Brambler

A Surrey based cacher with a preference for multis and for Trads that involve an interesting walk Surrey – or Leafy Surrey as it is sold – is a beautiful area with more than it’s share of woodland, heaths and open spaces. It saddens me slightly both that micros are being set as caches in areas where decent sized boxes could easily hide and that some beautiful areas are being ignored with micros set elsewhere. Stepping back a little, I should explain that one of the greatest appeals of geocaching to me is that it is such an absurd thing to do, and anything absurd is to be encouraged! Add to that the fact that it often involves a good walk and a little challenge, and I’m a happy chappy. So having accepted that this is all fairly absurd hobby, it would be absurdly ridiculous to get het up about it. Each to their own, whatever floats your boat. For me, that’s not micros or micro trails. Micros do have a place in the world of caching: + In towns where finding places for larger boxes is difficult + As a clever camoflague particularly nanos in quirky places + As a wry joke + As the solution to a puzzle where there is little flexibility on the co-ordinates + On a D5/T5 where little else might fit + On a trail that includes a mix of different sized boxes I suspect that they also have a point for cachers to whom it IS all about the numbers. But even there, where do you all think this is going? Milestones are becoming less and less of an achievement in some form of caching inflation achievement deflation. Reaching 100 is now the equivalent of reaching 500. Next year, getting 100 caches a month will be a doddle. Setting a single cache knocks out that area to other cachers setting caches. I have heard of the 0.1 mile exclusion and both understand and support the reason behind it. Although micro trails might leave some spaces for others to place alternative caches, what appeal does a single cache - whether it be a Trad, Multi or Puzzle – surrounded by a pool of micros on a trail? I would probably not be tempted out. A test I apply when setting caches is whether my cache is making an effort to be an appropriate use of that cache spot. If my idea is not strong enough, then I will not place it. It’s great when someone else subsequently comes along and does something interesting and resourceful. Sometimes, a micro trail is that interesting thing, with thoughtful planning and fun placements. Particularly in rural areas such as Surrey, I would like to see a better mix with more caches of a reasonable size. Why? For caching PR – I have sought permissions for many caches set and explaining caching as a hobby that the whole family can enjoy, which involves getting some exercise and fresh air in the local area is a relatively easy sell. Explaining the merits of a string of small plastic film containers does not have quite the same ring to it. To develop the geocaching world – I’m not a big TB or Geocoin collector. However I rescue these where I can and try and move them on in line with their owner’s wishes. How often does it happen to you that there is a trackable burning a hole in your pocket and none of the caches visited have been large enough to fit the trackable into? Are trackables becoming less of a part of geocaching? Losing these hitchhikers would be a sad development. So people can see that caching is not (just) about micros – When I started caching, I would read cache pages and logs for local caches and select the ones that seemed most fun, or a bit of a challenge. It was clear that the setter had put significant efforts into the style of the cache and every location seemed an interesting visit. As a result, I was lucky to experience caches that set a high benchmark. When I came to set some caches, I tried my best to set something good, even aspiring to be better that those that I looked up to. Today, are the cache pages with their total text reading “cache is a 35mm film container on the edge of a wood/park/road” merely a reflection of the caches that that person has found prior to setting one of their own? Our expectations should be set higher. I am going to try and set some traditional caches around this area in an attempt to put more balance to my own cache portfolio and to "redress the balance" as others have referred to it. I will also not be going out of my way to find either micros placed locally or any cache with an uninspiring cache page. Do I see any hope for the future for me (and any others of like mind)? I believe some form of scoring system for caches, even though I know that this is steeped in subjectivilty, could help change the caching landscape. If the numbers game was converted into a league table which rated the quality of caches set by each setter, then maybe the competitive spirit could be motivated towards quality. Maybe then, cache hunters can compete on more of a level playing field, not unlike the handicapping system in golf. Local areas could try and compete to be “the best area for puzzles” (that one has been claimed already I believe), “the best area for cunning micros”, or “the best area for trails”. Without this pressure on quality, I suspect that we will be over-run by quantity. Anyway, how much does it all matter? We’re born, we live for a number of years, and we die. Does it matter if, in a big or much smaller way, we add to the style and quality of the times in which we live? October 2008

I am a rare visitor to these forums, even more so as we are now based in Denmark. I know I qualify as someone who enjoys the old days. In "the old days", I enjoyed reading logs and looking for the good caches, by that I mean caches that I thought I would like. These tended to involve a walk in the countryside, an interesting story and a spot of fun. But what is good for me is not good for other and I think there was enough to keep all interests going. I actually think that there still are enough caches to keep me interested, but that I have to put a little more homework into finding them. Looking at the pattern of other cachers, I struggle sometimes to see any discrimination in the caches done or not done, that's the only bit I find odd about cachers today. If there was a better way of discriminating then I think quality could be improved, and for the sake of the hobby I think it needs to be. A rating system is the only solution that has any hope in my view. I have written a long note on my profile page about these feelings and soon need to remove the note as - having moved to Denmark - it is not applicable. So if you can all forgive me I will post it here in the following post and will remove it from my profile in the near future. Incidentally, the problems noted from the UK are repeated here in Denmark with many trails & micros. But the good caches and interesting multis/puzzles remain - I just have more of a challenge to find them.

Hi I visit Denmark a few times each year and have not found (yet) a source of good mapping. + Do you have online maps? + Do they work with WGS84 Datum? + Are there any that will download to a Mobile Windows PDA? Many thanks Brambler

There has been a very positive response to Caroline’s note, both here on the thread and on other emails I have seen with local cachers. All local cachers share the enthusiasm to help NT in a way that suits them and meets with gc.com guidelines. The offers of support from GAGB are also good to have, as are the experiences from other NT initiatives. Caroline is away now until 30th June, so she will not be able to get to the Send meet, and this thread may sink a little until the beginning of July. For those who have never been along the Wey valley, it is a River/Navigation that runs for at least 20 miles from the Thames at Weybridge to Godalming and is almost 100% NT controlled. The river upstream of Godalming is neither navigable nor NT controlled. The whole length is attractive, well maintained and accessible by good footpaths throughout. Cycling is permitted along the length. It’s varied too, with locks, bits that look like rivers, bits that look like canals, plenty of wildlife & river traffic. Small amounts run through towns and most is in unspoilt countryside and flood plain. There have even been otters spotted recently after many years of apparent absence. Looking forward to see something great, involving as many local cachers as possible, emerging from Caroline’s approach, which will promote The Wey, the NT and this fun caching-thing we do.