Wikipedia defines geocaching as "an outdoor activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container (usually a tupperware or ammo box) containing a logbook. Larger containers can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value. Geocaching is most often described as a "game of high-tech hide and seek," sharing many aspects with orienteering, treasure-hunting, and waymarking."
To begin, Paul went to geocaching.com, typed in our zip code and determined 3 geocaches that were relatively close to our house. We also printed out Google maps of the areas since we only had Phil's car GPS and Esther's cell phone GPS to use. (Paul tells me that a hiker's GPS system is really the best form of technology for this game.) Some of the descriptions on the website give clues about where the geocache might be located or what type of container you're looking for. Often you are searching for some type of "marker" - like a pile of rocks - to indicate where the geocache is hidden.
Our first location was at the end of a cult-de-sac with a sandy volleyball court. The first clue said, "All things round," so we figured we were looking for some type of round object. (Aren't we smart?? :-) Here, Jared and Gracie are examining the sand in the volleyball court.
Tad and I examining the rocks
Vincent picking up a piece of rotten fruit - every round object was scrutinized (until we got a better sense of what we were doing :-)
Hmmmmm . . . . .
Phil rechecking his GPS after several minutes of looking.
Eureka, we found it! "All things round!" Sure enough, it was in the corner under a small pile of rocks.
As you can see, the geocache was a circular container holding round objects of all kinds and a little round notebook for us to log the date and time of our discovery. This was a relatively new geocache (hidden last year.) The instructions told us to leave something round and take something round. (Paul had brought a couple of washers and nuts to leave; Jack and Tad wanted a marble and a penny, respectively.)
Tad showing his penny; Jack, of course, decided he wanted to "taste" the marble. (He lost it shortly thereafter b/c mean mommy took it away :-)
Searching for our second geocache in farmland located off of Market St. near the San Tan mall. This clue told us to beware of "cow bones!"
Hmmmm, it's warm out here!
Eureka! Gracie found it. This container was a degraded plastic bag - it had been out there awhile. Unfortunately, most of the contents were disintegrating, but we found it nonetheless!
Our third geocache - which we never found. After looking and looking, we thought this container on the roof was "it." It wasn't. We were running late for a movie, so we decided to call it quits for the day. Only after my brother returned home did he discover and email us that we were actually in the wrong location (about 100 yards away.) This is where a more precise hiker's GPS would have come in handy.
Balloons we saw on the drive (they have nothing to do with the geocaching, but I thought they were pretty and the MN folk loved them.) 
I didn't realize they had them in heavily populated areas. I always thought you had to drive "out" to do them. We have friends who had done them before they became so popular and they were always in the middle of nowhere finding theirs. :) Maybe we'll get adventurous and give it a try. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGood job sister! Although, I actually found the cache hidden by the cow bones. I just took a picture of Gracie holding it. But, it doesn't really matter in the end, does it? We're going to go when the snow melts! ha
ReplyDeleteVery cool. Someone in the Summit View group does this regularly and got me interested. I just need to borrow a GPS and we'll try it. It looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteLooks like lots of fun!
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