We started our 2008 geocaching season by taking part in our first CITO this morning..
That’s Cache In, Trash Out, to the uninitiated.
Basically what it means is we spent the morning with a group of other geocachers,
picking up trash along Highway 416. We had separate bags for recyclable tins and
bottles, and just put the paper in the regular trash bag. It was often too wet or deteriorated
to pick up with the pole with the nail on the end that I was using. I was thankful to have that though, as it often helped steady me on some pretty steep slopes. It also helped me identify some really soft ground before I would likely have accidentally sunk up past my ankles in the mud.
There were 65 people expected today, but I’m not sure if they all came. It was a good,
lively group though, and we got the job done. We split up into 4 separate groups and
went off in different directions, agreeing to meet back at the park at noon, for the
promised barbeque. They say they didn’t get as much trash this year, even though we did
manage to cover more ground. I guess that’s a good sign that people are learning not to
litter. Most of what was picked up, by our group anyway, was recyclable.
One group came across a dead deer, while we saw a couple of dead muskrats. Road kill.
We, ourselves, wore the orange vests so we could be easily seen by passing traffic. Many
cars and trucks honked their horns at us as they drove by. They were just saying thanks :)
The food was supplied by M&M’s and Giant Tiger, and there were lots of prizes supplied
by
all kinds of places. Via Rail even kicked in a train trip from Ottawa to Niagara Falls.
One of our group one that. I won a family pass to the Diefenbunker. Ron got a hat, and
at the end of the day, when there were still prizes left and we were told to help ourselves,
we took a small ammunition chest, so we can create a geocache of our own someplace.
That’s Cache In, Trash Out, to the uninitiated.
Basically what it means is we spent the morning with a group of other geocachers,
picking up trash along Highway 416. We had separate bags for recyclable tins and
bottles, and just put the paper in the regular trash bag. It was often too wet or deteriorated
to pick up with the pole with the nail on the end that I was using. I was thankful to have that though, as it often helped steady me on some pretty steep slopes. It also helped me identify some really soft ground before I would likely have accidentally sunk up past my ankles in the mud.
There were 65 people expected today, but I’m not sure if they all came. It was a good,
lively group though, and we got the job done. We split up into 4 separate groups and
went off in different directions, agreeing to meet back at the park at noon, for the
promised barbeque. They say they didn’t get as much trash this year, even though we did
manage to cover more ground. I guess that’s a good sign that people are learning not to
litter. Most of what was picked up, by our group anyway, was recyclable.
One group came across a dead deer, while we saw a couple of dead muskrats. Road kill.
We, ourselves, wore the orange vests so we could be easily seen by passing traffic. Many
cars and trucks honked their horns at us as they drove by. They were just saying thanks :)
The food was supplied by M&M’s and Giant Tiger, and there were lots of prizes supplied
by
all kinds of places. Via Rail even kicked in a train trip from Ottawa to Niagara Falls.One of our group one that. I won a family pass to the Diefenbunker. Ron got a hat, and
at the end of the day, when there were still prizes left and we were told to help ourselves,
we took a small ammunition chest, so we can create a geocache of our own someplace.
The ammunition chests were painted black and green by the kids who attended. They could clean up the park, but they were not allowed to walk along the highway so they
were kept busy with Frisbee and this painting task.
All in all, it was a really nice morning, and I’m glad to have had the experience.
GC16YVZ
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