The Joy is in the Journey

At one time I hated to drive any long distance with our young children in the van. I would attack the journey, considering every vehicle I passed a personal conquest on the way to our destination. The problem was that I was the only one who took the conquest serious. My actual foes were the passengers in my own vehicle. One of our kids would say “I need a drink”, while another would say “I need to go pee” or even worse - the dreaded “number two”, and because four of our five kids are girls, the bush on the side of the road was usually NOT AN OPTION. The first 100 miles of a trip would take the same length of time as the last 250. One time I figured out that we actually had an average of one stop every ten miles.

Now our older kids (the first batch) have matured and grown, but the younger kids (9 & 11) are worse on my patience. They have learned the best ways to push my buttons from the older group and then came up with some of their own. Tricks like saying, “I think I am going to be sick” just moments before they threw up. The actual throwing up part only happened on occasion, it was a tactical move on their part (I am sure of it). The message was that they were serious and this could be the time that the whole back seat would be covered, if I didn’t take action. It happened often enough that I was not able to gamble with the results. I needed to take action NOW!!!

This battle took place for many years - until I discovered Geocaching. Now when they need to take a break I check the GPS for the nearest cache. I drop them off to get drinks, and let them have their potty break. Instead of watching all the vehicles drive by and of fuming about my position in the race, and complaining about excessive pit stops I get another caching experience in a foreign land. Geocaching maintains sanity. 

Geocaching with kids

Taking the kids Geocaching always adds to the adventure but there are some things to do to make it successful.

Plan ahead: when choosing what types of caches to include in the pocket query decide what your kid’s abilities are

Types of cache

Traditional

Letterbox

Containers

Regular

Large

That

  I haven’t found

  Are not on my ignore list

  Is enabled

  Found in the last 7 days

  Have travel bugs

Attributes to include

Recommended for kids

Public restrooms nearby

Attributes to exclude

Dangerous area

Dangerous animals

Poison plants

The problem with a pocket query with these strict criteria is I only ended up with five in a 100 mile area. When I took travel bugs off the results went up to 17 when I took off the nearby public restrooms the results jumped to 122. I did not plan on taking the kids far so I put the search to 30 miles I came up with 23. Once you have a good list like this hit the blue ribbon on the top of the menu, this will put the caches with the most favorite votes at the top. Make a note of these and be sure to visit these caches.

Hazards of Geocaching: Know when to move on

Electrical hazards: Be careful around the Lamp Post Cache (LPC) or high voltage boxes. This may be the time to just Move On because even though electricity is our friend- it can kill in large doses. It’s also a good idea to keep an ear out for the buzzing of an electrified fence.

Cell phones should be part of the equipment that is taken when caching alone. Sometimes it is difficult to keep a good signal. My wife worries that I will fall and break a leg and I won’t be able to get help out of a bad situation. Stay in touch and always let someone know where you are going and when you plan on returning. I break this rule all the time. I know it is pretty dumb and will probably bite me in the butt one day.

Recognize your limits and constantly evaluate your situation. Always consider temperature, darkness, weather, time and distance. If the situation is not safe at the time, like there is a swarm of bee’s just inches away from the cache, walk or run away and come back another day, it should still be there later. If you're allergic to bee stings, take your epi-pen. If you can learn when to move on you can save yourself loads of trouble

The Hazards of Geocaching Prepared Clothing

Clothing: The right clothing, whether we are dressing for the heat or the cold is vital. Gloves, sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots, long pants are just a start. The important thing is to think about where you are going and be prepared.

Younger Geocachers should dress in bright colors, so they can be seen easier. A number of years ago our scout troop had bright orange camo hats with our logo silk screened on the front. As a leader I could sit up on a hillside over the scout camp and account for every one of our scouts because the orange stood out like a sore thumb. A whistle on a cord around their neck is also a good idea and could save a child’s life. Kids are so easy to lose track of. It’s always good to stack the deck in your favor.

Sunscreen and a hat: protecting yourself from sunburn is essential in having a good time while Geocaching. The thing is you don’t realize there is a problem till it’s too late and you’re sun burned. “OUCH!”

The Hazards of Geocaching (Weather)

Weather: It is a good idea to check the weather conditions before you head out; it is often said if you don’t like the weather in Utah wait ten minutes cause it will change. This isn’t always true but it could happen when you’re not prepared and cause some real problems. Whether hot or cold, wet or dry, every weather condition offers unique challenges when Geocaching especially when you are miles away from civilization. The important thing is to be prepared, so check the current and future weather conditions before you plan your geocache outing. Be aware there could be rain, thunderstorms, snow, extreme heat, etc. the best thing is to plan and pack accordingly. Or even decide to stay local and postpone the excursion for another day.  

Rain: if there is a possibility for rain pack a plastic rain poncho it is best if it has a hood. You can get a cheap one that is compact and just throw it in your day pack. When wet the possibility hypothermia goes up drastically and a poncho or waterproof clothing can prevent this. If the rain is heavy go to higher ground away from streambeds and gullies this is an attempt to avoid flash floods. Stay on the trail, and find your way back as quickly as possible. However, if the rain is too thick to continue on the trail, take shelter under a hollow log or a rock overhang until the downpour lets up.

Lightning storms may accompany rain and can turn tragic this last year two scouts were hit while at summer camp one ended up fatal. Being in a high open area is a huge no!! no!! It is best to find a low area with a dense thicket of small trees. The feeling of static like your hair is standing on end is an indication that lightning is about to strike. If you feel this sensation get as low as you can, Squat, put your hands over your ears, and put your head between your knees, and make yourself as small as possible.  

Snow: Winter caching is not for me, I have no desire to get out into the snow. For those crazy cachers out there you should bring extra clothing and also dress in layers. For sudden heavy snow conditions (blizzard) try and reach a lower elevation as quickly as possible, but do it safely. Keep as dry as you can and stay warm.

The Hazards of Geocaching (Dehydration)

Drink plenty of water! Utah is a desert and water is a must. But in other areas of the world that are not as dry it is still important to have water. Signs that you are starting to become dehydrated are: headache, muscle cramps, blurry vision, dizziness, and fainting. If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to start drinking large amounts of water it is also a good idea to carry along some electrolyte single packets. Dehydration is a serious thing and is easy to avoid with planning. 

WARNING – WARNING! Natural sources of water are not always safe to drink so it is best to pack your own water or buy a filter. Bacterial parasites inhabit most streams in the mountains. If you run out and don't have a filter boiling stream water for at least 3-5 minutes is the most reliable way to treat in a pinch. The result of drinking untreated water is not desirable. (Ewww…)

Talk Like A Pirate Day 2011

Today be International talk like a pirate day, so I changed th' play list and have postponed th' hazard and safety tips have you ever thought o' pirates and safety in th' same line, they usually arrrr missin' some body part, an eye, leg, or hand. go t' th' official Talk Like A Pirate Day Web site for more info

English translation

Today is International talk like a pirate day, so I changed the play list and have postponed the hazard and safety tips have you ever thought of pirates and safety in the same line, they usually are missing some body part, an eye, leg, or hand. go to the official Talk Like A Pirate Day Web site for more info

Have a GREAT day!!!

Hazards of Geocaching First Aid

Bring a first aid kit. It seems that when we go Geocaching someone always gets a scratch, scrape, or cut. It’s just part of getting out into nature. But when it happens it’s good to put something on it to protect it from getting dirty and infected. Your first aid kit can be small and should have loads of band aids and some antibiotic ointment, perhaps some alcohol wipes. My family got me a kit for my birthday that even included a snake bite kit. My wife is certain that I am going to trip over a snake someday.

Here are the contents of the first aid kit shown above. 

1) First Aid Guide
1) Scissors
1) Tweezers
4) Vinyl Gloves (2 Pair)
10) Cotton-Tipped Applicators
1) Emergency Whistle
3) Sting Relief Pads
9) Antiseptic Towelettes
20) Alcohol Prep Pads
1) Instant Cold Pack
1) Triangular Bandage
1) 5" X 9" Combine Dressing
20) 3/8" X 1-1/2" Bandages
20) 3/4" X 3" Bandages
10) Butterfly Closures
1) Knuckle Bandage
2) Knee/Elbow Bandages
6) 2" X 2" Sterile Gauze Pads
3) 3" X 3" Sterile Gauze Pads
1) 4" X 4" Sterile Gauze Pad
1) 2" Conforming Gauze
2) 1/2" Adhesive Tape

The Hazards of Geocaching (Equipment Terrain)

My first GPS receiver was the Magellan ColorTRAK circa 1998 I bought it for $20 from the classifieds. The press release on the Magellan site bragged the world's first high-resolution, color display in a portable GPS receiver; the new ColorTrak is taking GPS to a whole new level. This pocket-sized unit provides outstanding lock-on tracking… And it goes on and on. If you had a big pocket you could fit it in. The truth is the unit was the size of a small brick, but the batteries lasted forever. I was working with the varsity scouts at the time and we were on our 100 mile bike ride this was a great opportunity to go Geocaching. The first one on my list was Hells Backbone.

Hells backbone GCQWKZ  A cache by moquicacher and GS&gs  hidden 10/8/2005 N 37° 58.172 W 111° 35.733

Cache is located near Hells Backbone Bridge, which was constructed by C.C.C. men in 1933 to cross a deep gorge to connect Escalante and boulder. The cache is an ammo box with original contents of log book pencils and sharpener, light stick, mini flashlight, sunglasses, disposable camera, nail clippers, multi-tool and insect repellent wipes. Hint Look in a crack in the rock out cropping near small twin trees.

At the time my GPS about 9 years old and technology has come a long way since then. This GPS was a great way to develop finding skills because the accuracy was terrible. I got close to the location, I was holding on to a tree and leaning over a cliff looking straight down my GPS said I was .02 miles away. I remembered the terrain was a 2 so I must be missing something. Then I remembered the hint about the twin trees and realized that I was holding on to one of them, I was just about standing on it. If it were a snake… well you get the idea.

This was the first time I found a cache large enough that something larger than a piece of paper could be in it so I was unprepared for this phenomenon actual stuff in a Geocache I took my wife’s Betty Boop key ring off and traded for a 4 Queens Hotel key ring. I thought it was a Good Trade but Vi later informed me that it wasn’t.

Moral of the story:

1. It’s nice to have accurate equipment.

2. Have stuff to trade because you may run into a cache that has good stuff in it.

3. Don’t trade other peoples stuff.

The Hazards of Geocaching (Terrain)

I cannot tell you the many times I have misused and done damage to my vehicles when in search of “the find”.  The following is just one example.

Green Valley, AZ GCK7XF      N 36° 53.638 W 113° 55.581

This ammo can is a quick stop on Exit 11 and less than 400 feet from a spot even the lowest of low riders can park. If you're rig can drive through sand, a dirt road will get you within 30 feet. Happy caching!

So here is how it went….

Bob     “Just one quick stop honey, it won’t take long. I promise”,

You can’t drive through Arizona just yards from a cache and not go looking, right?

Vi       “Ok, but let’s hurry, I’m hungry and we’re almost to Mesquite.”

I tried to reassure her,

Bob     “this is a quick one; it’s just here off the road a few feet.”

Vi        “Um…are you sure about this? It looks a little sandy out there.”

Bob     “Yeah, yeah, It’ll be fine…” ,

I crept out slowly in our Dodge, Caravan toward the find, It had rained a little and the sand seemed firm, The cache was just too much to resist this was my first one in Arizona. It was actually about 350 feet from the road. Of course, if I would have read all the instructions on the cache site I would have known that we would never make it. I pressed on.

Vi        “Honey, I really think this is a bad idea. Are you sure we shouldn’t just turn around or something?”

Bob     “Oh you worry too much, we’ll be fine.”

We got out about 20 ft. before I realized we were in trouble. Suddenly the van ground to a halt. Only the top 2 inches were firm.

We both quickly hopped out to evaluate the situation at least that is what I was doing. Vi got out to take pictures.

Bob     What are you doing?

Vi      I am documenting this for posterity sake.

Time has healed all wounds but at the time it just made a bad situation worse, I am now glad she took a picture.

Moral of the story: Read the instructions first! This has always been a difficult step for me to follow, and I still don’t until after I can’t find the cache or there is a problem. It increases the adventure factor.

The Hazards of Geocaching (Bees)

It was my 250th find and I thought I would just do a quick cache without any fanfare and, hit the milestone. BUT!!! As I started looking around and found the cache my eyes saw movement just a few inches from cache. Dang BEES!!!  At this point I should have walked away and checked the cache another day, but I picked up a stick and reached past the bees, scooted the cache closer so I could grab it. I quickly stepped back, and thought I got away, BUT even though I was 25ft away I was starting to get hit in the head by bees wanting me to get out of their area. I kept running. I must have looked like the scene in Tommy boy with the bees. Even at 50ft away and they are still hitting me. After a few more seconds the assault was over. My thought was sign the log and get out of there. So after a few minutes I put the cache back. I tossed it back in place, it didn't land exactly the way I found it but I did not get stung. BEWARE of bees, yellow jackets tiz the season.

50+ Geocaching Playlist

I love listening to music and thought I would put a playlist together with some great Geocaching songs. The message or title of the song have something to do with Geocaching.  

1. Searchin’ – The Coasters

2. Road To Nowhere – Talking Heads

3. The Wanderer – Dion

4. I’m Walkin’ – Fats Domino

5. Into The Great Wide Open – Tom Petty

6. You Ain’t Seen Nuthin’ Yet –Rockafella

7. I Get Around – The Beach Boys

8. Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2

9. Going In Circles – Friends of Distinction

10. Saturday In The Park – Chicago

11. Helplessly Hoping – Crosby, Stills And Nash

12. Round Here – Counting Crows

13. Take The Long Way Home – Supertramp

14. Run Through The Jungle – CCR

15. Can’t You See – The Marshall Tucker Band

16. Changes In Latitudes – Jimmy Buffet

17. Take A Look Around – Limp Bizkit

18. Walk don’t run – the Ventures

19. With A Little Luck – Wings

20. Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) – Janis Joplin

21. It Don’t Come Easy – George Harrison

22. Round And Round – Selene Gomez

23. Lunatic Fringe – Red Rider

24. Looking For Clues – Robert Palmer

25. Follow Your Heart – Triumph

26. This Must Be The Place – Talking Heads

27. Walk This Way – Aerosmith

28. I looked All Over Town – Darryl Blood

29. Radar Love – Golden Earring

30. Ramble On – Led Zeppelin

31. Play The Game Tonight – Kansas

32. Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band

33. The closer you get – Alabama

34. Lovin’ Every Minute Of It – Loverboy

35. Pursuit on 53rd St. – Doobie Brothers

36. Turn On Your Receiver – Nazareth

37. I Know You’re Out There Somewhere – Moody Blues

38. Highway to Hell  AC/DC

39. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy – Sarah McLachlan

40. Rambling Man  the Allman Brothers

41. You spin me right round – Dead or Alive

42. 500 Miles – The Proclaimers

43. Take It To The Limit – Eagles

44. Beneath, Between And Behind – Rush

45. Extreme Ways – Bourne Identity

46. Under The Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers

47. So Far Away – Carole King

48. Running on Empty –  Jackson Browne

49. She Drives Me Crazy – Fine Young Cannibals

50. Good Times Roll – The Cars

51. Drive  - The Cars

52. Arrested For Driving Blind – ZZ Top

I am sure that this list does not even scratch the surface but feel free to add some titles in the comment section.

Group Geocaching

Going Geocaching in a group is fun and can be an education. Josh Snyder is a leader of our local Scout troop 916, he is also an adjunct instructor at UVU in the biology department. So while we are walking through a field he is point out different plants and telling its history and what is edible. We came upon a deer carcass that had been hit by a car years earlier. This was a great opportunity for an anatomy lesson. During this lesson the phrase came out that a deer is a big critter. He was showed us how the different bones fit together. 

Josh brought this awareness to me that the different participants of a group and their background bring so much more to the experience of Geocaching. Thanks Josh