Motorways, wrong direction, Non existing roads, and the A55

Well the day started off ok, we arrived at Chester Services on time, and our early birds, only just beat us. After a discussion, we set off for "Free View Zoo" GCJMKZ, unfortunately I took the wrong slip rd, onto the M56, (yes thats right, I was leading) and we headed in the wrong direction. Off at the next exit, with Joan giving directions over the pmr, from behind us, and back onto the M56 going in the right direction. on to the M53, and off at the right exit. As we were going around the roundabout at the bottom, I noticed a sign for Mikkle Traford, our next cache. the one we were going to, was one the way to Chester, and No's 3 and 4. Hmm, someone made a mess of the order we were doing them in (all right Nette, time to own up). a couple of turns later, and we shot past a lane which the arrow was pointing down, but said that it was over 400m away. A brief stop to chat and Mark states that he can get us closer, so of we follow, round lots of corners, which ends up with us less than 150m from the cache, a quick buttie and then a short stroll, down the path which splits the zoo in two. With 2 GPSr's pointing on the other side of the path, Stephanie made a quick find (sorry no spoilers). But Oh No! No pen, so off I to get one from the car, on the way back, the team apart from Stephanie were walking back, leaving poor Stephanie stood there with the cache (the rotters). Log quickly signed and replaced, and back to the car. And of to "Well Dressed" GCJMHK .

A nice easy cache to find, but I'd like to know how they confirmed the info on the plaque? Poor 4PawDrive had to stay in the car for this one, there was too many dogs around. Well the log was signed, we all piled back into the cars, and off we set into Chester. And guess who was leading, with comments from the Navigator, who just happened to be in the following car (and it wasn't Mark!). First cache in Chester was mine, "Steps in the Wall" which I adopted off Leek, GC92F4.

We parked up next to the Cathedral, which happens to be opposite the Town Hall, and were soon on the City Walls. Leaving Mark & Joan to lead, a quick find later (well team work does help), and it was time for the next one! "Roman round Chester" GCKFBK .

This one is classified as a Multi, but after completing it, I'd call it a Puzzle! To get to the Roman Gardens, we came off the walls, and walked down the base, back the way we came, with the rest of the party doubting me! Low and behold whats this, a gateway in the walls, which lead straight into the gardens. Now it was time to collect the needed info, this turned out to be a bit of a puzzle in its self, until we realized that we had entered from the wrong direction to the cache page! then there was a disscusion about the actual info we needed to collect. Ok all info collected, back on the walls, and head back the way we came, to the large Dovecote (which has already been claimed as a locationless). We departed the walls here and followed the instructions (not the GPS, thats why it should be a Puzzle). As non of us had read the cache page properly, we followed the instructions to St Peters Church! Here we found the required info, but hey it says sit down and work it all out! We'd missed the Town Hall out. (remember I said we were parked across the road from it). Erm? Were is it? Whilst Mark & Joan asked someone stood near the Church, I walked to the corner for a look. Ok it must be back the way we came, (now remember Mark has a Gamin 60CS, with maps on it) as we walked down the road, up popped the Town Hall on his map. Back in the square and Marks GPS was pointing to the right, even though the Town Hall (a large building) was to the left, a good 100m away from were the GPS was pointing. Found the info out, and after working out the general location of the cache. Off we set, with Mark & Joan in the lead, this time Nette was calling out the turns, as I knew the way to the general location. Mark found the parking spot, and out we got, and followed the GPS. After spending 10 minutes searching, and Joan going back to the car to get the cache info, we all decided that using the clue we were in the right place. More searching and still no find, I suddenly had a brain wave. I wondered if any were slightly further on matched the clue, yeppee I was right, the cache was found! The log was signed, back to the cars, and off to Tescos for gogo juice (petrol and diesel). And then with Mark in the lead we set off for "Dead Centre of Hawarden" GCKKBF.

This is a loverly cache to do, unfortunately our visit coincided with grounds maintanence work! Luckily they weren't working right on top of the cache. As there were voices from just the other side of a wall near the cache, Trixie and I carried on walking (I didn't want to many of use just stood there). Around the corner was sat a group of girls, sat talking with a couple of the grounds staff. Back at the location, the cache had been retrieved, the log was signed, and it was replaced. Then we walked down the slippery path, were I nearly went flying onto my backside, much to the amusement of the others. Time for Mark to lead us to the next cache "Ellie's Cache" GCMF58.

Remember I said Mark was leading, well he had us in and out of a housing estate, and traveling up the A55, in a effort to get close to this one (at least I don't have super high teck gadgets, to help me get lost), finely we were heading into Queensferry. Ah I know were to turn for this one, as it is located in Wypre Park. Well we found the parks car park! And time for a picnic, before going to find this one. Off we set, and the first choice was over the weir, or across the bridge, guess who was the only one to cross the Weir. thats right Mark! Following the arrow brought us to the cache, log signed, trades swapped (Joan wanted a Disney character coaster, for her desk at work, aww!), and then we followed Stephanie back towards the car (big mistake, she's just like her old man), who lead us to a step drop, ok back the way we came, to pick up the path, as our boots were muddy, I and Stephen & Stephanie, joined Mark going across the weir. Trixie went across the bridge, running water, no chance! Time to head of to the last cache of the day and another of mine "Moel Famau - Mother Mountain" GC1E2C.

This time I lead the way (it would have been embarrising to get lost on the way to my own cache), on pulling onto the lane leading to the car park, I couldn't believe the amount of traffic! As the cache is located in the Hills, and they were covered in snow, heaps had come out to play. Into the car park, and we found a place to park, Mark waited for some on coming out, a cheeky bloke in a Land Rover, tried to go around him to pinch the the place. Mark was having non of it, think of David and Goliath(Mark has a small peugot). All sorted and a quick walk brought us to the cache, whilst Mark was thinking about were to look. Joan had found it. She then left Mark to sign the log, whilst she took some photos, I can't blame her, the Scenery covered in snow was beautifully. Well that was the end off our finds.

Mark and Joan followed us back to our house for a cup of tea, were they meet our 4 cats (Suzie, Sox, and her younger sister & brother Tigger & Smudge), as you can see Nette is a soft touch, hence 4 cats and a dog. This ended a wonderful day with our caching friends!