The Joy of Geocaching Book » News

Two Very Good Reasons We Haven’t Geocached In a While

Paul — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:38:28 +0000

Dana and I have taken a forced break from geocaching for the past several months, but for a very good reason. They’re named Lillian Emma and Blair Isabelle, and they were born April 1, 2011. Here’s Dana with our two newest geocachers from this past Easter Sunday.

It was a difficult pregnancy, as twins often are. Dana was on bed rest for four months. She’s mending quickly, though, and we expect to hit the trails again sometime this summer, but our caching will be somewhat curtailed until the twins are more mobile. In the meantime, we’re declaring FTF on Lil and Blair.

Now the big question: For the immediate future, should they share a single geocaching.com ID or each get their own?

Dana with new geocachers Lillian (l.) and Blair Gillin

Offbeat Public Network Could Be a Geocaching Tool

Paul — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 03:27:38 +0000

Our friend David Strom alerted us to this offbeat variation on geocaching. Dead Drops is an anonymous story-sharing network that uses a simple approach to exchanging information. As the site explains, “USB flash drives are embedded into walls, buildings and curbs accessible to anybody. Everyone is invited to drop or find files. Plug your laptop into a wall, house or pole to share your favorite files and data.”

In other words, plug in and share your story in any format – text, audio or video – and others may come along and retrieve it. We think this could have great application to geocaching. Many multi-stage caches use interim waypoints that feature coordinates written in marker. What if those waypoints could include stories or puzzles, too? You plug your laptop or tablet into an exposed USB port and get your information about the next coordinate that way.

Has anyone tried this? If not, who’ll be the first to incorporate a Dead Drop into a geocache?

Joy of Geocaching Featured in Publix Magazine

Paul — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:41:36 +0000

Whenever we go to Orlando on one of our frequent Disney trips, we stock up on provisions at the local Publix supermarket. So we were pleased to get a call from a writer for Publix Greenwise magazine recently. We didn’t even know Publix had a magazine, but we were happy to speak to the reporter.

We just got the latest issue of Greenwise and we like it a lot. In addition to recipes, there’s health advice, nutrition tips and stories on how to get outdoors with your family. So geocaching was naturally a great topic, particularly for the spring issue. it just arrived in our mailbox with a two-page feature called “High-Tech Hide & Seek.” We were pleased to be quoted there. Click the link to download a PDF of the whole story.

Geocaching News 9/10/10

Paul — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:21:32 +0000

Android app is like Foursquare meets Pirate Bay – CNet

Trackdropper is an Android app that lets users “drop” songs from their phone’s music collection in physical locations. Then, other users can go on treasure hunts to find and play the dropped songs. The idea is to use geocaching to make music piracy more like old-fashioned nautical piracy–a hunt for booty. I don’t have an Android handset so haven’t been able to test it myself, but the video demonstration looks fascinating.”

A Geocaching Manifesto – Unsigned

This cacher got pretty steamed about descriptions that he found to be misleading and deceptive, so he wrote a manifesto to cache owners that advocates for the seeker. He makes some good points, but he didn’t sign it and comments are disabled (unless you’re logged in to his WordPress account). Still needs work.

Cacher of the Month Interview: Mud in the Face – The Maritime Geocaching Association

The association posts a Q&A interview with mud in the face, whose real names are Eric and Janet and who are about to pass the 3,000-find mark. They talk about how they got started, their unusual handle, favorite caches, unusual finds and more. Lots of photos.

Geocaching Family Adventure Day – SouthernPlate.com

Great tutorial by Christy Jordan about how to get started with geocaching. Veterans may not learn a lot here, but Christy covers the basics very well, including how to cache with an iPhone. Lots of photos and more than 300 comments from would-be cachers on SouthernPlate.com!

Voyager Class Participates In Biannual Geocaching Event – (Gig Harbor, WA) Gateline

A geocaching flash mob: “When a whistle blew at Jerisich, people who appeared to be Saturday park walkers convened at one spot near the fisherman’s memorial, signed logs met each other, had a drawing for prizes and then they all “froze” after another whistle and didn’t move for 30 seconds.”

With GPS In Hand, They Hunt For Hidden ‘Treasure’ – St. Louis Today

“The Lewis and Clark geocache was created in 2002 in New York with the instruction that it should be moved, when possible, along the route the explorers took in 1803-06. It was incumbent upon those who found it and moved it to enter the new GPS coordinates on the main geocaching website.

“In July, Roberts trekked 7½ miles, out-and-back, in Skagway, Alaska, to find the metal ammo box with ‘Lewis and Clark’ on its side. But the plush toys representing Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Lewis’ dog Seaman were missing. According to the unofficial rules of geocaching, they should have been in the ammo box…”

Unique Geocaching Containers – More Creativity and Fun – TrailsOptional.com

“I love caching and I love finding new and innovative geocaching containers. Here are some new and interesting caches I have fun across as well as the older list of interesting ideas!” This blog post has some great photos of unusual containers like this one.

Make The Garmin GPS 76 Your Geocaching Companion – Best GPS For GeoCaching Guide

“While the Garmin GPS 76 is aimed at the serious fisherman, hunter, and wasteland trekker, it should also be considered one of the top choices for hard core geocachers.”

Coverage of Our Recent Geocaching Presentation and More…

Paul — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 01:53:41 +0000

Geocaching – High-Tech Search for Treasure - Hopkinton (MA) Crier, Sept. 3, 2010

Geocaching is catching on. Just ask Paul and Dana Gillin who wrote the book “The Joy of Geocaching.” The Framingham-based authors spoke at the Hopkinton Public Library about a growing sport of treasure hunting using a hand-held GPS system and a computer.
The hour-long presentation, with about 20 people in attendance, gave newbie geocachers and more experienced hunters the opportunity to learn about the endless possibilities geocaching offers.

“It’s not about finding the treasure, it’s about the experience and where you go,” Paul said. “It’s about the things you see and the people you meet,’’ Dana agreed.

3 Must-Have Android Apps for Geocaching

Here are three fantastic geocaching apps for Andrioid that can help you find one of the 1,161,435 active geocaches around the world…

Geocaching ‘Almost Addictive’ Outdoor Treasure Hunt Hobby

Local geocache fans do not have to go far away to participate. Currently, Coweta County has a geocache box at the Coweta County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s welcome center on Walt Sanders Drive east of Newnan.

“A person working in our events department geocaches, and she wanted to add one to the visitors center,” said Pam Mayer, welcome center coordinator. “Since then we’ve had 87 people log in at our box. It’s now filled with little trinkets like travel locks and Georgia buttons. We enjoy knowing that it’s out there and always make sure it’s filled with fun gifts for visitors.”

Geocaching with Preschoolers

Geocaching with your kids can be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences…but it can also be the most difficult and frustrating thing you’ll ever do. Combing the addictive desire to find the cache and the attention span of young people is, sometimes, a recipe for disaster. For those who look there are a number of very good articles out there on how to geocache with kids that can help make the experience better for all involved. As the father of two under 5′s (+ another on the way) I’ve spent plenty of time looking at this information and ideas. While the articles are great I haven’t found one that specifically dealt with my situation – Geocaching with Preschoolers!

Geocaching News 8/26/2010

Paul — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:52:16 +0000

Using GPS for Survival Geocaching

Spinning off of geocaching for recreational use, geocaching can also come in handy for survival purposes. Here we will explore some of the ways that a GPS unit can be employed from an emergency preparedness standpoint…

Reference: Using GPS for Survival Geocaching

Geocaching Brings Out the Kid in All of Us

R.J. Telford writes of geocaching for an older audience. He includes a video that shows how 53 –year-old Paul Alexander started geocaching and soon involved his 88-yea0 old father, Bruce and 12-year-old daughter, Sara in the game. Since beginning at age 85, Bruce has found 1,543 caches.

Reference: Geocaching – an adventure game

Taking it Outside: A Gamer’s Take on Geocaching

With the evolution of GPS technology, there is now a way to flip the original concept and take a game of exploration, out into the world… Does enough appeal exist within geocaching to attract an ilk stereotypically known for shunning the sun and any tree not named Yggdrasil?

Reference: Taking it Outside: A Gamer’s Take on Geocaching

Treasure hunts go high-tech with geocaching

Tamara Johnson (left) and Jill Read find a geocache hanging from a tree near Newton, North Carolina. Geocaching is a high tech treasure hunt, using GPS to find treasure left by other geocachers.

I find a log sheet where others have made their mark, and trinkets including toy cars and small figurines. I write my geocache name and take a car. In exchange, I leave a travel-sized bottle of Off for a future hunter. I’m now officially a geocacher…

Reference: Treasure hunts go high-tech with geocaching

Crosby Farm Clean-Up

Some Twin Cities residents took time out of their Saturday to help restore one metro park. The National Park Service along with volunteers worked this morning to help clean up and restore Crosby Farm Regional Park in St. Paul…Many of the volunteers who helped rangers are familiar with Crosby Farm park because they often are in the park geocaching. (Ironically, the National Park Service prohibits geocaching on its property – ed)

Reference: Crosby Farm Clean-Up by FOX 9 News

The Joy of Geocaching at the Geocaching Shop

We’ve read it and now we have it in stock; get your copy of The Joy of Geocaching now from The Geocaching Shop!

Reference: The Joy of Geocaching – Book by The Geocaching Shop

Geocaching News 8/25/2010

Paul — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:56:36 +0000

“The Geocaching Triad” Geocaching.com’s Lost & Found Video

This video follows Ohio, USA geocachers Keith Lemons (keithlemons) and Nancy Steyer (27jack) as they visit the three caches required to complete the Triad. Beware, the video containers spoilers.

The Triad is one of the crowning achievements of geocaching. Geocachers must log three specific geocaches: the APE Cache Mission 9: Tunnel of Light, Groundspeak Headquarters and the Original Stash Cache. Each find is rich in geocaching tradition. The geocaches do not need to be logged in any particular order.

Reference: “The Geocaching Triad” Geocaching.com’s Lost & Found Video … by Eric Schudiske

Greencastle-Antrim High School Teacher Wants to Start a Geocaching Club at School

A new club may be coming to Greencastle-Antrim High School students if the school board approves a request to create a geocaching club…“This extracurricular activity will provide opportunities for students to learn more about the region in which they live, connect to other students and teachers outside of the classroom environment and participate in a fun, educational and challenging hobby.”

Reference: Greencastle-Antrim High School teacher wants to start a geocaching club at school by Waynesboro Record Herald

Frugal Fun- Geocaching | A Few Short Cuts

Sometimes it takes a little bit of creativity to come up with fun activities for the family, especially ones that are inexpensive! I don’t have kids yet, but my hubby and I are outdoor adventurers and we both LOVE having fun! We are on an extremely tight budget, with almost no wiggle room for extra expenses.

In addition to our walks through the park, homemade pizza and library movie nights at home, days at the beach, and cups of shared coffee at Barnes & Noble…There is one REALLY fun and unique activity that we enjoy: Geocaching!

Reference: Guest Post: Frugal Fun- Geocaching | A Few Short Cuts by Amanda @ A Few Short Cuts

Groundspeak Gets Social

Paul — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:52:21 +0000

Maybe this is a case of total coincidence or possibly great minds thinking alike, but when we wrote The Joy of Geocaching, we noted that geocaching.com’s social networking features were weak at best and the Groundspeak itself was an ineffective participant in social networks. My, how times have changed. Here’s a snip from Groundspeak’s latest newsletter:

You can join Lackeys and tens of thousands of geocachers on Groundspeak’s Facebook page, Twitter feed, YouTube and Flickr account.

Geocaching.com also offers online discussion forums where geocachers around the world “meet” to ask questions, provide advice and discuss the activity in general.

Use Get Satisfaction, our new feedback tool, to share your comments, questions, concerns and praise about Geocaching.com. Lackeys are monitoring your suggestions so that we may improve the geocaching experience!

Want to enjoy a unique perspective on geocaching? Explore and comment on the official Geocaching.com blog, Latitude 47.

Welcome to the social media world, lackeys!

Celebrating Human Stories

Paul — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:11:41 +0000

The Joy of Geocaching is a celebration of stories; the hundreds told to us by veteran cachers barely scratched the surface of the rich experiences that players have related in logs over the last decade. We decided to make stories the centerpiece of the book, so we were tickled this week to learn that Geocaching.com is now doing the same thing. As part of its 10th anniversary celebration, Groundspeak has added a “Lost & Found” section to its website where cachers can log their stories in an archive. Groundspeak is even collecting video anecdotes!

We’ve been doing the same thing on this site for more than a year. Do we dare say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

Seriously, we’re delighted to see Groundspeak formally recognizing the joy that geocaching has given so many people over the last 10 years. This is a welcome addition to Geocaching.com and an inspiration for more people to play this terrific game.

Concern Over GPS Network Stability

Paul — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:57:40 +0000

Is the GPS satellite network in peril? According to The Straight Dope, it is. We reported briefly in our book on a US Government Accountability Office report last spring that expressed concern about whether the GPS network could be maintained for very long as satellites age. You need 24 functional satellites for global coverage and we’ve got 31, but satellites will don’t last forever and we’re apparently not replacing the aging ones as fast as we should. The GAO estimates that the probability that all 24 satellites will be operational four years from now is as low as 80%. However, the Air Force says it has the matter well in hand and with so many people relying upon the satellite network for everything from vehicle navigation to geocaching, it seems unlikely that the government will let things deteriorate too far.