Arf2-D2

I just got a "Help!" email from Dendro71. Seems that she can't get onto the forums (darn firewall) and asked me to post this. Hope thats ok. I've met her cat. Yes, he rally is that fat! LOL

Kailani with a travel bug. Kai really really likes stuffed toys. Oh Oh.... Congrats on your new home, PengoPuppy! Ok. I admit. I didn't take this pic, but I do own the dog! (Or is it the other way around?)

I am a little foggy on the mystery coin/goofy cacher/ etc. idea. From skimming the forums, I gather that 1. the Goofy Cacher is some person who leaves unactivated coins/mails unactivated coins in random places/to random people? 2. Mystery coins are also coins that are left/mailed randomly? 3. There are multiple mystery coin designs? OR Any coin that shows up unexpectedly is a mystery coin? Or any coin that shows up unexpectedly but is of a specific type, design, etc.? 4. The Goofy Cacher is a specific person (or group of people using one id)? 5. Mystery coins are sent by anybody that feels like it? I have a feeling that this is a simple concept and I am just missing something right in front of my nose.... Thanks.

Congrats!

Sometimes emailing the cache owner will get you a clue or two. Other than that, you can talk to anyone (even muggles!) who may be good at solving puzzles. If yo go to an event or get on the forums for your local caching group, people might be willing to point you in the right direction. Finally, emailing someone who logged a find may also be helpful. Bear in mind that with a puzzle cache, there is an expectation that you will make a reasonable attempt to solve it yourself. I think that many cache owners are flexible with how much help you can receive. However, I have run across caches where the cache owner specifically says to please not share hints or answers. Another thing you may try is to just google puzzles (logic, math, word, sudoku, etc.). Working through existing puzzles of a similar nature can give you a feel for how to start solving puzzles in general. Basically, its a way to "train your brain" towards a certain way of thinking. Good luck!

Considering that only 7% of communication is verbal and the remaining 93% comes from body language and tone of voice, both of which are lacking in this type of medium. Considering that the language of the post seems to support the idea that the cache must conform to the finders idea of a quality cache. Considering that the ice cream frog is at the end of the post. Considering that an ice cream frog is not exactly standard nomenclature. Considering that the ice cream frog is the only indication that you might be using sarcasm. Yeah, I missed your "sarcasm"

This is just me, but if I like a cache and want the owner to have a shot at what I left (usu a pathtag since I don't have my own coin), I don't mention it in my log right away. I PM the cache owner letting them know it is there. Then, after giving him time to retrieve it if he wants it (say, a week), I edit my log to say that I dropped it. If I don't do that, then I intend it for the next cacher who wants it. Of course, once its out of my hands - its out of my hands! Personally, I wouldn't (and haven't) gone back to my own cache to retrieve an unactivated coin (even if I wanted it), but again, that's just me. And, leaving an unactivated coin for an unactivated coin, as others have suggested, sounds fair to me.

from wikipedia... Chemical reduction, or smelting, is a form of extractive metallurgy. The main use of smelting is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction (for the production of steel) from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores. Anyway, I hope the story isn't true! :-(

Why? Someone decided that he would use his own time and money to put out a cache that others could find for free. These others will then come and hunt for the cache (paying nothing for the privilege). They will enjoy or they won't. Either way, each person is responsible for what they take away from the experience. There is no obligation for cache owner or cache hider to make the other happy. (Of course, there is no reason to try and make someone else unhappy either.) I think it would help if people stop and think about what they write. If I was the cache owner, how would I feel reading a post worded this way? Is it helpful? Or will it just make me feel bad and discourage me from hiding another? or If I was the poster who was, perhaps, less than tactful, how would I feel about the response? If I am overwhelmed with attacks, will this just encourage me to flame more people? Or perhaps quit the game? Sometimes people don't remember there is a real person (with feelings) on the other end of the mouse. And if you do forget... it never hurts to suck it up and say your sorry.

Try the Houston Geocaching Society They are a great bunch of people. http://web.hgcs.org/forum/

You can start it any cache. Have fun!

1) date of birth - May 26 2) time of birth - 12:03 AM 3) official weight - 7lbs 10 ozs. 4) geocaching motto for our new baby girl: Cache a newborn star! Hope all goes well for you. Congrats.

Thanks for all the great advice!

My two cents (but if the dollar keeps dropping, it won't even be worth that!) worth of rambling. If you are going to kid friendly caches, then kid friendly things are probably a good idea. Try to avoid anything that would be destroyed if it got wet. I think durable items are a better choice than more fragile things. Stickers and stuffed animals generally don't fare very well from what I have seen. Basically, think about what your kids might like to find. If they would, then someone else would probably enjoy it too. Other good things (that aren't necessarily kid related) include small flashlights, first aid kits, (new) whistles, compass - anything that someone hiking in the woods might need (and that doesn't smell or have an expiration date). If you had more time, you could try to obtain some geocaching related items. These might be lanyards or those tags that accompany a TB, etc. 'Biners seem to be popular, but avoid the really cheap ones. If you really get stuck, you could always leave a dollar (I've done that a few times). I have seen some people leave a penny, but that's kinda cheesy. (Of course, I have also seen empty candy wrappers left in the cache. ) Gift cards might be possible. I think McD's has $1 certificates. I don't know what the minimum would be anywhere else. If you have time, maybe you could take the kids to the drug store/dollar store/Big Lots/etc. and let them pick out something to trade? Sometimes, I find the best swag by accident. Anyway, Have Fun!

Assuming no "need maintenance" logs, how often to people typically check up on their caches? Every five years/5,000 miles.... errrr cachers? Seriously though, I assume that location, difficulty, muggle proneness, number of finders, etc. are all factors. DNFs and Maintenance logs are a big hint, but I would like to catch any problems (soggy or full logs, adding swag, etc.) before they happen. However, I don't want to visit the cache too often, especially since the location is not remote. Any thoughts/hints/suggestions? Thanks!

It sounds somewhat similar to Oliver's Cache Adventure GC13P07 http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...b4-c8716948763e which is a FANTASTIC cache. Admittedly, only 8 people have finished it completely, but those that have agree that it was well worth the effort. For me personally, it ranks up there as one of my favorite caches. The Ferreters put alot of time and effort into it and it shows.

It was 1. the hike 2. the scenery 3. the challenge 4. the history (each stage had a pamphlet with some local history) http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...ea-d1a283ac1e87 RACCOON LOOP.....HIKING 20 MILES FOR ONE SMILEY? GCXAPJ

What a great post. It really highlights the different ways people can "give back". I would like to add thanks to those who moderate forums organize events donate coins, pathtags, etc. for charity fundraisers review caches perform maintenance on a cache (even if its not their own) add swag to an empty cache

From what I can tell, "found it" is fairly normal. Sometimes, if a TB asks for something more, some people will comply. But, of course, some won't. If I can think of something to say or a picture to post, I like to since I know that I, at least, like to see something interesting. BUT, having said that, I also admit that I don't do that as often as I would like (or even often) since it is hard to come up with things to say. Which is why I try to ask for something fun in my TBs goals. For example, I have a coin going around right now that asks for pictures of it at an animal shelter. For each photo (in a year), I will donate $1 to my local animal shelter. Dunno how well that will work. So far, one of two people have posted a pic. I have heard about others that ask for stories (or lies) or to add something to the TB, etc. I have no idea how successful they are though.

Glad it worked for you. Good luck with your cache.

Unless the cache page specifically says not to take the TB on the plane, I think its ok. I have one in Norway right now that wouldn't have gotten there any other way!

A little late, but.... I made a t-shirt with FTF and tied to my cache specifically. The front has a little (pocket size) logo and the back has the same story that is on the cache page. Its nice to get a little token something, but I agree that its not necessary. On my very first FTF, I got a pathtag (thanks, Scrabblehounds). It was only my second pathtag ever so that was fun. On another, I got a laminated pirate certificate/treasure map from BigImaginationBoy. The actual monetary value is nil. The cool factor is (to misquote Mastercard) priceless.

The way I did it was to 1. Upload the image as an image (to the cache page) 2. get the url for the image you just uploaded click on visit the gallery then click on the image 3. add a line to the description <img src="image location"> note: make sure the enable html button is turned on. Good luck.

Wow. Lots of people seem to think that the Penguins will win. If that happens, lots of yinzers (which is what they call people around here - Pittsburgh) will be happy. Anyway, they are off to a good start since they won again tonight.

Like a maze where you go down the wrong path, Or a choose your own adventure book. I've thought of a hide like that, but setting it up will be a lot of work. I've also thought of one where each of those sets would lead you down a path ending in a different ending cache. One beginning, and 7 or 8 possible endings. You could log a find for each logbook you end up signing. A true choose your own adventure. A woven web of GeoCaches. It might even end with the final Caches being hidden by other people. I don't think it would be listed here though. These are a kind of Cache where you spend months or years getting to the end, rether than trying to just get through it. That sounds like fun!