As this is the first time I'm back in Wales in almost a year, this would be a good opportunity to meet up with folk in the South Wales Geocaching community - and also for each other to meet up in a relaxed environment. A simple meet and greet event with the opportunity to chat over a coffee and a meal.
Many moons ago, as a teenager with recently acquired driving skills, I, and a large group of young people would meet up on Friday evenings in Pont Abs, as we affectionately called it, after youth group on a Friday night. It's still a local meeting place to this day.
While a motorway service station may be the first location of this type to meet up for a South Wales Geocaching event and a curious choice... it's not the worst location you could meet up without needing prior booking and arrangements - and also allows a variety of meals and drinks. The food there is usually very good and the coffee is excellent.
I'm reliably informed that the location has free WiFi access.
This is a Saturday afternoon meet and greet event, as I've found that Saturday works a lot better in Wales for many, especially in that some will already be back in work after the brief festive season.
I'll hopefully post up more details... but since it really looked like I wasn't going to get a chance (from the Wales end) to see many old Geocaching friends ... I decided to take the initiative and invite you all to an old haunt of mine that may be a little different compared to normal event locations :)
When you arrive, just look for a group of people with suspiciously looking Geocaching items on the tables - I'll also try to arrange to have a number of signs put up.
So, the event takes place in Pont Abraham service station which is situated on the end of the M4 motorway, nominally starting at 5pm on Saturday 28th December. For those with commitments in the afternoon, the event will go on for a couple of hours at least so no worries about arriving late - and for those with commitments later in the evening, I'll probably be there with the log book from just after 4pm. See you there!