We're Cache-Machines!

Over the past year we've found over 140 caches in various fascinating locations. Since I've just recently started this blog, I thought it would be fun to share some of the photos from our many caching related exploits.

2010: A Photographic Reflection

GEOCACHING IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO: 

Caching in a highly populated urban area poses several problems and several challenges. First of all, the caches are usually microscopic, and exceedingly difficult to find. Reasons being, if you leave anything around larger than an M&M, it will disappear. A large, plastic container full of treasures will quickly become a homeless person's lunchbox... true story! The above picture illustrates that exact point. This little magnetic cache, is about the size of a finger nail. I found it stuck to the bottom of a park bench. Miraculously, it actually contained a small piece of paper rolled up inside, that you could log your visit on. That's my friend Ted, using his finger to show the scale.

Another prominent issue that arises from treasure hunting in the big city is that, cities are disgusting places! I was convinced I had found a particular cache hiding in a crack on a concrete slab. After pulling out the foreign object I was mortified beyond belief to discover I was holding an old, and visibly used bandaid! EWWWWW! (It's important to note, that hand sanitizer is an essential tool for any avid geocacher ;) 

Despite all of the obvious disadvantages, caching in an urban area can still be challenging and quite fun! Give it a try, if you're brave!

TRAVEL CACHING!

One of our favourite activities is caching while travelling. Last summer, I attended the San Diego Comicon with my boyfriend, and four of our close friends. While there we mostly engaged in geek related activities, such as attending panels, meeting comic book writers and artists and ogling our favourite sci-fi actors. I met my all time hero... BATMAN!

 (I'm not Catwoman, I'm the one eating the apple.)

During the evenings, we explored the city. We managed to find an exclusive party on an aircraft carrier, where the rumour was that William Shatner was onboard partying it up! Unfortunately they denied us access to said party, so my boyfriend and I decided to search for a few caches. At the time, we had a geo-coin in our possession; a trackable travel bug that people create and drop in geocaches. Other cachers find the travel bug and move it to another location, then log it online so the owner of the bug can trace it as it moves around the world. So naturally, vacationing is the perfect opportunity to move a travel bug to an exotic locale. We had originally found the coin in St. Catharines Ontario, and when we moved it to San Diego, it traveled an astonishing 2,165 miles! Not too shabby!

I can't wait to cache on our next vacation! ;)

CACHING IN THE WILD

My all time favourite place to cache is out in the woods. The setting is clean and serene, and the people scrutinizing your every move, or as we call them, Muggles, are very few. The above picture is from a lovely trail in Burlington Ontario. Tumbler helped sniff out the cache's location. 

The caches are generally, quite large and full of tradable items. Not all hidden treasures found while geo caching are the caches themselves, however. Sometimes the places they're hiding in are treasures unto themselves. 

Above is an old truck that we found abandoned in the woods. The hint was "Fill er up".  Just guess where the cache was hidden? Joe was the only one brave enough to stick his hand into the rusty hole where the gas tank used to reside. 

CACHING WITH FRIENDS

NEIL FOUND IT!

Geocaching with friends is probably the most rewarding aspect of amateur treasure hunting. Being outside and getting fresh air and exercise with close friends is super awesome, and finding all the caches yourself while your friends languish is even better! ;)

HI MARY! :)

These last two pictures, are from a day of caching in Burlington as well. We had a brilliant day, finding various caches in a number of clever locales. This one was hiding under a bridge like a common troll, but had some beautiful glass beads inside it. 

I love my friends, and I love caching! Here's to an exciting new year of adventure!