A cache

So what is a cache? What does it look like? A cache can be anything really. Some are small, and some are large. Some are official geocache containers, others span the gamut of creative things people have re-purposed from around the house – tupperware, 35mm film canisters, altoids tins, and even old mayo or peanut butter jars. Some are camouflaged (using camo duct tape – who knew??) some are in plain sight. At a minimum they contain a piece of paper or “log” for finders to sign indicating that they found it. Some have pens, others are BYOWS (writing stick). The most fun though are the ones that house a treasure trove of goodies – small trinkets like old McDonalds happy meal toys. If you come across a trinket you like you are welcome to trade it with something of your own of equal or greater value.

The first cache I found was a small Tupperware container covered in camo duct tape. Since then we have seen magnetic key holders, altoids tins, film canisters, decon containers, giant ammo cans and a little bit of everything in between. You never know what you are going to find. You might stumble across something tiny like this guy here.

Or something much larger, and more unique like my mom’s find of this gator long after I had given up.

Not all finds are straight forward either. Some are puzzles that you have to solve that will lead you to the real destination. Some are merely a starting point. There is a great series or a "multi cache" in a park not to far from my mom's house. The starting coordinates lead you to a statue. From there, there is a story that leads you to coordinates for the next, and so on. We had a great time trying to figure out the clues of the tale. One part, for example read: "The Chief (the statue at the starting point) also told me a story once about a little boy who he sent out to find the buffalo. The boy using his pail in hope to bring them back by helping the grasslands to flourish so that they would have grass to eat and WATER to drink. The Chief told me that if I sought the boy out in the north WEST I will find the information I seek, the boy will have the RIGHT answer at HAND." It turned out to be a statue of a little boy holding a watering pail about 40ft away. The west coordinates of the address were under his right hand.

Each cache is a new adventure. Especially when you are still trying to figure out how to use your GPS... :)