Coin in the pocket

One of the things about geocaching that I find most interesting is the trust factor.  Cachers from all over the world leave and swap sometimes valuable gifts in caches.  The concept of fair swaps is almost universally accepted.
Geicoins and travel bugs have a purpose and often destination and complete strangers move them on with relish.  As we started this whole adventure the idea of finding gifts in a cache and swapping things was exciting.  Coins and bugs from all over the world are right beneath our feet and the unique code means we can track the path of them on their journeys. 
So far we have moved on half a dozen coins and bugs, logging them as we go.  At first not realising quite what to do we had to go back and log them so as to keep the game pieces in play.  Now we look not for the coins or bugs but for their goals, if we can help them we move them on, if not leave them be. 
Although some are very pretty we move them on, they are no good out of the game after all. 
This weekend we have a coin to move on its way to Loch Ness, we will plant it and hope others too play this global game fairly!

We are Trackable!

We have taken the plunge and become trackable, well actually we have a trackable travel bug on the Transporter but it is driven around by us.

It has been active a few days and now we are keen to get noticed, no joy so far but fingers crossed we will be spotted soon.  

The aim of our trackable is simple, we travel around in the van caching and camping so let's see who spots it.  I do find this side of things facinating, we are always happy to help a geocoin or travel bug along to a goal whenever we can.  Recently we were so keen to help we took a lighthouse coin to one of the most famous lighthouses in the world, Portland Bill.  

Now we just await a first to find I think and until then we will just keep on trucking!!

Living the dream...

A few days away, that was what we decided.  Some time away from all the goings on and some fresh air and a little caching too.  Dorset will do just fine, just a few hours away and we love the seaside.

We packed up the car with roof box and doggies and we were away....  Portland on a late booking of a little house will do us just lovely, dogs excited and humans too.  A few stops on the way for doggie relief and a snack for us, arriving in good time for sunset.  Luckily we brought the weather with us from Kent, wet gear on we set off on a quick scan of the beach and Chesil beach is just amazing even through the rain drops.

On the first full day, rain again, wet gear on and around the little island we tootle to get our bearings.  Now the thing is we rely heavily on mobile apps for caching in Kent where our signal is good all around, Dorset was going to be a little more challenging and back to basics.  Some days the best we could do was paper and pen coordinates and the good old GPS.  We did the rounds of various pretty sights and made the most of it when the signals were almost non-existent.

A Portland Bill find

Portland Bill 

The moral for this trip was plan better for better caching, even though the weather was against us most of the time we racked up about 40 caching miles for a 10 days and loved all of it.  We have the wet gear and the right shoes now we need to up grade the tech to make the most of a trip like this.  

Loving our work!

Last week I found myself in a dilemma, do I spend a stolen day caching alone or wait patiently?

So off I set alone for the first time caching alone, don't get me wrong I love caching together but this was my own little adventure.  Just on the out skirts of Epping forest in and out of the woods to track down several well hidden prizes!

The thing I did find doing it on my own was how handy that extra set of eyes can be, while I did smoke out all my goals I did spend a little to long on a couple thinking too hard!

As with many things in life caching is better when shared!

Building

The weather has prompted some planning this week.  A brightening outlook means we are getting desperate to get out more and cache!

Planning a cache can be important, where will we be going, are there any caches close by?

We love a bit of planning and I am currently absorbed with the idea of finding a cache on every trip out.  Shopping in town, can I cache? Get the car fixed, can I cache? Visit someone in hospital, only worth while is there is a travel bug to be had close by!

The other side of planning is the multi or clue cache that may need some prior research before we set out.  When we started this new hobby we would just head off in the general directions and look about, with directions and geomutts of course.  Now we have a kit that can be ready to go at a moments notice!

So planning is the name of the game for now, we have several mysteries solved from the comfort of home and are just itching to get out there!

Oh and mustn't forget it is almost the ideal weather for my new geoshorts!

Happy caching

Everyone loves a mystery

The mystery in question this time is.... how did I not know!

Geocaching makes you look at the familiar differently, is that really a sign? Are those real logs/bricks/stones?

We have started looking at things in the G-dimension, we wonder almost endlessly about hiding caching, finding caches or just planning the next outing. 

One thing that we are loving though is how caching is taking us to familiar places, giving us visual treats for areas we took for granted, yesterday saw us doing just that.  A morning to cache in meant we were off to the cliffs! We have been before, a stroll in the summer, sitting in the car enjoying the view over a busy port.  This time though we had a mission. 

A short walk down the cliffs to the edge revealed a path, with steps to nowhere! Down we plunged gripping tightly to the rail, still amazed this path was even here! All the way to the bottom, just a few feet above the waves hitting the chalk cliffs.  A small wooden bridge the last few steps and a tunnel is revealed! A remnant of this coasts defensive history no doubt. 

Into the tunnel and with brave hearts (dramatic I know) we forged onwards to the prize. 

Cache in hand, a few photos of the view and we were back up the cliff to the cafe! Have to say up was so much harder than down, puffing is standard on this journey!

Another cache that exposed a common place to us with a fantastic twist!

Wearing thin!

After the initial rush for caches and our excitement there should be a lull.  Not just yet though, we are still going strong. 

Determined to keep it up and having started a healthy eating plan too we are still on the hunt. 

An observation is that as we get more into caching the more we need "stuff" to cache with.  Luckily we already have sturdy walking boots and dogs, both items are important for walking.  We have a rucksack, gloves, hats, poo bags (for the dogs) and water bottles! All these things are desired for some caching but there are so many more things we can add to our needs. 

Thermals have been a bonus, unable to find a use in the past for the thermals we have in the drawer now we are shopping for more! Waterproof gloves for rooting around, regular gloves no longer cut it! The waterproof trousers before only used for golf or the 2 days of snow a year we usually get, now they are the choice of all good cachers (us). 

Then there is the "stuff" we now need (want), the things that would make the days even better! New walking boots, shoes and sandals (yes serious summer walking sandals). Micro fleece is a must, sweat repelling is oh so important when walking.  A stick, the walking variety, needed for hills and holding back the undergrowth. And so many more things we spot all the time. 

So the caching isn't slowing down, even in the current cold snap, we are brave hearty souls!

I have to say despite the cold and wet we still love getting out, the dogs need to walk regardless and they don't complain when we saddle them up for a days caching.  We are now planning our weekend getaways once we have settled our house sale and sorted out the boxes we are neglecting. The fun goes on and on, even though we are now having to make our caching circle wider every week!