VAVAPAM
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Everything posted by VAVAPAM
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Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
Yes, quite a bit more varied. Lots of trads might be good training ground for beginners, I think, but not so much for those that would want variety. Perhaps I need to work on that. (I'm not smart enough to create challenging puzzles, but the others may be do-able.) Fortunately, I don't have too far to go (50ish miles) to get both the variety and terrain missing in our area. The kicker there is that those T5s tend to be rated as such because watercraft ($$) is needed...only a couple are "swimmable". M'Lady Penelope runs naked in the streets of Australia, eh? Good to know - filing that away for future reference. And indeed, the P&G part is the point ... the souvenir challenges tend to sink the good ship Utopia2. Sort of like the OP, I'm not hoping for any PTs in my area, but a bunch of P&Gs somewhere else, nearby, would be handy on those occasions. -
OK. I usually stick around the southEASTern side (Dale County) when visiting the homestead, but if I wander westward, I'll give a shout here, on this thread. Happy hunting!
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Do you mean hints for the cache itself? On The App? I just tried on the Android version of The App, and the cache hint popped right up.
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Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
+1 All good points - with solutions! -
Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
Back to the OP: I know very well how fortunate I am to be in area with responsive and respectful COs (they do actually leave space for others, even), and the sense of community, extending to nearby larger cities, is strong and supportive. Perhaps that is why I keep going back to trying to resolve the issue within your own caching community...because that works here. Do you have a caching community, or is it a more insular, everybody-do-their-own-thing type of place? Granted, not every one wants to participate in a community, but is there a way to create a community spirit there that engenders cooperation, empathy and respect for others? Is that never gonna happen? -
Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
Meanwhile, over here in Utopia2, in the 10 mi radius we have .... # caches: 82 (including 1 disabled micro) # regular: 19 (23%) # traditional 78 # small: 24 (30%) # multi: 01 # micro: 35 (42%) # mystery: 02 # other: 04 (05%) # virtual: 01 Difficulty: 1-4; Terrain: 1-4 [# functioning pens: unknown] Everybody who has NOT taken advantage of a convenient LPC to satisfy a challenge of some sort, or a simple wish to find a cache, please step forward. "Any one? Any one?" We have three ... BYOP. -
Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
Why, yes. You quoted them, actually. I'm guessing your answer would be ... no? -
Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
You fully misinterpret my intent, and I'm sorry that you took it be a personal attack in some way. That was an actual question, a bona fide musing ... it didn't occur to me that it would be amusing or reflect on you in any way. Huh. The shrimp-eaters one, though, yeah, that was just a flippant remark. I thought your characterization was funny! -
Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
Those dang shrimp-hoggers! -
Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
This has been my experience in our area, too. They really are quite different than power/numbers trails. -
Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
There's an interesting point. Hm. Where these odious placements occur, is there a vacuum? Are these "cache carpets" filling a void left by other would-be COs in the community? -
Was just quoting the faq, but yes, I noticed that while planning a route yesterday, too! (And they're still showing on the website, at least.) Decided not to jinx anybody by mentioning it. Perhaps they've been left to aid in final logging?
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Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
A community that doesn't have problems with PTs = "all the caches are high quality, well maintained, with containers that never leak, and pens never run out of ink." I only use pencils, so I couldn't possibly know whether that statement is true or not. -
Power trails in the suburbs are bad for “Geocaching”.
VAVAPAM replied to Gary&Vicky's topic in General geocaching topics
Unanswered questions: Do you really mean *only* in the suburbs, as stated in the title? So power trails in the desert - or some place far from your home zone - are ok? Do you have plans to place caches in your 10-mile zone that new cachers can hunt and learn from (i.e., non-PMO caches)? If so, have you communicated the plans with the "perpetrator"? Have you already placed non-PMO caches which are shining examples from which these newbies can learn? Are there parts of the PTs that are showing a poor example, other than simply being a PT? Can/should '...something be done?': By *whom*? Are you thinking of something along the lines of allowing would-be COs to "stake a claim" to a certain area around them? Or delineating "PT-free/Newbie-only zones"? Not knowing the answers to those questions, nevertheless I sally forth. ---- Yes, it does sound quite a bit like "... an old man shouting 'stay off my lawn'." From the OP, I interpret that in your geocaching youth, you enjoyed an activity that, now that you're older [and wiser? not traveling as much?], you no longer enjoy ... and expect others - all others - to follow suit. Frankly, I read the rest of the OP as *justifications* for your stance. Whether they are true or not in *your* community, I can't know. One problem, old man , is that it is not *your* lawn to forbid others to invade. Your lawn is, in reality, community property. Do I think "something can/should be done"? Well, I don't think you'd have started this thread if you didn't think something SHOULD be done ... rather rhetorical, there. Again, the salient question is, WHO should be doing something? To that, I will offer requested opinion. As dprovan reasonably suggests, open communication with your community members - or particular member whose behavior you wish to alter - can be an effective method of achieving what you want. So, can be done? You betchya ... by you. If it bothers you enough, then yes, you should communicate your feelings with your community member(s). (And be prepared to be met with the fact that you may be in the minority in your community.) Whether you do this by personal and amicable messages directly to one member or - possibly even more effective for your cause - planning and hosting a "Building and Placing Awesome Caches/The Impact of Cache Placement to the Community" event. Market it; advertise it in your community. Target your marketing of the event to those you wish to share your wisdom/influence. With work on your part, sure, it CAN be done. Do I think "something should be done" by HQ? Recommendations have been issued via blog, etc., but should they take it further, creating a rule or enforced guideline? *No*. I am firmly in the "Rules Must Benefit/Address Problems for the GLOBAL Community" camp. While some - even many - may find PTs irksome for any number of reasons, unless they are improperly maintained or otherwise don't meet guidelines, there is nothing that should be addressed on a global level. FWIW: I am not a PT advocate and have never done one. No, I take that back. I did do "The World's Shortest Power Trail" 1 & 2: 2 caches, each at opposite ends of a 0.1-mile-long guardrail. HA! -
Mystery at the Museum: Why is the case closing so soon?
VAVAPAM replied to thisisace's topic in General geocaching topics
MYSTERY AT THE MUSEUM FAQ -
Mystery at the Museum: Why is the case closing so soon?
VAVAPAM replied to thisisace's topic in General geocaching topics
Correction and apologies .... According to the faq: -
According to the faq: However! Note: Hopefully, you've some way to remember which cache holds which clues/jewels.
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Mystery at the Museum: Why is the case closing so soon?
VAVAPAM replied to thisisace's topic in General geocaching topics
You have 1 hr, 5 minutes ... go, go, go! -
Hi, so glad to hear you've started geocaching and want to connect with others in the area - good on you! Quick question for clarification: Where-abouts are you drawing that North/South line? Dothan? Ozark? Troy? Montgomery? (Stop me when I'm getting warm. )
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The biggest jewel heist in history!
VAVAPAM replied to Max and 99's topic in General geocaching topics
I became an infrequent cacher "for a reason". While the virtual souvenir did not change that reason, it did change my choice of free time (also infrequent) activity. When the opportunity presented itself, I felt very fortunate to have already solved a 48-puzzle geoart that satisfied all requirements but three. Frankly, it was an enjoyable experience, not a long line of guardrail hangers or what-have-you, and it topped my finds-in-a-day by 30. The satisfaction was in the hunt, absolutely, but the souvenir was the catalyst ... and quite tasty icing on the cake. It's not so much that I, as an infrequent cacher, don't care about souvenirs ... more like if that chance hadn't come up, I would have made peace with the fact that it was unattainable for me, given my circumstances (as I have done in the past). -
The biggest jewel heist in history!
VAVAPAM replied to Max and 99's topic in General geocaching topics
In my immediate (10-20 mi) area, there were only a couple. None were fixed up by the CO during the promotion. Further out, though, (20-50 mi) I noticed several had recent [bona fide] maintenance. -
Thanks for the very helpful suggestions and the commiseration! I have renamed the few (knock on wood) trackables that are missing, and have added a note if they're on the TB Rescue map on another site. This particular one, I have not renamed so as not to alienate the current holder*. I did, however, log a Write Note that I'd be attending an event that they happened to have logged a Will Attend for, too, and hope that they'll bring it for me to recover it there. Though I've never gotten a response, I can't assume they're not receiving my messages. I'll send one more a day or two before the event, asking them directly to bring it to the event. Just thinking that it could be easy for them to not think of bringing it if I don't mention it. Does this sound reasonable ... or like "hounding"?
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I used The Official App to log - in order - jewels, then additional requirements, all on the same day. I thought I might have to wait a bit for the jewel finds to hit, but it was instantaneous. After finding the rest, the result was again immediate, with the final test arriving within seconds. So I'm gonna say no, not an App thing ... unless something has happened recently.