Hike-and-$eek

Maidstone is great for me

I really wouldn't worry if I were you. I think the majority of 'hides' are appreciated by the majority of cachers. Don't forget, if someone doesn't like a certain type/location of cache then they don't have to go looking for it. I always check out previous logs before visiting a cache and have very rarely come across a log with any negative feedback. I also own 28 caches with probably 500 logs in total and only 2 logs have mildly negative comments. So, if you hide what you are happy to find, then I don't think you will go far wrong - you will never please all of the people all of the time. Enjoy your first hide, it's great fun waiting for the FTF log to come in. In my area there are the usual suspects that race to be FTF - I've joined in on a few occasions - such good fun - so just go for it []

I couldn't agree more. I'm just coming up to my 1000th cache and to be honest, I'm finding it a real drag trying to find some "proper" caches these days. I'm visiting the Maidstone area in a few weeks time and I can't believe that nearly all the caches around that area are micro's. What's the point? Unless the current trend changes, I'm afraid that I'm going to be another cacher who reluctantly gives it all up. Funnily enough I did consider replying to your post when you first posted. There are some very good micros in the Maidstone area, set not for the size of the container (size really isn't everything ) but for the fun of the search, the view/location, the novelty of the container, the marking of a hike/trail, the location of a clue. I thought it might be useful to list some caches which might enable you to make the most of your visit here. However, I note from your mildly scathing log on one of my early caches that you have already made your visit. With hindsight perhaps I could have left a larger container, however, also with hindsight it is one less location for worthless tat to be left in the countryside. To be honest, I'm surprised you selected it for a visit as it doesn't even have a particularly inspiring description either - but hey, all us new cachers have to live and learn, and setting caches is the best way to learn what works and what doesn't. Yours is the only negative comment it has received so far. Another negative comment I received on a different cache was that I had placed a sparcely filled large container as a cache. Not being one to carry out swaps I had left it for others to do their swapping if they wished - and based on what I have found during my caching, (buttons, clothes lables, corks, stones), I don't think that I will change this approach. An earlier poster could not have said it better: If you do visit Maidstone again, perhaps you would like a few suggestions of caches that you might enjoy? As size does seem to be important to you, you probably would love Toms Treasure Chest GCH1B2 which truly lives up to its name. The following are micros - but if you enjoy a bit of a physical challenge you could try Shrek GC1H88G or 4x4 Cache and Dash III - Arms Reach GC1HMPV. If you enjoy a good hike I would like to think that my Hollingbourne Hike and Linton Long Walk are rewarding. Both started out as micro trails with a large bonus cache at the end, however, with experience I have reviewed some of the Linton Long Walk series and 'upsized' some locations to accommodate 'alternative' preferences. I am aware though that the larger the container the more prone to muggles they may be - so this is under review. Anyway, that's that off my chest

I've only just discovered the forums, so I've missed my chance to join in on this - it sounds such good fun. I was looking at the fruit jars in Tesco on Saturday thinking they would make great containers. I shall follow this thread with interest. Good luck to you all.

I had never come across this until today, they had left their deposit + loo roll at the base of the tree where I had to search for a micro 'hidden in the ivy'. It was really hard to look for the cache whilst minding where I stepped. The tree was also just outside of a churchyard next to a public footpath - some people!!!

Perhaps one of our farmer contributors could answer a question for me. I have a field near me where the footpath goes diagonally across it (I know this is right because it was one of the paths I checked on the county definitive map). However the field is currently planted with wheat and rather than trample the crop people have been going around the edge of the field. Ignoring the legal requirement to reinstate the path within 2 weeks of planting, would our farmers prefer people to trespass around the edge of the field or exercise their legal right by keeping to the line of the path and damaging his crop? I did exactly that, a while back. Walked around the edge of the field, which had a rough margin area at least 3 metres wide all round, rather than walk diagonally across the newly sprouting crop. I should add that the legal footpath was not obvious and had not been marked out in any way other than a signpost pointing across the field. I was accosted by a gentleman, presumably the landowner / farmer, and was told quite firmly that the public path was across the field (and it would be marked in due course) and not round the edge which was set aside for wildlife. You just can't win sometimes Had the same problem today with a new crop, but I remembered this post and decided to march across the field - luckily my gps tells me if I am more or less on the footpath as it has 1:25,000 as a background. It doesn't feel quite right though, I felt as if I should be going around the edge.

Thank you Mr B.

Thanks for all the positive comments regarding SSSI's, maybe I will look into it further. If I do pursue it, I'll let you know how I get on.

....as long as it isn't in the churchyard Chris (MrB) I'm pretty clued up on churches and churchyards, having already fallen foul of this rule by placing a cache on the exterior of a churchyard fence. My new cache was approved at lunchtime (thanks Deci ), just waiting for the usual suspects racing for the FTF - maybe they're all on holiday???

Oh dear, turns out my new cache is in an SSSI, I shall move it to another location - can't be doing with contacting the 'managers' of the land - I guess they would say 'no' anyway, in case we disturb whatever is 'special'. At least I have a church micro in the queue - hopefully that one will be okay.

I must admit that the reviewers have been really helpful to me as a newbie - I also struggled with Waypoints to start with and Deceangi talked me through alot of it step by step. Hawkeye - don't know if this is a silly question - but is there a 'queue' that we can see to check if we are creeping up the list? Or were you talking metaphorically? It is a lot of fun waiting to see who will be the FTF, there are a handful of folk in my area that seem to generally be quick out of the starting blocks - it's good to guess who will get there first. It's also a bit 'worrying' incase you've got a coordinate/clue wrong, or in the case of a multi if you've calculated the clues wrong. All good fun though