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Original poster

Geocaching : chatty thread

209 replies

bumpybecky · 23/03/2012 16:24

hello geocachers :)

there were lots of outdoorsy shite threads, but now we have our new great outdoors forum, I thought I'd start a new thread for us :)

I am (one of) Dave's Piglings and an in Bedfordshire. We've currently got about 140 finds and 9 caches placed :)

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 07/08/2013 14:01

I've seen cachers using car SatNavs before, and one set who planned it all on Google Earth and used a paper print out and lots of visual clues! I met them along a seafront though so it was probably easier - 3rd breakwater along, 4th post up, that kind of thing :)

Original poster
bumpybecky · 07/08/2013 15:20

I use cache sense on my android phone. I think there was a free trial for the first month, but I liked it so much I paid after that :)

Broomsticks we've done some in Wallingford. There's a series that runs between the two bridges and we did those and a few others last september when we spent the weekend there :)

We picked up a local puzzle today :)

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NicholasTeakozy · 07/08/2013 15:59

I'm reduced to doing cache & daches :o for the next week or so due to a badly stubbed toe. Luckily there are half a dozen or so in a row not far from here I'm going to try in a bit.

Makingchanges · 07/08/2013 16:41

We use the iphone ground speak app but sometimes it can be unreliable and offline. We also have a garmin (I think) that we bought cheap off Ebay that we use to help and DD has it cos its rubberised. When we are doing drive-bys we use the Tomtom sat nav and enter the co-ordinates. Been to a lovely one today at Western Park Museum in Sheffield. Had to use the exhibits to find the answers and then use the answers to work out the co-ordinates for the cache. Really enjoyed it, passed a day and encouraged me to visit somewhere I have never been despite living in Sheffield all my life.

signet · 07/08/2013 23:17

Well I managed to pick up another 2 today and even discovered a Bronze Age burial ground in my area that I had no idea existed!

I'm planning a longer walk tomorrow to pick up several slightly further afield while the weather holds.

BroomsticksAreForFlying · 09/08/2013 12:56

I use c:geo on my phone, but after a disastrous trip where it couldn't pick up a signal or satellite we invested in a garmin, which is ace . phone is good for the cache and dash still.

Went to an abandoned folly last night, we'd had to watch a very old Disney cartoon to find the coords, got there for dd2 to be disappointed at the lack of skelling-tons. I did chuckle.

Must try and find one quickly between now and swimming lessons/supper/ds' band practice. What fun Hmm

EauRouge · 09/08/2013 12:58

Thanks all, I think I'll try out a couple of the freebie apps first and see how we get on.

Original poster
bumpybecky · 10/08/2013 10:56

some of the apps let you download caches so you can use them offline. My phone you can get gps signal free so you're not paying for data is you're using it offline.

Did that make sense?!

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EauRouge · 12/08/2013 21:24

Yes, I know what you mean but I have no idea how to check any of those things Grin

We went out this afternoon and found one cache fairly easily, but couldn't find the other two that we looked for. I need to become more familiar with the app I think (it's c:geo) because I missed part of the description and wasn't sure what we were looking for. Also the compass thing didn't always point in the right direction and the GPS was a bit slow to catch up with us but that is more likely to be my phone than the app, it's got serious gremlins.

Anyway, we all had great fun and can't wait to go again. One question though, I've read a lot of comments by people saying they had to wait for 'muggles' (I love that this is the term for non-geocachers) to go by- is it the done thing to not be seen? It's hard to be discreet when you've got two small children yelling 'treasure!!!'

EndoplasmicReticulum · 12/08/2013 21:28

EauRouge part of the "game" is not to let the muggles see you. I have the same problem though, my children are as subtle as two bulls in a china shop. However I do find children can be a useful cover, as it is less unusual for them to be scrambling around in bushes.

We've not been muggled yet, but have spotted other geocachers. And they have spotted us!

Now on day 12 of Geocaching August, one every day so far!

ReadyisKnitting · 13/08/2013 14:46

My kids could not be more discrete if they tried. I like woodland one for this reason, even if they do begin yelling 'MUGGLE' at the top of their lungs as soon as they spot someone in the distance. Off now for todays- which one, that is the question...

EauRouge · 13/08/2013 15:00

Ah, that's OK then, I was worried I was committing some kind of massive geocaching faux pas. Thanks!

NicholasTeakozy · 13/08/2013 18:13

Anybody else doing the 31 Days Of Geocaching? For some reason I seem to be doing more than usual, I'm averaging about eight finds a day so far this month, and only getting about 10% DNFs.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 13/08/2013 18:42

On day 13, doing well, considering we are on holiday staying with in-laws. Luckily there are plenty of caches around. Just aiming for 1 a day though, and choosing easy / obvious ones.

Original poster
bumpybecky · 13/08/2013 20:00

We've managed 13 days so far, think we'll be fine as long as we stick with it. Apart from when we were away at the Mega, I'm probably doing less caches than normal as I'm trying to no use up all the local ones in case I need them later in the month!

We're away for the day at the weekend (going to a gc event in Hunstanton) and then off to see BIL and family next week, so will probably do more then as we're away so don't need to save any (yes I know this is slightly twisted logic!)

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ReadyisKnitting · 13/08/2013 22:14

Missed day 11- had my parents over, first time since Easter and I needed Wine after. Might cheat and use a virtual to get the sticker. Off to France soon, and its rather sparse where we are. Could be tricky. Missing all the events on the BH, esp gutted about the midnight cake one. I like cake. Mn needs a cake emoticon.

Might go round Stone with the kids and dogs. Lots of multis and caches that I want to cross off my to do list.

ReadyisKnitting · 13/08/2013 22:18

Squeal! Just seen there's a new series near where we're staying. I may be in with a chance!

Original poster
bumpybecky · 14/08/2013 13:45

I'm very sad about missing the midnight cake too :( glad to hear about the new series though - good luck!

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ReadyisKnitting · 14/08/2013 16:05

Needed!!! Where will you be for that?

Original poster
bumpybecky · 15/08/2013 16:05

we'll still be on holiday in Forest of Dean, not coming home until 31st. Hopefully we'll manage the other event in the evening

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EndoplasmicReticulum · 27/08/2013 15:39

Well it's nearly the end of August and I have still been getting one a day, although it's getting irritating now as I have other things I need to be doing (getting ready for school starting again). I think I may have a geocaching break for September - although I keep noticing lovely new ones popping up nearby....

tapdancingmum · 01/09/2013 00:00

I managed 26 days straight out of the 31 and found my 300th last week. Unfortunately life and holiday took over so was unable to finish it but we had fun all the same.

My DD2 is very good at it but also shouts muggle and "act natural" whilst posing wildly Grin I am really glad I got into this as I have seen bits of my local area I didn't know existed.

JakeBullet · 01/09/2013 00:13

Can I join? We (me and DS) found our very first cache today Grin. I was very proud of myself and DS can't wait to go again.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 01/09/2013 10:09

We did it! It was getting a bit irritating towards the end, as I ran out of easy nearby ones. And one day we found ourselves geocaching on the way to a funeral.

I promised my boys a pub lunch as a reward for putting up with me caching every day, I was definitely more keen to complete it than they were.

ReadyisKnitting · 03/09/2013 20:18

We managed so many more on holiday than I expected. We were in an area of south France with a low density, despite that I managed everyday there! Well chuffed [:)] had a couple of days off while I found the sitting room again after emptying the car, but we're off to a local landmark with loads of caches, and a brand new earth cache. A jolly for the last day of the holidays.

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