Looking for a pig in a poke?

August 10, 2007 10:49 AM

I look out the window while working. Lately, I've seen some strange behavior: people park, get out and circle the cement pig nearby, and they get back in their car. What are they doing?

They circle twice, getting in their car between trips. They hold a device (gps?). All the people were white, with two men and two women. The ages ranged from about 8 to 40 or so.

The pig is in front of Ole Times in Warner Robins, GA, if that helps.

posted by Monday to science & nature (16 comments total)

It's a geocache.
posted by mollweide at 10:54 AM on August 10, 2007

Geocaching?
posted by billysumday at 10:54 AM on August 10, 2007

Perhaps the pig is a landmark in geocaching.
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:55 AM on August 10, 2007

Perhaps they are geocaching?

On preview: damn, that's efficent. First answer: bam.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:56 AM on August 10, 2007

There is a geocache hidden there. (registration required to see details)

It looks like it's been there since 2006, so I don't know why there would be a sudden increase in traffic. Someone logged that they found it on Aug 7, but there haven't been that many other finds logged on the website. Maybe it's also part of a scavenger hunt?
posted by saffry at 10:57 AM on August 10, 2007

Wonder what the fastest question-to-absolutely-correct-answer is for AskMe?
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:58 AM on August 10, 2007

Thanks. If I may get some clarification- Mollweide's link says that the geocache:

This is the original cache type consisting, at a bare minimum, a container and a log book. Normally you'll find a tupperware container, ammo box, or bucket filled with goodies, or smaller container ("micro cache") too small to contain items except for a log book. The coordinates listed on the traditional cache page is the exact location for the cache.

I didn't see anyone touch anything; they just walked around the pig. Is it typical for them not to fill out the logbook?
posted by Monday at 10:59 AM on August 10, 2007

Wonder what the fastest question-to-absolutely-correct-answer is for AskMe?

This'n' beat it by a minute, though there might be a faster one, somewhere. My answer was based on insider information, so it was, indeed, absolutely correct.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:22 AM on August 10, 2007

I'd say no touching means it's not people looking for the geocache there. Even if you aren't exchanging items, at minimum you have to find the logbook and sign it to prove you were there.
posted by saffry at 11:28 AM on August 10, 2007

I didn't see anyone touch anything; they just walked around the pig. Is it typical for them not to fill out the logbook?

Is it possible that the logbook/container is nearby, but out of your line of sight? With the name of the cache, I'd probably start by getting a reading at the pig and then working from there.

Looking at the Google map hybrid view, it looks like the cache might be outside/on the right edge of the pen (if you were facing it from the street).
posted by mikepop at 11:45 AM on August 10, 2007

There are also types of geocaches, in which you'd go to a location and find a number or value (on a sign, or even hidden itself) that is part of the next location's coordinates, etc etc. While it's apparent that the Pig cache is not this type, it's handy to know, and can help to explain why different people keep coming to one location.
posted by Meagan at 11:56 AM on August 10, 2007

Oh, forgot to mention, traditionally there are only logs at the final location, so no one would sign anything at these redirects.
posted by Meagan at 11:57 AM on August 10, 2007

the cache is very close by... not at nor on the pig.
posted by digital-dragonfly at 12:08 PM on August 10, 2007

One guy I noticed right away (I get distracted at work) and I watched him the entire time he was here.

After I read mikepop's comment, I went to see if I could find the log book.

Spoilers!





















You were right, digital-dragonfly- it wasn't on/by the pig. I found it in "front" of the pig, not to the right (I know gps is only accurate to 20m, so this is still very close).

The log book was a tube. It now makes sense to me why people went back to their cars- they took the logbook with them so they could access it out of the elements (it has been very hot here lately).

I really appreciate all your help solving this mystery. I will miss having this to obsess about when I should be working on something else, though.
posted by Monday at 12:16 PM on August 10, 2007

I hope those people realize they were being muggled by YOU!
posted by santojulieta at 8:34 PM on August 10, 2007

As a replacement obsession, you should document every time you see it happen, and/or add a little note for them to find...maybe something like, "Look 20 feet to the left, at the second window over, and wave to the person staring at you".
posted by lhall at 1:23 PM on August 11, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]