zodiac73

Cheers for the replies :-) Most things you might make use of that would look natural like shells or whatever are going to end up being part of a sand castle lol so I suppose structures are pretty much the only option. I live on the coast and there are no caches around here ON the beaches, so I got to thinking "Hmmmm .... how to pull that off?!". There aren't any piers here though, bit of a shame. I do know of a wooden jetty that might be worth investigating. Just need to work out how to make it stick to wood lol not as easy as metal eh? :-P

Beach cache, hmmm..... how to do one? Kids dig in sand and move pebbles, explore rock pools and caves. How to not get it muggled? Any suggestions, or know of some that already exist?

I thought that, as it seemed to be only coins that had cool little icons, but looking around I saw a TB that had one too!

Do you know what a nano is? Here is one .... sort of small an hard to see. I would suggest for your first caches you stick to regular, but certainly nothing less than a small. Also choose a difficultly of 2 or less. Probably a 1.5 would be best. Where in Wales are you? And what are the GC codes for the three caches you searched for? z. :-)

This is what's happened to my first ever TB. I placed it in one of my caches that many of the active cachers have already found, and that's where it still is. Zero miles lol I have a new cache that has been out for a couple of weeks but that is getting fewer visits for some reason so putting it in there won't speed things up either. Oh well, it will move eventually zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz lol

Hi, couldn't find an answer to this on the search, sorry if it is there!! I have finally bought some TB's and in the cache listing and on the search listings it shows up with the little dog tag icon, but I want to change that to something else. I've seen it done, but can't work out how to! I found an icon, it uploaded successfully, I set it as default ... it is on the page but not where the dog tag icon is (which is still there on the TB page and everywhere else). What am I not doing here?? z.

Exactly! I've heard this many times "you should find 100 caches before being allowed to place a hide" etc etc which is silly. Some people can read up on the subject and learn what would make a crap hide without having to find a certain number first. What should be done, is a system where crap caches get re-reviewed and archived if they are total rubbish! Reading the guidelines... I can put a challenge up, pinpointing a definate bin... With the challenge to dump a crap geocache here. So we can police it ourselves at last! Reviewers have no remit to check how good a cache is... They have enough to contend with trying to make sure it's legal! Challenge accepted! Only kidding, even crap caches are still the legal property of the CO. Some kind of opposite of Favourite points would work though, or just a string of logs where finders declare that they thought it was crap, for the location or waste of time whatever. Or appoint volunteer Cache Police for each area lol

Exactly! I've heard this many times "you should find 100 caches before being allowed to place a hide" etc etc which is silly. Some people can read up on the subject and learn what would make a crap hide without having to find a certain number first. What should be done, is a system where crap caches get re-reviewed and archived if they are total rubbish!

They have asked you for help, I don't see the problem. If you post a spoiler on the cache listing that people who don't want help with solving it might see then yeah don't do that. If asked, I would give some help.

I was hoping to pick up a Vista H but ended up grabbing a basic Vista for £60. I'll see soon enough if it's fun to use for caching or a pain in the ...

Same here. My smartphone has mobile internet so I can read cache pages while I'm out searching. I don't go out for dozens in a day so manually inputting a few cache co-ords in to the GPS for a session isn't exactly hard work! This is now I have a GPS! Before this I found a few with my car satnav (no arrow pointing the way!) and before I had that I had nothing and still found a couple using the description and hint, and google maps / google earth. I dont do paperless caching and I don't know how to work GSAK or any other software :-P Still having loads of fun :-)

Yes this is why I want the electronic compass ... so that I can stand still and the unit knows which way it is facing. I rarely cache using a map so knowing where north is isn't much use to me, the GPSr knowing where it is means it can keep pointing me in the direction of the cache! Walking back and forth is getting on my nerves. Interesting info about the eTrex range being discontinued and I'd love to find a brand new one for £60 but that isn't now sadly and second hand ones are fetching that much still. I've got bids on a couple that are ending soon, but didn't know how much was too much to bid for a basic and a "H". Don't want to pay more than it's worth! z.

Hi, I'm looking to buy my first GPSr but funds are tight. I'd like to have an electronic compass as not having one on the GPS60 I have been borrowing drives me nuts! Looking at specs etc on lower end models I am looking at an eTrax Vista. I have bids on a couple of the bare Vista but what about the Vista H? Does anyone use either of these that can comment please? Also, what should I be paying for either of them second hand in god working condition with no accessories? Cheers for any help, z. :-)

Not sure but the one thing all caches contain is some form of log to sign. You can find them online to print off yourself for micros and nanos but I buy small notepads for tupperware type caches. There are official log books but its up to the cache owner what they decide to use.

What are the GC codes of those two caches?

The TB Code is to use publicly, such as in logs, forum postings and the like. The Tracking # is to be kept 'secret', thereby only usable by the person who has it in-hand. Logging the trackable (be it a geocoin or travel bug) must be accomplished using the tracking number. To make it available publicly opens it up for misuse and possible/probable lockdown by Groundspeak. Would you like your trackable locked? Ah I see now, thanks Ok so the cache this was in didn't have it listed in the current trackables and hence I don't knw how to find out more about it, where it's from and where it's been, and where the owner wants it to go. Can I get a quick idiot guide / links please? Love to provide one, but there is no 'idiot's guide to trackable moving'. You can search here: http://www.geocaching.com/track/default.aspx?. Even by partial name it will provide you with a list that you can hand-search through. Got it now .. thanks all

The TB Code is to use publicly, such as in logs, forum postings and the like. The Tracking # is to be kept 'secret', thereby only usable by the person who has it in-hand. Logging the trackable (be it a geocoin or travel bug) must be accomplished using the tracking number. To make it available publicly opens it up for misuse and possible/probable lockdown by Groundspeak. Would you like your trackable locked? Ah I see now, thanks Ok so the cache this was in didn't have it listed in the current trackables and hence I don't knw how to find out more about it, where it's from and where it's been, and where the owner wants it to go. Can I get a quick idiot guide / links please?

Why has it got a tracking number and a TB code?

I found a coin (geocoin I assume?) in a cache today, how do I look it up on GC? The search didn't have a TB code option (TBxxxxx) and I got no luck with the coin name or owner name. I have these details on a little piece of card with it: Coin Owner Coin Name Tracking number (PCxxxx) TB Code (TBxxxxx) if any of that helps? z.

Try as I might, I can't get img tags to work on a post, even after checking other people's that do work !!! The photos are on imageshack.us ... any idea why it's not working would be great! The best I got was a box that says Posted Image, all other url formats just show the link text.? z.

Totally forgot I bid on this ... Super Mario Bros watch for £1.09!! they list several of them per day by the looks of it

Yeah we have a Buyology or two around here, will take a look. Good heads-up If I feel like getting some gaudy coloured Eiffel Towers I now know where to look, hehe. Thanks for the input though. Nice bit of haggling there!! I've been buying some Welsh flag badges off ebay, 99p buy one get one free, free postage Not much use to those outside Wales but for taffs its a good price for a tidy swag item Will look at bigwow's site later, cheers

What cache swag have you guys seen that was affordable (cheap lol) but worth putting in your own caches or putting in trade or stuff you take out of caches? Ebay auctions, pound shops, etc?

My first couple of finds I did with no GPS at all, a car SatNav unit would have been a luxury then! I did the next few with a car unit, it was hard as you don't get a pointer arrow on mine but I did it for a couple so the answer is yes you can if that's what you have. A friend then lent me his Garmin 60 handheld GPS and that makes a lot of difference, pointer arrow and distance to the exact location. When the budget allows, definitely get one

Probably a bit obvious but it will depend on the area, how many are submitted ie how much work there is for the reviewers to get through, and the time that the reviewers have available for it! Mine have been published within 2 days so far ( all four of them ) which has been nice.