Beds Clangers

Can any cacher in the Bedford area contact me via e-mail. I'll explain all but a "problem" with one of my caches has occured again!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not sure why me but working out of the my home area so just need a bit of help. Cheers Nick

WELL, thought this was well and truly put to bed!!! NOT, going to dig up anything to do with my claim as I think most "posters" on the forums did speak to me directly. As it was me who had the "claims case" thought I'd add my comments. The case against myself and the landowner was dropped for one very simple issue, "how do you prove that the actually injury occurred while seeking the cache?". If you go out walking and slip/trip on a stile, do you then sue the landowner for the broken wrist or the cowpat in the face? Where's your risk assement for your walk, I'm JOKING, or am I Over the past year there have been a number of other attempts or probes at "claims". I have provided background information on a few and as we stand, I believe, there have been NO successful claims against UK cachers. Todate, I have had 387 e-mails regarding this issue!! The thing that I have found most interesting is that while we in the UK see the USA as having a "claims" culture I have had more e-mails from UK cachers than anywhere else (85% UK, 10% USA, 5% ROTW)!!! Perhaps based upon the claim against myself?? I know the "event" against myself caused major issues for some cachers. I did disable all my caches for a while and have not placed any more since, but there are other reasons for that . I still have 14 active caches, I have landowners permission for all of them, I do not have any form of PLI (not that I'm aware of to cover caching), I have followed the gc.com guidelines and I still enjoy my caching. If anyone would like to contact myself directly then feel free Cheers Nick

Well after a lot of crashing and bashing about, nothing to do with the iPAQ, trying to find the "old" BT77 BLuetooth GPS I use to use. Downloaded this GPSGate Software, installed it, turned on Bluetooth GPS and BINGO, it worked!!!! Turned off iPAQ, turned off GPS switched it all back on again and &*&*%^$% me it WORKED!!!! Tried a few more times and everything worked??? Have my bluetooth GPS now shared with my PDA and two laptops and another programme that I use (nothing to do with caching) and they have run with no problems since yesterday. Spoke to guy I work with and he also has manged to share his Bluetooth GPS with a number of devices/applications with no problem. Will be buying the full version og GPSGate, for PPC/Windozes, ASAP. Regards for the pointer to this application Cheers Nick

Simple question, on an iPAQ do you use SDIO GPS or a Bluetooth GPS?? I'm using a iPAQ 2200 with Bluetooth and use TomTom and Fugawi but the problem I have is the interface between the iPAQ and GPS device. When I first went "paperless" I used a bluetooth GPS, about 18 months ago. I had all sorts of problems in getting this to work correctly and had to to "muck" around with the com ports on the iPAQ to get it to work every time I turned it on and got really fed up with it. Could take about 10mins just to get it working and every time you stopped had the same problems over again. Totally fed up with this I got hold of a Globalsat SDIO card which worked great, well until a few days ago?? SDIO card works as a GPS but all the storage (512MB) has gone i.e. TomTom files etc. What I would "like" is a Bluetooth GPS that I can simply turn on and not have to "fiddle" around with the iPAQ to get it working every time, any comments?? Regards Nick

Our local finest are giving away a free packet of "SatNav Suction Circle WipeAways", sure there's a lovely abbrevation for them but can't be bothered Vehicle break - ins, bit of an "expert victim" on the subject having had four in the past 12 months, well I do drive a van. Break - in (1) Screwdriver through doorskin "popped lock", nicked everything of value. Break - in (2) Again, screwdriver through doorskin, nicked, not sure not much in van. Break - in (3) Again, Again, screwdriver through doorskin, nicked anything of value out of the back, tools etc Break - in (4) No!! no screwdriver this time, smashed rear window, kicked in rear window grill, put small child into broken back window and well, nicked anything of value!!!!!!!!! All of these break-ins took place in hotel car parks with CCTV, police were unable to use any CCTV recordings as they were very poor quality and as one policeman told me " We saw them doing your van, but we cannot tell from the CCTV if they are black or white ". Moral of the story, "DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING OF VALUE IN YOUR VEHICLE", if the want to break in they will!!!!!! Nick

TB is a sTeamTraen Microcoin, owned by ScouseMouse. Ref:-TB1GZMY Tracking Number not posted!! Nick

Hi All, Picked up a TB this morning and logged it no problem and it appears in my list of held TBs, no problem. Dropped it off later today but it does not appear in the "write note" drop down list when I try and drop it in the cache??? I now have a TB listed as being held by me but I cannot drop it off anywhere!!! Tried adding a note and even dropping it back in the any cache I got it from, but NOPE it is not listed as available for dropping, confused, I'll go and kick the cat!!! Is this gc.com problem??? Have e-mailed TB owner that "we have a problem". Cheers Nick

OK, As it's for charity, put my DOB in!!! Cheers Nick

Hi all Scots Cachers, Have a number of questions about "off road" navigation in Scotland. This is not caching related but trying to understand your "no footpath/bridleway" policy and how you would navigate to a given point "X"?? DO NOT WANT!!! any replies to this posting, hope the reviewers understand, but just trying to contact "Scots" cachers for advice. Please only respond to this posting via my e-mail address. Cheers Nick

Well done Jon!!! 3000 by 01/01/08 then??????? Cheers M8 Nick

Is the upgrade to Tom Tom 6 free?? Have Tom Tom Navigator 5 om my iPaq but thought the upgrade was about £150?? Cheers Nick

I'm actually working in the area tommorrow so normally I would have PQ'd the local caches and done a few, but I haven't bothered!! With the ongoing police activity around the area, I will go and sit in Tesco's at Copdock for a few cups of coffee and wait for "final" advice!! The job is at a remote mobile phone site in the very area, but if the police say "NO ENTRY" I'll turn my van around and head back home. Nobody would actually try and cache in this area would they????????? Regards Nick

As others Condolences to the family and very sad news Kind Regards Nick

Stand very still, look up and avoid eye contact!!!!!!!! I tried shouting at the midges "off sei" but think they may have been gods??? I'll get me coat Cheers Beds Old Boy, AKA Nick

Hi Dece, Do you take bookings for pot washing?? If you do, Bedford at about 15:30 should do!!! Think we may be able to throw a glass of Merlot in!! Cheers to all on what has been an intresting year!!!!!!! Nick

Well done Tinkerbell!!! PS:- Do you think I waded through the river for that cache? Cheers Nick

As Nellies Knackers said, drive about 20 miles towards Sandy/Biggleswade and you will find loads of caches along the old Bedford to Cambridge railway line, all very easy. There is also a series around some old "pits" near Huntingdon if you just what to rack up the numbers. Cheers Nick

About a year ago I was badly bitten by a dog while placing a cache, long story, but dog in question is no more Today, while trying to get rid of a TB at one of my own caches, guess what?? I was again attacked and bitten on both legs and my hand by another dog. This time it was a black labrador off its lead and it just went totally crazy when it saw me. I stood still, with my hands in my pockets and only after it bit my leg did I react, it then bit my hand!!! Owner was totally shocked and gave me all their details which I've given to the police who will follow this up. Now have three dogs bites, left leg just below my knee, right leg on my shin and by far the most painful, left hand thumb area. Been to A&E and for good measure they stuck a very large needle in my backside!!! OK, THIS IS NOT AN ANTI DOG POST, but is there anything I can do to make myself less likey to dog attacks and what SHOULD OR CAN I do to defend myself? As a cat owner, is this the reason and should I simple give all dogs a very wide berth? I have now thought about a can of pepper spray but not sure if they are legal in the UK? Regards Nick, sitting on half a chair typing with one hand

I think TDW has magical powers!!! Wish I had them as well then I'd have a go at trying to find some of his micro's Well done Jon, I picked the coin in question up today so was slightly amused to see this thread. Cheers Nick

Also watched the programme tonight but working in the mobile phone industry it is even worse for me!!! Seeing Great Orme I can remember putting a 1.2m Andrews Antenna on one of those towers, well bet that has put nearly all geocachers to sleep. However, the view from 30m up a tower on Great Orme is one to treasure I knew about the caves just below Great Orme, now would that not a good place for cache? Cheers Nick

Hi all, Cache in question was called Curious Beds 4, 1.5/1.5 Multi and was hidden at head height in a old split tree, nothing fantastic about it and I'm sure you have all done many similar caches. The individual claimed to have broken their ankle while trying to retreive it. They contacted the landowner, private individual, who had my details from when the cache was placed. The rest I think you can guess!!! Cache had been found by a few others with no real issues. Basis of the claim, was that I failed in my duty of care by placing the cache (they called it a box) in a dangerous location. We had a short letter exchange with the claims company, I have a friend who is a solicitor, which really helped. The actual accident happened in April 2006 but the claim only arrived in late August 2006. Told our UK admin (Peter) about this who contacted GC.com for me. I had to have the cache totally removed from GC.com as the claims company were actually quoting details from it. With the help of Bryan Roth of GC.com, who happens to be USA lawyer, we explained the basics of caching and that it is a hobby just like rambling and there are risks which the cache seeker accepts in using GC.com data. We simple got a letter which stated that the claims company "will not pursue" this claim any further. They then tried a spurious claim against the landowner which again failed. This secondary "claim" really got to me and was the reason for my original "post" to disappear. Feeling very fed up with caching I did disable my caches but after the claim against the landowner was resolved very quickly, I enabled most of them. It would be almost impossible for this indivdual to prove that they actually sustained this injury at the cache location and didn't simply slip on a nearby stile or trip over a log. I've been back to the cache location to remove it and I cannot see how this happened unless they actually climbed up the tree and fell out of it!!! Obviously the injured person had some knowledge of caching as the landowner was asked who placed the cache on his land. All I know about them is that they were a couple, they visited the landowner but said nothing about the claim. I still don't know who they are as they were never named in any letters just as "our client". Not much more to say really. I think most of you will agree that I just happened to be the cacher this "person" decided to have a go at and FAILED!! Regards Nick (Beds Clangers)

No reason to archive any caches, I've made most of mine active, except a few that have "other" problems. Nick

Hi All, As most of you will know, I had a "personal injury claim" against me for one of my caches. It was confirmed in writing yesterday, to my solicitor, that this claim has now been TOTALLY withdrawn!!!! Thanks for all your support. Cheers Nick

All, I fully understand that there is a lot of confusion regarding my original post. The reason I made this post was to try and explain why the previous post had vanished. If you contact me directly I'll explain all but I cannot get into a public debate with anyone. Apologies, for the confusion I have caused, but in trying to resolve a problem I seem to have created another one. I'm man enough to say "SORRY" Nick

Hi all, Just like to say thanks to you all but as of this moment, I've given up caching. If anyone would like to know the reason then they should contact me directly. Kind Regards to everyone Nick