NW Caching TB Race 2009

[JeremyR]

NWCaching.co.uk Travelbug Race 2009

When?
The race began on January 10th 2009. If you want to enter now, that's fine (although you'll be at a disadvantage if you start too long after the rest). Just let us know the TB number at the end of this thread.

How?
The race is a cross between geocaching and orienteering. A series of fifteen 'checkpoint' geocaches have been selected across England, Scotland and Wales. The idea is for each travelbug in the race to visit as many of these checkpoints as possible. The winner will be the first to visit them all, or the one that visits the most before the end of 2009.

And that's it - the idea was to keep the race as simple and rule-free as possible without resorting to the old 'greatest mileage travelled' chestnut. Three steps to participating:

1. Get a new TB ready. You will need a tb dogtag and something to attach to it or just use a geocoin if you so wish.
2. Post its TB number in this thread so we know who's in and with which TBs
3. Release it on or after January 10th

That's it

Prizes?
Probably. Likely a geocoin or something for the winner and runners up.

Website?
Yes. You can keep track of the race at: tbrace.jeremy-r.com. Also visit the website to get one of those signature statbars that people are using.

Caveats?
Well there have to be some rules, I suppose...

• Moving your own TB into a checkpoint cache doesn't count!
• Double visits to the same checkpoint only count once.
• If your TB gets stolen or muggled, by all means release the copy tag if you want to carry on. Previous checkpoint visits will still stand.
• If your TB gets 'stuck' in a rarely visited cache, feel free to rescue it yourself if you want to get it moving again.
• If a checkpoint cache gets archived or becomes unviable through repeated mugglings, etc, we'll select another nearby. Your TB won't have to visit the new one again if it's previously visited the archived one.

Enjoy!


The Checkpoints
Travellers Croft (Cairngorms)
Roolku's Request (Edinburgh)
Thomas West Brant Fell Station (Cumbria)
Bempton Seabird Colony (East Yorks)
It's Raining Kippers...... (Lancashire)
Windy Hill (Lancs/Yorks Border)
Flower Tower (Conwy)
Alchemy Quest ~ Lead (Staffordshire)
Blighty - Rutland (Rutland)
Friday Street (Suffolk)
Barrafundle Birthday Box (Pembrokeshire)
Where Eagles Dare (Monmouthshire)
Cara's College Cache (Central London)
The Curse (Hampshire)
Tregardock Beach (Cornwall)

[pete37038]

I'd be in yeh, why not.

[nandad]

Count me in

[The Bolas Heathens]

We'd be up for it too .

[clotguy]

sounds easy enough for me this time

[janw7256]

Sounds like fun - count me in

[wiggineer]

I'd be up for a go at this as well. Count me in.

[ferreter38]

I reckon that could be fun.

[grue666]

I'd like to give it a try too.

[PopUpPirate]

Yep count me in!

<curved ball> We could use the Cache De Jour caches to gain points?

[JeremyR]

Argh! Points! <trembles>

[Skyfox1884]

We would also like to join in - sounds a good laugh

[clotguy]

its looking very popular this tme

[PopUpPirate]

Cool - which caches do they have to visit?

[JeremyR]

Cool - which caches do they have to visit?

Now there's a can of worms... Can I have suggestions from people, please Popular vote won't work because they need to be geographically diverse rather than popular but if you can think of a cache that ticks these boxes, nominate it. We're looking for 15 caches total, with a nice location spread so nominate as many as you can think of:

Please nominate caches that:

• Are within GB (England, Scotland and Wales)
• Are held in high regard
• Get plenty of visitors
• Do not have a history of multiple mugglings (one or two times in years doesn't count as a history)
• Are at least a regular container or bigger (so most TBs will fit)

I suspect that Cache De Jour would be a good place to look for contenders but they can't all be NW caches...

I suspect it's too late now for release on Jan 1st so perhaps we should aim for the January NWCMM? If you're not attending, you'd need to release it not before that day but any time after.

[JeremyR]

I nominate
London Letterbox & Travel bug xchange in Regent's Park, London. Huge container, only muggled only once in three years and visited daily at times. It's also watched over by Goldpot (a gardener at the park) so it's not going anywhere... Although it's currently floating upside down in the lake

[ferreter38]

Not for me this one OK I got free travel on buses (in England) but you try getting on a bus with 3 lurchers and 40 ferrets

[clotguy]

Not for me this one OK I got free travel on buses (in England) but you try getting on a bus with 3 lurchers and 40 ferrets

you don't have to go anywhere (other than to drop a bug off) the bug does all the travelling

[ferreter38]

Not for me this one OK I got free travel on buses (in England) but you try getting on a bus with 3 lurchers and 40 ferrets

you don't have to go anywhere (other than to drop a bug off) the bug does all the travelling

I obviously got that wrong then... my excuse is that my back's playing me up and my pain killers haven't kicked in yet! Jeremy didn't actually stipulate that it was the TB that had to visit the caches and not the cacher.

[LFC4eva]

I suspect that Cache De Jour would be a good place to look for contenders but they can't all be NW caches...

I stumbled across the Little Quest series this morning, while wasting time as instructed by Jeremy, and wonder if any of those caches could be used? Haven't had a chance to look at any of them yet so can't recommend .. but someone else may be able to

[bargee72]

I suspect that Cache De Jour would be a good place to look for contenders but they can't all be NW caches...

I stumbled across the Little Quest series this morning, while wasting time as instructed by Jeremy, and wonder if any of those caches could be used? Haven't had a chance to look at any of them yet so can't recommend .. but someone else may be able to

there is already a race of tbs around those caches, my LQ tb racer has visited 18 of the 47 caches in less than a year though that was by way of Chas ( Kelsbarrow wayfinders) taking them round four of them


I nominatethe country walking magazine cache GC1JK55 Weird Sisters on Long Mynd

[The Bolas Heathens]

Looking forward to doing that one myself (our favourite part of Shropshire for walking) .

I nominate the country walking magazine cache GC1JK55 Weird Sisters on Long Mynd

[JeremyR]

Been going through people's favourites lists... got plenty of options in North Wales as well as plenty for NW, Mid and Southern England but I have big glaring holes in East Anglia, NE England, Scotland, Mid & South Wales and Northern Ireland... Nominations for caches you've enjoyed in those areas would be graciously received

[The Bolas Heathens]

The Breiddens is *just about* in Mid-Wales and is almost certainly our favourite cache of all time . It does not get very many visitors as you have to climb three big hills to get the co-ords for the final cache.

p.s. remind me of the syntax to get a Multi icon next to the cache name above?

Mid & South Wales ... Nominations for caches you've enjoyed in those areas would be graciously received

[JeremyR]

GCN1WA The Breiddens is *just about* in Mid-Wales and is almost certainly our favourite cache of all time . It does not get very many visitors as you have to climb three big hills to get the co-ords for the final cache.

Thanks. I've already spotted that one on Cache De Jour so it's on the radar...

p.s. remind me of the syntax to get a Multi icon next to the cache name above?

Code: Select all

[icon=multi cache=gcn1wa]The Breiddens[/icon]

[The Bolas Heathens]

I could come up with a few other nice caches in Mid Wales but none of them get tons of visits as they are pretty remote and there are not a ton of local cachers to go after them.

Failing that, I could perhaps suggest one or two nearer home in North Shropshire / South Cheshire as they get a few more visitors (still not tons of visitors though).

I could also suggest some in the general Brum area as we quite often cache down there - lots of active cachers in the area and some really good caches.

[Foinavon]

The East of the Country is missing out. May I suggest one of may favourites and a previous cache of the day.
GCWR5C Bempton Seabird Colony It gets a lot of visitors for a multi.

[pete37038]

Anybody got any spare TB dog tags ?? I'll have to order some, maybe too late now ??

[JeremyR]

The East of the Country is missing out. May I suggest one of may favourites and a previous cache of the day.
GCWR5C Bempton Seabird Colony It gets a lot of visitors for a multi.

I looked at that one. The only question was whether it was a large enough container to take TBs? If yes, then I see no reason why not (There's no 'Isaac With The Cache' so I couldn't tell ) because it fills a number of blanks, NE of England, not a trad, etc...

Actually I see there is a photo of the container after all and it's a mighty big box for a 'small' so sure, it's on the list...

Anybody got any spare TB dog tags ?? I'll have to order some, maybe too late now ??

Plenty of time, not aiming for a start until mid January

PuP, any chance of a nice laminate-able tag like last year? My design skills are pants so if someone else wouldn't mind

[The Bolas Heathens]

How about GCHJMR Alchemy Quest ~ Lead, which is not too far from home and is probably the best of the base level caches in a very well known series. I'd have recommended the final one in the series as the location is extra special, but it's a quieter cache as there is a lot of legwork needed to get the co-ords for it.

It's in a fantastic unspoilt area of woodland and is a fuse container so plenty of space for TB's (as long as they are not those big fluffy cuddly toy style TB's you sometimes see).

[JeremyR]

Ok, that's thirteen. We need two more, preferably on the east side of the country, ideally at least one in East Anglia.

[PopUpPirate]

How about GCWDFA Breydon Water Bootie ? Or not?

[JeremyR]

How about GCWDFA Breydon Water Bootie ? Or not?

Erm... How remote is that! As I see it, unless you've got legs of steel, the only access is via Berney Arms station, which lets face it, is pretty much the most useless railway station in the UK, probably the whole flippin planet

Aerial view of Berney Arms:

You can just about make out the single-carriage length platform at the top right (northern side of the line)... I believe (could be wrong) that it's a so-called Parliamentary - meaning it only still has a service because it would take an act of Parliament (and a lot of cash) to cease stopping there

Erm... Perhaps not

[PopUpPirate]

Heh! Looks worth doing, one day, perhaps! Tis rather cache sparse over there in parts!

[JeremyR]

Please note, top post of this thread has been updated!

[PopUpPirate]

I'm out of bookmark lists, perhaps a fellow Premium Member might have a spare one to create a public bookmark list?

[nandad]

I'm out of bookmark lists, perhaps a fellow Premium Member might have a spare one to create a public bookmark list?

I haven't got any bookmark list so if you let me know how to create one and make it public, I'll do it.

[nandad]

I've created a bookmark (title and description) but how do I add caches to the bookmark

[JeremyR]

I made one a couple of days ago as the list was being built but oops , I forgot to make it public
It's here...

[scubaclogger]

Just got back from holiday and playing catch up. I'm up for this. I have one TB that has been sat on my computer desk i could of use but the release date is 4th Sep 08. No milage logged as its never been logged in a cache. Would this be usable if it didn't get placed in a cache before the 10th Jan. Its TB2av84

If not i will have to get my hands on a new TB tag or find my second Best of British Micro Coin that not been activated.

[nandad]

I've created a bookmark (title and description) but how do I add caches to the bookmark

Sussed it. I was trying to add caches from the bookmark page , I now know you add them to the created bookmark from the cache page

[JeremyR]

Just got back from holiday and playing catch up. I'm up for this. I have one TB that has been sat on my computer desk i could of use but the release date is 4th Sep 08. No milage logged as its never been logged in a cache. Would this be usable if it didn't get placed in a cache before the 10th Jan. Its TB2av84

If not i will have to get my hands on a new TB tag or find my second Best of British Micro Coin that not been activated.

No reason at all why you can't use that

[PopUpPirate]

Thanks Mick - you'll need to make the Bookmark list public. I've tiny-url'd Jeremys list at http://tinyurl.com/tbrace

[sillyfrillytilly]

I'd like to join if thats possible, I've got a TB that I've been waiting to release for a while......

Tilly

[The Phantom Camel Train]

Just got my entry sorted And put it in winter hill soliste event we which we will attend

Here it is TB2N788 Chris's King Boo NW Caching TB Race 2009 Super Geocoin

Just a few questions, will there be something we can print out which we attach to our trackable
which tells them about the race ?

Is it okay if Ray has as a entry as well or do we have to share our entry ?

Edited to add: does anyone know a way of getting all the caches on a different line as according to the edit option I have got them all on different lines and it just won't show them and it's bugging me a little bit

[JeremyR]

Is it okay if Ray has as a entry as well or do we have to share our entry ?

Sure, no problem. No real rules here

does anyone know a way of getting all the caches on a different line as according to the edit option I have got them all on different lines and it just won't show them and it's bugging me a little bit

Yes, stick <br> between each entry. That forces following text onto a new line.
I'll come up with a nice copy/pasteable HTML description in a bit but right now I'm supposed to be setting up the wifi adaptor for my Father in-law's new computer for tomorrow

[The Phantom Camel Train]

Is it okay if Ray has as a entry as well or do we have to share our entry ?

Sure, no problem. No real rules here

does anyone know a way of getting all the caches on a different line as according to the edit option I have got them all on different lines and it just won't show them and it's bugging me a little bit

Yes, stick <br> between each entry. That forces following text onto a new line.
I'll come up with a nice copy/pasteable HTML description in a bit but right now I'm supposed to be setting up the wifi adaptor for my Father in-law's new computer for tomorrow

Thanks Jeremy

[PopUpPirate]

I'd like to join if thats possible, I've got a TB that I've been waiting to release for a while......

Tilly

Course it's possible I'll do some photoshop TB tag in the next couple of days, for peeps to print off and laminate / attach

[PopUpPirate]

OK, I've made the TB Labels :



Get the PDF here :

http://www.nwcaching.co.uk/images/nwrace2009.pdf

Please print it at 100% on A4 for the best results. Write on your TB's name, and your caching name, then simply cut the right hand edge off, then fold in half to have a double-sided TB Label, ready to laminate.

If you want to take part

Great! You'll need a Travel Bug Dogtag. You can get these from Mongoose who frequents here, or from other sources such as :

http://www.box64.com/product.asp?item=g ... _travelbug
http://www.ukgeocachers.co.uk/catalog/t ... -c-22.html

So :

• Get a Travel Bug DogTag
• Make a laminated Travel Bug Label
• Choose a novelty item that you want to race (it could be a Matchbox toy car, a plastic dinosaur, a spanner - use your imagination!)
• Join the three items together with the chain

Then pop it in any cache that's NOT listed on the tag, ON OR AFTER Monday 12th Jan 2009.

Why not bring it along to the NW Caching Monthly Meet GC1GPKE and release it there? Just log the TB into the event page.

[JeremyR]

OK, I've made the TB Labels :



Get the PDF here :

http://www.nwcaching.co.uk/images/nwrace2009.pdf

Please print it at 100% on A4 for the best results. Write on your TB's name, and your caching name, then simply cut the right hand edge off, then fold in half to have a double-sided TB Label, ready to laminate.

If you want to take part

Great! You'll need a Travel Bug Dogtag. You can get these from Mongoose who frequents here, or from other sources such as :

http://www.box64.com/product.asp?item=g ... _travelbug
http://www.ukgeocachers.co.uk/catalog/t ... -c-22.html

So :

• Get a Travel Bug DogTag
• Make a laminated Travel Bug Label
• Choose a novelty item that you want to race (it could be a Matchbox toy car, a plastic dinosaur, a spanner - use your imagination!)
• Join the three items together with the chain

Then pop it in any cache that's NOT listed on the tag, ON OR AFTER Monday 12th Jan 2009.

Why not bring it along to the NW Caching Monthly Meet GC1GPKE and release it there? Just log the TB into the event page.

Cracking! Ta, PuP

Can I please add to the entry instructions, please, please, please list your entry's TB number in this thread? The tracking for the race is all done off a GC.com watchlist so I need a full list of TB's to make sure I get all of 'em on the list, ta