Blue Heron

He "logged" three more today. We've contacted all whose caches he has hit, urging them to check their logbooks and delete online logs if they see fit. More than that we can't do. If this is the only way this poor schmuck can entertain himself, then I guess we just feel sorry for him and ignore him.

"Sleeping Bull" in Point Defiance is up and running again. The container is getting kind of weak, but it looked like it still has a few finds left in it so I stuck a new magnet on it and it's ready to go!

Oh, no, Dick. According to Ajetpilot, he's going to come back independently wealthy!

Thanks, hydnsek. We should also note that the King of FTF's in the Harbor/Tacoma area, GeoDiver, scored his 600th with me at "Falling Leaves?" on Saturday. While he was signing the log, I manufactured a camera stand out of a nearby branch so we could both be in the celebratory photo. It's posted on the "Falling Leaves" cache page. Congrats, Rick!

Superb event. Huge perks to Travis for organizing it! LadyDi and I enjoyed meeting lots of new folks and getting to know which names went with which faces. Now, I apologize for being so out of it, but could someone please point me toward the Wenatchee event everyone keeps referring to? (No, don't tell me it's in Wenatchee. I KNOW where THAT is!)

Sounds about right. Email me your coordinates if you want and I can confirm them before you waste time in the wrong area.

Have you confirmed it is still there? The last searcher is convinced it is gone. I have no reason to think it's gone. The last five logs have been finds, the most recent on November 28. It is not in a "high traffic" area so it is unlikely that it has been muggled. I'm confident enough that I'm NOT going up there to check on it tonight!

Note to all the Puzzle People out there. "Deductible Cache Contributions" (GHCRGP) is not included on the route, of course, but it IS in the area. (That's a rather major HINT, by the way!) In fact, you'll be within a few hundred yards of it while doing a couple of the other caches on the route. I have about 5 people who have expressed an interest in a quick class on Paperless Caching. Most of these will no doubt be people new to caching, and unlikely to be on the forums, but just in case... if you are interested, please shoot me a private email and let me know. I'm planning a handout and want to have enough copies. BTW, there will be NO SNOW in The Harbor. So there!

This can all be carried to ridiculous extremes. Look at Sparky-Watts' tagline: "Set a man on fire and he'll stay warm for the rest of his life." Wouldn't this be encouraging people to set others afire? While I certainly don't condone "violating women" and agree that Ellylidan's post is in poor taste, it's clearly NOT intended to be taken seriously. Even some Bible-thumper in Misssissippi could see that. <BH climbs onto soapbox> I'm getting a little tired of conservative Morality Police (and I'm not accusing anyone in this forum of being such--just making a general observation) dictating what I can and cannot see, hear, or read. "If you don't like the program, change channels." <BH steps down from soapbox> That said, it's a BEAUTIFUL Northwest Day and I'M going geocaching. Isn't THAT what we're all about?

I'm confused. From a purely scholarly standpoint, that is. (My general confusion with regard to the world at large is a subject for a different thread.) According to http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/wfl/wfl02.htm the correct spelling of this creature's name is "Ellylldan." The above website provides a very interesting discussion of the subject, and proves that the creator of "Bloated Head" has done considerable research. Perhaps he, himself, could respond to the difference in the spelling? Or not.

It's REALLY difficult to swim through THICK brush that just happens to be growing in a couple of feet of water! If it was THAT easy, we take a boat!

Now, now. Don't provoke our little friend, Ajetpilot. Don't worry, Mr. Monster. We'll leave you a little treat after we raid your lair. Do you like cat food?

All good ideas. Thanks to everyone for the input!

Part of the problem is our inablility to contact the cache owners. Their email link seems to be a dead end.

I haven't had enough experience to understand exactly what happens when you write a "Needs to be archived" note. In one of the cases I'm thinking of, it would be nice if the cache was just gone...it's one of the few areas around that could be used for a new night cache. Does one "Needs archived" note do it, or do several need to agree? How long does it take?

I've got a problem with folks who set up caches then never return to maintain them. In our area, we have several that were apparently "dropped off" by people who don't live in the area--their profile shows they have hidden caches on both sides of the country! I know this is "officially discouraged," but it still seems to happen. In my opinion, unmaintained caches eventually become nothing more than litter. We've tried to contact them by email and the messages are returned as undeliverable. They haven't visited the website in a year. Clearly they are no longer interested in caching. However, their caches are, in some cases, taking up valuable space (due to the .1 mile rule) that could be used for other caches. What have others done to deal with this sort of thing?

I swore I was going to stay off the forum, but.... We are bowing out, but our issues have nothing to do with anything TeamNorth has done. I said last night that I hoped I would be as gracious as certain North players were in recognizing a brilliant move. If it had been allowed to proceed normally, this would, indeed, have been an outstanding counter to our move. We'll never know what might have happened. (Jester might have sprained an ankle and been unable to get the bug!) But I want to leave on a positive note, so I say, "Nice move, Team North." I've said all along in our TeamSouth communications that I don't mind being beaten by a good move by the opposition. This would have been exactly that. See you "out there!"

Aw, darn...just when you thought it was safe to break out the chips and salsa and turn on the tube.... TeamSouth has requested a ruling from the ref on this one and I've asked my fellow Southerners to refrain from shouting their indignation to the heavens on this forum. We all understand that this is clearly NOT some heinous attempt by the North to "steal the game." We would hope that our worthy opponents would also stand down for a little while and see what the ref has to say. BTW, does anyone really CARE who wins this football game today?

(re: Kudos South etc.) Thanks, TL. We worked hard to come up with an actual "plan" and carry it out. It's very gratifying to have our opponents recognize our efforts. It may all come to nothing, but it's fun while it lasts. This was one of those gambles where you are either the hero or the goat. There's nothing in between. I'm sure that in a week or so, TeamNorth will pull off some similar coup. I give you my word that I, for one, will be as gracious in admitting to it as you have been. If I should forget this, save the message, quote it, and stick it in my face!!! I think it's time to get some sleep! Thanks to Perrin and Faile, we can all relax for a day or so!

Just my opinion. Doesn't mean squat in the overall scheme of things. Please don't take it personally. I know you're doing the best you can in a tough situation. You'll never make us all happy, so don't make yourself miserable by trying. We'll all get over it!

Geez, vds. Lighten up. I've tried to keep my posts in a "reasonably reasonable" tone. I think others have been far more emotional. I understand that you are sensitive about this issue because it is your actions that are being questioned. I guarantee that I'd feel the same in your position. I meant no personal disrespect to you and apologize if it came across that way. Hey, I voted for Clinton, too! (And would vote for him this November if he was running!) See, we DID find some common ground! I sense everyone sort of calming down and coming to the realization that its' just a silly game. Certainly we all have more important things to expend adrenaline on! My wife has informed me I need to get away from the computer and help her clean the place up. So I know where MY adrenaline had better be directed! Peace?

As an example of how we get carried away by the "spirit of competition," consider this. I'm an incorrigible Yankee (in the "northern" sense, NOT the baseball team, God forbid!). And yet in the last couple of days I've found myself signing cache logs and ending posts with "The South Will Rise Again!" What is this world coming to?

(to TL) You are SO right! I personally feel that the rules this time around have removed most of the element of strategy, but we're stuck with them and life goes on. But it's so easy to get caught up in the adrenaline rush of competition and the immediate human reaction is to go for the jugular! Around here, LadyDi is the voice of reason who occasionally reminds me of that which I really know: it's only a silly GAME, for goshsake! Thanks, CT. That helps. The "non-joking" emoticon gave the impression that you considered everyone in The Harbor to be a bunch of rich fat-cats who sat around smoking cigars and counting their stock options. I'm not fat, I don't smoke, and my wife and I worked our butts off to be able to live here. I'm glad to know you were really joking--I certainly was when I responded to your email the first night. Edit to add parenthetical and comments to CT. Hard to keep up!!!

(re TL's post) Good, I'm glad to hear that. My comments were mainly intended to point out that BOTH sides have gotten carried away at times, and in the case of Ajetpilot, his feelings were hurt to the point that he's having nothing to do with the game this time. I think that is sad because he's a great cacher and a helluva nice guy. I was trying to point out that it wasn't fair for the North to suddenly decide that the South should get "15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct." There's been plenty of that on both sides. I'm still trying to figure out CameraThyme's insulting remarks about me going caching in my "smoking jacket and slippers etc." yesterday. The emoticon makes it clear she wasn't joking. I haven't dignified it with a response other than to mention it here. Edit to add parenthetical at beginning)

I think I've missed something here. I posted the drop at 8:55. It was 8:58 according to the time log by the time I finished editing the entry to actually SHOW the time. The log states that vds picked up the bug at 9:12 pm. So all of this extensive research was done, he drove to Dumas Bay Centre, raced down to the beach and retrieved the bug in less than 15 minutes. Apparently Captain Kirk and the Enterprise are playing for the North. "Scotty, beam me directly to Dumas Centre!" TL, why would you assume my comment was directed at you, personally?