Geocaching

[SoupDragon]

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!

I don't think you can put co-ordinates into a SatNav can you?

We are GC fans too, although we haven't done one for a while. We'll have to strap our walking shoes on again and get treasure hunting.

We did a few fab ones over the weekend. Spent ages rummaging about under trees and, on one occasion, each of us lost a shoe in a big mud patch haven't laughed so much in ages!

A friend and I are ditching the children and going it alone tomorrow whilst they're at school & nursery...

Can you reccommend a GPS?

Not really because I know nothing about them We've got a Garmin eTrex Venture HC which seems to do the job. I think Garmin are a good manufacturer though and compatible with the Geocaching site so you can download coordinates rather than typing them in.

[clueless]

It was about £100 from Amazon. there are cheaper ones which would do the job but I think they might be less accurate.

Thank you will have a look on Amazon, and wait for DH's payday

I think the forums on the Geocaching site have stuff about which GPS to buy but, TBH, it all went over my head. If you don't understand what they're talking about, it's not a lot of help!

We have the same as SoupDragon and it works well. Not ever tried another sort though.

Another MNer recommended it to me actually (although I think they have the HCx version which has more memory)

I have no technological nouse so if it works for you then that will do fine, I think I gave up on the website when it started going on about .... nope can't remember.

Sounds like me

My favourite bit (which isn't mentioned int he manual at all) is that it has a Geocaching option. When you downlaod the coordinates for a cache, it displays a locked chest. When you mark it as found, it changes to an open one...

[shallow]
[easily pleased]

Wow. Mumsnetters do everything. I was a geocacher before I was a Mumsnetter. Am planning the weekend already...

Is this something you can do if you are car-free? Because I think DS and I would enjoy it.

Not a problem doing it car-free, though some of the more remote ones would be off-limits! There are loads of urban caches around. Have a look on the website, put your postcode in, and then click the 'map it' icon - you should then be able to see what there is nearby that you can get to on foot/ public transport.

Definitely suitable for those who are car-free, I bet there are already lots of caches within walking distance from your home. You can of course get public transport to wherever you like and bag some caches in that area. Caches are everywhere - from city centres to mountain tops! The website is www.geocaching.com - check it out.

We only discovered it last year but the kids love it (aged 13 and 15), but I know kids of all ages find it great fun. Hunting for a cache makes going for a walk a huge amount of fun!