Crookstone and Grinds Brook

24/07/2011

A little disappointed with myself because I'd not managed to do the second walk yesterday owing to lack of water, energy and suncream, I toyed with the idea of going back to do it today.

But then I thought to myself... I've no kids this weekend, why not a) do something they wouldn't want to do and b) why don't I push myself a bit?

Crookstone Knoll came to mind; this was a walk up Kinder Scout I'd planned several months previously which took a relatively easy route (by Kinder standards) to the plateau and then all the way along to pick up some of my neighbour's caches (Yorkypudding and Aginghippy aka Sarah and Kevin) leading back down into Edale.

So, in no rush, I was up at nine packing lunch and preparing again for another full day walking. I arrived at Edale for 11:10am, parked up, readied myself, quickly found an urban cache and then set off along the B-road back towards Hope.

My plan here was to walk the couple of miles along the road whilst my legs eased up from yesterday. The sun was out, it was another glorious day and I set off with a strong pace.

This didn't look good. My legs were really aching and arriving at the second cache "Crookstone Knoll 1", after 1.5 miles along a flat road, I was thinking to myself that the day would be a disaster. Spending five minutes looking for and signing this cache I then set off again and after a minute or so I noticed that my legs were feeling fine; either it was 'just that time' or maybe the five minute break had given my legs chance to clear out some lactic acid.

Two miles into the walk I left the road and started a very gentle climb up the moorland fields to an easy find for Crookstone #2. From here the going got tougher until I dipped back down across a stream and back up the other side. Really simple finds for Crookstone caches #3, #4 and #5 and something struck me; my right arm was starting to hurt.

OH FOR GOODNESS SAKE, THE IDIOT HAS FORGOTTEN HIS SUNCREAM FOR THE SECOND DAY RUNNING!

The sun was beating down on one side of me and being fair-skinned I was worried that this was going to be too much. A plan. Fortunately I'd packed my normal lightweight walking coat in case it rained, and also a baseball cap. I put both of these on and wore the cap backwards, feeling like a 'chav' in an attempt to protect my neck. Foolish man, all this and it's only 12:40.

Continuing up to Crookstone #6 and then #7 I stopped under the first shade I'd seen in an hour for lunch - two trees, and briefly helped three lads with a group photo. Taking my coat off so the sweat can evaporate (euw) and enjoying my corned beef salad and mustard I then had to fend off a couple of sheep that were either after my food or the shade - I couldn't decide which. A healthy tomato and celery sticks, all bonus fluids, I saved half my sandwiches so I wasn't too full for this final push to the top.

A tricky magnetic nano on a gatepost for Crookstone #9 then up and up to #10 before struggling with a really tough Crookstone #11 near the summit. I finally found it some distance from where I'd been looking and it taught me to rely on GPS coordinates more than geocaching instinct sometimes! This was the end of the 'Geo-geriatrics' series and a very good one it was too.

A very short distance to the summit and head off NE to get a cache at the high peak of Crookstone Knoll. A good sized well-hidden bonus cache, found, signed, replaced and then...

It was strange.

I'd gone out on my own, braved the 'real world', walked solo to the top of a bloody big hill and found 12 caches on the way. I genuinely shouted "I've done it" across the valley while triumphantly waving my walking pole, and then a euphoria came over me - a feeling partially, no doubt, due to the endorphins kicking in while I'm stopped, and partially the sense of achievement but also a sense of freedom, a sense of escape, the great outdoors, the views, the wind, the sun, the world.

The strangest thing indeed; I could honestly have sat down and cried and even now writing this blog the feelings return.

Deep breath.

Still feeling very moved I started my long journey along the plateau, heading E/SE for almost two miles until I reached Ringing Roger (no I've no idea why either) - an outcrop of rocks overlooking Edale. Still burning up in the sun (with my coat on) I was surprised as I reached these to be suddenly plunged into a gust of wind, nay a gale, that took my cap away and in an amazing ninja-like movement I actually caught it about two feet above my head.

I spent 15 minutes here carefully climbing down the rocks looking for a well hidden cache which I have since awarded a 'favourite' point on the website. A lovely spot although a little hairy in the wind.

I then headed north looking for a path down the mountain that was on my Ordnance Survey map but which I couldn't locate. I could see one that I knew headed south but that went away from where I wanted to be, somewhat west.

I decided to head further north and then head west along the ridge keeping an eye open for another path I knew headed south down the mountain. I never found that one either, so after talking to a knowledgeable lady I decided that as there was no rush I'd head all the way to the top of Grindsbrook a mile or so further west and then take that path down to Edale. I'd not been there before and it would be an adventure.

An adventure, it turns out, that I'd not planned for considering that I'd already done 8.5 miles when I arrived there and I had also run out of water. My t-shirt was sodden and although my arms were safe inside my coat sleeves my neck and face were suffering from the sun.

So Grindsbrook stream, the map claims, has a path. Well I can safely inform you that this particular path does not exist, per se, but after spotting others doing the same you realise it is basically a climb down a stream down a mountain; a rocky and potentially dangerous, steep descent. From my tracks I can see that I descended 80 metres in the first 1/6 of a mile and then a further 140 metres over the next 9/10 mile. It was leg breaking, muscle wobbling stuff and I was utterly fatigued.

Some 150 metres below Ringing Roger I finally got to my desired destination and picked up a cache by Sarah and Kevin - Grindsbrook Silver. I cursed them verbally when I saw it was a small climb back up the hillside and decided to stop and have 'second lunch' (it's actually 16:20) while I plucked up the strength and motivation. Another photo service provided for a father and young child sat by the lovely stream here.

Descending further to Grindsbrook Gold and performing maintenance on it for Sarah (taking old logs to give her and replacing with a new one) I knew I was on the last leg of my epic weekend and indeed another agonising 4/5 of a mile later and I was ordering a much needed pint of lemonade at the pub. I sat drinking it slowly for 20 minutes pondering on the day's adventures and my aching legs before heading off on the last half a mile back to the car.

Total for the fantastic day was 11.6 miles, 17 caches and a burnt neck and ears which thankfully do not hurt even though they look pretty bad.

I did take a dozen pictures today but distance and height do not come out very well and they all look the same, even to me, so I'm not going to upload any except for one and one warning...

Top of Grinds Brook

The neck of an idiot

A Quarry Caper

Saturday 23/07/2011

I'd been studying my Geocaching maps recently and it struck me that of all the caches I've discovered I have seriously neglected the south-west direction from where I live. This is partially because it's headed towards Sheffield (and I don't enjoy urban caches) but also because that means there's a fair bit of travelling to get to any caches down that way ie. Derbyshire.

Specifically trying to amend this I came up with a plan to do a series called 'A Quarry Caper' around Stoney Middleton - a place I've never heard of. The owners of this series have another nearby called 'A Stoney Stroll' and I half thought to maybe get them both done in one day. (This didn't happen.)

I'd had my usual heavy Friday night out so I didn't rush as I made my pack-up and prepared for the walk. A steady drive behind plenty of Sunday morning drivers out 22 hours early and I was ready to start walking at 1pm.

It was a hot day, I was starting this walk already pretty dehydrated and I was soon to realise I'd not even thought about suncream. As the American's would say - My bad.

Starting to figure why this place is called Stoney Middleton.

This series is 13 caches, plus a bonus, but also recommends that you start with an unrelated one en-route.

Only ten minutes into the walk up the hill from the main road. A beautiful place.

My muscles still waking up and my breath highly laboured, as it always is at the start of a new walking day, I soon got to the first unrelated cache and signed that and moved on and out onto a path across a farmer's fields. It took me an age to find the next cache, the first of the series proper, and even after two phone-a-friend's I was no better off. Finally stepping back and re-evaluating the area I soon saw a clue and had it in hand.

Walking further across the fields, only stopping to let a farmer pass by making large circular bales and us both watching one slowly roll a long way down the field, I realised I was heading into some woodland and was already thankful of the approaching shade. The sun was seriously beating down and with no suncream or hat I knew I was running a risk. Still struggling to rehydrate too I was working through my water and it was only 13:45.

Waiting for Doggles to pass I soon found the second in the series but then got scared. A small fist-sized stone covering the cache rolled down the hill and suddenly it, and then I, were surrounded by 20-30 very angry sounding wasps. I'm not scared of insects or creepy-crawlies (except for being terrified of spiders, go figure) but I was seriously unnerved and I could sense this turning really nasty. I picked up the cache and moved a good distance away until the noise died down. I signed the log, took a Geocoin, and sealed it all back up before tentatively heading back to the cache location. Fortunately the area was clear and replacing the cache, along with a new stone, I was thankful things hadn't taken a turn for the worse.

Now into the woods I struggled at #3 (of this series), walked up a lane and passed by a group of hiker's who took a different route to me as I walked back out onto farm/moorland. A gentle climb up a hill to #4 and #5 and then up a track which passes by a large quarry to reach #6.

A long walk past the quarry to #7 and then out onto a B-Road for a drive-by #8 before turning over a stile and past a farm. This field looked down onto what I guess is a man-made lake on an old quarry judging by the colour of the water.

Not drinking water I hope!

I stopped at the bottom of this field for my late lunch (it's 15:30) and took an age to find #9 in all the overgrown undergrowth (overgrowth?) From here it was a short roll to the bottom of the hill before another long steady climb up a track, the sun beating down on me still. A quick find for #10 before travelling further along the track to #11. Unfortunately I spent 20 minutes here to no avail. I used my torch to look in all the nooks and crannies but didn't see a hint of anything. I guess it's still there but it's certainly beaten me and my worry now is that I might have missed a number required for the final.

A long long steady descent passing by another quarry to bag #12 before hitting the main road and then getting near to cache #13 called 'Elevation'

The quarry at #12

Goodness me, elevation indeed. The trail here was little more than a ghost of a path leading near vertical up the side of a steep woodland. It looks like it's never used, it's overgrown with plants including brambles and nettles and it's a lung killer. There's little wonder it looks hardly used.

Up and up I struggled, then along a level bit with rope handrails to some steep wooden steps, up those then along again and then out into an overgrown field before my GPS finally catches up with my location (having struggled with reception under heavy tree cover) and decides to helpfully inform me that the cache is 80 feet behind me. And 70 feet down. Sigh. Back down the track to a thankfully simple find whilst being eaten alive by flies and then up the hill again. Looking at my track logs I can see this section from road to top is an elevation of 70 metres!

The view from near #13

Thankfully I can now see that I do indeed have all the clues required for the final cache so I enter them into the GPS and follow another ghost path around another quarry. This path, between a wire fence and a stone wall was practically invisible and had to be walked with arms raised to avoid nettles - I was wary of tripping so took my time but in actuality was soon upon the final bonus cache, a nice big ammo can full of junk. (Why do cachers have the urge to leave such crap?) Anyway the cache itself was a fitting end to a fantastic series.

All that remained was the half mile walk back down a long steep road, killing the backs of my legs. I'd walked 7.9 miles in total but with all the hills it felt like 10. I'd run out of water having drunk my entire 2 litres ages before the end but thankfully I didn't feel too dehydrated.

All in all a fabulous day out; I'd thrown myself out into the big-wide-world and I had triumphed, the sun was still shining, I was hot and sweaty and my face felt sandblasted from all the quarry dust and pollen but I felt fabulous and to prove that fact to the world I sang along to Marillion the entire drive home :)

[edit to add: 14 caches total]

Elemental my dear Odysseus

Tuesday 19/07/2011

(For a small change today I'm going to put times into my blog so I can reflect back on the evening more accurately.)

Working with computers. Playing with computers. Working with computers. Playing with computers. Working with computers. Playing with computers. Working with computers. Playing with computers.

It's taken me longer to spot that pattern than it has you dear Reader.

Feeling stressed from work I decided to get out and do an evening cache. I'd solved another of Patrick's excellent puzzles the day before called 'Elemental'. This turned out to be in the approximate vicinity of two caches at Roche Abbey, a place I visited last year to do a series. The two new 'Tales of brave Odysseus' caches fit neatly alongside the original 'Roche Abbey' series.

17:45
I got home from work, got changed and set off straight out with a plan to drive-by Patrick's puzzle and to then park at the abbey and get the two others. No such luck. After tootling down a tiny B-road for a while I got to the cache to find a farmer parked next to it surveying his land and animals; he looked like he was there for a while so I decided to skip it and go straight to Roche Abbey.

Driving a mile or so up the scariest B-Road I've ever seen (not one single passing spot) I got to the Abbey and parked on the main road, donned my rucksack and set off into the wild blue evening.

18:18
Taking a different route to the one I took last year, which I think was a big error back then, I walked around the abbey and towards a tumultuous noise.

Approaching the abbey

The other side of the abbey

...and again

I hadn't realised at the time (but have confirmed since) that it had been raining heavily most of the afternoon and this was the cause of the noise:

Despite its size this is possibly the noisiest waterfall I've ever heard

18:34
Crossing the stepping stones at the top (one of which was submerged) I headed off towards the first cache and carefully slid down a slope to what was quite a scary spot. The river at this point was a couple of feet deep, very turbulent, and the bank was of course slippy mud. With no path I took great care and got down to the presumed spot and my heart sank - the obvious location for the cache looked like it involved stepping into 20" of water. (Having not been here before I presumed the water was not normally this deep here).

I did a quick search around and then decided to back up, cross over the bridge/path and come down the other side. An easier route here and after a few more minutes looking I was despondent - I couldn't even phone-a-friend as I had no signal. There were fewer possible locations here so I crossed back over and around and after carefully sliding down the bank again I got out my torch and started examining all the nooks and crannies on the off chance that the cache wasn't where I'd first expected it to be.

Hurrah! Found the sneak hiding away and joyously signed the dry log book before scrambling back up the bank, pausing only to take another snap for the diary.

I can't swim but given the reasonably shallow depth I was more afraid for my iPhone!

18:49
Gathering my bearings I then headed off deep into the woods towards #2. A beautiful walk through a damp woods with a long gentle incline until you come out at some farmers crops.

18:59
Along the field edge, past a couple of old caches, and arriving at the cache site - a bench overlooking a valley.

View from the bench

Reverse view from almost the same spot
(Note dynamic 'I'm trying to be a photographer' angle)

19:15
So now what should I do? I'm about one and a half miles from the car with no caches to do except Patrick's and I'm in no rush to get home. A plan... Rather than walk to the car and drive to the cache why not do the opposite? It's a cirular route (a wonky triangle if you want to be more accurate) and the extra distance will do me good.

So for the first time in my Geocaching life I cut across a farmer's field that didn't have a public footpath. Feeling a little guilty I only let myself do this as there were two distinct tracks directly across the field where the tractor tyres had prevented seeds from being sown and I'm pleased to be able to truthfully say I didn't damage a single ear of barley/wheat/whatever.

The rest of the walk was pretty uneventful. I kept up a good pace along the road and arrived at Patrick's puzzle at 19:46, signed the log and quickly moved on. I followed a track across a field and around some woods before joining another track and then coming out onto the road at 20:10 which leads back to the Abbey, finally arriving back at the car at 20:20.

The back of the abbey again, this time taken from the road

Total distance covered tonight was 5.3 miles in two hours with about 35 minutes stop time (caching, writing and taking pictures.) Not bad going and do you know I felt great.

Underbank Reservoir

Sunday 17/07/2011 part 2

On the way home from doing The Puzzle of Long Thwaite Wood I rang my Dad to see if he was going to be in after lunch. He wouldn't be but I could visit in the morning so a plan quickly formulated... a quick visit while he was in, then the nearby caches I had never got around to doing and then the pub again at Bolsterstone to appease the kids.

And so it was that about 12:15 we left the car on Cross Lane at Stocksbridge, where I'd lived for a few years aged 16-22-ish, and we walked up Clay Pits Lane towards 'Adam's Treasure #1' (Coincidentally my son's name.)

I'd had lovely weather in the morning as I'd left Long Thwaites Wood, and also Treeton, but as we'd ventured up the M1 we'd hit terrible rain although thankfully by the time we'd arrived at Stocksbridge it was down to an intermittant drizzle.

After finding #1 the kids were fortunate that the remaining two caches (#2 and #3) were under tree cover. Of course I'd got my waterproof coat but despite being told to bring theirs neither of them had bothered.

We walked past the sailing club and onto Underbank Reservoir, a simple and uneventful two mile drizzly circular walk totalling three easy finds which I'm glad to have ticked off my list at last.

And then up to The Castle for the second time in two weekends. I spoil them.

The Puzzle of Long Thwaite Wood

Sunday 17/07/2011 - waking up at 8:15 I lazed in bed and checked my emails. Noticing a new cache had been published nearby I loaded up the page to read the details; it was a puzzle cache created by my good friend Patrick. It claimed it wasn't too difficult and included a checker page so I thought I'd have a look.

Scratching my head and looking through bleary eyes I studied it for a couple of minutes before inspiration struck; I checked the coords I'd come up with. Nope. Wrong.

Another idea. Check. Wrong.

Paging back and forth between Internet pages on the iPhone, and not having a pen and paper to hand, I was relying on memory as I solved from one page and re-entered the coordinates on the checker page. I noticed I'd mistyped (or mis-remembered) a number so re-tried - success!

Why not I thought? Sunday morning, may as well make an effort and leave the kids playing on their computers for an hour. Up, dressed, teeth, hair, pint of water, boots, GPS, pen, goodbye and out.

Patrick has set this up as not only a puzzle but also a feeder cache; the solved coordinates take you to a mini-cache in which you find the coordinates for the actual cache hopefully somewhere nearby.

I parked as recommended and was looking for the feeder cache by 9:05.

By 9:25 I was utterly frustrated!

The clue indicated the cache was in the middle of an ivy tree. I knew exactly what type and colour container I was looking for (a green waterproof match holder, sort of like a plastic test tube but fatter) and I knew it would be tricky but I couldn't believe I couldn't find it. No exaggeration - my hands and fingertips were cut, stabbed and spotted with blood. My lower right arm was pretty much the same and I'd also stabbed the top of my head. Damned hobby!

I knew there was a small chance of being the first-to-find and had it not been for this then I would have rung Patrick for another clue but as it was I didn't want to 'cheat' for the possible FTF.

I was just at the point of giving up when bingo! got the little bugger - I'd been in the right place all along but it was just eluding me.

I entered the new coordinates into the GPS, dropped my jacket in the car and set off walking to the main cache about half a mile away. A lovely Sunday morning stroll through a field or two and into some woods where the cache was quickly located and I had the joy of seeing an empty log book - I'd got the FTF and also the bonus of a free travelbug that Patrick had kindly left there as a prize.

A gentle stroll back to the car, a text and a chat with Patrick to thank him for the puzzle and the prize, and then back home for 10:15 - still an early day!

[1.4 miles and just the one cache with the bonus of FTF]

Addendum: Patrick never wanted the feeder to be so tough so has actually been back and covered it in white tape to make it easier to find!

Glen Howe Dragons

Sunday 10/07/2011

Meeting up with The Hills (Patdhill & co) at Glen Howe Park near Wharncliffe Side, Sheffield, we were also introduced to the LongTailedKites, a family who I believe value their privacy so I'll say no more except that they were a very pleasant gang, still relatively new to Geocaching, and it was lovely to meet and walk with them.

I'm pretty familiar with Glen Howe Park as my mother and her parents lived at Wharncliffe Side and I recall spending several Christmas afternoons walking off lunch in this area and also playing ball games in the actual playground area in summer. Alas the playground is no more and is now just a field.

We parked at the recommended parking and set off up Storth Lane to do a newly published series called 'Tracking Dragons', a set of nine caches in and around the park.

I've never actually been up Storth Lane so it was new territory to me as we wandered up there before getting to our third cache in a field. We then headed back down past a farm and back into the wooded area.

The series seemed a little bizarre in that it crosses the park several times rather than being your typical circular route, however it made for a good walk only spoiled a little by the abundance of flies and midges that were out in force on this warm and humid morning. We steadily criss-crossed the woods picking up the eight caches required to find number nine, which again was in a non-typical location.

As we passed several times I was sad to note that the bandstand has gone, now replaced by a wooden shelter - probably more functional but of course less historical.

We left all the kids and Donna in the centre of the woods as we headed off to the final cache which took an age to find. As soon as it was in hand Patrick dashed off back down to his family who had called suspecting their dog was hurt - thankfully it wasn't, maybe just a temporary thorn. The LongTailedKites and I signed the book, did some swaps and headed back down on another route. We didn't know whether to laugh or cry when Mr LongTailedKite slipped in the river and landed on his posterior; it looked like a heavy fall but he seemed OK, if a little wet.

Back down through the woods, unable to find my kids but fortunately the phone was working and I told them where to meet us. While waiting I noted the name on a dedication on a bridge over the stream - 'Brearley' - surely some relation on my mother's side? I must ask her.

Now off to The Castle in Bolsterstone for a pub lunch with the Hills. Overall a nice morning out which set me up fresh for the day.

[9 caches, 2.7 miles]

Logic Puzzles

Sunday 03/07/2011

Upon leaving the house at 11:40, on a hastily planned venture, the first thing that struck me was the sun. I'd packed my coat, as had both the kids for a change, but it's was pretty obvious they wouldn't be needed.

I drove off to Ridgeway with a promise to the kids that included a short walk and a pub; they're easily bribed with a homemade pie or a chicken tikka masala.

By the time we arrived you could tell it was going to be a heatwave.

As I said at the start this was a hastily planned trip and I'd simply printed out the logic-puzzle grid and the given clues. I'd had a quick mental scan of the area and knew that there were other caches near to the series but I hadn't really given it much thought or preparation. I never was a boy scout nor would I ever have made one.

PetalPower has set up this series, called Logicache, of 7 caches using a logic grid where you are given clues of the type "Andrew is not the youngest" and "The person who likes Green was not Bob" - except the clues were all about Geocaching. A very novel idea.

So after parking as recommended, and pointing out the pub to motivate the kids, we followed the arrow and headed off towards "Logicache #1" through a small cul-de-sac and onto a public footpath and instant countryside.

I encouraged the kids even further by teasing them that they'd have to find at least one cache each or I wouldn't buy them their lunch.

As we walked along a path towards the brow of a hill I put on my silly South-West-type accent and pointed in a foolish and exaggerated manner "Look children, see the view over yonder brow" - and instantly walked into a gang of teenage girls eating a picnic. Not bad, I thought inside my beetroot coloured head, I've only been out of the house for 10 minutes and I'm making a fool of myself.

We quickly bore down upon the first cache hidden only 20 metres away but thankfully obscured from said picniccers by a bump and a dip. It was easily found (by me, that's my dinner sorted!) and the first clue was noted.

Scanning the GPS I could see that between Logicache #1 and #2 there was an unrelated cache so we set off for that. It turned out to be in a lovely little spot near a tiny wooden bridge over a stream. It took a few minutes to find and ended up with Jade earning her dinner.

Now going for Logicache #2 I had to follow the standard routine I have in situations like this of prolonging torment by saying things like "So we've found two caches haven't we? I've found one and you've found one haven't you Jade so how many has Adam found, err, done two take away mine, that's one, and take away Jade's that's err two minus one minus another... oh that's zero, so Adam you've found zero ooh I bet you're hungry." He knows the game but he still wasn't impressed.

By the time we got to #3 it was 12:30 and the heat dial was turned up all the way to eleven, the kids had taken off their layers and had them tied around their waists, and I was beginning to worry a little about sunburn. Ironically this particular cache was subtitled 'Sludge Central' but of course there was no sign of any today.

This one again took a few minutes of hunting and then I noticed Adam suspiciously moving away from the search area. With food on offer I doubted he was just 'stretching his back' and after an inquiring gaze I realised his trick; attempted revenge for the teasing! I have to blame myself - he's learned from a master.

The clue was noted, we caught up on some fluids and then, after consulting the GPS, headed off to another random cache.

After this cache I made a bit of a mess of my routing... not having a good overview of the unfamiliar area, or the layout of caches in my head, it was hard to figure which caches were on/off route or acceptable detours. So inwardly cursing my lack of preparation we set off for another random.

We delayed at this cache, under the pretext of resting in the shade whilst some doggles passed us by, and then set off for Logicache #3 having realised my diversion was a little askew and we'd be passing Logicache #4 first. Being pretty sure that #5 would be 'after' #3 and #4 I temporarily ignored #4 (and the passing muggles) and went for #3 first.

Another easy find (thankfully, I do like easy finds) and the clues quickly noted, we headed off back in open sun towards #4 which obligingly was in some woods.

Another find for Adam, I signed the log book and then made to take down the clues. Oh oh. Where's my paper? My puzzle? My clues? Pockets emptied, backpack searched, even the kids questioned, it was gone. Despite the heat Adam then reverse-bribed me by offering to go back to #3 if I would buy him his favourite drink in the pub. I didn't hesitate and off he jogged, returning (walking) 10 minutes later papers in hand. Just as he passed them to me a walker said he'd just seen them, read them and then thrown them away. I had to appreciate how fortunate we were that in just those 10 minutes they could have so easily been lost for good in a pocket or over a hedge.

Clues safely tucked deep in my pocket we then headed through the woods, out the other side and down a country lane. Logicache #5 was found too easily, and hidden a little better, and we continued down the lane back towards some random houses.

We then hit a wall of steps leading a narrow hedged path up a steep bank. It shouldn't have been hard work but with the sun beating upon us we all certainly had a little grumble and were thankful of the bench near the top that the next cache was hidden underneath. That was Logicache #6 found and now it was a simple third of a mile back to the pub to order food and drinks and to try to solve the puzzle.

Thankfully the pub was quiet so we were quickly served, easily seated and ready to puzzle solve. Adam and Jade chatted away as I crossed and ticked and cross-referenced and puzzled and got stumped and thought and got inspired and slowly filled the grid until... calamity... I'd got a cross in a box I needed to put a tick in. Somewhere I'd made a mistake and my own logic disagreed with itself.

With my sheet now being a mostly completed waste of space, and mindful of the imminent food, I decided to leave the puzzle. There are plenty of other caches in the area so I vowed to re-work the puzzle at home and return to the area another day.

The food was nice, the kids were happy (and seemed to like the deal for future weekends!) and we'd had a lovely 3.5 mile walk in the countryside under the sun.

Not a bad outing at all!