Geocaching? What's That?!

On some of my previous posts, you may have noticed I have mentioned Geocaching. Well today, I'm going to tell you guys what its all about! 
Geocaching is a world wide treasure hunt. All you need are two legs, a GPS device and a brain, (that you are most likely going to forget all about in this primal high tech hunt for Tupperware) 

You start by opening the geocaching app on your phone, (you can sign up for free and connect it to Facebook) to you see what geocaches are near you. 

Geocaches in Glasgow city center

You then click on one of those dots, and press the big green arrow that says start. This will tell you how far away it is, and show you where you are in relation to it. There is then most times an option that tells you a hint, which is most of the time helpful, but sometimes feels like a different language. For instance they might say "You've been stumped"- which means, look for a tree stump, or "on the other side of the bridge," which depends on the way you come from! (actual hint I've had once.)

The big rule for Geocaching is you MUST place it back where you found it. You also have to sign the logbook for it to count, and you can only take something out if you replace it with something equal or bigger in size/worth. One of the most exciting things about geocaching is the travel bugs. These are items that are placed in geocaches, that you can track. The aim is to take it out of one geocache, and put in another, for someone else to come along and do the same. I created one and placed it in a geocache in Aberdeen, it's now in Norway, (I Think) 

Geocaches can rage in size, shape, and place. The ones in the picture above are probably all nano, which means they are ridiculously tiny magnetic things, no bigger than a thumbnail, they have a log book rolled up inside. Then you get others that are a nice size. Tupperware boxes are usually used for these. Big enough for swaps, travel bugs and a log book. You get some that are based on a theme, for instance, I found a series of Lord Of The Ring geocaches, which were all figures of characters. I also found one once in a pond that was a shark toy. 

But the best thing about geocaching is the stories. Some of the funniest things I've done and the most beautiful places I've seen have been because of geocaching.
I've been stuck in trees, fallen in streams, fallen out of trees, scared out of my mind doing night time geocaching. I've been stung by nettles, stuck in hedges, covered in mud, slugs, and spiders, and I would not change a single one of those things. They have all been some of the best times of my life. It gets you out and about to places you've never heard of or seen. It can teach you about places you do know. Giving you a backstory to places you've known and loved your whole life.

If  you want to find out more, check out its webpage at www.geocaching.com

Happy Hunting

Love
Jade- Your Introvert Adventurer
xxx