Rather than bore you with details of the park I refer you to
this execellent website which has as much information as you
are ever likely to want.
The cache is a standard multi-cache where you are taken on a
tour of the park gathering digits on your way. The whole thing is
about a two mile walk. The actual cache is a standard Hornet brown
ammo box with white lettering. Apart from the last few hundred
yards it is on well paved pathways. Although when I planted the
cache I was wearing shorts I would strongly recommend wearing long
trousers. My legs are still sore from the nettles by the side of
the paths!!
Cyclists, dogs and children are very welcome in the park. If you
do bring a dog be aware that there are lots of red bins for "doggie
doos" so please use them if necessary. A word of warning on your
approach to Watford. It has the highest concentration of speed
cameras in the country. So take care.
Although there is a large car park at N 51° 39.543 W 000° 25.311
I would recommend parking in the street near the suggested entrance
at N 51° 39.896 W 000° 25.357 There is always plenty of free
parking available, even on the busiest of days when the main car
park fills up. If you do use the car park I suggest tackling the
waypoints in the following order: 6 then turn back and do
5,4,3,2,1, then 7,8,9,10. It will save a lot of back tracking.
If the weather is good and you have a young family be sure to
bring swimming things as this is very popular for paddling, both in
the river (yes really!) which is very safe and offers ample
opportunity for a spot of fishing with a net or in a modern
paddling pool complex with fountains etc. Dogs are very welcome
everywhere except in the paddling pool and childrens playground
both of which are fenced off. There is also a miniature railway
(which you will be visiting later) which offers rides most of the
year, even on New Year's Day! Although the bottom end of the park
gets very busy (this is the place to get ice creams etc.) you will
be visiting more remote areas where you will find ample space,
peace and quiet for a picnic and perhaps a game of football,
cricket etc.
If you are sneaky it is possible to make an educated guess at a
number of the digits along the way. If you want to do that, well
fine. However the idea behind this cache was to introduce you to
one of the few places Watford has going for it. If you decide to
leave out chunks then you will be missing some fine parts of this
lovely park. It's entirely up to you. So off we go. Starting at the
suggested entrance head for:
Waypoint 1 at N 51° 39.753 W 000°
25.358
You are near the paddling pools next to some
small white octagonal buildings. How many buildings are there? The
answer is G
You might have hear a whistle nearby so
head off in its direction
to:
Waypoint 2 at
N 51° 39.724 W 000°
25.424
You should now be standing next to the
turntable of the miniature railway. Nearby are some signs giving
the fare for a ride on the railway (adult or child)
FN pence. NOTE : DUE TO
THE PRICE CHANGE, I WILL GIVE YOU THE ANSWER FOR THE PURPOSES
OF THE CACHE. IT'S 70P. While here why not have a ride?
Adults are welcome as well as children! OK on
to:
Waypoint 3 at N 51° 39.587 W 000°
24.792
This will take you on a longish walk up a slight
hill into a much quieter part of the park. Plenty of opportunity to
stop for a picnic around here. Once you get to the waypoint you
should be illuminated by the number C. Just a short walk now
to:
Waypoint 4 at N 51° 39.518 W 000°
24.828
Here you will see a signpost with x intact
arms and y broken arms. Add the two together to get
O. Another shortish
walk to:
Waypoint 5 at N 51° 39.563 W
000° 24.982
Take a rest with Godfrey Saker and make
a note of the dates mentioned.Bxxx - Bxxx Walk
across the cricket pitch/football pitch (or round it if there is a
game in progress!) to:
Waypoint 6
at N 51° 39.543 W 000°
25.311
The car park. What time does it close?
Dpm Ignore the comment about
No exit after 10pm. Walk across the car park towards the river.
Once you get to the path turn left
towards:
Waypoint 7 at N 51°
39.508 W 000°
25.586
This waypoint is actually on a
footbridge across the River Gade. The next clue is under heavy tree
cover so make your way across the bridge then take another 10
paces. On your left you will see a small wooden post with a number
made out of nails. This is M.
Keep going along the path and you pass through a wildlife reserve
between the river and the Grand Union Canal. Eventually you come
out into the main park
again.
Waypoint 8 at
N 51° 39.855 W 000°
25.610
From this place on the
bridge you can see a lock. The lock gates are dated
18E 6. Be careful, you
could easily be misled here, the date in question ends in a 6
not an 8!! If you are lucky you can watch the boats
navigating the lock, often with the help of passers by (such
as yourself). Now walk back over the bridge into the
park:
Waypoint 9 at
N 51° 39.813 W 000°
25.534
Here you will be next to a
signpost by the paddling place in the river and another popular
picnic spot. Look around you for the number of picnic tables (on
both sides of the path). This is L.
Now you head into the wilderness. Stay on this side of the
stream and follow a narrow grassy path. Be warned, it can get muddy
from here on.
Waypoint 10
at N 51° 39.932 W 000°
25.520
Walk along the
narrow path until you get to a small bench. By all means sit down
for a rest (which you will have earned by now). While you are
sitting, count the number of slats. This is K. Keep going along the path for a few more yards
until you get
to:
Waypoint
11 at N 51° 39.932 W 000°
25.539
You should
be standing on a zigzag bridge.
Not too far was
it?
You will see a number of short posts sticking up vertically in the
bridge. There are xy posts. Add x+y to get the final digit
A. Yes, you could probably
guessed this but you were coming this way anyway so why not play
the game?
Anyway,
now substitute the digits you have found to give you the final
co-ordinates
at:
N AB° CD.EFG
W 000°
KL.MNO
Go
get it! It's only about 100 yards away. Once you have found the
cache just re-trace your steps back into the park and thence back
to your car. While in the area you are very close to a number of
other caches of mine so be sure to check out the rest of the
Hornet's Hides and HM (Hornet's Micro)
series
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