I just got home from giving a Geocaching presentation at the Marion library. I was asked to do so on behalf of the Marion County Parks Department. They are basically looking to use Geocaching to promote their parks, since they're relatively new and mostly unknown. Several people who were not involved with the park did show up, but I was hoping for a few more folks. Oh well. I was sort of fun since I haven't really done any kind of public speaking since I was in high school, but it's something I've always enjoyed. I'm weird like that though. In a one-on-one setting, or a very small group, I'm very shy and don't talk much at all. However if I'm in front of a larger group, I have no problems. I guess I'm just wired wrong.
This coming Saturday we're going to have a program at one of the parks. It's basically an extension of the presentation, where folks are invited out to the park to actually try Geocaching. There is one cache at the park, and I may be placing some temporary caches as well. We're also going to have a few GPSr's for folks to use if they don't have their own. Should be a good time.
Near N40° 18.775 W083° 07.073
Showing posts with label geocaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label geocaching. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Minnetrista Geocaching Event
I just returned home from Muncie, IN where I stopped over for the national opening of the GPS Adventures Maze exhibit. It's a pretty cool little setup they've got going on, and from the sound of it, it's going to be touring the US. I suggest checking it out if it comes around to your neck of the woods, especially if you have children. In conjunction with the maze the folks at Minnetrista have set out a few pseudo-geocaches to be found on the grounds. I ended up getting there a little late, so I missed the social part of the event, but I still went out to find the pseudo-caches, along with a few other real caches out there. Along the way I met up with some folks from Cincinnati and spent most of the afternoon chatting with them, and finding the caches. So it turned out to be a great afternoon.
The event started at 2pm, and I decided to get an early start to take a more "off the beaten path" route to Muncie. I wanted to Waymark a few Ohio Historic Markers, as well as have a more relaxed time getting there. I could have run Interstate 70 almost all the way from home to Muncie, but I just didn't want to do that. Between the Waymarking, and several bad thunderstorms which reduced visibility to about 20', literally, and produced some decent size hail, that's why I ended up getting to the event late.
One issue I'm constantly running in to with the Ohio Historic Markers is the lack of documentation about their location. All of Ohio's markers can be found at RemarkableOhio.com, but due to the nature of Ohio's marker program information can vary widely. Ohio is somewhat unique in that the Ohio Historic Society (OHS), who sponsors the program, doesn't actually come up with ideas for the markers. The markers are left up to the community, organization, or individual who wants a marker. Essentially someone submits and idea along with text for the marker to the OHS, and then the OHS decides if it's truly marker worthy, and then has the marker cast. So it's nice that the state isn't force feeding history down our throats, and they also recognize that someone who has lived all their lives in an area where a certain piece of history happened or exists would know more about it than they would. The issue comes from the fact that they didn't really keep much record of the markers in the early days (the first marker was placed in 1957). So now when you look at the markers you may get anything from exact coordinates for the newer signs, or vague descriptions for the older ones. Even if an exact address is given, it is still subject to being completely wrong information. The most vague description I've seen for a marker's location just state "Mt. Vernon." Granted Mt. Vernon, Ohio isn't exactly a metropolis, but it's a sizable town, and it's hard to tell where they may have tucked the marker away. I've still not come up with that one, although I have a much better idea where it may be based on some photos submitted by a user of the remarkableohio.com site. Along similar lines markers get listed on the website sometimes many months before the marker actually gets placed and dedicated. There was one in a nearby small town that I looked for 3 times because it was listed as 2006 for its date, but I later found out that it didn't get placed until sometime in May of 2007, which would be about a year after I first tried to find it. I ran into something similar today with one marker I tried to find, but I ended up finding some other interesting Waymarks near where the sign will be.
There were 3 of the markers that I couldn't find today. One hasn't been dedicated yet, and the other two I just simply didn't see now that I've looked more closely at the pictures and descriptions. Oh well, some other time. I did manage to get a few other marks that I wasn't intending, since I only meant to get the Historic Markers and anything in the immediate vicinity, but there were a could of things that I couldn't resist. I also grabbed a couple of visits while in Indian as well when I left the event.
I took the Interstate to get home, and it really reminded my why I like to stick more to the US and State routes instead of the interstates. It's much more relaxing, and I really enjoy going through all of the small towns along the way. Sure, it's usually much longer not taking the interstate, but I'm not so sure we're better off traveling the quickest route. I find when I do that I wait to leave until the very last minute, because I can, then I get frustrated with traffic that is going to "make me late," even though it was really my fault for not leaving earlier. Then you zip through the countryside never being aware of what the area really has to offer in terms of people, unique places to eat, interesting history, or whatever.
The event started at 2pm, and I decided to get an early start to take a more "off the beaten path" route to Muncie. I wanted to Waymark a few Ohio Historic Markers, as well as have a more relaxed time getting there. I could have run Interstate 70 almost all the way from home to Muncie, but I just didn't want to do that. Between the Waymarking, and several bad thunderstorms which reduced visibility to about 20', literally, and produced some decent size hail, that's why I ended up getting to the event late.
One issue I'm constantly running in to with the Ohio Historic Markers is the lack of documentation about their location. All of Ohio's markers can be found at RemarkableOhio.com, but due to the nature of Ohio's marker program information can vary widely. Ohio is somewhat unique in that the Ohio Historic Society (OHS), who sponsors the program, doesn't actually come up with ideas for the markers. The markers are left up to the community, organization, or individual who wants a marker. Essentially someone submits and idea along with text for the marker to the OHS, and then the OHS decides if it's truly marker worthy, and then has the marker cast. So it's nice that the state isn't force feeding history down our throats, and they also recognize that someone who has lived all their lives in an area where a certain piece of history happened or exists would know more about it than they would. The issue comes from the fact that they didn't really keep much record of the markers in the early days (the first marker was placed in 1957). So now when you look at the markers you may get anything from exact coordinates for the newer signs, or vague descriptions for the older ones. Even if an exact address is given, it is still subject to being completely wrong information. The most vague description I've seen for a marker's location just state "Mt. Vernon." Granted Mt. Vernon, Ohio isn't exactly a metropolis, but it's a sizable town, and it's hard to tell where they may have tucked the marker away. I've still not come up with that one, although I have a much better idea where it may be based on some photos submitted by a user of the remarkableohio.com site. Along similar lines markers get listed on the website sometimes many months before the marker actually gets placed and dedicated. There was one in a nearby small town that I looked for 3 times because it was listed as 2006 for its date, but I later found out that it didn't get placed until sometime in May of 2007, which would be about a year after I first tried to find it. I ran into something similar today with one marker I tried to find, but I ended up finding some other interesting Waymarks near where the sign will be.
There were 3 of the markers that I couldn't find today. One hasn't been dedicated yet, and the other two I just simply didn't see now that I've looked more closely at the pictures and descriptions. Oh well, some other time. I did manage to get a few other marks that I wasn't intending, since I only meant to get the Historic Markers and anything in the immediate vicinity, but there were a could of things that I couldn't resist. I also grabbed a couple of visits while in Indian as well when I left the event.
I took the Interstate to get home, and it really reminded my why I like to stick more to the US and State routes instead of the interstates. It's much more relaxing, and I really enjoy going through all of the small towns along the way. Sure, it's usually much longer not taking the interstate, but I'm not so sure we're better off traveling the quickest route. I find when I do that I wait to leave until the very last minute, because I can, then I get frustrated with traffic that is going to "make me late," even though it was really my fault for not leaving earlier. Then you zip through the countryside never being aware of what the area really has to offer in terms of people, unique places to eat, interesting history, or whatever.
Friday, March 23, 2007
It's Been Awhile
As you can see, it's been a while since I've last posted here. Not sure why, but I just sort of forgot about it. Once in a while it would pop up in the back of my mind, but I never did anything about it. I've been on many hikes since the last posting, but I've either not taken my camera, GPS, or both. I figure I'll now make this blog multi-purpose. I'll try to remember to record my hikes, and I'm also going to start including my Waymarking and Geocaching adventures here as well.
For those not aware of what Geocaching and Waymarking are, here's a crash course. Or feel free to ignore what I have to say and visit http://www.geocaching.com and/or http://www.waymarking.com for yourself.
Geocaching is a GPS based "treasure hunt" mixed with a little hide and seek. The basic premise is someone hides a container in a park, or where ever, and records the coordinates of said container using a GPS receiver. After obtaining permission to place the container, one then posts the coordinates online at geocaching.com with a little description about the "cache." Once posted others can then input those coordinates into their own GPS device and then head out to find the cache. The original hider of the cache will normally stock it with small trinkets, and the subsequent finders can, if they wish, trade a trinket they bring along with something inside the cache. Some caches are large with lots of "swag" inside, others are too small for anything inside. However all caches must contain a log book of sorts. When someone seeking the cache finds it, trading is optional, but you must sign the logbook. You can then record your adventures on the cache's page at geocaching.com. It's a great way to get outside, and get some exercise. Geocaching is also great at introducing people to places and things they may have not known was there otherwise.
Waymarking is a branch of Geocaching. Back in the day there was what were called virtual and locationless caches. These were eventually disallowed and the locationless caches completely removed from the geocaching.com website. They have essentially been moved to Waymarking.com. The idea here is a gathering of waypoints of various sites of a historical, interesting, or utilitarian value. You can find anything here from the local McDonald's and Wal-Mart, to Civil War Battlefields, and ancient Roman sites. I've been getting more and more interested in the waymarking aspect of things. I like to "show off" my local neck of the woods, and along the way I'm learning things about my own hometown while doing research. The way it works is everything is broken down into categories. Let's take McDonald's for example. There is one large heading for all McDonald's restaurants that is run by a group. So I, as a waymarker, can do two things within this category; visit, or list. As a visitor, I can look to see what's near me, or what's near to a place I may be traveling to. If a particular McDonald's is listed, I can post a "visit" to that McDonald's. On the other hand, I can also "list" McDonald's restaurants. For example, the McDonald's right down the street from me is not currently listed on the waymarking.com site. I can go there, snap a few pictures of the building, and get coordinates of the location using my GPS. I then "list" the waymark under the appropriate category. Once it's approved by the group, I now "own" this waymark.....sort of like owing a cache in geocaching. I get notified when people visit it and whatnot.
Now that I've bored you with all of that information, go and visit the various sites and give it a try sometime!
For those not aware of what Geocaching and Waymarking are, here's a crash course. Or feel free to ignore what I have to say and visit http://www.geocaching.com and/or http://www.waymarking.com for yourself.
Geocaching is a GPS based "treasure hunt" mixed with a little hide and seek. The basic premise is someone hides a container in a park, or where ever, and records the coordinates of said container using a GPS receiver. After obtaining permission to place the container, one then posts the coordinates online at geocaching.com with a little description about the "cache." Once posted others can then input those coordinates into their own GPS device and then head out to find the cache. The original hider of the cache will normally stock it with small trinkets, and the subsequent finders can, if they wish, trade a trinket they bring along with something inside the cache. Some caches are large with lots of "swag" inside, others are too small for anything inside. However all caches must contain a log book of sorts. When someone seeking the cache finds it, trading is optional, but you must sign the logbook. You can then record your adventures on the cache's page at geocaching.com. It's a great way to get outside, and get some exercise. Geocaching is also great at introducing people to places and things they may have not known was there otherwise.
Waymarking is a branch of Geocaching. Back in the day there was what were called virtual and locationless caches. These were eventually disallowed and the locationless caches completely removed from the geocaching.com website. They have essentially been moved to Waymarking.com. The idea here is a gathering of waypoints of various sites of a historical, interesting, or utilitarian value. You can find anything here from the local McDonald's and Wal-Mart, to Civil War Battlefields, and ancient Roman sites. I've been getting more and more interested in the waymarking aspect of things. I like to "show off" my local neck of the woods, and along the way I'm learning things about my own hometown while doing research. The way it works is everything is broken down into categories. Let's take McDonald's for example. There is one large heading for all McDonald's restaurants that is run by a group. So I, as a waymarker, can do two things within this category; visit, or list. As a visitor, I can look to see what's near me, or what's near to a place I may be traveling to. If a particular McDonald's is listed, I can post a "visit" to that McDonald's. On the other hand, I can also "list" McDonald's restaurants. For example, the McDonald's right down the street from me is not currently listed on the waymarking.com site. I can go there, snap a few pictures of the building, and get coordinates of the location using my GPS. I then "list" the waymark under the appropriate category. Once it's approved by the group, I now "own" this waymark.....sort of like owing a cache in geocaching. I get notified when people visit it and whatnot.
Now that I've bored you with all of that information, go and visit the various sites and give it a try sometime!
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