Annie & PB

Nope. It shows up correctly in the 'preview' when I check it on my profile page, but not here actually in the forums. Any hints anyone? Annie Well, there you go. I figured it out myself. Log out of the forums, 'register' and log back in again, and it's all good. Thanks for your help Bear and Ragged. Annie

Nope. It shows up correctly in the 'preview' when I check it on my profile page, but not here actually in the forums. Any hints anyone? Annie

That is so tempting! Glad you showed restraint!! Let's see if I figured it out. If I did I should have a signature line now. Annie

OK, so how do you get your signature to be a link?? Exactly - not just what type of code to use, as I haven't the slightest idea of the differences. (I know - dumb blonde ). Just tell me exactly what I need to type in the box. Annie

If you simply want to find one single cache, do not even worry about downloads etc etc. You are making things unnessecarily complicated for yourself. Look in you manual for the page that says ' How to mark a waypoint'. Following the instructions therein for manually entering co-ords, using the co-ordinates that are on the cache page of the cache you want to hunt. Select ' GOTO' or whatever the Lowerance equivalent is. (we have a garmin) and follow the arrow. Choose a cache that is difficulty 1.5, terrain 1.5 size regular (or at least small and definately NOT a micro or nano). Look for one that is located in a local park or nature area rather than an urban area. Figure out all the other stuff later. The only thing we knew how to do when we left the store with our band new GPS in hand was how to manually enter co-ordinates. We found our first cache (a virtual) with it about 15 minutes later. (we'd already found three others just with local knowledge.) Annie

There are around 6400 caches in New Zealand. If you give us a bit more idea of your itinerary and your particular interests, we can offer some more suggestions! Do you like long hikes or drive-bys, clever camo or the box uder a bush, multis & puzzles or just traditionals???? Annie

Thanks for your comments so far people. There is a kind of 'x-factor' about some blogs that makes me want to go back and read them again. I think it's something to do with a "compelling" writing style as Arrow has said. Perhaps where the writer's personality comes through. I also like great nature photography, or quirky urban photos, but not endless pics of people holding up different cache containers. I'm unlikely to look at a video, I'd far rather see a great, or even a good, still photo than a video. I like the photos to have captions or comments too, as generally they are showing parts of the world that I have never seen and am never likely to see, so I want to know what or where they are. I guess I would possibly do a poll - but I don't think i've come across one so far. For myself, I don't enjoy any kind of hints or tips or instructional information about caching (unless perhaps it comes across naturally as part of a funny story or the like). I'd rather see people's personal stories of cache hunting. But I guess tips and instructions are good for newer or younger cachers. I think a blog is a good place where cachers can expand on their logs, and make comments about a trip or a general area that don't really fit into a log for one specific cache. (Well, apart from flask - who can tell a whole trip's story in a sequence of logs!!! ) I'm still interested to hear what others have to say! Annie

It is impossible to make every single cache you hide a cache that every single cache finder will be able to find and will enjoy. The thing that you CAN do, is have a range of cache hides, such that cache finders will have options to select from at a range of interest and ablility levels. This is what we do. The thing that you can always (and should always try to do) is make you container waterproof, put a good log book in it, and attend to any other maintenance issues as soon as you are reasonably able to. Annie

There's been several threads where people have showcased their own, or their favourite, blogs. However I can't find any general discussion of what makes a good geocaching blog that other cachers want to read. What features/information/photos should (or shouldn't!) a great geocaching blog have?? Discuss - with examples if required - please!! Annie

The last link you used no-one has replied to a post for over a month. The first site is for general GPS stuff but is at least more active. Hi there all, we have been caching for almost two years now. Do come on over to the GPS Society Geocaching forum. If you want to learn more about caching in NZ it really is informative, as many of the NZ cachers who have been involved from ' the beginning' read and post in that forum, including the reviewers. I have found that I can ask any question from simple to complex there, and there and I will get a quick answer. Also the Software and Hardware forums contain heaps of great information. Kiwicaching is more focussed on their live chat that on their forums, so the best way to get to know people there is become a member and join in the live chat. I am regularly on both sites and have found that there is indeed a vibrant, supportive and fun geocaching community in NZ. The other thing I recommend is attend the next Event cache that is held in your area!! That is really the best way to get to know other cachers. Happy caching and perhaps one day we will run into some of you at a cache. Annie

I beg to differ. I would and have deleted 'found' logs if they are spoilers , regardless of whether I believe the person has found the cache or not. Usually we give them the option of editing the log first, or re-logging if we have already deleted it. I would also delete a found log if it used inappropriate language or similar. YMMD Annie

You absolutely can log a find on an archieved cache and get your smilie!!!! If you find it, and sign the logbook, just log a Found It as normal. And Carolyn, here are our goals for this year: 1500 finds by January 1st next year wil be a good challenge. Only up to 1149 now as we've been considerable slowed down by illness the last three months, so getting to 1500 is seriously in doubt now. we might try and stop at 50 active caches, Still on track for this one!! We have 50 hidden but as four have been archived, we need to do four more now. Get to 10 earthcaches - currently on 5. (And may be able to work on the three states thing in 2010) Well and truely done this one - now up to 15 earthcaches found. Would now like to try placing one before the end of the year. Get to 50 combinations on our Difficulty/Terrain chart - currently at 43 We are up to 45 combinations now, so this one is still possible, but even more tricky as we are not likely to get many of the higher terrain caches now. I just copied our goals from a similar thread on our New Zealand forum. You might like to look there too Carolyn to see what goals others have for themselves New Zealand local forum Annie

Yep, it's been mentioned 2673 times .... no, make that 2674 if you count this thread. A rating system would be practically pointless, as over time pactically every cache would average out to a middle of the road rating. Why ...... because there are so many different people with different caching preferances. A cache which one person loves, the next person will hate, be it a LPC, suburban park, rural cemetary or what ever type of cache. Perhaps the only caches that would get a consistantly high positive rating are those that involve a long hike, or special skills such as rock-climbing or caving, due to the fact that only the people who have those skills and abilities will actually do those caches, and those type of caches by there nature are almost always in beautiful scenic areas. So, as far as I'm concerned, a rating system would be a waste of time. Annie

Because reviewers are actually real people - I've even met some of them!!! They have actual jobs that pay money that they have to go to, and families that they need to care for and other community commitments, and some times they get sick, or tired or go on vacation or possibly even like to spend some of their own time finding and placing caches..... fancy that!!!! Annie

Ah! So, now we know what our dog is doing when she hides our socks all around the house. She's just creating some caching for us to do on a rainy day. Only pity is that she hasn't got the drawing a map bit sorted too well yet ..........

Somewhat along the lines of Zolgar's post, I was going to say that I'm pretty sure some folk I know must have been born geocachers, and some folk that I know are unlikely to ever grow out of being a 'newbie'!! So, I guess my answer is: there really is no answer!!! Annie

If the cache is logged as a find, when in reality the final has not been found, it may give the cache owner (CO) and future finders false information. The cache owner may think everything is fine with their cache when it actually needs maintenance because the final is missing. What you could do is log a 'note' to say that you have done some of the stages, but did not get to the final - if for example you ran out of time to finish the whole multi, or the final turned out to be in the wrong direction. If you got to the final location and were not able to find it, well, that is a DNF just like for any other cache. It makes no difference if you found all 2 or 10 or 20 of the previous stages!!! Annie

Thanks for your suggestions people - I've number of avenues to continue my investigations along now. Those are some nice looking coins. Thanks Again Annie

Hi there, we have been caching for over a year now, but are only just starting to get into coins. I would really like to get PB a coin with a Polar Bear on it for his birthday, which is coming up in a couple of months. Does anyone know of one available anywhere? We are in New Zealand, so I would need be able to order it internationally. Annie

Hi Carolyn, Once we got a digital camera we started having the problem of no space on our computer for the photos. The way we solved it was getting a 'external hard drive' to store our photos on. This is a relatively affordable way of adding extra storage to your computer. I suggest it as some thing you might be interested in looking into. And by the way, we have found just over 1000 caches and not had one log deleted. I have deleted logs on our caches for young cachers who have accidentally logged the cache two or three times, and asked people to edit 'spoiler' logs (which all but one person has been willing to do). I have only ever completely deleted one found it log - which was when someone tried to log a cache that was missing at the time. Annie

Our own travel bugs have not yet been out long enough to fulfil their missions (and one went missing soon after release), but recently we helped this one reach its destination. Berlin Travel Bear Annie

I think it is a really bad idea deleting a log because in your opinion it is 'poor'. What say the cacher is, for example, my brother who basically didn't learn to read and write until he was about 18??? He can read now, but still doesn't write much. If he is caching with us you might get a "found with Annie & PB" log. If the cache was really fantastic you might get, "Good cache found with Annie & PB." For him, that's a lot of writing!!!!! What say the cacher is, for example, a family we know that caches and home schools, and the kids look for and log the caches themselves??? If the seven year old is writing the log (or even the ten year old for that matter!) you might get 8 or 10 words, but certainly not a nicely worded paragraph. What say the cacher barely speaks English, never mind writing it and they feel quite proud of themself for writing one sentence in English, even though the grammar is not that great?? What say the cacher is a person with a physical or intellectual disability that prevents them being able to write fluently??? What say the person just thought your cache was really boring, and they couldn't think of anything more to say than a short phrase or sentence......... My advice, just live with some short or 'boring' logs and move on. OR only hide such stupendously amazing caches that you will never get a short or 'poor' log!!!!!!! Annie

Perhaps the moderators will move this to a forum where you will get an actual helpful answer or two. I would love to help out, but I live way over the other side of the world in New Zealand!!!

Trust me, keeweechris is by no means alone as a first-time cacher in NZ who gets their cache denied due to the saturation guide. It happens a lot in the main centres to new and long-time cachers. And yes, there are some great caches and locations denied due to a nearby less-than-auspicious existing cache, but that's just the nature of the game. Hmmmm ... live where I live in NZ and saturation IS an issue ( not quite sure that it's a problem though), as ZG our reviewer will know, as he has had to turn down a cache or three of ours, including what we considered to be a very fine multi that was unique for our area, due to the saturation guideline. That particular multi was about our third cache that we tried to have published, but it just was not going to work out. * Personally I would not want the guideline of 161 metres to be any less than it is, and would possibly prefer caches to be to be further apart, especially in urban areas. I'm all for geocaching remaining a low impact, unobtrusive, un-noticed activity, and any guideline that helps with this is good by me!!!! (AND I'm a cacher who is about the numbers by the way!) Annie (*It was eventually modified and published at a much much later date, once other caches in the area had been archived in the natural processes of attrition.)

I would do this also. You probably have around about 20 DNFs at present so it won't take too long to create a bookmark list of them. Then you can add to and remove from that list as needed. And you can get a PQ of the list whenever you want. Annie