A travel bug is not some new species of insect infecting the caches in the Calgary area. Travel bugs, also affectionately known as TB’s, is a small silver plate that looks very similar to a dog tag. On the face is a digital looking black beetle and a tracking code. The backside has information about Geocaching.com. usually, but not always, the TB is attached to another object that further defines it or its goal.
What do you do if you find a TB?
1. Take a moment to admire it. This little bug may have travelled incredibly far to be lying in your hands at this moment.
2. Record the tracking number. Some people like to take a quick snapshot with a cell phone if a pen and paper is not handy.
3. Take it with you…but don’t keep it for long. You are allowed to take the TB, but only if you promise to move it along to another cache within a short time period.
4. Log it online at Geocaching.com. Under the tab ‘trackables’, enter in the TB tracking number. If you simply looked at it, you ‘discovered’ it. If you took it with you, this is the place to record that information, as well.
5. Determine the TB’s goal. On the TB's homepage, you can see what or where the TB would like to travel or return to. Help it achieve its goal if you are moving it along, or click to follow its progress online.
Travel bugs are available for sale directly from Geocaching.com or from GPS City in NE Calgary. Have a father interested in geocaching? This may be the perfect incentive to get him off the couch and out into nature.
Don't forget to activate your TB online before you release it into the wilds of Calgary caches. Happy tracking!
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