Hobo Caching
Doin’ It Cheap
I’ve always said that geocaching is one of the most inexpensive and healthiest forms of entertainment around. Even with the high cost of gas, you just can’t beat an afternoon, day, or weekend, geocaching with family and/or friends. One of my goals has always been to keep it as inexpensive as possible, thereby stretching the gas budget! ? A friend of mine refers to this type of caching as “Hobo caching”. Although this term is usually used in reference with longer trips, a few of these tips could be helpful caching around town.
Pack a lunch - The most obvious place to save money is on food. I’ve mentioned before that I usually try to take snacks that don’t require refrigeration like dried fruit, jerky, and granola bars, but that will grow tiresome quickly, and you’ll need to switch it up. Bring a cooler with stuff to make sandwiches or other basic picnic fare. There is always a park with a cache in it, and you can relax at a picnic table and enjoy your meal after you find it. This could also be a nice spot to grab a quick nap.
Park the car - Besides saving money on gas, riding a bicycle is great exercise, it’s faster than walking, and gets you to some of those caches you can’t drive to. Many cities have paved trails with quite a few caches on them, and they are safer for kids if you have your family along. I’ve done some urban caching in pretty congested areas where bicycles would have been a benefit.
Sometimes however, the best way is really on foot. Walking forces you to slow down your pace just a bit and you’re less likely to scare off wildlife. Enjoy the trail, notice things! After all, that’s what got some of us caching in the first place.
Carpool - When planning trips, and even locally, try to take a full car and have everyone pitch in on the gas. Caching with others is almost always more fun, and when you go as a group you can save a little on the cost of the fuel.
Auto maintenance - Keeping your vehicle tuned up and running well will also save money on fuel mileage. I know you’ve heard this a million times, but make sure you check the air pressure in your tires too. Studies have shown that you can realize a savings of up to 10% on fuel mileage when your tires are properly inflated.
Accommodations -Of course this is for those who have managed to stray far enough from home that they need a place to stay. There are several options here, and free is always the best option when hobo caching. Family is a great place to start. If you don’t have family in the area, you may get lucky enough to hook up with other cachers who are willing to put you up. From previous experience, I can say this can be a little dicey at times.
Consider camping. Bring the tent and sleeping bags along, and at the end of the day, you’ll have a cozy campfire to sit around and talk about your most recent adventures. National forest is always the most inexpensive, and more remote but has limited facilities and may have restrictions on campfires or any open flames. Private campgrounds usually have hot showers and flush toilets, and campground chains offer all amenities, sometimes including a swimming pool and guest laundry for a few dollars more.
Another option is the Hostel. Quite common throughout Europe, and in larger cities throughout the U.S., hostels can be a decent, and inexpensive place to grab some shut eye before the next day of caching, if you don’t mind sleeping “dorm style” (4-10 bunks per room). Not all hostels are the same so you’ll need to check them out. They vary in quality, of course, as well as check in and check out times, amenities, and rates. I found one in Seattle that has WIFI, and offers a free continental breakfast. Others offer only a bed and bathroom, and you must supply your own bedding.
Then of course there is the hotel/motel. If you have to do it, I’ve found it less expensive to go to a website specializing in locating hotel rooms. They rent blocks of rooms from the hotels and can offer them for less than if you went to the front desk, but again, check it out, shop around.
All of the above mentioned options require planning and reservations. This last option does not; it is the fly by the seat of the pants option. Just cache all night to save money on the hotel! Even this requires some planning. You’ll at least need to know what time the parks close, and where you can and can’t be at what hours. Getting arrested in the middle of the night, in unfamiliar territory, is never a good thing, no matter who you are. If you decide to park somewhere and grab a few winks, make sure it’s a safe place and it won’t get you in trouble. Truck stops and rest areas are always acceptable, and are occasionally patrolled by the police or security guards.
Rude awakenings are always a possibility. On our last power caching adventure, dzzyones, idtimberwolf and I decided to park in an out of the way area where they were doing some road construction. Hey! It was a weekend! We figured it was safe! I think the roof of the Xterra must have dents in it. We’d parked with their equipment, and when that big D9 Caterpillar bulldozer started up behind us…well, let’s just say we all woke up…fast!
While biking, carpooling, and brown bagging it are all great ways to save money when caching, they’re definitely not the only ways; it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Be imaginative, inventive, and adventurous, but be aware of local laws. Don’t get in any trouble, and for cryin’ out loud, STAY OUT OF THE DUMPSTERS!!
Cache On!
Melonie is a regular contributor to Today’s
Cacher. She has been caching for just over three years, and is a Southern
Idaho native. Melonie is a college student and part time delivery driver/construction
worker/custom farmer; wherever her family needs her to help out. She has
recently been seen running amok in several different states with questionable
characters. Melonie enjoys quiet walks along the beach, hopes for world
peace, and is looking for …ooops, wrong magazine! She really enjoys
fishing, camping, traveling, geocaching (duh, of course!), and doing homework….No
wait! Not homework! She wishes she was as young as she looks.