We are always trying to think up new and unusual ways to remember Dave so when Dave’s Aunt Jan and Uncle Bob suggested geocaching, we basically said, “Huh? What’s that?”
After a brief discussion to pique my interest, they sent me to the website www.geocaching.com where I learned that “Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors (anywhere in the world) and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. There are 1,111,199 active caches and an estimated 4-5 million geocachers worldwide.”
From my understanding, a member can locate caches by going to the website, entering a destination (city, country, etc.) and all caches within a certain radius will pop up. Once the cache is found, the registered “travel bug” is removed to continue its travel by the person who found the cache, the logbook is signed, and the cache is returned to the exact spot for the next person to find. Most people leave a token, such as a special coin or another “travel bug”, in the cache. A message that the cache was found is then logged onto the site.
One of the caches that pop up for Andros Island is Dave’s LIFE IS GOOD travel bug. This is what Jan wrote on the site:
“CURRENT GOAL: To travel internationally all over the world and all 50 states
LIFE IS GOOD is a celebration of Dave Buschow’s amazing life. In his 29 short years, he lived his life to the fullest. After serving in the Air Force for 4 years, he became an independent contractor working for overseas companies. One of his year tours was on Andros Island, Bahamas, where we will start this TB’s journey. He learned the balance between traveling and having adventures, to maintaining all his relationships with family and friends. ‘To a life that accepts Nature’s hand in sculpting an individual expression. Nothing is exempt. From the mellifluous rhythm and tone of the wind chime, to the transitional form of the cloud. Nothing exists alone. All things thrive and whither in confluence with one another. So it is; the paradox of our divinity.’ Dave Buschow–www.rememberdave.net”
Our recent trip to Andros Island in the Bahamas was Dave’s first cache. We rode and walked our bikes up a very rocky trail. A short distance off the path is where we found someone else’s cache. We deposited Dave’s “travel bug” and general info and headed back. Since it took over a year for the cache to be found by us, we thought it would be quite some time before Dave was on the move again. But lo and behold, only three weeks later, it was discovered–coincidentally by someone visiting AUTEC. Here is the message from the fellow who found it.
“6/11/10 retrieved from Sunset View-Bahamas
I found this during some free time during my stay at AUTEC. I will take it with me to the states when I return in a couple weeks. This was a great little hike to a scenic bay lookout. Though the sun wasn’t shining when I got there, rain had started to fall, the ending was beautiful and the hike was great. I knocked this cache out, along with the Rainbow Blue Hole, on the same day. Many thank yous to the crew at Small Hope Bay Lodge for placing the cache. I took the LIFE IS GOOD TB (travel bug) with plans of getting it back to the states.”
Thanks to Bob and Jan for knowing how important it is to me to find new and creative ways to keep Dave’s story alive and to allow him to continue his travels.
What’s Dave’s next destination? We’ll keep you posted!!
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