I was Geocaching in San Diego recently and had tried to go for a cache down by the border called: 'None More Southwesterly'. I had hoped to take a road to very close proximity of the cache, but it was closed, per the cache page description, and we didn't have time to make the 1.25mi walk before dark. So we left.

I was contemplating a second visit if we could change our flight arrangements and wrote the cache owner and asked if there was any more recent status of this cache and if there was anything else that might get in the way since we would not be able to park next to it.

He wrote: "Hi there; I don't think you really need a hint for this one. I do have a few other caches in Imperial Beach that you might need a hint for. My tel number is 619-424-XXXX. If it just the None More Southwesterly your interested in give me a call and I'll bring you a mt bike to the gate so you can ride out to the cache. Its a very level road until a small hill at the very end. I only live about 10 minutes away so it wouldn't be any trouble. Right now there is a nice traveling geo coin in it too. You could also use the bike for 2 otjher caches I have here at the beach and I could deliver it with the truck no problem." Well I thought that was absolutely the nicest thing.

After discovering that Airtran wanted to double our $airfare$, we could not justify staying an extra day or so. So I thanked him for the offer and maybe when I'm in the area next time.

I just felt really good of the kindness extended. He wrote back also to say: "No problem sorry I couldn't have helped you when you were in the area. Next time if you plan on caching in an area it helps to mention it in the forums. Awhile back we had such a message from Docditto from Penn I think. We passed him from cacher to cacher all one day and he got to do a lot of the "special" caches in the area. Not sure how many he got but I know they logged a couple of mine at 2 AM."

So if you plan to visit an area, don't be shy to post your desires in a local forum and you might just get similar offers of kindness from some of 'the nicest folks'.

We do seem to be a helpful bunch, don't we?

We're kinda like secular Masons.

That is nice. I will have to remember that next time we head to California.

When I was recently in Salt Lake City, I joined their forums and participated several weeks before leaving. A cacher picked me up at my hotel and took me on a tour of the SLC area, including the stunning mountains that surround the area. I had no access to a car, and he treated me to a once in a lifetime experience by taking me to some breathtaking sites. I don't know that I'll ever be in SLC again, but I was thrilled to be treated to caching in such GREAT places.

Another cacher got me a different evening and took me to one of their regular meetings. He even helped by stopping on the way back to the hotel so I could get some emergency meds for my grandson.

Geocachers are the BEST folks I know. However, all that said, it is always important to check someone's profile, follow their forum posts for a while, and to leave information about where you're going with someone before leaving. It has been noted in a Texas forum that a woman cacher was recently invited to meet someone alone to do caching. His profile was very, very new, and had suspicious stats. He declined to meet her in a public setting; he only wanted to meet her alone.

Unscrupulous people can use good natured folks, so while everyone I have ever met has been nice, and I have nothing but good experiences -- it's always important to keep your smarts about situations.

Yeah, I'm deeply appreciative to Fire_Elemental and Shaker-SLC for making me welcome in a far away place!

Due to my recent circumstances, I have been without a GPS and a geonick but many local cachers have offered spare GPS's to borrow until I can get my own and have made suggestions on a new geonick. They also have made me feel more than welcome at a recent event and let me tag along while looking for caches. After what I have gone through all of that meant the world to me. So I do have to agree with you that these are some of the finest folks. I am appreciative of everything they have done for me lately and I would like to say thank you.