Original A1

Perhaps you could give slightly more specific information as to where you found it. For instance, I don't do Facebook, but I might have a better idea of who might be caching in an area of Northern Scotland than someone say living down in the South East. Not definitely, but possibly, given I live in what they call Southern Scotland. Anyone who wishes to claim it would still need to identify which type, colour, etc., it is.

Perhaps someone took exception to the series title? It's not a very encouraging one! Not that that is grounds for anyone to remove caches. Are they set for premium members only? That may form some measure against deliberate vandals as non-PM caches are available for any Tom, Dick or Harry to view online. I'm inclined to think that one going missing may merely be an accident, but four out of six seems a little too coincidental. Good luck with the reinstatements and maintaining the series!

Wow! You have got to be kidding me. That is beyond reprehensible. Here the U.S. I have never even seen a cache with that many TB's. It must have been a huge event huh? Whoa. Why is it beyond reprehensible? If he went to an event where everyone else went off without taking any and he was last to go, I can see that scenario happening. Even if not, there's no law on how many you can or can't take, so long as they get moved on (preferably quickly). Whilst it would be better to share the load with others, not everyone wants to play the TB game.

Exactly my reaction. Instead of insisting the description be updated, the reviewer posted the minimum information that CO should have provided. I couldn't help but wonder if the reviewer is actually the CO and accidentally posted the note under the wrong account. This is good advice. I think the NA was probably a good wake up call, so although a bit of an overkill, the reviewer rejected it, so no harm done. Now the OP should go find the cache and then leave worrying about its fate to the CO. Let me assure you that I know both the Reviewer and the CO and they are definitely not one and the same person! Both have been caching for over 10 years and whilst I'm not sure why the NMs didn't elicit a response, I do know that the CO is not normally negligent over maintenance, so there is probably a good reason for not having updated the details.

I did it the other way round. Bought a GPS on ebay and pressed the button "Geocaches" saying "What's that?" and became hooked. I was an ordinary member for 2 weeks before realising that it made sense to become a premium member. Add to that the GC.com and GC Buddy apps on the iPhone which I usually work in tandem with the GPS (although occasionally use without it), and that's me set. Over the years, it's been interesting when caching with others to see other methods employed. More than one road to Rome.

I would also like to continue seeing the name of the cacher who wrote the log, as in the old format. it did not seem to be broken to me, so please do not "fix" what we are used to seeing. Couldn't agree more. The new style puzzled me because I didn't realise a "fix" was happening. I have received several e-mails (Watchlist/published/found it) in the new format and I really had to look twice to see what was being said - not a problem in the previous format. The colour and layout below the title, e.g.: Logged by: geoladie74 Log Type: Found it Date: 7/19/2014 Location: Alaska, United States Type: Traditional Cache Is fine, but the rest is convoluted and looks rather pretentious to me (especially the "snap"). Keep it simple please!

It doesn't matter what this reviewer said in 2012; he is warning about NOW, not then, probably also in light of the fact that the UK Mega will be just down the road at the same time. Thank you Graculus for the warning.

In most positions of authority, a sage person needs to undertake a fine balancing act between offering the appropriate gravitas and keeping onside with those he is there to help. In this, Deci has excelled. Like many, I have met him and whether in person or by e-mail, he has never failed to go the extra mile in explaining anything which needs further clarification, or in publishing what I have submitted for publication when the Scottish reviewers haven't been available. He has been a pleasure to deal with and this is reflected in the other posts. For this reason, I add my voice in echoing genuine shock and sadness that the politics have reached this point. Perhaps Geocaching has become a victim of its own success - at least where its volunteers are concerned. Yes, new volunteers can step into the breach, but the wisdom and experience that Deci brings to this hobby is second to none. I hope this resignation doesn't mean he leaves the hobby altogether. From me and I'm sure many others, huge thanks Deci for all you've done to facilitate our way through the maze of rules and regulations. TFTR.

A couple of days ago, I sent the following e-mail to Groundspeak: Hi HQ, I just found this and thought you might enjoy it: My link Best wishes, Original A1 They have just replied: Dear Original A1, We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced and we appreciate your understanding as we continue to improve our hamster caches. Based on the footage you sent us it appears you may have inadvertently activated your hamster cache in "Alive & Hungry" mode rather than in "Geocaching" mode. We have found this to be the case for many hamster caches which were shipped internationally. At present it appears to be a wiring issue. To reset the hamster cache to its correct olfactory settings please do the following: 1. Lightly tap the reset button, located beneath the two hamstercams and above the fuel intake. 2. Wait ten seconds 3. Test to see if the settings have been restored by separately placing a pinch of dry seed mix and a tiny burrito in front of the hamster cache, an inch apart. A proclivity for the seed mix will indicate the olfactory settings have been restored. If, however, the tiny burrito is preferred, the reset was unsuccessful and we would be happy to refund your purchase. 4. Once the hamster cache has been reset you can enter "Geocaching" mode and watch as the hamster cache delightedly explores every inch of the surface on which you place it, searching for caches. Once again, thank you for your patience in this matter. Please let us know if this e-mail still leaves you spinning your wheels. Best, The Community Team at Geocaching HQ

I tend to look at the map online first to get a rough idea of where I'm aiming for, then switch on the GPS as I get closer. It's set for a direct arrow rather than a driven route, so I follow it as far as I can by car and use initiative as to where to disembark and start walking (unless a waypoint has been provided, although 9/10, there isn't one). Tomorrow, I'm going to Glasgow for a Cup Final and will be at the mercy of wherever the coach chooses to stop (it's stopping somewhere en route for us to have lunch). I'll load up some nearby caches onto my iPhone and if we are close enough to anything, I'll give it a go with that. Not convinced anything's going to be within reach, mind! That technique applies to any situation where I'm not in Caching Mode, i.e., at the mercy of muggles who wouldn't understand about my addiction…

I think TB Hotels are fair game, and it's a shame to find them empty, which, ironically, is a sign of it working properly. However, I think consideration needs to be given to the accommodation. Is there a friendly reception? What are the bar facilities like… gym… swimming pool? Some TBs won't book in if they don't have silk sheets and a good nightlife. Perhaps one or two of the owners ought to give a bit more consideration to these aspects. There's a great one on the outskirts of Edinburgh: http://imgcdn.geocaching.com/cache/large/58a4912b-fd6e-45be-8069-abc172d53c69.jpg (GC2EEE6). I think it's been moved since I found it in 2010, but it's so cute that any self-respecting trackable would want to book in there as a highlight of its world tour (as is evidenced by the 15 FPs).

Hmmm. I assume there must have been a lot more than we can read here for you to take such drastic action as to give up this great hobby. Although it's very late to be logging trackables, I don't see anything particularly objectionable in what you've quoted them as saying. I try to log trackables as and when I find them (and move them on asap), but I do sometimes jot down numbers at an event, then forget about it and log later. There's some even now I haven't logged and the last event I was at was a while back. It's a shame to see someone go. I'd hang around, put them on your ignore list, and if there's abuse to report, report it through Groundspeak's channels. There's always bound to be some folk you get on well with and others less well - that's the hazards of having a very large community playing this game. (Love the bear pic, by the way!)

Well may I be the first to use this forum to congratulate AstroRM on being the first to log a find on this very special cache, and for taking a TB into space. Good luck with your floating friendship for the next six months and thanks for giving us something to smile about. Happy caching!

That is a stunning photograph. I hope you sent that to the BBC to show in their pics of the week or some other competition. It would be a great photo without the metalwork, but that is really the icing on the cake - the juxtaposition and contrast of the near-monochrome next to the spectrum of colours in the rainbow. And no, I'm not sucking up to the judge because I'm not entering a photo a) because I can't think of one I might submit (haven't looked!) and I'm too much of a technophobe, as has been seen in previous attempts. Good luck to everyone else though.

There's one in the UK, but I couldn't possibly disclose where it is.

Interesting comments, especially from MP. I came into the game after the demise of locationless caches, but for what it's worth and from what I can recall, most, if not all of my Virtual finds have had a bit of a Wow Factor. I don't think I've looked at any and thought "Why has someone put a virtual here just for the sake of it?" I hope they stay for as long as possible as although relatively few and far between, I love them. As to logging an archived one, I don't think I would, although there was one I visited where I got the information, but the actual feature had been removed for H&S reasons and it was archived shortly afterwards. The YOSM one is a cache I could have logged on several occasions, but I personally prefer to log unique finds, so have restricted it to the one smiley.

Interesting concept. You've out-grown the UK? Just a word of caution: the bureaucracy surrounding getting visas for Russia isn't renowned without good reason. For those attempting to head to Murmansk, I'm sure it will be a great addition to the expedition, but give plenty of time to get your visas in order. You need to give all sorts of crazy information like your parents' full names and dates of birth and if relevant, the precise date you started and graduated from university (or other tertiary education), degree name and result, etc., etc. Quite why they needed to know my qualifications which aren't in the least bit relevant to being in Russia is beyond me! For those living in the northern half of the UK, it may be useful to know that there's a Russian Consulate in Forth Street in Edinburgh which also processes visas (http://rusemb.org.uk/edinburghvfc/)... And I'd highly recommend Svalbard, but don't underestimate the polar bears... There's a number of caches around Longyearbyen, but polar bears roam there too. In reality, I'd definitely be more cautious of mosquitoes further south. At midsummer, they are seriously evil. Other than that, great idea! I look forward to reading of your adventures.

I gave it a hard reset before reading the last log and it's worked, although I don't know yet whether I've lost the notes I do "in the field" as I'm still not home yet. I guess time will tell but it won't be the end of the world (unlike where I was!) because I've already logged the finds and trackables and therefore can just create new notes if need be. It's not like I've done a huge amount of caching. Many thanks. I'll try to remember the advice should it ever happen again, but hope it behaves itself from now on.

Thanks. I'll give it a go...

Did you take them to an event where someone took the numbers and only remembered to log them much later, omitting to change the date? It's happened before. So long as the TBs are merely discovered and aren't grabbed and placed where they clearly aren't/haven't been, I'm not sure I'd worry too much.

Hi, I'm up in the Alaskan Arctic and a long way from home (Scotland). I've been using my Oregon 550t for the past week in Canada and Seattle, then Alaska with no problems. Yesterday and today I've been heading up the Dalton Highway; the few caches up here are on the map but I've not had the opportunity to find more than one, so hope to get some on the way south again. 10 miles short of Prudhoe Bay, I glanced at my GPS and with bemusement noticed that it's showing that I'm somewhere off the coast of Nigeria (some 7700 miles away!). These appear to be the complete 0 co-ordinates of the equator and the Greenwich Meridian. I've reset the GPS, I've changed the batteries, I've a couple of times got it so the pointer is where I actually am (and the compass display confirms I'm at 70 degrees north), but it seems always to revert to Nigeria and/or have a long direct line down there. It's driving me nuts and I have only a few hours' internet connection (and slowly at that) to get it solved before the drive back down. Can anyone help please?

Agreed - I like Wherigos. There are only about 4 in Scotland, and I had thought they were the only ones in the UK, but I put myself right about that in March when down in England where there are heaps. Didn't have time to do any, but they're definitely worth giving a go, if you like the imaginary side of caching.

I debated whether to do this August thing because of the number of souvenirs which imho somewhat devalues some of the other ones. But just reading these posts, I wonder whether they couldn't have either given one only to those who did complete all 31 days or produced a souvenir square a bit like an advent calendar (or even the 366 day calendar in the stats) where those days which qualify get a little bit of colour and those which don't are blank. So those who complete maybe get something like a complete smilie in a square, whereas those who don't get missing teeth or one eye, or whatever!

Maybe will be a new mascot.. you'll be greeted by a someone dressed up in a squirrel costume on visiting GSHQ? Funny you should say that. I was chased all over the place for about 15 minutes by two baby squirrels this afternoon. It'll appear in a log, if ever I get logs logged tonight. As for visiting GSHQ, I'm not sure what I'm going to see/do/ask, apart from I'm hoping to be reunited with a TB of mine.

Ah - it's not me then! I was just trying to look at all my hides to see what had the most favourite points (it'll be a modest number, don't worry!), but it keeps asking me to input username (by hidden) without a box to type in. So looking at Tony's profile, similar silly things are happening. I hope it's just a temporary blip as I have some logs to make...