Cache-and-Go-Seek

Colin got a GPS a few weeks ago (when I got my iPod). I admit that at first, I thought it was a waste of money. What do we need an electronic map for? But my opinion has since changed.

It's not an electronic map. It doesn't only tell you where to go and how to get there. It has sunrise/sunset times, tide charts and tells you when a good time to fish is. And if you're on a road trip and want to go to Wendy's for lunch, it will find the closest Wendy's, give you the phone number and directions! How cool is that?

It has a "compass mode" too. We use it for our almost-daily walks. Colin will set a point on the GPS and hand it to me in compass mode, and then I have to find the point using the compass only. Gives our walks a bit more purpose!

This weekend, my appreciation of the GPS rose to a whole new level.

We discovered "Geocaching".

People have hidden little plastic containers all over the world. Then, they post the coordinates of the treasure on a geocache website. Anyone with a GPS can use these coordinates to find the treasure! They're everywhere! I'll bet everyone has walked right past one.

The plastic containers usually contain:
- a log book
- a pencil
- little treasures and trinkets

When you find the cache, you are supposed to sign the log book to prove you found it. Then, you take an item from the box, and leave one for the next person. Sometimes, people put gift certificates in it, as a REAL treasure for the first person to find the cache.

Since we were heading out to do some errands yesterday, we decided to check out a geocache on our way. Lets see what all this secret hype is all about! I deciphered a hint for the whereabouts of our treasure, Colin entered the exact location in the GPS, and off we went. We drove partway, then had to get out and walk through some trails in the woods. We found the area of the cache, but it was a heavily wooded area, so the GPS wasn't 100% exact on it's location in the area. So we had to search a bit. After about 10 minutes, the GPS gave me a clear signal and lead me right to it! I moved some sticks, and there it was.....our first find!

Inside the plastic box was the log book, pencil and about 10 trinkets that other cachers had left behind. Sometimes people don't take something out, so the trinkets can accumulate over time.

It was really exciting! We read through parts of the log book. The first entry was on March 29, 2005! It's been hidden for 2.5 years! So we left our trinket, didn't take anything, and went on to the errands we had to do.

A few hours later when we were at home, we sort of looked at each other and said "LETS GO DO SOME MORE!!!". So we perpared for a few more! The 2nd one of the day (on the PoCo trail) took a bit longer than the first. But we found it. Our treasure? $2!! Hey, this may pay off! Then we did one closer to home, and found it as well. We took a beanie baby from this one.

We got hooked on this new hobby in one day! Anyone interested for some adventure? Let us know! There's probably a cache in your neighbourhood!