Originally posted on Sunday, December 14, 2008
It is not about the cache most times. It is about the journey that takes you there and the people you meet along the way..
Last night was the perfect example of this. A group of us from South Jersey Geocaching decided to go for a couple of exteme night caches. A few of us (me, Pete Galap and Jack) had already done it, but we couldn't resist the urge to watch the others go for it. The other none of us had gotten yet.
We met at the first one (that I had already done) and settled in to watch the fun. We had conversation and homemade brownies (thanks Mel!) and waited until everyone got there and for darkness to start to fall. When it started to get dark, off we went. Arriving at the posted coordinates, you could see the first flashlights start to shine up into the nearby trees. Soft groans and mumblings of Oh My God! were heard. Way up in the trees were 17 film canisters in 5 or 6 different trees with red reflective tape on them. Which one held the coords for the next stage? Those of us that knew huddled and watched the fun. They tried and failed, tried again. They made strange guesses. "Gipsie sat by that tree when we first got here. It is the biggest tree. It must be there." They tried to ply us for information with promises of beer and goodies. If we even mentioned one particular tree, they were up it like a shot. "You said that tree looked good," was the accusation. To which Jack replied, "Well, it is a nice tree as far as trees go." Every time a film canister was reached, and a huge "Awww" was heard, we giggled louder. We watched people push themselves to the extreme. We watched people climb higher than they have ever done. We watched people standing on each others shoulders, faces and hands. Finally the cry of "Coffee" (SJG speak for "I found it") was heard and a cheer went up from the crowd. The numbers were read out. All except the last three. "What about the rest?" was the cry. "I will tell you when I get down to preserve my safety," Joe joked. Off to the last stage we went. Cache in hand, everyone signed in and off to the next cache.
We all met at the next cache and followed the firetacks to the cache location. Uh-oh. We arrive at the final tacks and they are shaped like an arrow, pointing straight up. WAY up. We send one up to retrieve the cache as we all hold our breath. He gets the cache and we all sign in. Then someone else climbs to return it. Deciding it only fair that to log the cache we should all climb the tree, we each took turns going up. WOW, that was high!
At the parking spot we re-grouped and a couple of us broke off from the main group. One went home and another extended an invitation as they were leaving that when we finished our last easy night cache we should stop by their place for beer and snacks. Hmmm......
We quickly dispatched the last cache and to the Bubblerocks we went. It was 9:30 when we arrived and quickly the beer was flowing and the snacks were being eaten. Musical instruments came out. Next thing you know Joe was playing guitar and we had singers, tambourine players, drummers, maracas. Every song we played everyone knew. We laughed and joked and next thing you know I was getting home at 2am. But back to my original statement. This is what geocaching is about. The trip was great even though I only got one smiley. Hanging out with like minded friends. Having fun. And sometimes just being silly. I have met some great people. People I will consider friends forever. Who cares if we get one cache or twenty one. Life is good.
It is not about the cache most times. It is about the journey that takes you there and the people you meet along the way..
Last night was the perfect example of this. A group of us from South Jersey Geocaching decided to go for a couple of exteme night caches. A few of us (me, Pete Galap and Jack) had already done it, but we couldn't resist the urge to watch the others go for it. The other none of us had gotten yet.
We met at the first one (that I had already done) and settled in to watch the fun. We had conversation and homemade brownies (thanks Mel!) and waited until everyone got there and for darkness to start to fall. When it started to get dark, off we went. Arriving at the posted coordinates, you could see the first flashlights start to shine up into the nearby trees. Soft groans and mumblings of Oh My God! were heard. Way up in the trees were 17 film canisters in 5 or 6 different trees with red reflective tape on them. Which one held the coords for the next stage? Those of us that knew huddled and watched the fun. They tried and failed, tried again. They made strange guesses. "Gipsie sat by that tree when we first got here. It is the biggest tree. It must be there." They tried to ply us for information with promises of beer and goodies. If we even mentioned one particular tree, they were up it like a shot. "You said that tree looked good," was the accusation. To which Jack replied, "Well, it is a nice tree as far as trees go." Every time a film canister was reached, and a huge "Awww" was heard, we giggled louder. We watched people push themselves to the extreme. We watched people climb higher than they have ever done. We watched people standing on each others shoulders, faces and hands. Finally the cry of "Coffee" (SJG speak for "I found it") was heard and a cheer went up from the crowd. The numbers were read out. All except the last three. "What about the rest?" was the cry. "I will tell you when I get down to preserve my safety," Joe joked. Off to the last stage we went. Cache in hand, everyone signed in and off to the next cache.
We all met at the next cache and followed the firetacks to the cache location. Uh-oh. We arrive at the final tacks and they are shaped like an arrow, pointing straight up. WAY up. We send one up to retrieve the cache as we all hold our breath. He gets the cache and we all sign in. Then someone else climbs to return it. Deciding it only fair that to log the cache we should all climb the tree, we each took turns going up. WOW, that was high!
At the parking spot we re-grouped and a couple of us broke off from the main group. One went home and another extended an invitation as they were leaving that when we finished our last easy night cache we should stop by their place for beer and snacks. Hmmm......
We quickly dispatched the last cache and to the Bubblerocks we went. It was 9:30 when we arrived and quickly the beer was flowing and the snacks were being eaten. Musical instruments came out. Next thing you know Joe was playing guitar and we had singers, tambourine players, drummers, maracas. Every song we played everyone knew. We laughed and joked and next thing you know I was getting home at 2am. But back to my original statement. This is what geocaching is about. The trip was great even though I only got one smiley. Hanging out with like minded friends. Having fun. And sometimes just being silly. I have met some great people. People I will consider friends forever. Who cares if we get one cache or twenty one. Life is good.
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