Cornerstone4

Is the combo given in the cache description? Or does the cacher have to figure out a Puzzle to get the combination? I found a Travel Bug Hotel with a combination lock. It was listed as a Traditional because the combination was clearly given in the cache description. The combo was given in the hint...but there was nothing to figure out. I asked Marko Ramius why it was a "Mystery" cache, and he said it was due to the new guidelines. If you can't log it without info from the page, then it can't be a traditional. It's in Vista, you need to check it out next time you are in North County. There is a hawk's nest right by the cache with babies in it! It's called Orange Blossom.

Uncalled for. Perhaps the tone is a bit over the line, but the logic is right on. A simple math problem should not be considered a puzzle. I have a MULTI that requires some percentage calculation and a bit of adding and subtracting. It should not be a puzzle to anyone past 5th grade. Maybe not a puzzle per-se, but the question mark does not mean it is a "Puzzle Cache". All it signifies is there is some "Unknown" involved...you can't get the cache just by visiting the numbers in the listing. For instance, there is a new cache in our area. The cache is right on the numbers posted, but you need the combo to the lock on it. It is listed as an "Unknown" since you can't sign the log with just the numbers loaded from the listing.

Uncalled for.

Hey Dave, good to see you here again. Truly sorry to hear about your mom...I hope she gets better soon. You've had a rough year my friend. D

Ok...your silly.

(Bold added) Ok, who are you trying to win over?

First, I tend to treat my logs like the caches I find. If it is an LPC, or something else that is totally uninspired, then my log will be uninspired also. However, if you put effort into the cache, I will put effort into my log as well. On a second note, I have to admit that I found your post really funny. When he is in town...you cache with the cut and paste king! I'm not sure who brought up the cut and paste thing. I'd rather get 100 cut and paste logs than one TNLNSL log. At least in the C&P logs they had something nice to say. For every cache I find I will have at least one unique sentence (no matter how uninspiring the cache is). The hider went to enough trouble to shove an altoids tin under a lamp post, I think they deserve that much. 'Nuff said! D! Hey Now! There is a difference between both of your posts though. When you and Dave come through town and break... I mean find a bunch of my caches, I always take the time to read your logs...since like you pointed out, you always take the time to say something unique. If you take the time to write it, I take the time to read it. However, when I get 2 identical posts from Dave, I just tag and delete the rest since I know what they all say already. Basically, it's not that much different than an uninspired TNLNSL. Now, I have only had a few days where I cached enough to have 30 or 40 logs to type...and unless the cache was unique, I am hard pressed to remember anything about it...and that bothers me. On a long day, I try to take notes so I can make a nice comment on each find.

Just got home and found one of those little 4x4's in my mail also. Now to find a worthy lamp post. Just dropped mine here.

Got one in Escondido, CA today. All activated, and hitting a cache soon!

First, I tend to treat my logs like the caches I find. If it is an LPC, or something else that is totally uninspired, then my log will be uninspired also. However, if you put effort into the cache, I will put effort into my log as well. On a second note, I have to admit that I found your post really funny. When he is in town...you cache with the cut and paste king! TFTP! Snag! Hey Lynn, your logs are short and sweet...but they aren't cut and paste!

Mail just came! I got a red jeep in the mail. I'll get it placed soon, so add it to your watchlists! RJTB

First, I tend to treat my logs like the caches I find. If it is an LPC, or something else that is totally uninspired, then my log will be uninspired also. However, if you put effort into the cache, I will put effort into my log as well. On a second note, I have to admit that I found your post really funny. When he is in town...you cache with the cut and paste king!

Well, my favorite scary moment was when I was racing for an FTF one evening. I parked at the posted coords, and followed a sidewalk leading between some houses. It was pitch-black already, so I was using my flashlight. As I rounded a bend in the walkway, I realized that I was now walking along the edge of the cemetary. There was a 4 foot chainlink fence separating the sidewalk from the cemetary grounds. When I got to gz, the numbers were pointing into the cemetary property, so I shone my light over the fence. There was nowhere to hide a cache on that side though...in fact, there were chairs all set out, and an open hole that I assumed was for a burial the next morning. I went to the nearest bush on my side of the fence, and fortunately found the cache rather quickly. As I was replacing the container, I spotted some headlights coming up the road inside the cemetary. I figured they probably had security watching over the place since the chairs and tents were all set up. I decided to try to get out of there and avoid any questions. I tried to high-tail it up the path to get out of sight, but they got there too quickly. I ducked into some bushes, and figured I would watch them search to make sure I hadn't compromised the cache. They parked the car, and both doors opened immediately. One flashlight headed toward where I had been searching for the cache, and the other one came right for me. I figured I must have stood out in their headlights, so it was time to come clean. As the flashlight coming toward me got within about 15 feet, I stood up, and said, "I guess you are wondering what I am doing here?" Well, as it turns out, they weren't security. They were a husband and wife caching team trying to get FTF! Well, when I popped out of the bushes, she was too scared to make a noise! She just stood there with her mouth open gaping at me. He on the other hand clutched his chest and let out a bellow to wake the dead! I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! I bought them a beer at the next event as a token of my gratitude for the chuckle.

That was what I thought as soon as I read that. Maybe a bear walked off with it...assuming you have bears in your area.

Get well soon Glenn! I'm hope those lame jokes at the beginning of the thread don't actually have you feeling worse... Because, here's another bad one! What did the girl geocoin say to the guy geocoin? Is that a travel bug in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

I gotta admit...that would be half the draw for me to that job! I'd like to be able to blow stuff up for a living!

Well, I'm on a raptor roll now! (If only I could get the pictures!) I was grabbing a cache at lunch in Vista. Orange Blosson As I was standing at the cache, I heard a rustling of feathers, and looked up in time to see another raptor, very nearly the same as the one at home last night. No chance for a pic or a good look, but as I was closing the cache up, I heard what sounded like a young raptor calling. (I say young because it wasn't that strong of a call, but it was close by.) There was a steep downward slope behind me, and when I turned, I spotted a large nest in a tree that was a bit downslope. The nest was high in the tree, but barely above my level while at the cache. I could hear what sounded like a baby calling, so I went back to the car, and sat there with my camera in-hand...no joy for me today...all I got was a picture of the nest! It's the large dark spot in the center. If you want to hear the call I heard, it is about halfway through the video clip I uploaded to my photobucket account. You can just hear it. Video of raptor nest.

If you can manage to get a look at it flying or even a sideways view, we might have more basis for an identification. I also thought of Harrier (Circus cyaneus) or Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) given the size. We see more Harriers (used to be called Marsh Hawk) than any other raptor in our neighborhood, often perched on light poles. They are stockier than a falcon, though and a little larger. Cooper's Hawks are accipiters, rather than falcons, and have a longish narrow tail and reddish tint to upper breast. They also have a distinctive red eye. Looking forward to seeing additional photos. -Don I initially suspected it was a Coopers Hawk when I saw it flying around last night. I got out the book, and when it landed in the yard, I was able to get close enough to see that it didn't have red eyes, so that is when I started searching. The problem with the field guide is you just get one picture. You need to read the descriptions for color variations, and distinguishing marks to help out. According to the book, the Prarie Falcon is the only one with black armpits. It flew right over my head, about 10 feet above me, but I hadn't read the book yet, so I can't remember! I got some video, but just of it's back. It was uncooperative, and wouldn't face the camera. I'll upload it tonight to my photobucket account and provide a link. The kids are getting upset about baby birds getting eaten! It's like a gladiator show here. Some jay type birds are squawking and trying to drive it off, while the top of every tree is covered with little birds watching...the chimneys and roofs have pigeons all watching and waiting to see if they are next! (I wish it would eat all the pigeons!) Dave

Thanks Don! I was just getting dressed and heard a couple of jays making a big ruckus out back. I also heard the unique sound the raptor was making last night. I don't know how to describe it...it is kind of a pewling call, for lack of a better description, since it has a musical quality. Unlike the caw of a crow, or the long call of our resident red-tails. Anyway, I looked out the window, and the nests in our pepper tree out back were being raided. I ran down stairs and got the camera, but when I got outside, it took off with the jays, and all of the other birds in hot pursuit.

This smallish raptor was flying around our yard this evening checking the trees for birds nests. I'm not sure what it was, so I was hoping for some ID help. The picture is bad, since it was getting pretty dark...but I'll send Harmon some untouched pics to see if he can pull some better images out. Edit to add...size wise, much bigger than a Kestrel, and didn't have the coloring of a Kestrel, and about half the size of the Red Tails that live in the neighborhood. As far as the Audubon ID guide I have, the closest I could come was a Peregrin Falcon...but I wasn't sure if we had those.

I'm not sure if this video link will work, but I saw this clip today. Stinging Nettles Eating Champ This guy ate 50 something feet of the vine to win the contest...and he had to eat it uncooked! You chaps on that side of the pond are really something! (Edited to add that the link works, but you have to wait for the ad to play first.)

Now THAT'S funny Marty!

I suck at puzzles, but I still wouldn't want to see this. File it in the Diaper Genie.

At least you didn't type lds.

Chances are likely you won't see any of the above. As always, be very careful whenever you are reaching into a blind spot or a pile of rocks. Using a stick is not a bad idea. If you are really concerned, buy a UV flashlight for any night caching you do. The scorpions are out at night, and the UV light makes them glow! There are more non-poisonous snakes than poisonous ones just about any where you go, so learn to recognize the poisonous ones...you won't be able to ID every snake you see, but the list of poisonous snakes in North America is relatively short, so I would focus on those. I'm not sure if Coral Snakes are in New Mexico, so you might familiarize yourself with those too. Depending on the area you go to, you can encounter Gila Monsters as well. They are easy to identify, so look at some pictures so you don't end up tangling with those. I'm not from New Mexico, but much of the Southwest shares their critters anyway! Have fun!