pghlooking

I agree and saw your post. I think our ideas are very similiar, they just started to get lost in the thread. It appeared to me to be a little too much thinking going into it rather than make it as easy for the newbie as possible. For that matter lets make it as easy for everyone involved. I don't think it would be too hard to set this up from GC.com's standpoint, but than again i don't write code. I just would like to see this get fast tracked since once the weather breaks the forums will be flooded with "i can't find this cache" and "where do i get help". If nothing else this makes a great network to meet others locally in your area that you wouldn't otherwise get a chance to. (edited to clarify: too much thinking in some other posts not sd's)

Everyone has an opinion to what the easiest way would be. So here's mine. Let us check off a box on our profile page saying we would like to help others out, mentor. On the homepage of GC.com make a box where newbies can search by zip code to who the mentors in their area are. Let the newbie email the mentor and let them arrange time, place, location, and everything else on their own. No schedules on here since they are too subject to change. No listing of what caches you are willing to do or not do. Communicate with the other person and make it personal. This will show them how friendly the game is. Not worth discussing the whole paperless area since this is about basics. Although i dont think i could ever go back to paper caching full time, we don't want to overload anyone and make them feel this is too far over their heads. That would have taken the fun out of it for me. I am not real big on the idea of creating the mentor cache as that will clutter the cache pages for others while making it harder to search for the newbie. Something on the front page to simply type in your zip code(not lat/long since many don't even have a GPSr yet) would be easiest i would think. Just my thoughts on this. I know i would sign up to help which is what i think everyone else is trying to do also. We just need to get this implemented. Hopefully it happens before the spring rush.

Like BlueDuece said, the Travel Bug is the metal id tag. The "attached" item would be the hitchhiker. Technically you could send the TB without anything on a journey. Anything "catching a ride" would be hitchiking. I wouldnt advise sending him solo though. Too easy to get lost.

You must also read the goal of the travel bug/coin. This is where the OWNER decides what is to happen with the item. YJTB: Jeep wants them to travel around and meet other cachers. Not become trade bait. Not become a personal collection. They want to travel. This is the OWNER's goal. M10Bike Coins: If you find one YOU have the choice to keep it or move it. That means it is YOUR choice. I think most people who have a coin will let you grab it(as long as you give it back). I don't understand how people who get upset about not logging a M10Bike coin are the same ones who will think nothing of keeping another tb or Jeep. As long as you are following the owners wishes and the TB's goals. everything is fine.

There was actually some talk about having something setup for this very reason. A mentoring system where you can find someone local to you that would help you learn the ropes. Until they get it going though, try the regional forum since theres a better chance finding someone local that would be willing to go with you a few times to get your feet wet. . Also see if theres a group local to you and maybe find someone from there. Don't give up. You were probably sitting on top of it and next time will find it and laugh about it.

I just saw an announcement somewhere that i can't remember, that Jeep has a recall on their wranglers. Curiously it only applies to the yellow ones and they are supposedly die cast. Apparently there is a problem with their engines that will causse them to stall out in the hands of whomever is driving them. The recall states to have them fixed immediately due to a serious chance of bothering your conscious. Do not hesiate. To have "your" Jeep looked at, please place it in the nearest cache to you, add to your watchlist, and enjoy the fun of seeing where it ends up once it has been repaired. This has been service bulletin YJTB#1.

Sure whatcha got? Have or coming: PA GA NC GOWT Washington State Canada 2005 Calgary USA 2005

I would take 1 for sure. How much?

Thanks. I saw that thread before. Most of that stuff is past the selling point. I was curious about what is available now and coming soon. Doesn't appear to be a central place to inform anoyone of this. I heard Washington was going to have one somewhere around the end of March and have seen something about Texas. Just wanted to get the current and futures information so i could buy them. Hard to trade when you don't have anything left to trade. I managed to get ahold of a Georgia coins myself just for that also.

I know, as alot of other do, where to buy USA, Canada, and right now Calgary coins. But i see little remarks here and there about several others. Texas and NC have coins available now? Maybe a thread listing the places where we can get the coins might help. As of now you either have to be extremely active in all the regional forums, know someone who is, or sometimes stumble across the ordering information. I would like to know what coins are available now, coming soon (when?), and where to get them. A sort of condensed coin sheet. I am pretty sure I am not the only one who would like to know this. Thanks to all who can help. (MODS: If this wasn't the right forum, Please move. Thanks)

Actually i don;t think theres a problem with it being empty at all. By the looks of the last log, alot of the reason they took so many was it was over full with TB's. "We took the extras as they were falling out it was so stuffed full of bugs in there and these were quite large. Hope you don't mind. Will move them along quickly. " Everyone should be so lucky to have a cache that active. Chalk this one up to a cache maintance trip someone did for you.

I personally think the goals of the travel bug and the owners wishes outwiegh the cache rules/guidlines/suggestions. The owner didn't place his TB in that cache so why should it be forced to stay there? I would try to follow the guidlines as best as i could, BUT if there were 2 there trying to come to Pittsburgh and i only had one to drop, shouldn't i help them both anyhow? There isn't a rule about dropping more than you take is there?

You're ten years old AND a premium member?!?!? That's more impressive than most posters! You think thats impressive...you should see my GPS!!!

I hope it wasn't myself being refered to when it was said about moving the TB by mail was bad. I personally don't care if the Jeep is moved by mail or anything else. The fact that this one is going to be placed in a cache is great. I also agree that eventually there will be 5,000 signature pieces, formally known as Yellow Jeep Travel Bugs, sitting on someones mantel or worse in an old shoebox forgotten about. I agree that everyone should play the game their own way, but that is also within reason. Respect for the game and fellow players is first and foremost the most crucial item. Like everything in life there are still rules and the most simple one when it comes to TB's is move it, don;t keep it. I am glad to see this one will continue to live in the caches of the world, at least till someone finds it too hard to let go. I don't think i ever would have thought at 10 years old i would be debating the proper etiquette of movement of a yellow matchbox car with other grown adults. What a friday night!

Why? Should it be? Let's make this simple for. You have posted in as many as 3 different threads about wanting to trade a Jeep for another TB. You do not own this TB. Granted it is a corporation that owns the Tb but it still has an owner. This is a game piece that people are actually trying to find while you are taking it for your own personal pleasure and trading when you get the right trade. You can not trade somthing that is not yours. I would ask you how you would feel if someone took one of your TB's and was trying to trade it BUT, i noticed this on your TB's owned page. 2005 USA Geocoin: This is a 2005 Geocoin with a small hole drilled through the center. I drilled this hole here in hopes that it would not become part of someones personal collection, which unfortunately, is what happened to my 2004 Geocoin. 2004 USA Geocoin: If anyone finds this please log it ASAP. It has been missing for quite some time. I hope that nobody is "collecting" it! Now wheres the difference? (edit for spelling)

Are you complaining about people that are just outright stealing them to keep? or those that are stealing them to trade? Both. These are still TB's whether there is a contest going or not. They are not our property. They are a game piece and should remain in play. People are going to caches and taking the Jeeps and not logging their visit. This means they know what they are doing is wrong. I understand theres no cache police and everything, but for a family sport, don't these people feel a little greedy, selfish, and all around dirty for doing this? As far as stealing them to trade: Stealing is wrong (see above) and then to advertise in the forums that you are looking to trade them is unreal. Look in just this post (and i have seen the same posts elsewhere in the forums) alone and you will see someone in possession of a Jeep wanting to trade it. How can you trade something you don't own? Put it in a cache and move it along. Not only are they trying to trade it but for another TB! So someone makes the trade. what happens to my cute little TB that he likes so much? it replaces the Jeep on his shelf? still not logged and to me stolen. This might be more of a rant than anything from me and if so i am sorry. I thought it was suppose to be take bug, log bug, move bug, drop bug, log bug. nowhere have i ever seen keep bug but dont log so the next person will come out to that cache looking for it. But i guess some people play the game way different.

check sent today. increased it from 3 to 4, hope you have enough. if not have a really big cup of coffee on me.

how are people offering to trade them when clearly they dont own them? place it in a cache and give others the chance to log them they same as you did. this is a game and by removing the piece you dont own, for your personal collections, isn't fair to others playing the game. i have found a jeep and glad i did, but i do feel bad for others who havent and have tried. seems too many are either taking them without logging them or just never placing them back. its a shame when someone has to keep a cheap game piece instead of thinking about the game itself. on second thought, Yes i would like to trade. how about placing in the nearest cache to you and i will stop by to pick it up. Thanks

I would really like something new or changed to ours. This is just something i threw together and don't have the skills to do much else. And if anyone can help, could you send me the avatar in line art to have some wooden nickels made? will give you a wooden nickel for your troubles!? Thank You

Not sure how many others would find this useful but was curious, is it possible to allow 2 additional waypoints to a cache page. For example when you create a cache you would have the option of also waypointing the parking and also the trailhead. You would not have to waypoint them, but when someone receives a PQ it would have say GCXXXX, GCXXXXa, and GCXXXXb. This would make things easier for downloading directly to your GPS. As of now you either have to read the pages before hand and do it on the computer before going out or you notice it when already out and have to do this manually in the field. I am not sure how hard this would be or if the interest in this is wide enough spread but would like to hear other opinions on it. Thanks

Thanks for both explanations. I just assumed that when it went back to unapproved it would lose the general watchlist. got it now.

at least it is moving so maybe one day the cacher will grow tired of carrying something thats a game piece and just release it. There arent many in this area, and when looking at ones that were picked up i noticed something uncool. Some people had gotten a YJTB from a cache within 30 days of its release and never dropped it anywhere. They have submitted to the contest and apparently just kept it for a souviner. A shame others cant log them too.

If unapproved, even temporarily, would this remove all names from the watchlist and treat it as a new cache with the exception to the logs? I didnt think there was a way to watchlist an unapproved cache so am curious if it is unapproved, how would that affect the watchlist?

Being local i would also like to see this broadcast or help you in any way i can. another place to talk with locals would be on Tri-go. Its a pretty good place to get local info as well as meet others. Good Luck and keep us posted.

3 please