tneigel

Granted my 100 or so finds are not a record breaker, but I've seen enough regular ones, and don't go for every cache anymore. (I told you I stink at finding caches anyway.) I usually look for the more interesting ones. Some of the virtuals are really good. Mostly, I want to find new and interesting areas. One reason why I like virtural caches. A couple of my virtual placements have been denied, but I try to make them scenic (as one can in a tight area such as NJ). I started out placing the easy caches, and as I started to migrate away from the easy finds, I naturally try to hid some creative caches. I think it is all good because there is room for all types of caches, and cachers. When I see one in a city park, I know its an easy one so I may pass it. But when its a new area, or something different or scenic it is more rewarding. Basically the contents are pretty basic so I really don't go for that. After a few dozen finds, the stuff is all pretty much the same, although some caches are pretty unique. Even when I find a george, its to place in a new cache. I just placed a relatively easy one, Field of Dreams, and I recommend the nearby playground for young kids. Its interesting for adults too. Plus it is was placed to bring back a recent follower. A lot of my caches are getting to be a year old and will be cycled out over time to make room. Still trying to make that "entirely new and different cache" and bring a new accent to the cache hunt. I plan on doing more River Caches in season. I was really planning on a Valentines cache, but that work thing gets in the way. There'll be a Spring Cache soon and others, which will cycle out after the season is over. I got a great idea for a blimp cache. See where I'm going?

I had been using gladware and even some tupperware, but I've seen a few of the new Rubbermaid seal and Save containers out there that look pretty watertight. The lids are harder to get back on, but they look like they stay dry longer. So, I got a big box of them to replace those in my maintenace trips. After a year, the old cheap ones just give out. Anyone have bad experiences with them. They sure seem a step above the disposable gladwares. Tom

I got the costco deal on the pro for 249$, then went to Sams to get the deal with the map unit and the topo cd for $149. Ah, but the sale was over a few days. It would have been great to get the map unit for the girlfriend, and get the topo cd as well. then I would have had both. Now, if there are no good sales coming, I guess I will just have to find a good deal on the topo cd alone.

I wondered if the executable would take care of it. Since the instuctions say to use Magup. With all the mentions about corrupting the firmware, I didn't want to chance it without checking. I just wonder how many units have gotten corrupted. thanks, Tom

I did download the 4.03 firmware, but didn't see any new version of Magup. The firmware instructions say to use it. But wasn't the warning about not using that version that came with the streets and destination cd. I just didn't see a new version listed on the magellan site. Thanks, Tom

Thanks to all for such nice comments. I guess I will be careful about new placements. After the initial email, I got two similar suggestions from two moderators (whom may be reading this too). Actually I'm in the process of rotating some caches out. Some are a little old and worn out, and some just seem to be old hat now. I will still try for those interesting places and keep trying to stump some of you, but its getting harder to do - a challenge! I even have an idea for some holiday specials with limited life spans. Still searching for a place for my upcoming "Biggest Cache in the World." Just wait until you see this one. Oh, yes, I would love to come south to cache. Leave a light on for me. Be down Tuesday. Tom (ps. Shhh. You know why I place so many caches? Hey, I stink at finding them! Hee-hee-hee...)

The attached message below was sent to me. You be the judge. I also think its a big state. Big! Now don't get me wrong. I did "listen" to the message and will probably think twice about more placements. If someone wants to put a cache out, then just do it. I put in long hours on these endeavors to show people new areas. I have formed a rule since recently asked. If I can't maintain a cache, I disable it. I try to earnestly take care of them, and many, many people have helped in this effort. Some have timed out and they are being removed as I hit the areas. I will be happy to remove some of the complacent ones if so desired. I get beat out on many locations and thing its a great thing. So many wonderful areas around here. Such a nice format to introduce them to others. Some cachers just seek caches, some find extentive numbers. Some only place a few. Some ignore their caches. Some put down phony logs, and some raid the caches. We all do different things. -------Attached Message------------ THIS IS AN AUTOMATED EMAIL MESSAGE FROM GEOCACHING.COM User S.. has contacted you with the following message: Hi, These are just some observations. One sixth of the geocaches in NJ were posted by you. There are still 400 in NJ that you have not found (or placed). Many of your geocaches are really close together. It seems like (a) giving the hiding a rest might give others a chance to hide some, too; ( having over 100 geocaches to maintain might be a bit much; © finding some more could be a good of time. I don't live in your area, but if I did, I think that tripping over one of your geocaches every 500 feet might get a bit old. In NJ they might change it from 'geocaching' to 'monopoly'. It sounds like people are enjoying your geocaches, but if you get many comments like this (from one of your geocaches): "Actually, tneigal, you beat us in placing a cache at this location. We scoped it out last week and planned to put a cache in the exact spot you chose - well done!!" ...that might be a sign. I don't mean to be hypercritical. I just thought I'd mention these things as food for thought. Cheers, S.....

Any possible damage to the liquid crystal display is terminal. Any ruined areas are permanent. I left a watch of my sleeping bag while camping and it was partially ruined. Meaning Totally Ruined to me. It taught me a lesson. I worry about my dig camera and anything similar. I can't emagine even having minor damage to the LCD of my GPS. I left it in the car recently and went out in the freezing cold at midnight to get it. Maybe the batteries do or don't do ok after freezing, but that is minor compared to the screen. I don't think the warranty covers that. Basically, it just isn't worth the risk. Just think, you leave it in the car and it gets to 30deg at night, maybe 10deg. You say, ahhhh, it will probably be ok. The specs say its ok. Then to find out the screen gets a few bad small pixels. No going back after that.

I read something related in the readme file on my costco bundle and didn't know what it meant. Now I understand it and know that there is an update. Cool Thanks! Tom

I have the Sportrax pro that came with the Mapsend Streets and Destinations. Now I want the Mapsend topo. I see it as cheap as 69$. I did see these answers around but a summary of them would be helpful. I can even remember where I saw these comments. ---------- Will the Mapsend Topo work on my sporttrax Pro? Which version of the CD has the problem/errors? Both? Can I load data from both cd's into the unit? Or will I be limited by what the topo cd has since I want to load that data? I see it for $69 bucks. Should I just get it? thanks so much for repeating this. tboy

I got the sportstrax Pro at the costco store for 189. I was at Sams today in Deptford and they have the map for 149. The pro has streets and destinations and 32mb of memory. I have to send in the rebate. Pain, yes. The map has the topo cd and 9 meg of memory. Now I want the mapsend topo as well. Best price so far is $69. None of the advertisement say it is compatible with the sporttrac series, but I am sure it is.

Hi, I got the $100 rebate off the Trak Pro package at costco. Came with the Streets CD, neo cover, dash holder, power/interface cable. I had the gps12 before and it is like night and day. I loaded all of jersey and surrounding area and still had plenty of room. Downloaded tracks and used Control Panel to see the altitude profile.

I have the GPS 12 and it happens. Try to never touch either end of the battery or the contact posts. You can use a new pencil eraser to clean the contact points. Old electronics trick. Even one fingerprint will leave a film. When it happens out in the field, I rub the battery contacts on my pants or something and put them back in. Certainly could be the electronics as well, but give it a try. Every time someone tells me about a dead cordless phone battery, I clean the contacts and the battery is able to be charged further.

What a great tread on the pro vs meridian. I didn't understand enough about the actual maps and topos though. 1) Are you saying there are different map cds for each gps maker? 2) Do you get a street or topo or what other kind of map cd? And more than one kind. Can you even load two types

I would think that if one respects the area, why bring up the issue. Once the issue of permission is raised, it sometimes gets addressed. Sometimes denied. I certainly think that a small plastic container out of the way is pretty harmless. Caching is actually good and gets people interested in areas and gets them outdoors. I would rather see a bunch of cachers out on my property before most other groups. I guess the original days of the ammo box are going away. Its a shame because they are great cache boxes. I am sort of drifting towards empty caches. Certainly the younger crowd loves to find some goodies and I think that is good. Yo Yo Ma

Hi, Well, that is a big question. It sure ain't easy. As soon as I think I am almost caught up, I get a few more lost, wet, or gone reports. I usually wait until there is a second report. Sometimes a hard cache will draw a lost or gone report and will then have a found the next weekend. And thankfully, people have been helping out a lot! Thanks to them all. One or two have been archived while I try to get to the area to maintain or replace. But for sure, some are just going bye, bye. Maybe that is good too. They should have a life cycle I guess. So, the answer is, there is no real plan other then try to keep up with them and start archiving, or removing some that are really, really gone. I was just out in Maryland and placed a couple more. For sure if things go astray on those, that will be it for them. Again, thanks to everyone for helping out and cleaning them out, new pens, drying out, and replacing them. Wait until you see the ones I will place this week. Maintenance free caches... or are they!

Hey, Stayfloopy. Congradulate me on not 100 finds, but 100 hidden caches. I think I have over 112 finds as well. I intend to place 100 more!

Ever hear of a beach bum. I am a cache bum. Somehow work keeps getting in the way. I had a week off, but now I have to go back for 3 weeks. That will give me some time to prep some new ones. I plan to put a few in northern jersey while I am up there working. Look for some pretty strange and different caches. I don't want to spill the beans just yet!

Hi, Maintaining caches is a lot of work, especially when I'm working. Ouch. I did a run of about 10 caches yesterday. Still always have a few in the unknown state. I put one in Maryland up on 83 by PA. You will like it and it has a challenge. They just didn't approve it yet. I have a few new ones pending for two days now. Used to be they would get approved in hours. They must have a lot of caches to keep up with too. I have to get back down to the Salem area to replace the StayFloopy and cooperagency caches. Did a trip through the pines yesterday. The quaker bridge cache is gone once again. tboy

As of 5/2/02: StayFloopy - Northern NJ by highest # on parkway Harrald - Next town south of StayFloopy. Same exit GeoGuru - Northern NJ. Intersection of 80/95 DxChallenged - Akron, NY. 25 minutes from Buffalo GetLost - Southern NJ. 15 min east of Philly Team ECO Cache - Bronx. Border/Yonkers/Riverdale geospotter - Western Massachusetts cache-potato - West Virginia efisher-40 - Hunterdon County geece - Camden Cty NJ over the Ben Franklin Mopar - South Plainfield The Artful Dodger - Northern NJ. Close to 17/4 Ttepee - Mid Hudson Valley in NY Team Shibby - exit 168 Next town south of Harrald BassonPilot - exit 154 cachebaby - live and work in midtown Randall J. Berry -Maryland near Annapolis Tymber - SE PA Douglassville Geonavigator - Southern NJ. Somers Point Dekaner - Central New York rediguana - New Zealand? RDVH - North Jersey by the GWB lewsie - Bally, PA. (By Pottstown/Allentown) smoochnme - Bellefonte, PA.Center of the state. Alan2 - Queens Perfect Tommy - White Plains, NY Westchester Cty Man In The Wild - West Virginia. Gimpy - Rochester, New York seeker bp (Team E-Trex) - Ashland, Ohio CacheDog - Northern NJ. By 287/208 SpeleoJunky - Union, NJ

Of 52 placements, these few are still as yet undiscovered. (all below rt 195) 3/8/2002 Lebanon CD Cache (New Jersey) /cache_details.asp?ID=16623> 3/8/2002 Bear Swamp Booty (New Jersey) /cache_details.asp?ID=16625> 3/8/2002 Washington Ruins in the Pines (New Jersey) /cache_details.asp?ID=16784> 3/1/2002 Grave of Joe Mulliner (New Jersey) /cache_details.asp?ID=16016> 2/24/2002 Hadrosaurus FoulkII (New Jersey) /cache_details.asp?ID=15800> 1/14/2002 Pink Surprise (New Jersey) /cache_details.asp?ID=12980>

Well there are several new hides out there in the pines as of today. Will place 2-3 more on monday. Come and get them. Seems you guys are coming from up north. I am thinking about having an informal picnic at my house (by rt 195). People can stop by for a break and have a hot dog or something. Big 2 acre lot, with lots of picnic benches and chairs and a firestand for cold days. People can stop in anytime of the day. Any interest? We'll see. Tom

Hi, Just wondering where people are from (in this Northeast category). I'm from Central New Jersey (Route 195). It was clear when I started that the southern half of New Jersey below 195 is mostly untapped. The caches already there are all very good. I've been adding many caches in various places and hope it attracts more cachers. The count is growing. Why don't you come out to southern Jersey and log some caches. Anyone interested in a cache event of some sort? (A cache day, picnic, etc.) Tom