Other Geocachers

[bennyk]

Is there a convention for what to do when you run into other geocachers? Like a secret handshake?

 

I was looking for a cache today when 2 people came unusually close to where I was, and while I played it cool waiting for them to walk by, they basically stared at me and looked over their shoulders at me when they went away. I ended up bailing on the cache because they were being so "suspicious" and I was obviously being watched. Lo and behold, as I ride away, the two of them make a bee-line for where I was walking around!

 

I am kind of annoyed, but what should we do in that situation? I was tempted to introduce myself and look together, but there were too many people around...

[+New England n00b]

Is there a convention for what to do when you run into other geocachers? Like a secret handshake?

 

I was looking for a cache today when 2 people came unusually close to where I was, and while I played it cool waiting for them to walk by, they basically stared at me and looked over their shoulders at me when they went away. I ended up bailing on the cache because they were being so "suspicious" and I was obviously being watched. Lo and behold, as I ride away, the two of them make a bee-line for where I was walking around!

 

I am kind of annoyed, but what should we do in that situation? I was tempted to introduce myself and look together, but there were too many people around...

Say "Hi!" and see if they are trying to hide cellphone that look ssuspiciously like a GPS! See the GPS, ask 'em if they are geocaching. You'll have a grand laugh after that. No really. It works.

[+Totem Clan]

Wht not ask if there caching or introduce yourself? The worst you could do is make a fool of yourself, and everyone will do that sometime in their life, if not daily. The best that could happen is you meet some fellow cachers or introduce someone new to the fun of caching.

[bennyk]

Wht not ask if there caching or introduce yourself? The worst you could do is make a fool of yourself, and everyone will do that sometime in their life, if not daily. The best that could happen is you meet some fellow cachers or introduce someone new to the fun of caching.

 

Yeah now I kind of wish I had. I certainly don't have any qualms about making a fool of myself.

[+FireRef]

I have the same problem. I passed on two possible FTF's today and last night because when the caches went up, I went out, and when I got there, there were already cars there. Based on the location, I knew for sure that was what the cars (and therefore the people) were there for, but still felt a little wierd walking up on them and saying "Hi!" - I have met a couple of other cachers, some from our area, and some from outside. I have chatted with some of them online, as well. Guess i'm just shy unless I know people.

[+Mile Runner]

i dont usslay like to mention geocaching, ussaly a simple "are you looking what i am looking for" if the awnser is yes-well then they are a geocaching, if "what are you looking for"--you make something up , but if somebody asked you what you are doing, its always a good idea to be honest, and then go into recruiting mode

[+sbell111]

i dont usslay like to mention geocaching, ussaly a simple "are you looking what i am looking for" if the awnser is yes-well then they are a geocaching, if "what are you looking for"--you make something up , but if somebody asked you what you are doing, its always a good idea to be honest, and then go into recruiting mode

In the wrong park, this plan could go very bad.

[+FireRef]

i dont usslay like to mention geocaching, ussaly a simple "are you looking what i am looking for" if the awnser is yes-well then they are a geocaching, if "what are you looking for"--you make something up , but if somebody asked you what you are doing, its always a good idea to be honest, and then go into recruiting mode

In the wrong park, this plan could go very bad.

 

HAHA - Yes, I definitely agree with that statement!

[+Teach2Learn]

I believe it's time to request that Brian insert his ever-popular cachers' greeting.

 

Can anybody Markwell this and provide a link to his cachers' handshake, greeting, dance, or whatever he called it?

Edited June 19, 2006 by Teach2Learn

[+Metaphor]

Brian's the best. He always has just the right thing to say!

[+AuntieWeasel]

Brian's the best. He always has just the right thing to say!

Boy, you're a quick study.

[+Teach2Learn]

Finally found it--this is briansnat's recommended song-and-dance greeting for meeting cachers in the field. It's post #19 of that thread, but you'll find other ideas as well.

[+ventura_kids]

I agree with Brian....no matter what he posts!

[+pghlooking]

Brian's the best. He always has just the right thing to say!

Boy, you're a quick study.

I don't think that phrase was applied for yet, although it is very accurate.

[bennyk]

I believe it's time to request that Brian insert his ever-popular cachers' greeting.

 

Can anybody Markwell this and provide a link to his cachers' handshake, greeting, dance, or whatever he called it?

 

Thanks, I figured that this had already been talked about, but couldn't find it in a search. Anyway, I kind of felt that if you get to a cache and someone seems like they are already working on it, you're basically SOL and should come back or wait...not sweat them. But, it's not like it's a really big deal...I'll just try to go back if I have time later.

[+Vinny & Sue Team]

Is there a convention for what to do when you run into other geocachers? Like a secret handshake?

 

I was looking for a cache today when 2 people came unusually close to where I was, and while I played it cool waiting for them to walk by, they basically stared at me and looked over their shoulders at me when they went away. I ended up bailing on the cache because they were being so "suspicious" and I was obviously being watched. Lo and behold, as I ride away, the two of them make a bee-line for where I was walking around!

 

I am kind of annoyed, but what should we do in that situation? I was tempted to introduce myself and look together, but there were too many people around...

I feel it is better not to take chances. Just to be sure, kill them all and let God sort them out.

 

An alternative is to stride up to the interlopers with a wild look in your eyes and demand in a loud shreiking voice that they leave the area immediately, as you are trying to find the five bodies which you buried last week.

 

 

Both methods work well for me.

 

 

Edited June 20, 2006 by Vinny & Sue Team

[+Teach2Learn]

I believe it's time to request that Brian insert his ever-popular cachers' greeting.

 

Can anybody Markwell this and provide a link to his cachers' handshake, greeting, dance, or whatever he called it?

 

Thanks, I figured that this had already been talked about, but couldn't find it in a search. Anyway, I kind of felt that if you get to a cache and someone seems like they are already working on it, you're basically SOL and should come back or wait...not sweat them. But, it's not like it's a really big deal...I'll just try to go back if I have time later.

 

Yes, but the linked thread's responses are mainly just for the sake of humor. Instead of a song and dance or forefinger-thumb on the chin "L" sign, most cachers will just ask "Found it yet?" or something similar. Others might just come back later as you mentioned.

Edited June 20, 2006 by Teach2Learn

[+Zzyzx Road]

One fellow cacher I met was walking through town wearing a cammo jacket and a safari hat with a Geocaching patch on it. I thought at first he was a city worker surverying something because he had a clipboard or a stack of papers (puzzle cache) and a carabiner with several things including his GPS hanging off of it. He just looked out of place on Main Street. Of course I just slammed my truck into the first place to park and hopped out and asked, "So, which screen name are YOU?"

[+NevaP]

i dont usslay like to mention geocaching, ussaly a simple "are you looking what i am looking for" if the awnser is yes-well then they are a geocaching, if "what are you looking for"--you make something up , but if somebody asked you what you are doing, its always a good idea to be honest, and then go into recruiting mode

In the wrong park, this plan could go very bad.

 

HAHA - Yes, I definitely agree with that statement!

 

Ah yes. Since I'm female and of a certain age that plan would be less likely to get me in trouble but my line when I spot another suspected cacher is "is that a GPS you're holding? ". If they give me a blank stare I just move on. Usually, when I ask, it is a GPS and I've had some very nice meetings with fellow cachers that way. Several times we've joined forces to find the cache.

[+Jhwk]

Hi! Are you a cacher?

 

You will either get a new friend or a weird stare.

[+Miragee]

Yes . . . that has happened to us before. Just because people are loitering in the vicinity of the cache doesn't mean they know anything about caching . . .

[+nctreker]

Wave the GPS. They either know at that point you're a geocacher, or think you're a nutcase scanning them with who knows what.

Edited June 20, 2006 by nctreker

[+Zzyzx Road]

 

That was too funny! Complete it by walking away muttering something about "...radiation levels in THAT one!"

 

edited for correct smilie

Edited June 20, 2006 by Zzyzx Road

[+briansnat]

I believe it's time to request that Brian insert his ever-popular cachers' greeting.

 

Can anybody Markwell this and provide a link to his cachers' handshake, greeting, dance, or whatever he called it?

 

Here ya go:

 

This started in NJ, but has taken the nation by storm. I've encountered cachers throughtout the US doing it. It goes like this:

 

When meeting somone you think might be a geocacher you yell "Ho, are ye a geocacher?" and the correct response is "Yay I a geocacher am I".

 

Upon the confirmation, the two then approach each other, put their left hand on the other person's right shoulder, standing arm's length and dance around in a circle while skipping and singing (very loudly) "Geocachers are we! Runy muny mee! Yaba daba baba. He, he, he!". This should continue for no less than 3 minutes

[+brodiebunch]

 

This started in NJ, but has taken the nation by storm. I've encountered cachers throughtout the US doing it. It goes like this:

 

When meeting somone you think might be a geocacher you yell "Ho, are ye a geocacher?" and the correct response is "Yay I a geocacher am I".

 

Upon the confirmation, the two then approach each other, put their left hand on the other person's right shoulder, standing arm's length and dance around in a circle while skipping and singing (very loudly) "Geocachers are we! Runy muny mee! Yaba daba baba. He, he, he!". This should continue for no less than 3 minutes

 

[+SG-MIN]

I usually say "Are you looking for something." If they are not a geocacher, they percieve it as a friendly (if not somewhat odd) offer. If they are a geocacher, they know exactly what you are getting at.

[+Miragee]

I was looking for a cache when I was on a roadtrip. The area was close to the road, but there were lots of trees on either side of an unmaintained trail. As I tried to look "normal," a couple walked by and said, "Coordinates are off."

 

After that we had a nice visit and I found out they were also about 600 miles from their home.

[+jaypit]

The first time this happened to me, it was at an unfound cache. Two other guys were there when I drove up. At first, I wasn't sure what to do. I finally just got out of the cachemobile and walked up and introduced myself. It was obvious what they were doing, at least to a fellow cacher. Nobody but a cacher would be closely inspecting RR ties in an empty ball park! Anyway, one of the others found it, we all three signed the log. I stated in my online log that I had missed FTF honors. The other fellow emailed me later and told me it was tradition that when a group of cachers work on a FTF, all members of the group should claim FTF honors, no matter which of the group actually found it first. Any comments on this practice?

[+Miragee]

That is the way it is here. You see references to co-FTF on many cache pages. The FTF race here is very competitive . . .

 

That is an excellent way to meet other cachers.

[+Vinny & Sue Team]

I usually say "Are you looking for something." If they are not a geocacher, they percieve it as a friendly (if not somewhat odd) offer. If they are a geocacher, they know exactly what you are getting at.

I certainly would not want to ask that question of most of the denizens of the city park where our Psycho Urban Cache #10 - Derelict Grunge Acropolis is hidden!

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

"Found it yet?" and "Care to explain yourself, mister?" seem to be used in equal parts around here, depending on the twist of the discoverer.

 

I use "Found it yet?" and if they respond with "Huh?" usually explain the game and invite them to find it with me.

 

Met some nice folks, some became geocachers, some not, never had a cache muggled after my doing that.

 

Works for me!

[+KKTH3]

You also might not get an expected answer if the person you ask it to happens to be a mime.

[+NevaP]

I usually say "Are you looking for something." If they are not a geocacher, they percieve it as a friendly (if not somewhat odd) offer. If they are a geocacher, they know exactly what you are getting at.

I certainly would not want to ask that question of most of the denizens of the city park where our Psycho Urban Cache #10 - Derelict Grunge Acropolis is hidden!

 

Personally I have no intention of ever looking for any of the Psycho Urban Cache series although I've enjoyed reading the cache descriptions and logs

 

My kind of high difficulty cache is one that invoves miles of hiking/scrambling/stream wading etc out in a national forest somewhere.

[+Ambrosia]

I believe it's time to request that Brian insert his ever-popular cachers' greeting.

 

Can anybody Markwell this and provide a link to his cachers' handshake, greeting, dance, or whatever he called it?

 

Thanks, I figured that this had already been talked about, but couldn't find it in a search. Anyway, I kind of felt that if you get to a cache and someone seems like they are already working on it, you're basically SOL and should come back or wait...not sweat them. But, it's not like it's a really big deal...I'll just try to go back if I have time later.

 

Yes, but the linked thread's responses are mainly just for the sake of humor. Instead of a song and dance or forefinger-thumb on the chin "L" sign, most cachers will just ask "Found it yet?" or something similar. Others might just come back later as you mentioned.

 

 

 

I'm usually pretty shy about talking to people I don't know. But once when we were driving along a busy road half a state away from home, we saw a truck up ahead with a geocaching logo on it. As we pulled up beside him at a stoplight, I rolled down my window and motioned for him to do the same. I asked him what his geocaching name was, and then told him mine. I recognized his name, too, just from us both being around for a while. That was quite fun.

Edited June 20, 2006 by Ambrosia

[+jaypit]

So Ambrosia, was it Jeremy you met at the stop light?

[+Team Cotati]

Is there a convention for what to do when you run into other geocachers? Like a secret handshake?

 

I was looking for a cache today when 2 people came unusually close to where I was, and while I played it cool waiting for them to walk by, they basically stared at me and looked over their shoulders at me when they went away. I ended up bailing on the cache because they were being so "suspicious" and I was obviously being watched. Lo and behold, as I ride away, the two of them make a bee-line for where I was walking around!

 

I am kind of annoyed, but what should we do in that situation? I was tempted to introduce myself and look together, but there were too many people around...

 

"Lo and behold, as I ride away, the two of them make a bee-line for where I was walking around!" Did this surprise you?

Edited June 21, 2006 by Team Cotati

[+Ambrosia]

So Ambrosia, was it Jeremy you met at the stop light?

No. It was a while ago, but I'm pretty sure their name is luv2fish.

 

I met Jeremy at Groundspeak. I gots me pictures, too.