[Northern Lightz]

Northern Lightz came from camping….. OK here’s the story. We got a trailer last year. We have a permanent site, where other family members and friends have campers also. A total of 8 or 9 campers all together. So joking around one night around the campfire all of us decieded to make names for our campers. (ie. Eagle’s Nest, Bear Den, Hide-a-way) We couldn’t think of one. But, while at another campers campfire they were laughing because they can tell whenever we’re up. When we asked why they said that they can see the glow from all the lights we put up and that it looks like the Northern Lights. So we came up with the camper name. It stuck because we were caching with our cousin Jeff (Jerry’s Dad) and family while camping and we had to think quick to sign the log.

P.S- We have probably 20-30 different types of lights (beer mugs, duck calls, fish, horses, stars, cowboy boots) Solar lights, a light up palm tree and of course a solar powered flamingo! We know corney but it’s fun!

[Northern Lightz]

After reading all the posts up til this point in time, we have come to an agreement. Us as a husband/wife team, like going for those “Big Number” days… it’s something “exciting” However, there are days we like to do the puzzle caches, and wondering around our state parks, and even days we like to go around doing our Earth caches. Our apologies for those who think differently. However, we DO love doing the puzzles, and the multi’s and the Earth Caches… But you have to think about one thing! If in fact no one cares about how they “Rate” then why are there websites that will rank you according to the number of finds to other members in your state/country/world? If it doesn’t matter, then why does it mention how many finds you have on the Geocaching website? The truth is… is it is human nature to be competitive for most people. If one person wants to see if they can beat out another member… hey! More power to em! If on the other hand, certain people want to go for the puzzles that make them use their brains, or people want to go for the multi’s to see more interesting places, or even the people who want to learn about their surroundings more by doing the Earth caches… let them! This wasn’t a website designed to be a race to see who can get the most numbers the fastest… its about fun! pure and simple. There’s NOTHING complicated about this! People like to go bowling… don’t they? No… not everyone. It’s fun for some, and it’s not to others. It’s the same thing no matter what you compare it to, right?

My whole point is that this is fun for every type of person, age, gender, and cache. We’re all doing the same thing, caching. And we’re all having fun doing it just to get out and do something, and find stuff that you might otherwise be numb to seeing in your normal busy lives. And if that means your definition of fun is a 413 cache finds in 24 hours… then that’s fun for them, THEM. We shouldn’t be criticizing. We’re all doing this for our own reasons. And we’re all doing the certain types of caches we enjoy doing the most. Let’s just leave it at that.

I apologize if I offended anyone, and I also apologize if anyone is mad at me. But this is what I think. And it’s what they thought as well preparing for this amazing feat in 24 hours. They had fun, period.

[Northern Lightz]

On the way back from a night cache Tim saw a small kitten huddled on the side of the hwy. We went back and our flashlights came in handy but the poor kitty was so afraid with the cars wizzing by, couldn’t catch it but at least got it away from the road. Poor Tim felt horrible not being able to catch it and find its owners or find new owners. Our first did not catch of the night. We also could never pass up a stray animal if we came across it at a cache. Not even injured wildlife. We have a wildlife rescue by our home that I had volunteered at for a while. Good thing the kitty was our first and only encounter so far.

[Northern Lightz]

On the way back from a night cache Tim saw a small kitten huddled on the side of the hwy. We went back and our flashlights came in handy but the poor kitty was so afraid with the cars wizzing by, couldn’t catch it but at least got it away from the road. Poor Tim felt horrible not being able to catch it and find its owners or find new owners. Our first did not catch of the night. We also could never pass up a stray animal if we came across it at a cache. Not even injured wildlife. We have a wildlife rescue by our home that I had volunteered at for a while. Good thing the kitty was our first and only encounter so far.

[Northern Lightz]

We enjoyed the caching part of it the most. The socializing was fun when we were out at the caches. Had lots of laughs at caches. I’ll be honest I’m actually kinda shy with new people, my husband is not. For me the pre and post bash were hard for me, so many people. A little over whelming. But at the caches we would talk and laugh with everyone there. Smaller groups of people. To each their own. We probably wouldn’t have gone if it was only for socializing. West Bend is the Midwest Geocaching Capitol, were not going to go there for just socializing. What other opportunity to we have to be in an area like that. We both work long hours and crazy hours that when we have time to cache. That what we would rather be doing. I think the event was run very well. Not much line standing the main thing we would like to see different is the drawings to be a half hour after turn in time instead of 1 1/2 hours.

[Northern Lightz]

Thanks. Yeah we’re hooked, and we had a great teacher. Thanks to Jerry’s Dad (and family). We have had our experiences, snakes, police, mugglers, explaining geocaching to family and friends with the common question “What cha lookin fer?” and the I don’t get it look on their face when you say you don’t get anything for finding a cache. Lots of interesting places. Glad we got involved. Better late than never.

[Northern Lightz]

Thanks to everyone for your information on night caching. We FINALLY went!!! We spent the night in Green Bay and did 3 there. With only one find our last night cache. I was frustrated but Tim never gave up. Thanks to him we made the find. It was a fun interesting learning experience to say the least. Didn’t get much sleep though made the find at 2am. It was worth it though to have a night cache under our belt.

[Northern Lightz]

Thanks its been so much fun. We’ve gotten to see so many things that we never would have, probably just passed by them. Also been able to do so many things never thougt we (well me) would ever be able to do. Perfect example climing bluffs by WI Dells. Thanks to Jerry’s Dad for teaching us the ropes and putting up with our crazy questions.

[Northern Lightz]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. I have to admit, I was a little aprehensive before doing this… but it has proven to be quite the experience… or two, or three 🙂 This is definately something that I enjoy doing. Thank you Jerry’s Dad for introducing us to this amazing Sport!

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