For over a year now I've been following Kim's geocaching tales on her blog Snug Harbor Bay and thinking that it looked like a really fun activity to take up (the things Kim will do for a cache... crazy!)! Only problem: it requires the use of a GPS device and I didn't have one, nor was I going to invest in one just to try this out... Then I found out that smartphones have GPS capability and there's actually a Geocaching app that will guide you on your treasure hunt! But my poor 5 year-old Ericsson was definitely no smartphone... *sigh* So I waited, and continued reading Kim's stories, and waited... until last Christmas I finally got a new phone (the phone is dead, long live the iphone! What on earth did we do before cellphones? I don't remember!)!!! I gave myself some time to become familiar with my new phone, then created an account at geocaching.com (of course my name there is CrazyCris, what else would it be?!), downloaded the app and got ready to go Geocaching! I had to wait a couple of weekends for decent weather (what is it with this crazy wind we've been having for the past month?! weird!!!), but two weeks ago on Saturday I finally did it!!! I headed out to my favourite Alicante playground, the Cabo de las Huertas (a.k.a. "my" beach, of Alicante's various beach areas it's closest to home). Inspiration struck, so instead of narrating my adventure with photos... I'm going video! I hope you enjoy it! ;o)
Well, how'd you like it? A bit long perhaps... but I couldn't reduce the 20' I had filmed to less than 9' and still tell the story I wanted, believe me I tried! Definitely a lot of fun, and I can't wait to go out again and look for another cache! For starters I have to find a good cache to put this geocoin in so it can make its way "home" to Germany!
Oh! And guess what?! I was invited to tell the tale of this adventure over at cachecrazy.com (Thank you Bloodhounded!)! Go check out my post there and see what crazy adventures other geocachers have been having! ;o)
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| Very cool design work by Bloodhounded! :o) |
Now remember... if this blog suddenly goes Geocaching crazy... it's all KIM's fault!!! ;o)
LOVE IT!!! I had heard of Geocaching, but it has exploded in my world lately.
ReplyDeleteAround the time that you were mentioned in Kim's piece, I discovered that my state has a geocaching trail. Of the twenty-four sites one has to find is not far from my home town. I am in the process of writing a "What To Do" article about said town and am going to include the cache. I downloaded the same app onto the same phone! :-)
Problem has been the weather, but keep an eye out.
Congratulations on your first find! And, what a glorious place to find it.
Glad you enjoyed it ChrisB!
DeleteIf you're interested in Geocaching, be sure to go check out cachecrazy.com! Lots of crazy people sharing fun geocaching stories... you'll be inspired to start geocaching yourself in no time! ;o)
The app on the iPhone is really easy to use, quite instinctive! I don't know if there are instructions anywhere... I never bothered to look! :p But figured it out on my own no problem!
CB: what state are you in? Definitely give geocaching a try. It's so much fun.
DeleteTHAT VIDEO IS AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteWe are honored to feature your very first geocache at CacheCrazy.Com Cris! It's really an awesome post and I truly enjoyed putting it together but YOU did all the work (and had all that geofun too!). I love when you're getting frustrated (sorry) I know that feeling so well but when you did finally find it wasn't it a conquest far more than a container under rocks? Fun!
You my friend,are invited to post at CacheCrazy anytime, we are happy to have you!
BH
lol! Glad you enjoyed the video! It was fun doing it, but extra frustrating editing things out after 'cause I had too much footage!
DeleteYup, the conquest was well worth surmounting the previous frustrations! And now when I see the video I can actually briefly spot (a couple of times) the cache location and wonder why I didn't think of that sooner! Hopefully it won't take me too long to develop some good geocaching instincts! ;o)
I enjoyed the video very much, Cris. I think I downloaded a similar app on my iPhone, but I don't think I'll be joining you any time soon. I remember once on a hike we stumbled onto a geocache, but since we are "muggles" we didn't open the box! It is a very beautiful place you live, even if it's a bit on the rocky side, the view is tremendous. :-)
ReplyDeleteReally DJan? I've never come across one while hiking! But then there aren't as many geocachers in Spain as in the US... and I don't usually go looking under rocks and stuff (which is where I guess most "mountain" caches in Alicante are hidden 'cause we got lots of rocks!)
DeleteYou didn't open the box? I don't think I could have resisted the temptation! Particularly not know before what a geocache was... so the name written on the box wouldn't have helped me!
That view is lovely! It's one of the places I used to enjoy heading over with Luna (our dog) and walking around... Now she's gone I don't have many "excuses" to head over there in the winter (summer I spend lots of time in the water there). :o(
I loved the video. I stumbled upon a geocache once while hiking, but I didn't look inside. What fun!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked the video! Was lots of fun filming it and putting it together! Even if frustrating at times... :p
DeleteGreat post Cris and I loved the video. It really makes me want to come and cache with you and visit your beach. I can't wait to hear about your next caching adventure.
ReplyDeleteAnytime Kim!!!
DeleteNext outing will have to be next weekend... it rained today (very rare around here!) and tomorrow I'm out hiking all day! ;o)
This sounds so fun! I HAVE to do this someday!
ReplyDeleteLOTS of fun! You should definitely try it! ;o)
DeleteThat's the first I heard of Geocaching. Need to read up on it a bit and try it out sometime. Seems like a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely fun! Check it out! ;o)
DeleteGood thing you didn't try lifting up that BIG rock ;-) Enjoyed your video. First thing I always ask myself when hitting ground zero is "what looks out of place, or not quite right" before I do anything ;-)
ReplyDeleteI tried lifting up LOTS of rocks! :p
DeleteThing is, nothing looked out of place there! Now 6 months later I think I'm a lot better at spotting potential hiding places...