rcav8r

RE: multi-caches. Frankly, I was turned off on multi-caches because a lot of them around her made it too complicated. Go to XY coordinates, read the plaque, take the date on the plaque, subract XXX from that date, and that is your compass heading, or multiply this date times that, and those are your new coordinates. Crud, I wanted to have fun, not do math, OK? Oh, and lets not forget "take x step to the north from this point to get your new coordinates"...and that everyone has a different stride length.

For some reason, the plug in to download a cache to my PN-40 is not working. It worked fine on Friday, and now it's not working. I downloaded the plug-in to 2 different laptops, one vista, one windows 7. The little pop-up box keeps saying it doesn't see the plug-in. Using firefox 3.6, and plug-in 1.01 I believe. Is this happening to anyone else?

Henry, Was what Martinez said about Iron Eyes Cody true? I remember as a kid spending the "big bucks" for a hardcover of IEC's biography. Still have it.

According to my stats, I've been a member since 2002, have just 29 finds (in 2 states, maybe 3, since some of the finds were at the CA/NV border), and 2 hides (one still there). There have been LONG stretches of inactivity on my part. Life, y'know? I don't care for micros, never found one, never looked for one, I like the container caches. Micros aren't "containers" in my book. I've just ordered a DeLorme PN-40, simply so I can more easily use it with my non-serial interface laptop computers. My current GPS is a Lowrance globalmap 100. Firmware date is 2001. Serial interface. Can only use it with my desktop. OK, getting back on topic, I consider myself a geocacher, I don't care about the count. I care about the hobby. Hey, if seniority of join date was a factor, I'd be counted among the dinosaurs!

How about in Other, a category for those cool to gaudy fiberglass statues and similiar works of art? For example, a big boy statue wouldn't be anything, but a pink elephant at a gas station might be included. Or how about a moose at a pizza resturaunt (and you should see their delivery vehicles...) Tourist traps might have an overabudence of such things, but hopefully people will control themselves John

I just met a fellow geocacher for the first time today, on my first FTF. I was on my way out, and he on his way in. I thought something like this might happen, being a virgin cache. In fact, I was surprised to get FTF, since the weekly notice came out thursday night, and I found the cache at about 11AM Friday. John

yer lucky. I lost my first GPS years ago, before geocaching...probably before dirt... It was a eagle 12, I was deer hunting. I had it in my coat pocket, and the strap must have gotten caught on a branch and pulled out. Never noticed it until I got to my spot. Gone for good, although I know what wood they're in... John

Can someone summarize what operating systems are required for the more common geocaching software for palms/PDA's require? I'm kinda looking for one too, but don't want one that can't run geocaching software. John

I notice that "tool" has the communist star on it. I always thought vodka came with screw-on caps nowadays, but I could be wrong!

actually, I would not used the pewter with lead in it. I'd used the lead free pewter. If lead wasn't relatively dangerous, I'd use the 100+ pounds I have from my bullet casting days. Anyone wanna swap lead for lead free pewter? hmmm....just a thought....how about powder coating lead? Powder coating works at 400 deg. F, while lead melts somewhere around 600-800F (don't remember exactly what). According to one site that sells pewter in bars, its 90% tin (or more, depending on which type). John

This thread was the closest thing I could find to making my own coins via casting or stamping. The pewter is a good idea, didn't think of that, was thinking more like aluminum. Being a machinist, I could make an aluminum mold, just gotta have a design. I'd be intrested in learning more about making coins via stamping/striking, probably in a sheet of aluminum. got access to a 100 ton press, and it wouldn't be had to make one either just for this purpose. a google search on "homemade coins" or "coin making" didn't turn up anything relevent. John

After reading this thread, I'm gonna have to edit the "rules" on my TB hotel. I've come to the conclusion that TB's should be move on, and anyways, my first batch of TB's were gone in fairly short order from my TB hotel. That annoyed me at first, since I said "1 for 1" on TB's. Now I realize it just doesn't matter. It can't be enforced anyway. Besides, my TB hotel can be a real b***h to get to in the summer. I'll change it to something like "1 for 1 is encouraged but not necessary...take a TB if you can move it along, no need to trade anything for it. Just log it and move it to another cache. John

I have a Garmin 196, which is intended primarily for aviation use (and thats what I bought it for, originally). Problem is that the stubby antenna sucks, so I use the long one, which looks like the Gilsson. I think it has a 8' wire. Its a pain in the butt in the woods, but it works better than the stubby. I just toss the square thing in the dash window when driving, picks up the sats no problem. Perhaps someone could come up with a whip antenna... John

a few weeks ago, I saw an online video of someone shaking a 2 liter bottle....it blew up in his hand. The explosion filled the entire screen. They didn't show the aftermath of that, but I bet that kid was missing his hand afterwards. This was probably a dry-ice bomb. I don't know where the video is now. John

Re: Lead sig items Cause lead is a cumulative toxic substance. People are going to be handling these tokens/medallions, and may not know about washing hands after handling lead before eating or drinking, or putting their fingers or hands in body orfices (noses and mouths mostly! ) John

What about the ethics of taking out the trash items in a cache that isn't yours? Peeling stickers, wall tiles, battery packages that have fallen apart, etc? John

I've been wanting to make up a P-51D travel bug to go to England and the continent for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, have it travel around Europe, then back to the states. Don't think it'd have time to make it now, unless I mailed it directly to you. oh well John

One "signature" item I've thought of but have yet to implement was to make a mold out of steel (I'm a machinist) that looks like a benchmark, but has sort of a geocaching background with the lettering to have my name and hometown. I'm not sure how big I'd make them (about 2" I'm thinking), and would cast them in aluminum. I thought about sandcasting, but that seems to leave a too rough surface for my taste. Too bad I couldn't make them out of lead, that would be WAY simpler with an aluminum mold. John

yep. There it is. Oh well. Next year then! John

Maybe I missed it (hiding in plain sight?), but is there a deadline for sending the TB's to the start point address? John

no no no! y'need original lyrics! Something to the tune of Gilligans island theme song.... John

I lost my first GPS way before I knew about geocaching. It was during the deer hunt. I had scouted the area before, so I could find "my" spot in the dark before opening time. Took a few readings along the way, then tucked the GPS in my hunting coat pocket to navigate some brambles near the stand. Didn't need it again until I left. THATS when I discovered it was missing. Appearently the strap had been hanging out of the pocket, and it got snatched by the bushes and I didn't even notice. I got a lot of other hunters in the area mad (it was public area, and I had no idea that SO MANY people knew about this spot) trying to find that GPS. Never did. As far as I know, its still out, buried under forest litter. It was a Eagle 12, IIRC. I thought my 2nd GPS had gotten stolen out of my car, but found it later in a kitchen cabinet when my wife had put it there without telling me, then forgotten about. Still have that and my Garmin 196. John

If mine is too technical, I'd like to see how you're gonna get epoxy into the PVC pipe holes. I notice there is no mention of WHERE the holes were drilled, and how big. The way I see it, is the blob of epoxy is the best bet. Get something that is almost in large a diameter as the drain pipe, about 6" to a foot long, with a long, strong cord attached to the end. The other end, which goes first into the post, has the blob of epoxy on it. As a side note, you might try duct tape or some sort of putty like substance first (clay?). Depends on how heavy the PVC pipe is. John

Something that deep may be a old vent. Perhaps for a old dump, or some kind of bunker or underground chamber? Fuel storage tank? How big a diameter is that pipe? Cause I have an idea...more than one. Get one of those mini cams, I've seen those wireless ones go for about $50 or so on Ebay. I'm not sure what kind of transmission you can get with the pipe in the way. Maybe find a wired camera? anyway, you could put a small flashlight next to the camera, both both on the end of a pole. You could try to see whats down there, either the end of your PVC pipe, or some kind of chamber. If the PVC is still in the pipe, then there are ways of "latching on" to it. One is duct tape as mentioned. One is a big glob of thick epoxy (so it doesn't drip and accitdently glue your PVC to the pipe). Another is, if the pipe is bigger enough than the PVC pipe, and you have some kind of cap or adaptor that is bigger than the PVC pipe body, you might be able to slide some kind of hooks that slide over the adaptor and latch onto the edge of the adapter. You'd need to have at least 3 hooks. Dang. Wish I was there, this would be such a challange! John

try www.keyhole.com Pretty darn good. John