New to it all

[Nolie_Tobei]

So we are brand new to all this. Got a TomTom I hear they are not that great but it will do I think to just get us started. Wanted to bring the kids out this week-end and give it a shot but the site is down right now. Any tips for a new family with young kids? Want to make this enjoyable for the whole family.

[coman123]

Welcome to the game, I'm sure you and the kids will have tons of fun.
With Geocaching.com being temp down right now, its hard to get started.
Were you planning to hunt Kingston, the Twsp or Napanee area, lots of cachers who can give you a hand in eACH AREA.
When you start off, lok for caches with low difficulty and terrain, they are the easiest and you should be able to find them fairly easily
coman123 aka Joe

[ace862]

Welcome to the KAG site Nolie_Tobei!
You'll be sure to find lots of friendly people here to help with advice. I would just add that for the kids enjoyment, pay close attention to the cache size. Kids will have more fun looking for the regular size caches or the small. Those are usually the ones with the swag in them. The challenge of finding the film canisters with just a log (micros) in the woods in usually lost on kids. (What's up with that?;) )
I would also say have a look at the Getting Started pages on this site. Lots of really good info there for people just starting out.
Let us know when you make your first find.
Cheers!
Bill

[Nolie_Tobei]

Thanks. I am going to try to access the site again before bed. If not then first thing in the morning as rumor has it tomorrow should be a decent day. Thanks for the tips. I am going to try to find 2 or so to start with and see how it goes. We are going to be searching in Kingston.

[Chester Cat]

Another newbie here. Geocaching in an amazing find in itself! Never heard of it until I got an iPhone with a GPS and started using the GPS on my bike rides. However, having just started geocaching yesterday I have only found 1 out of four caches. Three have escaped me! Even though the GPS said I was really close. I presume this to be beginners unluck? The GPS says 20m then I think I am right on it but not always - obviously. I hope I improve with experience! Tomorrow I am off to Le Moins Point since I see a 1/2 dozen or so there. I'm driving my wife crazy dragging her through the bush etc. Oh well! Its fun and and I am amazed at the numbers of caches even within a km of where I live. Whoever is planting them - good job!

[swimmrguy]

Chester Cat,

Welcome to the KAG site, and to the addiction we all call geocaching. Glad to see that you have obviously caught the bug.

You might find that the GPS in the iPhone may not be as accurate as a handheld unit. I certainly found that with my GPS on my smartphone. However, that doesn't mean you can't find caches with it. Often the GPS just gets you close and then you have to use your observation, 'mojo' or luck. So keep trying!

And feel free to ask any questions of us here. We are a friendly bunch.

Cheers,
--SG

[hamburking]

I'll add my words of welcome too!

The first few caches are the toughest...since you don't really know what you are looking for or how it might be hidden. Even after a few hundred finds, I still come across a neat idea now and then that I've not seen before...and sometimes it takes a few tries before the find.

Did Chester Cat say he uses his bike to cache? Hurray, so I'm not the only one! Bike caching just makes it even more fun. And even more frustrating when you can't find the cache (after a long, sweaty pedal, mostly uphill, in the rain, with two flat tires).

I can name several finds which took me more than 100km of biking (due to many, many attempts). Those were the ones worth seeking. Airport Jewel and Deer Roundabout are top of that list. So don't worry if you don't find every hide you seek.

And finally, I'd like to suggest you try my power trail from Tyrone Conn to What's the Point along the waterfront. Easy finds on a waterfront path. Bring your bike and the kids! All easy, kid friendly hides.

Good luck, and happy caching!

[Chester Cat]

Hamburking: Thanks for the welcome. My trek to Le Moins Point today was cut short by torrential downpour while I was deep in woods searching! I lost my GPS signal AND my wife! Yes, often use bike but not today fortunately.

Thanks for the encouraging words - I will keep trying - as for my wife I did find her wet and bedraggled outside the car - I had the keys She ways geocahcing is over for her! I think she'll come around though.

I noticed there are cahes up the K&P Trail - a bike trail i have used alot this summer before geocaching became know to me. Now I have new reasons to go and bike it. Also will try the ones you suggested along the waterfront.

Cheers and thanks
Ted