We Are But Pirates on A High-Tech Treasure Hunt!

Sabbaticals from one thing are always a chance for you to try the new and different. It gives you a chance to maybe expand your horizons and enhance what you enjoy doing.

I guess in this time I certainly have.

If you have read this blog for any amount of time in the past, you can tell I love getting out and about. I love being taken to places that tend to get overlooked on any other given day, but no longer.

My friends, I found geocaching.

For those who don't know what this is, I implore you to check it out. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt where you use your GPS to find a hidden item, or cache. You find the cache, sign the log book and then log it on the website www.geocaching.com.

The great thing about this hobby is that it takes you anywhere and everywhere. From sprawling urban jungles, to snowy mountain tops, to lush scenic trails, to abandoned relic forgotten by time, to your favorite places in the world, to places in your own backyard that you never even realized exsisted.

Alright, this doesn't look that exciting, but trust me the pictures get better and that was interesting hide.

I also think that it is the thrill of finding something hidden. I get a kick out of watching my five-year old's eyes brighten and show a sense of accomplishment finding something hidden and only meant for a few to find. Heck, I get a little rush myself.

It also gets you out and moving. Don't know what to do? Load up some caches and take a drive. Going somewhere and don't know what is interesting in the area? Load up some caches.

On top of the world, thanks to caching.

Did I not tell you it leads you to cool places? There is a cache to get on top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff National Park. And my engagement ring. And a ton of wicked photo ops! Uh, can we say lots of awesome pictures to scrapbook? Told you, I haven't forgotten!

A cache to learn about the world around us.

One thing that I am happy to say is that as a geocacher, you even become a little bit greener. The geocaching community is committed to an initiative called "Cache in, Trash Out". As we go out to search for a cache, we also take the time to clean up trash in our communities and the world around us. It's a great way to give back as well as take back our surroundings from litter.

And that is my little bit of fun and exploration. I urge you to give it a try just once. It's fun, it's easy and can get a little bit addicting! If you do, keep me posted, I'd love to hear about your adventures too!