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Original poster

Geocaching

41 replies

SoupDragon · 15/02/2009 13:00

Anyone else doing this?

I started as a result of a thread on Mumsnet. It gets us out of the house and the SmallDragons walking with a purpose - we wouldn't go out for walks otherwise really but the lure of a "treasure hunt" drags my reluctant exercisers away from their DS Lites.

having said that, I've been stuck at my PC all morning trying to solve 7 puzzles in order to sort out a walk for next time I am being particuarly dense as I can't make head nor tail of any of the 7 puzzles!

OP posts:
PortAndLemon · 15/02/2009 13:11

I've thought about it, and I think we may take it up when DH is back in the country this autumn.

What are the puzzles you're stuck on?

Furball · 15/02/2009 13:13

I have a friend thats just started and they have a great time and again it gets them out of the house.

do you need to have local knowledge for your clues soupy?

Earlybird · 15/02/2009 13:17

Hi Soupie - think I could have been one of the ones responsible for this new hobby of yours. Wasn't the original thread 'i need a hobby'? (if so, shows the minutiae my brain holds on to! )

My sister and her dh do this, and enjoy it immensely. They take dd on an outing everytime we see them, and dd loves it. Think she views it as a modern day version of searching for 'buried treasure'.

Do you have a handheld gps thingie?

Original poster
SoupDragon · 15/02/2009 13:17

No, it's not local knowledge. Here is an example which I thought I'd solved:

The cache can be discovered from the following story.

Sam decided that it was such a nice day he would ask his friends to come to a party in the garden. First of all Edward and baby Jamie arrived, and they were soon followed by Henry and Anne with Beattie. Last of all came Genie with Louise. They then all went into the play house and had their cucumber sandwiches.

Now find the cache. Assume N51 and W00

I thought I'd solved it but I've got too many numbers to make up a Waypoint [clueless]

some of the others are complete and utter gibberish so far as I can see... except others have managed to find them [dim]

OP posts:
Original poster
SoupDragon · 15/02/2009 13:19

I did one with another MNer yesterday which we failed to find. It involved pulling numbers from a war memorial and entering them coordinates - when it told us the cache was hidden 100 miles off the coast of Iceland, we decided we'd made a mistake

OP posts:
Original poster
SoupDragon · 15/02/2009 13:20

Yes, we've got a Garmin eTrex Venture which we don't know really how to work. I think it does way more than we need for Geocaching.

It's great fun though

OP posts:
Lindenlass · 15/02/2009 14:03

Can you do it with a tomtom?

Geepers · 15/02/2009 14:06

No Lindenlass, it isn't accurate enough unless the geochache is right near a road and you can drive up to it.

Lindenlass · 15/02/2009 14:12

pants. Oh well, Dad's got a gps we could borrow.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 15/02/2009 17:34

We've just hidden our first cache

OP posts:
StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 15/02/2009 18:09

I love Geocaching. I have a Garmin GPS. Geocaching definetly livens up a walk as far as DD is concerned. We've found quite a few now and hidden one.

One of the reasons we're going to Dartmoor on holiday in the summer is becasue we thought it would be a good geocaching area!

biscuitsmustbedunkedintea · 16/02/2009 00:13

Dh is a major Geocaching nut, with just under 300 caches under his belt. He tends to go out at the weekend with DD who adores it. At only 2 she does slow him down a bit now she insists on walking and not going in the back carrier, but they still can do a good 10/20 in a day. There are regular meet ups down here in Sussex if anyone is nearby and wants to join.

Anyone else discovered the delights of geocaching abroad yet? DH was pretty peeved when we went to Disneyland Paris and found he couldn't do several of them as they were working on the areas. Having booked to go to Florida this year, he's spent this eve trying to find out how many are near the house we will be staying in!

DrillBit · 16/02/2009 02:45

maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Some field in E Sussex

Original poster
SoupDragon · 16/02/2009 08:35

"10/20 in a day" Blimey, we've only managed 2 in total We have plans to do some in the Bexhill area of E Sussex when we visit my parents.

I'm so excited as our first hidden one is now up on the site I wonder when someone will find it!

I am also excited to see there are several in Antigua We'll be back out there in 2010 so I'm toying with the idea of taking my GPS. There are also some near the ILs in Spain so next time the SmallDragons go visiting I may send them with the GPS.

OP posts:
biscuitsmustbedunkedintea · 16/02/2009 13:22

You need to pick up a travel bug SoupDragon so they can take that over with them.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 16/02/2009 18:20

Haven't found a bug yet, unfortunately

OP posts:
biscuitsmustbedunkedintea · 16/02/2009 22:03

Buy some and take them with you

Original poster
SoupDragon · 17/02/2009 08:21

Oh, the buying of them is already in hand

OP posts:
WouldYouCouldYouWithAGoat · 17/02/2009 08:35

this looks great. do you need a gps or would a map and compass do the job?

Original poster
SoupDragon · 17/02/2009 08:52

You need a GPS, although you don't need an expensive one.

OP posts:
scienceteacher · 17/02/2009 08:52

Is your clue something to do with Windsor Castle, Soupy?

Original poster
SoupDragon · 17/02/2009 12:26

I thought the clue was the ages of those royal family members at the date the clue was written - these numbers then become the coordinates (way point) for the cache. Unfortunately, I've got too many numbers I think.

That was the only clue out of about 15 puzzle ones which I could even see what I had to do!

OP posts:
coldupnorth · 24/02/2009 15:23

Dim question I'm sure but why can't a Tom Tom be used?
It's all I've got!

Original poster
SoupDragon · 24/02/2009 15:24

I don't think Sat Navs are accurate enough.

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 24/02/2009 15:35

There are loads around where we live so will be getting a GPS and head of with the family.

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