2023-07-01 53 10
| Sat 1 Jul 2023 in 53,10: 53.8097921, 10.3078998 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox |
Location
in the garden of a church community house in Glinde, Bad Oldesloe, Schleswig-Holstein
Participants
Expedition
My first time doing four consecutive geohashes! The pressure was on, and I bravely made it to this hash despite the constant danger of being caught (I was definitely seen several times).
Writing this more than seven months later, I've forgotten many of the details, but here's what I recall: The hash was located 23 m from a large house inside its garden. All around lay nothing but fields. When looking up the location, I found out this was not a private home, but rather a "house of meeting" (Haus der Begegnung) called Haus Emmaus, owned by the church community St. Wilhelm. You could hold events there or, as is was equipped with beds, book it for vacations for up to 28 people.
I took the 40-minute bus to Glinde, then cycled one kilometre along a street that led to the church community house. It was raining. When I arrived, my biggest fear came true: There were several parked cars, including one that was just arriving. I heard the new arrivals being welcomed into the house at the front door, then walked past the house and hid out of sight behind a hedge. I had most likely already been seen, but since it seemed to be a rather large gathering, they probably expected me to be a participant.
From my hiding spot, I could see the hash not even 20 m away in the unfenced garden. But I could also see people through the windows, and even worse, some were having a barbecue on the terrace. The rain started to intensify, and I had to make my move in order to catch my return bus. People started to move inside from the terrace, and all of a sudden, nobody else was outside. I scouted my route to the hash: There was a better hiding spot behind a shack from where it was only 10 m to the hash, but some obstacle (I forgot what) blocked the way.
I decided it was not or never and walked around the shack to the hash, which just next to a swing. I quickly recorded proof and took photos, then walked off and immediately started to cycle away. Nobody had shouted, but due to my bright blue jacket I had most likely been spotted through the window. I imagine the party guests must have been very confused. By now, it was raining ever stronger and I decided to wait under a tree until either the downpour lessened or I really had to leave. I suspect the second option came true since I had to speed to the bus stop. The bus, I think, was late.
Definitely one of the bravest things I have ever done on expeditions, by my own judgement, and possibly the only time I deliberately accepted a large risk of being discovered doing something suspicious.
Funny afterstory: The next month, friends of mine told me they were attending the birthday party of someone I knew as well who had just returned from a year in Japan – and it was to take place at this exact house. I was able to tell them all about the location. Neither me nor them had been there before. What are the chances‽
Photos
to follow
Achievements
Land geohash, Public transport geohash
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π π π earned the Consecutive geohash achievement
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