hamgran

I enjoy working on the puzzle caches. If they require time to figure out, I print them off and bring them when I have to wait somewhere: a doctor's office, an arena, during downtime at work, etc. If they require time googling, I do them after afternoon shift when I need relaxing time before bed. If I'm really stymied, I've been known to ask another cacher (or even the cache owner) for a small hint, to put me in the right direction. I don't think cache owners want their puzzle cache to be attainable only by a select few, so most are more than willing to give a hint if you're stuck. It's like the micro issue: do 'em if you don't mind 'em, ignore 'em if you do.

Just ran a couple of test pqs... the caches dropped were the ones furthest away from the centre point, all along the route. (That's what I thought would happen too, but you never know!) Thanks.

Which caches are knocked off a route pocket query when the amount of eligible caches exceeds the requested number of caches? e.g. if I make a route pocket query from Toronto to Ottawa, 4 km. on each side of the highway, perhaps there were 450 caches that met the criteria, but I put a limit of 300 on the query. Which 150 will I lose? The bottom of the alphabet? The last few km. of the route? Or the 150 caches that are furthest away from the centre point (highway)?

Thanks, guys! I remember finding my very first cache, nearly five years ago... it was on Pelee Island, and what a thrill it was. Even to this day, I still get a thrill when I find a cache. Caching has taken me to some pretty neat places, and allowed me to meet some wonderful people. It's a great hobby, and I love it. Here's to the next 3000! - hamgran

Well, yes, micros are evil, there’s no question of that. Especially micros in a forest. (But we still do ‘em, simply ‘cause they’re there!) This may be slightly off-topic, but I think this whole discussion about menus is just a manifestation of a much bigger problem: how much input do/should we have, as players of this game? My trade-unionist background makes me yearn for a system where, for instance, a representative of the OGA (Ontario Geocaching Association) could take concerns from Ontario cachers (perhaps compiled by the Regional Reps from each of their regions?) to TPTB, either directly or through other levels (Canadian? International?) and have TPTB (who are no longer TPTB because they realize who actually employs them) listen carefully, and then seriously consider each proposal for change. Pipe dreams, I guess. But then I always was an idealist! (and, obviously naïve!)

Allow the Menu Link.

The ones you can make on your computer (from Staples) are not waterproof, though. I'm assuming Fort S wants to put the magnet on the outside of his/her car? Unless there are waterproof magnetic home-computer-printable sheets I haven't heard about.

That doesn't seem to matter much. It happened to me once, too. I think the higher-up Powers That Be find out about the recently-approved cache (maybe they monitor more closely the caches approved by a less-experienced cache approver), note the so-called problem with it, and contact the area cache approver to rectify the situation with the cache owner.

Never lost one, but Banjosmom and I found one once, while hiking along the Bruce Trail. A discussion ensued as to how the ring came off The Mystery Man's finger and ended up on the Trail... it was winter so BJM thought it might have been loose on his finger and came off when he took his glove off (we found it right next to a look-out point with a plaque). I adhered to the hypothesis that he'd flung it from the highway above, in a pique of emotion, and it happened to land near the plaque. BJM took the ring home with her, thinking she'd put an ad in the Bruce Trail magazine; I'm not sure if she did, or what ever became of the ring. - hamgran

I got it! I didn't realize I needed to look in Mapsource to find it, but there it was! It looks great. Thanks! - hamgran

Yeah, that's where I had the problem. I ended up with a 3-file package and couldn't figure out how to launch it.

Downloaded it once but it didn't work... just trying again, now.

Approach your regional rep. They're there to help with the project, and can usually get their hands on a few loaned GPSrs.

Wow!

How do you 'build' something like that? How does that work? Sounds interesting. - hamgran

052, it's my moose hunting area.

I actually like the extra co-ordinates. I think of them as alternate co-ords - if the posted ones don't work for me, I try the other ones. They are especially useful for micros in the woods, which are so dependant on good co-ords. - hamgran

It's happened to both my black-and-white Vista and my Vista C. They're supposed to be waterproof units; I dunked the 3-year-old Vista C last month (about a year after the rubber gasket came loose), and water just poured into the unit. Just bought a Vista HCX; hope Garmin's fixed the problem.

Lots of great ideas here - thanks, everyone. I called Garmin (US) and they're getting back to me on Monday - they're trying to arrange to have it fixed under warranty (even though it's over 2 years old) because the outer rubber gasket wasn't doing its job. Complicating matters is the fact that I'm in Canada, so they'll have to authorize Quebec to make the repairs. I'll wait to hear from them, and if a no go I'll try opening the unit up myself. - hamgran

I have an older Garmin Etrex Vista C, and the rubber gasket around the outside has loosened considerably (a perennial problem with the Etrex series). The unit got dunked in a lake a few days ago, and now there's water behind the screen (a few drops in the corners). I can turn it on, and get the first page, but none of the buttons will work. Is there a way to save it, or is it now geojunk? (I ordered one of the new Vista HCX's last month, thank goodness, but it hasn't come in yet, so in the meantime I've resorted to using an old black-and-white Vista). - hamgran

Both my Vista and Vista C eventually had that problem: the rubber trim on the outside became quite loose (stretched?), and the adhesive quite gummy underneath. I put crazyglue on the Vista C about six months ago, all the way around the outside except near the side buttons, and it's been fine ever since.

Bigger screen, for aging eyes.

My Vista C has 10 character capability, as well. I'd like to see the "note" section expanded, though. It allows for approx. 30 characters; not enough for long-winded clues!

For my Garmin e-Trex Vista C, I like the Garmin Mapsource Topo Canada maps. The topo is great - I use it for hunting, as well. Has all the streets on it, too. It's nice having the bodies of water illustrated; comes in handy when you're wondering which side of the river a cache is on. Not sure how much it is now, but I think I paid between $150.-$200. for the package about three years ago, and it covers all of Canada. - hamgran

Too bad you don't have one of the Stargate caches near you.