Dale:
Geocaching is a lot of fun, but recently the fun went out of it for me.
A lot of people who create and post caches do not follow the rules and make false statements regarding permission to place a cache(s). I was going to spend a day with a friend that was in the area while his wife was giving a presentation. I went to the geocaching page selected seven caches and entered the coordinates in my gps and e-mailed the coordinates to my friend who entered coordinates in his gps so he would be ready to go on arrival.
I bought us a good breakfast of steak and eggs that morning. I had my fill of coffee and we went caching. The first cache on the listed provided the LAT/LONG for the parking area. As we approached the area I notice a couple of NO Trespassing signs on the trees just behind the barb wire fence. As we entered the recommend parking area there were three more NO Trespassing signs on the fence, and a large NO Trespassing sign on the lock gate into the area.
There was not mention of this area being posted in the write-up. The cache owners had lied to the folks who maintain the website. We did not trespass. The fine is only a couple hundred dollars, but the court cost doubles that and getting my name it the paper is not agreeable.
All is not lost! I think it is neat that you plan on doing it with your daughter. I have taken a granddaughter. These young kids are smart and quickly comprehend how a gps unit works. I quickly realized it was an excuse to buy another unit because she had mine. I tried to make it educational and you live in a State where U.S. History was created. There are a lot of virtual caches around. These are in public places where there is not a trespass issue. In California we have visited statues or early pioneers, miners, plagues on walls, rocks, and other location identifying an historical event.
Some communities have passed ordinances prohibiting placing caches in parks in other areas because immature caches have done it without permission and cause problems. I find caches placed in cemeteries to be in poor taste.
When I read the seeker had to wait until the police car left the neighborhood I know there are issues with that cache.
It can be a lot of fun, and it is a great activity that helped me learn to use a gps. But use caution because a lot of immature kids post caches that truly do not meet the criteria. If you find a site that is questionable report it back to the site monitors. Like bad guys with guns, there are those that place the sport of geocaching at risk.
Sites in your area:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?state_id=39It does not cost anything to sign-up and become a member. It does cost to be a premium member.
