As mentioned in my last post, we were planning and then preparing for a longer than usual geocaching trip last week. Normally we go away for 3 or 4 days, mostly because we get too tired before that. This time, notwithstanding getting tired, which we still do, we were forced to stay away this long by the B&B business having adopted a new tactic to make more money. Namely, that fact that none of them would let you have an overnight stay, minimum of two nights having been introduced, at least in the part of the country we were going to.
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| Feri, our guide, with Roy in his boat |
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| Other cachers in one of the other boats |
Marcsi, a geocaching friend decided to organise an event by the Tisza-lake, mostly because she loves the area, but also because she had two new caches appearing, around which she thought it was worth organising a get together. She was absolutely right: more than 40 cachers had turned up and we had a relentless and long day, having fun, logging lots of caches, having home made biscuits, savouries, cakes, pálinka and a lot more.
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| The altar at Jászszentandrás, where we replaced the cache |
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| The aerial walkway |
We left on Friday morning, aiming for one of my caches, which needed replacing. Then we proceeded to the flatlands, where I still had a good few missing caches. Admittedly, most of these were multis, which I do not like, so they always get left out. There were also a good few new caches there too, so off we went. The most memorable for me was an airial walkway, which was fascinating. It wasn't too long, so I could walk all the way to its end and back. The cache was a bit difficult to find, but finally I managed.
We were aiming towards the lake from a southerly direction, and arrived at the B&B in good time. We realised on this trip that the latest fad in the world of B&B's, is converting largish rooms into an entire little flat. Both the places we stayed in this time were just like that. The first one in Tiszafüred was a sort of extension, built over an old terrace. Its footprint was about 35 square metres and it had beautiful high end finishes on furniture and all equipment imaginable provided. The host was a nice bloke, who we had a couple of good chats with and slept like logs in the very comfortable, if a bit cramped bed.
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| Some of us at the start |
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| Tree planting at Kisköre |
The big party by the lake was a great success. There were two tours of boat trips to a moving cache on an island, friendly chats and catch ups with cachers we haven't seen for ages, logging of brand new caches and one that has just gone from traditional to multi. The main sensation of the day was the degree to which many cachers had responded to Marcsi's request for moving caches to be brought to the event. Finally, there were 8 moving caches hidden in and around the area, so we were rushing from A to B all the time. Roy and I have even managed to start a 4-part cycling multi, all around the lake, which we then finished the following day.
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| The ferry at Tiszacsege |
The weather was absolutely amazing. We had lots of rain beforehand, and now we know that a lot of rain after our trip, but our 5 days were of perfect, clear, warm and rain free. After departing from Tiszafüred, we made our way to Debrecen in an round about pattern. The first cache was quite an experience, so I do remember it clearly. It took both of us back about 40-50 years. Tiszacsege is the only riverside town in the whole of Hajdú-Bihar county of Hungary. It had a feel of time travel for both of us. The simple, almost home-made aspect of the little huts and other facilities all round it. I even managed to take a video of the flat bed ferry arriving back from the other side of the Tisza.
The big Calvinist church in Debrecen 
An old fashioned cinema in Debrecen
By means of a lot of zig-zagging, we finally arrived in Debrecen in the late afternoon. The accommodation there was a bit bigger that the first one, around 42 square metres, but the idea was the same. The hostess told us that the house was built in 1905 and that in those days all rooms were large and, in this case, also with very high ceilings, which created a sense of space. The bed was bigger and there was more space round it, so we were very happy. The cost of both of them was in the region of £60 a night for two, which is very reasonable in my book.
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| My meal in the Csokonai resto in Debrecen |
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| Roy's gypsy roast |
We usually ask the host to recommend a restaurant nearby to have dinner. In Tiszafüred we used two, both of which were reasonably priced and the food delicious. The difference was in the atmosphere, as the second one had more life in it. It was in Debrecen that I discovered something about Roy's attitude to eating places, that I have never realised before. The atmosphere has to be just right for him to be happy there. Once we were sat in one corner where all he could see was the wall, with his back to the rest of the room. He looked so miserable I switched places with him and he cheered up instantly. His habit of chatting up strangers in restaurants is probably not just a charming hobby, but a necessity for him to enjoy his meal.
One of many pretty old churches
On both our Debrecen days, we went caching outside the city. There were many which were simple drive-in caches, but quite a few required long drives and/or walks on soft sand. The car can be put into 4-wheel drive, so it took it in its stride, but Roy's nerves occasionally gave up and I had long walks. I enjoyed all of them, even when my joints were complaining furiously, but some were really gruelling, especially when at the end of it the cache was missing. Still, we enjoyed all of it, but I have to mention one, which turned out to be a tremendous experience, one that even Roy thoroughly enjoyed.
The giant sequoia tree in the puszta
That cache was placed near a massive pine tree, age of which was believed to be a thousand years. Later we were told that some years back it was hit by lightning and the top was split in two. From a distance, it really looked as if we had two trees, as the there were two tops. Anyway, the tree was secured by arboreal engineers with some tethers, as the tops were still attached and it is still alive and well today. The trunk was an amazing sight, as wide as I have never seen before. It was quite an interesting specimen, but the real fun had nothing to do with the tree.
A whole primary school under the tree
The giant tree's information board 
Its trunk in close up
When we arrived, we noticed that there were loads of children at the bottom of it, apparently having a picnic. We were told later that it was an entire primary school, all 195 children that was having an away day, just for a change. As two ex-teachers, we usually avoid large gatherings of children, but this lot seemed really nice. Within a few minutes we were surrounded by loads of kids, being very nosy and full of questions. Once they realised that Roy was English, we became the stars of the gathering. Endless questions showed that they were fascinated by a foreigner, which seemed like an event for them. When we got chatting with some of the teachers, that was confirmed. This end of Hungary is poor and is not exactly touristy. We were there was over half an hour, as they wouldn't let us leave. I found the cache, which was in the tress at the back and we both spent a delightful time with these kids and their teachers.
FTom at the top 
The view through the trees from the top
Another interesting meeting happened when on the last day I went to get one of the 20 "highest tops of every county" cache. I left Roy at the end of the made up road and started climbing up towards the cache. In the dew on the grass I saw a definite cycle track, which looked fairly recent. I thought I might meet the person on his/her way down, but no sign. Once I climbed about the right amount of metres I spotted a bike lent against the fence on the left. Assuming its rider was still around, I shouted: "Have you found the cache yet?" A loud voice confirmed that fact and we met up. He goes with the caching name of FTom and he was a lovely guy. We chatted a bit, climbed up to the very top together and chatted all the way down the hill back to Roy. We then said good bye, he went on his way on the bike and we started driving towards to the next cache.
By the fifth day we were both thoroughly exhausted, but very happy. The total cache count was 43, we had some lovely accommodation, dinners, fun caches and even the crap ones had some interest in them, as usual. We were extremely lucky with the weather and we have seen many beautiful, interesting and even exciting sights during our little holiday. I am so glad that we have finally returned to our old pattern of little away trips, like we used to do before the pandemic. Admittedly, one of the reason for staying away for longer is our deterioration in physical strength and stamina, so if we want to gather about the same number of caches as before, we need more days to do them in.
Another gorgeous church
Shepherd's delight en route home
En route home we popped in to Tesco to do a big food shop, considering that the fridge was pretty empty when we left it. Tesco in Gyöngyös was enormous, but, as most big stores nowadays, seriously under-staffed. Still, we got lucky with a delightful young guy on the one and only traditional check-out, who took pity on us and stayed a bit longer before his brake to check us out. We got home by 6:30 pm, had a very light tea and hit the deck like a couple of felled trees. I slept nearly 7 hours, with only one trip to the look at night, which is considered a great night's sleep in my life nowadays.
We are now staying in Bér for fairly long time, which we deserve, hopefully not having to do too much, so we can recover from our travelling exertions. We do have a problem this autumn, namely an invasion of martens, but we are working on it and hope to convince the little pests to live outside, not in our eaves and attic. The plans for October and November still include some guests, physical exercise and also some travelling, plus a 70th Birthday Party of a very good friend, so rest assured, we will never be bored with life, that is for certain.
Next post, hopefully, next Wednesday. 💖
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