives when I get close to my target… only realised 120m after the fact that I was using the GPSr that doesn’t give an audible beep and I’d overshot!

Doubled back and gave an extended hunt for the cache before finding it in pieces. Looks like it’s been wilfully vandalised (see photo). Returned the pieces to approximately where I figure they’re meant to live.

A hand holds a palm-sized fragment of wood, painted purple as if once part of a fairy door.

Love the idea, hope it can be fully repaired soon!

×

Dan Q found GCADCWF Treasure island

This checkin to GCADCWF Treasure island reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

After an appointment in Witney I opted to divert my cycle home to find this and the other cache on the same path. After cycling down to the GZ (past the noisiest sheep I’ve ever heard!) I was pleased to discover that the recent weather has left the island very dry, and I’d be in no risk of damp feet.

Dan, wearing a cycle helmet, throws a thumbs-up to the camera from a densely-wooded path.

Brambles were a minor threat, but soon the cache was in hand. SL. Outer container has a damaged hinge; just needs a few screws to repair, and it’s not urgent. TFTC!

×

Dan Q did not find GC81KDC Standardisation Roundabout

This checkin to GC81KDC Standardisation Roundabout reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Deciphered this puzzle when it was first published: so long ago that I’d forgotten the specifics of how exactly I did so (although I’m pretty confident I remember the gist of it). But I don’t find myself over this side of Oxford often, these days, and so it took until today that an errand brought me over here before I had a chance to actually try and log it.

Near the GZ I found an obvious trail around the nearby structure and undertook a thorough search of all the obvious hiding places before widening my explorations to the surrounding foliage. Eventually, after about 20 minutes of hunting, I had to give up for shortage of time.

With almost a year since a successful log here and evidence that this trail is now routinely used by a nearby group of non-geocachers, it’s very possible that the cache has been disturbed. I’ll be waiting until a CO checkin (or successful log) before I try again.

Dan Q found GC7ZA2Z My Friend Dotty

This checkin to GC7ZA2Z My Friend Dotty reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

In Marston on an errand, I found myself with enough free time to try to find another few local caches. This puzzle wasn’t as easy as Dotty’s other one, fir me, because for a while I was counting the wrong things, but I cracked it in the end. A slow walk past the GZ with my fingers in the obvious space soon put the cache in my hand. Log extraction required stone creative use of a naturally occurring tool, but before long it was signed and returned. TFTC!

Dan Q found GCAPFH3 Cherry Blossom

This checkin to GCAPFH3 Cherry Blossom reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Third time’s the charm. I don’t live too far away and I’m often found cycling to, from, or through Eynsham. As a result, I’ve on two previous occasions come to this GZ with a view to finding this cache… and both times have been glorious summer weekend days when the adjacent café has been brim full of guests, and I’ve declared it “too muggley” and backed off.

Today, though, is a gloomy and overcast day, with rain on the way and a threat of thunderstorms. So as I cycled by, on my way home from the dentist, I stopped by. I quickly found and retrieved the cache, signed the log, and returned it to its spot.

Now I’d better see if I can pedal all the way home before the clouds burst! TFTC.

Dan Q did not find GC74Z2R Metal bridge cache

This checkin to GC74Z2R Metal bridge cache reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Stopped by while cycling back from Witney. Made a moderately thorough search above and below the titular bridge, without success. Might benefit from a checkin/note from the CO.

Dan, standing by his bike on an iron footbridge over marshy ground, makes an exaggerated shrugging gesture.

Maybe I’m just not seeing it, or else maybe it’s vanished in the six months since its last successful find. Great place for a cache, though!

×

Dan Q did not find GC9M1WJ Village Hall series 1179 – Mortimer Hall Marston

This checkin to GC9M1WJ Village Hall series 1179 - Mortimer Hall Marston reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Had to give up on this one for now. Found the plaque without difficulty and soon had a believable set of coordinates (though I briefly struggled with what was meant by the D & E description). Soon I was at the GZ and, after a brief hunt through the multitude of possible hosts, tried the hint. No use, though: I’m no wiser what I should be looking for. Sadly this is only a flying visit to Marston and I’ve got to go wrangle the kids now, but maybe I’ll revisit next time I’m in the area.

Dan Q found GC9GJZH Dotty writes letters

This checkin to GC9GJZH Dotty writes letters reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

I’m in Marston on an errand and figured I’d pick up a couple of local caches that weren’t around when I was last in the vicinity: which I guess was way back when I lived near here! The puzzle didn’t leave me stumped for long, but I always used to score highly at Dotty’s kind of game! TFTC.