The Other Stu

Hello. I work in Hemel, but clearly, that means not mornings (especially weekdays). Shame you didn't mention before - there was a meet at the Travellers Rest this evening just up the road in Edlesborough http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...df-fdc0be85a447 Keep it on your watch list - I don't know where the next one is, but they're often local and you'll meet loads of fabulous people! I'm sure Bones1 will be along shortly....

How bizarre is this.... I was on a "bargain" site, something like hotukdeals or MoneySavingExpert and someone posted up a "bargain eTrex yellow" or something. Someone else said "Well, what would you use that for" and the poster suggested Geocaching. I clicked on the link and joined up because I wanted to find out what was local to me (virtually nothing). A couple of months later, I was in the Florida in a RadioShack and they were selling off a Garmin Geko for $40. So I bought one and the rest is history.....

There go I'm not sure about the iPhone app - there's a forum for the official apps so might be worth asking in there. I too would love to see a jammie dodger geocoin

Well done for having thick skin, that was probably a bit uncalled for. However, I think the sentiment was there. I think what Team Noodles is saying is that it's probably better to find a few more caches of different varieties before starting to hide. And please don't take this the wrong way, because you are far from alone, but there's quite bad feelings at the moment because many people are finding caches and not saying something about them (don't forget, people put their own hard-earned cash into buying caches and putting stuff in them) "Sent from my mobile device" is quite offensive. Even if you think the cache is poor, a "TFTC" or "Thanks for making the effort" is less offensive. As for Geocoins, I've considered having them minted them before, but you're going to need a few hundred pounds worth of investment and hope that you sell the ones you don't need. I'm also not sure what the story is with coins that have a commercial theme - generally commercial and Geocaching shouldn't go hand-in-hand although there have been exceptions in the past. Charities are OK though. Hope to meet you soon! We aren't all grumpy bears, I think most people would agree I often take my foot out of my mouth to put the other one in (and I talk too much as you probably gathered from this post). EDITED TO ADD: I'm not sure if there are any companies that actually mint them in the UK. I think most peopl get them minted from either the Candian companies or US ones.

Muggles are far more difficult to deal with than Policemen in London. If a Policeman is standing next to a cache, explain what you're doing. The cache will still be there the next day.

I'll have a moan here too then.... I've asked Garmin the question Apparently the 2 year old Colorado is no longer supported by Garmin.... no support for the chirp, only Dakotas and Oregons

Once you get hooked, you'll be inviting yourself round (and yes, I do have a cache right outside my house!)

Hmm Not sure I'd eat anything they cooked, thank God for a decent Chinese!! Seriously - this is more than a hobby - it takes over your life and gives you a whole new and exciting one if you let it! Isn't it about time you came round for a roast dinner?

Fair enough, your choice. Out of interest though, do you log DNFs? I only ask because clearly you're experienced and DNFs mean more from someone who's found a few caches rather than (as I found out) someone who had found 6 (as happened to me the other week).

Cows are back then I take it? I thought they might have had a lick of paint whilst they were on their travels.....

Absolutely - I think this could have been a brilliant PR exercise, but unfortunately it wasn't quite thought out properly. Can I suggest that anyone externally reading this thread in the first instance contacts Groundspeak and then we can all volunteer to help! I for one have utmost respect for Netmums and they do some brilliant things around the community. 'Caching IS right up their street.

Before you know it, you'll be attending events, then it spreads into camping, you make friends who want to go caching with you...........

It's always going to be mostly better than phone based devices which many cachers have hours of fun with.

Yes, this old chestnut again. It's fine if everyone has iPhone 4s or the latest Android-based phones with a decent averaging app, but it's unlikely. I can see a pile of 'caches being placed by phones that use cell masts to do triangulation. In addition, geocache magazine asked the other day "What advice would you give to people joining the hobby?" and one of the accepted ones was to find 100 caches before placing the first one. This is encouraging people to place 'caches without even finding one!

Anyone want a Free Travelodge in Alfreton for tonight? It's about 0.8m walk from the Town centre Let me know. I'm on the road shortly me@theotherstu.co.uk

Chris, It's 3.26 in the afternoon and you're posting here. How are we supposed to guess what time you are reviewing? Stu

Ah ok, fairy nuff. A quick squizz at Coombe Hill shows that it survived 9 years until June this year. That's got to be some sort of record too?

bit of a distance from MK, but if you fancy a trip, an hours round trip should get you England's 2 oldest caches. Tim and Jon's 1st Re-stashed and View from Coombe Hill were both (apparently) hidden on the 14/1/2001 (Generally, the latter is assumed to be the oldest, although I have no idea why)

Lot of it about today Think of the kittens

Certainly there was a group in the US who claimed the most in one day a couple of years ago. Turned out although they were logging all under one account, they were finding individually.

There's this fella, right. Every time I see him, he has a different injury. Last time I saw him, he had a broken nose and a black eye. This time, he had a broken arm in a pot. I reckon his missus is knocking him about, but he reckons he gets them caching......

I was surprised - there seemed to be millions of people there, but only around 100 raffle tickets went. I guess if, like us, only 1 person took one for 4 people, then it could be potentially 400. Both the Tiger and I signed the log, but the kids hid away in the corner (anyone else notice they were there?)

We ran an event on the beach at Coolangatta in Queensland, Australia. We had 11 attended logs although you'll see from the pics that there were many more there (apparently the Aussies aren't that bothered about logging caches - we joined the geocaching.au forums and advertised it there too). Probably my favourite event too - it was a BYO food event, the barbeques are provided by the local state government and a fine afternoon. Also, the first (but not the last) event we had been to on a beach. Some people had even gone as far as making a weekend of it (apparently, one couple had driven a couple of hundred miles and booked a hotel because it seemed worthy).

Tim, I felt the other side of the cast made a far better picture, Banksy style

Dave, Firstly, apologies for snipping the post, but I think you underplay your card here..... ISTR that some fairly recent requests for new reviewers were because you were to be found at odd hours outside McDonalds, campsites and such like approving caches. The role of a reviewer must be a harrowing one (why do you always have a smile on your face?). You're badgered, criticised and in all honesty, I'd be looking for a new job if I was being paid to take the aggravation that you do. And you take all this without being paid! So I think some of the qualities of being a reviewer needs is to be dedicated, have nerves of steel and broad shoulders EDIT: and a sunny disposition