BGunner01

I regularly use 29% Deet from Wal-Mart and have had excellent results against skeeters and ticks and forest flies - although I use it very carefully and selectively. I read a couple of other replies about DEET reacting with the clear plastic on cell phones, watch crystals, etc. and wanted to relate a personal experience: As I was applying some insect spray in the woods, I accidentally got some DEET overspray on the clear plastic window of my GPSR protective case which was hanging around my neck. The DEET did evetually start to react with the plastic and fog it up. When I noticed what was happening, I neutralized it with a couple of drops of water (okay - spit) and wiped it off. After I returned home I was successful in using a dab of plexiglass cleaner followed by some good quality liquid car wax to restore the plastic to near-new condition. I guess I was lucky that the overspray didn't get directly on the GPSR window itself. That's my Hint From Heloise for the day....[]

I regularly use 29% Deet from Wal-Mart and have had excellent results against skeeters and ticks and forest flies - although I use it very carefully and selectively. I read a couple of other replies about DEET reacting with the clear plastic on cell phones, watch crystals, etc. and wanted to relate a personal experience: As I was applying some insect spray in the woods, I accidentally got some DEET overspray on the clear plastic window of my GPSR protective case which was hanging around my neck. The DEET did evetually start to react with the plastic and fog it up. When I noticed what was happening, I neutralized it with a couple of drops of water (okay - spit) and wiped it off. After I returned home I was successful in using a dab of plexiglass cleaner followed by some good quality liquid car wax to restore the plastic to near-new condition. I guess I was lucky that the overspray didn't get directly on the GPSR window itself. That's my Hint From Heloise for the day....[]

I went to quite a bit of effort to retrieve one of Moun10Bike's great geocoins (#008) when it showed up in a cache here in the midwest. I quickly overcame the urge to keep it because I knew after the uniqueness wore off that it would probably just lay around collecting dust on a shelf or in a drawer - when it should be out there accumulating travel miles. I took some photos of it visiting the site of my new cache, properly logged it on the Travel Bug site, and actually placed it in my cache on April 1, 2002. It was retrieved 5 days later and the finder logged a note that it would be placed in another cache in a couple of weeks - but that was more than 2 months ago! I later e-mailed a polite inquiry to the finder to ask him if he ever moved it along. He did reply that it was his intent to keep it moving, but added some lackluster statement about deciding not to take the trip he’d originally planned and maybe he'd try to place it in some other local cache in another couple of weeks. Judging by his finds log, he hasn’t found another cache since finding mine on April 6. Of course, this is where I butt out because it’s not my Travel Bug and it’s not my business if the finder has dwindling interest in the sport / hobby - or even that maybe he decided to keep it as a souvenir. It does disappoint me, however, to see the coin stop its travels of more than 1500 miles if someone is just too lazy to get it back into circulation. Hopefully, maybe the finder will one day place it back into a cache and make me eat my words, eh? I hope so....

Although I'm not located in his local area, Moun10Bike's geocaching activities in the Pacific Northwest are far reaching - particularly his geocoins. I was able to retrieve one in Iowa and place it in my first (and so far only) cache in Nebraska. I sent him a couple of newbie-type emails a few months ago and he always replied promptly, politely and thoroughly. Yup - Moun10Bike first comes to what little bit is left of my mind... I also nominate YOU!! - all who participate in these forums by asking questions, and all those who so willingly contribute their expertise and knowledge to help others. I think the caliber of information exchange and efforts to keep the bar high repeatedly demonstrate the class and dedication of those in our sport/hobby. The forums are on a global level, but the roots clearly extend to local levels also. Thanks!!

Although I'm not located in his local area, Moun10Bike's geocaching activities in the Pacific Northwest are far reaching - particularly his geocoins. I was able to retrieve one in Iowa and place it in my first (and so far only) cache in Nebraska. I sent him a couple of newbie-type emails a few months ago and he always replied promptly, politely and thoroughly. Yup - Moun10Bike first comes to what little bit is left of my mind... I also nominate YOU!! - all who participate in these forums by asking questions, and all those who so willingly contribute their expertise and knowledge to help others. I think the caliber of information exchange and efforts to keep the bar high repeatedly demonstrate the class and dedication of those in our sport/hobby. The forums are on a global level, but the roots clearly extend to local levels also. Thanks!!

My sincere thanks both to Pneumatic and to Embra for taking the time to reply to my plea for help. I had previously reduced the file size of the photos to well below 100K - so that wasn't the problem. However, as I read Embra's reply about deactivating my pop-up stopper, a little spring in my brain also finally went Boiiinnng! Why hadn't I thought of that before? It was indeed part of my problem. I also found that my Allow Cookies setting was set a little too high - I don't know why that has any affect on it, but after I lowered it to the Low setting, I was allowed to upload my photos. It finally worked, and that's all I really cared about --- Thanks again for your suggestions! BGunner01

My sincere thanks both to Pneumatic and to Embra for taking the time to reply to my plea for help. I had previously reduced the file size of the photos to well below 100K - so that wasn't the problem. However, as I read Embra's reply about deactivating my pop-up stopper, a little spring in my brain also finally went Boiiinnng! Why hadn't I thought of that before? It was indeed part of my problem. I also found that my Allow Cookies setting was set a little too high - I don't know why that has any affect on it, but after I lowered it to the Low setting, I was allowed to upload my photos. It finally worked, and that's all I really cared about --- Thanks again for your suggestions! BGunner01

I found and successfully logged my first benchmark (MK0092) last week. Try as I may though, I'm unable to upload the three description photos I want to add. I correctly provide information in the required fields for the photo and click on the Upload Button. The button animates, but nothing else happens (unless I have the sound on at which time I get a BOING sound). Further efforts to click on the button give no results at all - the button doesn't even animate. Is anyone else having this problem? Does anyone have any suggestions what I might be doing wrong? I've uploaded several images for various geocaches with no problems at all. Will greatly appreciate any and all suggestions!

"...but if I tried to drag my girlfriend on one of my treks I'd be in the doghouse for weeks." I don't suppose changing girlfriends is an option, eh?

"...but if I tried to drag my girlfriend on one of my treks I'd be in the doghouse for weeks." I don't suppose changing girlfriends is an option, eh?

Appreciate your candor/honesty and sharing your story. Lately I, too, have noticed myself picking up more trash from around the areas of the caches I find. Personally, I wouldn't call picking up trash any fun (although some people probably do), but I do get some personal satisfaction after I bring out a Wal-Mart bag full of junk and place it in a trash can.

A big smile when I stepped off the scale this morning...minus 30 pounds since January 1. Most of the success is attributable to the help and encouragement of my loving wife. However, in a strong second place is active participation in this great hobby/sport. On top of seeing all those neat places I'd never see otherwise, and meeting and reading the messages from all the nice folks who make this sport what it is, I'm losing weight due to the exercise! The exercise this sport affords is another great benefit, and oodles cheaper than any weight loss program out there - even if we opt to become a supporting or charter member. Yup, a cache diet is the only way to go.

A big smile when I stepped off the scale this morning...minus 30 pounds since January 1. Most of the success is attributable to the help and encouragement of my loving wife. However, in a strong second place is active participation in this great hobby/sport. On top of seeing all those neat places I'd never see otherwise, and meeting and reading the messages from all the nice folks who make this sport what it is, I'm losing weight due to the exercise! The exercise this sport affords is another great benefit, and oodles cheaper than any weight loss program out there - even if we opt to become a supporting or charter member. Yup, a cache diet is the only way to go.

I've had the enjoyment of finding caches hidden by everyone who has posted here so far, except the "Utahn" (maybe one of his too someday?). My thanks to all of you! I recently also had the pleasure of teaming with The Shorts to find a couple of caches that had giving both of us some trouble. I've seen some interesting places that I would never have seen, and met some interesting people whom I may never have met - all attributable to this great hobby/sport. I hope to meet & greet more of you "out there" on the paths in the future.

I've had the enjoyment of finding caches hidden by everyone who has posted here so far, except the "Utahn" (maybe one of his too someday?). My thanks to all of you! I recently also had the pleasure of teaming with The Shorts to find a couple of caches that had giving both of us some trouble. I've seen some interesting places that I would never have seen, and met some interesting people whom I may never have met - all attributable to this great hobby/sport. I hope to meet & greet more of you "out there" on the paths in the future.

Thanks to all who replied. I solved my problem through MS Photo Editor. As you folks suggested, I first opened the file in Photo Editor (it was almost 650K originally). I then went to the Tools button, selected Resize and sized it down to about half of its original size (still about 300K). I then clicked the Save As... button, selected .jpeg as my file type, and then clicked on the More>> button. The More>> button allowed me to further reduce the "quality" of the image down to about 45K without losing too much sharpness. The method may not be the exact best way to do it, but it worked to my satisfaction and I'll improve each time. I will also check further into the Infraview software that Hawk-eye suggested. If you want to see the photo, goto Tower of the Four Winds Thanks again to all those who took the time to help me out! BGunner01

Newbie Problem: I want to include a photo for my first cache and also provide some "visitation photos" of a Travel Bug that will later be included in the cache. When I tried to upload the photo, I received an error message saying that photo files cannot be over 100K. My photo files are jpg images, and each one is about 500K to 650K. I have access to MS Photo Editor and a couple other image modifying programs, but I'm not familiar with how to compress (or otherwise reduce the size) a file or if it's even possible. Would greatly appreciate any assistance anyone can lend. Thanks a lot! [This message was edited by bgunner01 on April 07, 2002 at 02:40 PM.]

The temp tattoos arrived yesterday. They are great and thank you very much !! I agree wholeheartedly with previous posts that suggest Jeremy (or perhaps another entity) consider making them available for purchase. A simple, relatively inexpensive item that kids of a certain age - and some adults too - will really get a kick out of when they find them in a cache. The fact that they will affix to other surfaces introduces all kinds of other possibilities too. BGunner01 Blair, NE

The temp tattoos arrived yesterday. They are great and thank you very much !! I agree wholeheartedly with previous posts that suggest Jeremy (or perhaps another entity) consider making them available for purchase. A simple, relatively inexpensive item that kids of a certain age - and some adults too - will really get a kick out of when they find them in a cache. The fact that they will affix to other surfaces introduces all kinds of other possibilities too. BGunner01 Blair, NE

What a slick idea and a great gesture! My SAE is in the mail too. BGunner01 Blair, NE