Any geocachers here?

[Wendy]

Just wondering if any CB'ers are into geocaching. We recently discovered this hobby and have been having a lot of fun with it. We've discovered it's a great family activity and you can find caches just about anywhere! If you're a fellow geocacher, speak up!

 

[DISshopkeeper]

What is a geocache (sp?)... I never heard of this.

 

[SplshMtn99]

We are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since last August. Found 40 so far. Want to hit 100 by end of year.
Our name: wandering4cache

What is geocaching? http://www.geocaching.com/faq.asp

http://www.geocaching.com/
It's like a modern day treasure hunt!!!! Except very geeky. LOL

Or see my scrapbook layout here:
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4002141&a=30512088&p=62941703&f=0
(6 pages --- click the arrows ---and if you want to make a picture larger to read it, just click the picture)

 

[SplshMtn99]

Oh Wendy.....did you know there are caches IN WDW!!!! Some real containers...and some virtual

Here's an example: the EPCOT one.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=d56a336e-06da-4bd5-a2c9-626024f0b644

Yep, just another reason to plan a trip! LOL


We recently attended our first caching event -- a picnic. (Like a DIS meet). Great fun.

 

[Wendy]

Hey now, who are you calling a geek?!?! Okay, well maybe a bit.

So far, we've only logged one cache. We're not having very good luck. Everytime DH goes with us, we can't find what we're looking for. The kids and I told him he's bad luck. LOL We all have fun looking, though!

Part of the problem is we have a very, very old GPS unit. I've been looking all over this week for an upgrade, and we'll probably get a new one this weekend. Hopefully we'll ahve better luck when we go next week.

I saw that there are caches in WDW! That is soooo cool! Have you found any? DH and I are going on a cruise to Belize and Honduras in a few months, and I'm hoping to find a couple on our trip.

I go by dizwendy. Gee, wonder how I got that?

 

[Rexfan]

Got a GPS and DH is a geographer by trade.. I've been thinking this would be fun to get into.

 

[SplshMtn99]

We have an Garmin Etrex Legend (the blue one). It works pretty good -- even with all the tree cover we have in New England. About $250 at EMS (Eastern Mtn Sports). But I heard the yellow was just as good. DH wanted to be able to download maps to it, so we got the blue one. Yes, major GEEK!!!!

LOL

Haven't found any Disney ones because we haven't been back since 9/11. But we did a NH White Mtns trip last fall...and this was a big part of our trip.

We plan a 2 day caching trip in August in our home state just so we can try to boost our totals to reach our 100 goal. And probably another in October. Booking a hotel somewhere...and it MUST have a hot tub to soak the aching feet afterwards. LOL

Try multi-caches. They are fun too.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Rexfan....try it. It's addicting!!!!!!!!!! I love the finding. Not necessarily all the walking / hiking though.

Reading the topography maps should be easy for him.

 

[JohnTBap]

That sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[SplshMtn99]

OK...another cool thing about caching. You can do it anywhere. DH takes alot of trips for work. It gives him something to do in unfamiliar cities & places. One time - he didn't have a rental car - rented a bicycle from the base he was stationed at...and rode to nearest cache.

His friend got deployed....and he's been caching on his spare time.

Take friends with ya. Everyone enjoys it.

I like how it gets us out to places I wouldn't normally go. Parks & trails. Gets you OUT of the house!!!!

 

[Rexfan]

Oh, I sense a new addiction coming! This sounds so fun. I will keep you posted on our adventures.

 

[Brisully]

That sounds so cool!!!!! I just popped in my zip code, and there are a ton by me!!! Now if I only had a GPS receiver......

 

[Wendy]

Oh yes, it is DEFINITELY an addiction! LOL! The best part is, you find some really neat places that you never knew existed. We've already found a couple of really pretty parks just couple of miles from us that we had no idea were there.

Right now, I'm thinking of getting the Garmin Geko 201 or the Garmin V. I really want the V, but I just can't decide if it's worth that much extra $$. I'm definitely making a decision by this weekend, though. Gotta FIND some more caches instead of just hiking through pretty parks! LOL!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Brisully, some people do it WITHOUT a GPS. There's a guy in MA, named WaldenRun....he has found over 600 WITHOUT a GPS. He taught how at a picnic this spring.....using topography maps & compass.

 

[Wendy]

Uh oh. Now we're going to get Brisully addicted too!

 

[SplshMtn99]

If anyone is REALLY interested.... I prefer this site for finding them because they are listed on a map.

http://www.brillig.com/geocaching/united_states.shtml
Pick you state. Zoom in on the state. Clicking the red dots will actually bring you right back to the actual cache page on geocaching.com

 

[bsnyder]

I have never heard of this before, but it looks really fun!

 

[Wendy]

Cool! Thanks for that other website. I hadn't seen that one yet. I like the clickable map!

 

[christinou]

I found out about geocaching last April, and told my husband I wanted a GPS for my birthday, he was in heaven as he is the techie in the family.....
It is a great activity, we also camp, as much as we can in the summer, we generally stay in state parks, and most of them do have geocaches....
My girls love it, and do not complain when we go hiking anymore.

 

[Wendy]

Yep, we camp a lot too and this is a great activity for campouts. I can't wait to find more this weekend!