Back again by popular demand, April's monthly meet and greet is scheduled for the second Monday, ( or the 8th). Had an excellent turnout last month. We have a room reserved and am looking forward to another great time. Please feel free to bring along any travel bugs awaiting discovery.
Location is at the usual place
Round Table Pizza
31775 Date Palm Dr.
Cathedral City
.
All are welcome to attend. And don't worry if you are late, please feel free to arrive when you can.
Now for the good part... since this regularly planned event falls in the middle of the Caching Carnival event, which runs between March 25 and April 14, this month's get-together will be conducted a little differently. We will spend a few minutes talking about geocaching guidelines, nature protection, safety, etc. Then everyone in attendance will get a chance to talk about their favorite geocaches and/or demonstrate how to make clever and unique containers.
Some thoughts on geocaching safety:
• Bring water especially if in the desert.
• Sun protection, wide brimmed hats, sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, etc.
• Be on the lookout for dangerous creatures, coyotes, snakes, etc.
• First aid kit (small sized container used by hikers).
• Go out early in morning when temperatures are not as hot as the early evening.
• Cellphone service not always available or very slow It also helps to write down the coordinates beforehand and use a conventional GPS.
• Back up batteries for cellphone, compact and only $10.
• Wear proper shoes, no sandals, flip flops, etc., tennis shoes or hiking boots work great.
• • If you are an amateur radio operator, take along a handheld transmitter in case of emergency. Most if not all HT’s will tune to 162.400 MHz for the National Weather Service for Coachella Valley, or 162.525 MHz for Spanish. Great source for current weather conditions.
• Make sure your car is in good working order, the heat is just as hard on car batteries as is the cold weather.
• If you suffer from allergies, consider using a face mask or a handkerchief to keep from breathing in pollens and/or other microbes.
• Now if you happen to be in a northern state or Canada, do not walk on frozen lakes or ponds UNLESS the ice is at least one foot thick. This occurs when there are zero-degree temperatures for about a week.