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Original poster

geo caching

42 replies

racmac · 23/07/2010 13:58

Anyone do this? Thinking about doing some local ones with the kids in the holidays.

What kind of things do you leave behind?

I have a blackberry curve or a garmin 305 both of which i think have gps so do i just put in the co ordinates on off we go?

Is it that easy?

OP posts:
Wilts · 23/07/2010 14:00

Ohhh I would also like to know about this

Original poster
racmac · 23/07/2010 14:30

where r u wilts? im shropshire

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 23/07/2010 14:31

er,what is this??

Wilts · 23/07/2010 14:32

Wiltshire- Note my distinct lack of imagination when choosing a talk name

Original poster
racmac · 23/07/2010 14:36

ilovetiffany - its a treasure hunt using gps - people hide things in boxes (caches) and you go find them and take something from the box and leave something in return.

It happens all over the world - check out geocaching.com - it seems simple enough and great way of keeping kids entertained.

Just wondering if anyone actually done it

wilts - as soon as i posted ithough doh i bet shes from wiltshire

OP posts:
Wilts · 23/07/2010 14:36

Geocaching

It's like a treasure hunt, should kill some time over the holiday I think.

Wilts · 23/07/2010 14:41

I live in a umm less than desirable area and did laugh at the comments about the caches' in our area. There is clearly some sort of geocache 'speak' as it said ' high muggler activity, so stealth will be advised'

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 23/07/2010 14:41

It's good fun but definetly have a look at geocaching.com

Make sure you read all the site info. before you go to make sure it is reasonably easy to find,and likely to be there.

Daft wee plastic toys etc are good to put in - or depending on what your kids are into you could buy a a travel bug a dog tag you put in the cache and that you can track where it goes from there...

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 23/07/2010 14:42

muggler= non-geocacher

GypsyMoth · 23/07/2010 14:42

thanks!!

bloody hell.....sounds fab!! why am i always last to know of these things!

GypsyMoth · 23/07/2010 14:49

ok.....before i make a total fool of myself by discussing this in RL....erm,how do you pronounce 'geo-caching'?? is it 'cashing'?

i looked and there is loads going on here....loads!!

Wilts · 23/07/2010 14:51

I would pronounce it cashing.

ThatDamnDog · 23/07/2010 14:56

We do this! We discovered it when DS was totty and it's a fab, free way to spend time together. Older kids love the quest part of it, younger ones love the toys. Most of the stuff is complete tat but it's good etiquette to exchange things of similar value. We have a geocoin which is winging its way back to us through Europe having had a trip to the USA!

Definitely have a go - it's addictive and has very sound eco principles behind it too.

crunchbag · 23/07/2010 14:58

We have been doing this for a while now and it makes going for a walk a lot more fun

Make sure you choose regular size boxes with not too many dnf's (did not find)and just bring some pocket money toys for swapsies (happy meal tat toys are good too).

glastocat · 23/07/2010 14:59

We've been doing this for a couple of years, my mum does it too. Its great fun, and a very cheap source of entertainment (free, once you have a decent GPS, the road ones usually aren't accurate enough). We even have put out a few caches of our own , and have a few travel bugs out there (If anyone is visiting Baden Wurstenburg in Germany please move my bug as it appears to be stuck there). Any questions give me a shout.

Wilts · 23/07/2010 15:00

ThatDamnDog- so when you say it is good etiquette to exchange things of similar value, do you take a selection of items with you when you go out?
And if for example, you find a toy, should it be replaced with another childs item or does anything go?

I really want to do this, but would hate to upset people by putting the wrong stuff in .

ThatDamnDog · 23/07/2010 15:04

You don't have to swap anything (but it's hard not to if you have kids!)

Mostly things like keyrings, small stationary items, cheap toys found in newsagents, stuff like that. Anything goes really, and you're unlikely to upset anyone unless they've filled their cache with valuable gear and you swap it for Kinder egg toys

The site gives good guidelines on what to put in caches and it is a good plan to read through it before you embark on your first one.

Re GPS equipment, we use the inbuilt GPS on our phones and it's absolutely fine.

Wilts · 23/07/2010 15:07

Brilliant thanks

crunchbag · 23/07/2010 15:08

Wilts, we have a caching bag with a selection of goodies, toys and some other things like keyrings, note books, nothing too expensive though. But sometimes you find some real nice things in a box and then we just leave a few bits and bobs instead of 1 thing.

It's not just for kids so anything goes, I wouldn't worry about upsetting people, it's a treasure hunt, you never know what you will find

glastocat · 23/07/2010 15:12

The main rule about trading is you should trade upwards or equal, in other words if you take something good make sure you put something good or better back. Also travel bugs which will have a tag on them are to be logged and moved on, they are not to keep! Also, no food (attracts animals), knives, over 18 anything. Its all on geocaching.com, where you should register an account so you can log your finds.

Wilts · 23/07/2010 15:12

Crucnhbag- thank you, having a caching bag is a really good idea.

I can't wait to go out now

crunchbag · 23/07/2010 15:24

And as glastocat says, no food or anything that can leak. We have encountered melted chocolate, sticky lollipops and leaking bubble liquid.

We have a few caches of our own too, as well as a few TB's

Oh and always bring a pen/pencil to sign the logbook.

GypsyMoth · 23/07/2010 15:31

ok.....i'm in,just signed up and got the free membership!

now,i need to explain to the kids.....and we may go off tomorrow as there are a few local ones.....one without any clues,is that normal?

and something where we need to visit churches to get numbers from memorials....whats that all about? no cache as far as i know..

Original poster
racmac · 23/07/2010 15:37

ive just signed up - it tells me the location ie local country park - not sure when i get though how to use my gps particularly well - it has a compass thingymajic on it - do i just follow that?

OP posts:
Wilts · 23/07/2010 15:55

racmac- I have no idea, I will be leaving that to Dh