Team J&J

Just put in my order at TheNerds.net for $228 (including shipping and google checkout 5$ discount). I've read enough good things about this unit to convince me it's worth it, and Garmin has appeared to be fairly responsive to the bugs by issuing patches. Would I buy it again? Stay tuned.

Great topic as my 3 year old Venture has been acting up lately and I'm considering moving up in the world. I've checked around on rates for the Vista HCx. These are the best rates I've seen so far (shipping to a 20817 zip code). Just wondering if anyone has seen better deals. Offroute.com $234.95 + $10 S&H = $244.95 TVNAV.com $240 + $8.88 S&H = $248.88 Anchorexpress.com $235.99 + $15.99 S&H = $251.98 Prestigecamera.com $219.99 + $14.99 S&H = $234.98 (great price, but bad ratings on this "store" - sounds too risky) Anything better than $244.95?

I like the idea of having an amulet TB which fits on top of a pole of a certain length. The length of the pole is determined by the inscription on the amulet...but here's the really cool thing: The front side says the pole is x feet long, but the BACK side says to subtract y feet! That way, if somebody happens to only write down the directions of one side or if one side is scarred into your palm because you grabbed it out of a fire, you wouldn't know the right dimensions and would be searching in the TOTALLY wrong place! The pole gets inserted in a specific hole (so this'll probably be a mystery cache) and at just the right time of day, the sun shines through a crystal in the amulet and, like a laser, burns a mark onto a map!! I got this idea from a dream but don't have the resources, so anyone is free to use it. Just give credit where it's due! -Team J&J

Looks like the NPS or the Malibu Times has the wrong idea about geocaching. See http://www.malibutimes.com/articles/2005/0.../news/news4.txt where you'll find the following: "However, Elliott warns that there are certain wildlife areas that are not to be utilized by geocachers because they sometimes fall under protected status. Because a typical geocache can involve digging up ground to burying some form of treasure, Elliott said he would discuss the proper areas, situations and techniques for locating a geocaching spot that would prevent adverse environmental effects."

CacheRaid Macro. I'm having a problem running the CacheRaid macro. It needs to use the CacheRaid filter, but can't find it. There are no filters in the saved section called CacheRaid. Does anyone know the settings so I can create and save it myself? Thanks!

Hmmm...I wonder what the ramifications would be if historic places in Washington, DC fell under such a bill. That would put a spotlight on this issue.

Don't think you have to do every single cache within your range. Put it on your ignore list and forget about it. Also, leave a note or email the cache owner so they understand the concern. A responsible owner will archive or move the cache if enough people feel the same way. But, then, you can't count on everyone being a responsible owner. All you can do is erase it from memory and move on.

Telling the unitiated that you are tracking through cemeteries, historic, and archaeological sites for the sake of a "game" which offers "rewards" will illicit nothing but unsympathetic responses. They have no idea that the only reason you're going there is to get information from a plaque or tombstone. They think that a cache is likely buried and hallowed ground is being disturbed by technogeeks looking for treasure. Your description of geocaching does nothing to dissuade them from this belief. So, I suggest rewording that part. Maybe try out your description on some coworkers or anyone else who is uninformed before you attempt to get it published. Once you get the right reaction, then your ready to go. Also, I would tone down the "C'mon Folks!" attitude. Again, you're talking to an uninformed, unsympathetic audience that you need to win over. Agressive pleading won't do it. -Team J&J

I'm not in law enforcement but this is on topic. A couple of weeks ago, I found a cache in an area which, unfortunately, some have decided to use as their local dumping grounds. On the ground, within a few feet from the cache, was a woman's wallet with contents strewn about (credit cards, library cards, insurance cards, and driver's license). It looked like it had been there a while (weathered, caked in mud). I gathered the contents and placed them in a ziploc from my cache maintenance material. The next day, I contacted that county's sheriffs department and spoke with a detective. Of course, one of the questions was what in the world I was doing in that area, especially since it was 50 miles away from my home. So, I explained geocaching and he seemed genuinely interested. I called back later and he found that the owner had lost her wallet a couple years ago (thank goodness, no foul play). But he wanted to know more about GC, not from a professional viewpoint, but because he had a couple of sons and thought this might be a great activity to get involved in (there wasn't much of anything else going on in that particular county). I was worried that law enforcement officials might be initially suspicious and so was happy when he approached it from the wholesome viewpoint that GC represents. I suggested he get started if, for any other reason, to place some caches in his local area. -Team J&J

I have a 9 year old who follows the gpsr arrow religiously. It's taking him a little time to figure out that there's an underlying algorithm and that the little pointer doesn't respond instantaneously. Also, he's learning how foliage can block and weaken signal strength. But he's catching on. The best thing was to give him the gpsr and let him find the cache all by himself, while explaining why he's walking in circles. He found his first cache without my help yesterday...and he left beaming with pride.

Darn...I missed the show. I was out geocaching and had to get just one more when I realized I was too late. But, I've been following the discussion and it sounds infinitely more entertaining than the show. Now, not having seen the show, what I've heard was the desire for more "geocaching" realism. So, maybe these happened on the show, maybe they didn't: 1) Whoever found the cache among the 12 or so law enforcement personnel, should have stepped back and nonchalantly walked away, whistling, and then say "Found it!", making everyone else look for it. 2) There has to be more than a few times when they get caught in briars or have to swat ticks off of them. 3) There should have been a moment where they stood stockstill, gazing at a deer before it bounded away. 4) They should have noted that burying caches is against geocaching guidelines, just like murder is against geocaching guidelines (Right? RIGHT??? We DO have that rule, don't we JEREMY???) 5) There should have been a group picture of everybody holding the cache, gun, or murder victim. -Team J&J

Ooooooo....aaaaaahhhh. That's nice. A new URL for GSAK...very cool. Although you can't add pushpins, there is a way to add bookmarklets and even animate the google map. HOW-TO: Make your own annotated multimedia Google map

Thanks! Well...google maps is pretty much perfect. Notice that the pins/balloons for locations even have shadows!

Here here...or...Hear hear! However, they don't, so far, let you enter lats/longs. I sent in my feedback. Maybe other geocachers can do the same...I'm sure they're working on it. One day, Google will be just one big Operating System, with everyone's files stored and everything interconnected. Then, it's only a matter of time before it becomes...self-aware. And then we'll all be doomed. But hey, it's better than Microsoft any day.

Geocaching is like a smorgasbord...a buffet. If you like the roast beef...get some. If you don't like the black eyed peas, don't order any. And don't worry...the black eyed peas aren't going to take over the roast beef (assuming, of course, the government doesn't get involved).

Excellent. Just what I wanted to hear!

I want to create a Members Only cache, but I'd like for it to be "Members Only" for just a few months. Is it possible to change it to an unrestricted cache later on? Or does it become a permanent "Members Only" cache? Thx!

When we first started caching, my son and I picked different account. He became Creafronner, which didn't really mean anything...just some kids made up name. I took on SailorJim but my wife said it sounded like I was a member of The Village People . Since my son finds just about every cache I find, and since I usually ended up entering both his and my logs, we decided to combine and became Team J&J. He's James. I'm Jim. J&J.

Sometimes the "schwag" isn't in the cache. Sometimes it's the location itself.

Well, if you're also going to use it for hiking, then I hear the Leki poles are the best, albeit expensive. Some come with a compass in the handle. However, like Mountainmudbug said, you can usually find some cheap ones at a sporting goods store...they're great in maintaining balance without getting your feet wet when stone hopping a creek. They're great for knocking down spider webs in the summer time. They're great for ushering that snake off the path. They're great for impromptu fencing matches (which you wouldn't do with the Leki's!) I never collapse mine and stick it in the pack because it's usually muddy, but I can easily attach it to the back of my pack. Also, the cheap ones we have can be really hard to loosen up sometimes.

Holy frijole! Briansnat with 108 hides and 325 finds! That is an incredible ratio! Find 3 caches, hide 1! That stat is really remarkable...do you happen to own a dollar general store???

Your points are well taken. However, realize that you wouldn't hide a cache in a china shop because, even though you'll have many delicate cachers, you're also going to get the bull every now and then. So, placing a cache in an area means that you're giving an invitation to everyone, including the scorched-earthers, to come look for it. So, I think the point is that you have to be aware of the area and whether it can handle a few heavy-handed cachers or not. As far as responsibility? If dishes are broken in the china shop, is it the bull's fault or the one who invited the bull? Unfortunately, you have to make allowances for the world we live in.

I hope you're exaggerating. Exaggerating by 37 sq. miles. For shame!

Same thing happened to me and I got my activation code within a couple of days. Thanks, Groundspeak.

Say, if ya happen to see one by the name of Fred...tell 'em he owes me a buck. He knows where to find me.