ZillahBillies

WOW! THE COINS ARE AWESOME!!! We just received them today and our Pathfinder Club meeting is tonight...MAN WE CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW THE KIDS! We can't thank you enough SouthBayDay for creating & orchestrating our first geocoin (maybe even the first Pathfinder geocoin ever)! Some of these kids get so little in life and to be part of something big like Geocaching really makes a difference. When "tagging" is one of the most popular past-times here on the reservation, you can only imagine how inspiring it is to have the kids prefer to go Geocaching instead! If you know him in person, then you know SouthBayDay has always been a great role model for his dedication to kids and support of youth programs like Pathfinders. But you know what's really caught us off guard is having so many fellow Geocachers willing to support these kids! You guys rock! We can't thank each of you enough! Just one more example of how amazing this sport really is...

Yakima Geocache Meeting Just wanted to invite everyone who might be interested to an informal meet & greet in the Yakima area. Food & beverages are available for purchase at the location. We're looking forward to matching some faces with all those names we see out there! Kids are encouraged to attend as well. See ya soon!

LOL...thanks, I needed that

LOL...what's sad is how accurate a description that is to the temptation of FTFs.

Well done young padawan. (shaking head in continued disbelief)

We order most of our trade items through Oriental Trading Company and/or Rhode Island Novelty. We usually order LED light up items, glow in the dark things, travel games, plastic animals, marbles, key chains, etc.

That's awesome . Someone recently mentioned a similar situation somewhere in Northern California, where the local community actually listed geocaching as a tourist attraction on their website. It's always great to hear about positive responses to geocaching vs. just the negative ones (i.e.; mistaken for bomb, criminals geocaching, etc). Thanks for posting the news.

Sorry. I was basing it off of repeated experiences in hitting caches after large groups of mega cachers had gone through the area shortly before us - with posts refering to "this is X out of XY for the day," only to leave things like feathers, rocks, rusty train track ties and even a couple of empty power bar wrappers . But you are right, it's not a fair call on my part, considering it is just as much of a blanket statement about mega cachers as the ones made about newbies. As you say, just expect it and there's no disappointment. Afterall, with our kids being the "traders" of the group, we trade mostly toys anyway...which rates as well as empty power bar wrappers around here.

We're new to the area and are always delighted to meet other geocachers. We're already planning on attending the campout in August. We were just wondering if there are any other Eastern Washington cache events coming up?

Sure glad to know they can show up again after so long. We have the same problem with one of our TBs. We sent the gentleman a polite email in reference to it and received an equally polite "been busy, will get to it soon" response. But there has still be no movement on our TB. I wasn't sure if it's considered rude or too pushy to send another email, but if it worked for you...maybe it will work for us. Thanks for the tip.

I agree that toys aren't a bad thing in this sport. I don't understand the desire to get rid of them in exchange for adult interest only items. After all, if we get rid of the toys...the kids will just be trading for the items you may actually want, rather then the toys you don't. I'm also rather surprised with the continual reference to newbies being targeted as the culprits of poor trading practices. I believe it's quite the contrary. I would think that newbies are overly excited about the sport and still willing to invest more. It's been our experience that mega-cachers (for lack of a better name), refering to cachers trying to crame in a mass out of caches in one day, are more likely the ones to trade quickly & poorly in a quest to get-in-get-out-get-on-to-the-next-one. If they're hitting 20+ caches in a short time, clearly they won't invest a lot of money in each trade item (nor want to carry an overly heavy swag bag filled with quality items). Twenty plus caches at $2.00 a pop...ouch! That could be an expensive way to spend a day. Reality is: (a sad fact I had to recently resign myself to as well) In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes...and cheap swag. -- Benjamin Franklin

Wow! Pretty cool stuff. Can't go ourselves, but think it's great offer/oppertunity for those who can attend. Best of luck & have a ball! Hope you can keep us all posted on the book release date. I'm sure we'll buy a copy.

Aren't you going to say anything about the "eating crow" comment??? Oh ouch! "HoppingCrow" just happens to be the first post following mine? What are the odds? LOL Well, on the bright side...I'm sure I'm single handedly helping dwindle the number of future complaints. For those that even DARE to complain about the equality of trades...please learn from my shame. (Presently looking for a nice big rock to crawl under.)

I've just been humbled. The individual that made the trade for the candle vs shoe mitt just emailed me with an offer to mail the candle holder back (to which I declined with an apology on my part for being petty enough to even say anything). Whether the individual stumbled across this topic and made the connection themselves, or may have even been emailed by someone else...I shouldn't have put them in that position. Consequently, even if they didn't follow the "trade even or up" guideline, it's mild in comparison to the lack of tact I showed in making personal reference to it. While it would be easier to hide behind my computer screen, I feel it's only appropriate that since I'm the one who made public reference to it, it's only right that I make my apology public as well. Sorry guys. My bad. (Hey, eating crow isn't that bad...kinda tastes like chicken).

Ya just HAD to go there... That is pretty cool about VeggieTales & geocaching. Thanks for letting us know about the extras, we'll have to check it out.

Thanks for the explanation. That makes more sense. I didn't mean that I don't like the idea of a distribution event, I just didn't understand how come some folks are waiting till late summer to release them (as implied in some other threads on the subject). I just figured it kinda took the fun out of it...thus, the champagne glass anology. I'm the last one with room to complain since someone recently drop off one of the WJTBs in our first cache, giving us a chance to check it out. Guess we just got such a kick out of it, I felt sorry for those who haven't had a chance. My apologies to you distributors...didn't mean to pass judgement. I'm sure you're doing a great job and I probably wouldn't want to switch places with you in light of your obligation. You've got some big shoes to fill. Good luck!

I didn't read the entire thread, but has anyone suggested that value is in the eye of the finder, not the original purchaser? Assuming the finder does not appear regularly on 'The Antique Roadshow', they might not be able to tell your $10 candlestick from the dollar store's $1 one or the junk drawer's free one. Thanks for the reality check. Nice to know that disposable seran wrap shoe mitts are considered equitable swag. The knowledge will certianly save me some money in future invest on this sport.

Silly me and here I'm impressed when someone has 2 finds to their name. At least between each of your screen names, even you qualify. So you're up 4 now? Is that 4 screen names or 4 geocaches? I get confused.

We cache with our kids so naturally, I'm not fond of stumbling into a "homeless hide-away." However, I think one of the greatest side-effects of geocaching is that this sport is "reclaiming" the neglected regions of our community. The fact that geocachers continue to find & report such things like meth labs and stake claim to public parks as actual public use areas again (rather then homeless havens)...well, I consider it a terrific service to the community. I also don't believe that anyone would purposely place caches in well-known crime ridden areas for the purpose of increasing the challenge. That's quite a sick accusation and I'm rather shocked someone would even imply the possibility.

But what if we were SUPPOSED to smash the comet? Maybe one of the pieces that broke off the comet will hit the earth and bonk the next Hilter upside the head, knocking him silly, eliminating any naughty notions of global take-over. Could happen...maybe...I think...well...ok...maybe not...but, what if?

Isn't that what geocaching is all about in the first place? Yup! There were doing something quite similar to the Universal Cacher Foundit Dance (not to be confused with the Universal Cacher EWWWSPIDERWEB Dance, nor the Universal Cacher OWOWOWBlackberries Dance) LOL Boy, aint it the truth.

My wife used to be rather active on a camping board called "PopUpExplorer" - for people who camp with pop up/tent trailer campers. Her alias was "PopTart." So when I got into geocaching, I called myself "PopFart" (hey, it fit ). But since we geocache as a family, we decided to change our alias on here from "PopFart" to a more all inclusive one; thus "ZillahBillies" (we live in a town called Zillah). It's all for the best....since I still have no idea what kind of avatar I could have found for "PopFart."

Isn't that what geocaching is all about in the first place?

LOL...you're gonna love the latest one... Logged 3 days ago: Partylite Southwest style brass candle holder ($10+ value) exchanged for "Shoe Mitt" (FREE "shower cap" plastic shoe covers)

Geez, Webscouter...I just read the thread you started over there. I can't believe what you were willing to put up with on the CTV board! Your patience is amazing. Don't suppose you have plans this Christmas? We could really use someone with those kind of skills around here when all the in-laws start showing up... LOL @ EleriandBlade & uperdooper You guys rock!