[Event for Gloucester area on 29th Feb, 2012?]

Having a rethink on venue as ones I had in mind are probably not accessible enough. I'm now thinking somewhere between Gloucester and Cheltenham would be good. I'll go and check a couple of places out some time soon.

No, get something near to a bus route; then people can drink and (not) drive; so you'd be looking at town centre pubs for the most part. The Bayshill, in Cheltenham, is good for example.

 

Went for a drink at the Bayshill this afternoon. Good choice. Will bite the bullet in a bit.

[Event for Gloucester area on 29th Feb, 2012?]

Having a rethink on venue as ones I had in mind are probably not accessible enough. I'm now thinking somewhere between Gloucester and Cheltenham would be good. I'll go and check a couple of places out some time soon.

[Tiki Treasure Tag(Mission, of sorts)]

someone could always sort through the Trackables I own to find it too...

 

Someone could sort through the 400+ trackables you own...

[Tiki Treasure Tag(Mission, of sorts)]

Has the TB number for the tag been shared here in the thread, or do we have to wait until we receive the box until we can track it/see the map for its journey?

[Event for Gloucester area on 29th Feb, 2012?]

Prestbury? (Nothing organised...Just throwing it in the ring to mull over.)

[Event for Gloucester area on 29th Feb, 2012?]

That's what I was thinking I could do too, but as the nearest 29th events are Swansea, Bristol & Birmingham which is too far for me to go, just wondered if anyone within about 10-15 miles would be interested...So I thought it might be worth asking. It could be that I'm not in a 'big' enough place for it to be worth it for people after work, as like you say, people want to get home mid-week and about 5 miles out of the way is enough, unless you can pop along on foot after work before setting off for home, I suppose.

Just a short walk up a gentle hill.

 

[Event for Gloucester area on 29th Feb, 2012?]

That's what I was thinking I could do too, but as the nearest 29th events are Swansea, Bristol & Birmingham which is too far for me to go, just wondered if anyone within about 10-15 miles would be interested...So I thought it might be worth asking. It could be that I'm not in a 'big' enough place for it to be worth it for people after work, as like you say, people want to get home mid-week and about 5 miles out of the way is enough, unless you can pop along on foot after work before setting off for home, I suppose.

[Cache series with long titles]

I know what you mean, C0lin, and I think our cache walks overlap (I seem to have followed you around on some!) Don't know about the GPS but have found the phone app helps with this, as can just tap the cache with my finger to see what it is (although not so easy in the rain). Also, as I only have basic maps (so only roads are marked, not paths) I print off the OS version of the section of the beta map (so it has the caches marked on them.) I number these while at home. this helps a lot and has saved me from getting lost, and it's a backup in case for some reason all the electronic stuff fails. Seems to be working so far, but have only been doing it like this for a couple of weeks.

[Event for Gloucester area on 29th Feb, 2012?]

Yep, that one does look good. I'd been thinking of this idea for a few days and that one has only been published today I think. It's on another auspicious date - St Patrick's Day! It's over a couple of weeks later, so not clashing exactly. There might be other events in the pipeline for 29th already, hence my first question, really.

[Event for Gloucester area on 29th Feb, 2012?]

I've been watching the events crop up on the map and these has been a big gap all around Gloucester and none (last I looked) very close on Wednesday 29th February. (Only one chance every 4 years to fill in that date on the calendar, you might regret it if you miss your chance!) So...I just wanted to know if anyone has an event they are planning within about 15 miles of Gloucester on that date (at a venue where there's room for all, if you catch my drift). Please post here, or PM me if there is going to be an event - and rough location...

 

Next question is, if noone is planning to host an event for that date in the Gloucester/Cheltenham/Forest of Dean/ Dursley/Tewkesbury area, please say if you would be interested in an evening event at a pub (meals optional) and if there's a particular venue or area which would be best for you, as it's midweek. I haven't hosted an event before, so if someone more experienced and better known in our caching community would like to step in and take over here, feel completely free to do so without feeling you're stepping on anyone's toes! I'll help where I can as I'm not currently working, and can provide cache box, notebook etc. Was thinking that as it's in the evening there's no need to go publishing a whole series of caches, but to commemorate the date, and to have one more to tick off for making the effort, maybe a new church micro within walking distance of the pub (or even a nearby night cache) would be fun (but I have no idea where to put the night cache, would need to work that out some more - got an inkling for a pub & church though.)

 

Knowing me, this thread will sink to the bottom of the page soon and I'll forget about it, so if you are interested in attending something like this, say something, if not...well, you can still say what you like!

[Needs Maintenance & Other Noob bloobs...]

Like others, I'll usually post a NM for something like a broken container or new log book needed, and if there is useful info I can give to the next cachers, I'll just add that in the log.

Lately I've started circular cache walks with a few caches to them, and a great walk in the countryside. Often there is one cache on the way that is compromised, and if it got archived it would spoil the whole series. So I've started to email/pm the CO instead of a NM and mention any problem carefully in the log. If I don't get a reply and I really liked the series and think it deserves some attention, I'll add a NM.

[What makes a great proxy?]

Travel bugs do not require a metal dogtag. Feel free to use whatever type of tag you wish, stickers attached to your car, ink tattooed into your skin, a homemade laminated tag.

 

The fact that you had to re-release your travel bug is not a concern and there is no requirement that you list it as a copy.

 

Coin travelers however are apparently required to be a coin.

 

Oh, I see what you mean.

So as the little silver bear is unlikely to ever resurface as a TB, I could use that one to send out a TB carrying a Rosa Parks/passive resistance/integration (or other aspect) kind of symbol of some kind, and that wouldn't bother coin icon collectors (if I just left the coin as missing and didn't replace) and it satisfies my desire to do something about the thefts.

 

When picked up most would think, "oh, a Rosa Parks travel bug." And that's all.

 

I think that's fine. Better than 'oh, another of those blinking proxy things' and whatever else.

[What makes a great proxy?]

Travel bugs do not require a metal dogtag. Feel free to use whatever type of tag you wish, stickers attached to your car, ink tattooed into your skin, a homemade laminated tag.

 

The fact that you had to re-release your travel bug is not a concern and there is no requirement that you list it as a copy.

 

Coin travelers however are apparently required to be a coin.

 

Oh, I see what you mean.

So as the little silver bear is unlikely to ever resurface as a TB, I could use that one to send out a TB carrying a Rosa Parks/passive resistance/integration (or other aspect) kind of symbol of some kind, and that wouldn't bother coin icon collectors (if I just left the coin as missing and didn't replace) and it satisfies my desire to do something about the thefts.

[Preparing my first cache]

There have been a couple of caches like that placed around here since we've been caching, the cache page said there was a gift for (name of caching account) and hoped they would be the first to find it. These were proposal caches though! There were lots of congratulatory notes for them.

Something else to think about is whether you will maintain the cache and for how long.

 

I am not really concerned about them being the FTF. I just want to make sure they get their gift. A thought came to me this morning of maybe placing the "gift" somewhere near the cache and just give the coord's to that to the person it was intended for. But, just a thought.

 

Thank you for mentioning it, but I would never place a cache without the intention of maintaining it.

 

Now all I need to know is what paint to use to paint my container! See OP in the "edit" part.

 

That would be a good idea, to place the gift nearby!

 

Thanks for not taking that the wrong way (bit about maintenance).

 

If the only problem with spray paint is the top part remaining clear, you could use masking tape in the lid and then use car spray paint (acrylic paint will probably just peel off)...And then you could use something like modelling enamel paints, or outdoor/garden gloss paint to make the design over that.

[Preparing my first cache]

There have been a couple of caches like that placed around here since we've been caching, the cache page said there was a gift for (name of caching account) and hoped they would be the first to find it. These were proposal caches though! There were lots of congratulatory notes for them.

Something else to think about is whether you will maintain the cache and for how long.

[What makes a great proxy?]

Thanks all for responding, it has given me a lot to think about. It's also made me realise there is quite a big difference between these 2 trackables - the TB didn't have a copy tag, but I could make a circular proxy with a hole in it, as it was just a tag, not a coin. I'll keep the original info with a photo on the cache page, and find another small bear to send off, I think. Plastic would be good.

 

The Rosa Parks coin was a bit special. I like the idea of laminating, or encapsulating a photocopy of the original and marking it 'COPY' instead of something crafty. I do want to send one out again because I suspect this one might have been taken out of the game for 'political' reasons (being polite) and destroyed, rather than as straight theft or loss, or mislay. So the reason for sending out something that looks like the original (but clearly isn't so there is no confusion) is because the coin has a story to retell. The whole point of peaceful resistance and integration makes me think I should be getting Rosa's proxy right back out there, taking part in the game!

 

I'll dig a little deeper into the geocoin forums as have not noticed much about Proxy items there. I suppose each item lost will need a different response in replacement.

 

I love those ideas of yours, Mrs B, really good fun.

[What makes a great proxy?]

we have a lot of missing coins, and I tend to leave it for some time before declaring a coin missing, so it's a long process. 2 have now been 'missing' with not a peep about them for over a year now, so I am starting to think about reusing the tracking numbers in some way. One is a coin (Rosa Parks) and one is a slug TB with a hole in the middle you attach to something (it had a too-cute silver bear attached).

 

When reusing the numbers and sending out a proxy, do they have to copy the original in some way, or can they be something quite different (but still related to the original title and icon)?

 

What kind of items make a good proxy? I have some sets of lead type I can use to press the number into clay or Fimo/Sculpey/or brand wood, so I was wondering it that kind of thing would be alright, or if any kind of substitute is unacceptable to most cachers and whatever I do it will be ignored and spurned.

[Since when did Northern Ireland leave the UK?]

It does look like Groundspeak was bullied into this decision. It also kind of shows why we ended up with stupid names like 'Great Britain' and 'United Kingdom'...We are a stubborn, determined combination of peoples, the whole lot of us, and have been for a very long time.

 

It doesn't change that NI is a part of the UK, and that Groundspeak seem to have mislaid it. It's a bit like when Jeremy Clarkson chopped off Wales.

 

It is not as simple as where you live, plenty of people make the commute between Ireland and Scotland/Wales/England for work, and to see friends & family on a frequent basis. A small group of geocachers who want their own way are not representative, no matter how intimidating.

 

Ulster isn't in the UK.

[Since when did Northern Ireland leave the UK?]

Stumbled upon this thread and waded my way through. I've, honestly, nothing constructive to add save for the fact that this thread reminded me of something I saw once on

.

 

Though I'm sure there may be errors in the presentation, hopefully it provides a chuckle for those who've not seen the vid previously.

 

Thanks for the video, I was a bit apprehensive but it is very clear and well presented, I think.

[Since when did Northern Ireland leave the UK?]

Edit: this was irrelevant and unhelpful. removed before it makes things worse.

[Since when did Northern Ireland leave the UK?]

Using the term 'GB' misses out all the smaller islands, so it doesn't work.

That's the second time such a comment has been made in this thread and as the use of GB rather than UK is a possible solution then it needs clarifying. To me, Great Britain does mean all the islands except, of course, IOM & CI. So I have to ask: which islands aren't in GB?

 

Now I've discovered that the Channel islands and Isle of man are classified as their own country/region, then in fact it does make sense to use the term GB...it would meant that this forum used a different nomenclature, for brevity's sake, but don't see a big problem with that.

 

Using the term 'GB' misses out all the smaller islands, so it doesn't work.

That's the second time such a comment has been made in this thread and as the use of GB rather than UK is a possible solution then it needs clarifying. To me, Great Britain does mean all the islands except, of course, IOM & CI. So I have to ask: which islands aren't in GB?

 

It depends whether you're talking geographically or politically. "Geographically" Great Britain is the one big island of England + Wales + Scotland. "Politically" it also includes all the smaller islands scattered around it... apart from Ireland. (As I understand it.)

 

 

Perhaps that is where my confusion about using the term 'GB' originated. As long as islands such as the Isles of Scilly and the Shetlands, Arran and Lundy and so on can be included as being in GB, I don't much mind whether the terminology came about due to (true) political reasons or not.

[Since when did Northern Ireland leave the UK?]

There are plenty of people in NI who will look at the way NI is not included in the UK and see it as political and not want to have anything to do with Groundspeak or geocaching as a result.

 

So what if people want to publish NI caches as if in an Ireland region, and they can't. When I send a cache for review, I have to select the right region or it doesn't get published. Just as you can't place a cache on the Isle of Man or Jersey or in Gibraltar and say it is in a region of England, Spain or France. Let things be what they are, without making them something they are not.

[Since when did Northern Ireland leave the UK?]

I too was horrified when this change was introduced. It seemed that Groundspeak was attempting to settle the Irish question without acknowledgment of the several hundred years of history which caused the present situation and without reference to the democratic principle on which the current division is based. The fact that the change came from an organisation based in a country which has long seen Northern Ireland as an occupied area made me even more concerned.

 

That said, I do recognise that the purpose of the "countries" defined by Groundspeak is for convenience of reviewing and for searching in PQs. However, if a website has a listing of countries then users will expect that list to reflect either international standards or common understanding. The reason why this issue keeps - and will keep - arising is because the current list does neither of those. A person looking for Northern Ireland will expect to find either a country of that name or for it to be included in United Kingdom, especially as there are no entries in the list for England, Scotland or Wales.

 

A simple solution, it seems to me, would be for Groundspeak to remove references to United Kingdom and replace it with the constituent countries which Groundspeak intend UK to mean: England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland should then be added. These changes would mean that a person looking to place a cache in Northern Ireland would find the country easily, as would anyone looking for e.g. Wales once they realised that United Kingdom wasn't in the list. Reviewing would continue as now because it would remain based on "state". Most importantly, these changes negate completely any political discussion and therefore surely achieve most effectively Groundspeak's desire to stay out of politics.

 

 

PS: I've just noticed the name of this forum. Another solution would be to remove from the list the countries of "United Kingdom" and "Ireland" and replace them with a single country of "United Kingdom and Ireland". This too removes any ambiguity and suggestion of politics.

 

PPS: It's quite apposite that this debate was started on the day political battle lines were drawn in the secession of Scotland

I totally agree with all of this. Please stop misusing the term 'UK'. Either list the countries separately as 'England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales' or have one country of 'UK and Ireland.' I think the latter works best.

 

Using the term 'GB' misses out all the smaller islands, so it doesn't work.

 

[edit: I am wrong in that last statement, see correction in ongoing discussion.]

[Etiquette for a newbie]

How you rehide the cache, taking time to make sure it is hidden with the right amount of natural camouflage (while not getting spotted by muggles) is another thing it can take a bit of time to learn, in different circumstances. It is too easy to hurry this and leave the cache exposed if you fear people are watching, or to overhide the cache so much that it doesn't fit the clue or it makes it harder than the difficulty rating for the next finder.

[What makes a geocache a great geocache?]

Sometimes a great series is let down by poor directions, causing cachers to trespass. A lot of cachers have basic maps on their GPS and/or rely on the satellite maps on their phones. If the terrain and length of the walk doesn't demand using a more detailed map, a cache circuit loses my favourite point even if it ticks all the other boxes. (For example, if you have to walk along the road and the path over the fields peters out and leaves us stranded, put on the cache page to stick to the road to get to the next cache.) Equally, if the road is unsafe to walk along, make sure there is a public footpath you point out to the next cache unless everyone has permission to make their own way.