GeoMay8 Day 2025: Lincoln
One of the best things about geocaching is the great friends, or mates, you make from all around the world. The 8th May has therefore been declared as GeoMay8 Day! This idea was instigated by our friend Bruce (Calypso62) in Australia.
The Event
This is a simple meet and greet, with an optional game of 'Alright mate?' which will be explained upon arrival.
The pub serves food (and drinks obvs...) so we can grab a bite together and chat away about all things geocaching. No need to order food in advance. There will be an area reserved for us so look out for the odd folks sharing TBs and behaving furtively. Once I'm there, I'll post an announcement here to state exactly where we are in the pub. You are responsible for ording and paying for your own food and drinks, unless otherwise arranged with your mates.
There'll be a free raffle to determine FTF, drawn randomly at 20:00 ish, so don't forget to grab a ticket. (One ticket per caching team). If you've never been to an event before, it'd be great to meet you, mate. Just say so on your Will-Attend log and we'll make sure that a mate takes you under their wing. Remember, we were all newbies once! Oh, and don't forget to sign my (trackable) logbook!
Please log a 'will attend' if you intend on coming so I know how much space will need reserving. Cheers, mate!
Mateship
In both the UK and Australia, 'Mateship' is a cultural idiom that embodies equality, loyalty and friendship. It is a concept that can be traced back to their early colonial times. The harsh environment in which convicts and new settlers found themselves meant that men and women closely relied on each other for all sorts of help. A 'mate' is more than just a friend and is a term that implies a sense of shared experience, mutual respect and unconditional assistance.
Having said that, the term 'mate' can also be used for the first time you meet someone, especially when you don’t know their name. For example, 'Excuse me mate, sorry I bumped into you!!' or 'Hey mate, are you geocaching?' or when someone needs help, 'Hey mate, do you need a hand with that?' This last example, however, is not to everyone's taste, nor is it acceptable in certain situations. For example, 'Not guilty, you say? Cheers mate!' or 'Let's get married, mate!'
For the last four years, on the 8th May, Bruce has held an event to celebrate one of the best things about geocaching, the Geo-Mates one meets through this great activity. It’s a time when we can catch up with old Geo-Mates and make lots of new ones, and celebrate that friendship. As many of you have done, I’ve made so many great geo-mates all around the world.
Here’s to a fabulous celebration of great Geo-Mates."