Geocaching Experience
As mentioned on one of my previous linkdump posts, I have wanted to try Geocaching for several years. Geocaching is high-tech treasure hunting played throughout the world by seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches or just caches, and then log your find in the cache log and online. It dawned on me a month or so ago that I could use my iPhone to give Geocaching a try. Jacob and soon Riley could also have fun searching for the the cache treasures. So far I am unsure if I am just terrible at the activity, the iPhone is not accurate enough or I am just not comfortable enough with some of the hides.
I do think if nothing else the iPhone is an amazing tool to use with Geocaching, with Google Maps allowing you to get satellite views of cache locations and Geocaching application getting you to the general area. I have just noticed that once in the area of the cache the distance to the hidden treasure seems to jump around even if you are not moving. Perhaps this is because of how the iPhone does GPS, by using cell towers. If I continue Geocaching it might be worth my time to pick up an actual GPS device to better zero in on ground zero.
The other issue is the hide locations of most of the caches I have tried to find. An awful lot of them are hidden in areas around shopping centers or homes. So out of the five caches Jacob and I have tried to find so far none were out of the view of homes. It feels a bit strange to be poking about a telephone pole at an empty ball field or behind a fence behind a grocery store. I guess I need to get past this, but at the same time I cannot help feeling like someone is watching me and wondering if I am looking for something nefarious. This feeling has stopped me from searching for three out of the five caches we have went for in a rather short timeframe and also stopped me from conducting a good search. Again, this is just something I probably have to get over.
So far we have found only one cache, a small film canister in Camp Hill. Which kind of makes me feel I am just not very good at the activity. Mostly I have no idea what I am looking for and sometimes I am unsure exactly where ground zero is. Jake was excited when we made our first find and is always excited about going for another one. I think all of the caches we have tried to find have been on the small side. Both Jacob and myself are excited to go for a larger container, and if we have our choice a cache that is away from homes and businesses. Longer days and warmer weather will increase the opportunity of us taking such a journey. I will have to try and search out some more out of the way caches that are reasonably close to home. Hopefully we have more success in the future, the activity is fun and is a nice learning experience for the kids, and dad.
