Hi everyone,
If you have a portable GPS and Internet Access here is something to do when you are camping in a new and unfamilar area. You can even geocache around your local area. Its a fun way to get out with the family / grandchildren. There are geocaches all over the US and world.
The basic web site is here.
http://www.geocaching.com
The objective is to explore an area and find a cache. Within the cache is normally a log book to sign your name, Some contain disposable cameras to take a photo of yourself, trinkets, coins, toys, batteries....
travel bugs (these would be of particular interest to us RVers). More on travel bugs at the end of this post.
When you find a cache you fill out the log book saying you were there. You can update your find on the web site. You can take a trinket as a souvenir and leave something else in its place. Caches are generally ammo boxes or tupperware containers. Some are as large as totes and five gallon buckets.
You get to explore an area that you wouldn't normally visit while camping.
The FAQ: (Frequently Asked Questions)
http://www.geocaching.com/faq/
What is Geocaching?
Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the wonderful features and capability of a gps unit. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something they should try to leave something for the cache.
Here is the page to seak a cache. You can search by zip code / radius, state, country, Lat. / Long, keyword, area code, waypoint, or username.
Give it a try
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/
Note: when you click on a cache after finding one. Make sure you look at the stars that represent the difficulty and terrain. Start out by finding easy caches. You don't want to begin mountian climbing for your first cache.
Travel Bugs:
http://www.geocaching.com/track/faq.aspx
What is a Groundspeak Travel Bug?
Simply put, a Groundspeak Travel Bug is a trackable tag that you attach to an item. This allows you to track your item on Geocaching.com. The item becomes a hitchhiker that is carried from cache to cache (or person to person) in the real world and you can follow its progress online.
What does a Travel Bug do?
It's really up to the owner of the bug to give it whatever task they desire. Or no task at all. The fun of a travel bug is inventing new goals for the Travel Bug to achieve. One Bug's goal may be to reach a specific country, or travel to 10 countries.
How do Travel Bugs work?
Each Travel Bug has its own unique tracking number stamped on it. This tracking number is used as proof by the user that they found the item. It also doubles as a way for the user to locate the personal web page for the travel bug.
Travel Bugs are tracked with the help of users who go online and "grab" them from caches, or receive them from users. The idea is by picking up and dropping off Travel Bugs on the web site you are mirroring the Bug's real world adventures. Each Travel Bug has its own "diary" that follows its movements.
What do I do if I find a Travel Bug?
Don't panic! You have already made the first step by visiting this web site, where you can log that you found it. We have a how-to page that explains in more detail how to pick up and drop off Travel Bugs.
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