10-12-14 Cachers' Christmas Meet & Greet Manly, New South Wales, Australia
By zargfinders on 10-Dec-14. Waypoint GC5C5CN

We've just received our 'time to achieve' notification from Team Canary so realised it was time for this one to close for last year. See you all at this year's event - 9/12/15!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry for being late, I missed most of the caches the games, the food and the fun. The rain didn't worry me too much as I am used to it at zarfinders events and it is part of their challenges. Thanks for organising another (by now traditional) Christmas event with all the games and effort you put in. We will look after the travel bug and take it to an exotic place.

Happy Christmas, happy new year and happy caching!

I meant to add in my log that the Northern Sydney Monty Python Appreciation Society were very well represented here with 8 of the 12 hiders at this event: besides myself were Baktrak, Calypso62, chudles, Equipe des fous, thejohnnos, Tyreless and zargfinders. And the late scratching of asbestiform almost made it 9.

A great opportunity to meet fellow local cachers - thanks.

Thanks for the event.

While we were getting ready we could hear the thunder in the distance, things where not looking good for a dry event.
As we arrived at the event there was some drizzel so we all banded together and quickly fashioned a marque out of miscellaneous tarps, shoe laces and things people had in the back of their cars. While it did not look great it did the job.
As it was the rain pretty much held off until the very end, so the call to not postpone the proved to the the correct one.
Thanks for organising another great event. Maybe next years event could be 5/10/15.

After some initial debate about whether to postpone the event or not, we made the decision this afternoon (after consulting seven others ) to just continue the event today, rain or shine.

We arrived at around 4:20 and started setting up, getting some strange looks from the passersby who must have thought we were crazy to be setting up a table and gear with the imminent rain. We also got a questioning session from some young kids who were quizzing us about our presents and so forth

At around ten to five the first caching groups started to arrive, and we greeted our FTF BabyJMan and his family - akkatracker and their mum. Around 5:00 we felt our first drops of rain and hoped that the rain wouldn’t develop much further.

With some monkey skills from the two zargfinder juniors, akkatracker and BabyJMan, as well as groundwork from akkatracker’s mum, thejohnnos, and the rest of the zargfinders, we were able to create an interesting tarp set-up, improvising with the bits and pieces we had. This allowed some coverage from the rain, also helped by various umbrellas and upside down picnic blankets!

The rain continued at a steady drizzle, however more and more geocachers 'braved the conditions’. It was really great to catch up with everyone and meet a few new faces too and I think most people had a really great time. Once again many apologies to Marksab who went into the freezing water for the impossible astronaut only to find we’d forgotten to change the hint!!

We chatted with many people, while supervising the log and activities and also keeping an eye out for the rain. We were happy to see OldManPants from the UK write in the correct number - 63 - of cache containers there were - and subsequently receive the prize for that.

After the group photo and caching swap the rain really started to come down. We packed away all our stuff and were grateful of the support we were given to get all our stuff into the car!! After most people left and we were chatting in the carpark, a car pulled up. What do you know, it was Team Edelweiss, who had only just arrived from work! After a short chat with him he kindly offered to drive the two geokids of our team home as the regular geomobile was stuffed with tables and other geocaching items. We had a mini-event once we arrived home and it was great to catch up with you Team Edelweiss - sorry you missed most of the festivities.

Thanks to Baktrak, Calypso62, Tyreless and Kid Ron Satan for our four respective gifts. I’m sure we’ll use them all in the near future and you might even find them hidden on the trail sometime. Thanks also to Digby23 for your friendly attitude and your hilarious accordion that made us all laugh. And of course thanks to all the attendees for making it a really fun evening despite the rain. It was a really great group of people that came along.

We really enjoyed the event and were very pleased with the crowd that turned up. Hopefully you can all attend next year’s event - 09/12/15.

Another great Zargfinders event. Good to see some familiar and new faces and to have a geo chat. The weather kept the muggles away but not the cachers and a great way to follow on from the 11/12/13 theme. The GeoBingo is always a bit of fun and thanks for including us in the bonus question which we did not notice until a few people started coming up to us and asking some specific questions and then a steady stream after that. Managed to get a smiley in two states today with an FTF in the morning. Thanks for organising and TFTC

Always fun to attend a ZF event especially such a numerically thoughtful one. The venue was muggle-free due to the weather which was just perfect for us geocachers. TFTE, ZF and TFtBags, V! Merry Christmas to all and happy caching in the New Year!
Cheers... Gaztek

Coordinates changed from:
S 33° 48.517 E 151° 17.240

Coordinates changed to:
S 33° 48.463 E 151° 17.271

Distance from original: 363.8 feet or 110.9 meters.
Moving event slightly closer to the parking spot. Weather is okay so far see you here

Oh yeah...TB drop...

TB drop

Still hoping that the weather might hold, though the forecast doesn't look great. Mrnoo17 mentioned that seaeagles1997 might have a gazebo. If he or anyone else does have one, then we could probably go ahead with the event even if there is some rain - depending on the wind!

If anyone does have a gazebo they can bring, please post a note as this could influence our decision about whether to hold the event if it starts to rain.

I have a 2-man tent I can bring. Will that help? It might get a bit crowded.

The bureau isn't giving us much hope but Google thinks we might just miss the bulk of the rain.

The rain couldn't dampen the spirits. Great to catch up and also meet some new faces (and put names to the usernames, if you know what I mean). Big ups to the zargies for organizing (and agonizing over the weather).

Thanks zargfinders for another great event ending this year. As always it was great fun and luckily the worst weather we avoided. Had great fun putting some cacher's faces to usernames.

Thanks SSS for the present (I was just about to buy one of them )

See you all next year!

Thanks zargfinders for organising another great event! So good catching up with caching friends and meeting one or two new ones. Cheers!

Thanks for organising a great event and for managing the weather.
I just checked the Weather Bureau and North Manly has had the least rain of anywhere in Sydney up until 8pm so the caching gods were smiling on us!
It was fun to meet so many other cachers and put faces to caching names.
That made it cache #900 for me!

Looking forward to next years event, that would be 9-12-15, still a geometric sequence.

The rain eased off for the best part of the evening and the geo-son and I had a great time again meeting everyone and swapping a few caching tales. Already looking forward to next year. Many thanks zargfinders

Not only was the event brilliantly organised but so was the weather. It was pouring with rain on the way in, hardly a drop while the festivities were in full swing, and pouring again on the way home.
Well done zargfinders!
Not only that, any group of people that can tolerate someone playing the Piano Accordion really badly has got to have cheeriness in their blood. Next year I just might bring a Banjo or some Bagpipes to really test the theory...


Geo-Haiku:
What a Christmas treat.
How good are the zargfinders!
Peace be with you all.

#1904
Another brilliant Christmas event by the Zargies Team. It was fantastic that you decided to take pot luck and run the event anyway. A good decision!! The GeoBingo always gets people talking and this year, I won the competition. Thank you very much for my prize. I always like the Secret Santa activity. This year I received a larger-than-usual key case container. Hmmmm.... now to find a suitable location for it. I don't think that's going to be too hard! Thanks Secret Santa! A Happy Christmas to all and I'm looking forward to next year's Zargfinders Christmas Event!!

Someone recently told me "There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing" so we got into our wet weather gear and headed to Little Manly. Once there we forgot all about the pitter patter because there was a lively geo-chitchat going on and geobingo to be played. Then the rain completely stopped and geodaughter and I had a picnic looking out onto the water. Dark clouds appeared in the distance - time for a group photo then a dash to the car as the heavens opened.

Congratulation Zargs on another excellent event. Took a TB

Had a bit of time before the event, so completed some of the nearby caches on the headland. Just as 5pm rolled around, the drizzling rain started right on cue ;x Still, glad the event continued on, as the rain wasn't too heavy - and we even got that brief dry patch to take the group photo! Thanks very much akkatracker for the xmas swap gift - now to find somewhere to hide it! (not sure if it will find a suitable home in eastern suburbs lol). Big thanks team ZF for organising this event - had a great time despite the weather Will be back in the area to try some of your other caches at some point this summer ;p (esp looking forward to the underwater one)

The weather didn't have a chance of dampening the good spirits that everyone brought today. Well organised and well attended. A few new faces and many increasingly familiar ones. Thanks for the great work zargfinders.

Left home earlier than usual this morning (6:30), just to get enough time to drop off my laptop at home after work before heading off to this annual BIG event. Hagar is chillaxing in KL this week (ok work, work) - and it was my turn to show up.

Got a text message from Zargs at 4 pm asking if this was a good day or if I would prefer to postpone due to the weather forecast. I had been checking the forecast during the day, and said to myself, not too bad, just some rain and rain is just something wet … I totally agree with Equipe des fous comment - “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing”. I replied back diplomatically “You will have one Viking there whichever day you decide”.

I received no cancellation and drove home. Left home at 4:35, just in time for drizzling rain. "Petrichor" is the wonderful word that describes the wonderful scent of the air after a rain shower or two.

Thanks very much Baby J (if my goldfish memory remembers correct...) for the xmas gift. It has been challenge to find suitable containers for The Vikings celebrations of their cache no 5000 – which is just 13 ahead. Plan is to release in the beginning of next year.

I loved the piano accordion, it’s something I wanted my dad to teach me, but it is too late for that now.

Weather is always unpredictable, and after all, it was not bad all. We were not even close to recent 8 days in a row of thunderstorms we recently had, it wasn't cold, it wasn't too hot … Having the opportunity to gather with this kind of people – weather is not an option to cancel an attendance.

Thanks Zargs for organising another brilliant event. Your never-ending smiles on your faces, Dana, Jordan and Val (Paul was working) makes it all so enjoyable. You are always happy and confident and make all your events so great. Geobingo is mandatory, it’s such a nice way to make sure everyone talks to each other.

I know we (The Vikings) are lousy on giving favorite points, i just checked, we have 373 more to give … before giving you one for this event (hint for next Geobingo )

I’m sorry I had to leave in a rush, but I had my “Penguin Protector duty" at Manly Wharf this evening.

Btw, I have already ticked in 9-12-15 for next year in my calendar!

This entry was edited by The Vikings on Wednesday, 10 December 2014 at 21:48:14 UTC.

#1291 (10 of 10 today)

Tonight, weather permitting, is the 10-12-14 Cachers' Christmas Meet & Greet event at Manly - an area I have only cached in after this event last year.
So, get there early and grab some caches... then the event.
[center]* * * END OF CUT AND PASTE SECTION * * *[/center]
Another great zargfinders event... BTW, what is a zarg and why does it need to be found?

Even the rain couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of the attendees. Lots of talking, swapping tips and general cachiness going on.
Eventually the rain really stepped up, but all the important festivities were already done, including the photos.
A gazebo next year for sure.

Thanks for the event.

10/12/14. 5:25 PM. Cache #2069. Streak day #171. 7th of 7 caches today. I had a brief detour to Collaroy to find the newest cache there ("Water View" - worth a visit) and so I got here about half an hour late. Light rain was still falling, but stopped after a few minutes, allowing us to get into full swing. Stats bingo was as fun as last year, with some very good stories to be told.

The rain held off for the group photos, too, which was lucky. Then it was the important time of the evening, no not Secret Santa time, I mean it was time to knock the top off a frosty brew. I kid. Thanks Secret Santa for my container...now, where to hide it? It was now about 7:00, an hour before the suggested end, and Paul hadn't arrived, but unfortunately our end came a lot sooner due to the heavier rain that had just started up. Time to go, but I had a great time. See you all at next year's! TFTC }:)

I always like looking at stats, talking about stats, generating stats, and pondering on what one I will work on next. And another stat - looks like approx 90% of cachers are the same

So, I enjoyed the ice-breaker task. Looks like I only have 5 (but soon to be 6) laps of the dt grid to catch up to 'bella at waggy'

Good fun to meet up with old faces and catch up after we have not been active for a while.

Thanks to the Zargfinders for organising!

Before leaving England two weeks ago to be with our family (Smartypants45), we had spent some time looking for caches to find whilst we were here, and did know about the 10-12-14 Event. So we were very pleased to be be invited to attend.

Although there had been the possibility of a cancellation, due to the weather, thankfully this didn't happen, and the event went ahead, in spite of a few showers.

We had a really enjoyable time, and it was good to meet and to chat with so many friendly people, and very pleasing when Mr Oldmanpants7 won the prize for guessing the number of containers.

So many thanks to zargfinders for all the work done for our pleasure.

The current weather forecast says 50% chance of showers, most likely at night. So at this point we're crossing our fingers that the weather will be fine between 5:00 and 8:00pm tomorrow and that the event will go ahead as planned. If conditions change, we will post another announcement to keep you updated.

In the meantime, BRUSH UP ON YOUR GEOCACHING STATISTICS as these may come in handy!

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.

Now unlikely to make it as daughters art class finishes 5pm and we don't have access to a helicopter!

Just realised that we never logged our Will Attend. We definitely plan on being there. And it would be great if Scoddule could get his hands on a helicopter so that he could attend and pick up asbestiform and gang on the way!

phew! and I was wondering if you would be there

Just checked the weather and it's been changed to "High (80%) chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening." That doesn't sound very promising, but at this point we'll still hope for the best.

We'll make another announcement or two tomorrow when we see what the weather's doing - and make a final decision somewhere around 3:30.

at this stage; seaeagles1997 and i should be able to come. im fairly sure he has a gazeebo that we can bring. i reckon we need three in total and we could laugh at the rain!

looks like it is very unlikely that seaeagles and i can come now. sorry, you will need an extra gazeebo

After some deliberation and a few text messages to potential attendees, we have decided to GO AHEAD with the event today. So BRING YOUR RAINCOATS AND UMBRELLAS and the other stuff on the list. We're just throwing together sandwiches now and will be there asap - probably between 4:15 and 4:30. So come early and hope for little rain!!

Sadly, travel to Canberra cannot be shortened. Hope you have fun despite Badgerlessness!

Hoping to attend (just myself ;p)

Four of us are looking forward to the event.

Would love to attend. Just trying to get our work and transport to synch. Will know more next week. Cheers... Gaztek

Just looked at the long term forecast and it says the probability of rain on the 10th is high. Here's hoping they've got it wrong or that the rain is in the morning. But just in case the weather is fowl, we wanted to repeat the fact that the plan would be to reschedule the event to the following Wednesday 17 December.

Fingers crossed it will be a fine day. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

I should be able to make it along - had such a good time at last year's.

It would just be me as geogirl will be at a school camp.

Hoping to get there, but at the moment I am also supposed to be in Canberra!!

Can I attend to the geochace

Its in my diary... but I do live south of the harbour

Sadly, the astronaut has once again gone missing in action! Given the tidal charts, we will need to put our best efforts into ensuring his (her?) return before the event!

Last year's event was great! I have looked at the tide times and it is looking like a good chance to go astronaut hunting. Wed 10th Dec: Low tide at 17h06 (0.39m)

Should be able to make it!

Unfortunately won't make this one. Have fun!!

Geo-Haiku:
Christmas is coming,
A Zargfinders 'meet and greet '...
You can count me in!

Can't make this one as eldest geokid has an end o f year event scheduled. Have fun!

I'll be there.

Its in the Calender

At this stage we will be there.

Christmas plans already?!? We will try to be there and are looking forward to it. Might pick up a few travel bugs destined for Europe, too

Great - the meet & greet is now in the diary before any other Xmas events - see you there with the whole geo-crew this year!

Looking forward to it. Gads - what a quick year it's been!

The Vikings hope to be able to attend, subject to other commitments.

Looking forward

My other event on the same date is only at Kariong so I can make it this year.
Hooray!
Looking forward to it.

A yes at this stage- our GPS is still running off the batteries we got as a gift from last year!

I, or someone exactly like me but 3 months older, will be there

This entry was edited by chudles on Saturday, 20 September 2014 at 12:12:14 UTC.

Published

Had a great time last year. Expect to have another this year.

Another Zargfinders Christmas event. Fantastic. Count me in!