Croesgadwr

First hand info coming your way...think hard before you buy the Etrex 10! Nothing wrong with it, but you'll be limited as regards specification, as previously stated. Consider the Etrex 20. First go to www.handtec.co.uk & check their price (approx £153), then go to go-outdoors.co.uk, they are selling it for £162, BUT they have a price promise that they will beat the competition by 10%. This brings their price down to £142.50, of course you've got to have a discount card to get it at that price...so add a fiver for one of those, and get the Etrex 20 for £147.50 inc postage, you can still use the discount card for up to twelve months...so, you could say that you've got the Etrex at the best price AND still benefit from the card on any future purchase from them. This is how I did it, I've had my E20 for about 10 days now and it works a treat. Consider your options carefully...Etrex 10 at about £100, or Etrex 20 for forty-odd quid more. You'll 'out-grow' one of them quickly...the other will 'do you' for much much longer.

Tutt, tutt...If I had just two finds under my belt, as you have, I'd suggest you need all the advice you can get...before going out and buying a GPS'r THEN finding you've 'cocked-up', excuse the british slang for 'making a mistake'! But please, go ahead and spend your cash!

Hi, until recently I used a Garmin Legend HCx Gps which is not a paperless device. At first I'd print off geocache & mapping info and take it with me on caching trips. After a couple of months I decided that this really was not what I wanted, so I purchased an old (but working) HP pda pocket pc. From then on I just PQ'd the cache info & "screen-print" maps onto the pda. It really made a difference, particularly when it was windy and I no longer had to struggle with bits of paper blowing away. That was up until last week when I bought a new Etrex 20, which is a paperless device. I still download maps to the pda, mainly because of its bigger screen size. If you have an old pda then I reckon you should be able to put it to good use in a geocaching application. Software is available free / cheap elsewhere on the geocaching site. Good luck with what ever you decide. Croesgadwr North Wales, UK.

As I stated earlier "It just wouldn't do if we all liked the same, it takes all sorts". Your opinion is as valid as that of anyone else....but give me the grass and trees any day.

For me its forests, woods & quarries... followed by caches placed along public footpaths, preferably leading to / from the former locations. I have a particular dislike of drive-by caches, in making that statement I have to admit that I do, reluctantly, do 'em from time to time. It just wouldn't do if we all liked the same, it takes all sorts!

You'll pay £142.55 for the etrex 20 from Go-outdoors, thats if you've got their discount card...if you havent then add a fiver. You'll get it at this price ONLY if you first go to handtec.co.uk and check the price there (£153 plus pence). Then use that price to 'pricecheck' the etrex 20 at go-outdoors. Send 'em an email, details on their website. They'll get back to you confirming the price (£142.55), you've then got a week to take them up on it! How do I know this...? Its what I've done, now expecting my etrex 20 to arrive in the next day or so. Add the talkytoaster maps and your away!! Go for it!!!

Theres no such thing as a dumb question... Any problems and you only need to ask and you will be enlightened. Welcome to the hobby.

If it was too easy then it wouldn't be fun. Bad days are all part of the trip, don't give it up... ITS A GREAT HOBBY! Croesgadwr North Wales UK

Welcome to the hobby. I'm sure you'll enjoy geocaching, its a great reason for getting out there! Croesgadwr North Wales UK

A warm welcome to the hobby, enjoy yourself, its supposed to be fun!! Croesgadwr North Wales

Welcome to the fantastic world of geocaching... Croesgadwr North Wales geocacher.

Hi, and welcome to the hobby. Remember theres always someone on the furum that can help you if you have a problem...there are no silly questions, so don't be afraid to ask if you need assistance.

I can't believe that the guys last statement suggested that geocaching was "addictive"....I thought it was much more than that!!

Personally I can't believe some of the comments made by my fellow cachers earlier in this blog. We all take on 'generic risks' whilst geocaching, but surely if a specific danger is noted during a search, the common sense thing to do is make it known to subsequent searchers as part of your log, and maybe even include a photo. I would consider it to be negligence not to do so. My heart goes out the family & friends of this unfortunate person. Croesgadwr, A North Wales geocacher.

Croesgadwr is 'Crusader' in the Welsh language... Am I on a crusade then? Nah, I just like the name!!

First step should be to check out those offered by talkytoaster.info Download and install the GB (or GB & Ireland if you prefer). Once you've used them for a while you'll probably not bother with anything else...they really are that good. I use the GB contoured map in my Garmin Legend Hcx, does what I want it to do & I've no complaints. Biggest tip...don't part with your money until you know exactly what you want from your new Etrex 20...

Check out handtec.co.uk they are selling the new etrex range at very good prices...once you've looked, do a price comparison at go-outdoors.co.uk. If go-outdoors are more expensive (probably will be!), then they've got a price promise to be 10% cheaper than the best price elsewhere (now making go-outdoors the cheapest). I use the Legend Hcx (also at a good price at handtec, but not as good a price as amazon!), and can confirm that its a good unit, add the free talkytoaster maps and the unit is even better! Its your choice, but a little bit of work can save a good few quid! Good luck. Croesgadwr North Wales

Hi, I use a Legend for geocaching... lets take your second question first, extra / additional maps are most certainly a benefit. Seems to be loads of free maps available (I'm UK based so can't help you with a US source of these freebies). Now then, you can create 'waypoints' (i.e. your starting point, parking area, camp site etc, the list is endless). Its easy to do this. When your out in the field just press the menu button (on the front), the unit will then ask if you want to store current location as a waypoint. You press 'Yes', and give it a short name via the screen which will appear. You can then see the waypoint you created via 'menu', 'Find' & 'Waypoint'...then just look for the name you gave it. You can retrace your steps back to base etc by following the on screen trace-line which was stored automatically when you set out at the start of your trip. It really is easier than I make it sound. One final tip...don't rely entirely on your GPS device until you know what your doing with it. You've got the technology, but learn to use it before you venture too far without backup. Good luck (its a good unit)

Once you've done this save the unzipped file as GMAPSUPP.IMG and place it in a folder called GARMIN. Then just pop the micro SD card into your GPS and your ready to play!! Good luck. I use the Legend Hcx and the above set up works well in it. I'm not familiar with the new Etrex models, so I bow my head to those who can supply you with more precise and up to date information on the new Garmin range. I'm sure you'll get good use out of your new device...good luck with it.

Once you've done this save the unzipped file as GMAPSUPP.IMG and place it in a folder called GARMIN. Then just pop the micro SD card into your GPS and your ready to play!! Good luck.

This might / might not be of any help, but worthy of a read just in case. https://market.android.com/details?id=nl.wlsoft.tfnxDroid&hl=en

Hi, my wife and I visited Puerto Rico in June of this year. At this point I should add that 'I' am the geocacher in the family, my wife just humours me when I mention it! We stayed in the Amadores area of the resort, at that time there were at least six caches within easy walking distance. I thought the best of them was GC1H27A, its hidden amongst the rocks just over the sea wall. It is rather a challenge to find... Anyway I hope enjoy your holiday. Best regards, Croesgadwr based in North Wales, UK.

Amazon have got what they call "True Utility TU46 Telescopic" pens at £4 each... might be worth having a look.

I've just read that entry to my wife...her answer was "How did they know it was the South Pole?" Well, what could I say other than "his sat nav told him"...

I'm totally in favour of new caching ideas, but personally I wouldn't bother searching for a cache of the type you've got in mind. Then again, who am I to suggest that you shouldn't place it? Croesgadwr