Geobuster

It was a bitter cold and rainy day when I decided to embark on my journey. This was not going to be any old, simple journey either. I would be searching for tiny artifacts, otherwise known as geocaches, hidden around Campbell University's campus with only the assistance of a GPS and some clues given by the original hider of the geocaches. I knew this journey was going to be long and treacherous due to the miserable conditions, but I was determined to make it anyway. In the comfort of my heated bedroom, I layered myself with anything and everything warm from shirts to socks to jackets, completing the outfit with a soft, wool scarf. Mental preparation was needed in order to brace what was awaiting for me outside. "You can do this, Tara. Channel the warmth. Be the warmth. Bust those geocaches!" I took in one last second of warmth, then opened the door to head out into the freezing world. The first geocache to be searched for was supposedly hidden around Kivett Hall, Campbell's oldest building on campus. Typically from my house on a warm, pleasant day, it takes less than ten minutes to get there. As you know however, this was not a warm, pleasant day. The brisk wind whipped across my face, turning my nose a bright shade of red. The puddles of water on the uneven sidewalks and in the fields squished and splashed relentlessly underneath my black rain boots. My entire body was so cold, I felt as if I had spent the night in a giant freezer. After about fifteen minutes, I finally arrived at my destination. The clue for this geocache read: **Cache is a film canister in a tree hole.** There were a few trees that surrounded Kivett Hall and I made sure to check every single one thoroughly. Looking high, looking low, checking each tree two to three times apiece to make sure I had not overlooked the hidden cache on accident. Nothing! I could not find a film canister anywhere. I was discouraged that my first geocache hunt was a fail, but I was ready to try again at the next location.
 * Geobuster ** By: Tara Ollis

The next geocache I attempted to find was near the Gaylord the Camel statue, Campbell University's beloved mascot. I was wary of this particular geocache before I had even began searching. According to everyone else who had tried finding it before, the canister was extremely difficult to locate due to its small size and ability to blend in with where it is hidden. No matter how anxious I was about being able to successfully find the geocache or how cold my surroundings got, I was going to persevere. The clue read: **Magnetic (but not on the Camel).** I let out a huge sigh as I observed numerous magnetic items around the statue. There were trash cans, benches, railings, light poles, you name it! "Well, I guess I better get started since it looks like I am going to be here awhile," I said to myself as I shivered over to the benches to search. Although the benches were soaked from the rain and like ice to the touch, I checked every single one of them completely. For each bench, I rubbed my hands all around the tops, bottoms, and backs to make sure I could not feel a tiny case. I even went as far as to get on my hands and knees on the rough pavement, despite the conditions, to check the bench bottoms more precisely. Nothing. I then ventured to the trashcans, making extra sure to check around the bottoms and insides of the railings. Nothing again. Fifteen minutes later.....

After searching for what seemed like hours, I decided to cease my geocache hunt. Goosebumps covered every inch of my body, my toes and fingers were numb from the frigid rainwater, and my lips felt like the Sahara desert from the lack of moisture. It was time to head home. As I traversed back across campus dreaming about the cozy blankets and heat I would be enjoying once I reached my house, I could not help but be sad. How miserable I felt physically could not compare to how I felt emotionally. I did not find any geocaches while on my hunt! Thoughts of failure rushed through my head as I took each step back home. I could see it nearing in the distance. However even in times of disappointment, I can always find a way to make myself laugh. As I reached closer to home, I thought, "My goal was to bust these geocaches, but it seems like looking for the geocaches was a bust instead!" I gave a slight smile for my corny joke and walked through my front door, no longer tortured by the unforgiving weather.