2023-05-01 53 9

Mon 1 May 2023 in 53,9: 53.6960156, 9.7992520 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox

Location

in a small forest filled with dense thorny undergrowth in Kummerfeld, Schleswig-Holstein

Participants

• π π π (talk)

Expedition

Don't take this report too seriously, I took some artistic freedom with the descriptions toward the end.

For this hash, I took the train to Ellerau, cycled to Quickborn and then boarded the bus to Borstel-Hohenraden. After 1.3 more kilometres, I reached the path that Google Maps said lead to the hashforest. I was skeptical, because it was just a patch of grass next to a row of gardens, and sure enough, it ended at a fence and a ditch. I considered hoisting my bike across to the street I had to get on, but decided against it because people could burst out of the houses at any time. Instead, I cycled the long way around until I reached the spot closest to the hash, which lay only 12 m into the forest. I could immediately see that it was one of the thick and thorny sort, but managed to find an opening where I was out of view of the nearby house.

Somewhat intimidated, I picked up a stick and tried to smash my way through the giant tangles of brambles, getting pierced several times with every step and feeling very thankful that I'd brought gloves. I managed it around 5 m into the forest until a branch I had stepped on broke and I fell backwards onto a different branch that painfully stabbed my thigh. The resulting contusion was still visibly weeks later. This incident, as well as the giant wall of thorns taller than myself that I stood between me and the hash caused me to reconsider. Begrudgingly, I had to admit that I could not reach the hash this way, and that trying would only lead to raptor wounds.

However, I could still try accessing the hash from the back, though I didn't have much hope of getting through. I cycled to the long side of the forest and found an opening a short way back. After jumping a ditch, I found myself between the trees and was delighted to see it mostly looked like normal forest here. Soon, though, the Geowizard's biggest enemy, the brambles, appeared again. I grabbed another stick and whacked my way through, always stepping on the knags so they didn't come back up to stab me in the legs. Astonishingly, I managed to find several openings in the impenetrable defences that always led just toward the hash. After a while, I was only 10 m from the hash, but the devilish vegetation made one last stand. I heroically crept through openings, dodged hanging spikes and smacked prickly branches out of the way until I, to my surprise, had actually reached the coordinates.

Well, the actual coordinates seemed to be within a thick, thorny bush, but I stuck my hand in and probably touched them. From here, I could see the monstrous obstacle that had prevented me from going the short way. Feeling like I'd just conquered nature after a fierce battle, I awarded myself the Mother Nature Is My Bitch achievement for my epic victory.

On the way back, I could use the path I had created for myself, but it was still an arduous affair. I again came upon some old car tires I'd seen on the way there and wondered who'd leave them in the middle of a forest. Going soon became easier and I reached my bike mostly unharmed except for the bad bruise on my thigh. I looked up whether I'd have to hurry on my way back to Quickborn, but found that by chance, the bus there would arrive in exactly the time it'd take to cycle to the stop. I figured I might as well take the bus (I'd planned to cycle to the station) and sped there like the wind. The bus was late. But it did carry me back to Quickborn, from where I cycled to Ellerau and rode three stations home.

Photos

to follow (14 pictures, 1 video)

Achievements

Land geohash, Public transport geohash

π π π earned the One with Nature Geohash Achievement by reaching the (53, 9) geohash on 2023-05-01.