The Joy of Geocaching Book » Stories

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

Capt Biggins and his Joyous Geocache

Dana — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:13:10 +0000

We can’t thank our buddy Capt Biggins enough. Whatever they say about imitation and flattery, we’re just in awe that someone would do this. We’re virtually blushing and hugging the Capt at the same time. We just hope he’s a gentle hugger — that hook can get in the way!

Alamogul and nvsrvyr at GeoWoodstock VIII

Dana — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 22:15:56 +0000

Alamogul and nvsrvyr talk about their 900-find powercaching day in Nevada and also about their favorite adventure caches.

Digitalfish at GeoWoodstock VIII

Dana — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 22:12:49 +0000

Digitalfish came up to our booth at GeoWoodstock VIII and we got him talking about how much work labeling and packaging the little fish actually is. But, he says, it’s worth it when he reads all the letters and logs.

Night-Ranger at GeoWoodstock VIII

Dana — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 22:11:37 +0000

Night-Rangers’ story illustrates how geocaching is all about fun. And avoiding brambles!

Plantdude at GeoWoodstock VIII

Dana — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 22:09:52 +0000

Plantdude bumps into cachers he met a week before several hundred miles away.

Psychly and Trekly at GeoWoodstock VIII

Dana — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 22:07:44 +0000

We caught up with Psychly and Trekly at GeoWoodstock VIII and asked them about their geocaching wedding.

Renewing Geocaching Friendships

Paul — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:42:57 +0000

At Geowoodstock VII in 2009, we had the good fortune to run into the Campbell family from Spokane, WA (and now also Denton, TX) in a lunch line. We had a great time talking to them, and we loved their clever geocaching handles. The first photo below, which ran on page 25 of The Joy of Geocaching, was one of our favorites.

So you can imagine how thrilled were to run into the Campbells again at Geowoodstock VIII. Bikely & Wifely are closing in on 4,000 finds and Trekly & Psychly have just over 1,500. T&P were married last year and are students at the University of North Texas. Casey is working on his master’s and Bethy is closing in on her doctorate in counseling psychology. Lee & Cookie are empty-nesters in Spokane who always enjoy the chance to get together with the kids for a little family caching. Great to see you all!

Lee, Bethy, Casey and Cookie at Geowoodstock VII

And at Geowoodstock VIII