QFC

Also searching for a Collaborator - been turned down (kinda) once already. Come on people... where are the KZN cachers? I drive past the GP cache twice a day! Anyone keen for a FTF.

This is actually an interesting topic. I'm going to keep this short and just share a few of my thoughts, and might expand on it later. Firstly to find a cache is supposed to be like finding a treasure, and now that I think about it, the more original you can be the better. There isn't much fun in finding a cache that you can almost predict what's in it. We haven't had too much experience in hiding caches, but from what I have found, the container and the logbook play a big part in making the treasure feel more important, or feel more worth the effort of finding it. As for the contents... well, too much of one thing quickly degrades its value. For example, we have a bag of marbles which FryHard has had since school, each being very important since they weren't easy to come by, some being the prize of a victorious game of marbles (I forget how we played) - But now, to place one marble in a cache that may already have a bag of marbles would be pointless, since in anyone else’s eyes it's just another marble. I'm not too sure what my point is, but I think it has something to do with changing your initial items after a while, to keep things interesting.. I'm not talking about signature items, they of course are a different story. Oh, and since I was keeping this short I might as well say that it is always nice to attach items to a cacher that's been there, not many of us do this yet, but for example... the laminated "Noddy was Here" has been spotted in many a Gauteng cache, from his Gauteng caching trip, (not sure if he is still hiding these), but now I won't forget who Noddy is. I think finding a signature item reminds us of who is playing this cool game/sport/adventure!

Hiking 80 km down a canyon (Fish River) can do things to poeple, hence the QFC in the path.... (Will be long gone before any of you get there). Part three is in the background of the photo (caught in the act). We just tweeked the photo to bring out the "markings in the sand"...

Sounds like a plan, though with minimal leave and the need to do some serious caching and work we may not be able to make it. All the same, it would be great to get some more info on the event. Cost per camping spot, amount of sand roads required ( the new car does not like sand just yet), amount of camping spots available. Thanx for the choice of a great spot since the entire QFC will be in close vancinity.

About the Hides being archived and so forth, unfortunately we are very limited in terms of acquiring the stats from the geocaching servers automatically, the ONLY thing we can do automatically at the moment is calculating the Finds and Hides as they appear on the profile image for each cacher that the geocaching site freely provides. We will think about how we could perhaps make it possible for cachers to report caches that have been archived. Will have to chat to FryHard (Part 2). Thanks for the feedback, especially about the Rank Names we have just added. We used the Army/Marine ranks instead of the Navy ranks, before someone realises the difference and asks

There actually isn't much point to it, it is purely there for fun. I was going to take it out at one stage, but thought it is quite fun to jump up in front of someone who you might be tied with, even if it is for that one day. For anyone who is interested... I have added a bit of colour to the site now

(part 2 of QFC) So my question is: Is it really worth all the effort of changing the system when noobs (cachers with < 5 finds) will most likely not be on the list. So C, leave it as it is for the moment and when we get back we will add a section for each of the different geo-sectors. We will have one for the plant and grow the sport and one for the plany realy funky and cool caches. Then the trick will be to keep yourself at the top of both lists. Anyway this forum is just reving up the game for the TB race next year. So.... Round 3 - ding ding ding

Well well... I have enjoyed reading that last few posts, and after putting some thought into it, have decided that based on what geocacher_coza, GlobalRat and others have said, I agree that a cacher needs to have a little experience before hiding a cache. We for one, hid a cache before finding one. But aggree that a hide should still be worth more than a find. SO... basically it comes down to this (in my humble eyes ) - A cachers hide points shouldn't be worth too much (perhaps 1) untill that cacher has made a certain amount of finds. But after making the finds required, so let's call it 5, the Hides (past and present) will get their normal value. This is how it would work: Bob> hides=3 and finds=2, total = 3+4=7 (each hide only counts 1 point) - a month or so goes past, and Bob decides to be more active and find more caches - Bob> hides=3 and finds=7, total = 9+14=23 (each hide now counts 3 points) This will force cachers to try find X amount (I think about 10), before hiding too many. After which Bob can be trusted that he will hide cool and funcky caches. Original hides will still have kept their worth in points, even if they weren't be calculated untill Bob was serious about finding a few. Just shout if anyone thinks this thread is getting too long... not too sure what the recommended daily thread length shoudl be - hehe

- this is all so fun! now you do

Good suggestion , I will think about it and see what others say. The minimum factor you would get would be zero no matter how many hides you make in comparison with finds... this method won't give a negative value, which is actually fine since you don't want to be penalised for hiding caches... problem is that as much as finding caches is a good thing, I think planting them is just as good, finding caches is great for most, but not when there aren't very many to find. So if you had no more caches to find in your area, your score would drop if you kept active by hiding more caches. Just been thinking as I type - but I do like the suggestion, I originally gave way more points for a hide than a find, but now they are almost equal, even though hiding a cache takes way more effort (or it is suppose to).

Well, it's ok, the way it works you will only loose 2 points for each month, so that's only equal to one find, so if you inactive for 2 months, you will only loose 4 points, and the added two for being active in a week I guess... oh well I took a quick glance at karate belt ranking... and they quite a few different colour rankings... so instead I think I will use the colours of the rain bow, just to make it pretty and stuff: White, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo/Violet/Purple, Brown, Black - Just thought I add in the brown... and perhaps I will add in a few others in between, depending on what the overall prettiness is

GOOD IDEA.... Ok, for when I get back from Namibia, there will be official Colour Belts... just need to find out all the colours, and then each cacher will be coloured accordingly. And the Names idea is also good... hmm... all newbies will start off as dots... hehe... and then become tadpoles (I love that name) and then we will decide on a nice ranking all the way up to GlobalRat, and Tricky & Vicky. - thanks for your ideas warthog.

Thanks perdix... it was quite fun to create, and it's only going to improve! - if you have any further ideas, let me know, thought about adding another point for nice comments - but we will see hehe

To ensure that we are still around in 2006 (and climbing the ladder) we will be adding a TB to the race and to the QFC household.

TB Voice of africa will unfortunately not be crossing the province border just yet, he will be placed soon in a nice cozy (actually cold JHB cache). Hopefully this will allow him to complete a little bit more milage. (this should add a few km to his total)

I have now added Tricky Vicky & Mickey, and they have taken number one position, dropping the rest of us down by one ... - I changed the Top 30 to be Top 40, since this now lists everyone I have, so if you don't see your name in the list, it's because I haven't added you yet, so just let me know in this forum.

"The C in QFC" sees F's sneaky plan to dominate... and would like to apologise for him.

QFC (part 2, other poster is actually part 3 sorry C). I am newer than my other third and I decided that I have to make comment on this point. I have to do this mainly because I am torn between the two. One goes to Emerentia or any of the other places where caches are hidden, finds the cache and then leaves. This is totally legit in terms of a find, since you found the cache, saw the part and left your mark. But, and here it comes, I have to wonder would it not be better to enjoy the park with a picknick, the wife/girlfriend/fiends? It is important for cachers to respect the original cacher's wishes and the cache alike so if he wanted you to experience the park (or the climb up the mountain (platberg, hint hint)) then one should do this in their own way. If we do not we will all reach the point of GR (no return) and have to wait for new cache to arrive. So my view (as a very young Geocacher (in terms of time spent in the game)) is take your time, enjoy the opportunities that geocaching has given you, smell the non airconned air and let QFC catch up with the rest of you. ! : )

Oh and another thing... Compared to everyone listed in my rankings, I'm quite new to Geocaching, so let me know if the scoring should change, points as I have it are: 1 Cache Found: 2 1 Cache Hidden: 3 Active Today: 1 - this is just for fun, and won't often count. Active This Week: 2 Active last 30 Days: 20 - this is the most important. or Active Last 60 Days: 18 - only 2 points lossed if inactive for more than a month. or Active Last 90 Days: 16 ...and so on I'm giving quite a few points to active caches, since I think it is the most important.

Yeah, good point Brick, I will be happy to remove any cachers who don't wish to be part of the ranking. I will also remove those who have been inactive for more than 2 years. I only want to really list cachers who want to be apart of it. I have only been working on this for the last week, so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

I agree that some are more interested in stats, and some don't really mind how many they find or hide, but either way is fine, the one way of playing the game doesn't effect the other. I for one, enjoy playing with the stats, and enjoy finding each cache (as in the experience) as well as seeing how I measure up to other cachers. Since Geocaching can be regarded as a sport by some, why not make it more fun for the competitive types, and give them an idea of how they are doing. I think that when someone logs a visit onto the site it is enjoyed by the owner of the cache, and others watching the cache, to see that someone has found it. I don't think it is a mockery to not log your visit, but I'm not 100 percent sure what you were meaning by it being a mockery to the numbers game.

I really tried to find another cacher that would come close to challenging GlobalRat, but I had no luck Hehe... GlobalRat, you have nothing to fear for a while I see you are quite the busy cacher yourself, perhaps you can make your way up - QFC only just makes it onto the list, and it will take a little time to work our way up, but after a few Noddy sprees, of like 12 in one day, we might be on our way... just to organise a nice caching weekend. Pretoria seems the best bet at the moment to do a bunch in one day.

Top SA Cachers QFC has become more active as of late, and since I have some skills in web apps, I decided to create a page on my site that Ranks SA Cachers. The data isn't totally live, but retrieved every so often when someone visits the page an click on a specific link. To cut the long story short, I have decided to just tell anyone interested to take a look. I have been adding Cachers manually, and so far I have a list of just over 30, so if you want to be on the list, and you live in South Africa, just e-mail me your caching name/alias and I will add you. You can get my e-mail address from the site. Or just look up QFC, and send a message via the Geocaching site. OR, just add to this post... and I will check on it later. Ok, that's all from me... QFC

TUFULA Has been placed in a new Cache, not far from the last, but it still counts!