The Bongtwashes

On the right hand side of your home page, click on <Set Up Notifications>. Then click on Create a New Notification and fill in the form. You need to set up a notification for each cache type you are interested in (trad, multi, event etc.). You specify a centre and radius for your notification area (these can be different for different cache types), and can set up a different email address than your default address.

No, you need a proper oven. Microwaved pastry is too soggy, and worse than tea made with "flask water"

The site uses WGS84 with degrees and minutes because that format can identify anywhere in the world, whereas OSGB is only appropriate in the UK. Because each uses a different datum, most conversions from one to the other produce errors. I think an error of 3m in almost 40000m is pretty good . It is better to set your GPS to WGS84 and HDDD mm.mmm for geocaching generally, and certainly for hiding caches as this is what everyone else is using, and you may send searchers to the wrong place

That was discussed on another thread on here in the last month or so, IIRC there were some discrepancies with people filing historical logs all on the same date so while they found many caches over many days/weeks/months/years they were all logged as being found on the same day. Personally I think logging 1104 finds on one day is even harder than finding them. I had enough logging 30 on one day

I've used an Android phone myself, and read on the forums about several others using phones. Apart from the fact that they're not weatherproof and if you drop it into a river you're likely to kill it completely, the battery life is pretty poor compared to a handheld GPS, and is unlikely to last if you intend to do a full day caching. A good place to start your search for a GPS is Follow the Arrow. Depending on where you are, several National Trust sites own geocaches, and have Garmin GPS units available to let people try the sport/pastime as a taster.

I think it would be better trying to have the Geolympix as an International Roving Mega every 2 years, rather than every year or every 4 years. This is more likely to keep people interested in it, especially those organising it. It's not like The Olympic Games, which takes 7 years from becoming a winning bid to actually hosting it. there is no need to build the stadia, and much of the groundwork has already been done in organising and running the first Geolympics. Also, don't forget, since 1992 there have been Olympic Games alternate years.

I've been responsible for some, two immediately spring to mind. The first was Stanmore Trail 2 where a micro disappeared through a hole barely large enough for it to fit. The second was a Third Degree Witch cache where I was chasing a FTF. It involved 2 nanos, the first of which was in a tree in a field. When I arrived the light was fading but after a while I spotted the nano, but to reach it I had to grab a branch, pull it down to my level, then reach along to grab the nano. Unfortunately it was at the limit of my reach as I held the branch down, and as I reached for it I just touched it enough to knock it off. Beneath the tree was a lovely covering of grass, but there had been sheep in the field, and there was a good spread of "sheep currants" just where I believe the nano landed. As I said, the light was fading (even more so at this stage), but I did honestly try to find a little black nano amongst an area covered in similar sized, shaped, and coloured objects. Sorry Jon, but eventually it got too dark.

Hi Mandy I'm sure our new cache hound Isla would love to join in

That is a relief! I was wondering how to remove all the fossils at my Central London Earthcaches! Didn't know you had one in the House of Lords

With most email systems you could set up a "geojunk" folder and set rules to send any emails from specified accounts to this folder, or include the appropriate email accounts in your spam filter.

This particular cache is a 'Multi-cache', in which you have to visit several locations gathering information to enable you to work out the final location. As it is your first attempt at finding a cache, you might find it better trying a 'Traditional' cache, where the cache is actually at the published coordinates. Once you have found out how to find these you could go back to trying a multi-cache, when the instructions may make more sense. There are several traditional caches near the cache you have been trying. Good luck

you can leave the umbrella at home.

Not at all. An ammo box in an old hollow tree stump at the end of a long walk will keep John happy, and save the dangers of climbing mountains without all the necessary paraphenalia and support team.

To have the chance to win... "Well for all those photos that we put in the Calendar you will receive, 1) A Calendar 2) A Geocoin 3) A Special Gift - To be Presented at the Closing of the Main Event" As it says on the WM forum. Still 2 days left to get those entries in for a chance of winning.

But the clicking the link to geocaching takes you to canoeing. As does clicking on canoeing. Yes, but that's canoeing to find a geocache as opposed to canoeing down a hill

Must be a dispute in Ontario as well

If you find yourself near Oxford this summer you may find a series set as five ring circuit totalling 26 miles. You don't have to attend The Geolympix, but it would get you to the right area, and you might be able to do as much of the series as you want in the company of other like minded cachers.

When you start FindStatsGen click on <Options>. Is the latest version of your database selected against @Found Caches Database' ?

I'm seeing all the logs, just as before the update (Firefox 10.0.1)

There are some examples of long distance multis and puzzles, Mick Tucker Tribute and R e f l e c t i o n s being examples of each type. Although the second of these doesn't require that much travel the first of these involves something like a 70 - 80 mile drive between the first and second stages. Perhaps this would not get past the reviewers now.

Not Your Mission.........., I hope? Undoubtedly the best, most enjoyable, most challenging yet achievable cache I've done or heard about. Archiving it would deprive caching of one of its greatest assets. If it's not "Your Mission.........." then which is it? Sounds good . Nice of you to say so, Alan... Thank you. Unfortunately, the geocaching 'fashion' has evolved and very few are now prepared to spend a whole weekend geocaching for just one 'smiling face'. I'll leave it, and one or two of my other more difficult / unpopular caches out until the summer then lay them to rest, a sacrifice to the great god 'Numbers'. Your Mission.... being archived would be such a loss to geocaching, and I would encourage everyone to attempt it, even the number chasers. As you say, it involves a lot of travel to several different areas, so if spread out over 2 of 3 weekends (there are 'natural breaks') then it gives plenty of others areas to search to get more caches. I know I left it for a long time before searching for it, but after hearing about it (from Alibags) I was glad I saved it for a milestone cache (#2000). My greatest disappointment is that I can't do it again, without knowing what is ahead, and that I was only allowed to give it one favourite point - it's worth a lot more. That one smiley face gave me much more satisfaction than if I were to get FTFs on all of a 20 cache series. PS. Sorry for going OT

The folk who find hundreds of caches put plenty into the game. If they didn't find caches, the COs would find it a pretty pointless task in placing caches to begin with. Perhaps then there wouldn't be so many film pots in woods.

I think SP is after a seperate section with the stats just for hidden caches, the same way they are listed seperately on your profile. Logging them as found would be pointless as they would just get lost amongst all the found caches, you wouldn't be able to look at (eg) My hidden 5/5 trads. For PMs all these stats (and more) can be generated using GSAK and then added to your profile page if you want.

Groundspeak already provides a Googlemap link showing the location of the published coords, there is no reason this cannot be edited to say "supermarkets near XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" or "petrol stations near XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX".

I'll send you a schedule of times that these special caches should be published once you've sent me the full list of coords...