medoug

Perhaps it is wild parsnips.

Let's see.... Golf is a game where you keep score by how many time you hit the ball. If everyone cheated in golf and didn't record when the ball didn't go in the hole, they would all score an 18 (one point for each hole-in-one). Likewise, if you are caching for the points or a low DNF-to-find ratio and you don't log a DNF everytime you don't find the cache after making a serious attempt, you are in effect cheating on your score. medoug P.S. Anyone looking at my numbers for finds or DNFs can probably figure out that I don't geocache for the points or score. I still log the DNFs, however, for the cache owner's and other cacher's information as well as a record of my experience during my attempt.

The Plano "ammo box" shown on the Bing link says that it is "water resistant" (not water proof) with "tongue and groove" lid. There is no mention of a seal. Probably wouldn't be good enough for geocaching. On an interesting sidenote, I recently saw this Plano product in a hardware store. Plano waterproof boxes The seal on it looked very rugged. One side was hinged and the other three latched very securely. It was a relatively small container (small to medium sized Lock n Lock). I did have some concerns with how the plastic latch and hinge points would hold up to cold temperatures and long sunlight exposure. (Most plastics become weaker or deteriorate when exposed to these.) The pinned hinges may hold up better than the "living" hinges used on Lock n Locks. The $5.00 price for the smallest one seemed a little higher than a Lock n Lock of similar size. medoug.

I enjoy clever containers or puzzles and historical sites. Of course, we all know about the CCC thread. Here's a good one for ancient ruins that was started some time ago: Ancient ruins

OK, as the poster of the message quoted, I just wanted to clarify that every experience I have had with the IowaAdmin has been very professional and well handled. In general, I'm on board with this "Iowa" policy concerning caches and electrical equipment, but I can imagine situations where I'd suspect that the IowaAdmin would make exceptions. I'm sure if you attached a light switch in a very unexpected place, for example, in an existing hole in a tree in a public area, you could probably get approval after explaining the unique situation. I think the type of situation he is primarily referring to in his blog is those situations where there would be some question between if it is real equipment or not, for example, if someone puts a cache on an electrical box mounted tight against a building with conduit pushed into the ground. Such a container could just as easily be a real electrical box containing live power. I think it really boils down to a question of safety. We have lots of laws today that are in place to protect individuals which we are expected to follow regardless of if we agree with them or not, for example, seatbelt/helmet laws, smoke detector laws, etc. And, as mentioned earlier in this thread, geocaching has guidelines, not rules or laws, which leaves a lot of gray areas to the disgression of the reviewers. Like it or not, this is the way it is handled by geocaching. It is not a democracy so they can handle things as they like. If you don't like, you can choose to not participate.

OK, as the poster of the message quoted, I just wanted to clarify that every experience I have had with the IowaAdmin has been very professional and well handled. In general, I'm on board with this "Iowa" policy concerning caches and electrical equipment, but I can imagine situations where I'd suspect that the IowaAdmin would make exceptions. I'm sure if you attached a light switch in a very unexpected place, for example, in an existing hole in a tree in a public area, you could probably get approval after explaining the unique situation. I think the type of situation he is primarily referring to in his blog is those situations where there would be some question between if it is real equipment or not, for example, if someone puts a cache on an electrical box mounted tight against a building with conduit pushed into the ground. Such a container could just as easily be a real electrical box containing live power. I think it really boils down to a question of safety. We have lots of laws today that are in place to protect individuals which we are expected to follow regardless of if we agree with them or not, for example, seatbelt/helmet laws, smoke detector laws, etc. And, as mentioned earlier in this thread, geocaching has guidelines, not rules or laws, which leaves a lot of gray areas to the disgression of the reviewers. Like it or not, this is the way it is handled by geocaching. It is not a democracy so they can handle things as they like. If you don't like, you can choose to not participate.

The Iowa geocache approver will not knowingly approve any cache made to look like electrical equipment. If it is already approved and brought to their attention, it is promptly archived. For some reason, lamp post skirt caches seem to be exempt from this policy. Arrrg!

An easy way to answer your question is to look at the number of favorites assigned to premium member caches versus non-premium member caches. Since only premium members can assign favorites, both types of caches will have been available to those rating them. If you see more favorite points assigned to the premium caches in your area, then "yes", premium caches are better. If not, then "no", premium cachers are not any better.

I recently hid 11 caches for the IGO (Iowa Geocaching Organization) "Hike 'n' Seek" event near my hometown. One of my caches was located near the entrance of an old bomb shelter remaining from the 1960's. The shelter is about 4000 sq.ft. with rated capacity of 200+ people. For the event, I also volunteered to give a couple tours of the shelter to fellow cachers. Here's the cache listing and a photo: 1960s Era Bomb Shelter There's also a few more photos in the cache gallery page. medoug.

Check out my "Meteorite or Meteor-wrong?" cemetery geocache. (Read the interesting story behind what it might be and its placement.) Here's a photo of the headstone: medoug.

6) Only a limited number of premium members in the area. Depending on where you live, it may not be that common for people to have premium membership. Open it up to the rest of the caching community, and I think you will see more finders. I also agree with Spraginator that "no trespassing" signs scare away most cachers. If you truly have permission for the cache placement, state that in your description.

You wouldn't want your geocache to expire

P.S. I tried hot glue on this preform, and it does appear to have sufficient adhesion.

To me.... mediciney = cough syrup It must naturally have a very bad flavor to require such potent artificial flavor to cover it up.

Material of these preforms are HDPE (like milk jugs), not PET (like soda bottles). The material is still quite durable for use as a cache container. If you do any modifications to the bottle, most glues will not adhere because they are HDPE. Best bet would probably be to roughen the surface and use hot glue gun glue. As mentioned, the container probably qualifies as a "small", rather than a "micro" cache. The flange on the tube is only slightly bigger than the tube's diameter (unlike the soda bottle preforms). The inside of the cap has a rubbery material which appears to make a very good seal. Tube is a little over 1-1/4" diameter. Cap and flange are about 1-1/2" diameter. Assembled container is about 7" long. I drank the liquid after a hike. Tastes very mediciney. The container still smells like the liquid despite washing with hot soap and water, scuffing the insides with steel wool, and rinsing with straight chlorine bleach. Hope it doesn't attract the critters. medoug.

Hey power69, Could you please elaborate? I looked at Walmart last night and could not find these. The lady working the jewelry section said that the only watchbands they sold were in their display. Only adult watch bands were there. Are they in the jewelry section near the watches, or in the toys, or party supplies, etc.? Do you remember the brand name for the watchbands? Also, roughly what size are these preforms? Thanks, medoug.

Why? What can it be mistaken as? Pipe bombs are made from metal pipes. Most modern plumbing is made of PVC pipe.

It was called Body Fortress Super Whey Protein Shot. It was in the pharmacy department by the vitamins and supplements like 5-hour engergy and work-out shake mixes. I could buy an individual tube for $2 or a 6-pk for $10. They have a much larger diameter/cap size than the standard 2-liter soda bottle preforms which probably makes these a "small" container rather than a "micro". Note that the container appears to be made from a slightly cloudy plastic, not crystal clear like the soda bottle preforms. Tomorrow I am going to check GNC to see if they have similar products in different size tubes as well. medoug.

I had heard that there was some type of supplement that you can buy that comes in a bottle preform. Today, I found a product that matched the description at Walmart. I was surprised to find that this wasn't the standard pop bottle preform, but instead was almost exactly the container size I needed. 1-5/16" diameter by 7" long. The product only costs $2 which is about the same as buying just the empty container on-line before the added shipping cost required. medoug.

Thanks Doctroit, That looks that it will work. medoug.

By changing my search from "soda bottle preform" to just "bottle preform", I am finding some different sizes. My biggest problem with these is that they want to sell me like 1000 pieces. I only need 1 or 2. Does anyone know of a source for buying smaller quantities of various sizes of bottle preforms? Thanks, medoug.

I did a quick internet search and they are all 5.5 long. Maybe I could glue on an extension just to get the extra length required. Maybe glue 2 preforms together and only use the one with a cap for the container. Please anyone, let me know if anyone knows of a longer preform or other ideas for containers. medoug.

How long are preforms? Must be 6 inches minimum long. Prefer closer to the 9-1/2" long maximum.

I'm working on a geocache hide which requires a unique shaped/sized container. The opening for the hiding place is 1-3/8" wide by 2-1/4" wide. For reasons that is hard to explain, I'd like it to be between 6 and 9-1/2" long. I know I could probably create a container made of PVC pipe which would work, but I have heard and experienced problems with this type of container. If it doesn't leak, these screw cap is too tight to remove without a wrench or freezes in place. If the cap is removable, it usually leaks or the threads gets grimed up with dirt. Do you have any idea for a better container than PVC pipe, either a container to purchase or some type of used food container? Or do you have any suggestions to make a PVC pipe container more usable? Thanks, medoug.

In Iowa, caches hidden on electrical equipment or made to look like electrical equipment will not be approved for placement. Yet, lamppost skirt caches seem to be allowed.