GEO936

Photo of the month nomination: What a cool pic of the bug on the tortoise!! You don't get to see that every day...plus the info about all the eggs she has laid...amazing! Geitjie is owned by Esitoli and itbrl took the pic.

Thanks Jors!! That really does help...I guess I'm a bit way off then? I have no idea when you would be in Grade 1!!

Okay, will go through the bugs now, and will keep a watch on any new postings and will post the last or latest ones at the end of the month. I don't want to miss out on some good pics which are posted on 31 October!!

mmmmmm.......I still remember when I first went overseas with my parents and sisters back in 1982 that we flew on a "new" Boeing 747. It was the latest plane and a lot of hype was made about it. It was like "the" thing to fly on and it was a huge privelage. And at 9 years old, that plane was HUGE! So I'm sure we only got them in the late 1970s, but then again I may be completely wrong. Perhaps we got one or two in the Sixties and then got a "new" one in the late 70's or early 80's?

Was it in the 70's sometime?

It's a pleasure - we really enjoy going through the Racer pages to look at the pics. There are so many good ones, so we land up nominating a lot - sorry, makes your job a bit more difficult! But, we've just realised that we have to keep the nominations until the end of the month, because we missed a few good ones at the end of September, so we've stopped looking at the pages and will do so again at the end of next week. Hope that is okay - as more nominations will be sent in then?

Photo of the month nomination Mom's Marathon Racer owned by Far-Jar-Hug and 2009 Great SA TB Race - The Big Five owned by MnCo. Pic taken by besem What an excellent shot of the Vervet - and he's in focus too! Well done!

Another photo of the month nomination Eager Beaver Geocoin owned by Urban Hunters taken by Pyoung1s in the UK. We struggled to "find" the coin in the pic, but it is there! We like the idea of the hiking rucksack...reminds us of the serious hikes we used to do when we were young and childless! Aaah the good old days ....

Photo of the Month nomination The Love Bug - taken by Wazat and owned by Wazat. We thought this was an interesting pic - how on earth did Wazat get the little guy on top of that huge piece of machinery? Well done!! Very creative you are Wazat!

But that is only if iPajero do all their caching in RSA....if they decide to go on a little holiday in Europe, they will have tons more caches that they can do! I was talking to Rod of RodnJoan at the recent Event by Crystal Fairy, and he was saying that in the UK, where his daughter lives, there were 500 active caches in a 6km radius!!! WOW. I also know that in Germany there are tons of caches, as the Germans are just cache crazy, so if you land up in Deutschland for two weeks, my guess is you could rake up a good few hundred caches!

We really enjoyed "National Treasure" by Crystal Fairy. It was a fun to do, quick and easy mystery cache, with a novel hide at the end. We feel that keeping things simple and fun is the way to go with mystery caches. And what we really don't like about really difficult mysteries is the fact when travellers are left in the cache and sit there for years before the cache is visited again - that is so unfair for the traveller!! We also worked very hard, every night to crack "Cerebrate" by Donkasand. It was rewarding to get the correct final co-ords in the end, but disappointing to find a micro for all the effort. Puzzle or Mystery caches that teach you something are also fun. We enjoyed calculating "Memories" by claust in the Dikoholo resort, although we haven't yet got round to going there to find the actual cache! Another one that was loads of fun was "Brainfood - Malibongwe Drive" by hendri. We really do enjoy the fun mystery caches!!

Yes, Donkasand is very ill at present - I think he is undergoing treatment - and completely out of the geocaching game. When we last contacted him about two of his puzzle caches we were working out, he was unable to confirm if they were still there, nor could he confirm whether the websites (where you need to get some of the info.) were still available. He said he was not able to maintain them and then decided to rather archive them in order to free up the spots for other possible/future hides by other cachers. It is a shame, as we know he really enjoyed putting them together. We certainly hope that he recovers soon and is able to get back into things again.

Hey Wazat...as long as it is not a difficult mystery cache like your 50th in Durbs. Gosh, had a look at it and I'm very confused (but then I'm a chick and confused most of the time anyway - this is Silvia writing and not Rolf & Silvia ). I really tried to read into the story, looked at the dates, but I am guessing one would need to research the cache hides that you refer to, in order to get more clues....am I right?

Congrats to Cache-Fan on your 1600th find - way to go!! Nearly there for your 2000th!! Well done to Die Swart Kat for reaching 100 cache finds in just 6 weeks!! WOW!!!

Wazat...I was actually just teasing and stirring the pot because I didn't see anyone respond to besem's three posts requesting for assistance!! Gee whiz, but you okes took it so seriously....I think I will keep out of the Sandpit thread as it is clear that not many people who are on it have a sense of humour. I did apologise for offending anyone (and everyone) and I'm sure you are right that it was probably just a case of other commitments. I didn't know that besem had managed to bag in a KZN cache - way to go besem. For all its worth, we thoroughly enjoyed caching in KZN and found some really cool caches!

Im sorry but i take a very dim view on that posting and think its uncalled for, as for you saying they are a tight group i have no idea where you get that information from, its totally ridiculous . Oh and one other thing if you going to quote a podcast please get it right, its called podcacher.com. Maybe you should take the time to get to know them before you decide to post a very one sided comment like that. Oops - my apologies!! Yes you are right...it is podcacher.com....I listened to the podcast, so had that in my mind. Please don't take offence to what I said, I was just stirring the pot and did not mean any harm!! I just didn't see anyone respond to the posts that besem made and when I was in contact with him he had said he was stuck at the airport and not able to get any caching done, as he had not received any response from the forum posts. So that is what I went along with...didn't mean that the KZN geocachers are nasty - just that they didn't seem to respond to a geocacher in need - that's all!! The KZN geocachers are a tight group - in the sense that they are very close and even have their own thread, etc. That is what I meant by "tight" - absolutely nothing wrong with that! It's like a brotherhood....if you know what I mean. I don't think we have that here in GP - or maybe we do and I'm just not aware of it?? Who knows?? But it is a great thing in any case......I was really just teasing! Anyway, my comments were meant as a light hearted post and were not meant to offend anyone, so my sincere apologies if I did offend you and anyone else!!

I agree with Jors - PTA's Church Street does ring a bell. I have no idea how long it is though!

besem - I'm so sorry that our fellow KZN geocachers did not respond to your numerous requests for some geocaching help/company and suggestions!! We feel for you man, we really do!!! It seems that the Western Cape and KZN geocachers are a VERY tight group...if you ain't part of the circle they are just not interested in you!! Although we think the KZN geocachers are nice people, they just aren't interested in helping out a Gautenger. Must be from the old days when the "Vaalies" took over their beaches?? Us Gautengers are the NICEST, friendliest bunch of geocachers around. Take a look at the dude (hgl) that visited us from Aus - one post and he had a whole lot of responses and in the end was taken on a caching spree of note by BruceTP. He even mentioned good old RSA as a geocaching spot on podcast.com!! We hadn't really spent much time on the "Sandpit" thread, so we didn't see your request. We have done the few caches around Ballito and could've given you some advice. Hopefully you'll get a better response and some help next time round!!

Thanks guys! We also did not know if it was possible to get the "history" and that is why we posted the request thinking that there was a way to determine that. But alas there is no automated way. We are aware of the TB Hotels - we are the owner of the Little Netherlands one - however, there are a few of our caches which are safe for trackables and have had a lot got through them, e.g. Hp in the Park. So it is not just the TB Hotels that should be looked at .... Thanks for the info. though!

What an awful thing to happen!! We really feel terrible for Tumble Bug! Being mugged was the last straw for Crystal Fairy, and they decided to emmigrate! We have posted a note on the cache requesting that the cache owner (GlobalRat) archives the cache and that Fish Eagle (Voluntary Reviewer) makes a note that this spot is a "no-go" area for any future cache hiders. From Tumble Bug's log, it seems that those horrible youths knew exactly what was going on, so the spot is not safe for geocaching. Gerhard - you are absolutely right - we have to take great care when we go out caching especially with all the equipment a geocacher carries!

I'm just jumping the gun here, as I am sure cincol should be the one to respond on this question. But as far as I understand, the rules state that you get points as a FTF and you don't need to leave the Racer in the cache, even if the cache could accommodate it. I think if you wanted to leave it in the cache that you were the first to find, then that would be okay - I think the decision lies with you. However, if the cache is too small, you would need to move it on. cincol would be able to confirm/clarify.

Just thinking about it a bit. Does the name come from something historical or geographical?

Maybe not a geocaching milestone, but a milestone none the less!! Congrats to Marika & Andre (Team Ginger) who will be tying the knot on Saturday, 17th October! Everything of the best to you guys and may you have many happy and memorable years together!! Best wishes from the GEO936 Team xxx

We have a question/query request: Which top 10 active caches have the most trackables that have gone through the cache to date? In other words, we would like to know the caches that have had the most trackable items move through them (history). If possible, could you run this query for the whole of RSA and then run it just for Gauteng. It would be interesting to see this because it would show which caches are very safe for dropping off trackable items. Many thanks GEO936

Oh my! I'm sure I've heard something about that pan in the distant past, but I cannot remember the details. We haven't been to the Northern Cape in absolute ages, years actually, which is a pity as we really enjoy it there. But that doesn't help with an answer and neither does my knowledge of Afrikaans. I'm quite useless actually....I should've paid more attention when I was in school.