What to do when not in the garden, canning or sewing? Geocache!

Last year, we picked up a new hobby that we have recently fallen back in love with.  It's called geocaching.  What is it, you ask?

Cache #1, surprisingly hard to find

From www.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.

There are some rules for geocaching though: 

(Again taken directly from www.geocaching.com)

Lexi loves exchanging toys!

1. If you take something from the geocache (or "cache"), leave something of equal or greater value.
2. Write about your find in the cache logbook.
3. Log your experience at www.geocaching.com.

I encourage anyone who is curious to go to the website and check it out. There is a ton of information there for the learning! BEWARE! You will want to get out your unused GPS and get hunting before you know it! Once you begin, you won't want to quit!

Shane's first find, Cache #2

In April of 2011, we took the plunge and started hunting for caches.  Our first day out, we logged 4 finds (Lexi and I found the first one and the other three we located once Shane joined us).  They were a tremendous amount of fun.  We learned a little about hiding places, as well as the containers they might be hidden in, broadening our interest in the activity and sparking us to do more.

Quite appropriate for our first cache!

The first cache was rewarding in itself, as it was very kid friendly and it even announced what we had found!

We went out a few days later (this time it was Mom and I), finding 6 more on a trip from Milan to Clinton (our route may have been altered to accommodate cache locations).  We were pulling a trailer behind the truck, so our choices were deliberate and careful, so as not to get stuck anywhere.

Tree #3 was nestled in

#4 showed us that containers vary widely

Soon after, we took another day out and found another 3.  We were hooked.   Unfortunately, the weather was awkward all spring and summer and we never made it out again.  When I say awkward, I mean it went from sloppy wet in the spring to hotter than blazes and buggy as all get out for the remainder of the season.  By the time the weather cooled,  I was working nearly full time and simply didn't have it in me to get back out on the weekends.  

We decided when the weather broke in the spring of 2012, we would get back out there and try to make more of a go of it.  We all enjoy it so much, we really just need to discipline ourselves more to not worry about the chores and just engage in good old family fun!  After all, we clear our minds of worry, focus on a fun search, spend time together, see nature, get some exercise and bond as a family while caching. What's not to love!

Here are some other pics from our 2011 caching adventures:

Cache #5

Mom's first find!  It was cold, but she was hooked too!

This is the tree we found #5 in.  What a lovely late winter scene!

 Cache #6, part of a series at stop signs

Cache #7

Proof that caches come in all sizes. #10

#8 Nestled behind some
loose bark

 Our ninth find could not be photographed without looking ridiculous due to it's location. Additionally, we were working fast to locate and log since it was placed in a busy area with lots of :"muggles."

Muggles are those who are not cachers and are, consequently, often suspicious of those lurking about on the hunt for caches! :-)

#11 dressed in camo paint

#12 Snuggled into a tree

#13 out in the open, but still
took time to find!

I will catch us up on our caching adventures in new posts, coming soon!