Geocaching...

So there's this thing that I had read about long ago that sounded interesting, but I never followed through with checking it out.

It's called geocaching, and basically it's a high tech treasure hunt that uses a GPS receiver and coordinates to find some kind of little cache. Sometimes the cache has a prize in it, other times it's just a log book, but it's always got something in it.

Well, I figured that with some of the other hobbies that I've got, and the fact that I'm going to try to spend more time outdoors this summer, that maybe it was time to look into it again. I figure that geocaching goes naturally with bike riding, motorcycling, and kayaking. That, and the price of a GPS receiver that is accurate enough to actually work with this hobby is to the point where anyone can afford it now.

So I started seeking out information and found a website: Geocaching

I tried to sign up there, but it said my username was already taken. Now, I've been using Gimpdiggity as a username on websites, video game consoles, and other things for YEARS, and I have never once come across this problem. So after thinking for a second what other name I could use, I tried logging in to the site with the username and a password that would have been something I used back then. Success!!! Apparently I signed up for the website back in August of 2001...but I had never actually used it at all. So it's kind of funny now, because I made a post there and all the people that replied have thousands of posts, but none of them had been around since before my join date. It was a bit confusing for most of them, I think.

Well, anyways, I started looking around for good beginning units, and I stumbled across a web site that did some reviewing of a unit by Magellan called the "SporTrak Pro." This web site was from a few years ago, but was basically claiming that the Magellan was the end-all when it comes to starting out with geocaching. It also claimed that you could get them on Ebay for well under $100. So I hit up Ebay and found one that was ending soon. For $44, with free shipping. I started a bid war and ended up getting it for like $47 and change. Not bad considering it will be shipped for free and it looks brand new.

I also found on the Geocaching.com site that they have a database of caches that you can search for by zip code. I plugged in my zip code and found literally tons of them within about 45 minutes drive of me. It rates them by difficulty of terrain and by how much time it takes to complete them.

I'm looking forward to getting out and making my first find. I even found a few that say that the only way to get to them is by canoe or kayak, which will give me a perfect reason to go spend a day out on the kayak. Another cool think about the site is that you can place your own cache and track it's status as far as what people think of it.

I also like the idea of this as a hobby because you can take the GPS anywhere, and if you have a laptop with you as well you could easily get coordinates from anywhere that you are to go out and find a cache near there. For example, when Cathy and I go back to Vegas this fall, I can take the GPS with us and we can take an hour or so to head out of town and find a cache out in the dessert or something like that. Or when I go over to the cottage, I can take it there.