rossinator

I just put on on my truck, and the log page seems to be looking for a geocach to pick up/place it in. Don't these trackable items like car decals, shirts, and geobags allow to enter GPS coordinates of the find?

OK, here goes: I have been caching since October 2003. 1. How did you first hear about geocaching? I am a gadget geek, and I bought a Garmin Yellow on ebay just because I thought having a GPS would be cool. After I received it, I did a Google search to find coordinates of local (Syracuse, NY) land marks, and one of the hits was a geocache listing. After reading it, and reading the FAQ, etc I headed out to find one and have been hooked ever since. 2. Tell me about your first cache? Cont'd from #1: It was a cache I rode my bike to along the Erie Canal. It was easy enough for a beginner to find, but just hard enough to be enticing. The "hit" I got when I spotted it was a great feeling, and still feel it almost every time I find a cache. 3. Have you had any bad/scary experiences caching? I took my niece and two nephews (5, 6, and 9) "treasure hunting" in the woods in Central New York near a number of farms. My niece is a special needs kid and gets scared easily. She was a bit frightened by the woods and asking about monsters and wild animals. Just as I assured her that there was nothing to be afraid of, we encountered the biggest German Shepard I have ever seen. He was just standing in the middle of the trail looking at us. Not moving, not wagging his tail, not growling, nothing. We all froze. I told the kids to take a step back while we determined whether or not he was friendly, and the dog stepped forward. All I could imaging was the dog lunging forward and the kids scattering - develop a defense strategy for that! And if he did, what would I tell my sister "I got two of them back OK..."? We repeated the step back and dog step forward another three or four times until we were next to a large tree. I had the kids side step to the tree while I approached the dog. He ended up being very friendly and accompanied us for the rest of the hike, but our initial encounter scared the hell out of me. 4. What is the #1 reason you geocache? 1a: exercise, 1b: introduction to new wonderful places. 5. Do you prefer to hunt or hide? Hunt. 6. What was your favorite cache place? Why? Any cache that introduces me to a wonderful new park or view that I never knew existed, especially when it is close to home. 7. What was your worst cache? Why? It was a cache hidden in a water down spout by the loading dock and dumpster behind a K-Mart in Hershey, PA. All I could think is "why bring someone here - it sucks!" 8. Have you ever attened a cache event? Yes, attended my first a few weeks ago, and I had a great time. I have had to travel a lot the last couple of years (slows down the geocaching), so I have missed a number of them, so it was a thrill to actually meet geocachers. I have only encountered other cachers once in the field. 9. Tell me your best caching story? Probably my answer to #3. I hope your report goes well.

I say too bad for the cheating finder. I have visited a number of virtuals in my home town, and learned a lot about the history of my community that we never touched on during the local history units in Social Studies. I say ignore the cheaters, and let the rest of us who actually visit the place keep enjoying the experiences.

I have yet to get my wife as interested as I am, but she joined me today for 3 finds. At the second one, she wandered around the park a little embarased while I looked high and low for a micro. We both enjoyed the time outside. I also take my nephews, and they love "treasure hunting". Spread the word: I did my Toastmasters speach #2 last week on Geocaching, and I think 3 people from the chapter are trying it out! Glad your hooked.

I love to take my nephews out geocaching. They are still a bit young to understand the whole hi-tech scavenger hunt thing, so when we go out we just refer to it as treasure hunting. This photo was taken near the “Rock's Box” cache (GCQFM9). Always trying to make things a bit of an adventure instead of just a hike in the woods, the boys named this creek the “River of Death”, which had some reality considering the walk over the snow and ice covered footbridge with two energetic boys. I get a kick out of the dinosaur hat...

The only one I've encountered that made me go hmmm... was a magnetic key holder stuck to a drain pipe behind a k-mart. I was baffled as to why anyone would want to lead cachers to that spot - "Oh look! A loading dock!"

Generally, I find them frustrating. I typically feel like i'm sneaking around, and after finding it, there are so many muggles that you can't retrieve it.

Several things: 1: I've always liked hiking, but with work, kids, etc, I haven't been out as much as I would like. Geocaching has brought me back into the woods! 2: I have confirmed to my wife and daughters that I am a techno-geek. 3. I love the new locations I have been introduced to. 4. Road trips are much more interesting, although you have to plan more travel time to stop and look for caches!

My 2 daughters (age 17 and 18) are totally freaked out that I go geocaching. They think it makes me look like some sicko lurking in the woods. My wife is in the "big boy toys" club, and has gone with me, but is totally not interested in the cache itself. I being my nephews out (age 4 and 6), to them it is treasure hunting, and they love it.

I'm liking these forums more and more. I agree, this would make a great event cache.

According to my daughters (age 17 & 18), it isn't possible to go geocaching without looking like you are a lurking child molester. The whole concept creeps them out Personally, I've gotten so that I hate micros in very public areas. It always seems that there are lots of muggles around, and you need to stop by multiple times to look for it without "lurking". Some of the strategies listed by you folks may help...

I like to ride my bicycle to geocache. I get more exercise that way, and it provides a destination for the ride.

I have bypassed the GPS a couple of times for local virtuals when I knew exactly what and where they were after reading the description. I load all the caches I am interested in hitting on my watch list, and then load them all into my GPSr. I'm never really sure when I'll get a couple of hours to go caching, so I always have my GPSr ready. Sometimes when I'm out with the unit, I notice that a cache isn't too far off, and spontaneously decide to score it, if it wasn't loaded in, that wouldn't be possible.

I originally got my GPSr for hiking and canoeing. I am still shopping for a canoe, but while looking for coordinates for local landmarks, I came across geocaching.com (seems to be a common theme here) I use it for: - pedometer for walks/hikes - I replaced my cycle computer, much more accurate and shows the tracks! - Driving my family nuts by waypointing thier houses and telling them where they are

Whether or not it is a legitimate DOD vehicle, it is very cool!

My first was a DNF. I really wan't sure what I was looking for, and it was in dense woods. My second attempt was also an ammo box, but it was under a bush in an open field, so I got a clue! When I went back to retry my first, I was able to find it.

I live in New York. Mind you, I live in Central New York, NOT New York City as many who do not live in the North East do not understand. I am about a 4 hour drive to NYC.

I wonder if the GPSr these use are able to work inside a building?

How about approaching the leaking container problem from a whole new perspective: use a mesh bag and only put things in it that aren't bothered by water. Use the boards SCUBA divers use to write on for the log. If you can't beat the leaks, let the water in!

I was tossed out on 01/08/04 along with 76 others, my problem is that I've made getting the new job a full time thing, so I feel like I have LESS time to geocache that when I was employed. Asside from the fact that at the end of the day, if my wife found out I was caching all day in stead of looking for work, I could end up sleeping in the garage. Rossinator

Does your family think that there is something “wrong” with you for geocaching? My teenage daughter is embarrassed to no end by the fact that am geocaching. Everyone in my family understands my tendency to play with gadgets (especially electronic ones), but my daughter is totally creeped out that I go “lurking” around looking for treasure. We are planning a trip to Albany next week for a college orientation meeting. There are enough caches on the campus and in the downtown area that I could probably have a 6-8 cache day without a lot of hassle, and my daughter insists that if I bring my GPSr, her social life will be ended before it begins. Now, I wasn't planning to set the GPSr on the table at lunch and announce to her future classmates that I am a complete dork, I am very discrete when seeking out a cache. Has anyone else run into this. Rossinator.