Friday 28 November 2014

Piratemania 7

Thursday 24th July


So after having a couple of days turnaround from our trip down South we were to set sail again to the Piratemania Mega Event.
We had booked the camping a few months ago and will be staying at the Cartmel racecourse for 3 nights.
On our way there of course there would be a few diversions and the plan was to get as many of the nearby virtuals as possible. Due to time restrictions a walk up Scaffell Pike and Helvellyn was out of the question so we still have those virtuals left to do.

So a lovely early start in fantastic weather too, our first port of call was Civic Trust (Cumbria).
A quick virtual just off the M6. This is a drive by and the answer is quickly found. An interesting spot with some great views.



Ben near GZ

Stunning views

Next on the list was quite a big diversion in the opposite direction to Cartmel. We headed East to a virtual just off the A66.

Bridge Stone (Cumbria)
Another drive-by virtual in a nice area. Information was easily obtained and we even met other cachers there who took a pic for us.

The bridge


Onwards a bit more North now but in a westerly direction to one I have been looking forward to for ages. It did not disappoint.

Long Meg [Cumbria]
A stone circle that has been around over 4,500 years.
Well this really was a fantastic area and a big reason as to why we love Geocaching. We may have even converted some muggles from Colorado who were over for a few weeks.

Ben, DS & the circle

Long Meg

That was the last one this side of the M6 and next it is the Lake District woohoo.

Ben and I visited the Lake District 2 years ago for the NW Mega at Cartmel and this time we really wanted to show mummy what she missed out on.

First stop was Keswick and a walk along the lovely Derwent water.

George Hodgson
We had trouble parking at the car park due to it being so busy. It is always busy up here but especially when the weather is as gorgeous as it is today.

We headed down from car park and along side the water, it is a stunning walk with the most spectacular views.

The first view from car park

The information was found quickly enough but luckily we looked in the right place for the answers.

Amazing place

Not far from GZ

A quick walk back the the car and then a very short drive to another fantastic location.

Mirror Image (Cumbria)
Just Ben and I went over to this one so we didn't have to park up properly again. This virtual is supposed to get a great photo across the lake with a Mirror Image effect. Unfortunately we couldn't get that effect today but we were able to answer the simple question to claim the find.

An amazing spot

Ben in his element

That was our last virtual of the day and now for something different - a traditional cache with lots of favourite points.

Cathedral Cavern Cache
Cathedral Cavern is a disused quary which has created a beautiful cavern - the size of a Cathedral - with a spectacular pillar and a marvellous window out to the sky (Taken from the cache page)
Finding the cache was easy but that isn't what this cache is all about, the area is amazing.

Inside the cavern

Through the window.

At the back of the cavern you can clamber over some big rocks and up to reach some tunnels, but a torch is required.

The tunnel

This cache definitely deserves all the fave points it gets and is a place we would definitely return.

So apart from a couple of drive by's it was off to Cartmel to settle in with the fellow campers.


All pitched up and ready to rumble.

We had a relaxing couple of ciders before heading across camp for the BBQ event.
Lots of chat with familiar faces and some new ones before our first day was done, a great day and good to be back at this lovely village.

Friday 25th July

Our first morning and second day in the area. We were going to go up Scaffell Pike today but last night we decided against it due to temperatures getting as high as 30 degrees.
So today we spent around Coniston on an epic adventure.

Pirate's Mystery Trail II
A 6 stage 5/5 in blistering heat, are we up for it? hell yes.
This is one of the best caches we have done with every stage in a fantastic location.
We won't spoil it as it is a cache that you won't regret doing but here is a handful of pictures.

A paddle is in order

Ooh a cave?

Water?

Views

Wow

The treasure

It took us a few hours to complete this but it was worth every single minute. Coniston is a stunning location so lots of pics are necessary.

So just this main cache today but we did grab one more cache and then in the evening headed into Cartmel for an evening get together in the Royal Oak Inn.
It is a lovely pub with a very nice Beer Garden. With this event you could book a burger which was cooked on the BBQ and it went down very well. We enjoyed chatting with friends galore and Ben and Blokieblokes lad played in the little stream in the beer garden.

Back at the campsite afterwards we carried on the chatting and swilled down a couple more Cider's before retiring to bed exhausted from the heat.

Saturday 26th July

It's Mega day