Magic Phil

Thanks Noncentric but that page isn't really what I'm looking for!!

Hi all, despite looking through dozens of old posts on this subject I can't really find a definitive answer! Is there a "league" table that shows the most travelled or most picked up or most anything related to a travel bug? I took a bug out into the world several years ago and finally released it in Central park New York around 5 years ago. It has travelled over 49000 miles and is currently running about in the USA again. I'm just curious as to where in any tables it might land! I have no ambitions of it being top of the list or anything but would love to know where it might sit!! Btw...it's called Dudley's Travels and is owned by the Pritchardos. Dudley was a very special and loving dog and this bug is dedicated to him. One day we hope the bug will get back to the UK and we'll go and collect him...whever it might be!! Thanks all... Magic Phil

Hello there, my very first ever cache finds were done using a Tom tom gps. While they are ok for getting you near your GZ they are no match for a gps device. If you have access to a smartphone then there a plethora of free apps that can greatly improve your geocaching and you'll see the difference between being near to a geocache gz with a Tom Tom and being practically stood on it using a smartphone or gps tracker.!!

I'd love to receive mystery coins but have no idea how to give out my address in a safe manner!! I also have a couple of coins that (as yet) are unactivated and would possibly like to send out as mysteries but have no idea how to get an address! Although I meet other cachers out in the field quite often I also have friends in other parts of the world (see my map!) that I'd like to gift! Any ideas of suggestions would be lovely, thanks in advance! Magic Phil

I happen to be in the "wont-pay-for-premium" camp. I don't need the so-called bonus extras you get for the pricier UK membership. I like to play the game for the sake of playing the game. If premium members want to have their own game within a game then it's no skin off of my nose! I spent just as much time as anyone else developing and hiding my caches and I get a buzz when ANY grade member finds them. What I HATE is when the "holier-than-thou" brigade start whinging and whining about basic members (even calling them Freeloaders in one case) who have legitimate concerns and complaints about a hobby they love. I wonder how many caches placed by basic members they have found and logged and then displayed proudly on their stat pages showing just how wonderful they are? I really like the Groundspeak website and facility it offers and I actually get by just fine without the premium features. If I don't see or find premium only caches then so what? There are PLENTY of non-premium only caches out there to find. In my own humble opinion it's the cache owner that loses out...less finds and appreciation of their efforts. I know there will be members who flame me and try to run my comments down but, as I call them, the "holier-than-thou" brigade demand their pound of flesh, I also respect the right of reply as long as it's constructive and pertinant, but the "go somewhere else" gang can just go somewhere else themselves!! Oh, just for the info....I use the official app, bought and paid for. I ALSO use other apps that give me all the functionality I need for free too!! I love geocaching, I've found caches all around the world. Only one or two of them were premiums at the time!! I will be a cacher 'til my signal drops off forever!! Phil

You could, but let me explain how that program works. It "scrapes" the Geocaching website taking its data directly from the webpage. It is considered to effectively stealing the data. Because it doesn't take the data in the official manner it often stops working when Geocaching make changes to its website. Other programs (aside from the "official" one) use the Geocaching API which is a protocol developed by Geocaching which allows outside programs take the data from the website in a controlled manner. There are some that are free. You can see them at http://www.geocaching.com/live/partners/. How do you think Geocaching affords to maintain its data farms; pay developers to enhance the features of the website; etc? A lot of it comes from the paying Premium members such as me who have paid the $30 sub. I resent people freeloading on my contribution. How much does a cup of coffee or a Big Mac cost where you are? $4? $5? Skip your next hamburger and coffee and instead load an API app. Then go out find a few more caches. If you like it, pay for a premium membership which will give you better access to the site. Seriously????? FREELOADING????? Only a stuck-up, pretentious snob would say something like that..... How many caches placed by basic members have you found? We have just as much right to find seek and use the site and it's resource as you. Just because some of us don't require pocket queries or favourites etc doesn't mean we FREELOAD. Some of us just pay to use the gs app....so before you jump down people's throats with your holier than thou attitude perhaps you might look in the mirror and see who uses the efforts of those supposedly freeloading basic members. You have no more RIGHT than anyone on this site. Deal with it. People like you make this site a real nasty place to be sometimes.

Ok ok...I admit I didn't trawl back through the old posts to check if this discussion has raised it's ugly head before and for that I apologise. Thank you to everyone that posted a reply as it has given me a slightly different perspective in regard to premium caches and the folk that place them, even the snobbish ( ) sounding ones!!! I now understand why some folk choose to go premium only but that still doesn't quell my frustration when I am literally surrounded by hundreds of them which I can't filter out of my searches!!!!! Interestingly, the split in opinions here tells me this is a debate that will roll on and on for ages yet despite the childish attitudes expressed in some posts...and I include myself in that comment after re-reading my original post and picking my toys up off of the floor whence they had been thrown by me as I wrote it..!!! Once again, thank you ALL for the input, I consider myself heard and enlightened!! oh.... and considering getting cable so I can give it up and save!! Magic Phil

No, you missed the point. Some cachers are better than others. Please stop expressing your opinion until you are granted permission to do so. Love it!!

Actually no I don't!

I totally agree with the comment that folk will happily go find multiple caches and good luck to them, but I have no filters to play with!! I simply cannot afford the money to upgrade my membership as every penny I earn is gone as soon as I earn it!! Life is hard folks!! lol MP

Well, he'd have to become a premium member first to use the ignore list! But great advice, of course. And observation, in that they will still be placed, and not only will others find them, MANY others will find them. I have just about 500 ignored caches in my 50 mile notification radius. And no, I'm not bragging. Have been accused of that in the past.

Hello all, I recently attempted to download the cache details of what looks like a great cach only to find it was premium members only. When I emailed the owner I got the reply "...because I needed permission to place it" and "...it stops thieves". Ok...the stealing part I can maybe understand if the container was special or contained something shinier than normal, but the permission part????? Why should that make a difference? The cache concerned is on a public footpath, for heavens sake! Premium members have absolutely no problems seeking out basic member caches and logging them but REALLY don't like us non-premium members having access to thiers. Not everyone can afford the money to pay for membership and the arguement "...it only costs £0.whatever a day" is frankly insulting. If a two-tier eliteist system is going to exist then why does the site promote a community atmosphere when so many are excluded from some of the caches? Please understand that not ALL premium members are so snobby, most are enlightened enough to know we are all playing the same game! I don't need premium membership as pocket queries etc are pretty much useless to me and I can d/l and find caches quite easily thank you and the other benefits, again, are not for me. All I want is an equal playing field for EVERYONE. Lets rid ourselves of premium only caches and if you want to pay for the other stuff...then do so!! I know the flamers will have a field day with this (all premium members probably!!) but I AM entitled to voice my opinion...even if it doesn't coincide with yours!! Magic Phil.

Hi all, Just as a starter....I LOVE geocaching!! Why do some geocachers seem to think that they need to put out dozens and dozens of pointless boring caches seemingly for the sake of it? Where I live there are 3 cachers that have literally littered the area with caches all 161m apart as per cache location rules. Not only are they boring but also they seem to be there for the owner's sake...kudos maybe? If the caches were interesting or had any point to them I would happily go for the so-called series' but this kind of blanket cache'ing ruins the fun in my humble opinion if all you have to do is walk 161m (without a gps) and look for the most likely spot assuming you don't trip over the container in the meantime!! Anyway...rant over!!! Magic Phil

Oh my word.... after reading this it brings to mind a cache I recently found in Bridgnorth Shropshire,,,my pen decided it was not going to work so I took a pic of me in the cache location along with the cache container (which I had opened) and uploaded it to the site. I class this as FOUND and I would expect the owner to accept this too! There seems to be a clique of people who seem to think that the find has to be EXACTLY as THEY decree (in terms of signing) and anything else is unacceptable..what rot!! If I follow the gps and clues or work out the puzzles and discover the cache location and container then the spirit of Geocaching has been adhered to and the owner should accept this. Just my 2p worth!! Magic Phil.