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Posts posted by travisl

    Nanaimo Cache Machine

    in Northwest

    Posted

    For the last few Canadian cache machines, I'd used my work-issued phone, which included international services. They stopped that last year. Now that I'm on my own dime, I had to find a cheap way to get data. Looks like https://roammobility.ca/ is the approach I'm taking. $35 for 500MB, as opposed to the 30¢/MB my carrier would charge me. I checked my data usage for Whidbey Island and Tri Cities, and those weekends used about 400MB. I *think* this will work.

    Nanaimo Cache Machine

    in Northwest

    Posted · Edited by travisl

    I've just posted the first draft of the route. If you know the area -- or even if you don't -- take a look and provide me with any suggestions you've got. Am I going into the wrong side of a park? Does my old software go down a closed road? Is the low tide still to high to get to the island? Please let me know.

     

    And thanks, BCrockCrawler and Wilson/Goat, for the pub suggestions. I'm going a bit off the beaten path for the pre-event dinner at Smokin' George's. The pulled pork poutine sold me on it.

    Nanaimo Cache Machine

    in Northwest

    Posted · Edited by travisl

    I've signed up for the "Geocaching on Vancouver Island" Facebook group, so I can warn the locals of our impending arrival. I looked at the Canada forum, but it's overbroad and underused. I also looked at http://www.bcgeocaching.com/community/ and http://vigps.com/forums/index.php , but those forums seem to be very rarely used.

     

    I do have e-mails slowly trickling out to about 50 local cache owners (properly throttled by Groundspeak's anti-spam algorithm), so the really active folks shouldn't be caught by surprise.

     

    The first draft of the route will probably be up next week. For now...

    1) What's a good pub to hold the unofficial pre-event dinner?

    2) Any tips on cheap hotels? They all seem rather pricey despite the exchange rate ($1.00 USD = $1.25 CAD)

    Nanaimo Cache Machine

    in Northwest

    Posted · Edited by travisl

    Note: circumstances may change after this initial posting. Look for my posts (with the icon13.gif icon) in this thread for all the important details and changes. If you think you've seen this all before, focus on the unique-to-this-event information in red. This is in the U.S. Northwest forum (I'm from Tacoma), so it's written from a US-centric perspective. If you're a Vancouver Islander, some of this might not apply.

     

    (Link to dinner event cache.)

     

    Nanaimo: The Harbour City. We'll be a month too early for the world championship bathtub races, but no matter — we're just here for the geocaches.

     

    So fill up the tank, grab your gear, toss down some breakfast at way-too-early o'clock, and start on the route in at GC1VE5R, Stache the Cache #2 on Saturday, June 18, at 5:15 a.m.. From there, move at your own pace and get as many as you can.

     

    Dinner's at 7:45 p.m. at Boston Pizza, 5779 Turner Rd (N 49° 13.455, W 124° 02.186). It’s listed as an event cache, GC6GNKH. See its event page for details. Please log your "will attends" on the event page so I can let the restaurant know how many to expect.

     

    Note that some caches on the route map may be marked with a "do not enter" icon icon_disabled.gif. Those cache owners have justifiably asked for their cache to not be on the route, and for the cache to not be sought during the cache machine. The cache is, in the owner's opinion, in a sensitive area, whether it's environmentally unwise, socially sensitive, or physically fragile. Just don't get it. It's not like there's a shortage of caches in the area.

     

    Rules:

    1) Follow all traffic laws, and drive safely. This is not a race; there are no winners. The only loser will be someone who gets hurt. When someone asks what you're doing, the right answer is honesty: "geocaching".

     

    2) Respect private property, even if the cache owner didn't. Post your DNFs proudly.

     

    3) One logbook entry for "NCM" is fine for most small and micros. Don't go filling up the logbook just because you want to mark your territory. 50 people's names and dates will fill up most one-sheets. Be kind and bring extra paper to add to caches with full logbooks.

     

    4) As with all cache machines, if you find the cache, you'll be the one who has to re-hide it. Hide it as well as you found it. Handing it off to someone else and pointing down saying "it goes there" isn't good enough. Don't be a jerk. The extra 45 seconds isn't going to ruin your day.

     

    If you’ve already found a couple of these caches, that’s fine - give us a chance to find the cache, and then we may turn to you for a hint. Suggestions and ''Count me ins'' are welcome on the event page.

     

    ----

     

    The Nanaimo Cache Machine FAQ:

     

    When is it? When is the start time?

    Saturday, June 18, 2016. Start time is 5:15 a.m. at GC1VE5R, Stache the Cache #2.

     

    Will it be one large group, will we be split into teams, or what?

    We'll start as one large group, but after a dozen caches or so, the large groups will likely fragment, and on a long day like this, you'll probably be on your own by the time most people in town are waking up.

     

    Is anything going on before, during, or after?

    Friday, June 17, at 6:30 PM: An informal pre-event dinner will be at a location to be announced, probably a Nanaimo bar... umm, Nanaimo pub, I mean. Last-minute changes will be announced at this dinner and here in the Groundspeak forum.

    Saturday, June 18, at 5:15 AM: Cache machine begins!

    Saturday, June 18, at 7:45 PM: Dinner will be at at Boston Pizza, 5779 Turner Rd (N 49° 13.455, W 124° 02.186). It’s listed as an event cache, GC6GNKH. RSVP at the event cache page. If there's more than 60 of us, additional seating will be on the patio.

    Sunday, June 19: Nothing's planned, but you're welcome to get all of the caches we drove past on Saturday making you say, "hey, why aren't we getting that one?"

     

    Hey, why aren't we getting that one?

    My standard answer here is that I try to avoid most multicaches, most puzzle caches, caches that appear to be overly time consuming, and caches that the owner has asked us to avoid. I'm also skipping caches that just seem at first glance to be a little lame, because there's so many caches and so little time. However, for this cache machine, there's nearly 1000 caches within a 7 mile radius, so I'm focusing heavily on caches that have more than 15 favorite points (as of late April). Specifically, I downloaded a pocket query of 1000 caches, marked all the traditionals with 16 or more favorite points, routed between them, and filled in the gaps.

     

    A cache on your map shows the wrong place to park.

    Hey, that road doesn't exist!

    What's with making us ford the Columbia River?

    Thanks for catching that! Let me know, and I'll incorporate it your fix into the route.

     

    If dinner's at 7:45 p.m., why does the route go to 11:00? Is this a two-day event? Is this Spinal Tap?

    The extra time is a buffer, in case you're so good that you'd run out of caches before you run out of daylight. I don't expect anyone would be able to hit all of them between sunrise and sunset. Of course, if you wanted to hit them after dinner, or on Sunday, I'm sure you'll be able to find folks to join you.

     

    It sounds fun, but I've already found some of them.

    Then come laugh at us, try to remember where they were, look at the old logbook signatures, or guess when we'll be at the caches you haven't hit yet. Maybe pass your phone number around for us to call when we get stumped.

     

    You have X cache on the route, but it's disabled/archived/a long hike.

    Let me know, and I'll remove it from the route (if archived) or may check with the owner (if disabled).

     

    X cache is in an environmentally sensitive area.

    My cache is physically fragile and I don't want it broken.

    By all means, let me know. I don't want to send 100 people there to stomp all over it.

     

    I disagree with the whole idea of cache machines. I don't want you finding my cache.

    Sorry to hear that. It's too bad you've got a neat place to show us that we won't be able to see. Let me know, and I'll remove it from the route.

     

    What's this gonna cost me?

    Nothing for the caching. Or, at least, nothing more than it would cost than if you did the trip solo (e.g., paying for your own gas, hotel, and dinner). I'm not collecting any money for this. Hotels seem to be a little more expensive than normal cache machines. Ferry fare should also be a consideration. BC Ferries from Tswassen or Vancouver is about $75 CAD each way, plus $15 reservation fee; the MV Coho from Port Angeles is about $64 USD, plus $11 reservation fee.

     

    Papers, please? What do I need to get across the border?

    I'm no expert in international travel, but the MV Coho's site says that for most of you, an Enhanced Drivers License is good enough. Of course, if you bring a passport (or, like me, if your Nexus card comes through in time!), you're golden.

     

    Lunch? Breaks? Bathrooms?

    There's no breaks in cache machines! Just hold it. :-P Or find something on the way.

     

    Rain? Snow? Landslides? Flooding? Really big staircases? Tim Hortons?

    Probably, yes. Do what you safely can, and skip ahead when reality or your capabilities don't match the plan. Be prepared and flexible.

     

    What do the map symbols mean?

    Turquoise lines show my suggested route, but if there's a brown trail or grey road that I've drawn in, ignore the turquoise. Red car icons show places to park a car for a short time (usually a trailhead).

    ce16d180-40c2-423d-a3ab-b976b7b4a2b2.jpg

     

    (Edit: clarifying ferry fare currency)

    Tri-Cities Cache Machine III

    in Northwest

    Posted

    Congrats to Travis for #4000 at GC4YEY8 on the TriCities Cache Machine III! It only took ya 15 years. :lol:

     

    Thanks! About 80 caches per machine, 47 machines, and a few extras along the way ... yup, that's about right. I'm on track to hit #5000 at the Shelton CM in 2018.

    Tri-Cities Cache Machine III

    in Northwest

    Posted

    Last minute updates:

    1) Reminder that dinner is at 7:30. Early arrivals may or may not be seated.

    2) The cache owner has asked that stop 30, GC5XVR Grandpa's Toy Box, be added to the Do Not Hunt list. Don't hunt it on Saturday. Hunt it Sunday. It's really cool.

    3) Three caches were DNFed today by a better cacher than me: stop 12 GC185WP Yakima Delta Crossroad; stop 25 GC4AX5W Camo Berry; and stop 87 GC54G07 P08 River Park.

    4) Contrary to my fears, stop 22, GC4Z1H4 TC 2014-R05 Archery, is not submerged. The path to it is muddy, however.

    5) On "Page 3" of the route (page 5 of the PDF), stops 10-17 show a counterclockwise loop trail. Note at the northwest corner of the loop, you'll need to unintuitively head 0.15 miles past stop 14 to get to the intersection to continue the loop. No need to backtrack.

     

    See you tomorrow morning!

    Tri-Cities Cache Machine III

    in Northwest

    Posted

    1) The final route is up!

     

    2) Based on the "will attend" logs (I read them all!) I'm telling Stick+Stone that we're expecting about 65 people for dinner. Do not arrive before 7:30 and expect to be fed. You might be, but probably not.

     

    3) For us wet-siders: Current weather reports for Friday say that travel in the passes should be fine. Sunday... it's a little sketchier, but forecasts that far out can be unreliable.

     

    4) As noted in last week's forum posts, GC1869N needs maintenance, so it's off the route. That also makes GC6BAD6 too long of a hike to do on its own, so it's off. GC3DV5H has been removed at the owner's request. GC5KZV4 and GC4VYQV have been maintained and are back in business (although I accidentally left the :( icon on GC4VYQV).

     

    5) A report from March 9 says that stop 22, GC4Z1H4, is submerged in the high-flowing Yakima River. I've left it on the route -- there's five caches accessed from the same parking spot -- but it's probably inaccessible.

     

    5) Some of the "Geocoin Challenge" caches are archived. The code words for the archived caches are provided in the route packet. Jen, the ranger and recreation assistant for the City of Richland Parks and Public Facilities, will also be handing out the updated geocoin challenge form at the start of the route and at the lunch event. The code word for GC4Z1H4, the submerged-but-not-archived cache, is not provided.

     

    I'll see many of you on Friday, and all y'all on Saturday!

    Tri-Cities Cache Machine III

    in Northwest

    Posted

    Two things:

     

    1) Draft 3 is up! I'll have the final route posted on Monday, March 14.

     

    2) If you haven't already RSVPed for dinner, please do so on the event page. I'm counting 49 attendees, and the more accurate I can make the dinner count, the easier it will be on the restaurant (for proper staffing and potentially excluding all muggles), on you (having sufficient food and seating), and on me (the stress of overpromising attendance to the restaurant). If you have RSVPed and your plans change, please delete your "will attend" log.

    Tri-Cities Cache Machine III

    in Northwest

    Posted

    Hooray for lunch stops! I'll be adding GCSEWA's Lunch with a View of The Island. event cache to the route; please click on over and let them know you'll be there so they can have enough food. My current un-released draft has us arriving there at around 1 PM, and it's centrally located with quick freeway access, so if you're really slow, if you're really fast, if you've skipped the early morning hikes, or if you've have already found a lot of the early caches, it'll be quick and easy to detour to. They'll be serving up lunch (for a donation) from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

    Tri-Cities Cache Machine III

    in Northwest

    Posted

    I would like it if you took 76, off list, it is mine and to many people will invite the law, also remove 45, its mine also, not safe for a lot of cars, maybe add GC5RDNA. 19 is in a very popular grave yard and it is very busy on Saturdays, so it wouldn't be good to piss the grave yard owners off.

    Could you give me the cache names or GC numbers? On draft 2, #76 isn't yours, but #45 is (GC2ZM5J Don't Subscribe it Reduces Cache Time!). On draft 1, #45 isn't yours, but #76 is (GC20J6V Secret Hiding Place, now stop #92). Are these the two you're thinking of?

    Tri-Cities Cache Machine III

    in Northwest

    Posted

    #76 Secret Hiding Place is a D5*.
    Good catch. It normally wouldn't be on the route, but I'm gonna chance it on this one. Sounds like a unique container that's difficult to find, but with enough eyes, it should be a decent hunt.

     

    You might also want to make the relevant bits under 'what's going on before/during/after' red, as well, since they are unique to this event.
    Next time. Too late to edit, and not worth bothering a moderator.

     

    Surprised that there are still coins left two years later!
    Me, too, and I'm not making any promises. Conceivably, they could all be gone by the start of the CM, and I think it's likely that if there are any left, there won't be enough for everyone who gets their finds on the CM weekend. I plan on trying to get one, but -- just like caching itself -- it's more about the hunt than the actual physical object at the end.

     

    Some additional info, for what it's worth:

     

    • I know that many potential participants have already found several caches on the route, so Draft 2 is up. I probably released draft 1 sooner than I should have, but I wanted to get myself moving. Sorry for doing this twice to you in one week, JHolly.
    • It's looking like I'm adding another 20 quality caches (which extends the route 3½ hours past dinner), but as always, I don't expect anyone to get them all (except the Cache Menagerie :laughing: ).
    • If you encounter a lame cache on this route, it's probably one of three reasons: 1) It's been around for so long, it's gotten favorite points from people who don't know better; 2) It's along the walk to another, better cache; or 3) The driving distance between caches is so far (oh no! two miles!) that I figure you need a stop. Trust me, if you've got live cache data or a huge pocket query, you'll be spending a lot of time this weekend saying, "hey, there's a cache right there... and there it goes," as you drive past it.
    • Conversely, if there's a neat cache spot that isn't on the route, and it's pretty close to the path we're travelling, I'd love to hear about it. I might have just overlooked it.
    • I've just booked my room at GuestHouse Suites, 5616 West Clearwater Avenue, Kennewick. On Priceline (listed, not name-your-own-price) for two nights, it's $114.18. It gets mostly favorable reviews on TripAdvisor. There's no reason you need to stay there, but there's a data point for you.

    Tri-Cities Cache Machine III

    in Northwest

    Posted · Edited by travisl

    I knew I should not have gone to the 2015 geocoin event, 12 caches found on this list.
    I've got nine, from Tri-Cities CM I and II. I bet a lot of us are in the same boat. I should add several more to the route to make up for this. Heaven knows there's no shortage around here!

     

    #23 - GC4AX5W - Several DNF logs indicate the cache was underwater from a high river. Gone?
    The full set of logs indicate that this is a real tough one to find and has some GPS drift. I bet it's still there.

     

    #61 - GC4VYQV - Last two were DNF.
    After 268 consecutive finds. Yeah, it's gone. I'll keep an eye on this one. It's one of the Pasco geocoin caches, so hopefully the park people will replace it.

     

    #88 has several recent DNF's but they appear to be from brand new caches, so I'll reserve judgement.
    Agreed. Nooooobs! :lol:

     

    Is #39 11 Bateman Island Paddle Trail really supposed to be on the route? It's a T5* paddle cache...
    Nope. I just upgraded GSAK last week (my previous version was so old, it didn't know the concept of "favorites"), and managed to accidentally get a bunch of five-star terrain or difficulty caches into my database. With the process I use, I can't easily get them out, so if you spot any more, don't hesitate to let me know. As you know, I try to keep things at four-star or easier.

    Tri-Cities Cache Machine III

    in Northwest

    Posted · Edited by travisl

    Note: circumstances may change after this initial posting. Look for my posts (with the icon13.gif icon) in this thread for all the important details and changes. If you think you've seen this all before, focus on the unique-to-this-event information in red.

     

    (Link to dinner event cache.)

     

    The tri-cities are Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. So many caches. So little time. The Yakima, the Snake, and the Columbia Rivers all converge here. We will too, for the third time. Let's do this.

     

    So fill up the tank, grab your gear, toss down some breakfast at way-too-early o'clock, and start on the route in Richland at GC67B2H, Geo HoHoHo 2015 Holiday Memes 10. Sunrise on Saturday, March 19, is around 6:15 a.m., so we'll start then. From there, move at your own pace and get as many as you can.

     

    Dinner's at 7:30 p.m. at Stick+Stone, 3027 Duportail St, Richland (N 46° 15.312 W 119° 18.918). It’s listed as an event cache, GC67ADY. See its event page for details. Please log your "will attends" on the event page so I can let the restaurant know if we're going to take over or just be a big part of their night.

     

    *NEW*: Your "will attend" logs are very important for this event. I'll be adding them all up on Monday, March 14 to give the restaurant a head count. If we're more than 60 adults, we'll have the restaurant to ourselves. See the event page for details.

     

    Note that some caches on the route map may be marked with a "do not enter" icon icon_disabled.gif. Those cache owners have justifiably asked for their cache to not be on the route, and for the cache to not be sought during the cache machine. The cache is, in the owner's opinion, in a sensitive area, whether it's environmentally unwise, socially sensitive, or physically fragile. Just don't get it. It's not like there's a shortage of caches in the area.

     

    Rules:

    1) Follow all traffic laws, and drive safely. This is not a race; there are no winners. The only loser will be someone who gets hurt. When someone asks what you're doing, the right answer is honesty: "geocaching".

     

    2) Respect private property, even if the cache owner didn't. Post your DNFs proudly.

     

    3) One logbook entry for "TCCM3" is fine for most small and micros. Don't go filling up the logbook just because you want to mark your territory. 100 people's names and dates will fill up most one-sheets. Be kind and bring extra paper to add to caches with full logbooks.

     

    4) As with all cache machines, if you find the cache, you'll be the one who has to re-hide it. Hide it as well as you found it. Handing it off to someone else and pointing down saying "it goes there" isn't good enough. Don't be a jerk. The extra 45 seconds isn't going to ruin your day.

     

    If you’ve already found a couple of these caches, that’s fine - give us a chance to find the cache, and then we may turn to you for a hint. Suggestions and ''Count me ins'' are welcome on the event page.

     

    ----

     

    The Tri-Cities Cache Machine III FAQ:

     

    When is it? When is the start time?

    Saturday, March 19, 2016. Start time is 6:15 a.m. at GC67B2H, Geo HoHoHo 2015 Holiday Memes 10.

     

    Will it be one large group, will we be split into teams, or what?

    We'll start as one large group, but after a dozen caches or so, the large groups will likely fragment, and on a long day like this, you'll probably be on your own by the time most people in town are waking up.

     

    Is anything going on before, during, or after?

    Friday, March 18, at 6:30 PM: An informal pre-event dinner will be at Atomic Ale, 1015 Lee Blvd, Richland, WA, 46.2747, -119.2774. Last-minute changes will be announced at this dinner and here in the Groundspeak forum.

    Saturday, March 19, at 6:15 AM: Cache machine begins!

    Saturday, March 19, at 7:30 PM: Dinner will be at at Stick+Stone, 3027 Duportail St, Richland (N 46° 15.312 W 119° 18.918). RSVP at the event cache page, GC67ADY. If there's more than 60 of us expected, early arrivals may not get a seat until the start time of 7:30 PM.

    Sunday, March 20: Nothing's planned, but you're welcome to get all of the caches we drove past on Saturday making you say, "hey, why aren't we getting that one?"

     

    Hey, why aren't we getting that one?

    My standard answer here is that I try to avoid most multicaches, most puzzle caches, caches that appear to be overly time consuming, and caches that the owner has asked us to avoid. I'm also skipping caches that just seem at first glance to be a little lame, because there's so many caches and so little time. However, for this cache machine, there's nearly 1000 caches within a 7 mile radius, so I'm focusing heavily on caches that have more than 10 favorite points (as of early February) or that might help you get the 2014 Tri-Cities Geocoin.

     

    Geocoin?

    As of early January, there were a couple dozen 2014 Tri-Cities Geocoins left to claim. Most of the caches needed to claim these are on the route. Supplies are limited. Good luck.

     

    A cache on your map shows the wrong place to park.

    Hey, that road doesn't exist!

    What's with making us ford the Columbia River?

    Thanks for catching that! Let me know, and I'll incorporate it your fix into the route.

     

    If dinner's at 7:30 p.m., why does the route go to 10:00? Is this a two-day event?

    The extra time is a buffer, in case you're so good that you'd run out of caches before you run out of daylight. I don't expect anyone would be able to hit all of them between sunrise and sunset. Of course, if you wanted to hit them after dinner, or on Sunday, I'm sure you'll be able to find folks to join you.

     

    It sounds fun, but I've already found some of them.

    Then come laugh at us, try to remember where they were, look at the old logbook signatures, or guess when we'll be at the caches you haven't hit yet. Maybe pass your phone number around for us to call when we get stumped.

     

    You have X cache on the route, but it's disabled/archived/a long hike.

    Let me know, and I'll remove it from the route (if archived) or may check with the owner (if disabled).

     

    X cache is in an environmentally sensitive area.

    My cache is physically fragile and I don't want it broken.

    By all means, let me know. I don't want to send 100 people there to stomp all over it.

     

    I disagree with the whole idea of cache machines. I don't want you finding my cache.

    Sorry to hear that. It's too bad you've got a neat place to show us that we won't be able to see. Let me know, and I'll remove it from the route.

     

    What's this gonna cost me?

    Nothing for the caching. Or, at least, nothing more than it would cost than if you did the trip solo (e.g., paying for your own gas, hotel, and dinner). I'm not collecting any money for this. Dinner is a flat $20 per person, drink, tax, and tip incuded (beer and wine extra).

     

    Lunch? Breaks? Bathrooms?

    There's no breaks in cache machines! Just hold it. :-P Or find something on the way.

     

    Rain? Snow? Landslides? Flooding? Rattlesnakes?

    Probably, yes. Do what you safely can, and skip ahead when reality or your capabilities don't match the plan. Be prepared and flexible.

     

    What do the map symbols mean?

    Turquoise lines show my suggested route, but if there's a brown trail or grey road that I've drawn in, ignore the turquoise. Red car icons show places to park a car for a short time.

    ce16d180-40c2-423d-a3ab-b976b7b4a2b2.jpg

    Whidbey Island Cache Machine II

    in Northwest

    Posted

    Last minute changes and announcements:

    • Watch out for deer, especially around sunrise and dusk. I encountered four of them this evening between Coupeville and Oak Harbor.
    • Watch out for black ice. Even at the height of the day, shady areas will still be slick.
    • Please tread lightly, but especially so around the State Park caches.
    • Stop 3, Thorn Berry, is likely missing. The thorns were mowed, and the cache likely was, too.
    • Way ahead of schedule? I'm told that the three off-route caches along Madrona Way (after stop 25 into Coupeville) make for a beautiful drive.
    • Front Street in Coupeville is one way -- the wrong way. Do stops 32, 31, and 30 in that order.
    • As noted above, stops 73 and 75, Flintstone Folly and Two-timer, are disabled.
    • One of the caches on the "do not hunt" list is actually available to hunt: GC3VK23, Cachers Vs Muggles, is near the last few stops on the route. Note its unique logging requirements.
    • For dinner tomorrow, we'll be in the party room in the back of the restaurant. Tell them you're with Travis.

     

    See you for a chilly Machine tomorrow!

    Whidbey Island Cache Machine II

    in Northwest

    Posted

    Bookmark has been updated

    Thanks for doing this. You probably don't realize how many people use this, but I've gotten several e-mails in the last 24 hours -- "is the bookmark list up yet?" -- so know that your work is appreciated by many.

     

    WatchdogsMike [has] decided to leave the Ft Casey State Park cache on the CM so that people can get their passport stamps during this weekend.

    I'll mention it on Friday, but I'm also saying it now -- keeping this cache on the route was a marginal call. Please tread lightly around it and the other state park caches.

    Whidbey Island Cache Machine II

    in Northwest

    Posted

    Now to get the bookmark list transferred to my GPS. Does the bookmark list (as revised on 12/11/15) need to be updated further? Probably with the coffee/cookie stop, but haven't scrutinized for any other chances.

     

    The bookmark update hasn't happened yet. JHolly will get to them when he gets to them, but if you need it now, I think the only changes are the addition of the coffee stop event (Book-It to Coupeville) and the removal of JJ's Awesome Cache. There may be a couple more, but that's what I remember changing yesterday.

    Whidbey Island Cache Machine II

    in Northwest

    Posted

    I'll be posting the final route on Monday, December 28. A few updates that will make it into the final but which you may want to know about now:

    - The Friday pre-event dinner (not an event) will be at Island Cafe, 32070 SR 20, Oak Harbor, 48.29622,-122.65432.

    - The lunch stop is now a coffee/cookie stop (GC number pending) at the Coupeville Library, drop in between 11 AM and 2 PM. Much appreciation, Ubie!

    Whidbey Island Cache Machine II

    in Northwest

    Posted

    Note: circumstances may change after this initial posting. Look for my posts (with the icon13.gif icon) in this thread for all the important details and changes.

     

    (Link to dinner event cache.)

     

    Whidbey Island: From the stores and marinas of Oak Harbor, to the frothy waters churning beneath the Deception Pass Bridge, to the windswept isolation of Ebey Bluffs, this will be a cache machine to remember. Let's go back.

     

    So fill up the tank, grab your gear, toss down some breakfast at way-too-early o'clock, and start on the route in Oak Harbor at GC3T3GX, Please Return!. Sunrise on Saturday, January 2, is around 7:30 a.m., so we'll start then. From there, move at your own pace and get as many as you can.

     

    Dinner's at 5:00 p.m. at DH Buffet, 551 NE Midway Blvd, Oak Harbor (N 48° 18.162 W 122° 38.628). It’s listed as an event cache, GC67ADY. See its event page for details. Please log your "will attends" on the event page.

     

    Note that some caches on the route map may be marked with a "do not enter" icon icon_disabled.gif. Those cache owners have justifiably asked for their cache to not be on the route, and for the cache to not be sought during the cache machine. The cache is, in the owner's opinion, in a sensitive area, whether it's environmentally unwise, socially sensitive, or physically fragile. Just don't get it. It's not like there's a shortage of caches in the area.

     

    Rules:

    1) Follow all traffic laws, and drive safely. This is not a race; there are no winners. The only loser will be someone who gets hurt. When someone asks what you're doing, the right answer is honesty: "geocaching".

     

    2) Respect private property, even if the cache owner didn't. Post your DNFs proudly.

     

    3) One logbook entry for "QCM" is fine for most small and micros. Don't go filling up the logbook just because you want to mark your territory. 100 people's names and dates will fill up most one-sheets. Be kind and bring extra paper to add to caches with full logbooks. For the WildWest series, the cache owner suggests touch-and-go logging instead of removing and re-inserting the logbooks, which would require a tool.

     

    4) As with all cache machines, if you find the cache, you'll be the one who has to re-hide it. Hide it as well as you found it. Handing it off to someone else and pointing down saying "it goes there" isn't good enough. Don't be a jerk. The extra 45 seconds isn't going to ruin your day.

     

    If you’ve already found a couple of these caches, that’s fine - give us a chance to find the cache, and then we may turn to you for a hint. Suggestions and ''Count me ins'' are welcome on the event page.

     

    ----

     

    The Whidbey Island Cache Machine II FAQ:

     

    When is it? When is the start time?

    Saturday, January 2, 2016. Start time is 7:30 a.m. at GC3T3GX, Please Return!.

     

    Will it be one large group, will we be split into teams, or what?

    We'll start as one large group, but after a dozen caches or so, the large groups will likely fragment, and on a long day like this, you'll probably be on your own by the time most people in town are waking up.

     

    Is anything going on before, during, or after?

    • Friday, January 1, at 6:30 PM: An informal pre-event dinner will be at a location TBD. Last-minute changes will be announced here and in the Groundspeak forum.
    • Saturday, January 2, at 7:30 AM: Cache machine begins!
    • Saturday, January 2, at around noon: Ubie is hosting coffee and cookies at the Coupeville Library. Details forthcoming.
    • Saturday, January 2, at 5:00 PM: Dinner will be at at DH Buffet, 551 NE Midway Blvd, Oak Harbor (N 48° 18.162 W 122° 38.628). It’s listed as an event cache, GC67ADY.
    • Sunday, January 3: Nothing's planned, but there's a 32-cache power trail outside of Coupville that might interest you.

     

    A cache on your map shows the wrong place to park.

    Hey, that road doesn't exist!

    What's with making us ford the Columbia River?

    Thanks for catching that! Let me know, and I'll incorporate it into the route.

     

    If dinner's at 5:00 p.m., why does the route go to 7:30? Is this a two-day event?

    The extra time is a buffer, in case you're so good that you'd run out of caches before you run out of daylight. I don't expect anyone would be able to hit all of them between sunrise and sunset. Of course, if you wanted to hit them after dinner, or on Sunday, I'm sure you'll be able to find folks to join you.

     

    It sounds fun, but I've already found some of them.

    Then come laugh at us, try to remember where they were, look at the old logbook signatures, or guess when we'll be at the caches you haven't hit yet. Maybe pass your phone number around for us to call when we get stumped.

     

    You don't have X cache on the route. Why aren't we getting that one?

    I try to avoid most multicaches, most puzzle caches, caches that appear to be overly time consuming, and caches that the owner has asked us to avoid. I'm also skipping caches that just seem at first glance to be a little lame, because there's so many caches and so little time. Don't worry, though, I've still got some parking lot caches for you.

     

    You have X cache on the route, but it's disabled/archived/a long hike.

    Let me know, and I'll remove it from the route (if archived) or may check with the owner (if disabled). Yes, Ebey Bluffs is a long 3.3 mile round trip hike, but the nine caches out there are so worth it.

     

    X cache is in an environmentally sensitive area.

    My cache is physically fragile and I don't want it broken.

    By all means, let me know. I don't want to send 100 people there to stomp all over it.

     

    I disagree with the whole idea of cache machines. I don't want you finding my cache.

    Sorry to hear that. It's too bad you've got a neat place to show us that we won't be able to see. Let me know, and I'll remove it from the route.

     

    What's this gonna cost me?

    Nothing for the caching. Or, at least, nothing more than it would cost than if you did the trip solo (e.g., paying for your own gas, hotel, and dinner). I'm not collecting any money for this.

     

    Lunch? Breaks? Bathrooms?

    There's no breaks in cache machines! Just hold it. :-P Or find something on the way.

     

    Rain? Snow? Landslides? Flooding? Rattlesnakes?

    Probably, yes. Do what you safely can, and skip ahead when reality or your capabilities don't match the plan. Be prepared and flexible. *NEW* There's lots of deer on the island. Drive accordingly. I mean, they're not like the moose in Maine, but they'll still do a number on your car. *NEW*

     

    What do the map symbols mean?

    Turquoise lines show my suggested route, but if there's a brown trail or grey road that I've drawn in, ignore the turquoise. Red car icons show places to leave a car for a short time.

    ce16d180-40c2-423d-a3ab-b976b7b4a2b2.jpg

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