Geocaching and Hurdles

Hello,

Some of you might be wondering what is Geocaching. According to geocaching.com... 

"Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location."

The containers vary in size from the size of an easer of a pencil to the size of an ammo can. They all have one thing in common, a log book. When you find the geocache, you sign the log, then replace back where you found it. Some of the bigger containers will have little toy/trinkets inside. The deal is that you are allowed to take something out as long as your replace it with another toy or trinket.

After you find the geocache, you then go on the computer later and log your find there as well. Geocaching.com does an awesome job playing around with stats.

When I was divorced and barely had a couple of nickels to rub together, I was looking for activities to do with my daughters that was cheap and fun. I was listening to a podcast, Stuff You Should Know, they were talking about geocaching. After listening, I checked out the website and found out I could sign up for free. I also figured that the only real expense was gas for the van and my time. The only hurdle I had at that moment was that I was in need of a GPS.

My dad had one. I don't remember the make or model of it, but at that time I willing to take what I could find. I checked the website for the closest geocache (which was located in a nearby park). 

I was excited. This sounded fun and I was hoping the girls would like this too.

The next time I had them, I took them out. My timing couldn't have been worse. For some reason we waited until it was dark, it was in the Fall, and it was cold. We parked the van in the lot, grabbed a couple of flashlights, and headed out. 

I had a horrible time trying to figure out how the use the GPS, but I thought I got us pretty close to where the geocache was suppose to be. We looked, and looked, and looked, the girls gave up and went back to the van, I looked, and looked, and looked, and then I finally gave up and headed back. My nose was running and my finger tips were getting numb. They thought geocaching was stupid. It turned out that the container that was suppose to be in that area where we looked was stolen.

Over the next few months, I went out on my own after saving my pennies for a better GPS. I had a blast. I got hooked. I waited until warmer weather to take the girls out again and see if I could change their mind about dad's new hobby.

In the Spring, I took them to a hiking trail in Maple Grove. We went to a spot where there was suppose to be a geocache. We looked together as a group for about ten minutes, they gave up and I kept looking. Couldn't find it. Their feelings of geocaching stayed the same, if not worse. Turns out this geocache went missing like the first one I took them to.

I still play the game and I currently found 1100 geocaches. I have slowed down a bit after I hit 1000 finds, but still go out every once in a while.

I had to jump some hurdles to get to 1000 finds. Getting a better GPS, getting some experience under my belt so finding caches became easier even though I don't consider myself an awesome geocacher, and finding the right times to go out.

Geocaching and Exploring Historic Route 66 is going to take some major hurdles....Time, Money, Energy (all of which I will talk about in future blogs).

No journey is worth it without having some kind of challenge to it. Is the taste of victory sweeter if it is handed to you versus working for it?

Life is one big huge journey filled with many littler journeys. Each journey has hurdles and stories to tell. Sometimes we fail, but most of the time...we win. I plan on winning this one.