Geocahing on two wheels

[Adan]

Could not find any Geocahing-related posts on this forum, so I decided to start a thread. I was "talking GPS" with Joe (Mellow) the other day and put together some of my best finds in the DFW area. I though I should share these with y'all.

Let's start with the obvious question, what is Geocaching?

My source (http://www.geocaching.com/) defines it as:

"Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the wonderful features and capability of a gps unit. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something they should try to leave something for the cache. "

Geocaching provides a nice twist to motorcycling; my riding had not been notorious for stoping to "smell the roses". Stoping along our favorite, and not so favorite, routes to hunt for these treasures allows one to see and explore many interesting places along the way. This can also be a great family activity on 4 wheels, so give it a shot. :-D

The "trasures" listed below do not really require a GPS, or any off-road excursions, low-water crossings, or hicking. Although a GPS is very useful in Geocaching, one can sometimes print enough street/topo maps from the internet to get by and find the easy ones.

Here are a few good ones to get started (No GPS required).

--------------------------
The first one is a real good one to take a break from riding the slab, I35 @ 82 Very nice park with a small train that circles the park and a free Zoo (closed for remodeling last time we went there in the Spring):

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=1d7827b6-2ec0-4036-984a-afa191e53cce

Here is the description "This is a virtual cache in Gainesville, TX. The location is FABULOUS rest stop for those with children. Cache is in park with huge shaded playground and near the Frank "Bring em Back Alive" Buck, Zoo (one of the last FREE zoos in America). To claim the cache tell me the date when the virtual cache was dedicated and remove your hats here for it is a most respected site."


--------------------------
This is one is just off of 455 and FM 730 (paved road). I'd been through here at least 10 times a year in the last 5 years and NEVER noticed the "highest structure in all of North Texas" until we went looking for this cache.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=c2a32815-1f7c-43c2-8350-eb0d68d2ef3d

"This is right off Fm 730. There is a small gravel road on the east side where you can park and check the cache out. If you look to the East you will see one of the highest structure in all of North Texas.

This is a small Plastic Camo container. The contents are Dare pin, Flag pin, United way pin,Green Pickle pin, Rockwell pin, Bullet key chain, a small Domino, log book and pen. "

-----------------------------
But the ABSOLUTE BEST EVER find was this Windmill farm very near Granbury (all paved, no low-water crossings), incredible photo ops and some VERY, VERY nice hosts (B&B). The owner gave us an hour-long tour and explained/showed us how each type works.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=7ffc7aff-6a7f-48e7-a780-a3868a0fe6ad

"Drive thru cache.

See history in motion. Over 35 vintage windmills on display. This farm is open every day for your viewing pleasure. Each windmill has been restored to their original condition. There is a repair shop along the route where you may see restorations in progess. One rule to remember is there's no climbing on the mills. So Bring your camera and plan to spend some time."

Here are a few pics from the Windmill Farm (I'm the one wearing Blue)

http://bylaw.smugmug.com/photos/1845135-S.jpg
http://bylaw.smugmug.com/photos/1846009-S.jpg
http://bylaw.smugmug.com/photos/1846242-S.jpg
http://bylaw.smugmug.com/photos/1846243-S.jpg

--------------------------

This last one is very close to the Windmill farm, to find the cache (1.7 Qt. Rubbermade container), you WILL need a GPS. However, the parking area for this cache is worth the trip "up there"

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=d366cf8d-c770-4c93-8d47-94cdad0fb7bd

"Comanche Peak is the tallest (1229 feet) mountain is Hood County. Comanche Peak is a sacred mountain for the Comanche Indians and was a base camp, signal hill, landmark, and meeting place for them. It can be seen from 40 miles away.
Warriors would leave their families at the peak, split off into rading parties, attack their enemies, and then meet back at Comanche Peak. After victories, the warriors would hold a victory dance on the flat top ot the mountain."
---------------------------

Have fun treasure hunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WoodButcher]

I voted yes in the poll, but have only tried off road caches on the dual-sport bike. Since I don't ride on the street much (that's the only functional street bike I have right now) I don't get much opportunity to do much geocaching that way. Plus I usually geocache with my daughter and the DRZ isn't much for passengers.

Rusty
Austin, TX

[VFRinAustin]

I have known about this for a while but havent gotten out and tried to find one yet. Maybe Connor and I will try and find one this weekend while mom is away

[Rocket_Cowboy]

I was talking to a friend of mine at works who's been doing alot of geocaching. Sounds like fun, but I've not tried to do it from the bike yet. His suggestion was that with enough interest, we could probably make some moto specific geocaches and have a great time either doing it at the local/state/regional/national level.

[Bill J. from Austin]

I have a friend who is very into geocaching on two wheels. I've accompanied him on a couple of excursions. It looked like fun, until we got to the part where he waded up a snake-infested river to find a particularly well-hidden cache. At that point I said "Screw this," waited by the bikes for his return, and promised myself "Never again!" :lol:

Since there's interest here, I'll steer him to this thread. Maybe he can join the fun.

Personally, I wouldn't mount a GPS on my motorcycle, because I'd miss the pleasure of getting lost every now and then! :angel:

[Tourmeister]

You can get quite lost, even with a GPS, trust me ;-) You may know where you literally are, but still have no clue where you are :lol:

[Adan]

This just in from geocaching.com, courtesy of my personal "Geocaching Notify Bot" :trust:

===================================
New Feature: Caches Along a Route!

Almost since the start of Geocaching.com, the ability to get a list of caches along a route has been the #1 requested feature for the site. This puzzle has finally been solved by the creative coding of Raine, Groundspeak's chief expert on Google Maps and Google Earth. With the use of Google Earth and other mapping tools you can now upload a route to Geocaching.com and create a Pocket Query of caches within 1 to 5 miles from your route. You can also share your route publicly so others can create their own Pocket Queries against it.

This new premium feature is available from your Pocket Query page, your "my account" page, or at the link below:

http://www.geocaching.com/my/userroutes.aspx
(http://www.geocaching.com/my/userroutes.aspx)
We're also testing a new Google Map system for browsing geocaches in your area.
It is linked from the "map it" link on every zipcode and coordinate search, or you can access it directly from the link below:

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/gmnearest.aspx
(http://www.geocaching.com/seek/gmnearest.aspx)===================================

[Littlejohn64]

I have a friend who is very into geocaching on two wheels. I've accompanied him on a couple of excursions. It looked like fun, until we got to the part where he waded up a snake-infested river to find a particularly well-hidden cache. At that point I said "Screw this," waited by the bikes for his return, and promised myself "Never again!" :lol:

Since there's interest here, I'll steer him to this thread. Maybe he can join the fun.

Personally, I wouldn't mount a GPS on my motorcycle, because I'd miss the pleasure of getting lost every now and then! :angel:
Thats half the fun. You ignore, or turn off the GPS in the morning, get lost and find some fun places, then tell the GPS to take you home when your done.

[SirWilhelm]

Not only do I cache on the bike but I put new ones out from the bike.
Rusty in Austin. Bring your bike to San ANgelo State Park. We have 50 plus in the park, most are on the bike, off road bike or hike trails. Plus some near the water, some near the road. And we have over 200 out within 30 miles of San Angelo.
We may not be the center of the most caches, but we are trying for the most varied in some interesting spots, in some places you wouldn't expect and more new ones to come.
Ride/cache on!
Bill
WB5ZAM
One of the older geocachers in Tom Green County.

[dixonduke]

WOW! I had know idea. I went to the website you provided and typed in my zip code 77381 and there is 137 pages of caches within 100 miles of me.

4 pages of sites within or just barely outside of the The Woodlands.

[Texas T]

WOW! I had know idea. I went to the website you provided and typed in my zip code 77381 and there is 137 pages of caches within 100 miles of me. Did you see the line of 18 caches up and down Cochran's Crossing? They are fairly recent.

[SirWilhelm]

As Scott said you can still get lost with the GPS. And their maps are not always correct. We were out today and the guys 2610 kept telling him to turn right, turn right. Well there wasn't a road, path or anything. Maybe 20-30 years ago, but nothing now. And later it took us up a road that showed to go thru to the highway, except we crossed the cattle gaurd and the first sign said NO TRESPASSING!
Guess the road wasn't open. We went back and around and the voice kept saying "you are off track, turn at...."

And where was it, England I think, the GPS showed a road, and a stream crossing, except that it was a road and a former stream, now river crossing, and cars kept running off into the river. The locals just left the road for putting boats in and the guy with the tow truck never said a thing (wonder why) :-)

You find some neat areas of town, and out in the country with the gps. And with geocaching you can be 90% certain that the cache is on open land. Not always! We had one down near Sonora that was at a state historical site, on private land. Had to get permission to go onto the land, and that was rarely given. And I put 4 out in the San Angelo State Park here and they made me take them out as most of the year it was a hunting area, and the geocachers disturbed the hunters (aw).
Oh well.
Cheers and ride/cache on.

[Teeds]

I don't geocache, but I have collected a few benchmarks. I have always thought that would be real fun on two wheels.

[BMWbabe]

We geocache as a family and its always fun. Just started riding bikes and have been too absorbed in the fun of riding to think of combining it very many times with geocacheing. I'd still rather be riding but I love to geocache too.

[Rainmaker]

Travel bugs go hand in hand with Geocaching also. Skid and I found one called Leroy the Lizard that made it's way down from PA. That was about 5 years ago. Last I checked the Travel bug was still out there. Both the travel bugs I started got stolen.