BFMC

I don't see an issue with it. We cached as a group travelling to a mega last month, a minivan full of cachers so we got a team stamp made for the purposes of efficiency and saving space in logbooks, especially with so many other cachers around. We made sure we mentioned in our logs who was in the team. We also submitted answers for EC's/virtuals as a team, took a webcam photo as a team. I also get logs from teams of 2-4 accounts semi regularly (and some of them cache together quite often) That's probably about the biggest team I would sign up for though. There was a group of 37 cachers working as a team around here recently, I cant see how that works logistically...

We took a Haverford 10m squid pole. Had one too many checked items on the way over so had to pay $100 for the privilege. i’ve taken same to Brisbane and am taking it to Perth in a couple of weeks. On QF its fine, just counts as my checked piece. JQ its oversize.

Of course I see this 2 days after I order something that's not that compact and Jetstar class as oversize....

I knew some would undoubtably choose to see it that way. I guess by your definition i've bought challenge checkers as well then.... You are welcome to choose your own perspective. I'm comfortable with mine.

What parts of Australia did you cache in? As already pointed out, the experience can vary significantly even within Australia. I haven't cached in the states but have done a little on a few countries each in both Europe and Asia, and I’d say we are pretty spoiled here in Australia (broadly speaking). As for differences, we travelled interstate last week for Leap Day and decided to do a a fizzy loop in a day. It required caching for the entire 24 hours straight, but there is no way we would’ve been able to do that in our home state.

Let me start off by saying I know I'm clutching at straws here, but please humor me! One of my caching goals for 2024 is to place a quality cache for each of the 12 months Cache Hider Themes around my local area (Geelong, Australia). I decided to expand on this by including as many different caches types within the 12 hides as possible. So far, that is going well, with the exception of a virtual. So am I reaching out far and wide to see if I can find either of the following (in order of preference): Someone who does not plan to use their virtual reward and is willing to adopt it to me, or Someone who would like to publish their virtual reward but has no clue what they want to do with it, and is willing to use my idea/location. I would provide all required information to complete the cache page (including Cache name, source code for the page, images etc) In relation to option 2, I have already confirmed with my local reviewer that the cache would not fall foul of the requirements of the CO to have visited the location in the previous 2 months as they would accept that I was acting as a silent co-owner/local cache guardian. However, particularly for ease of maintaining responses to logs etc, option 1 is my preference. Anyone willing to take up option 2 would also have to be willing to respond to any log issues/questions etc. Option 2 is now sorted, but still chasing an option 1 if I can manage to do so. In the event of option 1, I would gladly provide the owner of the virtual reward some form of a token of gratitude one it was transferred, for example transferring them 6 months premium project-gc membership time. If the owner happens to be in Australia then I have other options as a token of thanks also. Also willing to transfer 3 months PGC time as a finders fee to anyone who puts a VR4.0 owner in touch with me that I then successfully adopt. Thanks (and fingers crossed) Ben/BFMC.

Time for a revisit now leap day is done and dusted... happy with the progress so far Fizzy in a Day (on leap day) Achieved. Barely, but we did it. Unlock as many leap year PGC badge add-ons as I can (17 new ones is realistically possible, on top of the 7 I already have) Achieved, 24 unlocked Get my Ausmer (Australian JASMER, ignores the few months in 2000 not available here) gaps down from 16 to single figures Down to 14, not as far as id hoped after leap day Increase DT loops (originally it was to finish my second, but with the first goal now locked in I will finish my second and maybe third by the end of Feb. Will revisit in March and may adjust the goal to finish my 4th by end of year) 2 caches short of loop 3, 14 short of loop 4. Goal is now to finish loop 3, + get 1 cache I need for a loop in my home state, giving me complete loops in 2 different states. May add size/type fizzy's once I assess where I am at with those Tick off the Geotour attribute (already done) and completion souvenir (should be done in coming weeks) achieved Place a (quality) cache for each of the monthly cache hider themes as announced by HQ Jan and Feb published, March submitted. On track. Achieve the Gold Black belt on PGC (and do so before I hit 3k finds) Achieved on leap day at 2846 finds Use my second ad lab credit In the works to be used for Aprils Monthly theme challenge Reach 3K finds (without chasing numbers for the sake of numbers) ~150 to go, well on track

I've used both over time, eventually sold my GPS as it wasn't getting used. Too much effort for too little reward most of the time (long hikes are a different story, but they are rare these days for me). I've found my iPhone (far from the latest model) to be more than capable. Being able to zoom right in on satellite maps helps on the odd occasion its bouncing around (usually Sydney or Melbourne CBD), and a GPS wouldn't be any better in that scenario (in fact worse IMO). In terms of taking coordinates with my phone, I really dislike using the create a waypoint (or even just navigate to a random cache and screenshot the compass page). I found an app called GPSdiagnostic that gives way better information, and I can reset the read manually. I usually provide this to our reviewer in the submission notes as well. This read was taken indoors and is probably worst case scenario for most locations unless there is the usual challenges of CBD building density etc. In terms of finding caches, cachly (both on the phone and the watch) was a game changer for me. Given coordinates are only going to ever be as accurate as the process of the person that obtained them, accuracy is a moot point when debating the advantages of a smart phone vs GPS. The only categories GPS can still beat out a decent phone are battery life and reading the screen in bright daylight, neither of which are significant enough (given my caching style) for me to own one anymore.

Indeed. I own 8 caches that were placed before I started caching, the oldest over 10 years before started.

Yeah I thought about going down that rabbit hole. Ended up just importing them into GSAK and then just going through each one and ticking them off a printed list, Bingo style. Didnt quite achieve what I wanted in terms of tallying them all to keep track of what we drop off if we change the list, but so be it.

Yeah I only managed 2 finds while we were there just before Xmas (and the day trip out to the webcam was a very last minute decision). Ironically the closest cache to where we stayed on the Coral Coast was an Earthcache. The CO lives 20 minutes from me in Aus and we work for the same company....

2023 was very much a year of getting back into a (semi) regular caching rhythm having cached not much if at all during most of the covid period (lockdowns will do that). Did manage to tick off quite a number of achievements last year (including 6 new countries, no mean feat when your closest neighboring country is a 4 hour flight away), but 2024 I will have some more specific goals. A number of which tie into signed challenges im yet to qualify for. The main ones are: Fizzy in a Day (on leap day) Unlock as many leap year PGC badge add-ons as I can (17 new ones is realistically possible, on top of the 7 I already have) Get my Ausmer (Australian JASMER, ignores the few months in 2000 not available here) gaps down from 16 to single figures Increase DT loops (originally it was to finish my second, but with the first goal now locked in I will finish my second and probably third by the end of Feb. Will revisit in March and potentially adjust the goal to finish my 4th by end of year) Tick off the Geotour attribute (already done) and completion souvenir (should be done in coming weeks) Place a (quality) cache for each of the monthly cache hider themes as announced by HQ Achieve the Gold Black belt on PGC (and do so before I hit 3k finds) Use my second ad lab credit Reach 3K finds (without chasing numbers for the sake of numbers) That should keep me busy for a bit...

All of this. Hell, I don't even have a strict, consistent approach to what I will or wont do myself, let alone wish to see from others. I will add some stone paper into a cache if it desperately needs it. Beyond that I will rarely do maintenance on someone else's cache (unless I have the all clear from them or know them well). I would say I never take the log, but last week I did for the first time. The cache itself had been submerged in water at some point (last find was over a year ago). Log was (now dry) pulp, but also moldy as hell. Swag was rusty and filthy so the whole lot had to go in the bin (well, into my dry bag to be put in a bin at a later time). Only thing I was able to clean up and salvage was the container itself and a small stash card. CO hadn't been seen for over a year, but did reply to my message about what I did while at the cache within hours (and was appreciative as it was a T4.5 that he cant currently get to). I did offer him the log if he wanted it for some reason unbeknown to me. CO even offered to take me out to a T5 cache in his land & water atv as a result, an offer which sadly I couldn't take up due to time restrictions. Was a calculated decision that I normally wouldn't make, but for that particular cache I did. As a CO, my preference is that if someone comes across a previously unreported issue with one of my caches then just mention it in your log and let me take care of it (short of adding some log paper if its needed and can be done without removing the existing log). I have had one cache replaced by a group of finders in the field but a) it was a T5 cache on a river, b) they didnt remove the existing cache (it was visible but not able to be retrieved from its hide anymore) and c) I know them and they messaged asking if I was OK with that and didnt log their find until I said yes. Push comes to shove a safe gamble on their part, if I wasn't OK with it then I would've had to head there anyway and could have removed the replacement (I wont call it a throwdown because they put some effort into the replacement) I would (almost?) never replace a cache I couldn't find without confirmation from the CO, or if they are truly AWOL knowing from a friend who has found it exactly what and where it was. Have seen too many instances of throwdowns/replacements becoming a second cache because the original one was actually still there. Never take a container, but I have added to existing damaged containers either by placing it in a larger one or placing a smaller one inside it to protect the contents from weather for protection until CO can get there. Would be mentioned in my log and sent as a message as well. Looking at it from a new cacher perspective, I wouldn't really consider doing any type of finder maintenance until I had a lot of experience under my belt, and a feeling for the CO's in your area. Even now I wont do finder maintenance when travelling for the same reason. YMMV.

Nothing for me. Wasnt holding my breath given I have one already and there is a lot in our area, but did have a plan in place if I got lucky to put one in Fiji (which has no virtuals and not many caches total). Looking forward to some new ones popping up on the map soon though.

Hopefully I can get this from brain to screen in a way that makes sense to others... let me know if unsuccessful. I am travelling with a group of cachers to a mega on Leap Day next month. We are planning a fairly detailed list of caches to find while we are there, on leap day itself we will be focusing primarily on leap day add-ons for the project-gc badges (no sleep for us!). I know about (and have been using) the 'not a checker' challenge checker for the add-ons https://project-gc.com/Challenges/80820, which has been incredibly helpful. Onto my current issue though - One of the preparation steps I want to do is identify all of the attributes (combined) that we will encounter from the given list of caches, in order to see what's missing (and tweak the list of necessary). I'm not worried about comparing them against what the members of our team have already found. Is there an easy way to get attribute data either in some form of export (or into GSAK, which I have recently downloaded again) so that we can check off the ones we have covered?

Never say never! We are planning on doing all 81 in one day next month (and squeezing in a mega while we are at it). No sleep for us! You have my undying gratitude for that 'not a checker' - it has been incredibly helpful in planning various elements of our interstate trip next month.

If it was its own cache type I would've been the same, but ultimately it's just a mystery/unknown. The AR part was the whole purpose, once that wasn't realistically achievable I binned it. Mine wasnt easily turned into a multi though, if I had put alternate methods in to solve I may as well just have published it as a new cache. Thats just my 2c though.

I archived mine some time ago, combination of lack of ongoing support for metaverse + no-one was even bothering to try and find it.

Correct! Happy dance ensues....

I've found one prior and had one of mine found prior. Both times a number of caches were placed and didn't all come out at the same time. I copped curry for the one I put out, but from someone who paddled past it and didn't see it themselves (a bright blue metal drink flask hanging in a tree). It happens, and more regularly than most would think. As long as no-one has been given the location then they are FTF. Which is merely unofficial bragging rights anyway.

This thread was a good reminder to go back and check in on how i'm going... Finish my D/T loop (4 caches), bonus points if I can finish my second loop (another 29 caches) Still need a D5/T4.5 for loop 1. My closest is 3 hours away up a mountain and requires me to find another 7-8 caches on said mountain first. Loop 2 is down to 10 caches. Finish my found date calendar (excluding Feb 29) Done - completed in May Complete my find streak up to 366 days (currently just over 230) Done & bailed at 404 (subtle nerd joke there) Publish a series of kids letterboxes I have the containers but still havent found a suitable way to camo and the right location to place them (they are bright and fairly large) Publish at least 1 AR cache Done. Will probably archive it soon too. Place my first T5 physical cache (we have hosted a T5 event, but haven't placed a physical cache yet) Done, have placed 4 physical T5 caches Maintain my FTF streak, which is currently at 12 months. So far so good, 21 months and counting Pick, and complete, an appropriately impressive cache to do as our 1000th find (currently on 847) It wasn't the worlds most impressive cache, but my 7yo picked it as it was ladybird themed and she loves ladybirds. Tick Optional bonus goal: Place a ~100 cache GeoArt (50/50 challenge caches and puzzles) that I started playing around with late last year. This is still bubbling along. The 50 challenges are put together. I have containers. A suitable location for 100 containers that aren't going to annoy the locals and wont require high maintenance is still proving elusive. Stat nerd goals: Up my belt score from 200 to 300 Nearly there, circa 12 points to go. Earn at least 3 new gemstones (currently have 10) Easily done. Up to 17 now and have a couple more pretty close Progress at least 5 of my current Bronze badges Done. By the end of the year I will only have one bronze badge (head in the ground) 200 finds in a day Doubt I will make this one. Had a 136 day at a mega earlier in the year. Goal revised to 1000 finds for the year a while back, have 170 to go with a mega next month.

My thoughts exactly. And like any other cache, if you don't want to do it you don't have to do it but I know plenty that will enjoy working on it. My favorite challenge I have worked on so far (but am still yet to go and sign) was pre-current guidelines. 50 years of unloved finds with a cap of 50 caches. No sharing, so if you went in a group of 3 only one of you could use the unloved for the challenge. I spent months targeting and finding caches that were unloved for over a year. It was thoroughly enjoyable and took me to caches I probably wouldn't have otherwise gone to anytime soon. (edit: I can understand why this type of challenge is no longer permitted though. Too hard to validate.) Got an email from HQ this morning apologising for the delay because challenge appeals take longer than usual. No apology needed, all that tells me is that they are giving it due consideration rather than turning around a quick 'Thanks for your email, but no'.

I will always mention giving a FP in my log (well, sometimes I forget but generally speaking...). Less important now the found it email to CO tells them you dropped a fave, but force of habit. Also another reason why I wouldn't take them back.

Not sure how you think it's embarrassing, but each to their own. I give FP's for my experience finding the cache, that's where CO earns it. What happens to the cache after that is ultimately irrelevant to me given i've already found it.

Same, that used to keep me greatly entertained when publishing a new puzzle, will be sad to see it gone.