Sean's Mom

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I've not had a problem with the character limit on the 210. I actually started Geocaching by going in blind (no descriptions or hints) and enjoyed it. The difficulty rating and name are usually enough for me. Looks like the PN-20 is our of stock, and the explorist 400 has been discontinued. I know that still leaves eBay and personal sellers, but, I'm looking to get my caching fix this week. But, thanks for the info. I'll be looking in stores and keep the tips in mind. Maybe I'll splurge for the 500 or PN-40. Erin

Easy question - Is there a site that you can plug in the features you want, and it'll tell you what units fit your needs? Simply put, I want to replace my 210. I love it to pieces but my only complaint is the lack of a memory card slot. So, is there a comparable unit out there that has a card slot? As much as I'd love a new Oregon, I just can't afford it. I don't need anything fancy, as I just use it for Geocaching. Thanks!

Hahaha...I used to have your dilemma, and the solution was simple - get a different lanyard. You can get free lanyards all over the place, even without the safety clip. And, it is possible to put a key ring through the little hole. It's not easy, but it's doable. If I could find my 210, I'd post a pic. But, unfortunately, even the ugliest lanyard couldn't keep it in sight during a quick move. ( If you can't find a lanyard without a clip, try doing something to the clip. Maybe some glue from a hot glue gun or super glue would do the trip to keep it form unclipping. Good luck!

Just looking for some input on this subject. In the reports I submitted (I've done very few), I included a note that "Photos are available at (URL to the page)". In all honesty, I did not expect this phrase to be listed in the official NGS recovery page. I just figured Deb (or whomever read it) would see the photos and verify the mark. I am a single, working mom, and I hunt for benchmarks for fun. I started my blog just to keep track since I'm not always able to log benchmarks on GC.com. From now on, I will attempt to e-mail my photos. But, for the ones not previously e-mailed, should I go through and e-mail them all? Or, is the "damage" done since the link is already in the datasheet? Just for reference, you can find my blog with finds and photos at http://benchmarkhunting.blogspot.com/ Thanks for your input!

Mitch - Thanks for the pics. I'd only found one USDI - NPS disk so far, and that was completely by accident. I even have a picture of it, but didn't note the location. lol. But, with this one, since LP is now clearly marked "Private Residence", I'm not sure if I'll be able to get to it. We'll see. Hopefully I can get out there tomorrow. So, anyone know if anything should be done about the misplaced logs? - Erin

Thanks Patty! For some reason, it doesn't seem 8 miles away. Hahaha. To get from the highway to Lookout Point takes about 30-45 minutes. So, from LP to the Rock would take quite a while. I did post a note prior to seeing your comment, but good catch on the date difference. I knew that not all marks are in the GC database, and didn't even think to mention that.

I was using the Scaredy Cat map to find benchmarks from my home to my cabin. I've been pulling up the pages one-by-one to make sure they're in safe places for me to try and find, and one had a lot of log entries: http://www.geocaching.com/mark/details.aspx?PID=GT0127 Now, Morro Rock is nowhere near lookout point. Lookout point is on the way to Mineral King in Sequpoia Nat'l Park. The park road is hardly used, and mainly used by cabin owners and hikers. There is a Visitors Center in Minerak King valley, but not at Lookout Point. Are these just numerous mistaken logs?

Awesome. Thanks.

Thank you so much for the info. The one with the A, I'm almost certain is the one I began to look for but was then driven away from by all of the "NO TRESPASSING!!!!!" signs. The other 5+ witness signs I saw aren't anywhere near those other points. I really wish it wasn't so bad to poke around these kinds of places. I didn't realize until after I got home that it was the old airport. Now I want to go be nosy. lol But, no worries....I live ~80 miles away. I don't plan to go there just to do something illegal.

I know there's a list in progress, but is anyone working on an actual site for these? I'd love to help out either getting one started or maintaining anything. I can't really afford a domain right now, but I'll do whatever I can! Erin

Here's a map. I wasn't able to find any mark, but there are quite a few if you look for nearest benchmarks to the cache I listed. Also what's odd, is that benchmark AH5203 that is in that area lists a number of reference points that say "No Benchmark was found with that Point ID (PID)." when you click the links. The blue marker is Beam Me Up (GC1859W). The "river" in the map is extremely dry. Maybe after a heavy rain, there's water. Seems to be no sign of it though. Looking at it like a +, where the vertical line is the HWY 33/198 bridge and the horizontal is the river, the UR quad has the Geocache and at least one witness post. The UL quad is just weeds with no signs of businesses or whatever and a couple of witness posts (this is mainly the quad in my original post). The LR quad is the same as the UL (no businesses, and a couple of witness posts). The LL quad has some kind of auto body business and a couple of witness posts. Now, just to make clear, I got to Coalinga and found that only my caches (not marks) were loaded to my GPS, so I was hunting blindly. I wasn't really planning on posting anything until I read the descriptions and ended up confusing myself. Thanks!

That's why I noted the condition of the restricted area. It's a traffic bridge over what is now just weeds and dried shrubs. There is no residence or business anywhere around the bridge, nor the benchmark areas. Therefore, there is no one I can just approach and say "Hey, may I....". I appreciate the input, and I believe your opinion kind of coincides with my original conclusion. Thanks!

I've found a few benchmarks and hope to find a lot more. But, I ran into an issue today. I found some witness posts and wanted to see if the survey mark was there. However, the marker coords and witness posts were in an area near a bridge, clearly labeled (multiple times) "Do not enter" "No Trespassing" etc. In all honesty, there was nothing but gravel and weeds around - not like it was anyone's home/farm/business. I'm assuming benchmarks in these areas are pretty much un-findable if you want to abide by the rules, correct? Also, what can you do to recover a benchmark? I've read about tools people use to find things, which I understand. But my concern is if I'm digging on the side of the road for a possibly buried mark, will 5-0 come up and hassle me? Or, is digging and pulling up caps and whatnot okay to do? Thanks in advance!

I did check eBay. I was hoping someone here might have one.

I posted forever ago, and still haven't found one. So, PLEASE, if anyone has a USB cable they're selling for the eXplorist 210, please contact me. secret_shopper_erin@yahoo.com Thanks!

I only have 25 finds, but almost all of them were with Google Earth alone before I bought a GPSr. It does depend on your location, but it is a good tool to have. I basically make a page in Word with the cache description and a screenshot of GE zoomed into the cache spot as much as possible (while still being able to tell where it was). Good luck!

The M100 does connect via serial port, but there is a pretty inexpensive dock available (at least, there was when I had one) that connected via USB. My GPSr (eXplorist 210) only has the basic maps on it, but those aren't too great. Thank you for all of your input! Erin

I had that thought initially, but I'm also trying to use my Dell card to up my balance (and credit rating). And the Z22 has features I could use for work as well. I've also wondered, if an M500 would work, what about the older M100s? I had one of those before and sold it about a year ago for $10, but I could probably find another one on eBay. But I've never known of any good mapping software for the old monochrome PDAs. Thanks!

I've been trying to cache for almost 2 years, but I am terribly hopeless. I've got about 25 finds (most on lampposts), as well as a TON of non-logged DNFs. I've tried getting together with local cachers, but no one seems interested. Unfortunately, the more recent events are too far for me to go or at times when I just can't. Meh. :/ So, looking back at my successes, I have had the best luck with having a print-out of the cache page with hints decrypted, as well as a map printed from GE. But, I've become a very busy lady and haven't found the time to do so much searching, editing, and printing without my son getting up in arms about wanting to "help" me. I've thought for a long time about buying a PDA to help me out, and I think it'll help. So, does anyone know much about the Palm Z22? http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/product...mp;sku=A0540350 There is 1 comment that says it's great for GCing, which is cool. But, I'd like other opinions. Thanks! Erin

You women who are so paranoid about being "lured" out to a night cache at a specific day and time could bring a friend or two or three! (I am most definitely not saying that you aren't right to want to be safe. Women get attacked in broad daylight in public places.) That is a real jackass thing to say. You know what? Things like that happen. Whether or not you plan on doing it, I don't know. Do not belittle "us women" for being "so paranoid". Do you really think I'm going to e-mail some strange man and say "Hey, even though I don't know you, I'll be at your house in the middle of the night! Meet me there, 'doc'" Ha. No. Call it paranoia if you want. I call it covering my own tail. You asked if it was a good idea or not. People gave you reasons for it. Don't be such a jerk just because you don't like the response.

In response to everyone, I'm about 250 miles away, but I get up there at least once a month. And, if need be, I can go up on a moment's notice. I'm a stay-at-home mom, and I can always find a good excuse to visit my family. The one for the building that's no longer there -- I don't know if there's any kind of marker. I will look when I go up. If not, I can scrap that one. The one I'd like to adopt -- I understand what you all mean. Watching for it to be archived is a good idea. There is no place else to hide a cache that would work for that one. It's a small (tiny) building, so I would be within the off-limits area (what is it... 1/10 of a mile or something? I don't remember off hand) And, they are not really within walking distance of each other. I just wasn't sure if it'd be worth linking them together as a multi. But, It probably wouldn't be worthwhile. Thank you so much!

I think I've got my questions answered, but I'm leaving this up since I always appreciate different views!! I'm going to my hometown next month, and I've had this idea. So, I'm looking for opinions. In an attempt to bring out some of the really historical aspects of the city, I'm thinking of placing a number of caches. (To add - I am about 3 1/2 hours away, but do get up there regularly and can get up there just about anytime for maintenance) 1) Would it be okay to do 5-10 caches like this, or would this be better off as a multi? They're not really all within walking distance. So, I gues this would be better off as individual traditional ones. Thanks for the tips! 2) One place in particular no longer exists, but I was thinking of placing a cache there anyways. Would this be a waste of time to cachers since they'd be going to a practically empty lot? And, if so, would it make it worthwhile to make it a puzzle cache where they need to read the history on it to find the coords? When I go, I'll look for any kind of marker. If there is still something there, I'll do it. If not, I won't 3) One place I would like to do already has a cache, but the log page is pretty bare and uninteresting. Would it be bad form to ask the owner if I could place a cache there or adopt the current one, but prettying it up to match the theme of the others? Good points mentioned. I'm probably better off leaving this one out, even though it's an awesome place 4) Am I out of my mind? Thanks!!

Kind of like this, huh? Yeah...your son helps you hide it, then claims FTF. Not very classy, IMO.

Thank you both!! I was hoping there wasn't any secret treasure on that CD.

I'm not sure where Chula Vista is, or if that's even where you'll be caching. Look at my profile (Sean's Mom). I do almost all of my GeoCaching with my 9 month old son. So, if you're in the Chino/Montclair/Upland/Ontario areas or near Visalia, there are a few on my list that would work for you.