Astro_D

Well this is the second day we had windchills at -45 F (air temp about -5). It'll warm up tomorrow to about 15 degrees, but we are expecting another 4-5 inches of snow. At this point any contest that begins before April is out for us. There is just waaaayyy to much snow to have it melted by March. Then when it does, it tends to collect in all those ditches where the BMs are...so we still can't fin them unless we have a big arse water pump to drain the ditch. Time to move south....or get one of those big machines to remove the snow for easier recovery. .

Signed up: 15 December 2008 (or there abouts) Received Name: 29 December 2008 Sent Package: 08 January 2009 Received Package: 10 January 2009 A HUGE THANK YOU TO 57 CHEVY!!! I am blown away by the cool stuff you sent! The cool stuff in the box! 1 pocket tool 1 recordable talking ornament - I can't tell you what fun the family has been having with this! 1 angel gets his wings ornament - neat! 1 57 Chevy sig item (very nice keepsake!) 1 hand made/engraved name badge holder w/ earth turtle pin (Way too cool. THANKS!) 2 oak bucks coins 1 micro benchmark coin (How did you know we loved benchmarks??) 1 geocoin club coin March 2006 (Our first club coin! and seasonal appropiate!) Lots of candy canes (which will be used to stir the hot chocolate) and Starbursts (which the family ate already!) THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!

Regular Traditional Earth In a group (no more than 5 or 6 though) Finding Virtual Letterbox GARMIN! (GPSMap 60 CSX) Social(event) or not? Both not FTFer Podcast listener - No. Out of state or In state? both "Extreme/Hardcore" or Layed back? both Urban / Rural? depends on my mood and if I'm with a group

Signed up: 15 December or there abouts Received Name: 29 December 2008 Sent Package: 08 January 2009 Received Package: Gah! I'm no good shopping for strangers! Expect a kinda big box filled with....?

I'm in for all of these!! THey are too cool to pass up and they're history! My favorite subject!

You call that snow??? HA! That's a dusting! Something uncomplicated would be nice. Just get out there and find the marks. I look forward to this thread,

Signed Up: 13 December 2008 (or there abouts) Received Name: 28 December 2008 Sent Package: Received Package:

Hey Paul, THanks for the heads up with the survey tape. Another tidbit I didn't know. Now to go one step further, I ahve seen both orange and pink sed around here. Do the different colors have any meaning? Which color should we use, if we decide it's necessary?

Well looking at the last few posts and pictures, I gues I'm just a wimp when it comes to hunting for marks in the snow and cold. I can only hope for a quick January thaw that lasts throuh spring.

These were all taken while on vacation in Vancouver B.C. this past August. The first three are in Stanley Park near Stanley Park Aquarium Cache GC1CRX7 Siwash Rock EarthCache GC1F1F2 This was taken in Lynn Canyon on the way to 30 Foot Pool Cache GCN20E

We started out with a $20 dollar Nat Geo metal detector our son got for Christams a few years ago. It worked as long as the disc wasn't to far under the dirt. We decided to upgrade to a more expensive model that could discriminate between metals. Best upgrade we did in this hobby. We have to be careful where we use our detector. State Parks are off limits as are most county and city parks. That doesn't leave many places. Although, we have taken it and used it in a state park with the express permission and blessing from the park ranger. I can't imagine benchmarking without one. Only becasue most of them are buried around here.

I'd be happy to deal with poison ivy over snow anyday!! Now to get rid of this -30 windchill. *ponders moving somwwhere warm and snow free*

You know when your a NEW geocoin addict when you see all these coins out there and wish you had started collecting them a long long time ago and are now trying to figure out how to get lots and lots of money so you can have a decent collection like all the other addicts.

Well, winter came early this year. There is two feet of snow (with plenty more expected) and that means no more benchmarking until it all melts in April or May. Needless to say, we are suffering withdrawl symptoms and wishing we could be someplace without snow. Has anyone had any successful hunts in the snow? If so how'd ya do it?

I'm happy to report I received an email from my second recipient (m0zez) that their penguin mission has arrived. So as I stand, all missions sent and received are complete! THANK YOU Butterfly_Lady for organizing a great mission and THANK YOU to my recipients and senders for making this a Christmas of fun and surprises! I'm looking forward to doing this again.

In 2009, two goals, one somewhat related to geocaching, the other definitely related to geocaching... A. I resolve to report my qualifying gc.com benchmark finds to the NGS. B. I resolve to do more caching with friends. Especially the ones I haven't cached with in a long while.

If common sense and personal responsibility are used, there should be no worry about the minut lead content in a coin that, well, shouldn't be put in one's mouth to begin with.

I got my second mission today!!! A beautiful 2007 Best of British Rule geocoin!! From Rubery Blue and family!! Oh my gosh!! I am so excited to receive this coin. It's my first International coin (and from a country where I met my dear friend at a Stargate Convention in '07). So now I have a great coin from a new goecaching friend celebrating the history (I love history) of a great country! THANK YOU!! **************************** So that completes both missions received. I have not seen my other recipient log that their mission from me has arrived. Hopefully it has or will be very soon. It was supposed to take 7-10 days to the UK.......

Signed Up: 15 Dcember 2008 Received Name: (date) Sent Package: (date) Received Package (date) Looking forward to my second mission. This is gonna be FUN! Thanks for organizing!

Very nice!! I look forward to seeing what you are creating with the puzzle. Maybe something I could use in some fashion to enhance our own cache perhaps???

I know here in Wisconsin, ours in located at a non-main attraction site - at a local tech college. But it was close to home (Important for placing that geocache and maintaining it) and well, all the services and materials were provided for for free. Otherwise, putting it somewhere else more scenic, touristy etc, may have cost us to fork out the material and labor expenses. Something we could not afford. And the other good point, if its in danger of being damaged or destroyed, it can be removed, replaced and re-surveyed. Another bonus to ensure its longevity. These might be some points to consider as well. Just a thought.

SQUEEE!!! I received my first mission today! A big thank you to Team Fehling for the awesome Smokey Bear coin!!! I have never seen this one and absolutely love it!! It will be a great addition to my meager geocoin collection. Thanks for the extra smile as I put your Christmas card on the door too! THANK YOU!!!!

Nothing in my mailbox today but bills. Coins or pathtags would be so much nicer!

Some people are putting extra little "goodies" with the geocoin?? Had I known, I would have added more fun stuff for my recipients. Oh well, first time participating, so I guess there are learning curves. Glad to see NeverSummer got my card and coin. Hopefully it is one that you will enjoy! I wasn't sure what to send.

Wow!! That is one cool looking coin! I can understand wanting hold back the mission until you got those sweet beauties! I'm sure whomever the recipients are, they will be very happy.