Taking an unexpected mud slide and the dead fox incident

I can hear the bells on Santa’s sleigh jingling as I write this week’s blog. Christmas not only means lots of nice food and presents, but also a few days off work in which to go caching.

The week started on a chilly but dry day up in Norfolk. After our adventures a few weeks ago on the Shouldham Shoe Shine trail, this week we returned to the neighbouring village to complete Poshrule’s new Fincham Fuddle series. 

As well as picking up all 25 caches in the series we also managed to grab a few extras along the way. And rescued a cute green monkey keyring from a very muddy puddle, who we’ll be turning into a TB soon!

Parking up at the Village Hall we were soon off across the road to pick up our first cache, appropriately, the Village Hall cache. The pretty village sign was also a few feet away so we headed there to collect the necessary no.s and calculate the final, picking up the cache later in our walk.

Soon we were heading up the high street to grab our first cache in the great new circular ‘Fuddle’ series. It was a quick find as was the next and we were soon walking along a much quieter country road out of the village. 

After collecting number three under an old stump, I suddenly spotted the familiar event icon and realised we’d completely missed it by a week! So annoying - such a shame i didn’t spot it sooner. 

As we made our way to Shouldham Thorpe more caches were swiftly picked up, some on signs, some in, on and below trees. 

Number 10 was slightly trickier, a great little hide inside the void of a metal gate end. On first look we failed to spot it, but a feel about and the well camouflaged cache was eventually found.

The next also slowed us down a bit. Not to moan about it again...but I’m going too...the new navigation tool on the geocaching app is driving me mad! The arrow swings one way then another with any slight movement, it’s really unhelpful. So whilst I faffed around trying to get it to direct me to the cache, the other half just started looking and soon shouted “found it”! Hmmm!

At 13 we decided to divert off the trail to pick up a few caches in the nearby hamlet of Shouldham Thorpe. They included the lovely village sign, located by the duck pond - although far to chilly for any ducks today.

Then we headed off to grab the Church Micro, taking the church path and admiring the pretty building with its bell tower, on the way. 

Back on the ‘Fuddle’ we began the lengthy walk along a single slightly muddy track to find some more caches, all speedy finds and all well maintained. 

At 21 we came across something quite unusual, a bright blue spade! For a moment we thought we needed to dig for the cache, but fortunately that wasn’t required. 

As we headed back into Fincham the light was starting to go, so we made a very quick pit stop at the church to gather the war memorial multi cache co-ordinates, but decided to come back for the final cache another day. 

Moments later we were back at the car, having completed the five or so mile walk and having bagged another 32 smilies - ‘conkers’, ‘hanging around’ and ‘S.1!’ all helped boost our final number.

I celebrated the start of my two week Christmas break by heading to Ashwell in Hertfordshire. 

Once again RYO62 had been busy setting more circular series’ - two on either side of the village. It turned out to be a rather amusing few hours involving a lot of mud and a dead fox! 

Parking up on the high street, I set off on the Ashwell Antics series. I got off to a great start, despite the uphill climb, quickly collecting a variety of micro containers. 

All was going well until I hit the lane at the first corner. Oh dear, Iwas greeted by what can only be described as a mud slide! A downhill slippery slalom of wet mud, and as usual I was well equipped for the winter terrain - not! - wearing just an old pair of trainers with well worn, almost smooth soles! 

Several times I almost lost my footing as I slowly zig zagged my way down the precarious path grabbing the caches along the way. Fortunately each time I managed to regain my footing just before I went over.

It was a huge relief as I finally hit the firmer terrain of the road and a slightly drier uphill path, to make some really great finds. First up was a tiny fork with cute gnome on top - very inventive. Next was a fun electrical box, complete with handy miniature screwdriver. A few turns later the screw was removed and the log book was in hand. 

As I made my way back through the village I grabbed the church micro and met a beautiful friendly cat whilst collecting the numbers for the Village Sign multi cache.

Soon I was heading out towards the second Ashwell circular series, Ashwell Agadoo. However, having survived the mud slide earlier on, I wasn’t so lucky as I went to grab number two. 

It was a meager slope, in comparison to what I’d battled earlier, but just as I got up it - with a bit of help from the signpost - and went to grab the cache, my feet went from under me and I fell smack down into the mud, sliding to the bottom of the slope! Ooops! 

Trousers now covered in mud; a little dazed and confused; and pride rather bruised, I couldn’t give up, so picked myself up and tried again. I nearly repeated the act again, but just managed to keep my balance by clinging to the pole, whilst grabbing the cache. Phew! 

The next mile or so of the trail was less eventful and I swiftly made my way around the bottom end picking up some great hides along the way. It wasn’t long before I was on the home stretch, merrily bouncing along a lovely grassy footpath hoping to get back to the village before dark.

As I stopped by a rather large tree  to find cache number eight, I suddenly realised I wasn’t alone, a gorgeous golden retriever came running up, closely followed by his owner! Keen not to worry her about what I was doing lurking behind I big tree, on a deserted footpath I walked around the tree and said hello and explained what I was doing. To my huge relief she knew exactly what geocaching was, as her nephew had got her doing some geocaching in the past. 

We had a lovely chat about geocaching, when suddenly she started pointing to my trouser leg. Slightly embarrassed I tried to laugh off my rather muddy leg, and began to explain how I’d fallen over. But she stopped me and said, “you might want to move, you’re standing on a dead fox!” I looked down and to my horror I was standing on a very decayed fox! Urghh! Yuk!

I quickly stepped off, thanked her and said goodbye - possibly my most embarrassing caching moment to-date...talking to a complete stranger, whilst standing on the rotting carcass of decomposing animal! 

Despite the rather eventful Agadoo series, it was a great afternoon caching and I clocked up a brilliant 39 smilies.

The following day was far less eventful. After a few fun hours at the Cambridge winter wonderland ice skating and going on the fun fair with my nieces 3ft and 4ft, I stopped off in Newmarket to pick up a few last minute Christmas bits. 

After battling the crowds I parked up near the new Wickes store to try and find the ‘Wicked Cache’. It was my second attempt after failing miserably to locate it in the rain during my first visit.  

As I wandered back and forth for about 10 minutes, I finally gave up with the dodgy GPS and used my noggin. Moments later I realised it was in an obvious place that I hadn’t searched at all! Doh! Great little cache, which blended in very well in its surroundings. 

In addition to all this week’s pre-Christmas finds, we also managed to earn this month’s HQ virtual souvenir, ’You might be a trackable lover if...’! A nice early Christmas present. 

Speaking of presents, I’m off to wrap and unwrap a few. Merry Christmas to you all.