Jackalgirl

The Cows are Coming Home! The date for the 2012 Sonoma County GeoRally and MEGA Quest has been set: April 28, 2012. Check out the event page for more info! I've updated The Great Cow Tag Race's Homepage with the information. You may also want to check out the News page for more information, but most importantly to check out "MooDoo", the so-far sole entry to the "Most Original" Cowtest and a very cool cow tag indeed! Since I only had the one entry (which came in way, way after the August 2011 date), I have extended the end of all of the cowtests to April 28, 2012. So, here's what I'd like to request: 1) Please check on your cows. Now would be a good time to update cow pages with links to the goal event (http://coord.info/GC2YA1F) and to send gently, kindly-worded requests to those cachers who are holding tags, letting them know about the 2012 Rally and asking them to get the cows moving. Please let me know if you run into a situation in which a cacher has stopped caching and so won't go out and drop off your tag. 2) Got pictures of your tag? Do you think they're cool? (I would hope so!) Send me an email (greatcowrace@grafikato.com) with a picture and I'll enter your tag into the cowtest of your choice. Help me populate these cowtests -- and remember, the prizes are Japanese 100 Yen store swag (the most awesomest swag on the planet) and an ultra-rare unactivated and fully trackable Heifer International Artist Edition "Good Deeds" geocoin. 3) Let everyone know about the event! It's getting exciting -- let's all get to the finish line and watch the cows come out of the woods!

I've got some Artist Edition Ocean Kamis up for sale on eBay -- only 25 were minted. They use the Ocean Kami custom icon and are trackable and unactivated. If you're interested, check 'em out at: o Ocean Kami AE o Ocean Kami AE o Ocean Kami AE o Ocean Kami AE o Ocean Kami AE Thank you for looking!

More:

There's another option, especially if the item has significant value to you and you wouldn't want to see it disappear: proxies. A proxy is a photo or photocopy of an item with tracking information included. If you search the Forum for the term "proxy", you will discover that there's a bit of a controversy. Some cachers really, really, really hate proxy coins. Generally, those folks want to hold an actual coin (or item) in their hands. Some hate them so much they'll go out of their way to destroy them. Of course, since it's a proxy, it doesn't really matter, ultimately -- and in my opinion, it's better to lose a proxy to someone like than than an actual coin to a coin thief or uneducated cacher (who doesn't know how the tracking system works). If your coin is something that is very meaningful to you, here's what I'd recommend: keep it. Buy a travel bug dog tag (which is relatively inexpensive) so that you get a tracking code. Then, take a high-resolution photos of your item, both sides to create a proxy. Since your item is a coin (presumeably round), you could use your photo-editing or graphics software to add a ring around the item that says something like "track me on geocaching.com" and the tracking number. On the other side, the ring could include text like (for example) bright red text that says "I am a traveller, DO NOT KEEP ME!". I'd recommend sandwiching a same-sized washer between the two photos (one of each side) or some other disk of metal (with a washer, I'd also recommend using resin, like "Kneadatite", to fill in the hole, then sand it down smooth once it's cured). That will give your proxy coin some weight. Next, purchase a coin container. This is a clear, round plastic case(I did a quick Google and found one type marketed under the brand "Air Tite" - google that if you want to see what I'm talking about). Put your proxy into this. Now your proxy will look very much -- and feel very much -- like a coin. HOWEVER! To dissuade the purists, make sure that when you activate your TB code number and set up your coin's tracking page, that the description makes it very clear that it's a proxy. "This is a proxy of my memorial coin, it is not the actual coin". That way, provided that the cacher actually looks at the page before he or she goes for the cache, there's been forewarning that it's not a coin. Additionally, the coin will have the standard TB icon, which will also help prevent people from thinking that they're going to be handling an actual coin. IMPORTANT! Once you release your coin into "the wild", keep the actual TB dog tags! There can only be one actual trackable per tracking code - releasing multiple items with the same code is against the rules and can lead to your item being locked (untrackable on the website). I hope this helps. Have fun!

Frackin' cool! : )

I just love it. : )

Actually, none of the pieces are rotated from the original art; they're all ordinary, right-side-up selections -- but from both the front & back of the art. Heh, heh, Mike -- I just wanted to make sure you knew I hadn't forgotten you, since the deadline was upon me! At that very point in time, I didn't have anything worth showing. : )

Very, very nice! Count me in for a whole set, if I can get it! : )

Quite probably. High-seas piracy is too fun to pass up. : )

Well, you know, I have to fulfill my destiny as an evil overlord and all. ; )

So cute!

Sneak Peek Just a teaser. It's all initial art, meaning the mint hasn't had a chance to weigh in (and the art will undoubtedly change somewhat). But I thought I'd share. Muah hah hah hah!

Niiiiice!

These will be a bit delayed, I think; it was just pointed out to us that everyone involved (most specifically me, whose job it is to QA these things) missed that the coin says "2102" rather than "2012". I've spoken with Mike and it looks like we'll redo the die. Ah, error samples. Sigh, I should be fired!

Howdy! I come up again for air and have managed to update the race standings. Sadly, a few more cows have gone missing. : ( Goosefraba1, I updated the website to list "MooDoo" under "most original". So far, he's the only entry -- if anyone else has an original cow or has a cow I may have missed, please email me! Mamoreb, that is awesome news (though incredibly old, because I am incredibly slow). It's always good news when the missing are found! : )

Hi! First thing you'll want to do is edit your message so you can erase the tracking number. You never want to post those here; those allow unrestricted access to the coin. There isn't any way to activate it without the activation code; luckily, though, if the company's gone out of business, you can go to this page to see if you can find it. Check out the activation code article in the Groundspeak knowledge book for more info. Congratulations on your find! Edited to add: I see that in the "Clearing House" thread, someone pointed to Oakcoins as a possible source for codes. Their activation page is here.

In total agreement with you on the Pirate Bones, at risk of thread derail. Those things are AWSOME. : )

Thanks everyone, much appreciated. Things have been pretty chaotic lately and I haven't adjusted yet! : \

Good morning, everyone -- Back again with a sneak peek: the Year of the Dragon geocoin. This 1.75" coin continues the Chinese Zodiac I've been doing with Cache Addict. The 3D portions of the coin are recessed, allowing translucent hard enamel to be used. The coins will be fully trackable and will feature a unique icon. Also, for every three coins ordered, you will get a free Year of the Dragon pathtag. The versions of the coin that will be available are: Satin Silver (with red and blue enamels) Silver (with blue enamels) Shiny Copper (with green enamels) Nickel and antique copper two-tone Gold (with red enamels) Reservations should be up some time this weekend over at Cache Addict.

Although this is way, way, way late, I too was a lucky recipient of this clever coin. And it was an absolute total surprise, too -- totally made my day, and made the whole family chortle. Thank you, mystery coiner, for a very punny Christmas. : ) I hope everyone's holiday season was awesome and may you have a wonderful New Year!

Ocean Kami Compass Geocoin The next in my Kami Compass series is up: the Ocean Kami. There are four versions: Blue Lagoon - antique silver with blues, and glow-in-the dark enamel too, for the open ocean Golden Tide - satin gold with paler blues and greens, a more tropical version Silver Sea - satin silver with icy colors, for arctic and antarctic waters And there's the AE, my own personal version with "evil overlord" colors (green, black, orange-yellow). The coins feature a recessed 3D design under translucent imitation enamel, are 1.75" in diameter and are fully trackable. Additionally, they feature a custom icon: . They're available at The Geocoin Store right now for $9.95 per coin. I hope you enjoy this next addition to the series!

Boy, am I ever behind. I only just managed to get my donation to the Red Cross in -- the JRC has stopped taking online donations and has also closed out its general fund for recovery from the earthquake (they've got a bank draft set up, tho, where you can donate money to a pool that's disbursed to victims). I also sent all of the coins back to Marshall Mills, since it's increasingly clear that I have to scale my activities way, way, WAY back. Also, I have sent all of the 2011 Mini-Doubloons that were set aside for disaster relief back to their owners (should get there in about a week). I am really sorry to have dropped the ball on this, but I hope that as you find you have coins available, that you consider giving to the Red Cross or other disaster relief agencies. Gambatte Japan!

No bids on the pirate pouch, so I'll be getting together with the owners and figuring out if there's a better way to do this. If you're interested, hold tight, and look for a sale announcement!

Just a quick note (yet again, I'm behind, ugh) -- There weren't any bids for these items (except for mine; I bid on and won the Brahean). Also, the JRC has closed out its PayPal page. Since I'm the only winner, I'm doubling the bid amount ($30) and will get over to the post office to make a bank deposit sometime this week, so I'll post receipt proof here once I get that taken care of. In the meantime, Marshall and I are working on a new plan for fundraising, so keep an eye on this thread for more news. Gambatte Japan!

Only Less than 14 hours to go on this auction. This is an awesome pouch of coins from a great group of generous pirates! NINETEEN Doubloons for New Zealand The auction includes a photo of every coin in the pouch. Shipping is totally free, there are no auction fees, and I'll ship anywhere!