[What should new geocachers know about trackables?]

Some good help and post here for a newbie like myself.

We all started at some point and since starting have found answers to most of the questions.

 

A lot I think is common sense - and possibly good luck lol

 

Thanks to those that have spent the time on informing and helping others.

 

Exactly, I was just after the basic info , and again thanks to those who helped.

[What should new geocachers know about trackables?]

I am guessing that the Trackables is being taken as swag. I had two Geo Cachers who where teachers come to my cache and take a travel bug. They did not list it in their hands even after I emailed them on how to do it. After 2 more weeks went by had to place it as missing. Things happen and you move on.

Can you go back to a house and grab a travel Bug....I would say sometimes it is OK..What if you put a Travel Bug in a cache and after looking at the bugs you moved you find the same bug in the same place six months later. I will go back there and move it to a more active cache. Bottom Line travel Bugs were meet to travel.

 

I have got to the bottom of this now I think, we went out the other day and found 2 and a coin, all bound for their first trip to Australia.

[What should new geocachers know about trackables?]

1) It took me a long time, a lot of puzzling, a lot of reading and re-reading to figure out what how trackables work. The info was incomplete and research was very time consuming. I'm still picking up the finer points. It's no wonder people don't know how the system works. Most poeple don't have the time and patience for that. Previous suggestions about tutorials are echoed here.

 

Like a previous poster I was intimidated by trackables and was afraid to take one if I found it. By the time I found my first trackable -- last week-- I felt somewhat confident taking it, but wasn't sure if it was okay if I didn't release my own travel bug or something...

 

2) During our six day road trip last week we hit six caches most days, I was shocked, SHOCKED to see almost EVERY trackable listed in cache inventories were missing! And I'm a noob and I know better! Only TWO trackables (less and 25%) of those listed actually resided in their noted caches! Both of those bugs were dropped by the same person in the last 48 hours-- So, this means only ONE cacher who preceded me handled the trackables correctly.

 

OK. Sorry for the long story-- the point is I was also shocked that no one else (or least very people) spoke up. the sooner you catch the mistake the sooner the bug owners can email other cachers and inquire and the sooner they contact the cache owner to see if there are other cachers on the paper log that didn't log electronically. The most anyone else noted was "inventory seems to be off" -- if anything at all. I made a point of noting what bugs were missing/present in the cache logs and I emailed all the Bug/Coin owners (that was a lot of emails) and let them know their trackable had gone AWOL. The problem was they have been missing so, so long they will be difficult to find. One bug owner started inquiry as a result of my note, I'm sure he would have appreciated a note earllier...

 

So, excuse my horrible writing today, but the point is something is very wrong if so many bugs are missing.

 

3) I noticed the tracking number for my bug (the secret one) was on a separate piece of paper and not visible anywhere on the geocoin. Weird. What if they get separated? I performed repairs on the plastic coin sleeve, copied the number in pencil (so it wouldn't run) and laminated the accompanying note to ensure it will travel safely for at least few more caches. I also put a rubber band around the sleeve so the coin wouldn't fall out and a post it note over the sleeve saying "DO NOT take this coin unless you log it and move it to another safe cache." Overkill, I know, but I now have no faith in most cachers ability to handle TBs. Also, the info that comes with the coin is too wordy, confusing and the print is too small.

 

4) I have never received a newsletter from Groundspeak.

 

Sorry for the ramble..

[relocating a TB]

Check here for more detail: HOW TO LOG A TRAVEL BUG OR GEOCOIN

 

When you post a Found it log on a cache, before you hit submit, scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see the bugs listed in your Drop inventory. Select whichever bug you want to drop and hit submit.

 

If you have already posted a Found it log, post a Note on the cache to do the bug drop.

 

Thank you very much, I went back to the log a cache page and saw what I had done wrong.

This is all very addictive, fun and easy exercise.

 

Russell

[What should new geocachers know about trackables?]

I have logged finding a trackable item, since then it shows "it was last seen in my hands",but I am having trouble registering the TB new home.

I have just put a question on the TB forum page, but any help is appreciated.

 

Russell

[relocating a TB]

We are relatively new to all this.

On the weekend we picked up our first TB, and sent it to a new home, registering that we picked it up, but I am having trouble finding where to register its new home.

Last night it was still where we put it, but he cache does not show a trackable item.

 

I do not want to do the wrong thing so am seeking some help, any assistance appreciated.

 

Thank you,

Russell