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Opalblade

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Posts posted by Opalblade

    Tracking sig items

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    In another thread someone mentioned the idea of using a travel bug's number to send out on all your sig items to help track them. Has anyone used this method? Obviously the mileage would be really funky and everyone would have to be grabbing it, but has anyone tried it?

     

    Are there any other external sites that people have used to have people log finds of a sig item?

     

    Has anyone tried just asking people to email you or msg you if they've found them to let you know where and if so does anyone do it?

    FTF Geocacher

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    The fact that it's commonly used does not make it less offensive and unnecessary in a civilized discussion. There's no reason to fling around names like that over a minor difference in opinion.
    Perhaps it doesn't to you, but it does to most of us.

    That's truly unfortunate.

    Still, it's unnecessary to call people names over something like this.

    OK, that does it!! :laughing: No soup for you!!!

    Heehee; I love that guy, but do avoid using the term outside of joking around with my hubby or family, just in case it might upset someone.

    Careful, now... haven't you already learned your lesson about saying nice, kind, positive things in this thread? You lookin' for trouble? :laughing:

     

    Isn't that a bit of a stretch? :) What people on this forum will do for popcorn...

    FTF Geocacher

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by Opalblade

    Was over at the magazine site (was pulling the url for sharing in my local geocacher yahoo gp, and to tell them to come take a peek at my trackable magazine at an event tomorrow) and noticed the two following interesting notes on the front page. Figured I'd share since they're relevant to discussions on here.

     

    SOLD OUT (but not in the bad way)

    Yes, we've sold out of our initial printing so there are no more copies of the premier issue of FTF Geocacher to be had at any price. Don't miss another issue! Subscribe now (just $8 for the remaining 2 trial issues). Based on the subscriber stories we've received so far, the next issue is going to be even better than the first.

     

    Welcome to the Buy More Now

    By popular demand, we now offer a default "Buy Now" button for those who prefer not to sign up for a recurring subscription. We will reinstate the option for recurring subscriptions after the trial period has ended.

    FTF Geocacher

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    The fact that it's commonly used does not make it less offensive and unnecessary in a civilized discussion. There's no reason to fling around names like that over a minor difference in opinion.
    Perhaps it doesn't to you, but it does to most of us.

    That's truly unfortunate.

    Still, it's unnecessary to call people names over something like this.

     

    OK, that does it!! :) No soup for you!!!

    S7S06_The_Soup_Nazi.jpg

     

    Heehee; I love that guy, but do avoid using the term outside of joking around with my hubby or family, just in case it might upset someone.

    Dazed and Confused

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I'm not a very experienced cacher but will comment anyway :ph34r:

     

    I do understand the police officer's point of view. When we put out our caches, we list them on a free access site anyone can see, leave swag with the intent of people taking it out and keeping it, hide the caches in such a way that most of the time no one would be able to see what was going on with the cache contents, some caches have been abandoned by their owners, and then to boot caches are often hidden without permission. If they did interfere where would one draw the line? Would they go after parents who let their child take a little toy when they have nothing to trade with on them - "They wanted it and I couldn't say no"? I would have been furious too - it sucks there's nothing we can do about pirates :) My 3yo and I found an emptied one recently - the pirates had left a note that said, "Thanks for the treasure" with a picture of a skull and crossbones. It was extra sad b/c my 3yo had done a lot of bushwhacking to get there and he'd spotted it first and taken it out and then it was empty. Fortunately they had left that picture so was distracted by asking about the pirates :laughing: Had they taken the treasure to their boat? Did they have their boat on the water over there (a nearby creek)? Etc. Good thing he'd recently watched Dora and the Pirate Piggies :laughing:

     

    On the neighbor, I wouldn't feel badly at all. You went above and beyond to try to help him and he clearly felt overwhelmed by the job of maintaining his caches. It's a pity he didn't ask if you'd adopt them, but at this point I think I'd prob ask if he'd mind if you re-listed his remaining containers.

    Kevlar jeans

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I bought a pair of knee high "gaiters" from Academy last year for $20. They work very well against snakes AND thorns/briars. Should still be cool enough come the Texas Challenge to be comfortable. They do get hot in the Summer. But, with all of the copperheads I ran across last year, it's the least of my concerns sweating a little bit.

     

    Yikes, thanks for the tip :lol: I was planning to head to Academy to see what they had :o

    Sig Items - what worked, what didn't

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    Thank you! I am definitely going to try that sometime :lol:

     

    check out this thread. there are lots of pictures of cool sig items - especially on the later pages.

     

    http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...signature+items

     

    RedShoesGirl, if you don't mind sharing, what is your technique and materials used for the flat marble sig items? They're gorgeous! :o

     

    i borrowed the technique from BRDad's — "directions are posted on the GeocachingMaine. org web site ~ here it is "The flat marbles themselves are the type sold at craft stores, I use the largest size, 1.25" - 1.5". Then I print out the pictures on photo paper, cut the pic to the shape of the marbles, and glue on with clear epoxy. I have made some with E6000 craft glue with decent results, too. You have to use a little extra glue so it is sure to fill all the voids on the back side of the marble. Then I just coat all exposed paper in more epoxy, and stick a magnet on the back."

     

    i buy imperfect ones at the dollar store - much cheaper than michaels. instead of coating the back with more epoxy, which is a major pain and a major mess, i turn the whole bunch upside down on a paper plate. put them in a well-ventilated place and spray a fixative on the backs. to make them look even nicer, after the backs are really dry, i spray them with enamel paint. easy to do a bunch at a time. the glue on those earth metal magnets. cheap on ebay when you buy a bunch. i still have some of them stuck on metal things in the living room. if they are too big, it is impossible to get the magnet off whatever it is stuck on. the whole paint job will come undone. too small and they look weird. not sure what size i had. check office max or michaels to see what size works best.

     

    i put them in a little plastic bag with a sticker on the outside that says, congratulations, you have found a signature from RedShoeGirl.

     

    glad you like them.

     

    rsg

    Kevlar jeans

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    While a little pricier, snake armor would probably be better against cacti than kevlar. Here's a link to some snake armor products. snake armor

     

    "Tested with Live Snakes

    TurtleSkin SnakeArmor Hunting Clothing has been tested with live rattlesnakes, successfully repelling both their strikes and venom."

     

    Yikes, I hope that guy got paid well :o

     

    I'm starting to gravitate towards the watch my step very carefully. If I got some kind of protective something I'd want them also be useable through the Summer and be less than $100. A local cacher said they found some fairly affordable kevlar jeans at an outlet but it's a good 1 1/2 away. Of course when I'm running around at the challenge with cactus sticking out of my legs I may regret my decision B)

    You have to wonder how many testers they went through before they got the product right! "Oops, that didn't work, back to the drawing board... hey y'all, get me another tester!"

     

    Cautious movement is the only thing that will protect you. I raced desert bikes for years in California and Arizona, never found anything but luck and the grace of God that kept my legs from being ripped and stuck by the many sharp things that grow in my path.

     

    Carry tweezers and disinfectant and be careful.

     

    Oh, and be extra careful in those private moments... I once took a girl camping in the Superstition Mountains outside of Phoenix AZ who left the tent at night to 'do her business'. We spent the rest of the weekend picking cacti out of her fanny after she chose the wrong thing to lean on! :D

     

    I have a related story, and warning. I did high school in South Africa and one year some of us went on a pony (really short rugged mountain horses, we weren't abusing little ponies) trek in Lesotho. Most of the villages we stayed in had porta-potties but one did not. We asked where we could go tinkle and the villagers pointed us towards a field along a cliff that shielded the area from the view of the village. So a few of us headed off for the first shift. Tinkle tinkle. We are zipping back up and suddenly one of us spots two elderly villagers smoking their pipes at the top of the cliff looking down at us :lol: Greeeeeeeeat. So we're standing around speculating about whether the villagers REEEALLY come out here to pee when one girl starts squirming and dancing around. She had sat in the Lesotho version of poison ivy. That poor girl, what a place to have a rash during a pony trek in the mountains. Moral of the story is don't squat to pee outside, get one of these instead:

    http://www.go-girl.com/?gclid=CMKt99X16p8CFRNuswodi3wgpg

     

    goGirl_prodShot3_hp.png

    Kevlar jeans

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by Opalblade

    This is the only option I could find for briar pants for women for anyone interested :o

     

    http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/38504?pi=60...739-Google_Base

     

    So hawt.

     

    This has been an interesting read. I think I might have found a cure to my "inner monkey" fear of legless reptiles.

     

    Haha I know, so NOT hawt, which is why I'm holding out for someone to make briar proof women's pants that actually look like women's pants :lol: I like the looks of the women's BDU cargo pants a lot better.

    Gallery of Hand Made Geocoins, Sig coins and tokens.

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by Opalblade

    Has anyone ever tried to use a Dremel engraver tool to hand etch metal?

     

    Hmm, the server seems to have lost my last attempt at a reply.

    Anyways, I make mine that way.

    sigitem.jpg

    Each one takes about 15 minutes to make, and costs me about a dime. It's kinda hard to tell, but I use a butane torch to discolor the tag before I engrave it, so it comes out in a silver on bronze sort of scheme.

     

    Ooo neat thanks :lol: Is that with the tool on a very low (shallow) setting?

     

    And what attachments did you use? I assume you have a finer one for the writing at the top?

    Kevlar jeans

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    An option someone just sent out on a local yahoo group is gaiters. Was looking at those and there are some designed to be puncture proof. They have an elastic under your boot and then strap/zip/velcro around your lower legs up to or just above the knee. The ones that go all the way up would be $40+ with shipping, leaving me still wanting to risk the impalements, hmm...I think :unsure:

    Kevlar jeans

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by Opalblade

    I'm not sure how they would do with cactus pokes, but I do a lot of my backcountry caching in BDUs. I've been impressed in general with how they hold up. Make sure you get real ones and not knock offs. I believe they are made from 50/50 nylon and cotton. They are reinforced in the knees and butt and have drawstrings around the ankles. They are hardy, breathable (especially desert ones) and moderately repel water. :unsure:

     

    Are these real ones? Thanks for the tip :unsure:

     

    http://www.combathunting.com/PANTS_B_D_U_S..._D_U_PANTS.html

     

    Edit - woops those are boy ones.

    Kevlar jeans

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    Kevlar fabric is a fairly open weave mesh. Not designed at all to stop punctures from something like cactus spines, or needles. Our search gloves are kevlar lined and come with a warning that say they are not prevention from needles. The same with our escort vests, although they offer some protection from knives. Kevlar jeans, I would assume, are for prevention from cuts and not punctures.

     

    BC

     

    Thank you, that's good to know :unsure: I may just focus my shopping attention on some good hiking/waterproof boots instead. I have some great ones for winter but with the wool lining they aren't going to cut it for much longer :unsure:

    Kevlar jeans

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by Opalblade

    While a little pricier, snake armor would probably be better against cacti than kevlar. Here's a link to some snake armor products. snake armor

     

    "Tested with Live Snakes

    TurtleSkin SnakeArmor Hunting Clothing has been tested with live rattlesnakes, successfully repelling both their strikes and venom."

     

    Yikes, I hope that guy got paid well :unsure:

     

    I'm starting to gravitate towards the watch my step very carefully. If I got some kind of protective something I'd want them also be useable through the Summer and be less than $100. A local cacher said they found some fairly affordable kevlar jeans at an outlet but it's a good 1 1/2 away. Of course when I'm running around at the challenge with cactus sticking out of my legs I may regret my decision :unsure:

    Kevlar jeans

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    Our big TX Challenge event is coming up soon and I was reading somewhere about someone's experiences with the local cactii at the same park a previous year - they were apparently all stabbed by several "spines" that they had to remove :tongue: and recommended wearing kevlar jeans. I had no idea such a product even existed. Do any of you own kevlar jeans? Do you wear them regularly while caching? Are they comfortable? I definitely don't want spines in my legs but the kevlar jeans I found online are pricey ($100+) and they don't seem like they'd breathe well. Any other solutions for protecting legs from impalement?

    Sig Items - what worked, what didn't

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I leave hand made beaded spiders in each cache big enough to fit them. It's fun to see them mentioned in a user's log!

     

    Ooo I'd love to find something like that :tongue:

     

    I have a lot of thick wire and beads I never use so I'd considered doing something like that, but could'nt figure out how to incorporate my name other than an o or maybe an opal if I was getting really fancy :( I have in the past played around with "writing" words using wire and gluing them down onto something else. It looks really neat.

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