Good times at Maritime Mega V (GC9V5Q6)
Geocaching HQ Lackeys attend dozens of Mega and Giga-Events around the world, shaking hands, sharing stories of adventure, and of course, geocaching! Jerimiah (MusikMaker) is the QA Lead at Geocaching HQ. He recently traveled to Canada to attend the Mega-Event Maritime Mega V (GC9V5Q6). Here’s his trip summary.
This year I had the privilege of attending the Maritime Mega V (GC9V5Q6) at Fredericton in New Brunswick, Canada.
The Maritimes refer to the three small provinces in southeast Canada that have Atlantic Ocean coastlines—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. These were all originally French colonies until they were taken over by the British around the time of the American Civil War, and then eventually merged a few years later with the Province of Canada into the beginnings of the modern country of Canada. Their coastal access made these areas important for shipping and trading, especially in the early days of colonial North America. Both French and English are spoken there to this day, a testament to the rich history and strong identity of the people who now live there.
I got settled at the hotel (thanks for the ride, Carl!), just in time for the MMV – Meet & Greet Strawberry Social (GCA6BVD), a really fun get together in downtown Fredericton. Thanks to the shelter of the event hall, we were unfazed by the 30 minute downpour during the event, and the homemade strawberry shortcake was, of course, the highlight.
A picture of the most delicious strawberry shortcake.
After a good night’s rest, Friday morning was time to head over to my third event, Welcome to Hanwell Meet & Greet (GCA7QQA). Hanwell Place has a great event hall and also several miles of trails that emphasize accessibility in nature. The trails are paved with a rubberized asphalt, making it not only a pleasure to hike on, but providing the opportunity for low-mobility folks to see nature firsthand, at their own pace. I met and had great conversations with a ton of cachers at this event, both experienced and new, and got in on a group picture with our very own Signal.
Finally, Saturday was the main event: Maritime Mega V (GC9V5Q6). Held at a large local church, there was plenty of room for everyone in the main auditorium for the opening ceremonies by the Mega’s coordinator, Carolyn (Elhart). There were workshops, a vendor/social hall, and a much-appreciated snacking area. Later in the afternoon, we all gathered for the massive group photo.
A few hundred attendees gathered in a grassy area for the group photo, taken by a drone.
Next, I headed over to the MMV – Maritime Kitchen Party (GCA6BWE) at a beautiful country farm outside of town. A ‘kitchen party’ is a Canadian folk tradition deeply rooted in Atlantic Canada, featuring food and often shared/participatory folk music. For this event, after enjoying the meal, we were treated to a local folk band and made some s’mores. Lots of socializing and music made this a casual and enjoyable event.
Attendees seated at tables in a cabin, watching the band play folk music
Another night of sleep and suddenly it was Sunday, the last day of the Mega. Before heading to the airport, I stopped by the MMV – Farewell Breakfast to the Maritimes! (GCA6BWJ) for a hearty continental breakfast, more conversations with geocachers from all over the area, and the final raffle for geocaching-related prizes. It was a wonderful close to the Mega.
Me, doing my best to pretend to be a few inches taller for this photo, which I honestly thought was going to be only from the waist-up! So busted. (I’m 5’9”)
The people I met and the beautiful places I visited are still on my mind. I was so happy to hear from players about all the different ways (and reasons!) they play the game, and to be once again reminded why working at Geocaching is such an honor and a responsibility—without the players and community, there would be no geocaching company as we know it today. A final thanks to everyone for being so friendly, welcoming, curious, and committed!
-Jerimiah (MusikMaker)
QA Lead, Geocaching.com
