Geocaching... the experience!

After a less than successful start the first day out caching-- the second day dawned bright and clear. Pop and I headed up the interstate towards LR-UAMS and I was fascinated watching the progression on the Magellan's road navigation system. I realized as we sailed past the rest stop where the cache resides there was a mark I'd not seen on the previous outing. Oh!! So- THAT'S WHAT it's supposed to "DO" when I get close! Well-- maybe I can figure this thing out!! We'd meant to drive past, btw, as I needed to meet class and then check into clinic before traipsing around after a cache!

On the return trip I was really pumped!! I was gonna find it! I was just sure of it! The minute we pulled into the rest stop I knew two things. One- that it was located at the end of the park and by deciphering the hint, I was gonna be "logging" this one! I took off; armed with the GPS and my cell phone (to call back and let him know I'd found it!). The closer I got- the larger it loomed on my screen (no, not really- but, it seemed to!) and as I was almost there realized I'd failed to bring the camera out of the truck. Called Dad to tell him to bring it- and lo and behold- he'd failed to put his phone ON him and was following in my tracks. Okay-- no biggie. No camera to capture it; but, he would help search! Yippee!! It was debatable whether or not I'd been able to pique his interest!

Soon I was within 20 feet and amongst the briars when I realized this is not going to be as easy as I thought! The leaves were so thick back here- I was just thankful it wasn't tick and snake season! I'm in a dress for pity's sake!! Neared 12 feet. 8 feet. 6 feet. Well- I'm almost that tall! If I were to fall in any direction I'd probably hit it with my head! Had to remind myself to LOOK at the terrain rather than the GPS screen. Hmm.... well.. nothing but a lot of leaves and logs. Okay... look for a pathway. There did seem to be two. By this time I've handed the unit over to Dad so I can actually give my full attention to looking for subtle clues.

Dad kept taking a step forward and then a step backward- then two sideways, turn 90 degrees and repeat. Do we call this the geo-dance?? I'd already done that! I'm walking around him-- peering. FINALLY I spy metal! Ahhh-- that's IT I squeal. Uhh... wrong. It's an abandoned traffic sign. Close but no cigar. I keep looking. Dad's not getting antsy, but, I know he's not gonna want to spend a whole lot of time here. Hmmm..... wait a minute! What's THAT??? Dad-- roll that log over! And, sure enough! There it is! How very clever! The log has been hollowed out to easily slip over an ammo-box and conceal it from weather and non-gamers.

There it was in all it's glory! My first cache find! It's marked "geocache" on the side-- I'm in heaven! There should even be a travel-bug in this one! At least according to the geocache site! And, there it is! A cute little bear and the "tags". There are some other trinkets besides the log book! I quickly remember that arghhh-- I'd forgotten to bring my item to trade. Oh, well! I could still sign the log-book and be a part of the game! Dad seemed to be excited for me-- and as we walked back to the parking area; he was concocting ideas for items that would be easy to construct and leave for future cache trips!

A big thanks to cachemates for their placement of the cache. And, to Dad for his patience and willingness to put up with this- yet another "lark" of mine! I so look forward to the next adventure!

Here are the coorindates for my very first cache:
N 34° 21.166
W 092° 53.377

Dad and I talked "baseline" and survey points the rest of the trip home. Surprisingly-- we'd had almost this same discussion last Fall when we were talking about America's migration and settlement. How the surveyor's first came when it was known as the Louisana Purchase and then again after the War of 1812 and made land-grants for compensation to soldiers and how our family had moved on account of this and several other reasons. Wouldn't the surveyor's be delighted to use a GPS these days! Which got me to wondering if our local surveyor used it- I chanced to meet a neighbor who used to work with our local office and he said that they didn't- yet! But- that eventually that all the little ones would be going that way, too.

Oddly enough-- the subject of jobs using GPS came up again this week as I was reading my former neighbor's (Miz Pat's) account of her g-son, Billy, particpating in a Job Shadow Day. He was assigned to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department Environmental Division crew walking transects in the Cache River area recording GPS readings and looking for evidence of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker.

I've had a number of folks email me that this subject is fascinating but that they just don't "get it". Well-- me neither! I just know that I need to get "out" in order to get some exercise and marrying the "nerdy" gadgt part is just icing on the cake! I don't understand all the geek-speak on the geo-caching site; but, I'm having fun and I hope to have pictures from the next search. THAT"S the real appeal to me! If you want to join me on a site or suggest one- please feel free to leave an annonymous comment here or email me!