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I think geocaching would be fun but I'm completely clueless as how to even start. I know you need a GPS, but what kind? A navagation system came preinstalled my my SUV. I'm not sure how that works as my Nav. system only shows street/highways etc. not co-ordinates of longitude and latitude. Am I way off in how you navigate when geocaching? Perhaps a handheld one is advisable? Any info appreciated!

I haven't done the geo caching yet but I have lots of friends that do. Yes you need the hand GPS...coz lordy where they hide things your car wil not get too! I found one by accident in some lava bed in Bend Oregon. It was a small plastic box and inside was a little notebook and a treasure. If you find it you write in the book who you are and where you found it. You can then exchange the treasure for something of your own or leave it and hide it again. I think there is a web site that tells you where to find this stuff by longitude & latitude. Any other Geocachers?

This website has most of the answers:

http://www.geocaching.com/

And, you'll probably get some tips from active geocachers, too.

Just met a couple that do that all the time. They love it and said they have seen some really neat places while out. I didn't know what she was talking about but have looked it up online. Looks like it could be a lot of fun. There are several places listed here in Vegas - maybe we'll go looking. Maybe that would put my relationship with our GPS, Gypsy, on better footing. She and I disagree a lot as it is now.

Lot of people here do the geocaching. Some of course are under the misgiven idea that they take all that is in the box but from reading here, that is not the intent. I understand there is one of these locations where I work. Nobody will tell me where it is or what is in it, guess I will have to get the GPS out and find it. Thanks for sharing this information.

Not having a GPS, at least not yet, I looked up Letterboxing and found this very helpful information. Sounds like a lot of fun!

http://www.letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html

Here's the search page: http://www.letterboxing.org/BoxFind.php There's even a letterbox placed in Coffeyville.

I found a hand held GPS unit for $119 (normally 210) yesterday and just couldn't resist ! The salesperson was a geocacher so he told me about his adventures and assured me the unit I bought was great for the "sport" - I'm excited !!!! Of course I'll have to eat rice and bean the rest of the month, but that's OK.
It's still in the box so today I hope to get it out, figure out how to use it and print some stuff off the geocaching web site - I need to find out if it's still hunting season here and if it's not I'll head out to a couple sites tomorrow ! If it is hunting season, I'll look on the web site and see if there are sites that don't require tramping through the woods, maybe there are some in the dunes or no hunting areas. I also need to dig up some do-dads to leave behind but that should be easy to do - I have lots of do-dads !
Once I actually do this, I'll let you all know how it went ...

Sounds like a lot of fun to me - but so far Bill is just kind of wrinkling his nose at me. Went on line and found that there are many sites around Vegas. In town and up in the hills.

I wrote to my friend Lou about my experiences with letterboxing and explained to him that it was similar to geocaching, without the expense of a GPS. Here's part of his reply:

That was my point - either letterboxing or geocaching, you're going to use gas. I am only taking exception to your statement that letterboxing is "much, much cheaper" than geocaching. The way I see it, the only difference is a one-time cost of $100 for a GPS. (Which, who knows, might show up in a stocking, or something, sometime.)

He told me you can find a good one on eBay for about that price. So, now I'll have to find a stocking or something somewhere...what's a stocking, mom?