Post by jestersmagpie on Sept 25, 2013 10:39:51 GMT
I've had a message from the Janitor and Janitor's Blither looks good and he has several artefacts in his care that aren't normally on display but stached away for safe keeping, he's going to put some out for display and visitors to see on the day.
As people are aware there is a small group that gave BareClawz a great deal of abuse and nearly cost the caching community the entire Below Above series. They haven't quite rolled over and gone away. I might have to take some steps to deter them on the weekend of the event. Don't be alarmed, all the caches the CC team are planning are fine and won't be affected.
Post by jestersmagpie on Sept 27, 2013 12:03:13 GMT
Just to add to the days fun I'm currently submitting a new earth cache, Below Above - The Treacle Mine, which will involve visiting two treacle flows within a local treacle mine.
Geocache Description:
An Earth Cache in Wiltshire connected to the Treacle Mining of the area.
Several treacle mines have been claimed in Britain, notably in Wem (Shropshire), Talskiddy, Bisham, Nuneaton, Chobham, Tongham, Tadley, Skidby, Ditchford, Crick, Burtle, Somerset, Newton Abbot, Devon and Dunchideock in several northern towns including Natland and Baggrow in Cumbria; in Croftamie, Scotland; and in the village of Wymsey. In Leeds and West Yorkshire it is said the Treacle Mines are in Pudsey—birds are also said to fly backwards there. The forming of the treacle beds is believed to be caused by prehistoric sugar cane beds becoming fossilised in a similar way to peat and coal.
Brown's Folly Mine’s history was carefully recorded by members of the National Union of Treacle Miners and whilst most treacle mines date back to the 17th century, an entry in an old leather account book - "To ye purchasing of five Wadkinnes for Browne's (the old name for Brown's) Treacle" mentions a Wadkin being sent to London for the use of Regina Elizabetha. This is the oldest recorded evidence that treacle was mined at Brown's in the 16th century. The Brown's Folly Treacle Mine was certainly active in Cromwellian times when the consumption of treacle had certain viagran attributes, showing a marked increase in fertility. Sir James, owner of the mine had 16 children! However, treacle mined at Rushford Treacle Mine, near Liverpool and the Bodiam mine on the Sussex/Kent border had laxative properties, which upset some of the Cromwellian armies that were being fed on treacle. The tax of 1781 was a tax on the quantity of treacle stored in Vats (8.5 Wadkins to 3 Vats). The tax was at the very high rate of 42 shillings per Vat. There is no tax on treacle now, as it is considered a food substance and medicine, but today’s tax term V.A.T. is derived from the vat tax of old. Wiltshire treacle has its origin in the remains of a moss-like plant which lived about 300 million years ago and was compressed into a treacle-bearing, or theriaciferous, rock which is found in large quantities in the area around Bath, with especially rich seams running up to ground level beneath Corshan and the redundant stone quarries above the village. At Brown's, treacle-bearing matter is detected nowadays by its fluorescence under ultraviolet illumination. It is extracted then crushed or ground with various organic solvents, then concentrated by vacuum distillation (Tamerton miners use the gravitational drip process). The resulting heavy liquor is layered into wooden vats, sealed and left to mature for up to 10 years (12 years for Tamerton). It is at this stage that the distinctive flavour of the treacle emerges. After maturation, batches are usually blended to give added smoothness of taste. Tamerton Treacle and Dunchideock Treacle have to be tasted to appreciate the difference. Brown's treacle has a strong following in Cambridge, Massachussetts where there is a thriving treacle tasting society; they enjoy their treacle cookies. Tamerton treacle is popular in New York where it is used in the making of Brooklyn Fudge. A particular blend of Brown's treacle - "Thunder and Lightning" is very popular; the secret is the mixing of Tamerton treacle with equal portions of whisky or cider. German visitors on tasting it exclaimed "Donnerundblitzen!!", hence the adopted name. Children have their own treat of "Thunder and Lightning" by spreading a layer of Devonshire cream on bread or a scone and allowing the treacle to drip slowly onto it. All the details of the discovery of the original find by Zacchariah Rose of the theriaciferous rock at Brown's and Tamerton and the escapades and romantic life of the famous Lady Tamerton, the beauty of the Court and paramour of Charles II, can be read in the book by Mervyn Madge - "The Tamerton Treacle Mines and other tales of Cornwall and the West Country” published by Marshalle Publications. Treacle Mines of the UK here! National Union of Treacle Miners here!
Cultural references Treacle Mining has been famous since at least the nineteenth century. In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll, Alice is shushed at the Mad Hatter's tea party for disbelieving a story told by the Dormouse about a treacle well, inspired by the holy well at Binsey, Oxfordshire. In Uncle and the Treacle Trouble (1967), a children's book by J. P. Martin, the main character (an elephant named "Uncle") discovers the true meaning of a cryptic sign which reads "Treac Levat"; the characters soon discover that it relates to a vast hidden treacle vat. A treacle mine features in the novels Reaper Man (1987) and Night Watch (2002) by Terry Pratchett. In the fictional Discworld city of Ankh-Morpork there is a street named Treacle Mine Road, with the current watch house (analogous to a police station) found in the building formerly housing the entrance to a treacle mine. Extensive treacle and suet mines also feature in the background of The Fifth Elephant (1999). Thud! (2005) also makes references to "deep treacle" deposits beneath the city. The Treacle People was a children's TV show from 1995 based around a treacle mine. Some of Ken Dodd's Diddy Men were said to work in a jam butty (jam sandwich) mine. This appears to be a similar concept.
Post by jestersmagpie on Sept 27, 2013 15:58:34 GMT
I can't see why, treacle mining is a very serious business. The risks of over drilling and causing a candy floss eruption are well documented. Just ask the National Union of Treacle Miners (NUTS) ;-) Of course it depends what earth feature the cachers have to find, in this case it's treacle trickles as they're called. :-D
Post by jestersmagpie on Sept 27, 2013 20:21:45 GMT
I think we've established that Janitor's Blither is going to be first on the list. I'm picking up the container over the weekend and I think people will agree it's the most amazing container they've ever seen. I won't post a picture and spoil the surprise, but it far exceeds my expectations and is amazing. My only concern is I'll be driving round for a few days with it in my van. lol
Thank you jestersmagpie I have just been looking up treacle mining of which I had never heard of before your post above Ok.. I can understand tarmacjohn's reply now But I still so want that to be a real cache Any news from a reviewer yet? I would love to see their response
Post by jestersmagpie on Sept 28, 2013 16:55:42 GMT
Don't worry they'll be back by then and none of the ones that CC are planning to visit will be affected even next weekend. I did mention don't be alarmed by anything you see happening on the cache pages. I had a tip off that there were trolls around this weekend and this is preventative measures. That's all.
On a lighter note; Thank you for submitting your new EarthCache. I apologise for delays in reviewing it but I am on holiday at the moment, and for another week.
I am consulting with other Earthcache reviewers regarding the content. The earth science is there but it is well hidden amongst the history of treacle mining!
I am not disabling the cache, so it will remain in the review queue. I will try and deal with it again during the week, when I have had some response from my fellow reviewers.
I thought the first two parts of the route for Mega Breakfast were long enough, I have just printed off the 3rd. Might take me a while, even though I now fluently speak another language
Last Edit: Sept 28, 2013 17:10:51 GMT by tarmacjohn
Thank you jester for the update on the BA caches. Good to know we'll be ok on the day.
Well done tarmacjohn for learning the new language Yes, there's a bit to get through Have you looked at gruidae yet? I need a stronger pair of glasses after finishing deciphering that one.
Going now to go make a Thunder and Lightning sandwich*
Have you looked at gruidae yet? I need a stronger pair of glasses after finishing deciphering that one.
I expect I will finish MB tomorrow, however with a busy week looming I don't hold much hope for Gruidae. Especially as after a quick glance it looks as though I have to learn a new language