geobudman

What's next? I heard the EXACT same explanation when I viisted a Toyota dealership. Toyota dealership sells ammo cans? Maybe we can use a Toyota as a cache! If you could get it to stop.[

Persimmon is the wood I used for my staff. Its light but extremely strong. If you can find a good straight piece, it works well. As to length, I didn't want it to be too long, because here in the deep south, there are a lot of thickets and briar patches with caches in the middle of them. If the stick is too long, it becomes a hindrance, and unusable for the purpose. I made mine so that when I hold it like I use it, my forearm is parallel to the ground. Its really a long walking cane more than a staff.

You're kinda' leaving a lot out there based on the assumption that we all know what a "tocco" is, and we know what you are trying to accomplish. But, as far as 'caching, here's my experience: If a "tocco" is a Windows Mobile phone, then Turbo GPS or Basic GPS (both freeware, Google them) will handle most Geocaching needs. Turbo GPS is more basic, lighter, and will run on older hardware. Basic GPS has more "bells and whistles", like voice alerts and such. Both will use Google Maps if you have a data plan, or you can make up your own maps and use them for free if you are so inclined. Both have speedometers and compasses, as well as "pointers" that show direction and distance to the cache, for use without maps. Both allow storage of cache coordinates, names, etc. Both worked intuitively with my WinMo phone to pair up with the BT-GPS. If it is a phone with a proprietary OS, and if it is "Java-enabled", go to WWW.getjar.com and search "GPS". There are a bunch of apps out there that will do what I think you want them to do, provided your phone carrier has not so crippled their software that nothing will work except whatever they want to sell you in their data plans. I know ATT does this, I'm not sure about others. Hope this was what you were asking for!

I have used an HTC smart phone (ATT 8525) running WinMo 6 for a few months now with a cheapie BT-GPS I got for <$25 from Semsons.com. I have used both Turbo GPS and Basic GPS. Both do a good job for FREEware. Turbo GPS uses less resources, and will run on older hardware. Basic GPS has quite a few bells and whistles, including voice alerts. Both can use Google Maps, and if you are talented and more intelligent than I, (A given!) then you can make your own maps to use with them off-line.

AJ-You got PM! Ken, sorry about the PM, clicked on the wrong "clicky spot!"

Beware of any ATT phone, except WinMo's and maybe Blackberrys. It is almost impossible to get 3rd party software on them. Almost all are "Java-enabled" but very few, if any will let you actually install 3rd party stuff without paying for a data plan (and I'm not real sure about that, even).

Dr. Zachary Smith--"Lost in Space"?

Shortly after Google launched their web site they had an offer for a free pair of "I Feel Lucky" boxer shorts. I submitted the form and receive a pair of white boxer shorts with the Google Logo and "I feel Lucky" below the logo. I wonder how much I could get for this rare item on ebay. Its all about the stainage, Elvis!

If your phones are java-enabled, try Trek Buddy.

Another good WinMo freebie is TurboGPS. If you're running a non WinMo phone, it probably will run Java programs. One Java program I have checked out is Trekbuddy. Semson's has a bluetooth gps'r for $18.99 + shipping ($5) right now on their weekly special. I bought this one about a month ago, and it works just fine.

If you have a bluetooth capable phone you could get a cheap bluetooth gps like this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9415 Just make sure your phone supports a free GPS software like Trekbuddy. Along with the above website, if you want to go bluetooth and a cell phone, take a look at Semsons. I got a very accurate bluetooth receiver for 23.99 including shipping! That and Turbo Gps software does the trick for me. If I can just figure out how to load and calibrate maps, it will be the perfect set up for me.

The .loc files need to be converted to .usr files using gpsbabel or geocaching swiss army knife (GSAK) Once converted, they will be usable on your iFinder.

My "newest" geocaching toy= 1) my cell phone--just happens to be an ATT 8525 that I have had for 2 years now. By definition of "cell phone contract": Free 2) Bluetooth GPS from Semsons.com--weekly special AMOD ABG-108 +free windshield mount:$23.99 including shipping 3) TurboGPS--Freeware program that pretty much does it all:$0 4) GPS Babel and GSAK--Free, unless you want to buy the newest, latest, greatest version of GSAK. (If you use it and like it, buy it! Creativity ain't free!) Now, if I could just find someone that would show me how to calibrate digital maps from free map sites.....

http://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/displa...8adb5d75334.jpg My main stick is persimmon. There was a small persimmon tree outside of my other home in Mississippi that screamed "take me take me, I'm a walking stick", so I did. I cut it, peeled it, and put it over the AC vent to dry it for a couple of weeks. Then I sealed it with polyurethane, put a rubber stopper on the bottom and a leather thong on the top, voile', walking stick! Found a "toy" but useful compass that points north most of the time to put on the leather thong. Also bought a red Wal-Mart walking stick--I prefer the persimmon.

I am from Montgomery and I love the ones in the woods. I am trying to get up to the Bham area in the very near future for some geocaching in the area. Any recommended caches up there? Check this Geocaching website for the Deep South:http: Dixie Cachers

I am from Montgomery and I love the ones in the woods. I am trying to get up to the Bham area in the very near future for some geocaching in the area. Any recommended caches up there? Check this Geocaching website for the Deep South:http: Dixie Cachers

Nice long cahe-hike, with a few curves thrown in just for color. See "Wild Game Feast". Or "Man, What a dump" Another example is: "Campfire Micro" I loves me some quiet time in the woods! From the links: Wild game feast: April 10, 2006 by geobudman (85 found) Whooeeeeee!!! I took the long way in, which just happens to be a more or less straight line. After climbing Mount Mississippi, which as you should know, is the highest peak in the world due to the fact that there is no downslope to it. You get to the top, plant your US Flag, then walk back uphill the way you came, to the next higher level. So you turn around to go get your flag to plant at this "summit", and discover that it is uphill to where you put it to begin with. Unusual, but IT IS THERE!!! The armadillo is still there, too, but he didn't wave at me--he dashed into his hole! I then proceeded to Lake Longshore, which has only one bank. You walk and walk to get around it, but you never really get to the other side. You are always on the wrong side of it. Go figure. After finally getting close to the cache, I found a game patch planted by the corp for hunters. Walking around it was a breeze considering where I had come from. As a matter of fact, the breeze was perfectly at my back, which allowed all of the horseflies and yellowflies to stay just ahead of me, by about 1 pace. Lovely.... I had to leave the patch to get to the cache, so I chose to use a game trail, which is now much larger than it used to be. As I was standing back up, wiping my hands and knees off with only small amounts of blood flowing, I spied my target. The only things in the box were the log book, a couple of maps, and a "matchbox" type car--good thing the pleasure is in the hunt! I left a new 6 ft tape measure and a Mobile Mardi Gras coin for the next fool--er, fellow to trade and took nothing. Signed the log, thank goodness the pen was still there, because as usual, I forgot mine! I also camoed the hide a little better. Heh, heh!! On the way out, I found the right way to travel. Funny thing, every time I saw foot prints, they were headed in the same direction as me--not a single one going back the other way! Everyone must take the "short" route in, and the long route out, just like me! For those that are interested, I smelled bream beds in several of the lakes and ponds out there. If you enjoy hiking into a fishing hole, these would be good places to try out! Thanks for the great adventure!! "What a Dump" May 4, 2006 by geobudman (85 found) Great hike!!!! Good exercise. I really enjoyed the hike in and out. The mosquitos and horse flies appreciate you sending me out there, also. The population is down from before I took the walk, but the survivors are well-fed. Spotted a beautiful King Snake on the way out, but he was too shy for me to get a picture of. He was stretched out across the road, so he must have been about 4-5 ft long. He continued on his way, and I went on mine. (Have a great day, Mr. Snake. Good luck with your hunting.) This is my favorite type of cache--a long walk, and a well-hidden cache that you don't have to beat the briars to get to. Took a computer game and a magnetic money clip. Left a golf ball, "Chums" and a Mardi Gras coin from Mobile. I also dropped a couple of silica gel packs into the log book package. As the instructions say, "do not eat"! Signed log. Thanks for the hide!

Given blood--Check (See "Wild Game Feast" in Mississippi.) Poison ivy/oak/sumac--Check (See "End Of The Road" in South Alabama. Police--Check No log, but I promise that I have visited with various members of the Law Enforcement Union---Socially, of course, uh, yeeeaaaah! Socially. No law enforcement during a cache-seek, though.

As a secret member of The Priory of Sion, I must take offense with your blending of 'Cachin'" and the Illum........OOOOOOOOOPS! Nevermind.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?LUID=5a00c7b8-4fa1-40e8-8241-22a445ecd93b&IID=d9dbedda-fd66-42b8-8c16-18adb5d75334 Its a picture of a persimmon that screamed at me one evening--turned out pretty good, and cost next to nothing.

Up here the courts and schools allow anything with a blade less than six inches and without a fixed blade. Seriously? A 14-year-old can carry a knife with a 5.5-inch folding blade to high school and use it to settle a pubescent hormone induced grudge? So what's with all these news stories about zero-tollerance schools expelling kids because their parents packed a dull butter knife in with their lunches? Any form of knife was against the rules back when I was in school, and that was in rural Mississippi 15 years ago. Lots of kids carried them (including me), but they were used as tools not weapons. Back to the topic at hand, I personally feel that there is nothing wrong with a knife in a cache under normal conditions. HOWEVER, the rules specifically state that knives are prohibitted, so I don't place knives in caches. And I remove any I find (trading when possible, but always removing). Decades ago, when I was in grade school and high school, we were allowed to carry knives. I though the limit was a four-inch blade, but I'm likely wrong. It was pretty much understood that a boy carried a knife to school when I came up. (I'm 51) Teachers used to ask for knives when they had a need, and they had left theirs at home. They always called for mine first because I knew how to keep one sharp. As a rule, I don't leave knives in cache. I have taken knives out of caches--but I ALWAYS trade UP. I NEVER, EVER, FOR ANY REASON leave a cache in a poorer condition than I found it in. It is not a chore to pack a few "premium" items in to a cache. Heck. I've got my bill fold with 2-3 one dollar bills in it wherever I go!!! "I don't want to carry all of that weight" is NEVER an excuse. Trade even or up, or trade nothing and take nothing Regardless of what it is! Your idea of a threat is a fun find for another.

I've finally gotten a pda/phone and want to try it out caching, since I have it with me all the time, and may not have my regular gps'r with me when the fever strikes. Does anyone have any experience with a bluetooth gps'r that does an exceptional (good or bad) job? Also, what mapping software works well with it? I prefer freeware, of course, but would consider a purchase for the right software with a good recommendation. TIA!

Here is a log of one of my recent finds: This is a very nice location for this cache! The area is very well thought out and well-appointed. Picnic tables, benches, scenic views, it has a great deal to offer. I will be back with my kids! The cache container was laying open, and a book in a big ziplock bag was laying right next to the path. I repackaged the cache as best I could by taking the Mardi Gras beads out and putting them underneath the container. I took the book out of the ziplock and put it into the container, and put the cache container inside the bag, in hopes that it will stay dry during the coming Tropical Storm. Left a bottle carrier and Chums. Thanks for the hide!! The original hider went back and fixed his cache.

My main stick is persimmon. There was a small persimmon tree outside of my other home in Mississippi that screamed "take me take me, I'm a walkng stick", so I did. I cut it, peeled it, and put it over the AC vent to dry it for a couple of weeks. Then I sealed it with polyurethane, put a rubber stopper on the bottom and a leather thong on the top, voile', walking stick! Found a "toy" but useful compass that points north most of the time to put on the leather thong. Also bought a red Wal-Mart walking stick--I prefer the persimmon.

I just got my Red Jeep travel bug, and in order to activate it, you must include some numbers or something that are "on the package it was mailed in." I have tried all of the numbers on the package, and there was nothing else inside the package, so I must ask: "How do you activate your new Jeep travel bug?"