OneOfEm

Several weeks ago, a local cacher logged a find for one of my caches even though his log clearly stated that he didn't find it. This particular cache had been designed and placed by my wife under my username (since she doesn't have/want her own). She wanted to delete the log right then, but since we've butted heads with this guy a couple of times in the past, I convinced her to ignore it. I've had other finders mention that this log should be deleted, but each time let it stay. This weekend, we ran into another cacher while doing a detailed micro-sweep. As we were talking, he said that it really bothered him that there was a no-find logged as a find on the cache in question. He'd worked through the puzzle and located the cache, and didn't think it was right that the other cacher got the same credit he did for half the effort. My wife agreed and deleted the log. This morning I had a nice present in my inbox. He'd deleted my logs from his caches. I then sent him an email (as my wife should have done), explaining why his log was deleted and letting him know that his actions aren't going to change the way I play the game - I'm not deleting his logs in my other caches, and I'll still search and log his caches when they're in an area I'm in - even if he intends on deleting my finds as soon as they're posted. It is just a game.

135 within 50 miles (half of that circle is Gulf). More interesting than that is that 47 of those have been placed in the last 4 months.

a good ol' owl. You?

Boy Scout Troop 244 from Kenner, LA has 47 finds. I haven't looked through all their logs, but I know they have 21 finds from a weekend biketrip around New Orleans. It sounded like a great idea. As far as matching Geocaching to Scout requirements goes, you can use Geocaching to meet soe requirements for every level of Scouting from Tiger through Venturing except for Webelo. We did a presentation on this topic as our Woodbadge project in December. I don't remember specifics for each Cub level (one of my patrol members did the Cub part of the presentation), but if you look through the appropriate book with GeoScouting in mind, you'll find what you're looking for. If you need a boost, send me an email and I'll forward your address to the CM who worked on that part of the project. (edit - check out this log posted recently by Troop 244.)

This is the start of four of my FTF prizes. I added some text using a gold paint marker (cache name, "First Finder" and date placed - my name is on the back) and sealed the final result. The first-finder of the only one I've placed so far was pretty happy with it - "took handpainted first to find rock which I shall cherish..." I recently found some small wodden picture frames at a dollar store that I'll eventually make into FTF "awards." I plan to take a picture that is meaningful for the cache, add some appropriate text, then print and place in the frame. I'm just trying to think of things that I'd be willing to display on my desk.

Yes. DNF = Did Not Find

Typically with these auctions, after the auction closes, you have a certain amout of time (3-30 days) to pick up your items. How you do it is up to you. However, you have to have proper ID before entering the base with a large truck. Think about it...

Before using epoxy on a smooth surface, scuff the surface with Scotchbrite until water spreads across the surface instead of beading. If you do this, unless you're trying to attach the magnet to teflon or the like, it will stick. I picked up this tip from a chemical engineer who KNOWS epoxies. JB Weld is my epoxy of choice.

To re-use an old joke I heard once... A Geocacher wakes up his wife right as the sky began turning light early one Saturday morning. He says, "sex or Geocaching." She replies, "the GPS is on the table."

Try to log as many as you can before you leave. That way, you'll have a bit more experience knowing what to look for and might be able to avoid DNF's on your trip.

I often find exactly the same thing.

When a quote (") is entered as part of a TB name, the quote is converted to &quote; to, no doubt, be correctly displayed as HTML. On the TB's page, however, the title is displayed with the " tag instad of the ". Also, when I edit the bug, the " in the name field has been changed to ". an example is at this page.

All of the above plus: $150/hour for psycho-analysis after being traumatized by Sparky's cat.

I'd also suggest white text on a black label (i.e. invert the image) to make it easier to hide. Unless you're planning on placing it in a circus, I'd drop the day-glo orange. I've found a cache in a playground/park where the container was one of those non-childproof transparent orange pill bottles. I'd recommend against placing that type of container in a playground area. If you paint yours black or olive, it'd be good to go just about anywhere, however.

Unlucky Seven is exactly that type of cache except with questions concerning GPS technology. If you answer the questions correctly, there are fewer steps to the final. The "wrong-answer-penalty-steps" lead you to the next question just like the correct answer. So for each wrong answer, you have one additional step to hunt for. These are all along a Rails-to-Trails trail. You can do it with about a 1.2 mile hike if you get them all right (guesstimate), or longer (maybe 2.5?) if you get them all wrong.

You don't have to spend a bunch, just put some thought into your trade items. Keep your eyes open, and you'll see something in a store somewhere (or online) that will be inexpensive yet cool.

If you have to re-do the grip, you might consider looking at using cork. You can get pre-made grips from rodbuilding supply places and all you'd have to do is ream it to fit then epoxy it on. take a look here to see what I'm talking about.

I recently went out to one of my caches to drop off a TB. None of the previous visitors mentioned anything about an action figure. The cache had been completely cleaned out except for the logbook and this arm. At least he didn't have the nerve to log leaving the arm. (edit - The dime is for scale only)

Geosplashing.

I would also think that any GC'er would try to keep from giving away a cache location to muggles. However, here's another snippet proving otherwise: "Lots and lots of people around, sitting in the bleachers, playing tennis, picnics, bike riding....it was wall to wall people. But, despite all the people around, I dove into the bushes..." They visited on a day of a tennis tournament and didn't think it would be best to return later.

I agree that you should make it both remote and more difficult. I have a three-stage multi with a final that's in a park in the downtown area, and even though I've stocked and re-stocked with better-than-average swag, on both occasions, the cache was cleaned out pretty quickly. In fact, 10 visitors after the latest re-stocking, the only thing left in the cache besides the logbook was an arm from an action figure. Considering the hide, I'm very sure that the raping of the cache had to be done via the coordinates. Now it's full of my normal trade items. I'm going to save the good loot for a soon-to-be-placed multi-TB cache similar to the Wile E. Coyote cache. I figure that the plunderers are looking for the easy hits. I've also decided that it's best to *not* detail the contents of the cache in the description. Those who want to cache would visit even if it's empty. Those who want the items are more likely to trade down (if at all).

That's about how far one of mine is from the final. I placed it in a way that encourages walking instead of driving between the two stages (it's possible at this location), because the walk back to the car from the final shows a nice panoramic view. On the way to the final, they usually are so intent on finding the cache that they miss it.

Some time ago I'd heard that you could make most nearly any hiking boot fit like a glove if you'd stand in water for 10-15 minutes then walk them dry. I didn't believe it. However, one pair I had a few years ago felt fine, but they would always rub a row of blisters along the edge of my right foot after 2 or 3 days of hard use. I had nearly decided to just use them for short hikes until I got caught in a deluge on a day hike through a swampy area, and they got completely soaked. Even though I didn't exactly "walk them dry," I did walk in them wet for a couple of miles, and they have fit perfectly ever since. Since then, I've read someone else who suggests the same thing. You can bet I'll be walking my next pair dry shortly after buying them.

I know you can transfer toner from laser printer output to other materials using acetone (that's the first step in making your own rubber stamps), and the detail comes out very well. I'm not sure if it would work on color laser toner, however. If so, it would be pretty easy to transfer artwork to wooden blanks. You'd just have to remember to reverse the artwork before printing. Perhaps someone with access to a color laser could test this for us...

I just received a box of trade items that I ordered - Iraq playing cards. If you look on Froogle, you can get the decks for $1 each for 36+. It's just something a little different.