Monday, October 11, 2010

Divoká Šárka

A 15-minute trolley ride on Tram 26 took us out of the city to the rugged and beautiful Divoká Šárka, a nature preserve featuring limestone cliffs and a gorge carved by the Šárka stream.


Online Karl had confirmed several geocache sites within the park, so TeamK4 (Karl, Kate, 2 kids) went off to find them. Here's the first cache, which you can see nestled between the tree and the big rock, just off of Ben's right shoulder.


Ben located this cache, and victory is always sweet!


Official cache sizes include large, regular, small, and micro. Here is an article with a quick explanation of the size parameters. We found a micro cache at Radyně Castle that was in a 35mm film container attached to the back of a pipe with a magnet. Contents usually include a sticker or document identifying the container as a geocache (with a request that if you found it by accident would you be so kind as to put it back exactly as it was), a log book and pen, and -- if the container size permits -- swag (Stuff We All Get). Swag might include small toys, keychains, rubber ducks, whatever can fit in the container. Swapping swag is part of the fun, and we come armed with offerings.

TeamK4 members, like many geocachers, have various motives for geocaching: exploring new regions (or being introduced to new places in familiar regions), going for a hike with a goal, the thrill of discovery and victory (see Ben's picture above).

For Garrett, it's all about the swag.

Revealing cache contents makes for a little bit of Christmas any day.


The official mark of the Czech geocache. The top line reads "Prosím neschovávej tuto schránku jinam a nenič ji! Please do not disturb!" (Karl said the literal translation is "Please do not hide this box elsewhere and do not destroy it!")


We found the second cache about 20 minutes later and headed home triumphant.


Our minister, Craig, and his wife, Cheryl , introduced us to geocaching back in July. It couldn't have been more timely for us. With the European sites downloaded on Ben's Geomate Jr. (a birthday gift), we can head off in search of geocaches all over the city and countryside.

And -- not unlike counting and Škoda -- the boys hardly realize that we're off on a hike.

1 comment:

  1. I am thrilled by this. Much the same way geocaching has had a huge positive effect on our lives in our new home in Oneonta, it appears to be making your trip in Prague a richer experience. For that alone, that might be the best service I gave last year. You know, of course, that as the people who introduced you to the hobby, we get half credit for all of the caches you find. ;-)

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