So Much Geocaching Talk!

First off, let me be clear I'm not complaining!

That out of the way, I'm in fact sincerely thankful to have had the rare opportunity this week to appear on four different geocaching podcasts in one week. 

For those interested, here's the quick recap and links to each show.

Day	Podcast	Topic	Link!
Monday	Podcacher	Upvoting Logs	http://www.podcacher.com/show-651-0-geocaching-log-upvotes/
Wednesday	Geocaching Podcast	Favourite Caching Apps	http://geocachingpodcast.com/gcpc-episode-534-useful-apps-for-geocaching/
Thursday	GeoGearheads	Earthcaching	http://cacheamaniacs.com/ggh-356-earthcaches-iii
Thursday	Caching in the Northwest	Geocaching in Utah	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zy_nrVm2sg

If you'd like a little more insight into the process and contents before you click through to the links, here's the brief synopsis for each podcast appearance.

Podcacher:

I was contacted by my friends at Podcacher and asked, as a Canadian Geocacher, if I had any thoughts on the new upvoting innovation on geocaching logs. Of course I do! 

I offered to record some content for them and they graciously accepted and played it in show 651 (can you believe they have recorded over 650 episodes!!!). 

This episode contains some interesting and diverse opinions and feedback on upvoting from geocachers in Canada and Norway, the two countries where upvoting is currently enabled.

Take a listen to Podcacher episode 651, and check out log upvoting. Share YOUR thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and please tag @LANMonkeyGC so I can hear what you think!

Geocaching Podcast:

In case you hadn't heard, the Gecoaching Podcast is back from the summer hiatus with a new format and (almost) the same hosts. Andy has retired from the show after contributing to it's success for several years, and Scott Berks and Taz427 are now joined by ShortyKnits.

The new format is a call in show - each week the hosts pick a different topic and encourage listeners to call in and share their thoughts, live on the air!

This week the topic was "Useful Apps for Geocaching" and there were some great ones shared. Check it out; if you didn't hear your favourite, or want to weigh in on that conversation, share your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter, and again, please tag me so I can hear what you have to say.

GeoGearheads:

Chris of the Northwest and DarrylW4 contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I could fill in for Darryl (can anyone really ever fill in for Darryl?!) and talk about Earthcaches. 

Of course I can! And since GeoGearheads tends to be technology and innovation focused, I thought it would be fun to throw in a news story about China creating artificial moons to orbit the earth, and then dig into the numbers and stats about the 2018 International Earthcache Weekend.

This led to Chris and I each sharing some interesting stories about our adventures finding our Earthcaches for the souvenir that weekend.

I also answered a listener's question and gave some top tips about my own process/workflow for creating new Earthcaches. We then provided an update on the status of the GSA's Earthcache Academy.

Did you get your souvenir? Do you have questions about creating Earthcaches? I'd love to hear about your adventures, or your thoughts about Earthcaches. Again, please share those thoughts on Facebook or Twitter and don't forget to tag me in your post so I can make sure I read it!

Caching in the Northwest:

Last, but surely not least (?), is the podcast closest to my heart, the one I spend every Thursday night with my close and awesome friends WitzEnd and Chris of the Northwest.

This week on CachingNW we had show Patrons CampClan join us to talk about their recent adventure of going Geocaching in the amazing state of Utah. Having completed the Visit Utah Geotour myself, I had lots to share and discuss with them.

The timing couldn't be better as I had just received my official Utah GeoAmbassador jacket that very night and was able to wear it proudly during the podcast!

They shared their adventure of finding Potter's Pond on the cusp of winter, and some of the places they explored on their adventures. We then "shifted gears" to chat a bit about bike share services available in several cities, and how those can be used for Geocaching.

Have you visited Utah and have thoughts or pictures to share? Have you tried Geocaching using a bike or scooter share service? We're really curious to hear more about your experiences and opinions; share them on Twitter and Facebook, and remember to tag me @LANMonkeyGC so I can read all about it!

The Week of the Monkey

So in summary, a very busy but fun week in podcasting for me, and I am so thankful to each of the hosts/producers for making time to include me and my thoughts on their podcasts. 



I hope you enjoy listening to each, and make sure that you let the podcast hosts know what you think about their episodes.

And until we chat next, cache safely and cache often!

LANMonkey's Geocaching Adventures are written by Jay Kennedy, outdoor adventurer and photo-journalist. All content is affiliated with the Wander Network. Experience his adventures on Twitter and Instagram by following @LANMonkeyGC, and subscribing to LANMonkey on YouTube. He is also a regular co-host of the Caching in the Northwest geocaching podcast.

Contest Alert! The Caching in the Northwest BCGA Bonanza!

Wow - just LOOK at that pile of BCGA swag!

10th anniversary geocoins, caching bags, and pathtags - all to be won by some lucky geocachers who find the Caching in the Northwest podcast hosts at GeocoinFest 2018.

Are you planning to attend any of the activities around GeocoinFest2018 in Issaquah, WA?

To be entered to win a share of this great BCGA swag, all you need to do is:

• Find a Caching in the Northwest podcast host anywhere in the Issaquah area between noon Friday September 28 and noon Sunday September 30. Not sure what we look like? Here we are!

• Ask nicely for a draw ticket!

• Take both halves of your draw ticket to the Caching in the Northwest booth inside the historic Pickering Barn at the GeocoinFest2018 Mega Event (GC7CX8F) by noon, Sunday September 30.

• Drop half of your ticket into the draw bucket then and there.

 
We'll make the drawing shortly after 12:00 noon - be present to win!

Special thanks to the GeocoinFest2018 organizing committee and the WSGA for allowing us to have a booth, and to run this free draw!
 
That's it! I hope I get a chance to meet you at GeocoinFest2018 - say hi, ask for a draw ticket, and let me know what you think about the podcast, my blog, or YouTube videos.

And most importantly -

"Cache safely, and cache often!"



LANMonkey's Geocaching Adventures are written by Jay Kennedy, outdoor adventurer and photo-journalist. All content is affiliated with the Wander Network. Experience his adventures on Twitter and Instagram by following @LANMonkeyGC, and subscribing to LANMonkey on YouTube. He is also a regular co-host of the Caching in the Northwest geocaching podcast.

New Contest! Are You One of The #DNFAvengers?

#DNFAvengers Assemble!

Caching in the Northwest - you might have heard of our little podcast? 
Well we are calling for #DNFAvengers to assemble!

Starting NOW share your stories and photos of how you turned that blue frown upside-down and you'll be entered to win one of several prizes from CachingNW and our sponsors!

So here's the deal; you can enter as often as you'd like - the more you enter the better your chances! And there's a few different ways to enter, check them out and try them all for the best chances to win! 

To make it even juicier - everyone who at least enters ONCE will receive some HTML to add a virtual badge for your Geocaching profile - a special Caching in the Northwest #DNFAvengers badge!

1. Twitter - tweet your #DNFAvengers story, and make sure to include that hashtag. Fit in @CachingNW and if you are able, @LANMonkeyGC also to make sure we see them! Include a photo for maximum impact! 2 contest entry "points" per post - as long as it has #DNFAvengers and @CachingNW.

2. Facebook - post about your #DNFAvengers story, and again, lead off your story with #DNFAvengers and add @CachingNW! Remember, photos make everything better. Again, 2 entry points per post with the hashtag and include @CachingNW.

3. Call in - to 253-693-TFTC email us a voice recording from your phone or computer, or use the voice recording widget on CachingNW.com and tell us your #DNFAvengers story in your own voice! We'll play it on the podcast and enter you in! Getting the story in YOUR voice gets you 5 entry points. 

4. Email us at feedback@cachingNW.com and explain your #DNFAvengers story in under 150 words (we're slow readers!) for a 3 point entry.

So to sum up - show everyone that you are one of the true #DNFAvengers by posting to Twitter, Facebook, or sharing your story by audio or email to us and start racking up your entry points for the random draws - first draw will be Thursday May 3 at 5:00pm pacific, and the winner announced just after 9pm pacific on the live podcast!

Planning a "Mary Hyde" Geocaching Event

Happy Summer Geocachers!

As our first official blog post of the summer, we wanted to check in and see who all was onboard for pirate adventures this summer? 

We assume by now you've seen the Geocaching(r) blog post about "The Lost Treasure of Mary Hyde" so you'll have some context about what we're discussing here!

Our good friends at Geocaching HQ have devised another fun summer activity for us all to participate in. So of course, the question becomes "will there be an event near me so I can get this souvenir and/or earn whatever rewards come of this?"

I took a look and there were no events near us, so we decided to host one ourselves. If it's of some help in your planning, here's some insight to our event.

Through an almost unbelievable coincidence, mere days after a mysterious letter in a bottle showed up near Geocaching HQ, a letter in a disappointingly empty rum bottle showed up near LANMonkey Studios. 

Here's the letter we found after thoroughly checking the bottle for rum.

  
So with some mad Google skills we determined that "15 score years" would be 300 years. And would you believe, 300 years from the date the letter was written turns out to be the weekend for "The Lost Treasure of Mary Hyde" souvenir events?

Given that information, we had now figured out that it was imperative we create an event at the given coordinates, and make sure all local Geocachers have the opportunity to break the curse!

If you'd like to see more about our event, make sure you check out GC77NRK 

And for some more ideas, take a look at these:

Need a Pirate Hat?

Download this image and print it on 11x17 for a large size, and legal size for the tots. Thanks to Chris of the Northwest from our Caching in the Northwest podcast for the design!

 Look to the bottom of this article for the full-size version to download!



How About Aome Piratey Games?  

Consider getting your scurvy attendees to walk the plank for a prize? Blindfold them, and they have to keep their feet within the sidewalk chalk "plank" you sketch on the ground. 

Pirates are often found around water - if you have the time, tools, and supplies you could put together a "portable water cache" - you know, the ones with the PVC pipe with various holes drilled in the sides? Of course your event would need to be near a source of free water, but it's another idea.

What are your ideas?
Share them with us, we'd love to hear what you are planning or what you did once the date for the event passes.


But most of all, have fun out there and cache safely, and cache often!
The LANMonkeys

Full Size CNW Pirate Hat image below:

New Geotour in the Northwest

City of Richmond Announces New Geotour!

Word is out - on the City of Richmond website, as well as the BCGA and MetroVan Geocacher's social media channels. The City of Richmond, in partnership with the Government of Canada, is launching a brand new Geotour on May 6, 2017.



The Canada 150 Geotour will feature 17 traditional caches, 2 multis, and 1 earthcache. The geocaches will have fun, creative hides at each of the 19 physical cache locations, many courtesy of local geocachers layzee_bones and GeoNavPros.  

If finding 20 great geocaches isn't reward enough, be one of the first 150 geocachers to collect all 20 clues  and you will be rewarded with a limited edition trackable geocoin!

For more information about the Canada150 Geotour, and getting started with geocaching in general, click here to listen to yours truly talking to Janice & Cory about it on Roundhouse Radio this past Monday.

 
The launch of this fantastic new geotour will take place during the 3rd Annual Richmond Geocaching Extravaganza. Make sure you sign up for this event by logging your "will attend" on the event page. 

If you've never attended a geocaching event, download the official Geocaching.com app for your phone, create your free account, and come out to the Richmond Nature Park between 11:00am and 3:00pm Saturday May 6 2017 to have some local experts help you learn all about it in a family friendly environment.

For more in-depth information about the Geotour and geocaching in the City of Richmond, check out the April 6th episode of the Caching in the Northwest podcast.


And remember to always cache safely, and cache often!
The LANMonkeys.

Geocaching #GeekoftheWeek - gslink

Thanks for your patience everyone!

And now LANMonkey's Geocaching Adventures proudly presents the next Geocaching #GeekoftheWeek - gslink!

gslink - also known to listeners of the Geocache Talk podcast as Gary Slinkard - has over 160 geocaches placed, and over 1,000 found. Most notably in the Texas Geocaching community, Gary annually hosts "The Great Hunt of Hunt County" geocaching event.

Most recently, Gary has joined the ranks of Geocaching authors with the publishing of his book "Hide & Seek: Life Lessons of a Geocacher." Follow the link to check out more about his book on Amazon; available in ebook and printed copy.

Gary has worked in IT for over 25 years and lives in Greenville, Texas which is just an hour east of Dallas. He grew up in San Antonio Texas and anyone who's heard him on the weekly Geocache Talk podcast Sunday evenings can attest to the fact he is indeed a Texan!

Gary loves to travel and will often be found on a #GeocacheRoadTrip with his wife of 28 years, "SlinkyMama."  Combined with his Geocaching activities, Gary has also been participating in Weight Watchers for the past two years and has lost 100 lbs!

However, even more importantly than their accomplishments in Geocaching, writing, and podcasting, gslink and SlinkyMama are the proud parents of three sons; Joshua and Caleb who are 27 and Nathan who is 21.


You can catch Gary every week on the Geocache Talk podcast and watch him live on YouTube Sunday evenings at 6:00pm. 

Do you know someone who deserves being recognized as a Geocaching #GeekoftheWeek? Let us know by commenting on this post or tweeting your nominee to @LANMonkeyGC #GeekoftheWeek

Geocaching #GeekoftheWeek - witzend

Welcome to our second edition of the Geocaching #GeekoftheWeek, this week featuring true Renaissance man - witzend.

witzend has been geocaching since 2004, where he found his first geocache while visiting his hometown for a high school reunion. While he enjoys the hobby and has passed on his enthusiasm to several others you may be surprised that his "find count" isn't among the top in his area. 

This is because he continually seeks out innovation, quality, and social aspects of geocaching over find counts. This is evidenced by having finds in 20 states and four countries, being a frequent familiar face at geocaching events, and being a proud owner of an A.P.E. icon.

Growing up in Southern California, witzend is a true Disneyland junkie but also considers the Northwest home as he's lived here his entire adult life. Living in the Northwest has allowed him access to people and places where he can enjoy some of his passions including camping, geocaching, photography/videography, amateur radio, and schuhplattler.  

Like we said - a true renaissance man who is a life-long learner and always making something new or improving on something in his garage which doubles as his podcasting studio. Of course, when not attending to family, work, or these hobbies, he's helping with the local amateur radio enthusiasts or working as a freelance videographer (including 20 years on the crew at the Puyallup Fair).

He is proudest however of his family - "My children have grown into amazing and wonderful adults in spite of my parenting and of course my wife of almost 29 years is a big reason for that."

You can catch witzend every week on the Caching in the Northwest podcast recorded live Thursday nights at 9:00pm Pacific on YouTube. 

Do you know someone who deserves being recognized as a Geocaching #GeekoftheWeek? Let us know by commenting on this post or tweeting your nominee to @LANMonkeyGC #GeekoftheWeek

#WhosTheBear - 2016 Lackey Geocoin Contest

#WhosTheBear @LANMonkey 2016 Lackey GeoCoin Contest!

We have a new mascot in the LANMonkey studios, and he’s looking to make you a deal; If you can share a winning name for him on social media* (Twitter/Facebook) he’ll get you the 2016 Lackey Geocoin courtesy of Worldcaching.

Have you seen the 2016 Lackey Coin? Would you like to have your very own?

Help us name the bear in LANMonkey studios and you could be the winner of a 2016 Lackey Coin thanks to Worldcaching.

Share your suggestion for the name of the bear on Twitter or Facebook but be sure to use the hashtag #WhosTheBear and include @LANMonkeyGC through the month of October.

Mrs. LANMonkey and I will go through all the entries on Monday, October 31st and share the winner on our YouTube channel, this blog, and the Caching in the Northwest podcast Nov 3rd.

Remember! To be entered you need to send your suggestions via Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #WhosTheBear and include @LANMonkeyGC - we are looking forward to your creative suggestions, and announcing a winner of that super cool geocoin thanks to contest sponsors Worldcaching.

*Please note we are allowing as many entries as you'd like to post, noting the character limit to Twitter.

The Alaskan Geocaching Cruise - Day 1

Let us tell you a story about five passengers who set sail that day... oh wait, wrong story.  

How about the one where 54 geocachers set sail for Alaska & the Yukon in August 2016? Yeah, we'll tell you that one.

It starts in the departing port city of Vancouver. Lucky for us, it's our hometown, making the start of this adventure pretty easy.

So how did 54 geocachers come to be on the same cruise? Well that's thanks to the Landsharkz who organized the cruise and drew the geocachers from across Canada and the US to come together for this amazing adventure.

 So day 1 we got ourselves onto the ship and learned a lot about boarding and navigating your way about a cruise ship - did we mention this was our first cruise? Well now we have. And with that we were on-board the Holland America Neiuw Amsterdam and ready to head North!

So farewell Vancouver, we are adventure bound North by Northwest. 

We enjoyed discovering some of the amazing amenities of the ship that we made good use of throughout the rest of the cruise, including the library and coffee shop on the top deck where we spent some evenings reading, relaxing, and enjoying the company of several of our co-cruisers.


So day one ended with a nice dinner, then we rested as we prepared for our first full day at sea, a chance to meet all the geocachers on-board, and more exploring the ship and admiring the amazing scenery of Northern Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlottes/Haida Gwai.

Win a Geocoin/Trackable Tag from CachingNW.com

It's contest time again! So Geocachers, how would you like to win these for your collection? 

Our friends at Landsharkz have generously donated a set of the geocoin and trackable tag created for their 2016 Alaskan Geocaching Cruise Adventure, and you could be the new owner!

This contest is super-easy to be entered into, and we'd love to see you be able to show off your new trackables, so don't delay!

Here's what you need to do:

• Visit the Landsharkz travel webpage
• Check out the various stops on their 2017  Canada - New England Cruise
• EMail us at CachingNW (feedback@cachingnw.com) letting us know:
• Your geocaching name
• One of the ports of call (cities visited) on the 2017 Canada - New England Cruise

Make sure you send your email BEFORE 9:00pm Pacific on Wednesday Sept 21 and your name may be announced as the winner by the Landsharkz when they join us on the Caching in the Northwest podcast Thursday, September 22 at 9:00pm Pacific.

So that's it - email a correct answer and your Geocaching.com name to feedback@cachingNW.com ASAP and you are automatically entered!

Good luck you guys, we're looking forward to hearing from you.

And remember, whether you are entering geocoin contests or moving trackables; to cache safely, and cache often!

The LANMonkeys

Tell CachingNW.com What You Wish New Cachers Knew

OK guys, so here's the latest grand idea from Caching in the Northwest.

This week (Thursday, Sep 3 at 9:00pm) on the show we're going to talk about all the things you wish you knew when you first started geocaching. Or, to look at it a bit differently, all the things you wish those new to the game knew before they went looking for your cache.

What we'd like to do next is after sharing and discussing your feedback on this topic live on the show, we'll put the key points together in a downloadable small document you can print off and share with new cachers or leave in geocaches for them to read.

So Northwest Geocachers, are you in?


Send us your ideas or phone them in to us at 253-693-TFTC, or join us live on Google Hangouts September 3, Thursday night at 9:00pm Pacific and share them in the live Q&A.  Heck, you can even share them on any of our Social Media channels!

Google+     Twitter     Facebook      YouTube     
 

4 Podcast Giveaway - WitzEnd's Favourite Freemont Spot

You've waited so patiently, it's time you were rewarded!

In order to be entered into the drawing for the 2015 Block Party "4 Podcast Giveaway" contest you'll need to listen to four different podcasts and hear the favourite Freemont spot from the four hosts who met up at The 2015 Block Party.

Well, here's the answer from Caching in the Northwest host, WitzEnd!



Now remember, to be entered into the contest, Listen to this week's episodes (starting Aug 30) of
PodCacher, GeoGearHeads, LANMonkey's Geocaching Adventures and Caching in the NorthWest

to find out which iconic Fremont, Washington landmark each host found to be the most interesting.

Yes, you must listen to all 4 shows!
Title an email "Fremont Landmarks" and in the body of the email, write all four landmarks and who chose it.
Address your email to feedback@cachingnw.com
Deadline: September 6th, 2015 at midnight (PST)
Winners to be chosen at random from all correct entries.

We Want To Give You Prizes!

We really do - if your name is on this list below, you ARE a winner from the #GeocacheRoadTrip contest.  If you haven't claimed your prize yet that's a tragedy! So check the winners list below. 

If your name is on that list, look at the list below THAT, of "available prizes remaining" and email us at GeocachingRoadTripContest@gmail.com with your first and second choice of prize, and we'll get back to you to arrange delivery.

It's just that easy to claim your awesome prizes!

WINNERS!

Most Creative Use of Hashtag - Donners

Most Aesthetically Pleasing - Scruffster 

Wildest Adventure - Airrooster

Lackey's Favourite - Dora Mor

Honourable mentions:

• Alarobic
• Retro
• Cacheikers
• m-Eazy
• Subwaymark
• PeppermintPatti53

Prizes to be claimed:

• "How to Puzzle Cache" book by ChildofAtom
• Munzee.com MunzPack
• Munzee.com MunzPack
• CoinsAndPins.com Travel Boobie
• OpenCaching.NA water bottle
• Landsharkz.ca $15 Gift Certificate
• Landsharkz.ca $15 Gift Certificate
• WorldCaching.com $15 Gift Certificate
• CoinsAndPins.com geoachievement coins
• CoinsAndPins.com geo-achievement patches