Saturday 31 July 2010

GC1ECRK: ch025 - Chiltern Hundred, Chesham Vale

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECRK

This crash barrier failed to stop us from crashing... energywise - I think we were all getting a little tired and lazy. I went straight to the spot but after a quick peer found nothing - Mrs Fitz checked again and came up trumps!

GC1ECRQ: ch026 - Chiltern Hundred, Bower farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECRQ

So this appeared tricky due to all the lurkers nearby smoking and engaged in conversation, with presumably their car parked right in front of the cache. As we stood in front wandering what to do, another truck pulled up the other side of us - the owner pointing to the cache and raising his eyebrows.

I am guessing as this is a Pathfinder Ostrich Farm the ostrich farmers here are in on the game - probably why the other lurkers cared not what we were up to! I can only apologise we didn't stop to talk to the helpful Ostrich farmer, we were all a little tired and wanted to move on.

GC1ECRX: ch027 - Chiltern Hundred, ostrich farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECRX

Ha ha! I see what you did with the hint there - I like it.

We got to see the ostriches run when they saw food coming. After finding the cache, another younger, helpful farmer on a quad bike pointed out the hide to us, we said thanks and then we were on our way... up... another hill!

GC1ECT1: ch028 - Chiltern Hundred, Ramscoat Wood

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECT1

Found the tree, found the cache, protected by several layers of spider webs, which I tried to photograph but didn't really show up - must get one of those macro lenses.

Anyway, a quick stick and the webs were gone, cache retrieved.

GC1ECTB: ch029 - Chiltern Hundred, leaving Ramscoat

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECTB

Found by MrBen - whilst I followed GPSr he followed his geosense - and the obvious place really when you think about it.

GC1ECTH: ch030 - Chiltern Hundred, swing high

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECTH

Ha, this was quite fun. MrBen felt sure it was in one of the hedges, whilst I went right to GZ. Then we decided to look up the hint and, well, I was correct - just looking at the wrong end.

Meanwhile Mrs Fitz had abandoned caching and was regressing back to her schoolgirl days....

GC1ECTM: ch031 - Chiltern Hundred, Great Hivings

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECTM

Found easily enough... but then I don't think the hint matched the place we found it, but then it looks like a replacement anyway.

GC1EHD8: ch032 - Chiltern Hundred, Mount Nugent Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHD8

Try as I might, I just don't recall this one.

GC1EHDJ: ch033 - Chiltern Hundred, Captain's Wood

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHDJ

Another find by MrBen - whilst we were looking round what seemed like a odd type of tree - he found an even odder looking tree which turned out to be it. Had a quick count of the trunks to be sure... then a short discussion over polygon counts to convince Mrs Fitz that the hint was not 8 but 6.

GC1EHDQ: ch034 - Chiltern Hundred, West of Hivings

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHDQ

This one took us a while... and it seemed there was not easy route to it, as we had passed and then cut through the hedge but heading back up along the path rendered an easier option.

This is where tragedy befell my lovely wife. As we were walking down, MrBen looked down at the back of her legs and in a quite understated manor said "What's that on the back of your legs?". To Mrs Fitz's horror, she had trodden in dogs**t, and not only that, whilst obviously raising her legs to step over some branch or bramble she had managed to smear it all over her jeans.

It was then that we began to smell it and it was quite embarrassing for her but she handled it well, I'm quite proud to say. We opted for finding a pub where she could clean her jeans and in the meantime tried to get most of it off her shoe.

Dog owners - please pick it up you lazy b*s! Sick of treading in it and the only thing that surprises me is I managed to dodge it all day (it's usually me that gets it).

GC1EHDV: ch035 - Chiltern Hundred, Asheridge Road

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHDV

Spotted the likely tree and got pranged on the way to it - but we retrieved the cache easily enough.

GC1EHDY: ch036 - Chiltern Hundred, Asheridge Road East

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHDY

Easy find. After signing and returning, we turned round to see a cow dead still, staring silently at us, waiting for us to move so he could go over and get quenched. Well at least that's how it appeared, but as I said before I think they're planning something...

GC1ECN1: ch007 - Chiltern Hundred, gnarly

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECN1

I think this was easy enough, to be honest after doing so many this weekend I can't quite remember how this one went!

GC1ECN6: ch008 - Chiltern Hundred, bridleway

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECN6

Another one I cannot recall finding now, but probably really easy.

GC1ECNJ: ch009 - Chiltern Hundred, up and in

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECNJ

MrBen went for this one whilst Mrs Fitz had already sussed the hidey hole and I directed MrBen to it from the path - a team effort!

GC1ECNQ: ch010 - Chiltern Hundred, up the junction

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 2)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECNQ

Well we got to this spot and it seemed that there had either been a camp/party fire here, lots of rubbish and we feared that the cache would have been destroyed too - but as Mrs Fitz went up and started looking she spotted it immediately.

Very sad looking at all the charred trees, and there is still a burning smell.

GC1ECNY: ch011 - Chiltern Hundred, Botley

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECNY

I think MrBen was clearly held back by his injured hand, I have seen him dive into bushes on previous caching trips... this time it was my turn to scramble up and go a bit further down from where our GPSr was pointing, then found it - nice big-ish container.

Logged and on our way. Though I was starting to get concerned that we were going a bit slow.

Dropped off Marion's Sauerland GC - apologise but I've logged it in CH005 instead and only have the trackable reference, not the code.

GC1ECP9: ch012 - Chiltern Hundred, Lee farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 2)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECP9

Wasted a bit of time getting to this one as we didn't read the directions properly on the cache description. The farm looks private, but then you spot the brilliantly concealed public footpath sign behind the large farm sign - almost as difficult as the cache.

If anyone needs the toilet or anything I would advise going to this pub as it will save you in the long run - we didn't and weren't able to find a pub/toilets till we got back to Chesham and CH046 (however I was informed later by Team Noodle that there is another one en route which is also slightly hidden away).

GC1ECPK: ch013 - Chiltern Hundred, Codmore view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECPK

We spotted this rusty old machinery and MrBen was starting to rub his injured hand nervously, hoping it wasn't hidden somewhere in there - but then we went on a bit further and we realised the clever hint!

GC1ECPV: ch014 - Chiltern Hundred, passing Codmore

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECPV

So we were at this point trying to arrange a hookup with Team Noodle but they were having trouble getting their cache on... I was starting to already get nervous about the time. Anyway we were finding these caches fairly quickly which was a good thing, and the weather was clearing up.

Mrs Fitz said "I bet it's in there" and it was!

GC1ECQ3: ch015 - Chiltern Hundred, Brockhurst farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECQ3

I think I remember this one... but then that might have been another one of the 100 I'm thinking about...

GC1ECQ6: ch016 - Chiltern Hundred, Hilltop view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECQ6

Aah now I remember this one because I found it (Mr Fitz) and I remember thinking on the hint and observing the environment around us. Then, on the way forward we bumped into some old lady dog walkers who we had a bit of chat with.

Locals are very friendly round these parts, but when you got 95 caches to do today (a target getting further and further out of sight) - not helpful!

GC1ECQ9: ch017 - Chiltern Hundred, Lyegreen farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECQ9

Shortly after finding this one I think we crossed paths with another group of cachers, but did that awkward "we're not geocaching" kind of walk/look and didn't stop to find out.

Could this have been Ruckingturtle, or some other guys who haven't logged online yet - or was it just another weird looking band of people like us?

GC1ECQC: ch018 - Chiltern Hundred, Lye Green

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECQC

Yay, another one I remember... GPSr was giving us some trouble, but after doubling back quite a bit we found the hint and then the cache.

GC1ECQM: ch019 - Chiltern Hundred, Nashleigh farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECQM

Can't quite remember this one but I remember where we were. The sun was out now and the day was warming up - even out clothes had begun to dry out. Somewhere along here I think it dawned on me that even if we made the 100 - it was going to be a long day. I also began to realise that trying to arrange a hookup with other cachers was going to slow us down considerably...

However, thinking about it now with hindsight, we were already going too slow stopping for too long between caches. We now know if you're going to do this you need to be constantly on the move.

GC1ECQQ: ch020 - Chiltern Hundred, wine tree

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECQQ

This one eluded Mrs Fitz and MrBen whilst I remember finding it straight away. Near to the road now but no sign of TeamNoodle!

GC1ECR3: ch021 - Chiltern Hundred, A 416

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECR3

Too easy this one. After finding something that looked like a cache tucked into the kissing gate which turned out to be some kind of plastic protected pocket literature - perhaps another subversive game going on we don't know about?

A call to TeamNoodle, they haven't left home yet so we arrange to meet back in Chesham.

GC1ECR7: ch022 - Chiltern Hundred, Pressmore farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECR7

[

Checked the previous logs then picked up the batphone to get a code from DS and dispatch another replacement.

Hopefully the farmer is not going to give us grief with this one, but possible needs to be relocated much further away? New hint below.

]

Under water, it's a breeze

GC1ECRA: ch023 - Chiltern Hundred, boardwalk

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECRA

Oddly enough we understood the hint straight away and also copped the nature of the hide - thanks to Mrs Fitz musical knowledge. So suspecting it may be gone we called Dr S who then turned us the right way around, so to speak, and we soon had it in our hands.

Good one.

GC1ECRF: ch024 - Chiltern Hundred, Little Pressmore farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECRF

Well there's an obvious one, and a less obvious one and we found it with the less obvious. Don't remember seeing any bugs or coins in the cache though?

GC1EB13: ch001 - Chiltern Hundred, Chesham Station

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EB13

We've been looking at this series since Winter and waiting for the right time (and season) to do it. For a long time whenever I've cared to look towards the Chilterns to seek out caches there's these flipping huge rings splattered all over the map... so it's time to clear these off the map and join the ranks of those who've done the Chesham 100.

I had communicated with Dr Solly the week before and agreed to bring some containers and replace any missing. We started at this one about 7.30am and were already discovering that the first one appeared to be missing. We did indeed find what was left of the string.

Quick call to DS to confirm and a replacement was dispatched. The hint will still work but it's a bit further down, not on a string and with new coords. Contains logbook and series clue.

GC1ECHA: ch002 - Chiltern Hundred, bridge

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECHA

[

Quick check of the previous logs and hunt around GZ. Quick call to DS confirmed this looked like it was a goner.

Another replacement, but hid in a slightly different place (same coords), encrypted below:

]

Hole in the fence, RHS of bridge.

GC1ECHG: ch003 - Chiltern Hundred, Chesham heights

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 3)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECHG

After replacing 2 caches on the series we were itching to find a genuine Solly - alas it was also not to be. Found what seemed to be the place but reading previous logs seems like some vandalism may have taken place. Back on the Batphone to DS to confirm.

It was a bit difficult in deciding where this could be rehidden securely until MrBen found another sleeper a bit further up the path. I remarked that there were quite a few spiders webs around that one, but he reckoned no-one would mind... actually considering the number of spider webs we had to break later, this might be par for the course this time of year!

GC1ECMN: ch005 - Chiltern Hundred, Dungrove farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECMN

Yay, finally a Solly cache! Nice container, not seen one like this before quite unique (having never done the Chiltern 100 before [;)] ) Not a difficult find, and a relief actually.

Dropped Sauerland GC - it wants to get back to Germany but I couldn't find a cache in London big enough!

GC1ECMY: ch006 - Chiltern Hundred, at the junction

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ECMY

To be fair to MrBen, he was using a Garmin Gecko (replacement for his lost GPSr) which seemed to be sending him 30ft off under tree cover.

I immediately spotted the kind of thing I'd hid a cache in, but looking down I saw lots of spider webs, then I saw the cache, then I saw another way of retrieving that did not mean having to put my hand in aforementioned webs.

GC1EHFH: ch046 - Chiltern Hundred, Bury

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHFH

[

Reached the tree and it does look a bit like a dump underneath sadly, quick call to Dr S and confirm it's gone, quickly dispatched replacement. Couldn't hide this in the tree or any others really since it's a lock n' lock - I wouldn't put it in that tree anyway.

New coords, New hint below:

]

Stumped.

GC1EHFQ: ch047 - Chiltern Hundred, Lowndes park

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHFQ

After a refreshing rest stop and enjoying the park with TeamNoodle we head down to this cache. Not obvious at first but then I jumped up on some nearby street furniture and laid hands on the replacement.

Quick call to DS and updated the coords on the log sheet too.

GC1EHFW: ch048 - Chiltern Hundred, Lowndes park north

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHFW

[

Checked the tree and found a bent nail which I presume is what was is left of the cache. Called Dr S to confirm, whilst some of our team went to sit down and eat ice-cream.

We checked a few of the trees and bushes around, agreed with Dr S a new hiding place, hopefully with less chance of being disturbed. MrBen placed this one.

]

Magnolia bush.

GC1EHG0: ch049 - Chiltern Hundred, the backs

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHG0

Another easy find. Here we said farewell to TeamNoodle and MrBen as he felt it was time and he had more important things to attend to such as his girlfriend - he has yet to learn that geocaching is more important than family! - just kidding.

So here Mrs Fitz and I were left umming and aahing over whether another ring - or even the series was doable. But Mrs Fitz was well up for it and so since I felt I still had the energy, and renewed from the rest we had, we should attempt it. So we got in the car and drove up to Chartridge Lane, parking near CH082.

GC1ER4Y: ch051 - Chiltern Hundred, Chartridge Pond

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER4Y

Yep, quite easy and quite a cheeky hide I think.

GC1ER56: ch052 - Chiltern Hundred, The Bell

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER56

So we got here and had a good look around all the trees. After a little while searching we verified it's most likely not here, so we wrote a new log, dispatched new cache and code. No extra hint, it's in almost the same place but it's not down now it's up - another one I think that could be relocated entirely if the farmer is messing with it.

Checked on the way back from Chartridge ring today (01/08/10) and it was still there.

GC1ER5C: ch053 - Chiltern Hundred, Cogdells Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER5C

This one required a bit of a stretch and care as not to be stung by all the holy - but I managed it, trick is to go forward slowly.

GC1ER5E: ch054 - Chiltern Hundred, Capps Lane

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER5E

Another quick find, less obvious place. At this point Mrs Fitz is talking about pulling an all-nighter and going for the 3rd ring. I'm just aching and sore.

GC1ER5H: ch055 - Chiltern Hundred, Capps Lane, North

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER5H

Phone battery: 10% we decided to write down the hints at this point, also checked the logs and saw one which may be a goner, so I sent a text to Dr S for the code in advance - thanks Dr S for your trust!

GC1ER5M: ch056 - Chiltern Hundred, Ashotts Lane South

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER5M

So at this point we were pretty psyched to still be in the game and only 5 more to go but it was a little more tedious due to reliance on torches. I don't even remember where we found this one.

GC1ER5R: ch057 - Chiltern Hundred, Ashotts Lane, Northing

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER5R

Heh, nice trick hint there - we still found it! [:P]

GC1ER65: ch058 - Chiltern Hundred, Ashotts Lane, middle

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER65

Again, this took us a while, wasting precious sunlight till we realised we had to dip back in the hedge again - quick found after that.

GC1ER69: ch059 - Chiltern Hundred, Asheridge Farm view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2.5 / Terrain: 2.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER69

So this was it, the sun had dipped just below the horizon but was still giving us sunlight in the fields, but now we find a bunch of caches hidden in the hedges, huh?

Spent a while with the torch,but Mrs Fitz finally got it when we found the opening, had to backtrack from where the GPSr had settled.

GC1EHE7: ch037 - Chiltern Hundred, Asheridge view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 2.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHE7

Another cache, another steep hill, with MrBen versing us in how intelligent pigs are... or something like that. Sorry Ben I just couldn't listen over the sound of my legs screaming "Make it stop!"

GC1EHE8: ch038 - Chiltern Hundred, Chartridge

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHE8

This one evaded us for a while - that was my fault - reading the log and hint for the next cache, whoops!

GC1EHEF: ch040 - Chiltern Hundred, Pednor road view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHEF

Not a difficult hide - right there in full view - but we were so tired now we were starting to get a bit lazy I think. I laid eyes on it after about 5 minutes of searching. At least we were going downhill again.

GC1EHEX: ch042 - Chiltern Hundred, Rose Acre view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHEX

Yep, it was, just like the hint said. Found quickly by MrBen.

GC1EHF2: ch043 - Chiltern Hundred, single tree

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHF2

Here TeamNoodle had caught up to us, going backwards and for a little while as we caught up the feelings of pain subsided. We were able to find this quite quickly but now had to move on at a bit of a slower pace for the littlest member of TeamNoodle who was thoroughly enjoying her day treasure hunting so far.

GC1EHF8: ch044 - Chiltern Hundred, Chiltern Link

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHF8

This took us forever, all of us searching high and low and none could find it. We were about to call it quits after about 15 minutes and then Mrs Noodle popped behind a tree and came out with the cache in her hand! It was a bit further on from the coords I think.

GC1EHFC: ch045 - Chiltern Hundred, mound view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1EHFC

TeamNoodle could not find this one earlier but I think they must have had the wrong coords too, zero'd in on this with my trusty 60CSx and it was Mr Noodle who discovered it pretty much straight away.

Now off to the Queens Head for a good rest, a pint, some grub and a clean up. I think this is where we lost the most time but c'est la vie. The Fullers Honey Dew was superb.

It was at this point I decided to whip out my new solar power charger which I'd bought this week, I'd had it sitting in sunlight all day yesterday so was hoping to charge up my Android phone so we could keep getting hints and logs but it was a dead duck - I might return it and go for one of those unenvironmental battery chargers instead.

GC1ETMR: ch082 - Chiltern Hundred, Raymond's Cottage

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ETMR

So I had in my mind that 82 was the start of the Chartridge ring which we assessed was the smallest and so a good chance of completing for us in good time. However it turns out this one was the end of the Asheridge ring, so we decided to do this ring instead, backwards.

This time we were focused, as soon as we found a cache either me or Mrs Fitz would start heading towards the next one whilst the other signed and replaced. We found this was a good system and got us round much faster than before.

I'd say for anyone contemplating doing the 100 in a day and walking, this is how it's gotta be.

GC1ETMP: ch081 - Chiltern Hundred, Caravan site

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ETMP

Found quite quickly, don't really recall it.

GC1ETMK: ch080 - Chiltern Hundred, Tile's Farm view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ETMK

Another one found, another log signed and we were on our way.

GC1ETMH: ch079 - Chiltern Hundred, Tile's Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ETMH

Didn't take us too long to find the replacement cache, but no code, so a quick call to Dr S and we added this to the log.

GC1ER95: ch078 - Chiltern Hundred, Asheridge Road

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER95

Only difficult part was avoiding getting run over! Off to the next....

GC1ER92: ch077 - Chiltern Hundred, Valley view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER92

When we read the hint, we realised we'd walked down the wrong way (left hand side). So we could either walk all the way back up or there seemed to be a faint trail through the thorny partition that had grown over - we cut through this and it wasn't as difficult as first thought. Cache was soon found.

GC1ER8W: ch076 - Chiltern Hundred, Tile Farm view

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER8W

I can remember the hint but not the actual cache. I think it was easy enough.

GC1ER8P: ch075 - Chiltern Hundred, Captain's Wood

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER8P

This one was difficult. GPSr was not settling, but was still far off from actual hiding place. We found it after broadening our search.

GC1ER8K: ch074 - Chiltern Hundred, Asheridge views

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER8K

Another easy find, so quick I don't remember this one either. I remember we did some replacement caches and called up Dr S for the codes. Not sure if this was one.

GC1ER8F: ch073 - Chiltern Hundred, Savecroft Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER8F

Another one I have great difficulty recalling. I do remember feeling positive we were going to do this. The sun was low but still visible and casting some glorious colours on the meadows - unfortunately we were in a race against the daylight so I couldn't stop to take more photos.

GC1ER8B: ch072 - Chiltern Hundred, Johnson's Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER8B

Approaching this one made me think of that moment in The Shawshank Redemption where Red finally goes and finds Andy's "geocache". No money in this one though. Too bad.

GC1ER87: ch071 - Chiltern Hundred, Huge Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER87

I facepalmed. I searched all around this but because I'd recently been caching and seen a rat-trap this kind of looked like some kind rat-trap contraption too and I didn't want to touch it.

However when Mrs Fitz had caught up she immediately pointed it out. Doh!

GC1ER84: ch070 - Chiltern Hundred, Hilltop Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2.5 / Terrain: 2)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER84

After bushwhacking a bit too early and eager, it didn't take long to find after following the far more logical footpath.

GC1ER7W: ch069 - Chiltern Hundred, Bellingdon

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER7W

Another quick and easy one... watch that electrified fencing!

GC1ER7P: ch068 - Chiltern Hundred, Bellingdon Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER7P

I think I remember this, it was quite high. The sunlight was starting to fade under tree cover now so we had to use torches.

I found the small chairs either side of the path bizarre and creepy. Do small trolls come out at night to watch for weary travellers?

GC1ER7J: ch067 - Chiltern Hundred, Two Gates Lane

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER7J

I'm trying really hard to remember all of these but I'm just not. Logging these is as much a mental endurance as the series was a physical endurance!

GC1ER7D: ch066 - Chiltern Hundred, Bloomfield Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER7D

No, one more find that's basically lost in my swiss cheese memory.

GC1ER79: ch065 - Chiltern Hundred, Southview

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER79

Now, I remember when we found this I remember seeing that bunny but here's another one I can't for the life of me remember how we got there or where we went next.

I think our brains had melted at this point and we were on auto-pilot - following the arrow and not much else.

GC1ER73: ch064 - Chiltern Hundred, oil drum

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER73

OK I do remember this now, well more specifically I remember walking through this meadow with the low level sunlight casting glorious rays and colours across it. We were counting down the number of caches to go and praying that the sun would stay up for at least another hour.

GC1ER71: ch063 - Chiltern Hundred, Bank Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER71

After a little jaunt past an over-friendly pony we were glad to finally arrive at a road again. However this had us stumped for quite a while.

We searched everywhere and I was worried about my fading phone battery again, I'd managed to charge an extra 10% in the car, but it was holding up good. Finally I logged on and checked the previous logs, and something someone said sparked a bit of recognition - then it was easily found.

GC1ER6W: ch062 - Chiltern Hundred, Not Chartridge Pond

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER6W

Tricky, we weren't searching far enough back from the road. After wandering around for a bit, I went further towards the back and happened upon the correct hinted thing.

GC1ER6P: ch061 - Chiltern Hundred, Asheridge Road

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER6P

I guess we were really struggling to maintain focus now, after finding this we headed up the footpath until I had the smart idea of checking the GPSr to see where we were headed and so we had to head back!

GC1ER6J: ch060 - Chiltern Hundred, Asheridge Farm

Found on 2010-07-31
Placed by: drsolly
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1ER6J

I guess the original cache may be trapped but the replacement was found quick enough by Mrs Fitz - quite well hidden. No need to move the gate post or anything.

No code number again on this replacement - unfortunately my phone battery was very low so I didn't want to risk phoning Dr S to get the code.

Wednesday 28 July 2010

GC2AHMM: Upside down trees

Found on 2010-07-28
Placed by: Langstonpnehk
Size: Small (Difficulty: 1.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC2AHMM

Having a prayer meeting and drink at the Red House nearby with Ross from Team Noodle and I was demonstrating my new Android phone and it's geocaching capabilities.

Noticed this cache was here and yet still not found so we headed over after finishing our pints. Easy enough to find after sticking my hand in the right place. Really nice park, will have to bring my nephew. TFTC!

28 July 2010 | 21:02

This entry was edited by _TeamFitz_ on Wednesday, 28 July 2010 at 15:14:17.

Tuesday 27 July 2010

GC28V2C: Lincolns Inn Chapel

Found on 2010-07-27
Placed by: currykev
Size: Micro (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 1)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC28V2C

Grabbed during lunchtime - another nice cache n' dash in an interesting off-street location. Weather is behaving very strange of late, incredibly humid and rather than pouring down like a monsoon it's more like walking through a steam room with small globs of water vapour attaching itself to your clothes.

3rd cache found using my Moto Milestone GPSr, accuracy is not bad but I have to find better apps for showing my actual position. Found the cache when I eventually looked in some less obvious places.

TFTC!

Logged via Android.
27 July 2010 | 12:58


This entry was edited by _TeamFitz_ on Tuesday, 27 July 2010 at 07:32:40.

Monday 26 July 2010

GC20AB0: Salter's Hall

Found on 2010-07-26
Placed by: Woppy'n'Jules
Size: Micro (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC20AB0

Well, I guess it is easy when you know where to look. Was on the bus on the way to the Tube when I had a brainfart "Hey, I got my Android phone now, why don't I make a second attempt at this one that's been staring me in the face for so long".

Powered up my Moto Milestone GPSr with Google Navigator and it led me right to the place my Garmin did before - so it must be here. Had to wait for a couple of lurkers and then this time however I broadened my search a little and a quick bend down to rummage through my bag I spotted it.

I don't know whether anyone else experienced this but it seems to me the coords are perhaps a little soft but the actual location is an easy grab even with plenty of lurkers around. TFTC!

Logged via Android.
26 July 2010 | 18:04

This entry was edited by _TeamFitz_ on Monday, 26 July 2010 at 12:33:01.

Wednesday 21 July 2010

GC2B20C: London Event @ The Founders Arms, Southwark

Found on 2010-07-21
Placed by: Coremaker goldpot
Size: Other (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC2B20C

We've arrived!

===

Well, first to log attendance and first to log arrival.... but we weren't actual FTFers so it doesn't count.... maybe next time.

Thanks again Goldpot for a great evening and chance to catch up with everyone and meet some new faces, particularly overseas visitors!

Forgot to bring our TB's as I thought the event was Thursday in my mind and forgot to check the callendar. Doh!

This entry was edited by _TeamFitz_ on Thursday, 22 July 2010 at 03:10:07.

Saturday 10 July 2010

GCVQ02: Rose & Castle Pub Quiz

Found on 2010-07-10
Placed by: vix92008
Size: Regular (Difficulty: 2 / Terrain: 2)
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GCVQ02

Finally had a chance today to return and find after visiting family. We did this as an (almost) quick cache n' dash on the way back to Watford. Rose & Castle very busy, unfortunately we didn't have time to stop for a drink. Lovely evening and more importantly - dry yay!

Arrived a GZ and looked around, spotted what seemed to be evidence of previous cachers search attempts but it looked a bit thorny so we opted for the clue right away - feeling a bit tired and worn out by the nephew giving us the run around earlier... decided to run off away from us and dodge cars in a pub car park that sort of thing!

TFTC! Dropped 3x TBs and Geocrety TB.

Thursday 1 July 2010

GC1CY58: Square Hole, Round Peg

Found on 2010-07-01
Placed by: SpeedyBeale
Size: Micro (Difficulty: 2.5 / Terrain: 1.5)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC1CY58

I was heading back to Euston Station after grabbing a cache nearby. I didn't want to do any more micro's and was a bit tired but I saw this was only 400m away and it was a mystery that could be done at the location - I had a fairly good idea what was required having done a similar virtual I decided to go for it.

Arrived at GZ - well, actually, outside GZ. Couldn't get into the park as there was some kind of open air concert on (ticket only) but they had speakers facing outside and lurkers all over sitting listening to the Opera. Thankfully, all I was needing to do was walk around and jot down information so I didn't look too conspicuous, but searching for the cache was going to be a doozie, trying not to look like I was trying to sneak into the concert.

Put together the clues, and thankfully discovered I didn't have to actually enter the private place, but I did have a small audience behind me at GZ, where I had spotted the cache immediately.

I decided to adopt the 'leaning and looking at the poster info' position to remove the cache by slight of hand. Incredibly, no-one noticed, neither did they seem interested in me unravelling a crumbling paper log and signing it.

Had to wait a few minutes before replacing, a few of the same lurkers still standing around, but just did the same thing again to get it back in place.

2x micros this evening, the other was a trad, but for some reason this was infinitely more satisfying to find, and the opera music made the clue-gathering and searching much more pleasurable. TFTC!

GC2B068: Eureka!

Found on 2010-07-01
Placed by: Physics.org
Size: Micro (Difficulty: 1 / Terrain: 1)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Geocaching.com: GC2B068

Well I was going to attempt a FTF on this one but technology failed me completely, here's my story...

Saw this cache get published this afternoon with a bunch of others and pondered over whether I should go for it after work. About 5pm I decided why not, so I fired up my work laptop with the intent of grabbing my latest PQ and also downloading the gpx file. This is where my problems began.

My month's usage of PAYG mobile broadband had finished yesterday - So when I plugged in the dongle I could not retrieve any email. I had to log onto vodafone site and order online, after retrieving my password I had forgotten.

Once I had it ordered, I logged onto email and downloaded the PQ as well as the gpx file for the new cache. Then I ran my script that uses gpsbabel to send to my Garmin - only my work laptop doesn't have gpsbabel isntalled!

Not a problem I thought, go into software centre and install, but Vodafone just didn't wasn't working well with the package manager, so I decided to resort to McDonalds free wifi. By now it was 6pm and I walked to the nearest McDoos and ordered a diet coke.

Sat down and opened the lappy, instantly noticed my old battery was showing only an hour to live- not a problem I thought, just plug into the wall socket. Trouble is McDoos seem to have turned off their wall sockets so I had no external power. I then logged onto McDoos wifi but it kept dropping the signal.

Finally I got a stable but slow signal and was able to download and install gpsbabel. I then loaded up the cache page to discover it had already been found, but since I'd already committed I thought may as well follow through. GPX loaded onto the Garmin, I shut down my laptop with 0% of battery to spare. What I did discover at least, is Ubuntu and Windows is under-reporting my battery life - it was on 0% for a good 20 minutes.

Now all that was left was to wait for the satellites to register whilst on the street. Which they did after about 30 minutes (I continued walking during that time). All in all I didn't get to the park till about 7.30pm.

I was in this area during winter-time and it's incredible how I didn't recognise it at first - all covered in green. Got to GZ and there just happened to be a bloke with a fag sitting right on top of the cache! So I sat down on the other side of the bench and waited whilst he finished his phone call to his girlfriend or whatever.

He finally got up after about 10 minutes and I was able to grab the cache and noted 2x signatures. I'm pretty sure I could have been a contender for this one, but I just wasn't prepared - just a few more days waiting for my Android phone then there'll be no more of this searching for signal and waiting for software to work.

TFTC!