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Spesbona started caching on 4 May 2013 and found at least one cache a day until 19 January 2017. This streak of 1 357 days is the longest streak for any geocacher from South Africa.
While chasing the streak Spesbona has also managed to complete the DT Matrix twice and accumulate over 430 FTFs. The number of FTFs is impressive because on days that more than one cache was published they would only go for one and leave the others for a later day.
Doing one cache a day allows time for a decent log and Spesbona does spend time on writing a unique log for each cache. Their logs average 146 words and have plenty of pictures attached, over 4 000. Of course, there is an exception to this rule. Every now and again Spesbona goes on holiday to a location where there are large numbers of caches and has a splurge. On these occasions there will be some cut and paste in the log. In April 2015 they went on a tour and collected 968 caches for the month. The 2016 holiday was in July where they found 468 caches in the month.
We asked Spesbona a few questions about their geocaching adventure so we could share it with you.
GoSA: Who introduced you to geocaching? Spesbona: An old school friend, now living down under, posted on Facebook that she found a cache, and that got me interested.
GoSA: You started your streak from day 1 of caching. Was this a conscious decision or did it just happen? Spesbona: It was the proverbial like a fish to water scenario. Just liked it from day one. On the way to work, or back home would stop to try and find a cache. Only realised there is something like a streak when I got introduced to Project-GC. By then the streak was already 30 days strong. Just love statistics, coupled with a “mild” case of OCD, that was bound to lead somewhere.
GoSA: Your first cache was a puzzle, a type that lots of cachers avoid. Do you enjoy puzzles, and if so, why? Spesbona: Funny story. We started off with the GPSr I used in the car from work. Punched in the coordinates and we were on our way. Was a bit clueless. Did not know that you could pick the compass option, so we were more or less at a street address. It did not help that it was on a street corner. Had no clue what we were looking for. So actually, we could not find our first cache. Got back home and started reading up on other caches. Saw there was this puzzle one, and could figure out it was in the park, and it would be on the see-saw. That narrowed things down and it turned into our first find. Getting into puzzles at the start was daunting. People were doing it for a while and typically a new idea will build on an old one. So if you did not learn the ropes as they developed, you were in the deep end, and it was either sink or swim. Yes, I love puzzles. There are so many creative ways people find to hide the coordinates. It makes you think outside the box, and keeps the brain active. The best part is you can solve them at home, even during bad weather and in the middle of the night. To understand my feeling about puzzles, read my log on one of the first difficult puzzles I solved GC2T2E9 -The view at the top of the hill
GoSA: Were you ever tempted to log a cache on the incorrect day to save finding one for that day? Spesbona: No, that would be pointless. My OCD demanded a cache to be found. Besides this is an online game with a lot of people watching the stats. A bit silly to drag your own name through the mud.
GoSA: Why did you stop and why on such an unusual number? Spesbona: For a long time we have realised that one day it would come to an end. 1357 just seemed like such a nice number, and we could end on our terms.
GoSA: Did you physically visit a cache every day or were there some Earth caches or similar where you could log later to fill a gap? Spesbona: I know there are different ideas out there, but we log it on the day we visit ground zero. That way the statistics and the km’s travelled by the TB’s are all correct.
GoSA: Did you ever run out of caches reasonably close to home? How often did you have to drive long distances to fill a day? Spesbona: First let me just say that the Port Elizabeth community has been great. We started just at the right time, with a lot of new cachers, placing a lot of new caches. That is the only reason we could keep on going for so long. Yes, we ran out completely at some stage. When we went to sleep that night we had no caches left in Port Elizabeth. The next morning still nothing, but later in the day there was some new ones. So the streak continued. We would plan well in advance, and would do longer drives on weekends, visiting family or a tourist destination. Longest distance on one day, to find one cache, was approximately 1200 km. Luckily it was a work trip.
GoSA: What was the feeling you had when you woke up on day 1 358 and knew you were not going to do a cache even though there were still some available close to home? Spesbona: Peaceful and relaxed. The decision had been made.
GoSA: What are your caching targets now that the streak is over? Spesbona: Solving a puzzle a day. Only joking. Hopefully get to place some more caches of our own. That has been on the back burner for a while.
Welcome Back2019 Statistics2020 FestivitiesMeet ChrisDen
Geocaching is what you’ve made it. Entering into the 20th year of geocaching, Groundspeak wants to celebrate what’s most important: this community-driven game, and during 2020 will allow eligible geocachers to apply to host Community Celebration Events in 2020. These events will enable cachers around the world to commemorate the 20th anniversary of geocaching with a new icon and souvenir.
This cache type was originally known as the Lost and Found Event Cache. It was created for events that were hosted by geocachers from April 30, 2010 to May 3, 2010 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of geocaching. Just 362 Lost and Found Events were held, so a very limited number of cachers earned the icon.
These events have been allocated out now, and the full list of events already published is available at this link. Check back here regularly to find one near you.
1. GC3KM3K Da Vinci Code Gauteng 40 FPs 2. GC20XJH Ipanema Free State 39 FPs 3. GC2WJ2X Maps et al Western Cape 36 FPs 4. GC442JW TeamDJ's Puzzle Quest #4 Gauteng 34 FPs 5. GC3NMFK Wie-se Clock Gauteng 34 FPs 6. GC1WBRJ Longfinger Free State 33 FPs 7. GC3X44Z MEGA SA 2012 - The Needle in the Haystack Gauteng 31 FPs 8. GC3RQNP TeamDJ's Puzzle Quest #1 Gauteng 29 FPs 9. GC3WZBP See no Evil, Hear no Evil……..Speak no Evil?? Gauteng 28 FPs 10. GCV8C5 Lost Bomb Gauteng 27 FPs
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