Paul Gillin - The Joy of Geocaching: How to Find Health, Happiness and Creative Energy Through a Worldwide Treasure Hunt

Here is an excellent introduction to this emerging sport. Longtime tech writer Paul Gillin and his wife, Dana, are the perfect ambassadors for geocaching. This is a lively and well-written introduction to a sport that is rapidly gaining followers. It makes a fine source for instructionits clear writing and personable tone far surpass similar instruction booksbut it is also simply an interesting read for all curious about the phenomenon.

Library Journal

The Joy of Geocaching is perfectly titled. With all the great information included, it is an excellent introduction to geocaching; or for those who have been involved for a long time, it reminds us of many of the reasons we still love it. It gives a well-informed snapshot of this great activity/sport/obsession and blends the personal and the technical aspects perfectly. Having just entered my ninth year of geocaching, I still learned plenty from this book. This book is by cachers, about cachers, and for cachers. Three thumbs up! Peace.

Darrell Smith (Show Me The Cache)

Geocaching is not for dummies. Finally, heres the definitive book about it written by experienced and enthusiastic geocachers!

Elin Carlson (EMC of Northridge, CA)

This is a superb resource not only for the new geocacher, but also those cachers who have thousands of finds. It is the most comprehensive, up-to-date discussion of various geocaching tips, techniques, and tales that I have read in my more than seven years being a geocacher. It will enhance your geocaching experience as well as your fun. Many thanks to Paul and Dana for devoting a year of their life researching and writing this book. It will sit proudly and prominently on my bookshelf.

Bert Carter (WE4NCS)

This book is much more than just a how-to guide. Its an insight into the passion and enjoyment many of us get from geocaching. I love the way the book captures the energy and enjoyment my fellow geocachers get from the sport through a great collection of stories that demonstrate the many different types and styles of geocaching. How will you play the game?

Steve OGara (ventura_kids)

The Joy of Geocaching is a joy to read. The book captures the unexpected social aspect of the sport. The gathering of like-minded knuckleheads was a joy we never anticipated.

Gary & Vicky Hobgood (Gary&Vicky)

The Joy of Geocaching captures the adventure and spirit of geocaching that causes so many of us to ignore housework, forego our work and/or school responsibilities, and shirk our family and friends to be the first to hunt for new cache sites and solve that next puzzle cache. A must-read for any and all geocachers from newbie to grizzled old pro!

Wade Mauland (Ecorangers)

The Joy of Geocaching is the only book Ive seen that combines the how-to, the folklore and the excitement of geocaching all in one place. Its a highly readable book full of valuable information for geocachers of all skill levels.

Dave Grenewetzki (dgreno)

The Joy of Geocaching is the ultimate fuel to turn the smallest spark of geocaching curiosity into the roaring flames of addiction that we geocachers cherish. It reveals the passion and experiences of geocachers while clearly explaining everything you need to know to play. As soon as you start reading youre hooked. So save yourself some time and go ahead and get the GPSr while youre shopping.

InfiniteMPG (Scott Veix)

The caching stories reminded me why geocaching has risen above a hobby to become a way of life for me. The book explains geocaching so well that even the most disinterested muggle will understand it. Thank you for a well-written chronicle of our sport.

Mark Wilcoxson (Deermark)

This book is a great read for both the novice and experienced geocacher. A comprehensive compendium of geocaching information, written in a style that is entertaining and easy to read. A definite must-have!

Clyde England (clydee), developer of the Geocaching Swiss Army Knife

The Joy of Geocaching captures the spirit of geocaching and the players like no book before it. A fun and interesting read that tells all one needs to know to enjoy geocaching and the websites and tools that we use.

Ed Manley (TheAlabamaRambler)

The Joy of Geocaching

2010 Paul and Dana Gillin

All photos are by the authors unless noted differently.

Visit http://bit.ly/JOGphotos to view/download the photos in the book.

Published by Quill Driver Books,

an imprint of Linden Publishing.

2006 S. Mary, Fresno, California, 93721

559-233-6633 / 800-345-4447

QuillDriverBooks.com

Quill Driver Books and Colophon are trademarks of
Linden Publishing, Inc.

Quill Driver Books titles may be purchased in quantity at special discounts for educational, fund-raising, business, or promotional use.

Please contact Special Markets, Quill Driver Books, at the above address or at 559-233-6633.

To order another copy of this book, please call

1-800-345-4447

ISBN: 978-1-884956-99-7

135798642

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gillin, Paul.

The joy of geocaching : how to find health, happiness and creative energy through a worldwide treasure hunt / by Paul and Dana Gillin.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-884956-99-7 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Geocaching (Game) I. Gillin, Dana. II. Title.

GV1202.G46G55 2010

796.5--dc22

2009053699

To Danas parents,
who taught us by example
to rejoice in lifelong learning

I n early 2003, Ed Manley decided to kill himself. Life couldnt have been much worse for the then 49-year-old war veteran. A series of mishaps resulting in forty-two surgeries over almost thirty years, featuring bone grafts, chronic bone infection, amputation, and repeated prolonged recoveries had left him with one leg and an irreparable broken neck, not to mention in severe chronic pain that would never go away. Finally unable to work, he sold his business and began a long slide into depression.

By 2003, Manley was nearly bedridden, in constant pain, addicted to massive amounts of the pain medicine Fentanyl, and ashamed of himself and of the burden he believed he was to his family. I saw no hope for a functional life. I wanted out of here, he says. Whatever was next had to be better than this.

Manley planned to go fishing, his favorite hobby. He would drive his pontoon boat to the center of Lay Lake near his Birmingham, Alabama, home, where he would stage a realistic-looking fall from the boat. This plan would not only relieve his pain, but would also spare his family of the burden of caring for him while leaving them with sufficient life insurance to carry on.

As he was loading his boat on the chosen morning, the postman arrived with a package. Inside was a Garmin eTrex global positioning satellite receiver. Manley had forgotten that he had ordered the gadget months earlier in a mail-order promotion. Even in his hour of darkness, the gadget freak in him was intrigued. What was the new toy good for? Manley stopped loading the boat and went to his computer, where Google led him to