It was a warm and humid day in April that I discovered an intriguing app that promised a scavenger hunt-like adventure. This application, Geocaching, is available for Apple iOS devices as well as other Android products. So I downloaded the app, thinking one day I might make a trek into an abandoned area to find a small box previously found by other adventurers. However, as the app sat idle on the home screen of my iPhone, I became restless with every day that passed and I was overcome with the desire to go out into the world and become a treasure hunter myself. In order to rid myself of this itching aspiration, I decided to dive head first into what turned out to be quite the adventure. In the beginning of May I drove out to a nearby park that contained a geocache box (according to the map on the app).
First, I must share that this decision was an impulse and I was wearing shorts, a favorite tank top and a pair of fairly new shoes without socks. I was unprepared in every sense of the word but I entered a wooded area nonetheless. The anticipation of adventure had taken hold and I was determined to see this experience through. When the heat and humidity hit me like a brick wall the moment I left the comfort of my air conditioned car, it was then I knew that this trek would not be easy. The park’s trail for walkers, bikers and other nature lovers had been chained off so I proceeded instead through the thick brush. I was immediately met with spider webs, thorns that clawed at my extremities and numerous branches. After about a half hour of following the GPS on my phone I began to long for the closed path, my air conditioned car and more sensible clothing. Trudging on I realized by looking at my map that the box was hidden in the woods opposite of the edge of an inlet nearby.
Dismayed and frustrated, I stopped in my tracks and wondered how I would cross this wetland cove. I cursed myself and knowing I was too far in the woods to turn back, I decided to instead walk through the marsh that outlined the lake. After trekking through the sludge (and after getting stuck several times, sinking into the mud) I found dry land and continued on toward my beloved box. Once I had made my way through more spider webs, thorns, leaves and falling ticks, I arrived to the place indicated by the app. I found the box, hidden inside of a fallen tree trunk, and sat down relieved, joyous and glad that I had reached the end after a two hour hike.
As per the rules of Geocaching, one must take an item from the box and place an item of theirs as an offering to the next treasure hunter. I also signed a log book found among the small trinkets left by those before me. I left a bracelet of mine with a Hamsa (a spiritual good luck symbol) and placed a poker chip key chain from Mississippi in my pocket. Once I had hidden the box in its proper place, I remained on that trunk and looked to the sky and trees. I felt alive, like I had conquered something, like I was one with nature and had come back to Mother Earth. All of a sudden the scratches, ticks and the mud in my shoes didn't bother me anymore. I had completed my first Geocaching adventure—and I had found myself along the way.
