Happy Bubbles

I wonder if Geocaching.com ever gets targeted by bots registering automatically?

I was looking for caches near where I plan to go camping in a couple weeks, and found one I`m sorely tempted to post a "should be archived" log for. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...b9-47b23b2e4613 It has never been found in the three years since it was hidden, the only logs are DNFs, and the owner hasn`t logged in since 2006. I don`t want to post SBA without having searched for it myself, but I don`t want to go out of my way to search for a cache that is 99% certain to be missing.

I`d list it as micro or unknown. People are more upset by finding unexpectedly small containers than they are by finding unexpectedly large containers. Scenario 1: You list it as large. Too-lazy-to-read-the-description cacher goes to the site with trade items in hand, expecting a large so they can finally dump the TB that`s been burning a hole in their pocket. They can`t, and they`re grumpy. Scenario 2: You list it as micro. Too-lazy-to-read-the-description cacher goes to the site expecting planning to search for a micro. But if they`re looking closely enough to find a micro, it`s unlikely that they`ll miss the unnatural pile of rocks or whatever it is that`s concealing your larger container. As long as the cache is clearly marked as a cache and isn`t hidden in some devilishly tricky fashion, simply looking for the wrong size is unlikely to make people have trouble finding it, and so it`s unlikely that they`ll be upset about the size difference.

What`s up with these forums and all the bumping of old threads?

I want to send a TB out with an attached sheet explaining its goals, but I don`t have access to a laminator. Would folding a wide piece of clear packing tape around the paper work as well?

I`m not a big fan of waterproof paper. If your cache is damp enough that a waterproof log is needed, it`s damp enough to ruin everything else in the cache. You might as well invest your money in a more waterproof container. Also, I usually carry a mechanical pencil with me to sign micro logs, and those don`t work well together. If you do leave a waterproof log, make sure you also leave a pen that can write on it.

I`m so glad I never have to worry about guns here in Japan. Handguns are completely illegal, and there are less than 100 incidences of gun violence every year, almost all of which are perpetrated by organized crime gangs in inter-gang conflicts. I`m comfortable walking pretty much anywhere at night, and never worry that I`ll encounter a mugger with a gun or that I might accidentally startle someone with a concealed weapon who decides to shoot first and ask questions later.

I don't like finding good swag in caches because I've given up on trading and often don't bother to carry any trade items with me. So when I find that rare cache that has something I might actually want, I'm all bummed out because I've got nothing of value to exchange for it.

The cache owner wrote That suggests that he knows what to do and is working on it. But the logs indicate it has been like this for over two years, which doesn't seem very reasonable . . .

I think it's best give your log the date on which you actually found the cache. Say a cache gets logged every day or so, so if someone doesn't log right away the logs get out of order. Now say a geocoin or something goes missing from the cache - having the dates in the wrong order can make it harder to figure out who might have seen it last and who might have a clue about what has become of it. If a cache goes missing, a mis-dated "found it" log in a chain of DNFs can make it hard to guess whether the cache is really there or not. Likewise, a belated "found it" can make a cache seem find-able when it has actually been taken out of commission by a fire or flood or heavy snowfall or whatever. Logging the date of the actual find keeps the cache page true to the actual history of the cache.

If you use pocket queries and GSAK, I think you can do a search of your finds based on how many "found it" logs you have for each one. If you search for cachs with finds=2, you might find one you've logged twice.

Tons. Ueno Park seems to be a nice destination for caching. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.asp...;lng=139.774167

Don`t hide cache in a delicate or sensitive area. Hide a micro in an ancient stone wall and people will pick apart the wall to find it, and put a cache in a field of delicate flowers and those flowers will be trampled before long.

I listed Letterboxing because while not "geocaching" with a GPS, it still involves the placing of a cache: a box of stuff meant to be found later. Since the OP is missing no one knows what they were asking, but if it was another one of those "I found a cache that's not listed on the site, what the heck is it?" questions, then Letterboxing would be a potential answer.

Other caching sites: http://www.navicache.com/ http://www.terracaching.com http://www.letterboxing.org

I`m going to visit Okinawa for a few days, and I`d like to get a few caches. But not too many, since I`ll be with a non-caching friend and there`s a ton of other stuff I want to do there. I`m daunted by the number of caches in the area - hundreds and hundreds, on such tiny islands! Which ones are the very best? Does anyone have recommendations?

When the cache owner talks to the staff again, he/she should go armed with all the logs that mention positive things cachers have done for the shelter when they visited the cache. A lot of the loggers mentioned making donations, bringing treats, leashes, or toys, or even adopting a dog. There are also a ton of logs from cachers who met the staff and had positive interactions with them, so simply showing the current staff that there's a long history of positive interactions between cachers and the shelter might make them inclined to accept it. September 12, 2006 by iamgolden2268 (355 found) Found it fairly quickly and went in to the shelter to look around. Left in tears. There are so many beautiful animals, many of whom have spent years in the shelter. We already have a zoo at home (12 total) so we couldn't take another pet but I would like to challenge all cachers to at least make a generous donation to this great shelter, or if possible take one of these poor creatures home to love. We talked to Hailey and she is so sweet I can't believe someone hasn't taken her home with them yet. So sad...so much love to give. TN, left donation at shelter in lieu of trade item. August 23, 2008 by soccermatha (84 found) Found this cache while visiting my grandparents for the weekend. My boyfriend and I have been talking about getting a dog and I warned him that if we went to find this cache we might come home with a new family member. I was right, we adopted a 12 week old black lab puppy that was in one of the pens out front. We named her Maddydale,"Maddy" for short. We are both on West Peoria Fire Department in Illinois and Maddydale is a type of hose lay so we thought it was fitting. She will have a good home back in Illinois with us. Thanks for the great cache and for bring us here to find our new family member. We will post some photos.

It`s not just one reviewer that feels this way - from comments made by others, it seems that most reviewers and Groundspeak staff feel that "honoring the fallen" is an agenda.

Yeah, you`re not alone, but the database thing ain`t gonna happen. http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=213158&hl= http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=206675&hl= http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=204555&hl= http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=202149&hl= http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=191985&hl=

People have enough problems logging traditional travel bugs properly, even with clear directions posted in so many different places. I would guess that your cards would be even more likely to be logged incorrectly or not at all and then disappear.

It`s an ongoing problem. Here`s the main thread: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=215376

Clicking on someone's profile is hardly snooping. If someone makes a comment about a recent find, I'm sure many people check out their profiles to see their recent caches and find the page for the cache in question.

Not all National Forests are the same. There's a lot of autonomy at the state level, and individual rangers and wardens have their own rules and policies. Some do grant permission for caches.

Here's a long-standing thread on this topic: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=66648 Personally, I have claimed a find for a replacement cache I left once, and only once. Why I did it: 1. The cache owner was clearly MIA, and had ignored months and months of DNFs. 2. A previous finder had seen the DNFs and written an encrypted note describing exactly what the cache was and where it should be. 3. The cache description was long and elaborate with lots of great information on the area - it would be a shame to see it archived. 4. There was an ALR (take a picture), which I did. Yeah, claiming a find instead of writing a note is a bit iffy, but in my mind I "found" exactly what previous finders of the original cache and future finders of the replacement would claim smilies for, and I did fulfill the additional logging requirements. If the cache owner had asked me to change it I would have done so, but since the absent cache owner is the reason I hid the replacement in the first place that obviously didn't happen. But dropping a film canister for every cache you can't find, when there might still be an actual cache present or at least an active owner who can replace it properly, is totally not cool. Delete!