Dave from Glanton

Or try the pound shops. I usually visit a local Poundland to stock new caches and usually manage to get a good selection of stuff. From memory, the last cache I set up included a multitool, screwdriver set, pedometer, all for £1 each. Bargain

Congratulations

I use rechargables in my GPSr all the time (NiMh, 1500 mAh) and no real probs.

This reminds me of a page on the website of Tony Hawkes (humourist, Radio 4 regular, round-Ireland-with-a-fridge, etc.) where he posts messages people have left for him in the mistaken belief that he is Tony Hawk (American skateboarder-type dude)... http://www.tony-hawks.com/skatemail_archive.php OT, but worth a read if you have a few spare moments and want some amusement.

I recently bought some GC microcache containers from Global Positioning Systems Slightly smaller than a 35mm container, but strong (metal) and waterproof (tight rubber seal) I'd recommend both the kit and the supplier

If I get to the cache location, but can't find the cache after a reasonable hunt, then I log a DNF. If I set out to do a cache but can't get within a reasonable distance or start searching (adverse conditions on the ground, too many people around) then I'll just post a note. I haven;t done enough work to warrant a DNF, but at least by leaving a note I let the cache owner know that their cache has attracted my interest.

The cache in question is one of mine. From the info I got from Dave & Vicky by email, I'm convinced that they would have found the cache if it had been there to find. Based on that, I would be OK about them claiming it as a find, but... There have been a few discussions here recently about how far you can stretch the concept of DNF-but-claiming-a-find-anyway. Quite a few responses were along the lines of if the log wasn't signed, then it can't be claimed. This particular case is different because there wasn't a log book at the time. The description of the site given by Dave & Vicky corresponds to exactly what the cache location looks like on the ground. I suggested posing this question on the forum, as I didn't want to find myself doing something unpopular by saying that it was OK for them to claim this cache as a find. Incidentally, seeing as I had to go hunting to see where my cache box had gone to before reinstating it, I wonder if I can claim a find for my own cache???? Just a thought......

Or, to put it in layman's terms, if it looks too good to be true then it probably is

Location, location, location. Sure, it's rewarding to find a cache that's *really* well hidden, but for me the main attraction is a cache that gets me to a scenic or interesting location (often quite close to home but which I didn't know existed, or just never got around to visiting).

Peeve #1 has to be TBs with no mission attached. Peeve #2 is caches hidden in mini cairns, or similar. No matter how carefully you dismantle the cairn, when you come to rehide the cache you can never seem to get an arrangement of stones which conceals it properly again. Peeve #3 is things like huge rubber spiders or simiar beasties left as cache swaps. I did a maintenance visit on one of my caches the other day, and a rubber creep-crawly fell straight out of the box into my hand. "Gosh", I said quietly to myself. "That was most unexpected, and certainly gave me something of a suprise"......or words to that effect.

All the times I've travelled with anything electronic, I've generally been given the switch-it-on-and-prove-it's-a-reall-laptop/phone/whatever routine, but no other hassles

For the first point, I think that the most effective thing is to clearly mark the outside of the cache container. As for getting permission, I may have just been lucky but I've never had anything drag on and on. A couple of my caches were granted permission on the strength of a phone call. Others have been OKed after a single letter letter. In my experience the people I've been asking permission from have been a lot more receptive than I'd expected, and quite keen to help the sport (especially where there's a reciprocal benefit for them, like people CITOing and keeping there land tidy)

Exactly. If he didn't find it, then there's no logical way he can log it as a find. There are sometimes cases where I have 'fessed up and logged a DNF, and others where I have wanted to spare my blushes for not being able to find what should have been an easy one, so I haven't logged anything. On at least one occaision due to adverse conditions or severe muggledom I've taken the option of just posting a note for the cache - doesn't show as a DNF, doesn't falsely claim to be a find, but at least lets the cache owner know that the cache has caught my interest.

Try Global Positioning Systems. I got a batch of TBs from them a while back and no complaints. I've also used Finger Technology in the past, but ot be honest I wasn't too impressed with their customer service.

When choosing a hosting company, beware of false economies. If it's dirt cheap, then it's usually a clue that the service isn't up to much. The exception to this rule is 123-reg who are, as previous posters have said, pretty darned good. If you need more features and are prepared to part with a few more beer vouchers, the I'd suggest their bigger sister company WebFusion (I've used them for years, and no real gripes)

I'm not sure about the last Gulf War, but I do know that during the campaign to liberate Kuwait, the US ran out of military GPSr units and had to go and buy civilian units over the counter, then switch off selective availability so that the US forces could use GPS.

Reminds me of the story (apparently true) of a guy who got a letter from the police, saying that he'd been caught by a speed trap. He wrote back to contest it, and they sent him a photograph of his car being nabbed. He sent them a photograph of some money. The police then replied with a photograph of some handcuffs.

A caffeine molecule. I work in IT. Need I say more?

I think you can sometimes have too much of a good thing. I enjoy a nice long walk, and if there's a cache or two along the way then that's a real bonus. But I like to have a few cache-free stretches where I can enjoy the scenery properly rather than spending most of my time looking at a GPS and concentrating on details like individual trees and rocks (I wonder if it's behind there?) whilst largely ignoring the huge swathe of glorious countryside that all this is in.

Not so much a case of micky taking, but an interesting (I hope) tale, so here goes... A while ago I was out with a non-cacher friend of mine. I knew we'd be passing the Silverlink Park (home of a cache I had yet to bag) so insisted that we take a small detour. On the way I tried to explain to him what this was all about and he just didn't get it. The cache in question is concealed in undergrowth just off the main path, so I asked my pal to keep an eye out and shout to me if any potential muggles came along, then went hunting. When I came out a couple of minutes later (OK, more like 10!) my friend was looking very twitchy. When I asked him what the matter was he said (words to the effect of) "I want to get out of here now. What you're doing looks just looks suspicious and I don't want to be involved. I don't want to be around if you're poking around in bushes - it's just seems plain dodgy, and I don't know what the legal implcations of this would be for me." I am not making this up. Even having had the chance to calm down a bit, he's still *so* paranoid about it. The other day we were in the pub together and bumped into one of his friends. I can't remember how, but the conversation came around to technology, GPS and the like. My mate said quietly to me "don't mention that geocaching lark to this guy - I don't want him to know I might be involved with anything suspicious". I thought about seeing if North Tyneside Council would let me place a cache right outside his house, but somehow I don't think he'd see the funny side.

This may sound a bit hypocritical cos I'm not a paid-up member of GC.com but just using the site to find caches but not logging finds seems like a case of far less give than take. Even if you use the site as a free member, logging cache finds and sharing your stories at least gives something back to the caching community. Getting feedback from finders (and DNFs) through logs is all part of caching for me, and certainly a big incentive for planting a cache in the first place. Besides, if you've got the time to go traipsing around looking for a cache, can it really be that inconvenient to spend a moment logging the cache - even if it's just a TFTC out of courtesy?

I don't know if I'd be prepared to say that the GPSr is 100% accurate, but I think it is safe to say that the speedo in a car will read slightly higher.

I'm not sure I'd be too comfortable about looking for a traditional or micro cache, but something like a 'get info on headstones' type thing seems OK. Really old churchyards have some intriguing (and often quite witty) inscriptions. Old cemetaries can be fascinating places. Away from caching I often take a wander around old country churchyards with my camera and have gotten some pretty nice photos. Common sense needs to come into play. Obviously, treat the place with some respect - no hollering full volume at your mate on the other side of the cemetary, and if there is a service or something going on, then just take a hike and come back another time.

There's a good selection at http://www.swannysmug.co.uk/worldsigns.htm (in case you're of a sensitive disposition, I'd better point out that some of them have rude words in). My favourite one from this site has to be...

absolutely