Our Geocaching Family Adventures: First Geocaching Adventures... and Lessons Learned.

Our first geocaching adventure started with trying to find "The Master of Suspense" geocache, which was supposed to be just outside of our house.

The result so far has been unsuccessful.

This is due to the fact that it has a high level of difficulty. It's actually a very very difficult one to solve, ESPECIALLY as the first attempt. What I should have done was read Geocaching 101.

Here are some of the things I have found to be helpful to know before starting:

1. Do research in advance.

2. Read the details. Find out if the cache is BIG, Normal or small, and maybe even read the hints. Especially if you are just starting.

3. Check the difficulty level and especially notice the icons - if you are going with your family, look for the "Recommended for Kids" icon. This means it's kid-friendly - very helpful!

4. Some cache's have the disclaimer, "The cache isn't actually found at these coordinates, sucker! Try to solve this ludicrously difficult puzzle to find the actual coordinates while your fingers and other appendages freeze off"

I don't like those.

5. Don't worry about trackables to start, unless you are ready for the more advanced stuff.

6. Filter the cache - start with "traditional" type caches.

Anyway, after some trial and error, we did find our first cache on December 10, 2014. That day we looked for two more, but with no luck - I did not check the type or difficulty level, and so kids were not happy with that result.

The first cache, "Mud in the Forest".

... but we remained undeterred! So on Saturday, with a little research in advance, we found 3 of the 4 we went looking for.

The first find was from Simon, we were looking for "Nagano Gold". We spent about 10 - 15 min. looking for it. Simon was able to find it after we got the clue, "What Charlie Brown gets for Halloween"

Then it was on to the one we couldn't find, "TEHL in GRR". It was supposed to be in a pricker bush in front of the hotel, but we could not find the bugger. Might have to return at a later time to check again. It was bitter cold, and Vanessa was complaining of hunger....

After a quick stop to get some food, we went to the parking lot of Bob Evans, and found a quick one, "Breakfast with the Captain", hanging in a pine tree.

Then a few blocks away, we went to the "Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens" (cemetary) and found "Dewlou's Stash 9", which was the largest of the caches we found, and Simon did his first trade for the colorful slinky - he traded a Penguin of Madagascar periscope toy from McDonalds Happy Meal. A good trade, if I do say so myself.

Later that evening, we visited Grandma and Grandpa. They were game to tackle an expedition with us, and we found both of the caches we set out to find!

The first one was "Billboard Chart". Dad found it just as we were about to give up. It was a tiny white plastic film canister.