Zoptrop

This is good to see... I was struggling with this very concept earlier. I *almost* logged a DNF, but wasn't sure what the proper protocol was for this. So, when I finally did find the cache I just made a note that I found it on the 2nd attempt.

I noticed that the travel bug logs read something like: "bob" picked up "spiderman" from "low water cache" Is there any way to tell (besides clicking on every single cache) to tell where the bug is and where its been? IMHO the log would be better if it read something like: "bob" picked up "spiderman" from "low water cache" in Macon, Georgia USA "sue" picked up "spiderman" from "hug the bunny cache" in Sweethome, Alabama USA Just a thought... (if I get any tb's I'll be sure to note the location in the log)

A Volkswagen bus/van halfway down a remote hill, in the woods, with no roads anywhere near the place.

You must have a really cool dad!

Thanks for the input... That's really the only complaint I have about the Cobra (so far). Last week it got me within 11 feet of a cache (after suffering through the notification message 5 or 6 times). Since I'm new to this - I'm learning. I'm learning that 50 feet is "close enough" and that I need to start looking in the general direction the arrow was pointing at the time. Like all newbies I was pretty much expecting the GPS to have pinpoint accuracy. I may end up listing this one on ebay too. I thought the GPS500 was a better choice since it wasn't the cheapest one around (they retail for $160) but from now on I'm gonna do some comparison shopping. Thanks once again - Mike.

Also keep in mind that California has some kind of law that requires a "warning" on just about every manufactured item regarding lead. I bought a pair of toe-nail clippers (really!) that had a warning about how they contained lead. Kinda scary, but I can't imagine what part of toe-nail clippers are made out of lead (?). Any ideas? Wait... here it is (on the box my GPS came in): "Warning: This product contains lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling." Okay, GPS with circuits, solder, batteries and all - that I can understand. But toe-nail clippers? But at least they warned us.

If you are thinking about getting a Cobra read this post first: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=73313 And I was wondering if the Garmin does the same thing... I'd really consider buying a Garmin Etrex if it does not contain the stupid pop-up message my Cobra gives me. Any preferences?

If you wear contact lens - bring along a spare set. I get disposable contacts (a box of each) and I keep a pair in my desk, car, backpack, bike pack, canoe pack. Nothing really bites more than being 100 miles from home and losing a contact out in the woods or at a state park.

Uhm... the hardest one I've seen so far was one written in Russian. Apparently some people have figured it out though.... Although it's not something you can just "figure out" on your own. Spy vs. Spy

Okay... similar topic... what about the new plastic Folgers coffee cans? They are red with black lids and seem to be ideal for this (or are they too big?). What about the tubes that tennis balls come in? Just curious and planning first cache.

I've made a pledge to leave something cool in each cache I find. I've only found 3 so far but I have a stack of old "cartoon books" like 'the far-side' and 'garfield', etc. that are like 4 x 6 inches and will fit in the typical cache. I think these would make great finds for the kids. Things I'd like to find in a cache would be outdoor/hiking related such as: space blanket, snake bite kit, first aid kit, rain poncho (I actually left one in cache), flint & steel, etc.

Reminds me of a local Tex-Mex restaurant's slogan: "The burn that's famous from here to Uranus." www.chuys.com

Test Av

Meet my friend, "Mr. Baseball Bat". He'd like to discuss with you recent events... Actually it's all relative. When I was a hard-core mountain biker (now I'm just a 'soft-core' mountain biker) we had a similar problem with people moving trails. Really. They'd come out and re-engineer entire sections of a trail that, they, deemed too difficult. Of course, the very next day we'd be out in force undoing their handywork and daring any of the yellow-belly newbie DH sissies to say something. It was a matter of persistence. We stayed on top of it and didn't let any minor changes creep up. Kinda like the broken windows theory. Stay on it and keep putting your caches back - don't let them win.

<self edit> posted same reply as message above </self edit>

Check out bizrate.com they'll give you side-by-side comparisons. I got mine from provantage.com (Cobra GPS500) for $105 plus $20 Fed-x overnight. (Retail price was $160.) I like mine except for the annoying notification message that pops-up when you are within 75 to 50 feet of your waypoint.

Does anyone know if it is possible to turn off the notification message that says something to the effect of "You've reached your destination"? I have a Cobra GPS500 and I find the above mentioned pop-up message very annoying. Your only response to the message is to hit "OK" then you have to go back and select: Waypoints ---> select---> number --> GoTo, and you walk about 3 feet and then the notification pops up again. Then you have to go back and re-select your options all over again. ARRRGGGHHH! It seems like the person(s) who built the thing never actually had to use it. <note>I usually don't whine, but this kept happening the other day in heavy brush. I was getting readings of 105 feet, 10 feet, 39 feet and just as it would lock in and give me an accurate reading. Bam! Up comes the stupid message and I'd have to start all over again trying to get a good reading. </note>

Complete & total newbie here... Discovered the sport/hobby last weekend. So far, all of those I tell about it think it's kinda weird (or at least mildly amusing) until I have them go to geocaching.com and enter their zip codes. Once they see all of the hidden stuff around their house/neighborhoods they seem to get more interested.

Kinda spooky... I was doing the exact same thing. My neighbors must have thought I had been "hitting the bottle" or something.