Are you ready to participate in one of the first GeoTours in continental Europe? Do you want to discover a territory in a fun and unique way? The Southwest Vendéen GeoTour might just be your next geocaching destination. Thanks to 150 new GeoTour geocaches you’re able to discover the region through a dozen geocaching loops.
You’ll discover the watery wonder of the Marais Poitevin, the Côte de Lumière, the countryside, lakes, rivers, cultural and historical heritage. The circuits are designed to be made on foot along a loop and some are designed for biking.
Join the teams that will participate in the inauguration of the GeoTour during the long weekend of the Ascension, on the 29th May through to the 1st of June. Keep your eyes on the global GeoTour directory to see the new pin appear on the map. No fewer than six events are spread over four days to discover this little corner of paradise.
If you’re just joining the geocaching adventure, DNF stands for Did Not Find. It’s a log type when you’re searching for a geocache, and guess what, didn’t find it. But what you should also know, is that a DNF log can transform into a “Found it!” The log type doesn’t mean you’ve given up, it means, well, that you didn’t find the geocache—this time. A DNF also means, “I care.”
When you log a DNF, you’re telling geocachers that the geocache may be more difficult to find than anticipated or may even be missing. You’re also letting the geocache owner know that they may need to double check that their geocache container can still be found at the posted coordinates.
If you’re a geocacher who’s logged one of the millions DNF’s posted to Geocaching.com so far, thanks from the geocaching community. It’s a small way to help ensure the quality of geocaching. Plus, you can always go back and search again. Who knows, maybe this time you’ll catch a break and log a “Found it!”
Share the geocache that you’ve DNF’d the most in comments below.
A record day for Carol and Kristie (Guwisti and mom) with 52 finds
Crumpled geocaching log sheets record simple, even fragile moments. Laughter, singing to classic country music and victorious thumbs-ups roll into three words for a daughter and her best geocaching partner. They sign logbooks with, “Guwisti and mom”. If you’ve geocached around Arkansas in the United States, you’ve probably read those three words on geocache log sheets for years.
But Kristie Boucheer Moore says all those geocaches are becoming flickers of half-remembered moments from her mom. “Her Alzheimer’s began a couple of years ago and has slowly progressed… She has problems remembering recent events and tends to repeat herself. She’ll ask me a question and say, ‘I’ve probably already asked you that, huh?’ And then she laughs. I don’t mind. She has a childlike exuberance which is infectious.”
Kristie began geocaching in 2010. The librarian happened upon something called, “geocaching” in an article. Soon she and her husband found their first geocache. She said they’ve been hooked on the outdoor adventure ever since.
Carol and Kristie
After her father’s death Kristie searched for ways to spend time with her mom. “My husband and I told her about our new hobby and she thought it sounded silly. We took her to find an ammo can and she found a plastic grasshopper inside as SWAG and has loved it ever since! This was when she was in the very early stages and quite independent. She’d go caching with us every once in awhile, but not as much as she does now.”
The more Alzheimer’s becomes part of their lives, the more they find themselves searching for geocaches, “You really have no idea how much my mom means to me or how much we love geocaching together!! I am so happy my mom and I have found ‘our thing’ to do together.”
“Guwisti and mom” is now appearing on geocaching log sheets at a record pace. They recently broke their record and found 52 geocaches in one day.
“It’s definitely me and her time, my husband will usually go have ‘guy time’ and mom and I go caching. We usually go on weekends, in fact when I call her on Saturday morning she always asks, ‘any new caches?!’ She thinks all caches are a First to Find opportunity.”
Carol has also discovered she’s part of a larger community where she’s welcome to just be herself. Kristie says, “She loves all types of caches and she goes to events with us as well, she might not talk much anymore but she loves being around everyone and hearing their stories.”
The quiet stops when Kristie and Carol start driving to their next geocache, “Caching has given us a way to connect in the outdoors. My mom has never met a stranger, all her neighbors love her and help look after her. Since developing Alzheimer’s she’s quieter in group situations. But she sure talks a bunch while we’re out caching. I’ve heard more about her childhood than I ever have. She loves to sing and we listen to old classic country and sing while we cache.”
It’s the activity of geocaching that Kristie believes builds something stronger than memories. They’re focusing on the moment being lived, not the moments that have been lost, “It’s a great opportunity to spend quality time with a parent who honestly might not even remember your name in another year or so. We’re creating memories out there and while she might not remember exactly what happened, I think she will remember the happy feelings and general good times. I will always treasure the memories made while out caching with my mom. It is also, I suppose, a stress free time for both us. She’s not worried about remembering something she has forgotten and I can step out of the role of caregiver for a few hours. Geocaching has us both looking for something that neither one of us knows where it is. It lets us live in the moment.”
The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin
The creator of a “school” for geocache hiders, an extreme geocacher with hides along mountain trails and the person who’s the glue that helps bind an entire state of geocachers together. We’re honoring each of these nominees for Geocacher of the Month for their contributions to the geocaching community. Each will receive worldwide recognition and a prize package from Geocaching HQ in Seattle, but which will be named Geocacher of the Month?
This is your opportunity to help decide who will take home the earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month geocoin (at left). Each featured Geocacher of the Month will receive the exclusive special edition Geocoin, a hat and a profile icon. They’ll also receive a certificate acknowledging their contributions, signed by two of the founders of Geocaching.com.
In December, Siig was named Geocacher of the Month.
Siig – Winner Geocacher of the Month January 2014
One geocacher who commented wrote, “Hands down winner this month must be siig! There is a reason why they are by far the team in Denmark with most favourite votings (and not just 100 as hinted above….almost 2800 favourites received!). You always leave one of their hides with a silent smile or a big and noisy laugh, as they are most often very innovative and funny caches. Their caches are well kept and always an experience.”
Now it’s your turn to help us select the next Geocacher of the Month. Write a supportive comment at the bottom of this blog for the nominated geocacher that you feel should be awarded the title. A panel from Geocaching HQ will then use your comments to help guide the decision of which geocacher is awarded the Geocacher of the Month honor.
Here are your nominees for the January 2014 Geocacher of the Month. Some testimonials have been edited for length.
Tim Werbrich writes, “MikeOtt is Delaware’s Geocaching Ambassador and the Presidential leader of the Delaware Geocachers. Mike has over 16,500 finds and owns over 300 caches! Mike took the lead in creating the Delaware Geocaching Trail in conjunction with Delaware Tourism. This trail of about 70 caches takes cachers over scenic trails and to unique attractions throughout Delaware. He also created the C & D Canal Power Trail, a trail of over 150 caches that border the scenic Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Mike also began the First State Challenge, an annual challenge series of caches in each of Delaware’s 3 counties. There are a lot more things he does for geocaching.
Mike is passionate about caching, but he also promotes caching throughout the state and region. Mike is at every event and CITO. He encourages others to give back to caching as well. I think he is the glue that keeps caching alive in Delaware. Mike is the perfect example of a ambassador to geocaching. Having cached with him in Alaska and the Northwest US, I know first hand his passion for caching. It is my honor to nominate him as Geocacher of the Month!”
Stephan from Gonzo&Xuni writes, “Kallesons real name is Martin Hanneken. He is Co-Founder of our Geocaching Verein “Geocaching im Emsland e.V.”
He is an active part of our local geocaching community. Martin owns a mixed variety of geocaches, such as night caches, really difficult mystery caches and a nice range of clever traditional hides.
What makes him a good candidate as a geocacher of the month is the fact, that he developed a “Geocaching Owner School” which he offers as part of event caches in our local region.
Goal of these school events is to make new and old cachers aware of our guidelines, do’s and don’ts, rules, and all other aspects. Attendees of his “Owner school” will learn how to do it right.
His efforts to train and make people understand the basics of our hobby makes Martin a very good candidate for the geocacher of the month.
He owns one of the best Night caches in our local area. “The Hunt @ Night”
Natalie Gray (Coralteach) writes, “I would like to nominate Cass Kalinski, otherwise known as CKayaks, for Geocacher of the Month. He not only finds all sorts of high terrain caches, etc…himself, he also places a lot of caches for others to enjoy, including an entire challenging trail in one of our largest parks. Even more than that though, is what he gives back to the geocaching community. Besides placing caches, he holds GREAT events. For two years in a row he has hosted a big event in Los Banos, CA.
He puts out 50 caches and cachers come from miles around to go out and have fun for the day. This year they were all puzzles, which was really great, and a lot of additional work for him! He had really great coins made up for both last year and this year, and it is becoming an annual event, and could even develop into a Mega Event! In addition, he hosts CITO events, and has one coming up on Jan. 18th. His caches are clever and fun, his stats are incredible, but the time and effort he goes through to host events, is incredible. His events draw cachers from all over the Bay Area, down to the Central Coast, and turns us into a community. I don’t think you’ll find a more well rounded cacher, or anyone more deserving of the award for Geocacher of the Month. He is a legend around here, and truly merits this award.”
Comment below to tell us who you think should be the January Geocacher of the Month. We will be accepting comments through February 28.
If your nominee wasn’t recognized here, please submit your nominations again next month. We’re always looking for the next Geocacher of the Month. To nominate a geocacher, send an email to geocacherofthemonth@geocaching.com and include the following information:
Your name, the name of your nominee, their username
A picture of the nominee
Description (200 or more words) explaining why he or she deserves to be the Geocacher of the Month
Please inform your nominee that you have submitted them for the award. Nominations for the next Geocacher of the Month should be received by March 3.Once Geocaching HQ has received the nominations, we will choose the top candidates and post them on the blog. You will then get a chance to champion your favorite. Our goal is to involve the entire geocaching community in this process so that we might learn from each other.
The earned, never for sale, Geocacher of the Month Geocoin
Geocachers united from across the world to sing the praises of three sets of geocachers last month. Each of the nominees is already a winner, with a prize package headed their way. But only one geocaching person, or couple, can be named the Geocacher of the Month.
All the nominees add a special contribution to their local communities and inspire the global geocaching community. Each will receive special recognition for their contribution to the adventure of geocaching. Before naming the Geocacher of the Month, Geocaching HQ reviews community input and blog comments. Each comment is read.
A geocaching couple from Denmark with some of the most inspiration hides on Europe claimed this month’s prize. Siig is December’s Featured Geocacher of the Month.
One comment reads, “Hands down winner this month must be siig! There is a reason why they are by far the team in Denmark with most favourite votings (and not just 100 as hintet above….almost 2800 favourites received!). You always leave one of their hides with a silent smile or a big and noisy laugh, as they are most often very innovative and funny caches. Their caches are well kept and always an experience. It is very clear that they stay true to the notion: Would I personally like to find this cache – due to its nature or the environment surrounding it? With this in mind when you place a cache, you cannot go wrong – and Siig don’t!”
Siig will receive the earned, never for sale, collector’s edition Geocacher of the Month Geocoin, along with a Geocacher of the Month hat and a certificate acknowledging their contribution, signed by two of the founders of Geocaching.com.
Siig – Winner Geocacher of the Month December 2013
