Tuesday 9 March 2010

GC1N994: Curse of the FTF Greater London #1- New River Head

Found on 2010-03-09 at 20:00:00
Placed by: FantasticCat
Size: Micro (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1N994

Nice easy find, well after the GPSr stopped leading me off course due to the London Effect, which is pretty strong today.

Interesting little feature tucked away here. Too bad they lock the gardens off to the public - of course maybe it's a good idea not to have hundreds of cachers trudging through and digging up the flowerbeds.

GC1Z3DM: Vladimir Ilyich Lenin's Cache

Found on 2010-03-09 at 20:00:00
Placed by: loobcom
Size: Other (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1Z3DM

Had the day off work today to get my dental implant done at my wife's research clinic nearby, decided to grab some caches before the appointment.

Not sure if it was Lenin or simply paranoia of being surrounded by so many balconies in a circle looking down upon me as I hopped from bench to bench, looking rather like a spy who has mislaid his dead drop.

GC2823: Sherlock 2 - I suppose, Watson...

Found on 2010-03-09 at 20:00:00
Placed by: rodz (adopted from Lunchbox & Chris n Maria)
Size: Not chosen (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC2823

Not having much luck with the trads in London today, I decided to give the multi's a go. I realise now I could have done this one a while ago when we logged A Meating Place for Matyrs - oh well, I needed this today!

First in the Sherlock series. TFTC!

GCPWCY: Broadgate Webcam (London)

Found on 2010-03-09 at 20:00:00
Placed by: *bingoboy*
Size: Not chosen (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GCPWCY

First webcam cache! [8D]

I had taken the day off today to get my tooth implant done at the research clinic where my wife works. I was having a pretty atrocious caching run with a string of DNF's till I got to Liverpool St. I saw this cache page before and then realised I was in the area so decided that with the wife in front of her PC at work and me here, now would be one of the only opportunities to grab this one for _TeamFitz_.

So what did I find when I got to GZ - they only had the whole circle closed off as they were taking down the ice rink! I called the wife but she just couldn't spot me on any of the camera's from where I was standing above, I even tried standing on one of the stone benches but it was no good. Then she told me to hang on, so I did.... and I waited... and waited. I then hung up as time was passing so I went and did nearby Flonopoly No.4.

I then got a call back and since I hadn't left the area yet I told the wife to wait and got back to the rink. We were still trying to find a way for me to get on the camera when she said she saw someone walking down the steps, I saw the steps on the far side and realised they were still accessible, so got myself over to there quick. The workmen gave me a funny look but soon sussed what I was doing, I then waited with my hand in the air and... then had to give my wife a tutorial on PrtSc, and pasting in to Windows Paint, then saving it.

We got there in the end, I had to put a red circle around me as it's quite a distant shot!

GC14CPG: The Smoothe Field Mystery

Found on 2010-03-09 at 20:00:00
Placed by: frozboz
Size: Micro (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC14CPG

Second multi today after a somewhat challenging and frustrating days caching. Let's just say after many fruitless random wanderings around various parts of London, it was nice to be going random places with a purpose in mind.

I started the day getting my tooth implant done at the research clinic where Mrs Fitz worked then decided I was going to do some caching and sweep up some of the one's I can't get to on lunch times. This proved to be more difficult than first expected - and it seems to be the easier the cache was graded the more difficult I found it. So decided what the heck, I'll give this one a go, it was around 5am and nearing dark, I was very fortunate to get to all the private non-247 spots before they were shut up for the night.

Stage 1 was at first confusing as I assumed I was looking for some kind of murial but by a very speedy process of elimination I knew it had to be this work of art, so I jotted down all the livestock I could determine and was off to the next waypoint.

Stage 2 was not difficult to find, on arriving I immediately began scanning for information but could see none in sight. I ventured into the private area and was greeted by the security guard. Thankfully I was able to play lost tourist and enquired as to whether there was a 14th Century Surgery anywhere around. He was puzzled at first, so I mentioned the tour and the £10 charge, explaining that my friend had sent me the details and asked me to pick up some information about the tour. I lightbulb then came on and he led me to a poster that contained the web address. I quickly jotted that down and thanked him and was on my way.

Onto Stage 3, I spent a few minutes looking around for this one until I spotted it and was quite amazed. Often I've noticed things like this when I'm waiting at the bus stop on the way to work and always wonder who put them there and if there was other underground games being played... Nice to see them borrowed anyhow.

It was now already dark by the time I was heading to Stage 4, so I was a little worried I wouldn't make in time - but I got there and the gates were still open so I got to check out this interesting piece of furniture. It was actually quite comfortable to sit on, I might bring back the wife to see it too sometime.

By Stage 5 I was now starting to feel the wear and tear of the day, or maybe it was just the acupuncture from the last stage? I got the the gates, and located the information I needed, unfortunately it was too dark to read. Thankfully I had packed my bike torch so this was enough for me to make out the inscription. Quite a lot of roamers passing through here but I didn't care at this stage, and it's much easier to act like a bit of a history nerd than to be searching for some kind of hidden container.

Stage 6 is where my GPSr, which had been behaving fairly well after the shenanigans this afternoon decided to get it's freak on once again. Instead of correcting to the right direction it simply drifted backwards as I walked. By now it is clear to me that using a GPSr in London is more of an art form than scientific method. Fortunately, I know the area at least, I was able to work out where it was telling me to go and locate the second invader.

7th Stage and one of the Seven Deadly Sins. I did not know of this location or history so it's great to see it. By now it is nearly 7pm and Mrs Fitz is ready to leave work, so I suggest we converge at Chancery Lane McDoos for the free wifi, and try to piece together all these clues.

McDonalds - Chancery Lane: The wife got herself a meal whilst I had a coke, I had already eaten at one earlier today and was not prepared to put my body through it again. I fired up the netbook, loaded the cache page and started trifagulating* the hints. We came up with 3 or 4 sets of coordinates before hitting on the right ones.

Continued on note as I hit the 4000 character limit -->

GC1KKTW: Flonopoly Cache 4 - Liverpool Street Station

Found on 2010-03-09 at 20:00:00
Placed by: Firelanterns
Size: Micro (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1KKTW

Finally broke my DNF funk on this cache. Interesting little alley, but slightly scary too, felt like I was in a Frank Miller novel as I rounded the corner. GPSr was doing it's own thing so I had to rely on the hint, signed log and got out of there quickly!

Sunday 7 March 2010

GC24EE8: Ahoy there landlubbers

Found on 2010-03-07 at 20:00:00
Placed by: leefarman
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 2)
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC24EE8

Mrs Fitz had just made herself a coffee and was about to sit down, relax and watch a bit of TV when I spotted this email notification on my Blackberry. After battling through the cold wind yesterday in Essex I had promised her no caching today, but when I saw this was just 3.2 miles away how could I resist.

So quick scramble to get bag, pen, boots, print cache page... why isn't it printing.. where is it? Oh well can't wait... where's the Garmin, can't find it - must be in the car glove box. Scribbled down the coords and into the Rav and we were on our way. "It's only been about 30 mins" I said to Mrs Fitz, "good chance we'll get FTF on this one!"

Parked up at Scotsbridge Mill car park and headed toward GZ. As we got through the gate I saw the large tree and thought that must be it, but there were a couple of lurkers on the bench sitting a bit beyond. I thought since they were sitting much further down they couldn't be cachers and so the FTF would be ours, but as we approached, the Mrs whispered to me "They're looking over at us." I told her just look like we're examining the tree.

But it soon became clear the couple on the bench were taking far too much interest in what we were doing and it turned out to be [b]mbtkz[/b] who pulled out the cache they'd been holding and grinned as I called out "Did you find it?!"

Quick introductions and discussion of puzzle caches whilst I signed the log and took Freddy TB. It was nice to meet the team who cracked both my puzzle caches first and without any hints!

Nice area this, haven't been down here yet but I said to the Mrs that we should probably cycle the Chess Valley Walk when it gets a bit warmer.

TFTC, hope there are more to come over here.

Saturday 6 March 2010

GC125HE: Twiggy's First Cache And Dash

Found on 2010-03-06 at 20:00:00
Placed by: Twiggy
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC125HE

By the time we got to this one we were really feeling the cold by now, particularly after a 2k there and back walk to Breathe with Ease... so it was nice to have a CnD to go to, especially as darkness had now fallen.

On the way round there seemed to be either an owl hooting, or maybe some kind or dog.. perhaps a dog-owl hybrid making these hooting sounds. Then again could have been an owl mating or something.. seemed quite excited.

What else can I say, found easily, back in the car within 5 minutes. TFTC!

Dipped: Rav4 TB

GC17A31: Breath with ease, plant some trees...

Found on 2010-03-06 at 20:00:00
Placed by: roughly chicken
Size: Regular (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 3)
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC17A31

Went for this one after spending the day in Lavenham visiting and seeing Ye Olde things.

I think we could have approached this one easier than we did. Started out on Lavenham Road to the North, but decided to park as suggested and honestly struggled to find the walking paths - we may have parked too far up. So instead we trudged across a couple of fields till we hit what turned out to be the path - or at least what is marked as such if it doesn't look like one.

This was quite a distance to cover in the low light, we don't mind and are used to this but I think Mrs Fitz is now feeling a little sick from exposure to the cold. Despite the sun today, looking deceptively warm, there was an icy breeze in the air which really had a bite. At least the mud was partially frozen which is blessing compared to some of the mud baths we've trundled through doing caches recently. I know, I know, softy Southerners come from Watford, but I'll have you know my wife is Canadian and I'm a Warwickshire lad myself. Maybe it's the climate where Watford is, that we've become accustomed to less harsher weather conditions, whatever...

Anyway cache was located fairly easily. Took acorns to propogate amongst the hedgerows (no info card in this bag but the wife informs me that Oaks are pretty resilient trees), and if they don't all make it, at least some woodland creatures may get fed for one day... of course teach a woodland creature how to find his own food, he'll feed for a lifetime... or something like that.

TNLNSL TFTC!

GC184G4: The Cracker Cache

Found on 2010-03-06 at 20:00:00
Placed by: jhraymond
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1)
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC184G4

Spent a fine afternoon in Lavenham taking Mrs _Fitz_ to see the Guildhall and then round the antiques shops - well lets just say it was more being dragged around the antiques shops than anything.

We seem to have arrived on the day of the annual Blue Rinse Convention as it was hard to find a tea shoppe which was not packed with old dears having a gaye aulde time.

Anyway we settled on the Sweat Meats Tea Shoppe just off the beaten track and check out the size of their scones!

Other fascinating things we learned in Lavenham: Lavenham does not have a cash point per se, instead you have to trudge up the hill to Ye Co-Oppe and purchase something over £2 then get "cash back". Also back when Lavenham was a booming industry for wool (4 or 500 years ago), the material was thickened with either soap or urine.

Well, at the end of this lovely and educational afternoon and seeing lots of Olde stuffe we gots to go for this cache. Parked as suggested and made our way across the slightly muddy but still thawing out field and quickly located the hide. Had to wait for a friendly dog-walking roamer to pass by, at which pleasantries were exchanged whilst the dog helped himself to a sniff of my crotch.

Retrieved cache, signed log and off we went. It was nice to have this to look forward to at the end of the day. Hope there are more to come in this pleasant little town so rich with history and 17th Century drunk builders.

Time to get my coat, mines the yellow coloured one with the faint pee pee smell!

Edited for: Grammare, and wife informs me its "Sweet Meats"

GC1XHXV: Market Hill #12

Found on 2010-03-06 at 20:00:00
Placed by: Frenchy
Size: Micro (Difficulty: 3 / Terrain: 1)
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1XHXV

Last one of the day whilst heading back to Watford from Lavenham. Approximately 8 in the evening and we were able to park right in the central parking zone and make a quick dash for this. Suprisingly not as many people round as expected but there were still quite a few lurkers and roamers, so we had to wait for the right moment to make the grab.

We had both forgotten to pack a pen so didn't have one to sign the log, but Mrs Fitz took a photo of me holding your cache so I hope you accept this as verification that it was found.

Again, it was a short wait for the right moment to place it back - and a bit of stretch but I got it back in place. Too bad it was so late in the evening, we should have liked to have a longer stop and do a few of the other caches through here - but we decided we'll come back some time and visit Sudbury - nice town btw.

TFTC!

Dipped: Rav4 TB