davester

Just wondered if there was any mileage in this idea as I'd just added a link on my own website to the appeal fund website. It's obviously a VERY worthy cause and what better way to get the Geocaching community involved by creating a series of event caches to encourage people to spend the minute or so it makes to make a donation. I thought of submitting a cache for approval, where people could claim a find upon donating how ever much they could afford to. However, I couldn't decide on the best type of cache etc., so thought the best course of action would be to post here. So, Eckington and Lactodorum, if this is permitted, could you possibly set something up? If the UK leads, the rest of the world may follow!

It certainly isn't a UK specific site although that is where all the walks are based at present. Irish walks are most welcome.

I thought I'd just post this as some people may not be aware of my website, GeoHikes which can be found by clicking this link. Several months ago I mooted the idea of a walking route site that would give details of routes that people had followed while hunting down Geocaches. I liked the idea so much that I spent a little time setting it up. It's allowed me the chance to share my caching experiences with the world and others have grasped the opportunity and shared theirs (for which we should all be grateful). There might be a fair few new UK geocachers playing with their Christmas gifts and I'm sure that plenty of us have been out on a post-turkey trot to a cache or two. If you're in those categories, why not pop along to GeoHikes and share your well thought out route with the rest of us, and perhaps grab inspiration for your next caching trip at the same time? There are more than 30 routes at the moment which can hopefully only continue to grow. Look forward to seeing you there.

You hit on a good point there. When the missus comes caching with me, we tend to do the car-caching and it is more fun to search around when you're not alone. Alone, it just becomes tedious very quickly and it's far harder to be systematic with your search.

In a way I can sympathise which what you are getting at davester as my nearest caches are mostly about 60 miles away....however there are several that I have been forced to log DNF's on and visit not just once but several times. But if the all the encrypted hints were dead give aways then DNF's would almost be unheard of and that would be a pity surely?? The cache placers also have my sympathy in that it is a thin line they have to walk in giving a hint which doesn't take all the pleasure out of finding the cache in the first place!! I don't mind the hint still leaving me with a bit of work still to do and if necessary having to pay another visit to the same cache. Nor would I like to find every cache I went after within just 5 minutes in case I got bored with the whole geocaching pastime eventually. In other words I relish difficult caches and the feeling of achievement when I manage to crack them in the end. my main bone of contention is a hint which is counter productive and is more of a hindrance than a help!! But fortunately that circumstance is fairly rare!! Bill. Some good points but I don't see why the lack of DNFs is a problem. After all, some people just don't log them anyway. I guess it all depend on what the prize actually is. To me the prize should be going to somewhere that you wouldn't go otherwise. The fact that someone may have left a tupperware box containing a few trinkets should be irrelevant, else why would people visit virtual caches. I know that argument can also be used the other way round but a find is more of a additional reward when you have made the extra effort of walking. If a cache placer wants to add some illusion they could easily put two clues, the first being a cryptic helper and the second the giveaway. I just find it a shame that I miss out on some caches, but I know there is little chance of me returning to them.

I think this has been covered before but after a frustrating day mixing sucessful (but harrowing) finds and DNFs I feel like saying it again. I set out to do a 15 mile walk to cover most of the caches on Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. This is how I do the vast majority of my geocaching, but it does mean that you have to hope that the cache placer will have considered this. My method of caching often means that I simply cannot afford the time to prod around every nook and cranny once my GPS indicates I'm in the cache area. I normally limit myself to a 5 minute search before resorting to the clue. My experience shows that if a cache isn't findable in that 5 minutes it usually requires the clue. But that still leaves you with two problems, when the placer decides a clue isn't necessary or when the placer gives a clue which is either useless or requires a spoiler photo (how do I get that then when the nearest computer is 30 miles away?). I understand that many placers will be car-cachers and happily bring the family to do a fingertop search for a cache, able to spend a good hour or more looking, but it would be nice if people could think inclusively. So please :- Put your caches in a sensible place (ie. not in the first forest in sight on an otherwise empty landscape) Give us useful clues. That spoiler clue should be a last resort, last gasp, "HELP ME" blantant giveaway. At the end of the day, I'm sure most placers will be of the mindset that they want as many visitors as possible to their cache. Some people (I include myself in this category) will not go back to a DNF cache unless there are VERY exceptional circumstance, so please please heed this advice.

Given that the little Garmin's are near as good indestructible, my is placed just in an Aquapac. Means I can hang it round my neck and also makes it float should it be dropped in water.

/cites post-present pre-lunch boredom as reason for posting on Xmas day. Most amusing log. Most useless clue (2004 caches only). Most idiotic attempt to bag 11 caches on a 25 mile walk culminating in a 1.5 trudge down a busy A-road because that was the only route visible to follow in the pitch darkness, with the geocacher in question not being in pocession of a torch.

I agree with the comment about the background, it's a little hard on the eye. Perhaps also worth investing a few pennies to secure the available domain name markandlynn.co.uk I was a complete web novice when I set out to make my GeoHikes website, which is written using a content management system called Mambo server. Maybe worth considering taking the little plunge and setting it up like that? Another thought (and worth an edit), give all your external links a target="_blank" tag so a new window opens up with the link.

To be honest, as geocaching is not a numbers competition my base opinion is that it doesn't really matter if someone is desparate enough to make a visit up. That a cache owner should spend time checking each log against the logbook is silly IMO, simply for the faff involved in leafing through it all. This sport/game is what people want to make of it and nothing more. You could say people who don't log Fail to Finds are equally guilty of making bonus logs, as they are letting down the cache owner too! The vast majority of cachers would not dream of claiming caches they hadn't been too and I'm happy with that.

Get yourself a cable and then invest in Memory Map or similar software (look on Ebay, where I picked my complete mapset of the UK for £20!!). Then a waypoint download from GeocacheUK will mean you'll see the UK covered in wonderful little red flags. Right clicking on the flags sends the waypoint to your GPS. Sorted.

Only problem I would see is if you forget the password. I've forgotten what swaps I've made before and also had cache sheets where they have been carefully noted destroyed by the rain. Maybe it's easy if you're just a car cacher, but when you walk between caches it's a little harder to remain organised and nor just end up with a clump of paper randomly shoved into the dryest part of you rucksac.

New

IMO, if you think you need a gun to be safe in an area, you shouldn't be in that area. How much sense does it take to compare the gun crime statistics in a gun-legal country to those in gun-free countries and come to the sensible conclusion? I guarantee before the next decade is out that some US nut will set up a cache and pick off the first finders by sniper fire.

Ask the nearest cow. Simply explain what geocaching is and what you want to do. Then ask the cow to moo if it has objections. Quiet cow = permission to place a cache.

If you're in the UK, a top tip is to check out my website (link in sig) before you go and then make sure you tell the world about your caching route afterwards. If you're in the US, email me and we'll discuss the sale of the global rights!

Being a chemist who has worked with this stuff (legitimately!!) I have to perhaps suggest the story is a geocaching urban legend. Ammonium Hydroxide is nasty stuff, but you'd have have significant prelonged exposure in a confined space before you'd be keeling over inside three steps. The smell nuisance threshold would alert you to it's prescence well before you had a truly harmfu dose.

It would appear that there are three of us planning something in the area, yourself, Dave (GeoHikes) and me. Do you think it might be an idea for us to meet up? A meet to plan a meet Cheers Martin Sounds like a good idea. I think I need to see lists with advantages and disadvantages of all the places we could go too. But then I'm too organised! I still like Tittesworth as a good area for an event. Perhaps a few of us could do a reccy run up there, and perhaps show the local ranger/manager what it's all about?

I got a pair over here for five euro. However... They are made from PVC and therefore not breathable, so when you take them off the ends of your trousers will be soaked from condensation anyway. You're better off getting a breathable pair. Our local Millets does 'Peter Storm' ones for 20 euro, that's no more than £13 and well worth the extra few bobs. Millets also give discounts... They give me 10% off the marked price if I flash my YHA membership card at them. I got some gaiters fer 10p.. cost of text to No 1 son.. funny green colour though.. hmmmmmm So will No.1 son provide us all with gaiters if we text him? If so, number please.....

Well, I would walk more than 25 miles! http://www.geohikes.co.uk/index.php?option...id=40&Itemid=33

What about having yourself mummified and turned into a rather large Travel Bug?

I was having a good look at my maps last night and thinking about this one, and I did come up with a very good place which is cache free that could benefit from a good multi-cache trail. There are also a fair few caches nearby for those who want a longer walk, as well as a very agreeable pub, cheap all-day car parking AND reachable by public transport for those who would need that. Tittesworth Reservoir Not really got the time myself at the moment, but perhaps worth chasing up permissions with Severn Trent via the site manager? They are very keen to promote events like this and it would open up a fair few other sites for permissions if it goes down well.

CR35 voucher code not found Should still apply if you phone them. That's what I did because the item I ordered isn't on the website. EX79 works online, but has a minimum order of £45.

And MORE bargains! 15 % off at Field & Trek To claim your 15% off, simply shop on-line and click ‘add voucher’ on the order page and enter code CR35. You can also order on their 24hr order line 0870 777 1071 and quote the code CR35 at them If you would like to use that one, you could help my Geocaching & Walking website, GeoHikes for no extra cost. Simply go to http://www.geohikes.co.uk and click on the Field & Trek banner on the right (you may have to refresh a couple of times to see it). Otherwise, just go to http://www.fieldtrek.com

I can think of worse! Bramble ripped £85 waterproof trousers, which is what I use them for.