pteryndactyl

Today is day 53 for me. It started when I was aiming at 30 consecutive days (for a challenge), but once that was completed I decided to go for all of February, too. I think my goal now is to get to 100 days (another challenge), and perhaps just see how far I can/want to go after that. I know it'll definitely end around 130 days or so (if not sooner), because I'll be studying abroad this summer and it'd be impossible for me to continue the streak for long whilst doing so.

I love cemetery caches; I've even hidden a few myself. I can't really recall any that I've seen that were particularly disrespectful (on/too near graves) - most are tucked into trees, bushes, or at the edges of the cemetery. Frankly, if I were dead, I'd rather enjoy the thought of people visiting me while enjoying their hobby!

Longest Slump: 213 consecutive days without a find from 10/22/2010 to 05/23/2011. Eh, I think I just got busy with school and life and kind of forgot about geocaching for a while. Plus, that was when I was a relatively unexperienced cacher (<50 finds) and the idea of geocaching when there was snow on the ground seemed like an impossible feat. I just hadn't gotten too "into" it yet, and it'd slip from my mind for months before I thought about it again. Although I really got "into" the game this past summer, and...based off a quick glance at my calendar...probably haven't gone more than 10-11 days without caching since.

A bit cruel, really. Imagine the misunderstandings that could ensue - do you really want any potential break ups to be on your conscience? Not saying that the cache would necessarily break a couple up, but it could bring up some touchy topics where they just weren't on the same page yet. And if that happened, it could just ruin the fun of geocaching for everyone involved. If you were to go through with this idea, I'd say the cache name should be something like APRIL FOOLS - at least give them a little warning to not take it so seriously.

Are you sure that you chose caches that were appropriately rated (difficulty/terrain wise) for your newbie status? I only ask because caches in higher-traffic muggle areas (like a housing development) are likely going to be more well concealed than a cache in a low-traffic area (like the woods). Did you choose easy (1/1 rated) caches? And what size were they? I'd recommend looking for smalls/regulars/larges before tackling micros - those can be difficult to spot if you're not sure what to look for. All of this information can be found underneath the cache's name on the listing page. Regarding the GPS bounce, that's an unfortunate reality for geocaching (whether you have an app or a GPSr). To start, try choosing caches without too much tree cover as that will mess with your reception. Perhaps look for caches within a city park or a cemetery (if that won't freak your daughter out) - both of which usually have easy finds. Familiarize yourself with attributes and look for ones that are "recommended for kids". Also, I'd try reading a few of the most recent logs before heading out to search. Choose caches that have been found recently; they're more than likely still there. If you choose a cache that hasn't been found in months, it may have gone missing and no one has reported it (not necessarily true, though - I've found caches where the last find before me was over a year earlier. But while you're new, look for ones that are actively being found.) Cache logs also might include helpful tips - like, "the coords were off" or the fact that the hint was particularly useful. Another trick I use when I'm particularly frustrated? I'll pull up the cache map (satellite or hybrid view) and zoom in really close to the cache. The icon is put where the coords are, so if you have a cache listed in a city park - it may put the icon on a pavilion, or in a patch of trees. This will help you narrow your search grid down a bit when the GPS has you running in circles. Keep in mind, though, that coords are only accurate within 10-15 feet so don't expect the cache to be exactly-in-the-center-of-that-third-tree-from-the-left. And this trick won't help when you're in the woods, or anywhere that has a lot of tree cover as the map will just show a bunch of trees Just keep trying, it gets easier

I started caching when I was 20, and I'm 22 now. I barely cached during my first year or so (like 40 finds in ~18 months?) but I've been doing it pretty often and consistently since this past summer. I've noticed that a lot of cachers in my area are a bit older than myself as well, but I haven't attended any events yet so I can't be sure (other than just from reading logs). I just need to get some of my friends as addicted to geocaching as I am, but it's difficult when they're babies when it comes to cold/mud/bugs/etc!