NorthWest Arkansas Cachers

do you incorporate while you're Geocaching?

Myself, of course benchmarks and photography if I am in the area of waterfalls.
But my real passion is metal detecting. I have found rings and coins inside parks
while caching, but my best gem was in Rhea community near Lincoln Lake.

I unearthed a spur from the Civil War, solid brass with the rowel still intact
It stated CSA on the heel above the rowel, and was in pristine condition
and had a beautiful patina on the metal. It was appraised at $3500.00

Not a bad day of caching , not bad at all. I had told the owner of the property
he could keep anything we found. so my brother in law now has a mint CSA
spur. I told my sister "if you ever divorce him, be sure to get custody of my spur".

Well this past Christmas, he returned the spur to me, I like him a lot better now.

I would love to try mountain biking if I could unload about sixty pounds
from the middle and my backside.

I benchmark when I remember to set up my waypoints, I love to do Earthcaches, and get the occasional picture from time to time.

I rob banks... ok not really.

While geocaching in good places like State & Ntnl Parks I like to bring the camera along. My wife and I bought a Cannon DLSR for each other as a wedding gift, and close to a year later I've learned what settings to use to get some good shots. Just this past weekend in the Mark Twain forrest in Southern MO, we saw this, three deer beds...


I loved hiking in the snow because of the tracks you get to see, I was surprised that deer walked along bench marks instead of traveling in a straight line. (Most ofthe time anyways)

I've cycled to a few caches, but need some cartiledge in my knee removed before that resumes.

That's pretty awesome about the spur find, Ron. How deep was it in the ground? No bones attached or anything I hope... just kidding.

Wow . I liked the picture of the deer beds. Too bad you didn't get by there before they got up for the day. Just kidding. But that is a cool picture.
I love photography and try to have a camera with me when I am caching. Especially in the wooded areas.

Nope no bones or anything,Jason.
I found it about six inches down.
It was surprising that it had never been hit by a plow point.

I did find out today that I get to go to the Mecca of metal detecting, Colchester England.
It is the oldest town in the U.K.
They have dug up coins that date back to 20 B.C.

There are a few caches close by and I hope to snag a coupple of them while there.

Great picture by the way, it appears you had a great trip.

I like to letterbox while I'm out with my Geomate, jr. I started out letterboxing. With one I use a gps+clues and with the other just clues. I find both activities addicting. And the weather so far has not been conducive to either---bummer. Anyway, that's what I do.

Ive seen the term letter boxing.

Is it the same thing the english started years ago.

I may actually learn something new.

A great cache site to learn from

It is the same letterboxing from the UK. In letterboxing, instead of gps, you are given some clues to follow. When you find the box you will find a logbook and a rubber stamp. You stamp in your logbook and record find and then you stamp the box logbook with your stamp and record find (it's important that you carry a stamp pad with you and a pen). Many stamps are store bought, but I love the handcarved ones. I have planted 2 in NWArk so far, looking at other locations soon. Getting ready to plant one in Eureka Springs. If letterboxing has piqued your interest, check out Letterboxing.org or AtlasQuest.com.

Benchmarks and photography, yes! I got into benchmarking while living and caching Colorado. They are MUCH easier to find out there.
No deep vegetation, poison ivy, ticks, chiggers, etc. I've found 544 of 'em so far. Oldest was set in 1878.
Old benchmarks are a little like puzzles caches or letterboxes in that you really have to use the description to find 'em. The coords are rarely accurate.

Photography has been a hobby of mine since my college days. (long time ago!)
Currently i'm on a quest to photograph AR waterfalls. I have Tim Ernst's book on AR Watefalls, and so far have photo'd about 8 or 10 of 'em.
Favorites so far....Pams Grotto, GloryHole, and Bridal Veil Falls. and there are geocaches at all three:)

While have just returnded from the UK on my my metal detecting trip,I am ready to get back to caching.
I had the chance to snag only two caches while there.

We were in the fields at daylight and detected untill dark, cleaned our finds,
ate supper and then sraight to bed. It really was a working vacation.

Here is the website if anyone wants to take a look at my groups finds.
Look for the finds marked March 2010.

www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk

Well, Ron, sounds like you had a great time. At least you were able to find a couple. Looking forward to seeing you out there again.