Independence Day – Lattie Style: Geocaching, Grub, and Good VWe went to a geocaching event today, and man, it was exactly what I needed—some solid chill time with our caching crew and a whole lot of burgers, laughs, and cornhole. The event was called Independence Day – Lattie Style, and it was hosted by the always-awesome Plumnutz and MissLatitude. These two really know how to throw a gathering that hits the sweet spot between family picnic and geocacher chaos.

It didn’t matter that the weather was a little questionable at first—they were ready, rain or shine. Luckily, the skies held up for most of the afternoon, and we made the most of it. They had a solid spread going: hot dogs, hamburgers, bottled water, and enough side dishes to feed an army. I’m not even sure who brought what, but I saw everything from mac & cheese to taco salad to a mystery dessert that I probably ate way too much of. (No regrets.)

The location had plenty to do, too. There was volleyball for the brave, cornhole for the competitive, and even a few woodland walks for the folks that didn’t mind mud. (Note to self: bring boots next time.) I stuck mostly to socializing and stuffing my face, but a few of our geocaching buddies took off into the woods looking like they were on a mission from the CIA.

What made it even better was the mix of people. It wasn’t just geocachers—there were families, kids running around, and some of their non-caching friends who probably spent the afternoon wondering what the hell we were all talking about when we got into cache logs, trackables, and fake rocks. But the vibe was so good, it didn’t matter. Everybody was welcome, and you could feel that.

After signing the logbook, we stuck around for the evening hangout. Some brought their own drinks (yes, adult beverages were totally encouraged), and a few of us just settled into some camp chairs and watched the sun go down. There was talk of a bonfire later—and possibly fireworks, like last year—so we hung out longer than we planned. Totally worth it.

It was just one of those feel-good days that reminded me why I love this little geocaching community. Whether you’re there for the numbers, the food, or just the people, you leave feeling like part of something cool. Massive thanks to Plumnutz and MissLatitude for putting it all together again this year. They nailed it.

Already looking forward to the next one.