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buck09

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Posts posted by buck09

    Microsoft Streets And Trips

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    This assumes you have Microsoft Excel - version XP or 2003

     

    The .loc files you download from the geocaching site are in a format called XML. Download your .loc file and save it to your hard drive. (DON'T OPEN IT IN EASYGPS - it will change the format right away).

     

    Go into Microsoft Excel and open a new worksheet. Click Data -> XML -> Import. Under "files of type" select "All Files (*.*)".

     

    From there, find your .loc file and it will import into a new worksheet.

     

    Save your workbook as a regular excel spreadsheet.

     

    Next, open S&T and click Data -> Import Data Wizard.

     

    Find your excel worksheet and open it.

     

    Then, you have to tell S&T which colums are which - Lat, Long and a minimum. I also [ut the geocache number and name in the Name and Name1 fields.

     

    click ok and all the caches will display on the map.

    Finding Address On A 60c

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    It looks like a lot of steps, but after you practice and find 2 or 3 addresses, it only takes a minute or 2.

     

    Here's an example for finding

    Awesome!! Thanks so much for the illustration - I'm going to print that out for my brother - he will find that quite helpful.

     

    Thanks again everyone for all the great information. After this, I think he's going to be an easy geocaching convert :(

    Finding Address On A 60c

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    Find -> Addresses -> enter City -> enter Address number -> enter Street Name

     

    I believe you have to download detailed maps from City Select or MetroGuide first.

    That menu you describe - that's actually in the GPS after you load the City Select menus?

     

    (The reason I want to be absolutely sure is because he's on call quite a bit and needs to be able to look up and route to addresses without the computer...)

     

    My GPS experience is limited to my eTrex Legend...

    Finding Address On A 60c

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    My brother recently bought a Garmin 60C, and he wanted to know if there is any way, using just the GPS, to find a specific address, or even a street for navigation on the fly. If that's not possible, are there any addons that add the capability? Are there other Garmin units that can do that??

     

    Thanks!

    Satellite Photos??

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    Can anyone tell me where on the net you can go to punch in street addresses or coords and get a corresponding arial photo of that area??? I used to have a really neat website saved in my favorites list, but my PC crashed uber bad and now all that is gone. I thought I got the link initially from Geocaching.com but now am unable to find any reference to it. Thanks in advance for the help!!!

    It costs money each year, but I like to use Keyhole - http://www.keyhole.com/

     

    Being able to fly from place to place and scan back and forth is a really useful feature if you're looking for new and interesting places to hide a cache.

     

    They have a trial version - it's fun to play with, even if you don't want to pay the $35 per year for it.

    Geocaching In The Winter?

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    This question is for the people the geocache were is snow's.

     

    Do you geocache in the winter?

     

    Is it harder to hide or go to a cache without leaving tracks in the snow for everyone (cachers and mugglers) to see?

     

    Has finding a cache been easier in the winter with snow on the ground for you because you could follow the tracks in the snow to the cache?

     

    Maybe kind of early for these questions :D but I was wondering.....

    I geocache in the winter. As a matter of fact, my first cache was on one of the coldest days in the last decade. (I think it was about -20 F)

     

    Batteries don't last long in the cold, so I always bring 2-3 sets with. Also - keep your GPS warm, as the LCD screens get r-e-a-l s-l-o-w with cold weather.

     

    Tracks often lead to the cache, but sometimes not. Most winter cachers will walk the long way around or make many different trails in the snow.

     

    Personally, I enjoy caching in the snow very much. There are rarely people out in the parks, and the added difficulty of finding things buried under snow is a lot of fun. One of the hardest caches was one at the base of a fallen tree. All the water from melting snow and ice came down right on top of the cache. When I got to it, I could only expose the corner of it - the rest was in 5-6 inches of ice. I didn't really have much with me to dig with, but I managed to get it unburied after about 45 minutes so I could sign the log book.

    Phoenix Az

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by buck09

    ohh one more thing.. check this ebay auction out.. this is really cool.. I gotta pick one of these babies up when my TB's come in!!

    That's very cool, however, keep in mind that the listing guidelines state that:

     

    If a shovel, trowel or other "pointy" object is used to dig, whether in order to hide or to find the cache, then it is not appropriate.

     

    :lol:

    If Someone Spots You Searching What Do You Say?

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    Gotta size them up quickly. I've only had 66 finds, but have run into several people so far. For the ones that look like they would "get it", I explain what I'm doing and tell them a little about the sport. Most of the people I've done this to were, at worst, indiferent.

     

    I've also run into several people who I knew wouldn't get it / were beligerent. My excuses so far:

     

    - Looking for my dog. (Don't own a dog)

    - Exploring the park.

     

    I've thought of several smart*** remarks, but my better judgement prevents me from using them:

     

    - I can't find my mommy.

    - Out planning pagan rituals

    - Hiding from black helicopters, looking for tinfoil hat.

    - What are *YOU* doing out here?

    - Hunting snipes

    - My lizard told me to come here.

    - Looking for a big "W"

    Where Can I Go To Get A Sig Stamp?

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    I've seen other people stamp the log book and it makes me feel like a sucker for taking the time to write my name and date down. :)

     

    I'd like my own stamp. Keep in mind that I'm lazy, so the following criteria need to be met:

     

    1. I need to order it online.

    2. I'd like a moderate degree of control over the design.

    3. I only want to buy 2-3 stampers.

    4. Must be self inking.

    5. Have a date stamp with it.

     

    Any pointers where to go online would be appreciated.

    What's The Creepiest Cache/cache Area?

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I logged a DNF on Inner City Suprise because I was too freaked out to go find the cache. Check this out:

     

    This cache is placed on the private property of a personal friend of mine with his knowledge and permission. It is in the inner city, so take care when visiting the cache! A flashlight might be a good idea even during the day! This cache is located on a property that has the 3rd oldest house still on it's original site in the state. There are older buildings in this state located on the Old World Wisconsin grounds, but they have been moved there. Behind this house is a bridge tenders house that was moved from it's original site on the Wells Street bridge downtown Milwaukee. It was used as an artist's studio by J.P. Raniere, one of the owners of this property, who died last year. His friend, Jeff Hicks, still lives on this site.

     

    Behind the bridge tenders house is a small chapel, built in the early 1980's, in a style that is reminiscent of the 1400's in Europe. Inside this chapel, underneath the floor, J.P. is burried. He was a Fransiscan Frair, and Jeff was able to get special permission from the city to bury him there. Behind the chapel used to be a large barn that housed a blacksmith's shop that had to be torn down in the 1980's also.

     

    Scattered throughout the property are archetectual pieces saved from various razed buildings including the old Iron Block building on Water and Wisconsin, which itself was renovated in the early 1980's. A large vine growing behind the bridge tenders house yeilds grapes that Jeff makes his own wine with. There are dozens of different species of trees growing on this property also. All in all, this is a place you will not soon forget, once you have visited it.

     

    The cache is a small tin box with old stamped postcards, a log book, and a pen in it, so bring only different postcards to place in it, or something of that size and nature.

    Newbie With A Concern....

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    Thank you all for responding so quickly....you have given me some newfound confidence to keep at this. I guess I just hate "failure", when I can't find one....but I guess the point is to enjoy the environment (saw a baby armadillo today, an alligator day before yesterday), enjoy the hunt and move on to the next cache!

     

    (edited: and YES the weather has been GREAT!)

    I know how you feel. Last night I went looking for a cache. I didn't find it the last time, and I still can't find it. Looking at the logs, it doesn't seem to be that hard for anyone else. I've found other caches that in seconds that others spend a half hour searching for. I was pretty peeved that I couldn't find it the second time around, but that's ok because I generally never reat hints - and I don't take the hints into the field with me. I do this knowing full well that I might not be able to find the cache and will have to come back later. That makes it a challenge and sometimes very frustrating, but then again, I play gold, so I'm used to it.

     

    ;-)

    Incresed Membership Fees.

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    Never for a faster server.

    I really have a hard time understanding the rationale behind this... I mean, you *have* to imcrease capacity as your subscriber base and traffic increases. Keep in mind that we're not talking about a faster server like getting a BMW instead of a Kia. As the amount of activity on a server increases, you're going to need:

     

    1. More disk space - think about the hundreds of photos uploaded every day.

    2. More bandwidth - nobody is going to use the site if it's slow as molasses, and people aren't going to pay for crummy service.

    3. Faster servers - when hundreds of people are running the same program at the same time, you need enough CPU time and RAM to handle it.

    4. Backup equipment - tape drives, disc arrays and other items needed to back up all this stuff in case of equipment failure.

    5. Replacement and maintenance costs. Hardware fails and either you're paying for a maintanance contract or you're buying new parts.

     

    All those things cost money. In fact, for a site this massive, you should be thankful every day that it's free, because running it isn't cheap.

     

    That said, I think having a premium membership is the way to go. I think the sport should be accessable for everyone who wants to play. Nobody *needs* pocket queries, but they sure are nice, so why not pay for them?

    The Thrill Of Exchanging Cache Items

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    I get a big thrill out of finding the cache, signing the logbook and reporting the find on the web. I get absolutely nothing out of exchanging cache items. In fact, I find it all clutter as I dig my way to the logbook. Am I unusual or are there others that feel the same? Thanks.

    Most of the caching I do is on the spur of the moment... I've got the caches in the GPS, I've got a few spare minutes to find it, so I just get out there, sign the book and get back. I really can't lug around a bag-o-trade items of varying value, so I don't bother. For me the most fun is the fact that the time I have to find a cache is most often, very short. I've had to run to find caches. Most people think I'm a jogger, which often looks funny because I'm in kahkis and a dress shirt.

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