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Post by onlymark on Feb 6, 2009 7:19:56 GMT
I've done a little of this around Egypt. It is a glorified game of hide and seek and quite fun. What you need though is a GPS. www.geocaching.com/All over the world people have hidden little boxes. In the boxes are generally small mementoes and a log book. You have to use your GPS to find each box whereupon you sign the log book, take out a small item and put another one in it's place (not compulsory). It's a simple pastime, but fun to do especially with kids. |
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 7, 2009 19:50:45 GMT
I put my zip code (in Mexico) into the search engine, but without registering. Not only did it give me a site near my hometown in the US, but I know exactly where it is -- the state park there!
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Post by onlymark on Feb 7, 2009 21:21:16 GMT
It's one of those "sports" that goes on in the background and it is a whole new world. In fact they are everywhere, the people and the caches, and you'd never really know anything about them unless someone pointed it out.
In reality it's a glorified game of hide and seek, but fun and appeals to the child in me.
But you do need a GPS.
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Post by palesa on Feb 8, 2009 5:45:23 GMT
If you don't know what a GPS is, I think YOU are the wanker, sorry Geeks.
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Post by palesa on Feb 8, 2009 5:46:04 GMT
And I do not have a GPS, so I can't play, but it sounds like fun.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 8, 2009 6:08:26 GMT
Don't many cellphones have GPSes in them? I don't know if they're accessible by the user, or only by the cell service provider. Some cars also have GPS.
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Post by palesa on Feb 8, 2009 6:10:51 GMT
Actually, Zonker has a GPS, but I do not know how to use it (and possibly would not be allowed to touch it!  ) My cellphone, by choice, does not have that function. Just realised you may be referring to Geeky. |
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Post by mockchoc on Feb 8, 2009 9:06:21 GMT
We have a GPS.
Global positioning system I believe it means.
They are supposed to help you find your way around like a map but better although ours got us lost once in the middle of nowhere so be careful.
They are not faultless.
Sounds like this might be a bit of fun still..
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Post by tillystar on Feb 8, 2009 12:57:45 GMT
It sounds like a modern version of "letterboxing" that we used to do when we were walking on dartmoor when I was a kid. Instead of GPS we had a map and a compass. I loved it. www.plympton.info/dartmoor/dartinfo.html |
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 8, 2009 20:07:54 GMT
What a great pastime, Tilly! Imagine picking up a letter that had been stamped by your great grandparents. It's brilliant that someone figured out a way to use modern technology to make the game global.
Mark, have you found many boxes? Also, what kind of objects do you put in? Do the ones you take out go into the next boxes you find?
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Post by grecian on Feb 9, 2009 20:10:15 GMT
Looks like I'm the only To55er here then!
You carry on with your GPS and your 4x4's .....
(Letterboxing is so different, Bix..)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2009 20:35:26 GMT
No, I don't understand it either, but I kind of wish I did. I feel really retarded on this subject.
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Post by grecian on Feb 9, 2009 20:38:29 GMT
I really wouldn't worry yourself over it, K....It does involve a shocking amount of Carbon Coupons spent - for no reason...
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Post by mockchoc on Feb 10, 2009 4:09:37 GMT
We need a 4x4 where I live so I can get to work through flood water at times!
The GPS I should use as I'd get lost in a brown paper bag. Mr uses it at least.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 10, 2009 5:06:06 GMT
Don't get confused between GPS and the SatNav that you have in your car. SatNav uses GPS technology in that it uses satellites to determine where you are, but then it uses a map database to show you where you are on that map and the route on the road to where you're going. A pure and simple GPS is usually a handheld device that detects where you are and will point an arrow at where you want to go. Look at this -  You can see the arrow is pointing to where you want to go, but it points "as the crow flies", there is no map as with a SatNav or the more expensive GPS thingies. Where the boxes are hidden are not on a road, you may have to walk for a time off into the bush. So a map is no use, you need something to tell you the exact spot. Usually trinkets are found in the tins or boxes or special items that are to be moved from one box to another. Usually small souvenir type things are put in which you keep or pass on, it's up to you. I've only found a dozen boxes as I've only started doing it here. |
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Post by onlymark on Feb 10, 2009 6:46:56 GMT
So the idea is to try and find that -  Or that -  Just there -  |
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Post by spindrift on Feb 10, 2009 9:30:36 GMT
I hadn't an idea what a GPS was. I knew it was a system but that's all. So I'm another retard. Why would I want to buy a GPS in England?
However I will buy a TomTom this week.
** I put in my postcode and 4 caches came up. I decoded one of them , it said " Low level cavity in bridgebrick work"...so I if go for a long walk out of town I might be able to find the box without a GPS.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 10, 2009 10:58:24 GMT
You don't need a pure GPS in the UK, unless you are going where there are no road maps like hiking in the wilds. Then they are useful for navigating. But you still can rely on Ordanance Survey maps and a compass if you so wish.
A Tom Tom type satnav is useful only really for journeys on roads, but they do get it wrong from time to time. What goes wrong is not the GPS, it's the mapping software, the maps, that are used.
The basic GPS I have is the one in the first picture - a point and shoot GPS. I bought it to go into Namibia and Botswana where there are no useful maps, or there weren't until recently, and no useful satnav maps as there are few roads where I was going.
I also used the GPS in Cairo to mark places I needed to go back to as there were difficulties in getting street maps of the whole of the city. At least I'd know when I was close to it within the maze of streets.
Now that there are more and more maps of remote places and they are being converted to be read by a GPS then there is less need to get a pure one. Most have some form of map system installed now.
Unless you are at sea.
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Post by tillystar on Feb 10, 2009 14:26:17 GMT
You could try with a map and a compass, you'd just need more clues. Dartmoor is pretty remote and the letterboxes are uually miles from anywhere, its pretty much the same game from what I can see?
I have tried to use GPS when walking, particularly in Dartmoor, but I can't get my head round it. I still prefer a map for now, although I will learn one day I like seeing the route clearly not just following an arrow.
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Post by tillystar on Feb 10, 2009 14:28:29 GMT
Oooooooo I just looked properly at the website, there are two in the woods behind my flats. I think we are going to go looking for those this weekend as we will be walking there anyway!
Thats so cool!
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Post by onlymark on Feb 10, 2009 15:05:20 GMT
It is more difficult to use a map and compass and more satisfying to me if I navigate correctly. But in certain places for ease of use and safety I'll go with a GPS.
I do have a satnav as well which I'll use when driving round Europe so as I get directions in a rather sexy ladies voice who I've named Rebecca. She's very polite as well and doesn't get angry at me when I go wrong, she just works it out again.
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Post by tillystar on Feb 10, 2009 15:11:35 GMT
You can rent me out instead of Rebecca, I love reading maps. Only problem is I have a voice like a man and no patience |
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Post by onlymark on Feb 10, 2009 15:16:32 GMT
The problem with this game, Geocaching, is that you are given co-ordinates. These are very difficult to see exactly on a map to within the accuracy of a GPS.
Letterboxing does seem very similar but is designed for maps I suppose, this is just an updated version of it then.
One alternative without a GPS maybe is to use Google Earth to see exactly where the co-ordinates indicate and then compare that to a map.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 10, 2009 15:17:51 GMT
Tilly, but you need food and water and sleep and occasional conversation, plus toilet stops and even chocolate?
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Post by tillystar on Feb 10, 2009 15:21:36 GMT
Yes, you are right I am redundant.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 10, 2009 16:18:16 GMT
But more pleasant company than an electronic device I'm sure.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 10, 2009 17:26:06 GMT
Be careful, Mark ~~ she sounds like a dominatrix who will leave you for "the nearest truck driver she can find".
I desperately want to play this game! I have no sense of direction whatsoever, but can follow a map.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 10, 2009 18:36:25 GMT
That's one of the advantages - you don't need a sense of direction. The arrow on the GPS points to where you need to go. You then read of the distance to travel to it and get closer and closer.
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Post by grecian on Feb 11, 2009 20:03:03 GMT
Am I the only one who thinks that this is just a Game for rich feckers or those who drive a lot?
I would refer you all to my previous post...
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Post by onlymark on Feb 11, 2009 20:07:04 GMT
It's not for drivers, except to get near to the cache. It's for walkers as they cannot be accessed by just parking up and getting out.
You have to leave the car and walk to find them as they are mostly hidden out of the way.
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