Looking for something to do this weekend? Sick and tired of the same local haunts and watering holes? Why not tap into your adventurous side and enjoy the amazing south Florida weather all while exploring the treasures around you- get ready to go Geocaching!
What is geocaching, Geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing), you say? Well, besides totally awesome, invigorating and amazing- it is defined by most as, a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure. A geocacher can place a geocache anywhere in the world, pinpoint its location using GPS technology and then share the geocache’s existence and location online (www.geocaching.com). Anyone with a GPS device can then try to locate the geocache with coordinates found on http://www.geocaching.com
What you find inside a geocache can vary drastically. Within a 20 mile radius from postal code 33073 (in Coconut Creek, FL- home of Vista MINI and Vista BMW) there are over 952 recorded Geocaches, the choices are abundant. In its simplest form, a cache always contains a logbook. The logbook contains information from the owner of the cache, notes from visitors and can contain much valuable, rewarding, and entertaining information. In smaller caches, a logsheet may be used.
Larger caches may contain a logbook and any number of items, ranging from the momentarily valuable to those that the value is in the eye of the beholder. Geocachers must remember however, that if you take something (go on, do it- that’s what it’s there for!) you must leave something of equal or great value, after all- it’s only fair. The more experienced geocacher might leave a Geocoin of GroundSpeak Travel Bug- these items are meant to be moved unless specified, all adding to the adventure and addiction that is geocaching.
Now before you go get all Samantha Brown or Inspector Gadget on me, it must be noted that this does not just have to be an exercise for the mind. Choosing intensity of search you would like to seek out depends on your intent. If you would like to cruise around in your MINI (and really, who doesn’t?) and see a few neat things, then you would probably prefer a D/T rating of 1/1. However, maybe you are feeling particularly generous today and want to leave your MINI out for others viewing (and lusting pleasure), you adrenaline junkie you, you would likely prefer a 5/5 rating search.
Geocaches are rated in two categories (difficulty and terrain), each designated on a 5-point scale. Difficulty relates to the mental challenge of finding a cache and terrain describes the physical environment. A 1/1 difficulty/terrain rating would the easiest cache to find; while a 5/5 difficulty/terrain rating would be the most difficult.
Alright- ready for your new adventure? Let’s Motor!
