Spread good will by sending off a letter via the Geo-Postal
system. I came across one of these in the Midwest, and thought it
was a cute idea. I think that what would be REALLY fun would be if
Groundspeak made it a new cache type, with a new emblem, resembling
a mailbox or something along that line. People could place geo-post
offices all over the country, and people could get postcards from
their friends, from different areas of the country…and
world!
The idea goes something like this: This is a geocache full of
postcards. The idea is to write a letter/note on a chosen postcard
to a fellow cacher somewhere else in the country that you would
like to send a hello to. Any cacher headed in that direction would
move it along toward its destination. I guess you could compare the
postcards to a Travel Bug with a goal. If more geo-post office
caches show up, then the chances of delivery will increase. Anyway,
have fun caching, and don’t forget to sign the log! Happy
Trails…
So, How does a Geo-Post Office work?
Geo-Post Office caches are placed to hold postcards or
letters. Every postcard will have a short message and a name of a
cacher with the place that the card is trying to reach. The address
should contain the cacher’s username, city,
state/province/country and usually a specific cache
name/number.
The objective is to move postcards between Geo-Post
Offices and caches until they reach their desired location.
When you move a postcard from one place to another, you may let the
person who sent the card know you moved it. If it’s nearing
its final destination, you may want to contact the person
it’s being sent to as he/she may want to pick it up. If you
move a postcard from one Geo-Post Office to another please move it
closer to the city or cache! If you’re headed in the opposite
direction or aren’t sure, then leave it for a cacher headed
in that direction.
How do I send a postcard?
Easy! Just write up your postcard & drop it in the
Geo-Post Office! Just be sure to sign your username and also put
the username, city, state/province/country of the geocacher
you’re sending it to. For example: To: Crazy Cacher Colville,
Washington, USA GC293PF “Highway 20 Ride” Laminate it
if you can, to protect it as it travels. If not, that’s okay,
too.
Since geo-post offices are just catching
on in the US, you may want to include a note to cachers to move it
from cache to cache toward its destination (not just geo-post
office caches). If there are any filled-out postcards in the cache
when you arrive, feel free to forward them on if you can. If not,
don't worry, just leave them for the next
cacher.
What if there is no Geopost
office near my caching friend? No problem...
Just address it to the nearest cache that is big enough to hold the
Postcard.
How do I start my own Geo-Post Office?
All you need is a cache container, a log book, a stash note
and zip-lock bags, and of course postcards or letters to go in it!
Find a location in another town that doesn't have a Geo-Post Office
and place one yourself. Hide the cache going by geocaching.com
requirements and then start "mailing" out those post cards and
letters. Make sure to put in the name of the cache “Geo-Post
Office” so that others will know what it is. You may even
want to include a note like this to inform the uninitiated.
There is no swag
in the cache, it is for postcards and trackables only. I
will keep it full of local postcards for filling out. Please let me
know if the supply gets low so I can restock. Feel free to leave an
empty one for another cacher’s use, if you’d like.
Of course, you can just sign the log book as any other cache.
Please restrict your drop-offs to letters or travel bugs; NO TRADE
ITEMS!
Regarding Travel Bugs and Coins. Travel bugs
ARE NOT TRADE
ITEMS.The important thing is to keep these bugs
moving. There is no trade requirement on bugs or coins. You can
take one and leave one, you can take one, and leave none, or you
can take more and....well....you get the idea. The only requirement
is that you keep them moving, hopefully closer toward any goals
they have.
OK, so here are your
options:
1) Sign the log book and do nothing with the postcards.
2) Sign the log book, grab a postcard(s), bug(s) or coin(s) to help
move them along.
3) Sign the log book, fill out a postcard for someone else to move
for you.
4) Sign the log book, grab a postcard(s), bug(s) or coin(s) to help
move on, and fill out a postcard(s), drop a bug(s) or coin(s) and
leave for someone else to help along.
CACHE
AREA:Welcome to the Priest River Recreation Area, or "The
Mudhole" as we locals like to call it. No, it's not muddy, don't
worry, so come by and play! Bring a lunch and your swimsuit, your
boat or your tent, your ball game or kite, there's lots to do here.
There is a nice swimming area, a playground, picnic shelter,
camping area, playing field and boat
launch.
The Army Corp of
Engineers was kind enough to allow me to place my cache on their
property as their first-ever "test cache." I would like to thank
them for their open-mindedness at giving geocaching a chance,
instead of just banning it from their land. I practically grew up
at "The Mudhole," and couldn't imagine this not being one of my
caches. I am thrilled that they gave me the
chance.
BUG SPRAY is BUG
SPRAY is advisable, so that you can sit & fill out the log and
postcard., so that you can sit & fill out the log and postcard.
WATCH OUT for thorns by the cache, and as always, please be kind to
the area. This is not a cache to do at
night!