"Have an Encounter with the Long Arm of the Law"

The heading of this entry is a reference to a potential requirement from a geocaching challenge cache called "I Challenge You To Play... CACHEBUSTERS!" which I have now at last qualified for by having an encounter with the police. I must reassure you that this is not required to claim the cache, but it is one possible route you can take across the "Blockbusters"-like board. Well, I needed to do that or go without caching for 30 days, and that's just unreasonable!

But any geocaching encounter with the police is going to be an interesting one, if not scary or bizarre. Recently I was looking for my latest cache-nemesis. We've all had them, right? The cache that you just keep DNFing. What adds insult to injury in this case is that it's not even difficult and everyone else seems to be posting "Easy find" type logs which makes me feel even more incompetent!

I went back for the umpeenth time to look for this little blighter and spent many minutes looking for a magnetic cache on top of a railway bridge where everything seems to be made of iron. The hint really isn't much to go on in this location. Frustrated with myself and getting impatient, I was surprised to look up and find a male and female police officer coming towards me; they'd parked their van on the kerb nearby.

I'm afraid to say that the first fleeting thought that ran through my head was "Ooh, I qualify for that challenge cache!" quickly followed by "Oh, no, they think I'm placing a bomb here!" I was behaving weirdly at a major railway bridge next to an international airport. I must look so dodgy! Still, I cleared thoughts of panic from my mind as I knew I was innocent - if incompetent - and waited to hear what they had to say.

"Are you OK? We stopped because you looked sad and were leaning over a railway bridge." A wave of relief washed over me. Oh, they think I'm suicidal! That makes sense. Well this cache is annoying, but it's not that annoying! I have never been one to make up an excuse when muggled, although I've heard my share of great ones (see below!) I'd much rather say I'm doing an online treasure hunt and let them walk away from me feeling relieved but disinterested. Police though generally know about geocaching from all the times it gets bad press (areas cleared when they think they've found a bomb, and actually it's just a badly placed cache).

I asked them if they'd heard of geocaching, and sure enough they had. They asked what the hint was and then made some suggestions, although they weren't all very good ones (try the statue down the road, for example). I know the coords might be out a bit, but they're not that bad! I kinda wished they'd stayed to help me look but they did actually have real work to be getting on with. Convinced that I was not about to end my life or anyone else's they bid me well and drove on. A good experience with the long arm of the law. Phew!

Some of the excuses I've heard cachers make for their questionable behaviour:

• I work for the slug-protection society
• I'm looking for a glove (the muggle then stopped to help look for it! Ha, busted!)
• I'm looking for my dog (whilst feeling up a metal bridge over a river!)

My excuse could be my interest in fungi, but telling the plain truth is normally the best way to go. You might even get another pair of eyes helping you look!

World War 2 Bunkers - history-laden thrill-seeking geocaching!

Most of the caches I've found have been on or near ground level, and the occasional one has been up a tree. But it's not often that I get to go underground to find a cache or two. I mean, GPS doesn't work down there! That said, there have been some slightly more unusual experiences in Wales with Bunkered? and DAVROS, both highly recommended!

 Entrances to Bunkered? and DAVROS respectively

Recently though I had the privilege of caching with DJ-DeKay and The Human Man to find two more underground hides. Thankfully I have always been able to cache with others for these subterranean hides, which serves the dual purpose of having better memories with more fun, and the practical aspect of physical help if needed (both with getting in/out of the bunker and in case anything were to go wrong).

I had found out about two underground Second World War bunkers which weren't very far from one another, and both of which had a cache in them. We set out for the first, Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Hitler? and spent more time looking for the opening than the cache itself! What stickoflage! The way in and out of the underground shelter involved a bit of a scramble over various articles under the entrance, all firmly in place, I might add! Not a lot to see when down there except a few mammal bones from poor rodents who couldn't get back out, and a nice big cache!

The second bunker at Subterranean Adventure was much better when it came to furnishing. It had a hatch and a very old rusty iron ladder down into the bunker. Against advice to have one person remain above ground, we all went down and had a sniff around, although not too literally because it stank of "old" down there. It was furnished with a cupboard, tables, a light switch I wouldn't trust, and a burnt out double mattress - no idea how that fitted down the small hole! There was also a bent spoon and a bit of a newspaper from 2008 - not exactly the 1940s, but still...

Sometimes it's good to get away from the norm in geocaching, to stop looking for Tupperware at the base of trees, and start digging down into some history. Favourite points were duly awarded for all the caches mentioned here, and a big thanks should go not only to all the cache owners but also to my great friends who cache with me in during such memorable escapades!