More Than Just A Logbook

[beanysquil]

I've only 6 or so finds to my name as I only found out about the sport last month and had to save up the hard earned cash for a GPS so ignor my ignorance.

 

This seems like an up-to-date version of a sport that was popular in Dartmoor called Letterboxing. There you joined a club which got you a box of map references, bearings and clues and you went out on the moors in search of a cache containing a rubber stamp and a logbook. You stamped the logbook to say you'd found it and stamped your own book as a record. When you had enough different stamps (all personallised) you could apply for another book of clues and so on.

 

I may be missing something with geo-caching but wouldn't it be good if you had a similar record of your visits ? Collecting a permenant record of each visit that's a bit more interesting than a number next to your username or a list on a website ? Likewise if you owned a cache it would make for a brighter logbook.

 

Don't get me wrong - I'm loving it !

[+Haggis Hunter]

Welcome to the addiction

 

Don't worry you are right, and we do have a similar type of cache for letterboxing, look at this series for an example.

[+Tupperware Hunters]

we do have some letter box style caches so take off your shoes and feel right at home

[+Stuey]

You can cntinue to do letterboxing if you wish. I've found quite a few letterboxes in my time now by chance, mainly on Dartmoor, but also one infamous one on Lundy

 

There is a type of cache called a letterbox hybrid which have stamps and pads in them. There aren't that many of them, but you can always start a trend in your area by creating a few when you are ready to place your own

 

Enjoy the obsession!

[beanysquil]

Thanks guys, I wasn't expecting such a quick response. Maybe someone should point out that geocaching may have started in the US but letterboxing started the concept here back in 1854 !

[Nediam]

Welcome to the game

 

Feel free to add your own personal touch to your logs. Several cachers have their own "signature" stamps which they use in cache log books.

[+The Mars Bars]

I have my own letterbox type stamp ...not home made admittedly,

which I use wherever possible.

 

I also carry a logbook which I write in as a permanent record of the caches that I have found to date.

 

Yes there are Letterbox Hybrid caches see Rivington Pike.

 

I stumbled across Geocaching after a holiday to Dartmouth and a brush with letterboxing earlier this year...although I live in N.W England.

 

So yes I guess you're right.... the game started over here.

 

And long may it last!

[markandlynn]

We use one cant find the thread were it was discussed but we got a discount because of it. I keep thinking it would be nice to leave one in each cache we own but havent got arround to it yet.

[+sTeamTraen]

While in Canada I found a log book where a cacher called "jackrabbit" had clipped a little rabbit-shaped cutout with a cutter from a "scrapbooking" shop. I copied the idea (to my amazement, I was able to buy a locomotive, now called the "sTeamTrain" of course) and now they are springing up all round here.

 

Only thing is, you have to be careful if the log paper is slightly damp, as it can tend to tear.

[+Happy Humphrey]

Beanysquil (where does that come from?),

 

The stamps for using when logging a cache are good: although to be avoided in Microcache log books!

 

I think the equivalent of the letterboxing book is your geocaching.com profile, where you "collect" your caches, travel bugs, geocoins etc. The advantage over a stamp from the letterbox is that you have all the details there, including the accounts and photos of your (and others) experiences when finding caches. As it's already organised for you and kept secure you don't end up losing part of it, or having to set up your own system to find things. If you put a bit of effort into logging, it will become an interesting scrapbook and diary too - particularly when you've found over a thousand caches, this time next year!

 

HH

[+The Mars Bars]

I keep a record of the caches that I have found and any interesting notes dates etc in my log book.

 

 

 

I also keep all the answers etc. to multi stage caches that I am trying to complete in the back.

 

I initially got it as I thought that more people would have a stamp in there caches than actually do.

 

The only one found so far is Rivington pike.

 

Cheers

Dave

[beanysquil]

Well one thing I'm sure of, there's a big community out there !

 

Thanks for all the pointers, there looks to be a lot more on-line than I'd first imagined - I'm one of those misers that uses an old dial-up, quickly.

 

I'm already thinking about flooding the Bristol area with my own caches and now I'm determined that the first cache I place will have a stamp in it.

 

Cheers and Happy Hunting !

[+Kryten]

There's always a temptation to jump right in and place your first cache as soon as possible but the longer you leave it, the better you first one will be.

[+Pharisee]

I'm already thinking about flooding the Bristol area with my own caches and now I'm determined that the first cache I place will have a stamp in it.

 

Unfortunate choice of words....

One or two well thought out and executed caches will earn you more praise and 'brownie points' than 'flooding' and area with poorly placed and possibly mediocre caches. Go find a couple of dozen first and see what and how others have placed theirs. Decide what you like and dislike about then and use that knowledge when you come to place your own.

[+sTeamTraen]

I'm already thinking about flooding the Bristol area with my own caches and now I'm determined that the first cache I place will have a stamp in it.

What Pharisee said... but on the up side, if you make it a "Letterbox Hybrid" cache (give the GPS coordinates to park the car, followed by a letterbox-style puzzle to find the cache so you don't need a GPS), you will be guaranteed quite a number of visitors as people go just to collect the icon.

[beanysquil]

Hey, just a figure of speech guys !

 

I've got my mind set on a cache in an area with a lot of generally unknown history, inspired by Percy's Bunker. I've a fair few months of research and GPS practice before that has any chance of turning into reality and by then I hope to have found a darn sight more caches.

 

It seems to me that the best caches would take you somewhere you'd never know existed and teach you something about your surroundings.

[+Pharisee]

Hey, just a figure of speech guys !

 

I've got my mind set on a cache in an area with a lot of generally unknown history, inspired by Percy's Bunker. I've a fair few months of research and GPS practice before that has any chance of turning into reality and by then I hope to have found a darn sight more caches.

 

It seems to me that the best caches would take you somewhere you'd never know existed and teach you something about your surroundings.

Sounds good

[+doctor scotland]

wow!

inspired by my own percys bunker! that is nice to hear!

look forward to you placing some in bristol!

[+klaus23]

look forward to you placing some in bristol!

Ditto!

 

Go for it