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Old 29 January 2010, 03:58 PM
  #1  
Timwinner
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Default My new geeky hobby

No its not world of warcraft but.... I got turned onto this by a guy at work, I am sure there are some secret fans on here already.

Anyways, Its called Geocaching ( Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site ) you basically walk around finding caches other people have left, I know I know it sounds rubbish but seriously....You have got to try it, I bet you get hooked!!!

So is anyone else going to admit to it or is it just me?*













* Cue a load of "its just you responses
Old 29 January 2010, 04:06 PM
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BlkKnight
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I've a friend who does it.

Modern version of postboxing
Old 29 January 2010, 04:15 PM
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Jamie
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Different but better than train spotting
Old 29 January 2010, 04:17 PM
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PaulC72
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I have looked into it before but I got bored before trying it lol.
Old 29 January 2010, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by BlkKnight
I've a friend who does it.

Modern version of postboxing
Is that like cottaging a la G Michael?
Old 29 January 2010, 04:50 PM
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Some guy interviewing at work did a presentation on this (our recruitment process is a bit involved). It sounded fairly interesting, if a bit geeky - at least it will get you out in the fresh air!
Old 29 January 2010, 04:52 PM
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its a short step from yomping and joining Anneka Rice' Treasure Hunt
Old 29 January 2010, 04:57 PM
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StickyMicky
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Originally Posted by Timwinner
but.... I got turned onto this by a guy at work,
This was as far as i got tbh....
Old 29 January 2010, 05:53 PM
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SunnySideUp
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Heard about this thing a good few years ago now - maybe 10 years ago?
Old 29 January 2010, 07:02 PM
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looks kinda intresting and a little nerdy
if there was money involved id be out now
Old 29 January 2010, 09:13 PM
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WRX_Dazza
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sounds like a giggle and always up for some outdoor activity after hibernating through most of the winter

not on the nerdy scale of trainspotting and not quite as extreme as base jumping, so probably a well placed activity in my book

enjoy it and let us know what you find !
Old 29 January 2010, 09:18 PM
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WRX_Dazza
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I just noticed you need a paid subscription for some extra site features !!

Its not run by IB is it????
Old 29 January 2010, 09:20 PM
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I think kit williams had the right idea , this sounds like an exercise in 'whos got the best gps kit' ?
Old 29 January 2010, 09:28 PM
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WRX_Dazza
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looking through some of the "giveaway" location details i think you'd find most of them with a divining rod !!!
Old 29 January 2010, 09:38 PM
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Some lunatic has hidden some geo-treasure across the road from work in a field, this was apparently in 2007
Old 29 January 2010, 09:50 PM
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Originally Posted by StickyMicky
Some lunatic has hidden some geo-treasure across the road from work in a field, this was apparently in 2007

put a free car wash voucher in there, that will advertise the business when reported back !!
Old 29 January 2010, 10:01 PM
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Been doing this for years - its a bit of a laugh and gets you out in the fresh air.
Old 30 January 2010, 11:10 AM
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Leslie
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Originally Posted by SwissTony
its a short step from yomping and joining Anneka Rice' Treasure Hunt
I thought she wasn't too bad, as long as you had earplugs!

Les
Old 30 January 2010, 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by WRX_Dazza
put a free car wash voucher in there, that will advertise the business when reported back !!
Good idea, but how do you put a voucher into this hidden geo thing? Its not real ?

Maybe i have to bite my tongue and look into this a little bit more.
Old 30 January 2010, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by StickyMicky
Good idea, but how do you put a voucher into this hidden geo thing? Its not real ?

Maybe i have to bite my tongue and look into this a little bit more.
There are clues and GPS co-ordinates posted on the net. You use a GPS device to navigate yourself to the given co-ordiates, then hoke about in the undergrowth to find a sealed box which contains the cache.

You remove one item, and add another item. Update details over the internet, then move on to the next location. The more interesting the contents of the cache are the more activity it attracts.
Old 30 January 2010, 04:09 PM
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Old 30 January 2010, 04:38 PM
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Timwinner
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There is an app if you have an iPhone, I went to Farnborough today, needless to say everything had been nicked from the sites. But it burnt some time whilst the Mrs was in mothercare.
Old 30 January 2010, 07:26 PM
  #23  
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Thats a shame Tim, and i guess nothing much can be done about that

But i guess it makes finding an "untouched" cache more enjoyable....

i might have a dig about locally, but dont see myself travelling abroad for the pleasure, but i guess everyone starts off saying that !!!

enjoy it mate.... each to there own !!

..........................you geek

Old 30 January 2010, 07:43 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by BlkKnight
I've a friend who does it.

Modern version of postboxing

Ditto, they do it around here on Dartmoor, it's just a modern day version of post boxing, been around for donkeys years.
Old 30 January 2010, 08:14 PM
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We did a bit last weekend. Looked at it before on a few sites, then when I got an iPhone a few weeks back looked into it a bit more. I realised there were 10 points within about 1.5 mile of my house. So last Sunday, me, the Mrs & two toddlers went for a walk in the fresh air, iPhone in hand and found 3. It then started raining so I turned around and walked home. Got us out in the fresh air for a bit of exercise! My mates dad reckons that he knows someone who was doing it 12 years or so ago!
Old 30 January 2010, 08:56 PM
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I had a go at this weekend, I don't think it's too nerdy, I think if you have a flask of coffee and a backpack full of rich tea's it becomes nerdy.

Doing it for a bit of fun/exercise isn't that bad.
Old 31 January 2010, 02:09 AM
  #27  
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so what type of things are in the boxes ?
Old 31 January 2010, 10:39 AM
  #28  
Hysteria1983
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Sometimes it's just a log (piece of paper to sign) sometimes it's something like a pin badge, or a 20p, nothing exciting, and you have to replace it with something else if you take it.
Old 31 January 2010, 02:12 PM
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Theres a couple near me i might put some **** in them to spice things up a little
Old 31 January 2010, 04:21 PM
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