Frolickin

I haven't tried either. To avoid the paper issue, I just save each cache on my watch list to a directory. Each time someone finds it, I re-save the page, therefore, the directory is always current. I then copy the directory to the PDA. Sure, I may have duplicated images, but the card in the PDA is large enough that it is not an issue. Yes, I cannot search for the specifics that others can, but I keep a close watch on where I am planning on hunting. I can also save cache pages from other sites so I have all currently available caches available whereever I am. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

A beta version of the Meridian firmware update 4.06 is available from the Yahoo group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Magellan_Meridian/ There's little word on exactly the improvements over 4.02, but it signals that Magellan understands 4.02 was not perfect. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

quote:Originally posted by Sissy-n-CR:Your choices are limited, yes. But it's not by TPTB's doing. I agree. But when the players of the game refer to this site as geocaching (one-stop shopping, etc.) it hurts the game for everyone. This site has done a great service to the game. My point is that the game has to be larger than geocaching.com. By not placing all the eggs in the same basket the game remains less restrictive and less expensive, therefore, more universal. A good businessman works to build a brand. Once he does so, the leverage is all his. Jeremy is doing a wonderful job. His job, however, is profit-driven. So far, that has not interferred with the game too adversely (if at all). Continued unchecked, however, profits drive decisions. Payrolls have to be met, etc. The Motley Fool is a similar case study in this respect. The free-flow of information fell to the pressure of making payrolls. Eventually, TMF was forced to go to subscriptions. That cut its membership considerably, but enabled the Gardners et al. to remain drawing an income. I see geocaching.com similarly. It is in the users best interest to diversify. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

quote:Originally posted by C&S Huffers:Ok look at the alternative....we get rie of this site cuz it's to much or they quit because of the out of pocket money it's costing to run it. Now we can send our new caches by mail to all the people we know. We can have a e-mail list of 100000 cachers and send them all at once. Face it with out the help of the site the whole thing would be 95% less fun if it even existed. This is a problem, imo. Geocaching and geocaching.com are not the same. The more geocaching.com is branded as geocaching, the more reliant we are upon this site. There's a page somewhere here that states that geocaching.com will never be pay-to-play. Yet, consider this. With the obvious expense everyone seems to think running this site is, wouldn't it be easy at some point for Groundspeak to institute the following: The server bandwith is so great that we are going to have to make changes. Upon registering, one has to enter his ZIP code (no change). The ZIP cannot be changed unless you are a charter member (that doesn't seem like a big deal). Later then . . . Our bandwith is increasingly expensive. Therefore, we are limiting the radius of views to ten miles of your registered ZIP code (we are not charging you to play, but if you want more caches available to you, you will need to become a charter member). Understand, I do not begrudge Jeremy or anyone else making money off this game. My issue is not if the players facilitate that endeavor, pretty soon we will not have a choice. IMO, it is far better to not brand one site as geocaching. Once you dismiss all other sites who are out there posting caches, then you open yourself up to being at the one company's mercy. Perhaps you have more faith it will not turn into the above than I. I like options. Giving the game to one company, as the above quotation does, limits my choices. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

I attempted to log a virtual this weekend that would have required a fee. I know what the structure is and was willing to pay to take the tour. What kept me from doing so, however, was the $7 parking fee they wanted on top of it. That cache will remain unlogged by me until I can there another way. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

quote:Originally posted by Markwell:What do I like to find? _Signature items_, but something not prolific. If I've already found 20 of the signature items, I probably will just and say "OK - here's another one." Let's say you and I cache in the same area. If you leave your signature item in each cache you find and I leave mine in each I find, wouldn't we soon get to the point where we would each and say "OK - here's another one"? How would you avoid that? Or is it more that many cachers in an area leave the same kind of signature item? Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

jonboy made some good points. Perhaps a group effort is a good approach if there are problems. My question comes from the angle of not putting structure to things. I, like most of us I suspect, am involved in many groups, clubs, organziations, etc. All have three things in common: 1. A small core group of the larger group does all the work 2. Membership falls for lack of support from those who aren't doing the work 3. The group caters to the lowest common denominator to attract more members, thus alienating the advanced/dedicated members Because of the above, I am in the process of stripping myself from membership in as many groups as I can. There are weeks that I have been out every night because of membership. Geocaching is growing at a tremendous rate. It would be far better for things to not grow. With growth comes structure, attention, etc. I advocate not putting all the eggs in one basket (use multiple databases to log and place caches) so one site does not get so much attention. Doing so obviously is counter to the profit-motive. I do not know what is ahead for us in NJ. I would hope that we are responsible stewards of the land we use. But with popularity comes a wider spectrum of players. Diversity is great, but it brings the need for the structure to educate. That structure, I fear, will step in the way of what is for me, an entertaining experience that I usually enjoy alone. Having said that, I think a regualr get-together is a wonderful idea. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

Since it was asked . . . Just what does an organized caching group do? I never quite understood the concept. I think I recall having heard someone say they even had a newsletter in their group. Just curious, Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

quote:Originally posted by bigredmed:With the growing number of traveling caches, I would think that a PD logo could be adapted to serve as a marker for a moved cache. This is why I advocate placing a new cache along with a traveling cache. That way, should someone claim the traveling cache b4 you seek it, there is something there for you to find. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

Good job, Rob. I videotaped our first adventure too. It's a good chuckle. Pssstt . . . only use the hint if you can't find the cache. Welcome to your new addiction. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

quote:Originally posted by Santa Clause:Why shouldn't we be supporting this game/project/websiter. Placing a cache (well hidden, maintained, etc.) supports the game geocaching. Keeping the game free so everyone can play with minimum investment supports the game geocaching. Delaying the posting of my coordinates because I have chosen not to pay a fee is not something that endears me to a game. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

quote:Originally posted by Santa Clause:What incentive is there NOW for a nonmember to post a cache? The incentive for me, a non-charter member, to place a cache is that the local cachers will receive enjoyment from what I place. Why should anyone have to wait? I placed a cache this weekend to go along with a traveling cache I had picked up. I feel that a traveling cache should be placed where something else can be found should someone else claim it first. Under your proposal, the local cachers (we do not have MO only caches in my area) would have to wait a week b4 seeking that traveling cache. That does not seem sporting. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

quote:Originally posted by Santa Clause:Those who are subscribing members would have immediate access--membership benefit. Those who are not subscribers would still have full access to new public caches--but with a one week delay from their being posted. What incentive would there be for a non-member to post caches to geocaching.com under that proposal? Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

I thought I saw you on a hunt once . . . but I guess it was someone else. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

I was out on Friday and plan to go out tomorrow (Monday). Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

Forgive me if this was discussed . . . I did just look and do not see any likely topics. There was a blurb about geocaching and geocaching.com in Monday's Wall Street Journal. It was on page R9 as an offset to a larger article about Where's George. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

I found my first cache. It was the beginning of a new interest. My parents and I had marvelled at GPS technology for a number of years. We all thought how interesting it would be to be able to tell one's exact position on this planet. Yet, none of us could justify the expense of buying one. Just what on Earth would we do with it? That was answered one year ago today. A friend of mine, Webfoot, sent me a url of a story in which he was quoted. I read with interest. He had also turned me onto Where's George (I am not sure he knew that or not) so I was willing to investigate. The article mentioned Geocaching.com. I came and I read. I sought some advice. And I read. Then I read some more. I went out to a sporting goods store. In the darkness the salesman and I plotted our course on a Legend. I was impressed, but looking for a 315. The search continued for a day or two as I researched prices. Lo and behold, the local Sears had the best price going. That was a Friday. I played all evening with this thing. Making a waypoint for the lounger was my first success! The following day, with cache pages in our hands, my fiancee (now wife) set off for the closest cache (about a mile away). Well, we were so twisted around we couldn't get there. To our credit, the area was jammed packed with shoppers and we could not navigate well. Off we went to the second closest cache some 20 miles away. We traipsed around wildly. Gert filmed the entire adventure digitally. Good thing the lake was not full for we were on the wrong side of it. Away we went. It was great fun zeroing in on the cache. We thought we were close, but this was our first adventure. I think Gert was a getting a little frustrated with our walking around in circles. I kept on. It was then I heard the screeching of my beloved. I rushed over. She kept pointing, "There it is! There it is!" What joy! A Rubbermaid box filled with toys had two grown-ups smiling and jumping up and down in the woods in November. The wildlife must have had a hoot! We were so excited, we went back and bagged the elusive cache that started our day. Then we drove all the way to Atlantic City to dig in the sand for the third of the day. Although my father did not truly get to see the benefits of a GPS (he took ill at the end of November and died a few months later), I have escorted my mother on a few hunts. That 60-something year-old understands now what one does with a GPS. A lot sure has changed this past year. Keep caching, Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

quote:Originally posted by Goblin:If you go to the Carranzza Memorial you can get three quick caches from there and hike part of the trail. I almost got stuck back there. There is some very soft sand coming up from the Furnace. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

quote:Originally posted by st_richardson:It's extremely nice, however, to have the pocket queries. They let me download info to my palm and not have to print and carry all the printouts caching with me. A couple folks mentioned pocket queries as being a benefit. I have not paid for a subscription. I download the pages to a Pocket PC and avoid the paper issue that way. Sure, there is a slight scroll I encounter because of the left side bar, but frankly, I only pull it out when I am in need of looking at descriptions. If I really were bothered by this, I could re-orient the screen. Supporting the site is a fine reason for membership, but pocket queries seem to be just like Member Only caches . . . interesting, but hardly worth the expense. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

I think this is splendid idea. Setting up an event (multi)cache would be a good thing to combine with this. I have seen other areas do this and it looks like a good time. Of course, the longer this waits, the colder it becomes. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

Under the current plan, I will remain safely ashore. I am not certain this boat is good for this trip. Without knowing more information (like are any of us adept at handling this thing, how strong are the currents, etc.), I think that perhaps this is not the cache to be hunting. One suggestion . . . whoever place the cache might be able to assist in what would be needed. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

I just caught this thread . . . haven't been in this forum for a while. I might be interested in a run up here too. I am certified in search and rescue diving should the boat capsize. Of course, I'd probably save my own butt first. Is the idea to meet nearby or would someone like to meet up (from South Jersey) to share rides? Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

I've decided it is about time to get Mapsend. To make use of it I'll need an SD card and a reader. Do you have recommendations for the best place to get these? I just looked at Amazon: 69.99 for Mapsend Topo and $36 for 64MB SD card. No reader, however. Your assistance is appreciated, Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

The first 100 have been exciting. I expect the next 100 to be even better. South Jersey is home to many nice caches. I am at the point, however, where I need to travel a ways to get to caches. You folks in the north have better pickins. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose

I must be dense . . . One used to be able to go to Mapblast and enter two sets of coordinates and create driving directions between them. I do not see that feature any longer. A search here has proven unsuccessful. If anyone can point me to a site where one can accomplish this, I would be appreciative. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose