6079smithw

For the record: the eTrex Vista arrived in yesterday's mail. I would not describe it as in "Good" condition... this unit is doggone near NEW!! Works perfectly with both the RS232 and my USB cable. I was going to use it as an APRS receiver but now it's going geocaching! Thank you fuzziebear3 , 5 stars and 2 thumbs-up!

My hat is off to you, Sir! EasyGPS has been and still is my go-to app when I have to use a Windows machine... lock 'n load then hit the road, Never a lick of trouble (other than Operator Error of course) If our paths ever happen to cross on the Geo-Trail, the libations are on me!

You got my interest . Which model Vista might that be? That unit was doggone near indestructible as I recall. PM or email OK. Thx.

True that... and the column shifter ("3-on-the-tree") on my '70 Dodge 1/2 ton is a mystery to the I-phone whiz kids as well. BTW us oldies were using ammo cans for tool boxes before Sputnik was launched. I have a 14-yr old niece who was totally blown away when we turned a closet into a darkroom and she developed and printed a roll of 35mm B/W film she had shot for a school project. Fun stuff...

Wish we could all have that kind of luck! The coordinate format is universal; whatever you're using now will work just fine. I'd think it would be cheaper to just print out the map off the cache page(s) where you plan to hunt and use the Oregon in compass/distance mode. For another angle, you could try a PM to a reviewer in the area for his/her take on it. majority of folks in Europe speak English or they can use translate mode. Most hobbyists I've dealt with enjoy sharing knowledge especially with folks from other parts of the world. Happy caching and have a super trip!

The only thing that needed to be decided here was whether he should have been water-boarded, impaled (head-down of course) or drawn and quartered. Some may suggest making him listen to Debbie Boone's "You Light Up My Life" at a min 95 db for 10 hrs. straight, but it was only a mag-key container... let's show a little restraint here!

As others have so wisely stated, it depends on the location and conditions at GZ If there's no chance of not being seen making the grab I'll pass it up til later. On the other hand, my job has me in a uniform shirt with a 2-way radio... like the cell phone, its usually a cloak of invisibility especially outdoors in public areas. Guess I like a little, but not too much of a challenge where muggles are concerned.

As others have mentioned, REI's the bomb for dedicated stuff like labels, containers and the like. Here's the URL to their geocache page, you may have to copy and paste... http://www.rei.com/search?query=geocaching...&button.y=3 Swag, like gold, is where you find it and you're limited only by your imagination, but as always, the Dollar Store is your friend for many things! Have fun!

If the mice leave and the feline moves in, then you'd have a Cathouse, no? (Yeah, my bad) Seriously, whatever makes the wife happy is the smart choice... don't let a birdhouse land you in the doghouse (BTDT)

PRICELESS! That explains it all!

Mama said it best.... "Honesty is the best policy." Put yourself in the homeowner's/cop's/security guard's shoes... stranger walking slowly. no apparent destination, looking around... could arouse anyone's suspicion especially in an urban setting with the economy being what it is. I'm a courier/driver with a route that covers 300 miles thru NV/CA working swing and graveyard. I cache when I have time between stops and have been questioned a few times. Attitude is everything... I explain I'm geocaching, describe the treasure/scavenger hunt angle and the "Trillion-dollar satellites to find Dollar-store Tupperware" has gotten more than a few smiles. Getting confrontational is lame and unnecessary... you aren't violating any laws if you cache properly. Never lie to law enforcement or security personnel! They are only doing their job and have the right to check you out for due cause... like when they see you waving a flashlight around tree trunks in a park-and-ride at 2 in the morning! I've been questioned many times by LE in 5 states... always ended on a positive note by being up-front. Feeding them a line of BS is pointless... an experienced officer will see right through it and you may wind up sitting on the curb, like C.O.P.S. on TV while they make sure you aren't one of those chain-saw massa-kree types. Last March I had just logged GCH549 in Folsom CA (a mag-nano near a Dental Office) unaware that a FPD officer was watching me and pulled me over as soon as I entered the public street. Did the license/reg/i thing and he asked why I had been poking around the canopy in front of the dentist at 1:00 AM I explained the game, showed him my GPS, cache notes and offered him a copy of the Groundspeak flier. He explained there had been a number of attempted break-ins at medical offices in the area, apologized for the delay, thanked me for my time and left. Two months later I had just delivered to a regular stop a couple of miles away when a Folsom PD car pulls up... same cop, grinning from ear to ear. He says, "I saw your car! Checked out that (Groundspeak) website a few days after you told me about it!" Turns out he got curious, tried a cache with his I-phone GPS and got hooked... so did his wife and kids.

What SgtSue said! Plus: Soaking in the hot springs just up the road from a find (Twain, CA) The herd of deer standing over GZ in WA that took off almost silently when we approached. The 800 lb. range bull in the NV hills that didn't. Plenty of badly-needed exercise! (Running away from 800 lb. range bulls burns up the calories) Stopping on a road we drove on for decades to discover a lake we never knew was just behind the trees. The absolute silence of the high desert on the NV-UT line. Being 'buzzed' by the Navy Blue Angels Team as they were warming up for an air show at Fallon NV Visiting a working gold mine in NV and an oil rig in WY All this for the price of an eTrex Legend at a yard sale! Sometimes it's the journey. Other times its the destination. No matter where you are, a cache is probably waiting.

I have a job (and thankful for that alone with the current economy) which involves traveling and allows me time to geocache as well! I'm out at night in both metro and rural areas with many caching opportunities. IMHO it all boils down to common street sense. Everyone's familiar with terms like "gut feeling" or 'just doesn't look right"... Night caching can be a lot of fun; I do it often, but as other posters have so wisely stated: safety first! Be aware of your surroundings and if it doesn't look/feel right, head off to the next cache. (you DID have a few more in mind, right?) Come back during the day. Or not. it's just a cache. My favorite traveling buddies are a Sig P220 (.45) or a J-frame in a leg rig at times. Guess I'm lazy though as I'd sooner leave trouble in the rearview mirror if possible. Otherwise you risk making a mess, waking up the neighbors (especially with the Sig) and then there's all the doggone reports to fill out instead of a 3:00 AM In 'n Out Burger stop. Just my $.02... stay safe and Cache On!

I've had outstanding luck with Permatex Red RTV Silicone Gasket Maker. Couple of dots on the magnet, press together. Once it sets up its almost impossible to remove and totally unaffected by heat or moisture. Available at any auto parts store or Wally-World. Hope this helps...

Just starting out myself. hmmmm. think I may have just found another use for my "Gopher Pole... http://www.gopherpole.com/index.asp Use it all the time in my job to route wire/CAT5/coax thru walls and suspended ceilings.. The real thing's a tad pricey but I'll bet there's someone out there who could make one...