Geocaching - exercise!

Okay - I've been chatting about geocaching on another thread and wanted to let everyone know a little more about it. You use a gps.  It's a type of "tech/geek" scavenger/treasure hunting.  Geocaches are hidden all over the world - including some of the US military bases over in Iraq.  The concept is something is hidden in a container (never buried - and usually always outside of the muggle eye) and someone uses the coordinates off of geocaching.com to locate the container.  Once found - you log your find - trade items - then go back onto geocaching.com to log the find. I know there is a whole lot more to it, but this is just a brief rundown.  Log on to www.geocaching.com to see what I am talking about.  There are tons of them in the OKC area, as well as all over Oklahoma.  Plus, if you love to see new places, this will take you to them! Tonja

In an attempt to avoid conversation with my ex-mother-in-law, I had my nose in a magazine where I read about this fantastic activity which will get your kids out from in front of the TV and computer and out in the wilderness.  Immediately, I was interested. I dropped about $150 for a cheap GPS (they can run from $75 to $1000) and started my journey.  Like Tonja said, though, it was horribly addictive.  My kids would have liked it much more if I hadn't been so diehard (pee behind the tree, boys...we're out in the middle of nowhere).  At one point, I'd hidden more than 60 caches in OKC (most in Edmond) and had found 700+.   The exercise is wonderful...not to mention how many times I muttered "geez...I never knew this was out here" when I would find myself in undiscovered parts of the OKC metro.  It's truly a wonderful hobby (sport, if you're an enthusiast), and the exercise is marvelous. I stopped about a year ago when the gas prices soared to above $3/gallon.  And, the July/August heat was impossible (not to mention unsafe, if you don't have plenty of water)  However, it's so worth the time and money to get started.  And, if you don't have a GPS unit, you should go with a group for a couple of hunts until you decide whether this is the game for you.  If we can wait until the temps drop a bit, I'd definitely be up for going out with a group.   Cathy

I'd definately agree to wait until the temps drops some - regardless of weight loss - I still have a difficult time in the heat - makes my stomach upset.  Of course, I've been behind the tree before with that very problem (I know - TMI)! Cathy, I can't wait to finally meet you.  Isn't it funny that it's this amazing journey that is going to bring us together.  I know that you are going to love Dr. Gornichec.  Have you gotten to go to a support group yet?  I was leading them then took a break for a couple months and Tina Weatherly took over at that time.  But, as of this last Saturday, I was back in action. I love to talk to people about the lap band, as well as geocaching - so this is going to be fun! Tonja

I, too, am looking forward to meeting you.  I'm curious as to why you changed your geocaching name?  Were you active in sapulpa and wanted something new in Edmond? I've been to one of Dr. Gornichec's support groups, but when they broke apart, I went to the RNY side, rather than the Band side, given I was unsure which procedure to have.  Unfortunately, my health decided for me, as I have Crohn's and am unable to have RNY.   I don't have a date yet, as my presurgical testing showed some symptoms that Dr. Gornichec wanted me to follow-up on before he sliced me open.  I appreciate his thoroughness with things like that...even though it delays my weightloss for each day that I have to wait on other doctors to fit me in. Anyway, I think that one of the prerequisites of caching is knowing how to use a tree (men have it so much easier).  It's also knowing when to take shoes/socks off and rolling up pant legs because you're going to tread through creek beds; recognizing poison ivy; and most importantly, not being too squeamish when you need to get a tick to release its bite. As long as you're in for a fun hike where you spend mega-bucks on a piece of electronic equipment to find your way to a box full of Happy Meal toys, you're going to have a blast.  If for no other reason, it's great exercise and too much fun when you get to do the "Happy Dance" when you've found the cache.

I haven't actually gone out and found a cache yet, but i wanted to add that the site lists them by ease and location too-I've been planning on taking my 81 year old father on a hunt.

Tonja, I love this topic.....I am thinking about writing an article about this for the exercise forum and Oh Magazine.....is this something you would like to help with?

I'm game, too, if you need more than one source.  I'll let Tonja take the lead, but will help in anyway I can.

I would love to help with it.  Just let me know what I can do and what info you would like to have! Tonja

With moving from Sapulpa we decided to change our geocaching name and start brand new. Did you ever do the one in Sapulpa that was right at the mail box infront of a house?  If so, that was ours.  And the 'Chief' cache is ours, as well as 'Whoops, Missed That One' and 'Used To Be Posey'. Of course, we still have our smashed pennies, nickels and tokens that say GeoGryffindor - so those will be considered a collectors item. We've been to a couple of Fall Fests and are considering going to the one that is in October at Lake Oolagah.  We will see. A couple years back I had been bragging about not ever getting poison ivy then - WHAM!!! - I got my fair share, plus some. But, it is so much fun and I can't wait to get going with it again! Tonja