Broccoli King

I just checked, and same here, a server error messege. I was there about 30 minutes ago and all was fine. Maybe it's down for maintainance. Just a guess. Or crash!!!! BK

Hi, I had to respond to this as I sit here reading forums with a large welt of Poison Oak/Ivy on my arm. Yeah, got a little carried away looking through leaves and digging around after a cache not too far from a creek. I'm in Georgia, and it's winter, so I evidently came across a root, Look Out For Fuzzy Roots, large or small. If you get into the stuff, and are sensitive to it, Here's the Plan: First, if you are out caching and you think you got into some, there are small bottles of Outdoor Skin Cleanser designed for the removal of oils from Poison Oak and Ivy, just follow the directions, but for best results use within 2-8 hours of suspected exposure. I now have a bottle for my geo-pack. Okay, if you did not realize you brushed up against the stuff and now you have it. There are a number of over-the-counter products, if not too bad, go for Caladryl lotion. If you really got into the stuff, or if like myself you are very allergic, go to your doctor. Your doc will probably give you a dose pack of Prednisone. It will stop the reaction fast, and the itching that makes you crazy, and the weeping from the effected area. You take it for five days and then it usually is about gone. Fast itch and weeping relief. If it's hard to get to your doctor, go to one of those walk-in-doctor-clinics you find by a shopping mall, it worked for me. I think it is kind for people placing caches to consider poison plants, stickers, thorns, bees, snakes, and small nasty creatures with bad tempermants and sharp teeth, but it's up to us to use our personal judgement and good sense. It's difficult to see Poison Ivy in the winter, so the person placing the cache may not even know of the plant being there if it's placed that time of year. But, I will keep the detergent with me, and use it next time if I have the least suspicion. Also, keep a small pack of sting eze around, just basic first aid stuff, BK

Hi, I use a Legend C, so I just thought I would mention the small pamphlet "quick start guide" that comes in the box. Take a look at it, the directions there aren't as overwhelming as the manual. Most of the manual can be ignored in the beginning anyway, cause you just don't need it to find a cache. Just get the waypoint for the cache in the unit, then click on "Go To". That's all you need to do in it's most simple form. You have plenty of time to learn about all the other stuff later. Don't Stress... in with the good air, out with the bad... BK

Please forward the address to me, do they accept stamps? BK

I appreciate the advice. I did my first cache hide, and wanted to put the FTF'er on the cache page, but did not know how to add their name to the page. Thanks, BK

Always more questions, and thanks for the assistance. I have seen cache pages where the FTF'er was listed (FTF: Frosty the WonderSchnauzer) above the comments, how is that done? Does it come up automatically or do I need to add it and if so, How? Thanks, BK

All Good! Had my first FTF'er at the cache today, and it seemed to have gone well, and commented that he enjoyed the hide. I feel good about giving back to geocaching for all the fun I've had, and I did not know how enjoyable it would be to create a cache. Already putting my next cache together, it's a learning experience.

Just a few cache's under my belt, but this is my approach. I look for groovy outdoor items on sale or clearance and then buy a handful. So although my out-of-pocket is not much, the actual value of the item is decent. Recently I found some good compasses, AA batteries, fishing lures .... on sale, so I'm good for my next twenty cache's, and stocked/placed my first cache today with some of these items. And of course WallyWorld is always a great place to look for stuff. Just remember the groove factor and make sure it works. Also, I have learned to carry one special item with me just in case I come across something very cool and want to make sure I'm trading even.

48 and feelin' good! I usually go 'caching with my best friend, Frosty the WonderSchnauzer. My wife and I often work different shifts, mainly 'cause I work weekends and I'm not willing to give up my 2 day a week job. Anyway, I'm kind of long-haired freaky lookin' but people always smile when they see me with a miniature schnauzer, she's very cute and child friendly(important). So take your dog, or borrow your friend's dog, or go to a shelter and adopt one. There's nothing happier than a Geo-Dog on the hunt

Wishing You the Best!, Congratulations!

Hi all, okay I did my first cache placement today, it's in place and I think I am close to getting it right. The online form is okay and I think I filled it out right. And I hope I have it in a good place. What experiences have you had with placing your first or early caches? Did you have any problems, or odd things that came up? What have you learned over time to make placing caches go more smoothly?

Thanks, I didn't know to do that. BK

I agree, allowing the FTF to post first simply seems polite, which is a quality I appreciate and seems to be very evident in the geocaching community, BK

Okay, I'm finally off to place my first cache, an ammo box off of a trail in a suburaban park that is sort of out of the way. A big thanks to everyone who has offered advice on what to put in it, and cache placement. Any comments about follow-up after first placement is appreciated. And to Mtn-Man, one of the moderators on this forum, thanks again for the cache yesterday,Wish Me Luck, Broccoli King

An observation for what it's worth: I find as I drive from urban to suburban to rural that, in general, the size of the cache grows. I'll admit that I am new at this and am usually able to find larger caches in woods, probably because of their size and the fact that I lived in the mountains a good bit so I notice irregularities that might hide a cache. I now live in an urban area, and I enjoy the micros that are more numerous in this area and have learned of many parks and out of the way places that I would not have known otherwise. And as for the quick micros that are in true urban areas, near stores, parking lots... I enjoy the adventure of finding them, often hidden quite cleverly, when my time is limited and I need a geofix and some fresh air. The caches are clearly labeled on the website and people can choose what they want to search for, so enjoy your brand of cache in the areas you want to play, Best of Luck, BK

Thanks, I have a combination of cars, compasses, stickers, flashlights... it's an area that most anyone can access, if they're willing to walk a bit, but the path is smooth, and actually bikable. I appreciate any ideas. I guess this gets a lot simpler after someone has placed a few. I have more appreciation now for all the people who have placed so many caches for all to enjoy, and I hope to make a cache that people enjoy going to and find interesting.

I've seen some lists of what to put in a cache, but how many items is appropriate in a new cache? This is my first, so I would like it to be nice. I have found an interesting place and received permission from the park manager, so I'm all good. I have a .50 cal ammo can, and that's appropriate for the area. Thanx, BK

Hi TeamBaltz, cute photos, congrats with the cache. I am getting my first cache ready to hide, this is such a great sport. Best, Broccoli King

I would appreciate some feedback on this. I like to fish and often leave new fishing lures, still in the plastic box, for trade. I wait and find lures that I like to fish with on sale and then buy several, especially spinners, and I usually also consider eye appeal. Is this something other people like? I also am trying to trade up and am new at this.

I don't carry when caching here in Marietta, GA. But am taking a .454 Casull with me when I move to Juneau in May, Super Redhawk. If I'm in bear country, I'll pack, if not, I won't hassle with the extra weight. I have hiked my wife and I into a confrontation with a black bear when I was unarmed during the winter while hiking in Tennessee, I think my dog kept it from charging. I won't go into bear country unarmed again, but I respect everyone's right to make their own decisions about their own carcass.

Hi TeamBaltz, I read thru the forum and gave it some thought, and I followed the link to the cache site in your post for the general area you are in to see if I could suggest a cache in the same area that might be suitable. Basically, I looked for a non-micro, 1/1 so it would make a good start. So this is my suggestion, GCBE31, "Tight Squeeze !" . I am in Marietta, GA, so I have not been there myself, but from the description, it looks good. The rating is 1.5/1 , so it should be fun, and not too stressful with the kids. See what you think, I'm a bit of a newbie myself. Best of Luck, Broccoli King