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!

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!

The Dash

We have discovered another type of cache, the multi or series cache.  Works like this, you tear around when you should be doing something constructive looking for tiny caches!

Luckily for us there was a series of 11 caches close by for us to find.  All close to the road and discoverable easily with a cachers eye.  We left the geomutts (dogs, after a short time you put Geo before most ordinary words) and hopped into the car to up our tally.

Magnetic strip caches, magnetic nano caches, small film boxes and plastic vials, oh and a fake snail!  All of which were hidden in trees, on lamp posts and signs, fences and hoardings in a 5 miles or so circle!

A good way to spend a spare afternoon and so much better than returning library books or ironing.  We are moving soon and suddenly our priorities now include a good area to geocache. And the coins, oh how the coins are tempting us and the travel bugs but that's another story.....

We admit this is addictive…

After our first week we had to admit we were hooked, we both knew it.

We both had apps on our phones and were scouring the area for caches to hunt, it became our main topic of conversation! Our weekends became a merry go round of dog walking while caching, shopping while caching even visiting family because they lived close to a cache! 

We were also learning about the different types of cache to expect, false rocks, posts with holes in, hollow bolts and magnetic stickers were all to be found within a couple of miles.  But next on our list was a mystery cache! We sat on a Saturday evening not glued to the TV with a Takeaway but working out coordinates for an abbey we didn't know existed. 

Sunday came and according to our workings this would be a drive through the countryside to an area we had passed many times, there couldn't be an abbey there really could there? How do you miss an abbey in the countryside?  We did though, for 2 hours we searched for this goodly abbey, until dusk was apon us. 

Oh my word, it does exist and we're here!  We may have found the abbey but the prize was alluding us, torch light wasn't our friend this time.  A car stopped to ask what we were doing rummaging, quick think of something, a lost key was all I could come up with.  After a huff and another steely gaze the car moved on.

We had been defeated by our quarry and we were failures! The dark and the dying phone batteries were our final obstacles.  These we couldn't over come, we were tasting defeat and the drive home was full of remorse and regret.  The cache would have to wait for another day, we would return with better armour next time.