Geo Cache

This weekend we tried geo-caching. All across the world, people have hidden 'treasure boxes' and logged their locations via GPS tracking point on the internet. You use the internet sites to determine where you want to search for these 'treasure boxes', then print off the GPS coordinates and clues. Most of the treasures have a coded clue for kids to use to find them. Then you go to the location, and using the clue, you search for the box. Inside the box is a log, and you sign the log to show that you've found it. There might also be small treasures inside for kids to trade.
On Saturday, we walked along the American Tobacco Trail in Apex to find one. We didn't find it, but we had a beautiful walk. So Sunday, Gary printed off about 8 geo cache sites along the trail. This picture is of Ben finding the hiding spot of our first cache.


Inside the treasure box was a log, and some small treasures - a plastic ring, a Frankies Fun Park token, and a rock. We didn't trade treasures, but we did sign the log. We also took along our own book, to write down the names & numbers of the boxes we found.

Alek found the second one, under a tree on a hill. It took us a long time to find this one.

Inside was just a log - the container was an old film canister, which is very small.
We also found a third one hanging in a tree - it was the one we looked for on Saturday. It was in a bison tube, which is a small cylinder slightly longer than a dime. Inside was only a log.
The boys had fun searching for the boxes, but I thought the whole process was rather dull. We didn't walk far, and spent a lot of time searching. We searched for 5 others but didn't find them. Chloe went with us, and she wanted to be off with the boys in the woods, rather than standing with me along the trail. I wanted to be riding our bikes along the trail, rather than standing around.
So, when we got home I ordered us a 4-bike rack for the back of the van. Now we'll be able to take our bikes and go faster.