Martyn B & April A

We had an opportunity to experience this campsite first-hand last bank-holiday weekend, when we were taking part in a three day orienteering event in the area. It was an extremely busy weekend and the site was full, but the facilities there are more than adequate to deal with the numbers of people. Toilets etc were kept extremely clean at all times, we never had to queue for either washing / shower / washing up facilities and the lady who runs the place was very pleasant. Despite the fact that it was so busy, there was practically no noise after about 23.30 hours, I suspect that the owner would come down hard on any miscreants who defied the no noise curfew. We camped on the plateau situated between the river and the minor road, which would not be a problem in the event of heavy rain. We have no first-hand experience of the adjacent pub, but there are notices posted in strategic areas of the campsite clearly pointing out that the pub has no connections with the campsite - draw whatever conclusions you want from that ! There are also a couple of really decent pubs in the vicinity, one in the village of Wentnor itself, and one in the neighbouring village of Norbury. The campsite also has a resident goat by the name of Mabel...... All in all, an excellent choice of venue. Hope this helps.

Some advice needed from anyone with more IT knowledge than we have ! We've recently bought a new laptop which does not have any serial ports but a myriad of USB ports, and we want to link our Palm PDA and Garmin GPS (both with standard nine pin serial connections) to the laptop so that we can transfer PQs, GSAK info etc etc. As we understand it, we need to purchase a USB to serial converter and there appear to be loads available on t'internet, ranging from about £6 to £60 - all very confusing to simple folk like us. If anyone could point us in the right direction, it would be much appreciated - you've not let us down before ! Alternatively, if there is a more efficient solution (and NOT the one mentioned below) then we'd love to hear from you. There is an interesting 'aside' to this - in my naivety, I (Martyn) went into a very famous nationwide PC store (there's a clue in there as to which one) and asked the spotty sixteen year old for a solution to the aforementioned problem. I was advised that there was no such beast as a USB to serial converter, and the only feasible solution was to ditch the laptop and buy a new one which had serial ports.... Upon which I made an abrupt about-turn and marched swiftly out of the shop !!!

I'm currently at work and my boss doesn't believe in spending money on such wasteful items such as upgraded IT systems and software (having said that I'm only running '95 at home but we intend to upgrade to a brand new system in September). anyway, thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try and see what happens..... you seem to know what you're talking about, mind if I drop you an e-mail if I need any further assitance ?

I've tried to download both with and without EasyGPS but in both instances I've had no success although with Easy GPS I am referred to another site, topo somethng or other dot com... I'm running on Windows 95 but from what I understand, that should not be a problem.... I suspect that it could be something to do with the Zip File format as marc has suggested, any further ideas ?

I've purchased 'Cachemate' from Smittyware.com and although I've managed to download into directory C:\ProgramFiles\cachemate-3.5.3zip, when I try to open the programme a dialog box opens stating 'Windows cannot find EASYGPS.EXE' followed by 'This program is needed for opening files of type 'ZIPFile'. I intend to couple 'Cachemate' with GSAK for use on a Palm IIIxe (bought off Ebay for the statutory 30 quid !), and already have GSAK loaded and in good working order on my PC. I don't think it's a question of registration, 'cos I've not yet reached the satge where I'm able to register (although I do have all the details). So folks, what am I doing that I ought not to be doing, and what am I not doing that I should be doing, any ideas ? By the way, I have gone down the obvious route of e-mailing Smitty ware but only receive automated replies about registration......

Regrettably, due to a prior engagement which might involve drinking copious amounts of alcohol in the Manchester area, we can't make the gig on Saturday. One thing has crossed my mind, though and that's the situation with parking up on the Roaches - I'm not sure what it's like now, but a few years ago it was quite difficult and I feel sure that in some parts of the obvious access road there are actually double yellow lines. Most of the parking spots are usually nicked by the climbers or walkers who get up at the crack of dawn. I seem to recall that a shuttle bus service was introduced to accommodate the walkers / climbers, which sets off from a car park in the vicinity of Titterstone reservoir, but it might well be worth somebody checking with the tourist information in Leek to confirm the current situation.... Apologies if this is a subject which has already been covered and also if my information is now out of date but we have been caught out up there a couple of times in the past. It's a fantastic area, well worthy of greater exploration, a visit to Lud's Church should not be missed ! Have a good time, all those who attend ! Martyn B

Thanks for the words of advice, folks - I feel certain it's something to do with the Com port connection so I'll check out what you've advised at the earliest opportunity and give it a whirl...... Martyn

How about Je geocache, tu geocaches, il geocache, elle geocache, nous geocachons, vous geocachez, ils geocachent, elles geocachent (all with an acute accent over the 'e' in 'geo'). Alternatively, how about 'faire du caching' or simply 'chercher la cache' (could be 'le' cache..) ???

In a positive endeavour to become members of the paperless caching fraternity, I (Martyn) decided to start with something simple and basic ie Easy GPS. No probs downloading the programme, even managed to download the waypoints for a load of caches into nice little files and had a play around creating routes etc. However, when it came to transferring the data into my GPS, and following all the instructions available, nowt 'appened ! I'm using an eTrex Venture which links into my PC with the standard nine pin serial connector. I'm sure I've omitted to do something glaringly obvious, so if somebody out there can make any positive suggestions, then that would be so much appreciated Martyn

I always log DNFs. I'm not sure quite how many there have been in the short while we have been caching but certainly half a dozen. My principal reason for logging them is to provide feedback to the owner of the cache. However, in instances where the DNF is attributable to me being a plonker, I feel that logging the DNF with relevant info can help other cachers not to make the same mistake ! I also had a recent DNF which prompted the cache owner to check the co-ordinates and it was discovered that en error had been made, so it does have a value. For me, the most frustrating DNFs are those where for whatever reason, the accuracy of the GPS is limited so the owner provides a really decent photographic clue to assist - only I always forget to take it with me ! It happened a couple of weeks ago when we were looking for Seasider's 'High Birkwith'.........

I always log DNFs. I'm not sure quite how many there have been in the short while we have been caching but certainly half a dozen. My principal reason for logging them is to provide feedback to the owner of the cache. However, in instances where the DNF is attributable to me being a plonker, I feel that logging the DNF with relevant info can help other cachers not to make the same mistake ! I also had a recent DNF which prompted the cache owner to check the co-ordinates and it was discovered that en error had been made, so it does have a value. For me, the most frustrating DNFs are those where for whatever reason, the accuracy of the GPS is limited so the owner provides a really decent photographic clue to assist - only I always forget to take it with me ! It happened a couple of weeks ago when we were looking for Seasider's 'High Birkwith'.........

I'll admit to being a technological dinosaur, my interest in caching derives from the navigational element rather than the technological element. As a consequence, I only know what I 'need' to know about the more recent technological developments and am quite happy to leave it at that. However, last week we were in the Yorkshire Dales and I had somewhere in the region of 50-60 print-outs lurking in the car/bottom of rucksack/fleece pocket/mountaineering-jacket pocket, 'just in case' we happened to be passing within sensible range of a cache. Sod's law dictated that when we were walking near 'Gaping Gill', the print-out was in the car.. you get the picture ! I'd love one of these simple PDA jobbies just to store, say, a hundred cache details, to cut down on all this paper, but we've only got an old PC (about 8 years) running on Windows 95 (I assume that's 1995, but knowing us it could well be 1895..). So, now comes the stupid question : is it possible to link a PDA into the aformentioned computer and download the relevant info or are we really going to have to shell out some serious cash (should that be cache ?) and buy a more updated computer, in order to be able to reduce the amount of paper we carry around with us ? Martyn B

Disgwylfa in Central Wales. So far, I think I'm correct in saying that it's only been visited 6 times and given its location in a remote part of Wales, it's not surprising. It's a big effort to reach the recommended parking spots then even more effort to walk to the cache in difficult terrain for those not used to hill-walking. Certainly not one for the cache'n' dash enthusiasts ! Cut Down Cache comes a very close second, but for different reasons which will only really be apparent to those who've done it ! I'll probably review this assessment in a couple of weeks' time when we intend to visit the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales, ostensibly for some hill-walking and pot-holing, but the walking routes will undoubtedly be based around cache sites ! Martyn

We have recently obtained permission, after negotiations with the 'Nature Police' of our local council, to place our first cache in a local nature reserve. The first question I was asked was whether or not I was intending to dig anywhere in order to conceal the cache. I have the distinct impression that if I had even remotely hinted that I might be disturbing anything then permission would have been refused point blank. My philosophy on this is as follows : surely, if you find a decent place for a cache, then you obtain a suitably-sized container to fit that place, without having to resort to modifying the location. After all, there are thousands of different types of container available, of all shapes and sizes. For me, the essence of our pastime is that we can go about it without having any detrimental impact on the areas where we are placing our caches, whether it be in towns, alongside canals, in woods, or in remote moorland areas. That's my view, for what it's worth......

MarkGPX, Aisledog - many thanks for your info, I'll stick the Fugawi software at the top of my birthday prezzie list. Thanks again, Martyn B

I'm looking to purchase some mapping software and I quite liked the look of the Fugawi stuff, but I'm only running on Windows '95 (i assume that's 1995, not 1895, but with me it might be a dangerous assumption to make !!!). Can anyone out there advise whether or not it will run on Windows '95 ?

Aisledog's comment in a previous topic about the frustration of driving 300 miles for a DNF has prompted me to share our experience last Friday (5th March) when we drove from our home in Kidderminster to a cache near Vaalsberg in Holland ('Hoogte'), only to register a DNF ! Okay, I have to admit that finding the cache was only a secondary objective and we did actually achieve the primary objective. However, I'd really built this one up in my mind and to be honest, the experience of finding our first cache outside the UK was more of an attraction than the main reason for our trip. I guess we drove about 425 miles, there's surely somewhere out there who can beat that ?? We did manage to sneak in a couple of caches the following day in Belgium and excellent ones they were too !

Steady folks, posting admissions like these might prompt a visit by two geezers in dark suits with mirror shades.... !!!

We have a couple of caches (our first) currently going through the 'waiting for permission to be granted' stage, it's an extremely frustrating time waiting for people to come back to us after nearly five weeks, but at the end of the day we feel it has to be done for the sake of the reputation of geocaching. We were sorely tempted to plead ignorance, but looking back this is definitely NOT the right thing to do. The only alternative, if you do not wish to go through the necessary formalities involved is to only place a cache on 'common' land and how much 'common' land is there the British Isles, anyway ? Round here (we live in Kidderminster) it seems that most of the land is either owned by the water authority or the Forestry Commission. Also, if the name of the area is followed by 'Common' eg Highgate Common (near Kinver) does this necessarily mean that it is common land in the sense that we are able to act without permission ? It's a real can of worms, but at the end of the day the over-riding factor HAS to be the preservation of the activity's reputation, however difficult and frustrating it can sometimes be........

We've done Sarah and Stu's 5/5, took two attempts because first time round, although we'd sussed it out correctly, we 'sort of' had the right equipment and 'sort of' didn't. At the second attempt, we made sure that we had EXACTLY the right equipment and found it without too much bother. We can't say anything further without giving the game away. Intrigued ? Well, just get down here and do it !!!

We would re-iterate what the others say. We are both experienced mountaineers and whatever the weather or time of year, we always carry enough gear to help us in any difficulties or sudden changes in weather conditions. Make sure you've got a first aid kid, but my main recommendation would be a decent 1:25,000 lamenated map of the area you are going into, in conjunction with your GPS unit and a standard compass (even a 10 quid basic Silva is good enough) - make sure you know how to use them !!! Once you have the confidence to go into this terrain under your own steam, the world is your oyster ! If you fancy having a go at a cache in really wild terrain, have a go at Disgwylfa in Central Wales. Good luck and we look forward to hearing how you get on !

We are of a similar ilk to you and tend to cache while walking or cycling ie the caching is usually ancillary to another activity. Having said that, we did have a day out last December when we set out with the sole objective of finding 5 local caches and we really enjoyed ourselves, so perhaps another day dedicated to caching will be considered in the not too distant future. Our favourite cache to date has to be Disgwylfa, but it's not one for the 'Cache 'n Dash enthusiasts - it's in extremely remote country and thus far, only 5 people have actually logged a visit. Anybody out there know of any other really remote caches or should we start another discussion with this question ? Bottom line for us is that whether you do 1 in a day or 50, it's having a good time that counts and we all seem to be doing that, whatever our motives and incentives !

I suppose it depends what your motives are for participating in geocaching - personally, I could not care less whether or not somebody logs more caches than I do - what's important for me is that it has given me the incentive to have a nose around areas which I've never been to before, or renew my acquaintance with old stomping grounds. It's also fascinating to read about other people's experiences as geocachers, but I cannot honestly say that I've ever seen it as a 'competitive' activity. Anybody who really fancies a bit of competition of a navigational ilk ought to give orienteering a crack - contrary to what people think, you don't have to be super-fit (unless you have aspirations of being a world-beater, of course) and the courses have increasing standards of difficulty, from beginner level to world-beater ! You do, of course, have to be able to use a 'proper' compass in conjunction with a map, but the basic skills are easy enough to pick up....

Thanks for the tip, Quimbly - went down to the local branch this lunchtime and they still had a boatload left on the shelf - unfortunately, I didn't have the readies on me but I'll get one tomorrow.....