After a very restless
night I got up rather earlier than I might have done and watched a
fight on "Toddlers and Tiaras". One of the mothers
apparently suggested some new dance moves to a competing brat whilst
its mother wasn't looking. Said brat then added the dance moves to
its routine which (according to its mother) completely ruined
what was originally a perfect dance routine.
I can't help but feel
that aggrieved mother probably had a point. I never saw the original
unadulterated dance routine, but in the knobbled one the child looked
like a hippopotomus with epilepsy.
I missed an anniversay
yesterday; yesterday was the third anniversary of the discovery of my
first geocache. My Ham Street Lover had spent six months prior to
that trying to turn me to the dark side. Eventually on 31 July 2012 I
succumbed to his wiles. In the intervening three years I've found 5
242 caches,, and what better way to start the fourth year by going to
the National Convovation of Tupperware Hunters.
The
2015 UK Mega had been going on all week, but today was *the*
big day, and having collected the crew we set off. Pausing only
briefly for two First to Finds on the way we were soon in Essex for
the event.
There was a little
confusion about getting to the designated parking spot; and having
parked there was a little more confusion in finding where we were
supposed to be. But when all else fails we read the instructions and
were soon on the right track.
First of all we had to
sign in. Whilst doing so I met a Wherigo-maker with whom I've spoken
on-line. It was good to meet in person and talk for a few minutes. We
also met several of our Kentish friends, and after a little chat we
wandered on and decided on our plan of action for the day - contrary
to popular opinion I don't make (all of) it up as I go along.
First of all we wet off
for a little geo-wander; the dogs didn't understand why we weren't
going anywhere and were getting restless. We walked for about a mile
or so meeting other hunters of tupperware as we went. One of the
caches on this route was up a tree. I climbed up several yards, and
just as I was about to do the secret geo-thing a voice shouted up
"It's all right - I'm a tree climber" and some chap
scrambled up the tree after me with a rather frightening display of
idiot enthusiasm.
As the chap clambered up
so he demolished many of the less-suspecting branches which were on
(or in) his way. Having nearly plummeted to his doom several
times he then announced to the world that most of the tree was dead.
Seeing he'd got himself settled I made my way back down as quick as I
could whilst there were still a few branches left.
After a quick
conversation with a micro-lite pilot we made our way back to base
camp. I felt peckish, and went up to the catering stall. I fancied
the curry. It wasn't ready yet. Paella? Fifteen minutes. Burger? Not
yet. When I asked what was ready there was an embarrassed cough and
the chap said they weren't actually open. Why didn't he say that
right at the start?
We then did a spot of
geo-shopping and I got myself a new T-Shirt. We then met Rob and
Lizzie and we went back to the caterers. Paella was... it wasn't bad.
But it wasn't good either and it wasn't cheap.
And then the rest of the
day was something of a blur. Around the site were ten lab caches. A
lab cache is the holy grail of geocaching; out of the over five
thousand of the things I've found, only thirty-one of my finds are
lab caches. Today's ten had a James Bond theme. One involved a
serious climb; I've never done a climbing wall before. Others
involved Chirp technology, dynamos, scrabble boards, magic eye
pictures and even rubber ducks. In between this we fitted in more
shopping, ice creams and a Punch and Judy show (which the dogs
found fascinating).
Pausing only briefly to
send Rob into the river we made our way to the bar for a crafty half.
We met more friends there, and as Rob and Lizzie set off for a
Wheri-adventure we sat chatting for a little while before setting off
home.
We did get stuck in
motorway traffic on the way home, but bearing in mind what the M20
has been like lately that is hardly surprising.
I took a
few photos whilst we were out. We had a great day. I had been
offered the opportunity to have been there for the week. Do I wish I
had actually been there for the week? Possibly.
Next year's National
Convovation of Tupperware Hunters is in North Wales. Plans are
afoot...
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