ROCKMEISTER

I have to have a small private chuckle as I read this thread. As an old fart, I remember when I put my first GPS unit on board my boat in 1993 to help in coastal navigation on Lake Superior. It was a Garmin GPSMAP 200, a big ugly thing that weighted about 20 pounds and bolted up near the helm. I was tickled any time I got an EPE under 300 feet. It sure wasn't perfect but it kept me off the rocks. I had done some sport fish chartering in south Florida using Loran C to locate reefs that were hot spots for grouper and other gamefish, and if you could get within 200 yards of the target on the first pass you were having a good day. Later in 1993 I attended the big EAA Air Show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin where I witnessed, along with about 100,000 other spectators, one of the first demonstrations of of a GPS guided "hands off" landing of a small private aircraft. They had some localized augmentation system set up which guided the plane to the middle of the runway and about 50 feet above it, at which point the pilot took over. Those of us who knew a little about GPS in those days were blown away. I guess the point I am trying to make is fairly simple. As a newbie to geocaching (but enjoying it immensely) and if Moore's Law holds true, what fun is it going to be in a couple or three years if your hand-held GPS unit (under some super-WAAS) can place you within 12 inches of the cache? Are we then going to go back to 17th century treasure hunting based on offsets? I.E., find the GPS co-ordinates, take six paces north to the big oak tree, go west about 20 meters and look for the triangle shaped rock? I guess I am on Anthony's side. Get within 10 meters and turn the thing off and WAAS be damned. Regards to all, Dave P.S. The old Garmin GPSMAP200 is still chunkin' away up on Superior and we haven't hit any rocks yet.

Kermode Your post re Cobinosh. Have been there many times and you're right, its awesome. The island was bought last year by a family from Minnesota who also bought property on Nicol Island so that they could build a cabin as a base to get out to Cobinosh. They paddled to Cobinosh last fall and camped out for a couple of nights. It's pretty windswept, so this ain't for the faint of heart. I also have a place on Nicol Island (seasonal), so when I next see the new owners of Cobinosh I will endeavour to get their permission to establish a cache out there. I was in the area this past weekend, opening up my own camp, and got an opportunity to seek out GCK3JY. An easy find, fascinating piece of road. I was with a guy who used to drive trucks loaded with fresh fish up and down this road fifty years ago, before the Trans-Canada highway went in. A ten percent grade with big stone walls to keep vehicles from falling into the gorges below. Was all set to head out in the boat and establish my first cache on Wilson Island on Sunday afternoon when the snow and sleet started coming in sideways. Settled for watching Jeff Gordon win at Talledega on the satellite. Back in two weeks, with caches to come on Wilson and Quarry Islands.

I will be taking some time this summer on the north shore of Lake Superior in the Rossport area (N48 50.040 W87 31.180). Rossport is the gateway to an offshore archipelago which is in the process of being designated a National Marine Conservation Area. This is a largely unpopulated and pristine area that nevertheless sits immediately adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway. The Google satellite map overview of this area gives a good idea of the geography. As a newbie to geocaching, but a long time summer resident of this area and experienced GPS user, (first marine unit in 1993), I immediately thought what a wonderful place this would be to establish a series of caches spread out over the island chain. Obviously one would need a kayak, canoe or larger powered vessel to search the area, but kayaking has become a big deal in these waters with lots of rental boats available and an international symposium at the end of June that draws a lot of participants. Link to: http://www.nwconx.net/~dtamblyn/index.htm Having formulated the above concept, I then searched for existing nearby caches on the mainland. GCK3JY, established last summer right on the Trans Canada shows total of only 4 visits. GC36FF, the next nearest, has had only 5 logged visits in more than 3 years. Therefore the burning question. Am I wasting my time? Since there would be more than the usual amount of effort involved in establishing caches in the archipelago, I am seeking opinions from any Forum members as to potential interest. I look forward to any feedback. Dave