Geocaching Hazards–Bugs
I love the outdoors. That’s part of the reason that I’ve embraced geocaching. Geocaching takes me outside, visiting new and different places. There are a few things about geocaching that I don’t like, but probably my primary pet peeve is the bugs.
Living in the state of 10,000 lakes, where the mosquito is know as the “state bird,” you are left with no choice but to find a way to cope. I do so begrudgingly. Mosquitoes are number one on my hit list. I use DEET sprays. I don’t avoid them because they contain it. My gripe is the smell and greasy feeling. A product that I came across a year or two ago is Bugg Spray. The spray has a pleasant vanilla smell. My experience was that it did indeed repel mosquitoes. Mosquitoes, gone.
Minnesota is odd in that there are definite patterns of bug infestation. In May, there is this wonderful window of no bugs. While Wisconsin is God’s country, Minnesota is the promised land during May. Then comes the gnats.
Gnats are awful too, but may repellents for mosquitoes work on gnats too. After the gnats, come the mosquitoes. After the mosquitoes come the flies. In addition to Bugg Spray, avoiding the use of perfumy substances including hair spray and deodorant help. My background has been in the outdoors. I learned very early on to can the perfume. Perfume and the outdoors do not mix.
So, after the flies, comes the bees and wasps. Again, anything sweet smelling is a bug magnet. Besides, your unnatural-outdoor-smell is a clue to muggles that someone is there. Save the smelly stuff for dates and the office. There is no place for them outdoors.
Simple precautions can make your time outdoors geocaching that much more enjoyable. All you have to remember is to not make yourself a destination for the bugs that are out there to make you miserable.
