Geocaching for Beginners

Sunday's been interesting. It's involved rain, some more rain, and then a tad more rain. In between the downpour, Has-Bean and I decided we all needed some fresh air. Taking into account the chill, we wrapped Little Bean up in many layers. By the time we’d finished the sun started blazing. Then by the time we were in the car and on our way, the heavens opened again and we got hailed on. As I said, an interesting day. 

Look, 2 minutes of sunshine!

Has-Bean had suggested we go feed the ducks at the pond down the bottom of Ruislip high street. I should have known something was up as he’d never usually suggest giving food away.

Indeed, no sooner were Little Bean and I duck watching, then Has-Bean disappeared into the bushes, only to reappear a few minutes later looking rather shifty. He did the same near the Manor House and then again when we walked past The Orchard pub on the way home. What the hell was he up to?

Eventually I couldn’t stand it any more.

Me: Playing hide and go seek with the pigeons?

Him: No, just looking for caches. 

Me: Oh…’caches’. And what exactly are caches?!

Him: (Rolling eyes as if everyone knows what a cache is) A cache is a little box containing something that someone else has left behind. Geocaching is where people put caches in hiding places and you have to find them using the given coordinates.

Me: So it’s like a treasure hunt?

Him: Exactly.

Me: What sort of treasure?

Him: Sweets, trinkets, marbles. And a logbook you have to fill in.

Me: And what do you do with the treasure?

Him: Well, you replace it with your own treasure. And usually fill in the logbook.

Me: This sounds like something for kids?   

Him: Incomprehensible mumble. Then defiantly… And big kids too.  

As luck would have it tonight on Countryfile there was a short snippet on geocaching by Ellie Harrison (Has-Bean’s favourite TV totty) which gave me more of an idea what he was on about. Catch it on iplayer here. And doing a bit more research online I've discovered he's quite right. It's a worldwide treasure hunt and although perfect for getting kids outdoors, it's a great excursion for adults too. If you log on to geocaching.com and input your location you'll be amazed at how many geocaches are right on your doorstep.

Learn more about it here: