Be Prepared!
By Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21746)
Canada
September 16, 2016 5:10am CST
One of my grandsons was coming to Grandma's house for a sleepover. It had been discussed several times, but the timing always seemed to be off.
This week, the stars lined up and we made it work.
For months he has been wanting to learn to Geocache (using billion dollar satellites to find Tupperware in the woods), and this was the perfect opportunity.
His mother set up an account for him, so I would be able to help him log his finds at the end of the day.
Earlier in the week I had hidden several caches and needed to add some swag (optional, small toys, souvenirs, trinkets) to the containers. This gave my grandson the chance to find a few on the way to my house. We also located (using my smartphone) two other caches hidden by other local geocachers.
He was ecstatic to be able to log his first few finds. All he talked about was going out to find more. Yesterday we spent several hours hiking and locating geocaches along the way. At the end of the day he had found 12 different caches, ranging in size from a pill bottle to a ammo can.
My one concern was how poorly prepared he was for the experience. A quick trip to Walmart provided a change of clothes, but flip flops are not the recommended foot gear. Urban geocaching isn't usually a problem, but those trails through the woods can take you up and down some serious slopes, and through the dreaded leaves of three (poison ivy).
The inexpensive backpack bag I provided gives him somewhere to keep his geocaching supplies.
Now that he has returned home, we made a list of what he needs to bring to have another geocaching adventure.
Long pants, proper hiking shoes and socks, plus a complete change of clothes for when we are finished. His 'kit' should include at the very minimum a pen, and tweezers. A couple of small ziplock bags, a small trash bag and some sheets of paper could also be useful.
We are both looking forward to our next outing.
13 people like this
14 responses
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
17 Sep 16
We had a lot of fun. It gets me out of the house and getting some exercise and fresh air. It also brings me places I would probably never have found on my own.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
19 Sep 16
When we find a cache, we sign the log with our geocaching name (mine is PatchworkMom), if there is swag we might swap something. If there are travel bugs or trackables we might log them as discovered, or grab them and move them on to another cache.
When we are finished, we rehide the cache. I then sign the electronic log when I get home.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
20 Sep 16
@Morleyhunt I think that would really be fun to do. I may have to check into it myself and see if there is anything going on here where I live.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
21 Sep 16
@simone10 there are almost 2000 caches in a 10 mile radius of Loisville, Kentucky.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (216097)
• Chile
19 Sep 16
@Morleyhunt We have to discover what things we can do with our grandkids and are fun for them and for us.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
19 Sep 16
I don't want to be the grandmother that is referred to, as the mean grandma.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459735)
• Switzerland
17 Sep 16
@Morleyhunt I would also love this much more and I have no interest for this new craziness called Pokemon Go.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
19 Sep 16
@LadyDuck pokemon go holds no interest to me either.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
17 Sep 16
No interest I. Searching for something virtual. I prefer to find something I can touch. That said, sometimes there are virtual caches....you go to see something that is physical and a wer a few questions. There is. O log to sign, but you are required to prove that you were present.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129625)
• Israel
18 Mar 18
It sounds like a great outing for him and for you to be able to spend time together.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
20 Mar 18
I'm looking forward to next week when I get to see my grandchildren again,
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129625)
• Israel
21 Mar 18
@Morleyhunt
I am happy for you Morley. I am not looking forward to finishing up and getting ready for our holiday that starts Friday night next week.
@Happy2BeMe (99390)
• Canada
16 Sep 16
I am glad that he is getting to experience this with you. You are making memories together that he will cherish forever and teaching his skills that he will use throughout his life time.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
17 Sep 16
I know how important these memories can be. I rarely saw my grandparents as I was growing up. They lived in Europe, we lived in North America.....enough said.
@Happy2BeMe (99390)
• Canada
17 Sep 16
@Morleyhunt that is sad. Grandparents are such a wonderful partner of our lives.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
17 Sep 16
Outdoor time is especially enjoyable. Winter is coming. Then I'll want to stay inside.
@jstory07 (134755)
• Roseburg, Oregon
17 Sep 16
I always sent my kids to Grand mom house with to many clothes.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
17 Sep 16
This family invariably is missing something.. Five children.....I've needed to supply diapers, underwear, sleepers, t-shirts, pants, a winter coat (lol). I have a cupboard full of emergency supplies. I just recently disposed of three soothers.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
17 Sep 16
The phot is me last winter. My daughter and I were dragging branches so we could access a cache that required us crossing an area where the water was at least as high as my mud boots. We were successful. As geocachers we will tell you sometimes it is more about the adventure than the actual finding of the cache.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
17 Sep 16
We have a lot of fun. This afternoon my youngest daughter and I went to find a few just down the road. Two were quick and easy. The third required a lot of persistence and some feedback from the cache owner (person who his the cache). We persevered and found the cache.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326467)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Sep 16
That's great that he is so enthusiastic - and all the rest will come good with time - and a caring grandmother! Great that you're looking forward to a repeat at some stage. :)
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
17 Sep 16
He is very enthusiastic. His mom took his brother and sisters out the same day. They have asked me to come with them one day I. The next week so I can help them find some they can't find on their own....(I have a paid membership, there's is the freebie which does not give access to everything).
If they show continued interest, I think a worthwhile gift would be to upgrade their membership.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326467)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 16
@Morleyhunt Certainly if they're going to continue, a membership would be a great gift.
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
17 Sep 16
It sounds like you guys had an awesome hunt. He will be prepared (clothing wise) for the next trip.
@nela13 (55761)
• Portugal
20 Mar 18
i am sure you had a lot of fun with your grandson helping him in his geocaching.
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
20 Mar 18
I usually have a good time when I take my grandchildren for an outing.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21746)
• Canada
16 Sep 16
Geocaching.com is a great place to learn about geocaching. Having an experienced geocacher mentor you makes it an even easier start. There are events scheduled all around the world where you can get together with other geocachers.
