uber_bike_geek

I'm not quite sure what you're asking here, so I'll cover all bases... If you want to tie geocaching.com waypoints with USGS topo maps, try something like National Geographic TOPO! or ExpertGPS. When you do a search for caches, at the bottom of the page is a 'download waypoints' button, you can then import the waypoints to the map from the file (ExpertGPS can deal with the geocaching.com *.loc files, but TOPO! needs *.TPG files - use GPSBabel to convert the *.loc to *.tpg) ExpertGPS has one major downside: they get the maps from a web server and then save them to your hard drive, the maps take up quite a bit of space... ExpertGPS can do aerial photos and scanned maps as well though, so it makes up for it If you want street maps, try Delorme's products I've not cared much for Delorme's "topo" maps, but they may have changed (I've got TopoUSA 3.0, the current version is 5.0; I also don't have the "TopoQuads," they may give greater detail) Hope that helps Happy Caching Jeff

hmmm... I'm about 5'6 or 5'7 and somewhere in the 115 lb. range... I should go on a seefood diet... ya see food, ya eat it I think my problem isn't that I don't get out enough, it's that I get out TOO much! I eat 3500-4500 calories a day, my daytime resting heart rate is about 54 BPM, nighttime is about 50 BPM... Did I mention that if I don't eat at least 2500 calories in a day I'll start losing weight? Yeah, um, I'll shut up now ::hides behind toothpick:: No comment about the chicks digging me part... Happy Caching Jeff

I agree to an extent... It gives me more motivation to get HW done so I can get out and cache, but the winter doesn't slow me down too much... if there is too much snow to ride, then I pull out my XC skis and go skiing :-D So, basically, caching isn't replacing anything, just giving me somewhere to go when I go for my rides :-) Happy Caching Jeff

My ride Happy Caching Jeff

A thought - I don't know if you've tried it yet or not... I've found W98 to be rather picky about PnP devices - what works for me: 1. Shut down computer 2. Attach desired peripheral, turn on if necessary 3. Turn on computer 4. Hope that W98 can find your device! 5. Reboot to make sure Windoze has really installed the drivers Basically, shut down your computer, attatch GPS, turn on GPS, turn on computer, install drivers, reboot If that doesn't work then I'd be very confused (then again, it doesn't take much to confuse me ) Happy Caching Jeff

I think QGIS will serve my purposes just fine Thanks for the quick replies! Happy Caching Jeff

GPSBabel sounds good, shoulda thought of that sooner Any topo map program suggestions? Happy caching Jeff

I'm using Red Hat 9.0 (whenever possible), and I was wondering if anyone makes GPS transfer software for Linux... I've got a basic yellow eTrex if it matters at all Happy Caching Jeff

Around here, there are some caches that I wouldn't worry too much about putting a small knife into, but I haven't, and probably won't for a few reasons - a.) It's against the guidelines, I try to keep TPTB as happy as possible and b.) I feel that if I was going to leave a knife, I'd rather leave a quality knife of decent quality than a dollar-store POC, and being the poor HS kid I am, I can't afford to leave good knives everywhere I go (See also: section a.) On my second cache find, I was caching with my friend, and there was a small Buck keychain/knife in the cache... He still has it, and it goes most places with him (EXCEPT school, airport, etc!) In short: If it's a rugged, multi-mile hike to the cache (like this), I don't think there would be too many people that would mind finding a quality knife in the cache (But plenty who would be glad to have it!) If however, it's a park-n-grab thrown-in-the-bushes-at-the-local-dogpark cache, I'd be less likely to leave anything that could offend someone (AKA TNLNSL...) Ok, I'll shut up now Happy Caching Jeff

Try this link instead... The other one has one too many "http://"s!! Happy Caching Jeff

Figured out this cache... I've got the right coords now, I still have to go find it... Gone looking twice and still havent found it Happy Caching Jeff

do I even have an avatar anymore?

testing 1..2..3... Happy Caching Jeff

Locationless caches are a good idea, but too much of a good thing can be bad. Ok, number four... we need at least 6 more people!! Happy caching Jeff

Hmm... I think I'd go for a men's version (Yep, I'm just trying to cause trouble again ) I've got a pair of Bean's boots - Gore-Tex DayHikers if I remember correctly... I've had them for almost 5 years now, I love them! The only downside is the fact that some of the stitching is starting to come out I've gone through water just shy of knee deep (about 3" below the tops of my gaiters) ... 5 minutes later, I was pretty much dry (I didn't spend ANY time more than necessary in the water!!!) My dad still uses the boots he bought in college (~30 years ago, he says - I say multiply by 10!!) They're great boots, he's done just about everything with them that I've done with mine, his only complaint is that the soles are getting old and brittle, one of them started to crack last summer As has been said many times before... If you want to get yourself a good pair of shoes, stop asking in the forums and go to a *good* store... Someone in my troop went somewhere (I don't remember where it was they said) a while ago, and they said they needed a pair of light- to mid-weight hiking boots for weekend backpacking trips... The "associate" tried to sell him a $200 pair of trail runners Happy Caching Jeff

This is a fairly long rant, feel free to skip over it... I agree, to an extent. Some people may see it as disrespectful. Anybody who has done any serious genealogical research has probably gone to quite a few cemetaries. Arrive at cemetary, pull out paper to write notes on, dadgum, left clipboard at home, uses a gravestone as a smooth, hard surface to write on. They might stop to think about something or reflect on the beauty of the surrounding area, and lean against a gravestone. They might make a rubbing of the headstone. They might use a gravestone as a relatively clean spot to put something on (i.e. waterbottle, camera, notebook, etc.) Branches fall from trees and hit gravestones. Trees fall down on gravestones. Geocachers find tupperware near cemetaries, and then go into a clearing so they can take pictures of themselves with the cache. Lo and behold, there's a gravestone nearby. Cacher A carefully puts the cache on the stone so they can pose for the camera or something. The picture gets taken, the cache gets taken off of the stone ad rehidden. Nobody would know that the cache was there if the cachers didn't post pictures or write about it. Cachers log their find on a public website, maybe even upload pictures. Geneologists go home and figure out how what they just learned fits into their family tree. The only reason people complain about cachers and not geneologists is because we post our finds on a publicly accessible website and upload pictures. When was the last time you heard about legislation banning trees from falling in cemetaries?? I'm not trying to say that we should be putting stuff on gravestones, I'm just trying to make a point that when other people do it for a hobby that's been around for quite a while, nobody complains, but when people come in for a new reason, people start complaining. Falling trees damage gravestones. Vandals damage gravestones. Geocachers pick up trash. I just thought of another idea for why the legislation was introduced (Entirely in jest ): Someone with too much power tried to find a cache, but failed, and is now trying to make it hard on those with better seeking skills Happy caching Jeff

Lets see here... 24 PowerBars (1 box) ~ $20 at BJ's 1 lb of pasta ~ $1 32 oz. pasta sauce ~ $2.00 1 lb assorted veggies ~ $1.50 1 loaf bread ~ 2.00 1 lb instant oatmeal, assorted varieties ~ $2.50 Et cetera... Meals for two days, snacks for nearly a month, total ~ $50 Yep, fuel is getting expensive! Happy caching Jeff

Never mind... My bad! Happy Caching Jeff

Thunderbird is great! If I remember correctly, there is a way to tell it what virus scanner you want to use... I know Norton works just fine with it automatically I've been using Thunderbird since it was in Beta test versions, I have yet to have a problem with it! While you're at it, check out Sunbird, Mozilla's new calendar app! Back on topic, the GC search plugin is great! Thanks a ton! Happy Caching Jeff

Oh, I get it... You're one of those people who drives an SUV that's 300 times bigger than you need Back on topic: I'm a fairly active member both here and on TC.com... There aren't too many nearby caches on TC, but GC was like that once, too. Someone has to hide caches for others to find, they don't just magically appear. TC also has a scoring system to ensure cache and cacher quality, which is nice - no film-canister-in-the-bush-beside-McD's micros! That said, I also have to say this: There is nothing wrong with GC.com for most cachers, however, some people prefer other features that GC can't offer (yet). I like GC.com for the quantity of caches near my house (most of them aren't too bad). Happy Caching (On whatever site you choose!) Jeff

Whoa there Scotty... Since when did I say you could quote me on that?!?! What I said was really more like, "I've heard that the eXplorist series isn't too good, but I've never used one, so I can't say for sure." Once again... You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be misquoted and used against you in a court of law. (Well, the forums are close enough! ) I demand that you bow down to me!! Be nice to your SPL! The Vista sounds like a good choice, except for one thing: Now I'm going to have to upgrade, too! Happy Caching Jeff

See Here Happy Caching Jeff

Hey... If I post twice, does that mean I get two chances of winning? (Or... TWO months free?? ) Happy Caching Jeff

Sure, why not, I'll bite! Happy Caching Jeff

ANIMAL CRUELTY!!!!! I like it! Nice modification to an existing joke! Happy caching Jeff