Logs for UlsterLatinos 

In Prague again with work and meetinga dawn to dusk not leaving much time or energy for caches. This however was an easy one as we walked past on the way to our restaurant for dinner. Been here before, nice part of the city. TFTC 

My fourth trip to NZ with work and I still haven't seen anything! At least this time I was in a different hotel (due to lack of free rooms in the other) so a new geocaching opportunity arose to get a virtual and knock 12/2002 off my missing hidden months list. After a bad night's sleep I was up at six and off and running/walking, quite surprised to find so many people in the park in the dark doing some form of exercise. By the time I struggled to the top the light was starting to break but still not enough to read the plaque so an unfortunate selfie it is. With time ticking on it was a much faster descent than the way up and soon I was back at the hotel with enough time for a quick shower and breakfast before heading to the office. TFTC 

Today after multiple visits to Finland with work I finally hired a car and came to look for this cache (and a few others while I was at it). It helped that it was a Sunday, although of course I would rather have been home with family than traveling. I was able to park at an entrance to the forest were there were a few other vehicles and followed the path into the woods. I got to the point where I started to think I should turn northwards and of course left the path and proceeded to fight my way through the woods in shoes more suitable for an office than an outdoor adventure, managing to get one foot submerged up to my ankle in the process. However progess was still made and soon I got to GZ and was able to locate the cache. One less Hidden Month to worry about now Of course by that stage I had located the path and had a much easier journey back to the car, discovering along the way that I had got impatient a mere ten metres before the path turned northwards. I'd say you live and you learn, but I never seem to learn to stick with paths in forests! TFTC 

Back in New Zealand for the annual work visit, this time with the benefit of hindsight I knew that sleeping would prove a challenge so with some running gear in the suitcase heading further afield for a cache was more of an option. This one looked like it fitted the bill, around the right distance away and no thorns or other vegetation to fight through so I set out from the hotel at about 6:30 for a leisurely run/walk to here. Traffic at GZ was moderate, but even so I waited a bit for a break in traffic to duck down out of sight and the cache was instantly visible for an easy find. Signed and replaced before heading back for a bit of breakfast. Greetings from Northern Ireland. TFTC 

This cache wasn't really on the radar as it was a bit too close to the hotel to make it a feasible running destination, however after making one find already and coming to the realisation that there'd be more walking then running on the way back I decided to have a go. Initially a bit concerned that the hint meant that I'd need to do some calculation my fears were allayed while still some way away as I already had a fair idea where to look. An easy find in the end and I could take my time hunting for some space in the log as there was nobody about at this time of day, squeezed on UL and the date in a tiny gap in the end. TFTC 

Having only arrived at the nearby Quest at the rather unsociable hour of 1am after 28 hours traveling I figured this was one best left till the morning, however jetlag being what it is when 6am rolled around and no sleep having been gained I rolled out of bed, but on some running gear and set out to find this one. Experience of caching on working trips abroad has taught me never to go for the nearest cache to the hotel, just in case you return in less pleasant weather, so this was the target of choice to finally lifting our Australian finds off the paltry figure of one. Conditions were quite pleasant in the pre-dawn light, certainly nothing like the howling winds and rain back home at the minute, and before long GZ was reached. Initially mis-reading the coordinates I did a bit of observation of the wrong bushes for a while before back tracking to what seemed a more likely spot. As soon as I did the outer camo was quickly spotted and the cache retrieved. Log signed and a trackable dropped in it was back in place, appreciate the effort here so have a favourite point. From there it was a slow jog back to the hotel for a shower and some breakfast before heading to the office. Nice to get another country from 1 up to 2 finds, unfortunately no opportunity to get to 3 this time. Greetings from Northern Ireland. TFTC 

Staying at the Quest for a couple of nights I'd left this one for the last day in case the weather was uncooperative. A quick dash out before breakfast and it was easily spied in the first place I looked, always a pleasure to sign a fresh log. This will be the last one this time, but it brings our New Zealand finds to five, so level with Turkey and just ahead of Bosnia and Canada TFTC 

A post dinner wander in search of cache, this was identified as the target of choice due to the likely presence of a trackable. Made it out to GZ without too many issues and after a preliminary search of a possible target aided by the torch on my phone I move on to Option B. The going was a bit squelchy and I nearly went on my backside in the mud but after a thorough look round the wrong side the cache was finally spotted, retrieved, signed and returned. Something of a squelch back to the hotel, not sure what my clothes will look like for work in the morning, but that's part of the fun! TB Out. TFTC 

Staying nearby for work for a couple days and with micros and traditionals not doing much for me these days I decided to put in the extra effort to go looking for this one. A pleasant enough stroll out to the initial information sign and all was simple with the calculations so off to the final I went. By this stage it was dark so I was a bit concerned about the hunt but my luck was in and it was the first place I looked So now back to the hotel for some food and some sleep, serious jet lag starting to kick in now. Greetings from Northern Ireland. TFTC 

Following a find on the nearby multi I decided to give this one a go before heading back to the hotel. Not so easy in the dark and with jet lag starting to really kick in but after a quick recce I was able to spot it with a little help from the torch on my phone. A bit of stretch to retrieve but just about managed, quickly signed the log and replaced completely forgetting to note down the code. Not to worry, I'd be surprised if I find the others in the series as I'm only ever here for two days at a time with work and always staying in the same place. Greetings from Northern Ireland. TFTC 

Up early this morning and decided to ignore the closest cache and target this one instead, a brisk walk took me quickly to GZ from the nearby Novotel hotel. Once at GZ it was a case of casting about for the right spot and just as I was about to resort to loading the image gallery on my phone I stumbled across the cache location. Cache quickly retrieved and log signed I dropped off three trackables and picked up two to help along their way. Nice hide and a favourite point awarded for our first cache in New Zealand. TFTC 

Over with work for a couple of days and after 24 hours traveling followed by Friday at the office and differ afterwards there was just enough left in the tank to venture out for a cache. Simple enough to locate with the hint though the coordinates were a little off but maybe my phone is too used to operating in the northern hemisphere. Fairly low traffic and no pedestrians meant no issues with retrieval, signed the log as UL, our first find in Australia TFTC 

After a somewhat wet morning we ventured forth after lunch to visit Tullycarnet library, having purchased flights earlier in the week to what will surely become geocaching country number 23,24,25,26 or 27 we needed to get a guide book to see what else is on offer. Needing a find to turn today green we opted for a park and grab, no issues here but boy do you feel exposed! TFTC 

Gave this one a quick check today, all is in order though the box has received a few bashes and is showing some rust inside. If a future finder has a spare ziplock to put the stamp and inkpad in we'd appreciate it. Swapped trackables. Happy hunting! 

A quick park and grab here after a trip to the cinema, no problems retrieving and replacing. TFTC 

Not quite what we were expecting and not quite where but ultimately a straightforward find, not so many cars about at Sunday lunchtime so stealth not really a necessity. TFTC 

The information sign has been temporarily removed due to construction work, will re-enable once it's back 

Finally on the fourth attempt we got it To be fair we should have had it on the second go but sheer stupidity with regard to how padlocks work got in the way, easy this time. Favourite point in and Geocoin out. TFTC 

No problems here, quickly found and not a soul in sight, another white day goes green. TFTC 

London, Paris, Paris, Platja D'Aro. Back was this was published we only had one six icon day, the one we needed for our own challenge cache. With working taking me to Paris I was able to do some tramping round the French capital to add another two but then it got tricky, fast forward to our late summer holiday and we were within striking distance of a former Mega event location so there were icons up for grabs, making a short detour to a webcam as well left us with seven icons on the day, a new record for us! Phew, maybe now we need to do it somewhere else and then wait for challenges to open up again. 6 Icon Challenge - 4 Days, 4 Countries...? TFTC

Qualifying days below:

2013-11-11 6 types: The London Rainbow Cache 4 - Green (Virtual Cache) TFL (Unknown Cache) At Your Call (Traditional Cache) Walk around the Park (Multi-cache) Stonicles (Earthcache) London - West End Webcam (oxford Circus) (Webcam Cache)
2015-03-21 6 types: Cluedo? (Wherigo Cache) Le challenge des icones (Unknown Cache) WILD PARIS #5 - Les Boeufs & Les Moutons (Traditional Cache) Liberty's Flame (Virtual Cache) GeoTube à Paris (Letterbox Hybrid) Eau de l'Albien (Earthcache)
2015-03-22 6 types: I ♥ Paris (Wherigo Cache) LE PALAIS DE JUSTICE (Unknown Cache) Bonjour de Paris (Webcam Cache) Cimetière du Montparnasse (Multi-cache) lettre de cachet (Virtual Cache) Hotel de Clisson (Traditional Cache)
2015-09-17 7 types: The Challenge (Wherigo Cache) Challenge - 5 Different type cache x 5 Countries (Unknown Cache) Port Bó Webcam (Webcam Cache) Parcs Infantils - Plaça Trueta (Multi-cache) Pre-Mega 24 (Traditional Cache) Mega Stamp 2014 (Letterbox Hybrid) CAVALL BERNAT (Earthcache) 

Last night we were scoping out a few challenges online, one of which was 75 multi-caches so today was a chance to get a bit closer. Off to Victoria Park for a bit of a cycle and some swings we did a quick stop and took a photo from the window of the car. Fast forward to some supervision in the playpark and a chance to work out the final coordinates before heading back to the car. A quick stop and grab in the end, surprised to find an opportunity for a magnetic cache here, but simple enough in the end. Who knows if we will sign that challenge or not in the end, but at least now we're only 46 short! TFTC 

A simple enough find with #1 son, although pushing #2 in his buggy up to the Scrabo not so much. The trickiest bit was picking our way down the steps without falling afoul of the encroaching nettles. Cache had a bit of water in it (which was drained out) and log is slightly damp. Someone has previously turned the log ziplock inside out to dry, unfortunately with it being a bit wet we couldn't turn it back the right way to seal it up. Nice to get an old one TFTC 

Finally found this on what must have been about the sixth visit. From finding the original container but the code not scanning to our DNFs on the new location through to finding the new stage 1, eventually getting it to scan and then the heavens opening en route to stage 2 a month ago during rose week, today we finally got through stages 2, 3 and 4 and we're done! So in summary format: stage 2 was grand but oh so many nettle stings and then tried to short cut out not realising there was a half-inch thick bramble at chest height until blundering into it; stage 3 was fine but it took a couple of goes to get the scan to read and as for stage four, plenty of dirt under the fingernails hoking in different nooks and crannies before fluking the find, it was certainly well camouflaged by the previous finder! Signed log and took TB, couldn't see the last finder's name in the logbook btw. Favourite point awarded, nice to know where all the stages are now in case we ever get round to planning a wherigo here. TFTC 

Just drove by the footbridge and it's in bits so this probably needs disabled for a while 

Not where we originally planned to end up today but due to time constraints a small wood was just the ticket. Had this solved a good while ago but hadn't got round to visiting, we nearly had to abort this time as the mobile signal wasn't great and the solved coordinates hasn't downloaded! Anyway, went as far as we could with the buggy then Dad and number one son struck out alone. Easily spotted once we reached the right area, that's find #800 A stop on the way back to throw some stones and then home via the chippy. TFTC 

Checked tonight and all is well. Took TB to move on towards its goal. 

Had the puzzle solved for a while but didn't really have the chance to go for it as the terrain didn't seem like a good match for the toddler in the team. Just the adults today so off we went and sure enough the cache was in the first place I looked! Unfortunately it was both the first and about the fifteenth place as I failed to notice it the first time around.... Bottom of the container is cracked, it's not too damp but definitely a risk for water leakage now. TFTC 

Thought I'd have a look this morning to see if there was anywhere reasonably close that hadn't been found in a year and this one popped up so we thought we'd give it a go. Spent about five minutes at GZ poking and prodding before deciding to take a map view of the coordinates rather than dancing around at 10ft accuracy. Coordinates were spot on and the cache was quickly found, signed and returned. That makes five BBTC for us, finally able to log this one http://coord.info/GC3NERT TFTC 

Checked today after a previous finder had been unable to locate it. All is well. 

Quickly found after a brief hunt and that's another white day turned green for us. Had a guess at what the container might be before leaving the house and for once was right! TFTC 

Bit of a slow burner this one, having looked at it on and off for quite some time. Finally got it solved a few months ago but held off in the hope of a BBTC and once that was gone just to leave one close to home. Today was another of those annoying 'white days' and while we're still a long way off completing the calendar we thought we'd give this a go after some grocery shopping at Forestside. Pulled up to GZ and no buses in sight, 30 seconds for the eagle-eyed Latina to spot it, job's a good 'un TFTC 

Gotta this time, a lot easier in the sunshine and when it's actually there TFTC 

Another quick stop on the way down the road. Enjoyed the blackberries. TFTC