+desertrver Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I'm still fairly new at this, but having a great time. I read alot of posts about the Good, Bad, Ugly. For me it's been all good. My wife and I enjoy getting out and hiking. Caching is a great way to add a little adventure to a hike. Weather or not we have good luck caching doesn't really matter in the end. Although it is fun to fill out a couple of logs. A big day for us is hiking for a few miles and looking for two to four caches. Most of the time we are finding them, at times it is an adventure. For example, yesterday we went out (we live in the SoCal desert area) in the desert armed with my Garmin, and info sheet (not yet paperless). I had several caches in mind to try. A half mile or so out we came to an area with a large rocky hill. I knew there was a cache on top along the ridge, that had been logged a few days before. I asked the wife (Muggles), she enjoys the hiking but not really into the caching, if she was up to a climb? A side note, we are in fair shape, in our early 60's. She said go for it. We did, it was quite a climb, around the rocks, slipping, sliding. We did find the cache, signed the log and then looked for a way down. We didn't want to go back the way we came up because of the loose rock and steep. We took another way down and it was rough. We both had a really difficult time getting down, skinned up a bit. Maybe shouldn't have done that. It was a little adventure that we will remember and talk about for at least a few days. We went on to find a couple more caches, hiked around enjoying our desert mountains. Left to go back home to lick our wounds, laughed about our adventure. Muggles says no more climbing! Planning the next one. A great Day! Quote Link to comment
BlueDamsel Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Wow. I wish more people would post stuff like this. No flaming, no backbiting. Just a nice story about a nice day geocaching. Who knew????? Quote Link to comment
+The Find Its Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 A great day caching is all we can ever hope for. My wife also enjoys the walk and will also participate in the hunt most of the time, but thinks I may be a little addicted at times. When we first started it was a great way to get out for a hike with the kiddlets, and they loved it, now I find myself doing weird things at weird times. This morning hit a cache at 5:00am on the way back to work from dropping my father at the airport. Last week I was out night caching while on a business trip, it was -20C (-4F) and I could only stay out for a couple of hours at which point my new batteries died because of the cold. The next day it was only -14C (7F) and I managed to grab one more at the airport before my plane left. I really think it is great that you both have the time and weather to be able to cache all year and are enjoying the adventure aspect of the sport. Keep having a good time and be careful, I hear it can be addicting. G Quote Link to comment
+crockett3663 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Desertrver, thanks for an uplifting story. It's refreshing to see a couple your age getting out and being so active. Don't take this the wrong way, but most couples, when they reach their 60s, are either physically unable or have no desire to attempt something so physical. I think most are content to spend their days relaxing on their deck, or sitting at the nearest casino gambling their retirement away. Count your blessings that you and your wife are still able to get out and enjoy an active lifestyle. I'm just a month away from my 46th birthday, so I've got another 20 years before I reach the point where you are at right now. I had a quintuple bypass two years ago, and still struggle with my weight. When I read stories like yours, I wonder if I'll be lucky enough to physically pursue this hobby when I reach your age. Keep it up and thanks again for a great story. Happy caching!! Quote Link to comment
+Headhardhat Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Great story! Thanks for sharing that and please bring more. You have found right away that geocaching is so much more than just "finding a cache". For many it's the journey and the moments shared that really makes this game, sport, obsession rock! -HHH Quote Link to comment
+boda Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I'm just a month away from my 46th birthday, so I've got another 20 years before I reach the point where you are at right now. I had a quintuple bypass two years ago, and still struggle with my weight. When I read stories like yours, I wonder if I'll be lucky enough to physically pursue this hobby when I reach your age. Crockett3663 - Hang in there. I'm 65 and have had two open-heart surgeries in the past 22 years, and I enjoy the hikes and climbs (some limits due to my back, however). Just keep at it and have fun. I found one cache where I had hiked several miles - all uphill - and looked down from the cache at the hospital where my surgeries took place. What a feeling! desertrvr - Great post! Recommend the Pushawalla Trail just north of Palm Springs. About 5 miles, lots of caches, and an oasis at the half-way point that is great for a picnic lunch. There is some easy climbing and a little rock scramble, but nothing like you described. Great views. Quote Link to comment
+desertrver Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Thanks for the nice comments. I have to throw this little tidbit in about the wife "muggles". When we get to the cache area, she helps me look, for about 30 seconds maybe. Then she finds a rock or something to sit on and wait. I'm scrambling around looking behind, around, over, under every rock and bush. There she sits, occasionally lifting her head up from her Soduko(sp) She will say "what's that little "thingy" over there in those rocks"? Dang! I hate when she does that! Quote Link to comment
crawil Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Thanks for the nice comments. I have to throw this little tidbit in about the wife "muggles". When we get to the cache area, she helps me look, for about 30 seconds maybe. Then she finds a rock or something to sit on and wait. I'm scrambling around looking behind, around, over, under every rock and bush. There she sits, occasionally lifting her head up from her Soduko(sp) She will say "what's that little "thingy" over there in those rocks"? Dang! I hate when she does that! Yes, but isn't that why you bring her along? I know that I am glad when mine does the same thing! Quote Link to comment
+JaneKathleen Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 You all are some beautiful people. I'm so glad I found this game Quote Link to comment
+cycler48 Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 (edited) Refreshing post! Like you, I don't care about the number of caches I get in an outing ... it's all about the adventure. If you like the hiking and like being in the mountains, you might take a look at Got Legs? (GCJ339), Snag Island (GC1491Y), and Harrison Mountain (GC1PH3X) in the San Bernardino Mountains just off Hwy 330 on the way up to Running Springs. Each is a good hike with only one cache as reward. Got Legs? is very appropriately named. Edit: I'll also add that I'm 62 and the more physically challenging the hike the better. Call me a masochist! Edited December 30, 2009 by cycler48 Quote Link to comment
BCProspectors Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Good to hear that you are enjoying the game. Quote Link to comment
+angelgrace Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 My husband got me a GPS for Christmas because I have wanted to geocache when I take my sons camping in the warmer months. He works weekends and doesn't go along, so he really had no interest in the hobby. When the DeLorme came in and we got online here, we found that there are 201 caches within 20 miles of our rural home. Well, we were off and running. We had a full day with decent weather the day after Christmas and the whole family went out. What a blast we had! Our 2 sons (7 & 10) were finding caches, I was finding caches and my dear husband was finding caches. We cannot wait for the weather to clear and to go out again! Quote Link to comment
namiboy Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 great stories all around. Quote Link to comment
+icesailor Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Well, I'll add to this. I've used GPS for years for my ice sailing which I do all over New England in the winter. Keeps track of my maximum speed for the day (56MPH highest), how far , 68 miles in a day(distance) I've sailed and where on the lake I have sailed. When I discovered there was such a thing as monument finding, I then discovered Geocaching. I'm past 65 YO and I don't walk all that well. I can't walk all that far so I save myself. But I ride a mountain bike all over. I look up a list of caches and drive myself and bike to the area and go look. I clip my Garmin Legend to the handle bars and off I go. Biking is a great way to get around. I've logged over 50 miles this trip. It's a lot easier parking my bike than a car. I feel that if I drive up in my truck and get out and look, someone may see me and get nervous. If they see someone on a mountain bike, ride up and be looking for something, they don't get as concerned. Got to go off and look some more. PS, If you are ever on Cape Cod, there are a whole tribe of Caches in Nickerson State Park in Brewster, MA. One could easily spend a day or more looking for finds. Some interesting monuments in the area too. Quote Link to comment
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