Geocaching

Geocaching is a fairly new up and coming treasure hunting activity that uses GPS coordinates to locate hidden "treasure" caches. Anyone who has a hand held GPS system and go to http://www.geocaching.com/ and search for caches near their zip code. There is a wide number of caches all over the world with varying difficulties to find them.

Ever since the first geocache was placed on May 1, 2000, the game has take off like a wild fire. There are geocaches on all seven continents and over 900,000 caches active in over one hundred countries. Not only is geocacheing good family fun, but it is also a chance to help the environment. Cache In Trash Out is a environmental movement that encourages geocachers to pick up any trash they find while out cache hunting.

Before going on a cache hunt, one should always be prepared. If the hunt is going to be more difficult and take most of the day, be sure to bring food and water and any other supplies necessary for a day of hunting. However, if the hunt is fairly easy, don't take take too much or one might be weighed down by useless equipment.

When asked about why he likes to go geocaching, Kyle Vandagriff, pictured below, simply replied, "The action is the juice." Kyle has been geocaching for just a few months, but is already hooked. "It's the adventure and mystery of what's going to be in the caches that really gets me," he said. Kyle and his friends try to go cache hunting when ever they can. "It's just nice to get outside and have a goal," he said.

Not only can geocachers search for caches, they are able to hide their own and post the coordinates and information on http://www.geocaching.com/. Geocaching is a fun outdoor activity that challenges people to be active and help clean up the environment and find their own buried treasure.

Photo by Kacy Lewis

The Lake and the Soothing Effect of Photography

Even though Lake Thunderbird has a reputation for being not so great a lake to visit, there are still some very good reasons to give it a chance. When I mention that I'm going to go to the lake people often ask "Which lake?" I respond with Lake Thunderbird and they answer back with looks of disgust and repulsion. Yes, Thunderbird is a bit littered with trash on it's shores, but there are still lovely areas that haven't been spoiled.

Take this butterfly for instance. While walking around the shore I came across this little guy fluttering about. I took out my Nikon D-40 and approached it carefully, trying not to spook it. He was a very good model and I was able to take several shots, but liked this one the best. I continued my walk and came across this tree growing in the middle of a small bay-like area. It stood out so much I couldn't keep my eyes off of it. I had to take a picture.

Thunderbird didn't look so bad as I viewed it through my camera lens. Even though the rest of the area was covered in trash, I found peace while shooting away at the little pieces of nature that had not yet been spoiled. As I blocked out the rest of the world and looked through the viewfinder, nothing seemed to matter. I was alone with the image I was about to capture.

Going on a hike with the soul purpose of taking photos is a very good way to clear one's mind. If one can change their mode of thinking to that of the artist and focus on finding the beauty in nature, the stress of the day can be blocked out. If I need a good change of pace or if I feel that I'm getting to worked up I often charge up my camera and head off into the woods.

While this first blog isn't about much of anything, I hope the next one to come will be more. Right now I need a good photo hike or adventure to help calm my own worries. Next week I hope to talk about the new sport/craze of geocaching and share my own geocaching adventure. Till next time. Get out there and live!

Kacy Lewis

SOP

Here is Lindsey Street after a nice evening rain.

PWOP

This photo represents my fiance Whitney.

Just messing around in Photoshop.