31 Days of Geocaching: Day 6

So, what is a "geocache"?  What is this elusive thing I'm running around for (using a billion dollar satellite to find tupperware in the woods....).

In the most basic definition, a geocache (or "cache") is a hidden container that contains a paper log in it.  The container can be as small as a pencil eraser or as large as an outhouse (love that cache!).  It can be made of plastic, duct tape, PVC.  It can be recycled peanut butter jars, aspirin bottles, pretzel containers.  You can buy match stick containers, bison tubes, PBN containers. They can be hidden in the woods, inside sign posts, under lamp posts, hanging from a tree, magnetized to benches, tucked into walls (etcetera, etcetera...)  The only real requirements is that they are waterproof and contain a paper log.  Why the log?  So anyone who finds it can sign their caching name, proving they were there.  After they sign the log, they will re-hide it for the next finder. Then the Cacher will locate the listing online and write a brief "post" about the find.

It's a game.  A scavenger hunt.  Today's cache was this little cutie.  It's part of the Animal Crackers series hidden in the Ferndale/Oak Park area with the intent of making little kids smile.  It made me smile this morning!

Happy Day #6!

Elisa

Sent from my iPhone.

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 5

Not an exciting day today. It's overcast, scattered showers, and I have a splinter in my foot.

So Steve and I walked along the train tracks until we made today's find. Looks pretty tiring, eh? This is a narrow gauge track in Starr Park! A mini railroad offering kids rides during the summer. I must've tripped over these tracks 6 times!

31 Days of Geocaching

My friend, Lauri, asked me about this challenge. She wanted to know if it was a personal challenge or why I'm doing it? Hmm... Good question. I kinda skipped over that.

Groundspeak, the big Kahunas in the geocaching world, put out a challenge to me and 6 million of my closest friends across the world for us to get off the couch and out the door for 31 days in a row. For each day that we find a geocache or attend a caching event, we get a virtual souvenir (seen above) added to our profiles.

Ok, it's virtual. Electronic. A pretty badge on my geocaching page. No big deal right? But it's so pretty and I want them and all my friends are doing it.... Wow, reverting back to my teen years. So, for most (if not all) of the next few weeks, I thought I'd share my journey with you.

31 Days of Geocaching; Day 4

Decided to stay close to home today so I walked to a cache nearby. Imagine my shock in seeing the cache so close to these giant sunflowers! I stopped over to get a closer look, and the owner offered to snap a picture! Too bed the sun was the other direction!

31 Days of Caching: Day 3

This is one of the many reasons I Geocache - I never knew there were so many nature trails in my urban area.

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 2

This is an interesting Detroit site. There used to be a cemetery on Russell Street but it was slowly taken over by neglect and a little farmers market (eventually called Eastern Market - ever heard of it?)

All the bodies were exhumed and moved to the Conner Creek Detroit Grosse Pointe Cemetery on Gunston Street.

Again, neglect took over, the notables were moved to Historic Elmwood Cemetery, and this cemetery was forgotten. Bits of it were walked off with. It became a local park. It fell off city maps. A highway was built through it.

This rock (with the Daughters of the American Revolution plaque) and this small section of fencing is all that's left.

To read more about this fascinating story, click here: http://coord.info/GC49W81

Happy Friday!
Elisa

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 1

Today is Day 1 of 31 Days of Geocaching (the latest Groundspeak challenge). Steve & I grabbed the one outside of Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum!