rbdupuy

I know I've been out of town for a little while, and out of the caching picture for a little while longer, but I hope to put up some numbers (from out of town) in the next couple days, so don't forget about me. I'm going to be rolling into this show around evening on Friday (definite) and rolling out Saturday evening (circumstances permitting). Sign me up for some average portion (whatever that means) of crawfish, I'll put in when I get there. I'm looking forward to this, it should be really conditions.

I'm still around, but it seems weird that recently I've been thinking... "Man, all these caches around here are getting kinda old." It seems like (at least the most active of) Southeast Louisiana cachers have hit most of the caches they're interested in hitting (with the exception of special equipment hydros and such). Maybe after the holidays we'll see a big surge of new caches. I'm still holding out on placing a special original cache. It may have to wait for warmer weather though.

I was just wondering... to the "powers that be" I read the description of the Saturday Night hunt, DA TUBE. Is there any chance that some of us "earlybirds" could attempt it Friday night? Or is it a group event? I'm not going to be able to stay Saturday night, but I'd really like to do the night cache. if it's a group thing, perhaps people could choose which night (with which group) they wanted to do it? So whadd'ya say?

I'm going to bring a tent, probably enought tent for at least a couple people. Coming in Friday evening, if we need it, or if I get there early enough, I'll set it up. If we don't need it, maybe I'll crash in the car or whatever. I'm going to be bringing 2 FRS radios, maybe somebody'll be able to show me how to use them. So, anybody got any ideas for food, I expected that it'd be everybody for him/herself, but I'll bring plenty- probably have enough to share.

I just thought I'd mention that I'll be coming up Friday after work (probably leave New Orleans between 3-4 if I'm lucky) So I'll likely only get there with a little bit of daylight to spare. I hate setting up tents after dark, but I can bring one. So what should I do? Bring a tent or what? Or can I bum a piece of ground from somebody? I'm only going to be able to stay until Saturday evening and then head back to New Orleans, so I won't be around Saturday night, but I hope to get in a couple local caches as well as whatever we're planning on doing as a group. I don't get up there too often lately and would like to put up some numbers on the proverbial CenLa caching board while I'm around.

I was watching the Travel Channel last night and saw that the topic of their show- "World's Best" was going to be "Hidden Treasures." I was interested so I watched it. It was a great program and one that anybody interested in geocaching would most likely enjoy. They did number 10, 9, and 8 and for their commercial teaser, they showed some people in the woods following a GPSr. I wondered aloud if they were actually going to have Geocaching as one of the World's Best Hidden Treasures. Well, it ranked #7 right between (8)the Lost Dutchman Mine and (6)the Lost Rhoades Mine. WOW. To see geocaching, and especially on a list that included Oak Island's Money Pit, at least two shipwrecks, and other treasures of unknown value, I was impressed. It was an interesting piece, and I'd encourage anybody who'd want to see it to check the Travel Channel listings to see when it's coming on again. But, I couldn't help but wonder how many people were out there scrathing their head at the end of it saying "What was that?" I thought it represented geocaching VERY positively. Did anybody else see it, and if so what did you think? (apologies if this program has been announced before, but this was the first time I'd seen it.)

I painted an ammo-box brown one time, but I guess in some eyes it still would look "militant." I think blue with the graphics, or the geocaching stencil that I've seen on Buck8Point's caches would be a somewhat settling identifying mark along with the website. Also, I like the "Logbook Inside" on it. What kind of serious threat is going to have a logbook connected with it? I've always settled for "No Danger" or "see details inside." Once someone mentioned they almost picked up a rat-hotel that was mistaken for my cache. Maybe we could get a "NO POISON" skull-and-crossbones with a universal NO through it. That should be fun to explain. Then again, ANY skull and crossbones (even with a NO through it) would probably be trouble.

I painted an ammo-box brown one time, but I guess in some eyes it still would look "militant." I think blue with the graphics, or the geocaching stencil that I've seen on Buck8Point's caches would be a somewhat settling identifying mark along with the website. Also, I like the "Logbook Inside" on it. What kind of serious threat is going to have a logbook connected with it? I've always settled for "No Danger" or "see details inside." Once someone mentioned they almost picked up a rat-hotel that was mistaken for my cache. Maybe we could get a "NO POISON" skull-and-crossbones with a universal NO through it. That should be fun to explain. Then again, ANY skull and crossbones (even with a NO through it) would probably be trouble.

quote:Keep your eyes peeled; someone will come up with something. You're right about that- somebody always comes up with something. Maybe we could set up a (short term) good ole New Orleans haunted cache of some sort. Hey maybe we could have a geo-gathering somewhere and have some quality night-caching or maybe we could set up a Haunted History-type cache. Hmmm, maybe I'll keep my wheels turning on this one... sounds like it could be some fun.

quote:Keep your eyes peeled; someone will come up with something. You're right about that- somebody always comes up with something. Maybe we could set up a (short term) good ole New Orleans haunted cache of some sort. Hey maybe we could have a geo-gathering somewhere and have some quality night-caching or maybe we could set up a Haunted History-type cache. Hmmm, maybe I'll keep my wheels turning on this one... sounds like it could be some fun.

I've done my share of night caching, and I love it. I think a night Geo-event would be a blast, especially for those of us who wouldn't mind doing some caching and Buck8Point could actually be in on the hunt this time. I'd be all up for Friday night, as it doesn't appear to bring any scheduling problems on my calendar. Also, Saturday would be ok for me, Sunday hmm, afternoon, sure, why not? My votes for the event would probably fall in that order, but I'd probably be able to make it on any of those days (I think). But, I really like the idea of the nighttime bonfire/cookout on Friday night, maybe it could be a bring-a-dish kind of thing. Anybody feel free to take recipes out of the Cache of the day-cookbook. I'd eat anything out of there. I'll bring copies of the cache cookbook if anybody wants them. RBDupuy.

Well, this is a sensitive subject if ever there was one. I'm sure it is good advice to make sure the local cache community is behind you, but I'd suggest (as much as I hear the "ammo-can, ammo-can" chant in the background) that caches placed in a semi-sensitive area be of transparent materials. Some jars have rubber gaskets and can be as protective as other more heavy-duty canisters. Also, if you're looking for micro caches (which IMO are a great idea for long-distance low-maintennance caches) I suggest M&M Minis containers. They're watertight except in the most extreme cases, and I've even formatted sign-in sheets in Word if you want them, that will fit comfortably in the M&M minis tube, or M&M minis MEGA tube (if you can find it, it's slightly longer). The M&M containers come in a variety of colors and also in CLEAR. Also, I'd make sure to be aware that if you're placing it on a "resort ground area" that it be compliant with the "new rules" of geocaching as dictated in the "Hide a cache" section of the page. I'm all for it, but there's been a lot of "stink" put on caches placed in such areas, and a cache may be interpreted as "commercial" when it's intent is obviously and most certainly not.

Yeah, the MIddle Bay WAS quite the challenge! Even though the cache was gone, I'd like to see the site be marked as a "virtual." Unlikely as it may be to attract repeat customers (at least the hard way) it was a great adventure, and quite a experience once we got there. You should read the reports on the cache page, if you haven't already. I read a couple of your caches, Mariner, they sound like a trip and were I in the neighborhood, they wouldn't stand a chance and I feel confident that I can speak for at least a few of the other LA hydrocachers, too, I'm sure. Actually they sound like a lot of fun, it's just unfortunate that I don't have any plans to get over there in the near future, I'd love to give them a try.

Yeah, the MIddle Bay WAS quite the challenge! Even though the cache was gone, I'd like to see the site be marked as a "virtual." Unlikely as it may be to attract repeat customers (at least the hard way) it was a great adventure, and quite a experience once we got there. You should read the reports on the cache page, if you haven't already. I read a couple of your caches, Mariner, they sound like a trip and were I in the neighborhood, they wouldn't stand a chance and I feel confident that I can speak for at least a few of the other LA hydrocachers, too, I'm sure. Actually they sound like a lot of fun, it's just unfortunate that I don't have any plans to get over there in the near future, I'd love to give them a try.

Well, I haven't even logged my "no-find" yet, if that tells you anything... I'm still recovering from the trip itself. We launched a fiberglass canoe and Clayjar's SeaEagle around 10:30 at Point Clear, AL, and we came back sometime around 5-ish? I don't know, I wasn't thinking right. Somewhere around a half mile out, I started to realize that being by myself in the canoe (even though weighted down in the front) was not a good idea. So we decided to both paddle the canoe and put our icechest, etc, in the "dingy" and tow it the rest of the way. It actually worked pretty well, acting as a drag-rudder and kept us fairly well on course. We pondered how we would explain to anybody what it was that we were actually doing out there, and also wondered how we would log it- the whole thing about having to wait until people left the cache site to log it... there were several boats (motor and sail) anchored in the immediate area. All in all, I thought it was a great trip. It was some serious paddling, and definitely not for the faint-of-heart. I didn't make it home in the first try, I ended up crashing (bodily, not automotively) near Tillman's Corner, AL, and made it back to New Orleans the next day. Looking back, I was glad to meet the "Middle Bay Challenge" cache or not.

The last time I took a look at this one was when I was around there for Delta Dash (which I didn't find, but anyway) We went down to a town called Point Clear on the East side of the bay. As it stands it seems unlikely, that we'll "approach" from the East, but if we do, there's an unusually small boat launch at: N30 28.414 W 87 55.265 BTW, I just got some Map Source topo software, and it appears that there are many known wreckages all over out there, also, there are buoys, markers, etc. which all might come in handy if the wind starts to pick up. Perhaps N 30 26.xxx, looks good for the West side, but we might want to move a little further North (Bayley's Corner) N 30 28.xxx if the winds are from the North. or better move further South to put in, so that way if Winds are from the North we won't be fighting them either way... who knows the winds will probably change anyway.

I'm still in, and that plan sounds good, except maybe we shouldn't stay starting solidly on the West side, maybe check it out the night before. I'm just wondering if there's a 10 knot wind from the west, or from anywhere for that matter, then that means either a fight to get "there" or a fight to get "back" to where ever you were. Also, I'd also agree with the earlier the better (pending fog). BTW, enya, I don't guess you guys have checked on that cache lately... hmmm, maybe I don't want to know... maybe it should be a surprise... I'm going to go no matter if it's there or not, just wondering if maybe we should know before going (not wanting to know, but wanting to know if I should want to know). RBDupuy

I'm still in, and that plan sounds good, except maybe we shouldn't stay starting solidly on the West side, maybe check it out the night before. I'm just wondering if there's a 10 knot wind from the west, or from anywhere for that matter, then that means either a fight to get "there" or a fight to get "back" to where ever you were. Also, I'd also agree with the earlier the better (pending fog). BTW, enya, I don't guess you guys have checked on that cache lately... hmmm, maybe I don't want to know... maybe it should be a surprise... I'm going to go no matter if it's there or not, just wondering if maybe we should know before going (not wanting to know, but wanting to know if I should want to know). RBDupuy

OK, I'm in for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2002. Pending the weather reports of the next few days, I'm going to be bringing my aluminum canoe, and maybe I'll have my new Vista by then. (I don't know, I hear the Yellow Etrex might float better ) I guess I'll be soliciting a paddling partner for the trip as it appears to be 6+ miles each leg. Closer to time, I imagine we'll make more details, but I guess it would be fruitless until it's a "GO." Last time I was out there (an attempt at Delta Dash) the early morning fog was BAD, but I'd still like to get out there as early as possible.

OK, I'm in for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2002. Pending the weather reports of the next few days, I'm going to be bringing my aluminum canoe, and maybe I'll have my new Vista by then. (I don't know, I hear the Yellow Etrex might float better ) I guess I'll be soliciting a paddling partner for the trip as it appears to be 6+ miles each leg. Closer to time, I imagine we'll make more details, but I guess it would be fruitless until it's a "GO." Last time I was out there (an attempt at Delta Dash) the early morning fog was BAD, but I'd still like to get out there as early as possible.

There is another thread mentioning wreckchasing as another alternative twist to geo-searching, and (always being one to add a new or interesting catch to the game) here I propose another possibility. I recently stumbled upon the National Register of Historic Places database online. I had long wondered how to get a "list" of the National Register, and found their "official" database at www.nr.nps.gov and before anybody says it, yes, yes, I realized I just typed NPS, and that the National Register falls under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service (an unfortunately sore spot for many cachers). Also, I found a more friendly site at: www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com. I thought, that if it were done in the same manner as benchmark hunting, then it would be acceptable and a lot of fun for those who find history (and/or tourism) interesting. It would be the same as a pre-existing, permanent, virtual cache with no "owner." The DB on the dot-gov site seemed to have coordintes somewhere in the data, and I tried two in my area, (after conversions) and they were pretty reliable. Unfortunately neither lent themselves well to a "real" cache (let me point out that they were not technically on NPS soil- before I get blasted). That being said, they were still a lot of fun to find, and to read about. I just thought that this would be a nice source of coordinates for people interested in hunting other thatn caches or benchmarks. Also, I would be the first person to recommend it as an offshoot of geocaching if the benchmark hunting takes off as well as I think it will. I've already found 2 and plan on more. I just hope I'm not piling the work onto an obviously idea-heavy, and I'm guessing work-load-heavy Geocaching development team. RBDupuy

I know I only missed everybody by minutes, because I went through there eh, whatever time it was, and nobody was there, but the other pics and logs lead me to believe that it was "just" before I got there. Sorry, I missed, but I'll catch up next time. I went around to both entrances of Pat O's and asked that "If there was a group of people meeting here at 12:00 and sticking around for a while, and if I obviously missed them, might there have been a way for them to leave some sort of message, or further instructions?" I think the multi-question confused them because they all just kind of stared blankly and asked if I had gone in the restaurant to check. Well, yeah, don't you see me coming up to you from the INSIDE? I wanted to ask if there was a guy with camo-overalls and tie-dye, but figured you probably might not be wearing it and I'd look dumber han I did already. And then I thought maybe I'd ask if there was a group all with "funny little cell-phones?" I decided to give up on that too. I do support a more steady geo-meeting schedule, though. Maybe we can have them around the state, central LA once, down south once, out west, maybe invite the neighbors, course I can't say I'll be able to attend, but I like the idea, And the last time we talked about this, I remember something about an "over-nighter" or some kind of weekend caching meet-up? I'm still down for that (pending schedules). RBDupuy.

I know I only missed everybody by minutes, because I went through there eh, whatever time it was, and nobody was there, but the other pics and logs lead me to believe that it was "just" before I got there. Sorry, I missed, but I'll catch up next time. I went around to both entrances of Pat O's and asked that "If there was a group of people meeting here at 12:00 and sticking around for a while, and if I obviously missed them, might there have been a way for them to leave some sort of message, or further instructions?" I think the multi-question confused them because they all just kind of stared blankly and asked if I had gone in the restaurant to check. Well, yeah, don't you see me coming up to you from the INSIDE? I wanted to ask if there was a guy with camo-overalls and tie-dye, but figured you probably might not be wearing it and I'd look dumber han I did already. And then I thought maybe I'd ask if there was a group all with "funny little cell-phones?" I decided to give up on that too. I do support a more steady geo-meeting schedule, though. Maybe we can have them around the state, central LA once, down south once, out west, maybe invite the neighbors, course I can't say I'll be able to attend, but I like the idea, And the last time we talked about this, I remember something about an "over-nighter" or some kind of weekend caching meet-up? I'm still down for that (pending schedules). RBDupuy.

I've made some cache containers from a set of (Rubbermaid) plastic salt/pepper shakers. I hot glued the tethered snap cap onto the screw cap and that was just about it. Since it's a screw cap it's fairly water tight, although I'm sure not totally. It also has a decent amount of space inside for small treasures (If you roll your log sheets tight). I have seen some larger prescription containers, that are made to be water tight, but haven't tested them, and I heartily second the M&M Minis containers, although the space is quite limited for anything other than a sign-in sheet and pencil, or they work good as a set of clues for a multi-mini cache. They have come out with an M&M Minis MEGA TUBE, which is about 1 1/2 times as long as the normal ones. I have yet to see a M&M container leak at all. RBDupuy

After checking some of the pics on the cache page, I can say that the person I saw had the same build, hairstyle, even the same type of hat. But unless he changed clothes (and hid his "jar"), it wasn't the same ClayJar. Also, I can confirm that the crew in the pictures wasn't there in that same spot when I did my "walkthroughs." I wish I'd have got to meet the more New Orleans side of Geocaching which I've never really met (and those I have). I'll just agree with those who mentioned that we'll have to do this more often (and catch it next time around). BTW, I guess I didn't stand in the right spot (long enough) for the cache-cam to get me "for sure." I'll have to catch it again sometime. RBDupuy.