How Did You Discover Caching?

[+Rose_Thorn]

Just wondering...a lot of folks only discovered caching in 2005, as did I, and it led me to thinking...how?

 

I discovered it by pure chance (or maybe fate? Or the hand of the gods?) when I was looking for info about a local reservoir called Simon's Lodge - came up in my Google search, and I was fascinated...yes, there are little boxes hidden all over the world, and people pass them by everyday without knowing they are there...and little toys and keyrings get put in them and travel round the world - astounding. Yes, the idea captured my imagination and I was hooked! (Big kid at heart, you see!)

 

So how did it happen for you? (Nosey, nosey )

[+Nellies Knackers]

Through a boating forum(normanboats.co.uk), I think the phrase was 'anyone bored enough to try this yet', obviously I was bored enough and warped enough to have a go as I'd bought a gps for speed and distance info.

[+Mr'D]

So how did it happen for you? (Nosey, nosey  )

Started with a new digital camera.

 

I live near Windsor, and one Sunday last year decided to go visit the Copper Horse on Snow Hill, to try out the camera and take some arty photos (Windsor was a favourite haunting ground of mine when I was a teenager and has some special memories...)

 

When I got back home I started to look at other photos of the Copper Horse.

 

Google led me to Navicache, and from there to Geocaching.com!

 

Never looked back since!

 

[+Moote]

If you want someone to blame, I'd blame Simpy Paul Countryfile on BBC1 Sunday, February 13, 2005

[+The Golem]

I was on the Paddling.net canoeing forum and someone started a thread about geocaching. I didn't look at it at first then went back a day or two later. I found the details of the Bowder Stone cache and went straight out to look for it....

 

The rest is history...

[alistair_uk]

It's all Paul Blitz's fault introducing me to caching over several hospital broadcasting conferences.

[+Simply Paul]

If you want someone to blame, I'd blame Simpy Paul Countryfile on BBC1 Sunday, February 13, 2005

I would like to apologise to the greater caching community, humbly and sincerely. In my defence I was young and easily lead...

 

I discovered caching in mid 2003 while researching a wood beside the M40 for a web site I was making about the Chiltern Sculpture Trail. I learned there was a cache hidden there, used the postcode feature to find my closest one and found the box by the clue alone (thanks Dan & Pid) then found 4 more before buying Dan's old etrex at an early pub event. Ah, happy days!

[+rutson]

Found by accident on one of my random wanders around the interweb. Since then there's been a fair ammount of random(ish) wanders in the 'real world'

[+Haggis Hunter]

Read an article in the Sunday Post on the 7th December 2003 (Gee I even remember the date). The article featured Firth of Forth, I found my first cache a few days later, and Firth of Forth and I are now good friends, and have been known to go out for the odd cache or two together.

[+walkergeoff and wife]

I bought a GPSr years ago (before Clinton discontinued SA), mainly for use in hiking. Then, in 1999, I met Postie (who gave me hospitality when I was walking the Pennine Way). He was not into geocaching then, but was when we paid him a visit last year (2004). He told me about it, and we did the 'Roaming Round Richmond' cache together, and I was bitten.

Edited December 27, 2005 by walkergeoff

[+Sue and Bernie]

Sue & I got into GPS through our enjoyment of long bike rides through the wilds of East Anglia (good weather only of course). Once off the main roads, the back roads and the countryside are superb.

 

We found a problem in that the constant halts to consult maps were spoiling our rides a bit, it slowed us down somewhat and we did not fancy the "take-your-eyes-off-the -road-and-look-at-a-map-strapped-to-the-handlebars" approach.

 

Some-one joking suggested a GPS for our bikes, we investigated and now we regularly use geo-caching to provide the destinations for our bike rides.

 

As we clear out the caches from our local area, we start dumping the car at a convenient superstore some way from the house and cycle onwards to more distant caches...

[+Sensei TSKC]

Came across Geocaching whilst researching camera database POI's and the impact it may have if Road Angels were outlawed.

 

5 minutes and hooked!

 

Oss!

[+The Hancock Clan]

We found out about geocaching after getting fed up with Dartmoor Letterbox DNFs! Already owning a GPS, we googled to see if there were any letterboxes with co-ordinates posted on the internet and voila! I remember the moment well...typed in our postcode and within half an hour we'd found our first cache. Never looked back since!

[+John Stead]

It's a while ago but I had been using a GPSr for walking for some time and came across the Geocaching site somehow - it seemed good so I registered but it was over two months before I ventured to look for an actual cache, and that was 100 miles from home as there were only 37 in the country at the time.

Since then I have had a lot of fun and made some good friends.

[+Alice Band]

Its all Alibag's fault We were both in Holland on a trip and after bribing me with a few Belgian beers broke the news to me that I was about to accompany her to find a hidden micro, no arguments - I spoke Dutch and she needed a translator The trail took us to scenic places we would have never seen without Geocaching and I was instantly hooked. I bought my first GPS [with help from Alibags] within the week. I am now on my second.

Edited December 27, 2005 by Drum Major

[+Sensei TSKC]

Its all Alibag's fault  We were both in Holland on a trip and after bribing me with a few Belgian beers broke the news to me that I was about to accompany her to find a hidden micro, no arguments - I spoke Dutch and she needed a translator   The trail took us to scenic places we would have never seen without Geocaching and I was instantly hooked. I bought my first GPS [with help from Alibags] within the week. I am now on my second.

 

I know Alibags doesn't want too many people catching her up but to make you wait soooooo long, June 2005, before getting your next cache is SO out of order!

 

Edited December 28, 2005 by Sensei TSKC

[nobby.nobbs]

saw a gps in a shop and when bored thought to myself "what could you use that for"? a few minutes online later and i had convinced myself that i needed this new toy.

[+HazelS]

If you want someone to blame, I'd blame Simpy Paul Countryfile on BBC1 Sunday, February 13, 2005

yeah - I blame Paul too!!

[+Gralorn]

Whilst out walking the dog in March 2005 I saw the now typical pile of sticks in a strange place so investigated and under it was a large ammo box, need just one more to make 300 in our first year. I rest my case !!!

[+arndale]

I was on a website called something like 'Who's round is it next'. It allowed you to click on a button when you wanted a cup of tea or coffee at work. When the relevant threshold was reached it mailed the next person in the group with the order so they could make it.

 

The site had a daily list of interesting sites, and www.geocaching.com was on that.

 

Dean

[+Pengy&Tigger]

Tigger was working away in London, and was reading the on train magazine. Read something about GPS`s and Treasure Hunting, and mentioned it to me. I had a look on the net, and got to Geocaching.com.

 

Reading more into it, we needed a GPS, and with it being my birthday soon, thought we`d buy one to see what all the fuss was about.

 

So it`s Virgin trains fault.

 

Pengy

[+Pieman]

There was an article in the Sunday Times- probably around March 2004- which was about a reporter trying caching. I thought it sounded interesting and mentioned it to someone at work. It turned out that he had not only heard of it but had done some caches with his family(what are the chances of that?). Bought a cheap (since lost at a cache) yellow eTrex on ebay and so the madness began...

[+Mr Nibbler]

The guilty man is Major Trek & Co. But as Meerkats introduced them to geocaching they must be the guilty party - but how did they get into it? Where does the chain end?

[+Laughalot]

I was chatting on-line to some-one and they mentioned taking their kids to an 'event' - further discussion revealed it was a geocaching event - it tweaked my interest. That was mid 2004 and I have been enjoying it ever since, I was shown how to use a gps by him, bought one soon afterwards and have even got my Mum at it too.

 

Laughalot

Edited December 28, 2005 by Laughalot

[+tteggod trackers]

saw an article on bbc world about http://www.confluence.org/ got chatting to someone and was told about geocaching

[+daleswalker]

I was in my local mountain bike shop, while I was waiting for my bike to come out from its servicing I picked up a free magazine from the foyer (I think it was called Outdoor Enthusiast) and read one of the "letters to the editor". Onto the website, found a couple of local caches that I could do wothout GPSr and the rest is history.

[+Belplasca]

Well, I found it through Robin Lovelock's website...

 

Found my first (FTF) cache without a GPSr.

 

Soon afterwards I went to a Bucks meet, and met Robin plus Dan, Pid, Tim & June, The Hornet and many more...

 

Bob Aldridge

 

PS Hope this doesn't get me banned for mentioning him :-) )

[dodgydaved]

Well, I found it through Robin Lovelock's website...

 

PS Hope this doesn't get me banned for mentioning him :-) )

.....funny you should say that, I was writing a potted history essay about the growth of population in my village . I put Sunninghill into google and the rest, as they say, is history

[+mollyjak]

Hubby bought GPS for Christmas last year, talking to a colleague who also had a GPS he talked to me about caching. How Sad???? I thought. But decided to give it a try and the rest as they say is history.

Edited December 29, 2005 by mollyjak

[+MeIsMook]

I watched something on the BBC back in early 2004, it was in was one of those regional BBC things.......it might of been "Close Up North" it was only shown in the North East and Cumbria........perhaps someone with a better memory could help me out here

[+MeIsMook]

I watched something on the BBC back in early 2004, it was in was one of those regional BBC things.......it might of been "Close Up North" it was only shown in the North East and Cumbria........perhaps someone with a better memory could help me out here

Found it it was this program, so i must of know about it a while before I actually bought a GPS BBC Inside Out

[+Simply Paul]

If it's the Inside Out show I'm thinking of it featured Dan and Pid nightcaching with Chris Packham, and was originally shown in early 2003.

[+McDeHack]

Way back in 2001 when I was into computers and gadgets. I read in a magazine about this thing what you could do with a GPS receiver. At the time I had an Etrex that I had hooked up to a Psion that I was using as a Sat-nav system. (Very primative but it worked).

I visited Geocaching.com and learnt that there were a couple of these caches in Epping forest. One wet Saturday morning I went looking. The rest is history.

[+Jackplug]

HI

Heard a program on Radio Norfolk earlier this year already had a GPS for walking Hols. Think it was Simpy Paul to blame.

Jackplug kevin.

[+Sensei TSKC]

- but how did they get into it? Where does the chain end?

At the beginning of course!

[+Simply Paul]

...Radio Norfolk... Think it was Simpy Paul to blame.

Not as far as I know! I was on Anne Diamond (BBC Radio Oxford) in April though...?

[j-bar03]

The bookcrossing site has a link to this one. I really like the idea of travelling books and this seemed similarly altruistic and random. Still to give it a go though.

Jan

(still to be adopted!)

[+Moote]

I was on Anne Diamond

Now the mind boggles at the thought of SP and AD

Edited December 29, 2005 by Moote

[+mafarrimond]

I was introduced to it by my daughter l0bster_quadrille.

[+Stuey]

Some Americans that I knew emailed me to tell me about it when it was first kicking off. I thought it sounded interesting, but not having a (then expensive) GPS at the time, I forgot all about it. It was only a few years later when I bought a GPS for walking that I remembered what they had said about this treasure hunting game thingy. A quick Google, and there I was, signed up within a few moments back in March 2003. Within a week, the second closest cache to me was found (it's a "The Hornet" vacation cache ). I did just seven caches between March and August before I started to get the bug.

 

The nearest cache to me when I started caching was a members only virtual. It was a few more months before I stumped up for membership so I could find out what it was and log it, and then I had to make sure I got my money's worth. That's when the obsession started!

[Acidboy]

my dad the birdman introuduecd me and my big brtoher to the sport

[+scaw]

MeisMook told me about it after we were talking about treasure hunts. He got me the links to buy gps and other stuff. He took me to find my first cache. I was like a kid so excited and the rest is history

[+ijcoxf]

A posting in the USENET group (remember them?) sci.geo.cartography . I can't remember what that poting was about now, but I visiited geocaching.com and wondered what the nearest cache to my workplace was , thinking it would be miles and miles. Turned out to be GCJP8G Parson's Pleasure, a couple of minutes walk away. That lunch time I decided to take my GPSr (which I already owned for walking) out for a little stroll . . . in that incarnation Parson's Pleasure was a lovely hide, if you stood in exactly the right spot you could see it quite easily just lying there, while hordes of people milled around.

[tarry and tammy]

Hi, I had been given a GPS which was like giving pound notes to a donkey. By chance someone asked me what the significance of Wilton "Brail" was. Sorted the technology eventually to see what "Brail" meant and found Daisy and her Man hiding "geo's" every different whichway. Knowing the countryside rather well, without the benefit of technology I found one or two. Now my computer literate son has given me a short sharp blast of education ( what goes around comes around) and I can now navigate myself to within 2 ft rather than a general two acre area! much more fun. Heigh ho, retirement does have to have its entertainments. Son is now smitten an going off to Majorca to spread the word!

Cheers. Tarry and Tammy

[Jantaculum]

Another one who discovered geocaching through a boating forum (the-norfolk-broads.co.uk)

 

We bought a GPS to use on our boat - but to be honest you can't really get lost on the mini-waterway where we moor ( the Chelmer & Blackwater)

 

So when someone on the Norfolk Broads forum mentioned geocaching - we were pleased to discover an alternative use for the GPS and....... the rest is obvious.

 

Funnily enough I don't know his geocaching name (different usernames for different forums) but you know who you are - so if you're reading this Stu - thanks!

[sleepless42]

Funny old thing... I was introduced to geocaching by Leoness whilst at a New Year Party. It sounded fun, we had a GPS and had our first find the very next day at a cache close to home. Since I have hidden a lot, found out which caches I prefer, walked some fantastically memorable walks and learned a great deal about the geography of the Yorkshire Dales where I am fortunate enough to live. Incidentally I have just noticed today is my second birthday as a geocacher!

[+Nellies Knackers]

Stu...That must be watermonkey! don't know his caching name though.

Vet-chugger is 'The Likely Lads - Ian and Trevor' and Sums is 'the baron of benwick'

[Jantaculum]

Stu...That must be watermonkey! don't know his caching name though.

 

That's the one - and thanks for the other info

 

..... suspect you might be on there too??

[+Nellies Knackers]

I'm usually just plain old 'df' on the boaty forums, don't visit the broads on very often but I'm planning on dragging me old Norman over that way sometime,we were going to do it this next season but the dog's too old for the travelling and he's on borrowed time anyway(had two strokes already),when he cags out we'll be over there!

Keep an eye out for 'Haddocks Revenge' just in case.

[Jantaculum]

Cheers - see you on the boaty forums!

 

Sorry everyone else for the nautical thread hijack