Calypso62

I like your idea of a simple event. My first event I hosted was something similar, at a local park, although mine was over lunch and I asked attendees to BYO all food and drink requirements. I had about 20 people show up. I still run that event on an annual basis. Last time I had about 70 cachers show up. If you are going to make this a regular monthly (or bi-monthly) event, perhaps you could gather at a local café/restaurant. Nothing necessarily too fancy. A place where you don't have to get dressed up too much and caters for kids too. Everyone could enjoy a meal and a chat for 1-2 hours. I've seen it written somewhere, (probably on these forums), "host an event.... and they will come!!" Good luck with your planning.

If I'm urban caching, I always put on my hi-vis vest and carry a clipboard. I then go about my "work". Never had a problem. It's even better when there are two of you in hi-vis vests. That really DOES look important!!!!

I like Virtual Caches. Please bring them back!

I was in Vietnam last year and there's not a lot of geocaches there. I've just done a PQ and the results say there are only 51 active caches in the whole country. When I went, there was only 47 so there's an increase. Most of the caches you will do will be virtuals or earthcaches. It looks like there's a couple of new ones in Ho Chi Minh City. Enjoy your visit. I did!!

I just use OpenStreetMap. I've just been in China and used it there. It worked very well. I've also used it in all Australian states, except Tasmania as I'm yet to go caching there. I select the map I want and load it directly onto my 62s. For free maps, they're fantastic!! Hmmm, not sure that this topic is in the right location!!

Go to your cache page. On the top right hand side under "Admin Tools" click on "Archive". It should ask you if you really want to archive the cache as this will permanently remove the listing. Just click on yes and it's done!

What GPSr are you using debbie23? If it's a Garmin, I have some procedures, in word documents, that may be of assistance to you.

This is an interesting question. I recently spoke to a reviewer about this exact topic. It appears the guidelines have changed (not sure how recently) in that if a cache is at the published coordinates and the logbook can be accessed simply by opening the container, then it is a traditional cache. If the cache is at the published coordinates but you are required to figure out how to open the container (perhaps it has a special unlocking mechanism, a combination lock, a puzzle box, etc) in other words, you have to solve a field puzzle, then it is classed as a Mystery/Puzzle cache. anyway, that's what I was told.

A Pocket Query (often simply referred to as a PQ) is a custom search, eg around your home location, that will return up to 1000 caches. The PQ is downloaded from Geocaching.com as a .zip file and, after extracting, can be uploaded directly to your 62s. I usually have a number of PQs loaded into my 62s at any one time. If I'm going to a new location, say on vacation, then I create a new PQ for that location so I can go out and search. Being able to access PQs is one of the primary reasons I have a Premium Membership. Check out the Help Centre on Pocket Queries here.

Here is an event where no one turned up! There was only one Will Attend log and that was from the event owner but, unfortunately, not even he could make it! Not surprising, considering the location. I believe the weather was atrocious on the day and they couldn't land. http://coord.info/GC41N5Y

Are you using Internet Explorer 11? If so, in your browser, you need to go "Tools" then click on "Compatibility View Settings" and add Geocaching.com to the list. Hopefully, that will solve your problem.

Although I've not used it myself, friends of mine have used TravelSim and they recommend it when travelling overseas. It can be purchased here in Australia before you go. It can be bought from Post Offices and is better than using roaming while in the USA. I have heard of people who have arrived back in Australia to be greeted with phone bills in the thousands or greater when they use roaming with Aussie telcos. Ouch!! You take your existing SIM card out and leave it somewhere safe at home (not too safe that you forget where you put it though LOL.) You put the TravelSim in the phone just before you go then make sure you tell your family the new number so they can contact you while you're away. Do a Google search for TravelSim and research it to see if it's right for you. When I've cached overseas, I usually do PQs for the places I'm visiting. I always take a small notebook computer with me with the PQs saved on it and I load them into my Garmin GPSr as I need them. For mapping, I use the free OpenStreetMaps. If I'm visiting a number of countries, I save the appropriate map files onto my notebook computer and transfer them to my GPSr as needed. Most of the accommodation we stay in has free WiFi so logging onto the internet for getting additional cache information, emails, Skyping with family, can usually be done without problem. Don't forget to use the WiFi function on your phone too, if free WiFi is available where you happen to be.

Like some others have said, I carry a credit card size, laminated sheet in my wallet. I don't always have a geocaching bag with me to carry the larger pamphlet but I always have my wallet with me. I usually carry about 5 at a time. Also like others have said, I initially say I'm on a type of scavenger hunt and there's supposed to be something in this vicinity. Quite often people accept this, wish me luck and walk away. Those that show more interest I usually mention Geocaching. If they continue to show interest, I take out one of my credit card sheets and give it to them. Just another thing, I always wear a high-vis vest whenever I am urban caching. Sometimes I also carry a clipboard and wear a hard hat! I ignore everyone walking past and continue searching. Most people don't give you a second glance as they think you are going about your work business, which you are apart from the fact it's not "work". I never try to spin a story because I find telling the truth is much easier. It always sounds suss whenever I tell a story. I do like the one about the Slug Survey, that's hilarious!!!!

This thread is absolutely hilarious! Keep the story lines coming!! I'm loving it!

Another couple of group photos taken at my FaganFest event held recently. The event was held at Fagan Park, Galston, New South Wales, Australia.

Recently, I attended a Frisbee Golf event here in Sydney, Australia. It was only a small group but we had a great time.

Groundspeak is located in Seattle and the default date is for that city. Sydney is 17 hours ahead of Seattle so if you are logging before 5pm Sydney time, the default date will be a day behind. If you log after 5pm Sydney time, you'll notice the default date is the same as Sydney because Seattle has then ticked over to the same day as us. I also live in Sydney. Just something us Aussies have to be aware of when logging our finds.

GCK7HH - Royal Observatory Greenwich Cache (http://coord.info/GCK7HH) I reckon this one is a "must do" for all geocachers visiting London. Unfortunately, I arrived 2 minutes after the gates closed for the last entry into the observatory, grrrrrr, so had to be content with my photo being taken at the Prime Meridian outside the fence. I have plans to visit London again at some point in the future and I will definitely be going back.

Normally, cachers should move trackables along fairly quickly. If you want to hold on to one for an extended period of time in order to help it achieve its goal, try contacting the trackable's owner through their profile and asking what they would like you to do. I currently have a coin that wants to go to China, It's been travelling for a while and I will be heading there later this year. I've had contact with the owner and I'm hanging on to it to take it. If, after a couple of tries, the owner does not respond to your contacts, then you make the decision. That's the way I do it.

This photo was taken at the GC4PVCV Geocaching in Space... from Sydney event hosted by JordsAU. The event celebrated the launch of a travel bug to the International Space Station.

GCHFT2 Earthcache 1 - A Simple Geology Tour of Wasp Head was the very first earthcache ever published in the world and it turned 10 years old on the 10th January, this year. Wasp Head is located on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales, Australia. To celebrate this great milestone, GeocachingNSW hosted an event at the site with quite a number of teams travelling a distance to attend. The day was perfect and all who attended had a great time.

These two photos were taken at my 2013 International Geocaching Day event, "IGD - Crossing The Coathanger" in Sydney, Australia (hmmm I think the location might be obvious, LOL). This involved a most enjoyable walk across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge followed by a meet'n'greet adjacent to the Sydney Opera House. It was a fabulous day with a number of new cachers attending.

That's an idea but I just use the old Google Maps to work out distances between surrounding caches and where I want to place my cache, (keeping in mind that waypoints and finals for multis and puzzle caches aren't visible.)

Because you haven't "found" your own caches (that's considered bad form), that is, written a "Found It" log on your own cache page, then the PQ only recognises your cache as a cache waiting to be found. That's why the cache symbol is unopened. In your PQ, had you ticked the "I don't own" box in the "That (And)" section, then your caches would not be included in the PQ. Can I ask why you wanted to include your own caches in a PQ? The only reason I can think of is that you are showing a friend or newbie about geocaching and want them to use your GPS to find your cache. Is there another reason?

Wow!! I didn't know that about Chrome. That will come in handy on my next overseas trip!