techno-geek shuffle

Itching to use my new GPS unit to start Geocaching, late last night I figured out how to download cache coordinates from the website into the unit and I readied a few local (within walking distance) finds.  It was a sunny but chilly day in northern Ohio... the kind of day you'll gladly welcome in mid-February in this region.  I got home from work about 4:30 and that left about 90 minutes of daylight.  Jen was in need of a Benny break, so I asked him if he wanted to go outside (he loves outside), and he grabbed my leg and pointed at the door... I'll take that as a "yes".  I asked Dylan and Zachary if they wanted to walk to the waterfall (the location of our nearest geocache) and they agreed, knowing I wanted to find that cache. 

I grabbed the camera (not knowing the batteries were dead), the GPS, and the four of us walked to the small park near the waterfall, where we had to kill a few minutes for some "muggles" to disperse.  Once the muggles left, I used the compass and distance gauge to get as close to the cache as possible (typically within about 20 feet).  Holding tightly to Benny with one hand (so he didn't go swimming in the river) and holding the GPS in the other, new-to-geocaching-techno-geek-dad was shuffling around the park, head-down, eyes on the gadget... searching for the virtual "X" marking the spot whar thar be treasure.  The idea is that the device gets you close, then you search out the cache with the eyeballs.  I guess I was focusing too much on the device, because while Benny and I were still doing the techno-geek shuffle, Dylan and Zachary found the cache at the same time.  Still head-down, eyes on the device, I heard Zachary say, "you can put that thing away, Dad, it's right there."  Behind a small ___, under the edge of a large ____ (don't want to be a "spoiler"), was our first official "find".  The cache contained a little "swag"... but in our haste, the boys had brought nothing to trade.  It also contained a log book... but in our haste, we forgot a pen to sign the log.  We tried to photograph the momentous first official cache... but in our haste, we forgot to change the camera batteries.  So, we carefully replaced the cache and came home to log our find on the geocaching website... a little anti-climatic for the first find.  But... thar be more treasure ta find!

new toy

It arrived, yesterday... the Garmin eTrex Legend H handheld GPS unit.  And, it coordinated with our first burst of pre-spring temperatures in Ohio.

I'm not really a tech-and-gadget-guy, but I have been debating this purchase for quite a while... a few years, to be exact.  I know it isn't a huge purchase, but I'm very frugal, and I have four kids... need I say more?  I have spent the past few months reading reviews, studying features, getting the opinions of a few friends, and scouring the Internet for the best possible price.  I narrowed it down to this model and the one above it (which has basically the same features, but the addition of a color display).  Oddly enough, I could have purchased the better model for a few dollars less, but I chose this one.  Why?  Two words:  battery life.  The model I chose has an estimated battery life of 18 hours, as opposed to 14 hours on the model with the color screen.  Yes, I might be strange, but I hate buying/changing batteries, and the 4 hours of additional fun per battery cycle made the decision for me!

Although I don't use it often, I already have a Garmin automotive navigation device, and I really like it.  So, why does a non-tech-and-gadget-guy need two GPS units?

Geocaching.  High-tech hide-and-seek.  "The Great American GPS Stash Hunt", as it was originally named on May 3, 2000, when Dave Ulmer, a GPS enthusiast, hid the first "stash" in Beavercreek, Oregon.  The idea was simple:  put some small items with a visitor log book in a watertight container, hide it, record the GPS coordinates of the location and publish the coordinates.  Others use their GPS units to find the container (stealthily, without the muggles knowing!), log their visit, trade a trinket (if they wish), and place the container as they found it.  Little did Dave Ulmer know that what started as one simple GPS "experiment" would rapidly blossom into the world-wide hobby phenomenon now known as Geocaching.  And, where I live (and probably where you live), there are numerous caches hidden within walking distance of my backyard.

I first learned about Geocaching a few years ago, and thought it sounded like good family fun.  I intended to by a handheld GPS unit (auto units are not very compatible with Geocaching), but I just never got around to it.  Lately, my friend Father of Five, a fellow-Geocacher, has been telling me that the boys and I would love it, and I need to try it.  So, FoF, here we go... officially joining the Geocaching craze!  With spring knocking on our door, the boys and I can't wait to fire up the Garmin and do some high-tech treasure hunting!