Merry Christmas!!!

When I first started writing this post, I was sitting in my living room, early on a Sunday morning, as the wind blew and the snow fell. It turned out to be a snow day and there was no church in the morning. I struggled to wrestle my thoughts away from the horrible and senseless tragedy that unfolded in Newtown, CT just over a week ago. So many random thoughts were racing about my mind. I wondered how these families would cope with such a profound loss and prayed that they would find the strength to get through this ordeal. I wondered if any of those families were geocaching families and if they would ever geocache again. Like I said, a bunch of random thoughts. Well, suffice to say, the hustle and bustle of the season got a grip on me and I never got back to writing the post. A week has past and I still sit and wonder what Christmas will be like for them this year and in the years to come. I also think of Christmas and my own family, who are safe and sound with me, and I get a small reprieve from the heartache and a smile appears on my face.

As Christmas Day approaches and season pushes on, please know that all my geocaching family (any cacher that I have ever met) will be in my thoughts and prayers. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or are one that simply celebrates a happy holiday, my thoughts and prayers will be with you all. I pray that you will have a very safe and enjoyable holiday season. But mostly, I pray that you will get to celebrate the season in the way that it was meant to be celebrated – with FAMILY! And as you celebrate the season, take time to remember those who are struggling this holiday season. If you know of anyone who could use some help or a visit, take the time to lend a hand or a smile. As Kevin said in that holiday classic, Home Alone, “nobody should be alone on Christmas.”

Caching Heaven wishes to thank all of you for taking the time to read our blog. We look forward to a new year of writing and caching. Merry Christmas, everyone!!! Happy Holidays!

Frank (Jewel)

Happy Halloween!

With Halloween just a few days away, Caching Heaven would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Caching Heaven! (click to enlarge)

Halloween is one of the oldest festive events that is still celebrated. It is one of the most celebrated holidays, next to Christmas. There is much heated debate over Halloween. Some view it as a fun time where people dress up in costumes, go house to house trick or treating, and having themed parties. Other groups view Halloween as a time of evil spirits, ghosts, vampires, etc. that should be avoided. However, most people partake in Halloween without ever knowing its history and origins.

Druids still exist today and Halloween has its origins with the Druids. (click to enlarge)

Halloween is on October 31st, which is the last day of the Celtic calendar. Dating back to over 2000 years ago, Halloween was originally a pagan holiday that honoured the dead. It was referred to as All Hallows Eve. Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition. The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating. The day after, November 1, is All Hallows Day, also known as All Saints Day. On this day, Catholics celebrated their saints and Christians would try to convert Pagans to Christianity.

To get you started on finding some Halloween-themed caches, I have compiled an extensive list. I spent over an hour searching for as many as I could and these were the ones I have found. I am sure that there are many I have missed, so please feel free to find, or place, some of your own.

• Northeast Avalon
  • Spook Mountain #1 (GC368NK) by Jewel&Gem.
  • Spook Mountain #2 (GC368Q6) by Jewel&Gem.
  • Spook Mountain #3 (GC368QJ) by Jewel&Gem.
  • Spook Mountain #4 (GC368R4) by Jewel&Gem.
  • Spook Mountain #5 (GC368RC) by Jewel&Gem.
  • Paddy’s Halloween Trek #1 (GC35T6H) by NFCanadian.
  • Paddy’s Halloween Trek #2 (GC35T7B) by NFCanadian.
  • Paddy’s Halloween Trek #3 (GC35T7F) by NFCanadian.
  • Paddy’s Halloween Trek #4 (GC35XWN) by NFCanadian.
  • Paddy’s Halloween Trek #5 (GC35XWR) by NFCanadian.
  • Paddy’s Halloween Trek #6 (GC35XWW) by NFCanadian.
  • Paddy’s Halloween Trek #7 (GC35XWX) by NFCanadian.
  • Happy Belated Halloween!! (GC377Q1) by the Fast Finders.
• Burin Peninsula
  • Spooktacular Cache #1 (GC2H1TQ) by shantrent.
  • Spooktacular Cache #2 (GC2H1V0) by shantrent.
  • Spooktacular Cache #3 (GC2H1V5) by shantrent.
  • Spooktacular Cache #4 (GC2H1V9) by shantrent.
  • Spooktacular Cache #5 (GC2H1VE) by shantrent.
  • Spooktacular Cache #6 (GC2H1VK) by shantrent.
  • Spooktacular Cache #7 (GC2H1VR) by shantrent.
  • Spooktacular Cache #8 (GC2H1VW) by shantrent.
  • Spooktacular Cache #9 (GC2H1VZ) by shantrent.
• Remainder of Island
  • Ghostly Pass (GC3Q907) by guyfox68.
• Labrador
  • OVER KILL – HALLOWEEN CAME EARLY (GC3VMFT) by Labrador Retriever.
  • Have You Lost Your Gourd? – Halloween 2012 (GC3Y5VG) by vo2rs.
  • Wicked Witch of Labrador West (GC2GK00) by Labrador Retriever.
  • Pirate Skull (GC203J9) by Labrador Retriever.

Caching at night, especially in a cemetery can be a creepy thing. (click to enlarge)

When I was in Sydney, NS the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to find a cemetary cache at night. While being in a cemetary at night doesn’t creep me out in the least (no comments, please), I am sure that many cachers will find this endeavour to be a thrilling and scary experience. For that reason, here are three cemetary caches that you should try at night.

• St. Peter’s Cemetary Cache (GC34Y2Q) by Tetley269.
• Old Cemetery Cache (GC1W7G6) by chammond.
• Cemetery Nano 1 (GC1KA9B) by Vickyth & Meneldor.

Celebrating Halloween is a preference that is not always viewed as participating in an evil holiday. Many celebrate Halloween with the dark and evil aspects while others often celebrate it with no reference to pagan rituals or the occult. How about you? Do you plan to celebrate Halloween this year? Will you go caching this Halloween? Let us know using the comment section below.

Happy Halloween and Happy Caching!

Frank (Jewel)

Milestone Marker 1500!

Milestones. How much do you keep track of your milestones? Personally, I keep track of mine very well. I chose, however, not to be blogging on my milestones when I first started this blog. After this weekend, however, I realize that I might have been too hasty in that decision. Now, don’t get me wrong. You won’t find me blogging on every 100 finds. It’s not that I wouldn’t enjoy doing that or think it is frivolous because I don’t. I simply don’t have the time to be blogging that frequently. I have decided, however, to blog my milestones at 500 cache intervals and only if the milestone cache is one of significant importance or greatness.

What a beautiful view! (click to enlarge)

This past weekend, we were in the Bay Roberts/North River/Clarke’s Beach area to assist our geocaching neighbours in hosting a geocaching event. On Saturday, we took part in the event but decided to wait until Sunday to do some caching. After having breakfast on Sunday, I set out with my son to get 13 of the 20 caches that were put out for the event. The remaining 7 event caches were my own, so I couldn’t go after them. After that, one of my geocaching neighbors/friends (Dora) accompanied us to do a bit more caching around the area. The other one (Diego) stayed back to cook us Sunday dinner. It was then, that we were treated to a spectacular view and our 1500^th find!

A beautiful view. (click to enlarge)

The cache that resulted in our milestone is called View For The Gods (GC1YRJQ). To get to the cache, you must first navigate your way through the streets of Clarke’s Beach until you arrive at a gate, which is on the road that leads up to a communications tower and the local water supply. From the gate, your GPS indicates that you are about 650 meters from the cache. However, since bushwacking to the cache is near impossible, you must walk the road a total of 1.7 km and, then, turn off on a trail for the remaining 800 meters. If the gate wasn’t there, you could drive to within 800 meters of the cache. Of course, if you own an ATV, you can go all the way. For us, we had a locked gate and no ATV. Therefore, it was time to hike.

Definitely worth the hike! (click to enlarge)

It took us about 40 minutes to get to ground zero. The road was in good condition and the trail portion was muddy in just one spot. There was no boggy areas, however, which made the trek more comfortable. Finding the cache was pretty easy and it was in great condition. We never bothered to trade swag as we had forgotten to take any with us. After signing the log and returning the cache to its home, it was time to check out the view. And what a view it was! From up here, you could see all of the Clarke’s Beach area just as the eagles see it. In fact, one of the logs on the cache has a photo that shows two eagles sitting at the top. It would have been a great place to have a picnic or just to sit and think awhile. Not for us however. We stayed a few minutes to enjoy the view and then headed out. It took us 30 minutes to make the trek out as we were now heading downhill.

While this cache took a great deal of energy to find, it was worth it in the end. We gave it a favorite point and would recommend the attempt to anyone. Kudos go out to the cache owner, Ron 30207 for placing this cache. We couldn’t think of a better cache to get us to 1500 finds.

Happy Caching!

Frank (Jewel)

Canadian Coast Guard: An Honoured Past, A Committed Future

Our Anniversary banner. We are even featured on the $50 bill. (click to enlarge)

You might be asking what the Canadian Coast Guard and geocaching have in common. Well, nothing really, except for the fact that I work for the Coast Guard. With further thought, one can find a degree of separation between the two. There are many caches located along the East Coast trail and at Signal Hill and Cape Spear. If a geocacher was to ever have the misfortune of falling into the water while searching for these caches, the Coast Guard would be called into action to help save you. The Coast Guard officially celebrates its 50^th Anniversary in 2012 and now, there are two more degrees of separation – two geocaches that are devoted to the Coast Guard. Rather than write my own history of the Coast Guard, I will simply quote from the Coast Guard’s website.

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A helicopter servicing a remote lighthouse. (click to enlarge)

The origins of a Canadian Coast Guard can be traced to as far back as the 1700s when the first lifeboats and lighthouses were established in Eastern Canada. The various governments that preceded a unified Canada had their own patrol vessels which began to appear along the eastern seaboard and in the Great Lakes in the 1800s. In 1868, one year after Confederation, the federal government established the Department of Marine and Fisheries. This department assumed responsibility for marine affairs, including the operation of government vessels and for various elements of marine infrastructure (aids to navigation, lifesaving stations, canals and waterways, marine regulatory bodies and supporting shore infrastructure). In 1936, responsibility for marine transportation shifted to the Department of Transport. By the 1940s, many organizations and communities pressed the government to form a national coast guard. Ocean commerce expanded tremendously, culminating, with the opening of the St-Lawrence Seaway in 1958. The Canadian Coast Guard was officially created by the Honourable Leon Balcer, the then Minister of Transport on January 26, 1962.

Our flagship and largest icebreaker, The Louis S. St. Laurent. (click to enlarge)

For the past 50 years, The Canadian Coast Guard has been a symbol of service and safety. The women and men we call our own have not only provided years of excellence in service delivery, but have embodied the ideals the Coast Guard has come to represent. On January 26, 2012 the Canadian Coast Guard will proudly celebrate its 50^th Anniversary. As we celebrate our past, we must also consider our future. Greater demands for our services, a changing climate in the Arctic, advances in technology and expectations for a greater presence in the North have set the tone for what we must strive to become. The Canadian Coast Guard owns and operates the federal government’s civilian fleet, and provides key maritime services to Canadians. As a Special Operating Agency of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Canadian Coast Guard helps DFO meet its responsibility to ensure safe and accessible waterways for Canadians. The Canadian Coast Guard also plays a key role in ensuring the sustainable use and development of Canada’s oceans and waterways. The organization may have witnessed many changes to its structure, fleet, and people over the years, but the passion and heart to serve the citizens of Canada have been the same for the last five decades. The Canadian Coast Guard looks forward to celebrating this milestone with its employees, partners, and all Canadians. Fifty years marks a golden opportunity to commemorate a rich history, but it also marks a perfect opportunity to set the stage for the Canadian Coast Guard’s bright future.
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Protecting our oceans and waterways. (click to enlarge)

In honour of the Coast Guard’s 50^th Anniversary, I have created a brand new puzzle cache called Canadian Coast Guard: 50th Anniversary Cache (GC3WGV2). Clicking on the link right now will not show you the cache listing. The reason for this is that it isn’t published yet but should be in the next day or so. For all you pin collectors, there is a treat inside. Besides some other Coast Guard related swag, there are 5 Coast Guard 50^th Anniversary pins. Be sure to only take one thing from the cache and please replace it with a sea-related item. The cache also contains 5 anniversary writing pens. The coordinates of the cache take you inside our base on the Southside Road in downtown St. John’s. Obviously, you can’t go there. So, simply answer the ten questions about the Coast Guard and you will find the real coordinates. I have even provided links to bring you to the webpages containing the answers. So be on the lookout for this cache.

The Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney, NS. I am headed there this October. (click to enlarge)

There is also one more cache that was placed in honour of the Coast Guard’s heritage and legacy. It is located near the entrance of the Coast Guard College in Sydney, Nova Scotia. It is called An honoured past, a committed future (GC3HEKM) This cache is currently published and I can’t wait to hunt for it when I attend the college in October.

So, join me and the Canadian Coast Guard in celebrating 50 years of protecting our oceans and waterways. I, like many others who work there, are very proud to be a part of this great organization. For more information on the history of the Canadian Coast Guard, click here for a downloadable pdf.

GeoGeeks!

Are you a geogeek? Not sure? Well, the term geek has come to mean a plethora of meanings, some of them good and some bad. In easy terms, a geek was originally a person who was smart at computers. As time went on, the term geek also meant a person who is smart in and/or uses technology on a continual basis. When used by an individual about themselves, geek is a term illustrating pride in oneself. I, for one, consider myself a geek and am proud of it. However, when geek is used by someone who is referring to someone else, the term is usually meant in a derogatory manner. If you use a gps to play a treasure hunting game called geocaching, then I consider you a geek (meant, however, as a compliment). But are you a geogeek?

A geogeek is my term for geocachers who, like me, use more than just their gps when geocaching. Geogeeks utilize all the available computer software and smart phone apps to, either search for caches or record all of their finds in a central database. They can also use the programs to help them when they are placing multicaches. Truth is that many geocachers are totally unaware that there is a plethora of programs and apps to assist them in their geocaching lives. I will endeavor to highlight a few of them but I simply will not be able to do them justice. It will be best if you try them out for yourselves.

Computer Software

There aren’t too many geocaching programs out there for your PC but the ones that do exist offer a lot of benefits to the cacher.

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  There is an abundance of stats, more than what is visible here. (click to enlarge)

  Geocaching Swiss Army Knife (GSAK) – This program is my absolute favorite program for keeping track of all my finds and my hides as well. I loved it so much that I paid the $30 fee to purchase it and get rid of the nag screens. That’s right! You can use GSAK for free as long as you can put up with the nag screens. There are three main features that I like about this program. First, I use it to record all of my finds and hides. I have pocket queries set up to download my finds and hides which I then import into GSAK. GSAK records all of the details about each cache including log entries. Second, I use a third-party macro with GSAK which generates all my statistics into a well-presented web page. I, then, upload the HTML code directly into my profile to generate a statistics page. You can even edit the cache entries to indicate any first to finds you may have gotten. Third, GSAK allows you to enter waypoints as actual geocaches, complete with descriptions and hints. You can, then, send those waypoints to your gps. I use the program at events. When the cache sheets are handed out, I enter them all into GSAK, complete with the hints and upload them into my GPS. I can now cache without dragging that cumbersome paper around. There is so much more that this program can do. I haven’t even discovered everything about it yet. Why not try it yourself. Click here for more info.
   
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  Google Earth is great for plotting cache series. (click to enlarge)

  Google Earth (with Viewer) – Google Earth happens to be an awesome tool for placing caches. When you are considering placing caches, you can use Google Earth to check out detailed terrain. By installing the Groundspeak cache viewer with it, you can see all of the nearby caches. Google Earth was instrumental when I created the Music Is Life: Mega Series. By using Google Earth, I was able to position each puzzle cache in a perfect music note formation and retrieve the coordinates for each. When I created the series called The Way, I used Google Earth for that as well. Overall, it is a great program. It is also free! Click here for more information on Google Earth. To get the Google Earth Geocaching Viewer, click here.
   

Android Apps

Besides geocaching software for your computer, there are many geocaching applications out there for your Android smartphone.

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  By far my favorite, and it’s FREE! (click to enlarge)

  C:Geo – C:geo is a simple, yet powerful unofficial geocaching client for Android devices. In contrast with other similar applications, C:Geo doesn’t require a web browser or an export function to work. You can just go geocaching with your phone without any home preparation or worries. C:Geo is one of the apps out there that doesn’t use the Geocaching.com API (Application Programming Interface). This has both benefits and drawbacks. A benefit to not using the API is that non-premium members have unlimited access to all cache details. Apps that use the API limit non-premium users to just 3 traditional caches per day. A drawback, however, is that everytime Geocaching.com changes their website, C:Geo encounters problems. The owner, however, is very quick in providing an update. The app gives you all of the great features of other programs out there such as retrieving live cache data, ability to log cache finds live, ability to log trackables and the ability to search for caches by a plethora of search criteria. You can also download caches for offline use. This is perfect for getting the cache data at home while on wi-fi and saving those precious megabytes on your data plan. Overall, it is a great program. Even though I am a premium member, I still choose to use C:Geo. Of course, the best thing about C:Geo is that it’s free! For more information on C:Geo, click here.
   
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  Cache Sense – considered the best paid app. (click to enlarge)

  CacheSense – CacheSense happens to be one of the better programs for caching using your smartphone. It has lots of great features that will sure to peak your interest. Perhaps its only drawback would be that it’s not free. Most importantly, CacheSense is live-enabled, meaning that it has direct access to the Geocaching.com API (Application Programming Interface). Like the Geocaching website, CacheSense supports the use of pocket queries, providing that you are a premium member. It has most of the tools that you will ever need such as being able to take good field notes, complete with pictures. CacheSense has various tools for logging your trackables and is able to link with Facebook and Twitter social networking sites. It is a one-stop shop for your geocaching needs. At $5 CAN, it is well worth the investment. Click here for more information.
   
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  The official geocaching app. (click to enlarge)

  Official Groundspeak – The official Groundspeak geocaching app happens to be the most expensive of all geocaching apps. Of course, since it connects to the Geocaching Live API, it can do all of the features of the other apps that also use Geocaching Live. It lacks, however, the database features of apps such as CacheSense. Two great features that it has is the ability to look at Geocaching.com pages without leaving the app and the ability to support multiple geocaching accounts using one app. Personally, I would choose CacheSense over this app. For more info on this app, click here.
   
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  One of the newer apps on the market. (click to enlarge)

  NeonGeo – According to the Google App Store description, Neongeo is your complete geocaching suite for both online and offline usage. You can search geocaches on the go or import GPX files. You can log trackables and geocaches online or keep fieldnotes to log later. Features also inlude custom map servers, detailed geocache listings , and thousands of geocaches in memory. It also has full offline support meaning you can prepare maps and geocaches before the trip. It is also supposed to be very battery friendly. I tested the free version of the program and it was, indeed, a very nice program. It worked as well as my favorite program, C:Geo. The free version can be used for 30 days before you have to buy the program. If you are into paying for a good program, I would seriously recommend this program. At half the price of the official geocaching app from Groundspeak, it is definitely worth a look. For more information on NeonGeo, click here.
   
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  A:Drake android app. (click to enlarge)

  A:Drake – A:Drake is a freeware application designed for paperless geocaching without an internet connection. The aim of the program is to provide, in one place, everything needed for geocaching as well as to allow simple data management through programs on the PC. It is recommended to use A:Drake in cooperation with GeoGet, because both applications share the same database. Personally, I tried A:Drake but didn’t like the fact that it couldn’t operate “live.” In other words, you need to load the caches into your phone using a computer at home. Installing GeoGet will give you the live download function and, since it uses the same database as A:Drake, the live function appears almost seemless. I don’t like, however, having to install two apps to do the work that I can get in one. For more info on A:Drake, click here.
   
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  A mobile version of GSAK. (click to enlarge)

  Geocaching Droid Army Knife (GDAK) – Don’t you ever wish that you could carry around the entire GSAK database on your smart android device? Well, now you can. With GDAK you can create databases on your Android device and fill them with caches via the Geoacaching.com Live API. You can create as many databases as you want, but one database will suffice for most users. Because GSAK and GDAK use the same database format, you can put your GSAK database on your android device and use it under GDAK. While in the field, you can add caches to the GDAK database and import the database into GSAK when you get home. When you import new cache info, you have the choice of importing by distance from a set of coordinates or by a GC number. You can also import basic info only to save on your data plan. I only found this app two weeks ago and really like it. If you don’t use GSAK, however, you may not find any worth in it. The free app contains harmless ads that appear on the bottom. If you want to remove them, pay the under $4 fee and buy the program. For more info on GDAK, click here.
   

iPhone Apps

While there are more Android phones on the market than iPhones, a lot of geocachers use an iPhone. Many say the iPhone has a better GPS device in them. I am inclined to agree as my Samsung Galaxy S has a very poor GPS. Therefore, it is important to highlight some iPhone apps that are out there for use.

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  Groundspeak Official App (click to enlarge)

  Official Groundspeak – The official Groundspeak iPhone app is, perhaps, the most widely used geocaching app used on the iPhone. This is due, perhaps, to the fact that Groundspeak first created their app for the iPhone only. It wasn’t until later that they included an Android edition. The iPhone version of this app does all of the same things as its Android counterpart. Along with the landmark features of searching for caches, navigating to them, and logging your finds, the app also allows the use of pocket queries (Premium members only) and the ability to find and log trackables. With the app, you are able to take detailed field notes and upload pictures to your find logs. While I was not able to test this app (I don’t own an iPhone), my geocaching neighbor enjoys this app immensely. As in the case of its Android brother, this app is the most costly of all geocaching apps. Click here for more information.
   
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  GeoSphere (click to enlarge)

  Geosphere – Geosphere sounds like a pretty decent app for the iPhone. It boasts all of the regular features found in most geocaching smartphone apps and even has a few not found elsewhere. Geosphere allows you to create a target from either a waypoint or geocache and, then, be able to edit any of the fields to your own liking. You can also add your own related waypoints to your target. Another useful feature is the ability to place caches into groups which can be good for organizing you caches into manageable sections. One benefit I see here is the ability to create a group for each day of the week. Place your caches into the day groups and simply load the group for each day. Absent from this app, however, is the ability to easily obtain the cache details. The app does get cache details while out in the field but it does it through a webpage, using a built-in browser. You must click the GPX button, just like on the Geocaching.com website, to download the cache info. More seemless integration would greatly enhance this app. For more info, click here.
   
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  Geocaching Buddy (click to enlarge)

  Geocaching Buddy – Geocaching Buddy is proud to be the first 3^rd party iPhone app that is powered by Geocaching Live, making it possible to search and download caches directly from geocaching.com in a convenient way. Geocaching Buddy has all of the basic features needed in a smartphone geocaching app but also has some key features that may not be present in all geocaching apps. With Geocaching Buddy, there are tools specifically designed for creating multicaches. There are also some neat features to help you in finding multicaches, such as the ability to enter answers of clues and to, then, use those answers to plot the next set of coordinates. It has tools to assist in the handling of images. First, all images for a cache are preloaded. Second, images can be pinned to caches quite easily. There is even a feature that allows you to email photos from within the app. The app sounds great but I was unable to test. For more information, click here.
   
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  Geopher Lite (click to enlarge)

  Geopher Lite – Geopher Lite is an extremely barebones app for geocaching. The app store describes the app as a while-you-are-out geocaching application. You can quickly check your current location via geocaching.com for geocaches in your area with the search button. Then you type in a target latitude and longitude and let Geopher Lite’s directional arrow lead the way to your destination. Wait a minute! I have to key in the coordinates myself? If the coordinates are there, why can’t I just click on a link to let the app navigate me to the destination. With all of the other apps allowing me instant access, I find no appeal in this app at all. Click here for more details on this app.
   
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  Seek Cache (click to enlarge)

  SeekCache – SeeCache is another barebones geocaching app. This one is a little better than Geopher Lite because it doesn’t require you to input the cache coordinates yourself. You are only able to find geocaches that are immediately near your location. Absent are any of the database features found in other apps. There is also no feature to allow the search or logging of trackables. If barebones and free is what you are looking for, this app will suit nicely. Click here for more information.
   

Blackberry Apps

Blackberry users were amongst the first users to start using their phones for geocaching. While Blackberry is slowly dying, there are still quite a number of cachers who still use their Blackberry to find those caches.

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  CacheSense for Blackberry (click to enlarge)

  CacheSense – CacheSense was one of the first-ever geocaching apps for the Blackberry. Back then, it was called CacheBerry. It has the same benefits and features as its counterpart for Android. CacheSense is live-enabled, meaning that it has direct access to the Geocaching.com API (Application Programming Interface). Like the Geocaching website, CacheSense supports the use of pocket queries, providing that you are a premium member. It has most of the tools that you will ever need such as being able to take good field notes, complete with pictures. CacheSense has various tools for logging your trackables and is able to link with Facebook and Twitter social networking sites. A great geocaching tool for those of you who haven’t yet abandoned your Blackberry device. For more information, click here.
   
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  Geocache Navigator (click to enlarge)

  Geocache Navigator – Geocache Navigator is a barebones geocaching solution written for your Blackberry device as well as some other selected smartphones. It lacks a lot of the features that CacheSense has but will get you by if all you need is to find the cache. It allows you to search for caches, navigate to them using maps or a compass, and allows you to log them live, while in the field. It has no features for doing pocket queries or logging trackables. Like I said, a barebones app. For more info on this lacklustre app, click here.
   

To go geocaching with your smartphone, it really doesn’t matter which type of smartphone you have. As the older Apple iPhone ads used to say, “there is an app for that!” This post only introduces you to just a few of the apps that exist for geocachijng. There are numerous others out there and there are bound to be many more created. This post also only gives you a basic introduction to them. It is your job to download them, try them, and decide for yourself if the app is right for you. Only time and practice will tell.

How about you? Do you have a favorite program or app that you like to use with geocaching? If so, let us know in the comment section below. Be sure to include what platform (PC, Android, iPhone, or Blackberry) it is for. You can also comment on our blog in general. We value your input.

Happy caching!

Frank (Jewel)

Happy 12th Birthday!!!

Happy 12th Birthday!!!

Wow! Twelve years already. As a relative newbie to caching (been caching for a year and a half), it is hard to believe that Geocaching is twelve years old already. Just imagine. When it was started in 2000, there were only 75 caches in existence. Today, there are over 1.8 million caches worldwide and over 5 million cachers looking for them. For this blogpost, I decided to do a poll. I am asking what you did on Geocaching’s birthday (September 2)? Did you get a chance to cache at all? Please tell us by answering our first poll. For us, we managed to get two caches. Church, followed by a family dinner, followed b my nephew’s soccer game prevented us from getting much caching done today. As they say, two is better than none. Feel free to also leave a comment, if you wish.

Life’s Pleasant Surprises!

Life! Good or bad, it is something we can’t escape. It is something we must enjoy and endure until we we reach the end of our term in this world. I tend to think of life like a baseball pitcher. Sometimes the pitcher will throw curve balls and change-ups causing us to strikeout. Other times, the pitcher throws a pitch that allows us to get a line drive and get ourselves on base. Occasionally, we might even get the ball to pass through our “sweet spot” where we drive it clear out of the park. In a nutshell, life throws all kinds of surprises at you. Some are bad and some are quite good. There is no set ratio of good to bad and that ratio differs from person to person. Geocaching is the same. As geocachers, we are sometimes thrown a curve ball when we have trouble finding a cache everyone else found easy. Other times we luck into finding a hard cache with minimal effort. Rarely, we are even blessed with a trackable actually sitting in a cache! Whatever the type of pitch, I generally swing at them all, preferring to live life completely with the ups and downs. Life threw me four pleasant surprises just a week ago when I was in the last week of my two week vacation. Here is the story. Don’t worry, there are some caches listed as well.

Cupid’s Haven Tea Room. The carrot cake was scrumptious! (click to enlarge)

Denise and I, along with our son Zachary (aka tinyseeker), were heading on over to the event being held in Gander. The event was on a Saturday but we left on a Thursday so that we could get a couple days of caching in. The plan was to drive as far as Clarenville that evening and do a bit of caching on the way. Friends of ours had been considering putting off an event and wanted us to get some coordinates for them. Therefore, on the way, we dropped down into North River and retrieved the coordinates. Since we were down this way, we decided to go get the new park and grabs that were released in Cupids a week before. As we got to the first cache called Millbrook Garden (GC3R67M) by scrunchions, I notice that a familiar cacher had signed the log on the current date. It was, none other than, magicdog. We wondered if he could still be here in Cupids so I decided to text him. I believe my text read “Still in Cupids?”. One cache later, we got a reply which read “Yes. How did u know?” We exchanged a couple more texts and finally met up with him at Cupids Harbour View #2 (GC3R69M), also by scrunchions. After chatting a bit and listening to some home-grown newfie (accordion) music from a nearby residence, we reluctantly continued on to the remaining two caches together. The last cache for the area was Is That King Lear I Hear (GC3R6CG) by scrunchions. After retrieving the cache, we all decided to drop in to the Cupid’s Haven Tea Room for a piece of dessert and a cold beverage. This was our first time here and the food was delicious. All of us had the carrot cake while tinyseeker had a fudge sundae. We chatted a little while, mostly about non-geocaching things. As we were about to leave and pay our bills, magicdog picked up the tab. Wow! What a pleasant surprise. We wish to thank him for his great company and kind gesture. Hopefully we can return the favor sometime.

What a view! Tinyseeker posing by the Inukshuk. (click to enlarge)

After leaving Cupids, we continued on our journey to Clarenville. Again, as we traveled, we stopped for park and grabs along the way. As most of you are aware, highway park and grabs rarely provide an abundance of excitement. They are usually hidden on road signs or in trees along the side of the road. As we started to get closer to the Dough Hills, we came upon a cache called The View of Two Bays (GC3QMWV) by guyfox68. This cache wasn’t easy to get to as you need to climb up on top of a rock-cut. No matter which side you attack it from, it can be a bit treacherous. As I got out of the car to make a go for it, I noticed that tinyseeker was right on my heels. Gem wasn’t too happy about him going but I told her he would be alright. As we climbed, it got easier except for one spot where I smashed my knee into a rock. I dealt with the pain by telling myself it would hurt a lot worse later on. When we got to ground zero, we found the cache easily. After I signed the log, I took a look around. What a beautiful view from up here. As I took a picture of tinyseeker next to the an Inukshuk someone had placed here, I had to make sure he didn’t pop his head up to far. Even though he is not close to the edge in the picture, if his Mom would have seen his head pop up, she would fear the worse. As my son and I seemed to be standing on top of the world (relatively speaking), I kept thinking “what a pleasant surprise this cache turned out to be.”

There are three government wharfs here. (click to enlarge)

Continuing on to Clarenville, we came up on the turnoff to Southern Harbour, which is a small community near Arnold’s Cove. I told magicdog that I was going to visit Southern Harbour to get the 9 caches that were placed there, all by guyfox68. He told me that Southern Harbour would be a surprise because it wouldn’t be what I was expecting. Southern Harbour is a scenic community characterized by its rocky coastline, marshlands and inland woodlands. Butler’s Head is a well known place in Southern Harbour and overlooks the community. It is considered to be a lookout by the residents. There is also a spot called Bottom Pond where they hold their annual summer celebrations. The mainstay of the community continues to be the fishery which is evident by the three government-maintained wharves that are located here.

View from the cache called “The Old Stump.” (click to enlarge)

When I originally put the Southern Harbour geocaches into my GPSr, I wasn’t expecting much in the way of a vibrant community. With the fishery in turmoil, I was expecting to see a run down community with only a dirt road being its connection to the rest of the world. As I drove down the road, picking up the first four caches in the series, it seemed like my expectations were going to be dead on, minus the dirt road. As I went for the fifth cache, titled The old stump (GC3Q8YN), I finally seen a vibrant, beautiful communuity. The remaining four caches brought us to various different vantage points in the community. The last cache, They no longer play here (GC3Q8XP), is located on a hill near a playground. From here, two items really stood out. First, was the view of the oil refinery in a the distance. The second was how clean the playground was. It was in pristine shape with no grafitti anywhere. In St. John’s, there is hardly one playground that could tout the same claim to fame. Wow! Three pleasant surprises in one day! This was shaping up to be a great trip! We finally made it to Clarenville for our nightly rest stop.

Not many caches in that tub. (click to enlarge)

The next day, I had it all planned out. I had 41 caches put in the GPSr and we were going to travel two separate routes – one down to Little Heart’s Eease and one to St. Jone’s Within. Well, my plan didn’t quite work out. Out of 41 caches in the area, we got a total of 5 that day. We had driven all the way to Little Heart’s Ease and were working our way back. Well, my wife’s only uncle lives there. We dropped in for a visit and he wanted us to go out in boat for an hour or two. Now, for those that don’t know me, I am always reluctant to go fishing or camping. Don’t get me wrong, I am fine when I get there and I have a great time. Getting me to go is always the tough part. I figured, however, that two hours wasn’t a bad thing. It would still leave us time to get some caching in. So we went. We were gone for 4 hours. We couldn’t seem to find the right spot for fish. In the end, I caught 2, tinyseeker caught 2 and everyone else caught 3. I did have a great time, though and didn’t even notice that I was missing out on caching. They gave all of the fish to me so I walked away with 7 filleted cod fish. That evening, back in Clarenville, I cooked my supper – fresh, pan-fried cod fillet. It was delicious! Again, another pleasant surprise! The only drawback to the day was realizing I missed out on a unique first to find. Apparently, there is a cache in the bay that nobody has gotten yet, despite being released a year ago. It is called Out in the Bay (GC33VRD) by tsnook. Apparently, we were fishing very close to that area. Had I known, I would have had my wife’s uncle bring me there. Oh well! Did I say that the fish was delicious? We ended up getting all of the caches we missed down to St. Jone’s Within the day after the event. That was a definite bonus.

We went to the event and had a great time caching with some new and veteran cachers. In all, we found 38 caches the day of the event. the only drawback to the event was that it rained the whole time we were caching. Tinyseeker and I were soaked from head to toe. Normally, being wet is not a good feeling. That day, however, we didn’t seem to mind being wet. That, itself, turned out to be the biggest (and pleasant) surprise of all!

Here are a couple more pictures of Southern Harbour.

Beautiful place. (click to enlarge)

A neat way to dry the fish. (click to enlarge)

How about you? Do you have any real pleasant surprises to tell us about? Well, here is your chance. Let us know by commenting below. If you would like to comment on this post or any other post, please do so using the comment box below each post. We would love to hear from you! You can also let us know how we are doing!

Brigus: A Delicious Follow-Up!

When we first did our post about Brigus, one thing we mentioned was that we never had the time to visit the Country Corner Restaurant and Gift Shop, which is next to the Wilcox Gardens – home of the Blueberry Crisp (GC2WAPT) cache, and try the cache’s namesake. Well, opportunity arose over the weekend when my brother, Ken, paid us a surprise visit from Toronto with only two days to spend with him. He is not a geocacher but enjoys getting the odd cache with us whenever he visits. This particular trip was not supposed to be a geocaching trip. We had planned to take my brother on a sightseeing trip and Brigus came to mind. Truth is, we heard the blueberry crisp calling out to us.

With a good rainfall, this cache will prove more challenging.

Before going, however, I checked the geocaching map and noticed that there was a new cache called Island In The Stream (GC3QD9G). Well, when I found out where it was, I had to get just one cache on this trip. I put my rubber boots in the car and we all headed out the highway. Upon arriving near the coordinates, I parked on the side of the highway. I could see the island and knew right where the cache would be. I put on my rubber boots and waded through the water, which wasn’t very deep at that moment. The rocks were very slippery so I would exercise caution when headed to the island. I got to the island and found the cache fairly easily. The find was made even sweeter in the fact that we got a first to find. It was a great start to the day!

You need to visit this place real soon!

Shortly after arriving in Brigus, we took my brother on a similar tour as we had gone on while searching for the caches in the area. We took him to Whelan’s Beach and the Brigus Tunnel. We drove past Hawthorne Cottage, St. Patrick’s Church and the Wilcox Gardens. With the Wilcox Gardens being next door to the Country Corner Restaurant and Gift Shop, we figured it was time to stop for a much-needed lunch. Who am I trying to kid? This was one of the reasons why we came here!

Ken couldn’t believe there were real blueberries in there!

Once inside, we perused through all of the wonderful souvenirs that are for sale in the giftshop. Ken decided he would get a souvenir on the way out so we proceeded to the restaurant. We decided to go outside on the patio to enjoy the beautiful day along with, what we hoped would be, a beautiful meal. Our server was very polite and came to take our order. The special of the week was moose stew and blueberry crisp. All three of us reached a unanimous decision – moose stew and blueberry crisp! Gem and I had delicious lemonades to drink while Ken had a blueberry shake followed by a lemonade.

Delicious Moose Stew! Yum!

Our lemonades were homemade and tasted really good. They weren’t overly sweet, which was perfect for me. I am not fond of really sweet beverages. My brother’s blueberry shake contained real blueberries instead of the usual blueberry flavoring you find in other restaurants. Our server, then, brought us out a homemade biscuit which complemented our moose stew nicely. We were given a healthy portion size of moose stew with medium chunks of moose and a days worth of veggies. The stew was really delicious and my compliments go out to the chef!

The famous and incredible blueberry crisp!

After being completely satisfied and filled with my stew and biscuit, it was time for the main event – the reason why we had come here. We had heard from fellow geocachers that the blueberry crisp was “out of this world!” Well, they were definitely being serious. It was served warm with a scoop of ice cream and tasted awesome! I would have loved another piece but that would have made me a glutton. I would definitely recommend this meal to anyone and everyone! Counting the tip, our meal set us back about $47.00 for the two of us, which was more than reasonable.

I realize that I might be coming across as a person obsessed over this meal but it was extremely delicious! Too all those geocachers who have not yet found all of the caches in the Brigus area, I suggest you plan a day to get them. While you make those plans, I would highly recommend that you include a stop into the Country Corner Restaurant and Gift Shop. The moose stew and blueberry crisp are, indeed, out of this world!

Paying It Forward!

Would have stayed warmer if I were caching! (click to enlarge)

Last weekend, a combination of household chores, bad weather, and my nephew’s soccer tournament prevented us from doing much caching. We managed to take in the Cache The River #6 event as well as a few quick finds. That was pretty much the extent of our geocaching adventures. As I sat in the chilly temperatures at my nephew’s soccer game, my mind turned to caching and I began to find a correlation between the two. Are you puzzled right now? Surely you are wondering what soccer and geocaching could possibly have in common. Aside from the physical exertion, the running (only if you are trying to race other cachers to an FTF), and being outdoors, soccer and geocaching appear to have nothing in common.

Sure, on the surface, a lack of commonality rings true. However, the one thing that should be common (and I need to stress SHOULD) is teamwork. Some of you are thinking about that right now and most are probably puzzled by that statement. Nowhere in the Geocaching rules or Geocaching 101 does it state that we need to geocache in teams. Sometimes it does help to do the hunt in teams. I was amazed and skeptical when I found a geocacher that has over 80,000 finds. How could one person do that much? I later found out his user account encompasses a team, which makes his numbers make more sense. However, that is not the teamwork I am referring to in this post. The teamwork I am referring to is helping one another maintain caches.

All packed up to head to the Weddingcache! (click to enlarge)

During the Canada Day long weekend, Gem and I decided to go down to Topsail Beach to enjoy some of the sun. I realized that there was a cache or two that we didn’t have, so I went online to retrieve fresh logs for my GPSr. As I read the logs for the Weddingcache (GC82EE), I noticed that the cache was in bad shape. It was a beef bucket but was missing its cover. That meant that everything inside was probably ruined as well. Therefore, I went to the cupboard and grabbed a spare bucket cover. I went to my geocaching tote (yeah, I keep one of those) and grabbed a fresh log, plastic baggie, and some swag. I also took some paper towel, in case the bucket needed to be cleaned out. Upon arrival at the beach, we hiked the 500 meters to the location and found the cache hanging on a tree. It was in really bad shape. We dried out the container, added a new log, salvaged what we could from it, and added some new swag. We sealed it with the new cover and re-hid it the way it was supposed to be. We even placed a trackable inside to entice more cachers to hunt for it.

Become a cache samaritan. (click to enlarge)

The idea of helping another cacher look after their cache could make for a long and heated debate. Some cachers would say it is the right thing to do. Others would argue that it is the responsibility of the cache owner and that they shouldn’t place a cache they can’t take care of. The latter group would be correct in their assertion. However, sometimes certain conditions arise that prevent a cache owner from maintaining their cache. Perhaps they are on a long vacation or gone to a summer home. Perhaps they have moved and forgot to take out the cache. In my case, I have a cache on Random Island called That’s So Random (GC30XG7). The latest logs say it is wet. Due to busy work commitments, I have not been able to get out there to fix it up. I would love it if a cache Samaritan, of sorts, would rescue the cache by drying it out and replacing the log. Now I, in no way, think that it is anyone else’s duty but mine to perform the task. It would, however, be a nice and much appreciated gesture.

I realize that this sentiment is just my own opinion, which is not shared by everyone, but I have been on the receiving end of caching Samaritans several times. I have had cachers show up to find my cache only to find it has been muggled. What did they do? They used one of their own to replace it and logged it as a find. While this gesture wasn’t at all necessary, it is very much appreciated. In fact, once, I had a cache that went missing. I was waiting for some replacements to show up in the mail and disabled the cache until they arrived. It took a few weeks to recieve them and one cacher wasn’t patient enough to wait. They replaced it themselves and signed the log. Regardless of their motives, I thank them for being a cache Samaritan. It is my hope, someday, to be able to return the favor; to work together as a team, so to speak.

Just some of the items I try to take caching. I do forget sometimes. (click to enlarge)

Now, if you are going to adopt this policy of lending a hand when needed, there are some basic supplies you must have with you every time you go caching. You will need something to carry it in such as a backpack. The following is a list of essential items:

• Spare cache containers – it is best to carry a selection of nanos, pill bottles, and lock and locks, if you can fit them in your pack. The little gold nanos can be purchased (6 for $4.50) at Lee Valley Tools.
• Paper towel – For drying out the container; one roll will suffice.
• New log sheets – can be printed by visiting TechBlazer.
• Zip-loc bags – for keeping the log dry.
• Couple of bungie cords.
• Some spare swag.

Most of this stuff can fit in a packsack. If you read the logs on a cache you are hunting for, you can get an idea of what supplies you need. One important thing to remember is to not change the nature of the cache. In other words, don’t replace a regular with a nano. Also, if you fix a cache, don’t forget to write a note on it telling future hunters that it is fixed. You might also email the owner who will be grateful to you.

I suppose if we were to debate this for awhile, someone would come up with many reasons to adopt this practice while others would have plenty of reasons for countering the practice. Some might even say that it is only fitting to help the cacher as a means of payback for taking the time to initially place the cache. However, I have a different take on it. I would look at it as more of a pay it forward kind of deal. You are paying it forward to future cachers who will reap enjoyment in finding the cache intact with a signable log. That is something we all wish for when we go caching – a dry signable log.

What are your thoughts on this post? Do you agree or disagree? Please leave a comment. There is no right or wrong answer here so please weigh in. Since pennies are soon to be no more, give us your ten cents (two nickels) worth.

The Town of Brigus: A Cornerstone Of Newfoundland Heritage!

Almost two weeks ago, we stayed at a geocaching friend’s cabin for the weekend. While the overall goal of the weekend was relaxation, we did manage to throw in some geocaching. On the Saturday of that weekend, we spent the entire day touring the surrounding areas and discovering caches. It was an awesome day filled with many sights. Sunday, however, was supposed to be a relaxing day. Now, you can ask anyone that truly knows me and they will tell you that sitting around doing nothing is not relaxing for me. Relaxation, to me, is being able to do what I want to do, whether the activity seems like work or fun. Therefore, we already had Sunday morning planned out. I wanted to visit the historic town of Brigus. I am a bit of a history buff and I had heard that Brigus was rich in history.

Brigus town logo. (click to enlarge)

Brigus is a small fishing community located on Conception Bay in Newfoundland-Labrador, Canada. No one really knows for sure where Brigus got its name. The most credible theory has its name coming from the town of Brighouse in Yorkshire, England. It is believed that the community was initially settled in 1624 when the Spracklin family purchased half of the harbour from John Guy. The town has survived being almost completely burned down twice by the French. Brigus, like most Newfoundland towns, was a very resilient town.

St. Patrick’s Church, Brigus, NL. (click to enlarge)

There are five geocaches located in Brigus, each one taking you to a special part of this beautiful town, which has somehow held on to its old town charm. The first stop on the geocaching tour of Brigus was a cache called St. Patrick’s Cache (GC2WAQP), which is near the first Roman Catholic parish church in Brigus. It was built by Dean Mackin in 1825, on land donated by James Hearn. The initial church was located where the current cemetery is now and was destroyed by fire in 1934. Work began on a new church immediately following the fire and was opened on the last Sunday in October, 1935. The cache is one of two placed in the area by Gilligan and MaryJane and is just a short stroll up a small path.

The beautiful Wilcox Gardens. (click to enlarge)

The next cache on our list is another by Gilligan and MaryJane. It is called Blueberry Crisp (GC2WAPT) and is located in the beautiful Wilcox Gardens in the heart of Brigus. The garden is often called “the place of a thousand blooms” and is designated as one of the Peace Parks of Canada. It boasts a beautiful, park-like setting and is a great place to come and just think, relax, or read a book. The cache owners boast about some delicious blueberry crisp, the cache’s namesake, which can be purchased at the The Country Corner Restaurant and Gift Shop nearby. Unfortuneately, we never had the time to stop and taste some of it.

Home of Captain Robert (Bob) Bartlett. (click to enlarge)

While there is no cache here, I highly recommend checking out the Hawthorne Cottage, the Brigus home of Captain Robert (Bob) Bartlett. Captain Bob commanded more than twenty expeditions to the Arctic region. Many of these voyages were devoted to advancing scientific knowledge of the North. No matter how far north he sailed, Captain Bob seldom returned to his home in New York City without docking in Brigus for a few days. Here he enjoyed time with friends and family at Hawthorne Cottage. Hawthorne Cottage came into the Bartlett family through Bob’s mother, Mary Leamon Bartlett. It was built in 1830 by her grandfather, Brigus merchant John Leamon. The house was moved three years later from its original site in Cochranedale 10 kilometres (six miles) to its current location. The cottage combines features of Newfoundland vernacular architecture enhanced by picturesque architectural details. The architecture of Hawthorne has been recognized by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada as typifying the refined lifestyle of Newfoundland outport merchant families of the 19th and early 20th centuries. For more information on Hawthorne Cottage, check with Parks Canada.

Tinyseeker in the Brigus Tunnel.

The next stop on our geocaching adventure is the Brigus Tunnel (GC26KPT). This cache was highlighted as the second star of June in our previous blogpost and was placed by daboyznus. The Brigus Tunnel was hand blasted in the summer of 1860 by the Cornish miner, John Hoskins, in order to provide unhindered access to Abram Bartlett’s Wharf. It was constructed using steel spikes and black gun powder. Holes formed by steel spikes driven into solid rock and filled with black gun powder was the method employed in the blasting stage of construction. The tunnel represented an early engineering feat which took about four months to complete. Some of the steel spikes used in the building of the tunnel are on display at Ye Olde Stone Barn Museum. The tunnel measures approximately 80 feet long, 8 1/2 feet high and 8 feet wide.

Whelan’s Beach. (click to enlarge)

If you continue down the road from the tunnel, you will be brought across the harbour. From here, you can see the tunnel across the way. The road comes to an end and you must walk the trail for the remaining 100+ meters. Finally you arrive at Whelan’s Beach (GC2ZFYX). This cache was placed by houch2 and is located in a beautiful little cove near the mouth of the harbour. If money wasn’t an issue, I would buy this land on the spot for a summer home. From this vantage point, you could see all ships as they enter or leave the harbour.

Landfall – A place designed for seclusion. (click to enlarge)

To get to the final cache of our Brigus adventure, you must drive back past the tunnel and head to the other side of the harbour. The road gains in altitude and comes to an end part of the way up the hill known as the Battery. You must leave your vehicle behind and walk the remaining 500+ meters to the Brigus View (GC2ZFZ2), another cache by houch2. The view up here is spectacular. You can look out over the ocean, outside the mouth of the harbour, or look back and see a nice view of the town. There is also a very historic building called Landfall. The Landfall Cottage was constructed around 1786 for the Pomeroy family. The Pomeroy family owned the dwelling for many years but finally abandoned it and used it as a barn. In 1915 Rockwell Kent, an American-born artist and writer, rebuilt the Landfall and added the west addition. The structure became known as Kent Cottage and was featured in some of his paintings. After Kent’s departure from Newfoundland in 1915, engineer and artist Albert Edward Harris purchased and restored the cottage. Harris died in 1933 and the dwelling remained vacant until 1953 when Rupert Bartlett purchased it. The next year Bartlett sold the cottage to its current owner, Bradley J. Folensbee Jr. of Seattle, Washington. The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador declared the Landfall/Kent Cottage in Brigus a Heritage Structure in June 1988. From reading the literature posted at the site and by just standing there, you can easily see that the place was built for the sole purpose of seclusion. For more information on the Landfall (Kent) Cottage, visit Landfall Trust of Brigus.

Ye Old Stone Barn Museum. (click to enlarge)

Our tour of Brigus was a real enjoyable one with the only drawback being the fact it was too short. Our friend was back in North River cooking us a traditional Newfoundland Jigg’s Dinner, something I’m sure has been cooked in Brigus since its formation. We surely did not want to miss that! Nonetheless, we would highly recommend searching for these five caches, which were not very difficult to find. My only caution is that you do not come here simply for the caches. Take time to savour the old-world charm of this town and, perhaps, taste one of those wonderful blueberry crisps. We will definitely be back to try some, that’s for certain. If you would like more information about the history of Brigus, be sure to visit Ye Old Stone Barn Museum, which has all kinds of relics and information about life back then. Brigus is, indeed, a place worth visiting if you should find yourself traveling near this area. Brigus is, indeed, a cornerstone of Newfoundland Heritage.