Summary

The author's second attempt at geocaching with their mother and friend Bobby, armed with a GPS and better weather, leads to success in finding the hidden treasure, reconnecting with childhood friends, and discovering other unique items in nature.

Abstract

The author recounts a successful geocaching adventure after an initial unsuccessful attempt. Despite not finding the cache on their first try, they enjoyed the outdoors and the company of their mother. The second attempt, equipped with a GPS and the presence of their friend Bobby, resulted in locating the hidden geocache. Along the way, they encountered childhood friends while walking their dogs, which was an unexpected and cherished moment. The author emphasizes the importance of teamwork and the thrill of the hunt, especially when the given hint was misleading. They left a souvenir and logged two finds, satisfying their quest and allowing the author to finally relax, no longer haunted by the mystery of the unfound treasure.

Opinions

The author values the adventure and beauty of nature in geocaching, considering it a success even when the treasure isn't found.
They believe that having a good-luck charm, in this case, their friend Bobby, improves their chances of success.
The author appreciates the serendipitous nature of geocaching, as it led to a nostalgic reunion with old friends.
They enjoy the challenge of misleading hints, which add to the excitement of the treasure hunt.
The author is proud and surprised when their mother independently finds the geocache without relying on coordinates.
They see geocaching as more than just finding a cache; it's about the journey and the experiences gained along the way.
The author encourages others to try geocaching and expresses a keen interest in the global presence of the hobby.
They suggest that readers support their writing by becoming Medium members, indicating a passion for storytelling and a desire to connect with their audience.

On This Geocaching Revenge Trip, We Found the Treasure and More

It was going to bug me until we found it.

Odd things I see in nature, Photo by author

My last Geocaching trip was not a failure, we just didn’t find what we set out to find. Ok, that sounds like a failure, but it was a fun trip regardless.

The time wasn’t right, that’s all. We also didn’t have our good-luck charm with us that day.

We didn't go home empty-handed on that first attempt. We never do. For me, it’s all about adventure, nature walks, and the beauty all around me. As for my mom, she nods and listens to my Geocaching talk, but she sometimes wanders off.

She’s still a great treasure hunting buddy, and that’s all that matters.

I wrote about our last trip and the story took off. I never imagined it would get this much attention. The weather has been nicer, so that could be the reason so many people are finding my story.

Remembering How Much I Love Geocaching

The rain and mud won’t stop us today

medium.com

The first attempt was missing some essentials

We didn’t have a GPS to show us the exact coordinates. That was my fault. I had looked at the map before we left home and figured it would be a cakewalk. My phone would pull up the same information if I needed a backup.

By the way, I know the area better than I know myself. It’s less than a mile away from where I live and I’ve got a lifetime full of memories there. You can say that I was confident we would find the hidden cache.

The other essential we didn’t bring was our treasure-seeking friend, Bobby. It hurts me even to think about it. In my defense, it was rainy and cold and I didn’t think he would want to go.

A team is a team. We have a better success rate with him around. What’s great is that it bothers him just as much as it bothers me if we can’t find the cache.

Things are easier when you stick to the plan

With the coordinates and Bobby, we marched into the wilderness. The sun was shining this time, and that brought out more people. We happened to pass by 2 friendly dogs, followed by their owners, reassuring the pooches were harmless.

Because I pay more attention to dogs than I do to people, I had no idea who I was talking to. Thankfully, Mom has a better memory than I do, or else I wouldn't have known they were friends from my childhood.

Chatting with them was a blast from the past, something soothing in their voices, was so comforting. The encounter counts as treasure #1 because I will cherish that moment.

Though that was not part of the treasure hunt, it wouldn’t have happened without Geocaching. Perhaps this was all part of a bigger plan, and why we didn't find the cache the first time around. Fate, you might say.

The given hint was misleading

Literally. If I had solely relied on the hint that was provided, as the first trip, I would have been way off the mark. In fact, I was over 200 feet from the treasure.

photo: screenshot from the author, edited in Canva

The hint led me to believe it was at an informational plaque about Oaks trees.

Nope. The hint was plain trickery.

That’s what makes it more challenging, and I love that. Mom had wandered off on her own when we heard her yelling about something. She had found it! On her own, no coordinates or anything.

My heart grew. I’m so proud, and honestly a bit surprised.

So quaint was the little area, and the hiding spot was adorable. I took a souvenir and left an even better one. Altogether, this was a great trip.

We were able to log 2 more finds for our records, and I can relax now that the mystery is not haunting me. In the event that we can’t find one, I take pictures of my surroundings. Here are some things I found on my trip. (Extra-credit)

A teapot! No need for a handle, it’s still cool. author’s photos

There are Geocaches in almost every country in the world. Even places like Antarctica have some.

I know it’s a big deal in Oregon, but what about your neck of the woods? Have you ever tried this modern-day treasure hunt? It’s one of my favorite hobbies, please let me know what you think about it.

Before you go… If you liked my story and want to support my writing, become a Medium member right here. For $5 a month, you’ll have access to unlimited stories and I’ll earn a bit of commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for reading my story and supporting my love of writing.