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Contact us and Learn more about the hobbies of Mark & Joan This website is designed and maintained by myself Joan Smith I am married to Mark. We live in Leigh which is midway between Manchester and Liverpool. Leigh is an old town owing its heritage to both the Mining Industry and the Cotton Industry.
Photo taken near Caernarfon Castle whilst on trip boat Mark works for a local company who produce Indian Curries and Snacks. I am a Health Care Assistant currently working for a Nursing Agency. Our Hobbies We have our four Lancashire Heelers - Dottie (Patterjo Polka at Pennijar) who will be 10 years old in August. Mr Bean (Pennijar Talk of the North) who has just turned 8 years old. Emma (Pennijar Baby Spice) who has just turned 6 years old and last but by no means least our little Meg (Pennijar Trixie Treasure) who will be 4 in September. All of whom enjoy our other hobby. Geocaching Geocaching this is a kind of treasure hunting using a hand held G.P.S unit. We had never heard of this until Mark was introduced to the sport by his brother Martyn. We checked out www.geocaching.com a couple of cache finds later and we were hooked. Membership is free though you can become a Premium Member by subscription this brings extra benefits not available through the free membership. The free membership though opens up lots of cache information, and entry to all the forums. If you scroll down them you will come to the UK Forum for topics posted for the UK by cachers in the UK. Geocaching is not just finding already hidden caches, you can once you have a little experience hide your own registering them on the website so that others can find them. Cache sizes range from - Micro Caches - Can be anything from a metal dog tag container size containing just a roll of paper for finders to log their find, to an empty film cannister containing a rolled up log book and tiny pencil. Virtual Caches - these you get co-ordinates to something that is already in existence e.g a Monument, a Plaque on a building, anything in fact that is static. The finding of a Virtual Cache is logged by taking a photo of your G.P.S with the find though sometimes as with the following picture a photo of the found item itself is proof enough.
Photo a virtual find - photo as proof of finding Regular Caches - these can range from a small waterproof container up to a large container or ammo box. These usually contain - a log book and pencil and a choice of articles so that the finder can trade, taking an item from within the box leaving something of equal or greater value in its place. You log the time you found the cache, the item you have taken, the item you have left and anything else you would like to add, a lot of cachers have their own calling cards which are also left in the container.
If you are lucky enough to see the
following symbol on the cache description on the website
Spikey Starfish one of our Travel Bugs
Geocaching is a sport enjoyed in many Countries. To date there are over 105398 caches hidden in 208 Countries.
Give the sport a try, it is really good fun and once you have found and logged two or three finds, you will realise that you get hooked on the sport. We also have regular "Meets", in various locations throughout the UK and of course other Countries will have their own "Meets". These have their own logs and when you attend, you log your find, just as you would with a normal cache. One of the UK Members has just started an on-line magazine visit www.geocachingtoday.com there are articles, weather forecasts, travel information, a photo gallery, stories from members etc etc. The content of the magazine is growing daily, so be sure to call back regularly to keep updated about what is going on in the wonderful world of Geocaching. Well there you are a quick overview of the world of Geocaching, check out the links included to find out more I am sure you will soon be joining us. It is the ideal hobby for families and for your pets, plenty of fresh air and exercise which benefits us all greatly. All your questions about Geocaching will be answered and a lot more information found by visiting www.geocaching.com World wide caching website
or www.geocacheuk.com UK caching website
Please be sure to let us know if you take up the hobby after reading the information above, Cave Troll & Joan (our Geocaching team names) are proud to be a part of the Geocaching Community. We take an active roll in telling others about the fun, friendship and achievement of taking part in this little known hobby. When I have a little more time a new section will be added to the website giving lots more information, links and photos about Geocaching. So check back regularly.
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This
is our calling card.
it means that a
Travel Bug has been
put into the cache. Travel Bugs are special items registered on the website
these Travel Bugs (TB's) are on a "Special Mission" which is decided by
their owner. Each TB has its own special metal dog tag with an individual
number that has to be logged separately from the cache find to move the TB
on. The miles each TB travels from cache to cache is logged on its own
individual page, some have travelled many thousands of miles from Country to
Country..jpg)
