Zilvervloot

A couple of my travel bugs are missing. I could make an identical travel bug with the copy-tag attached to it. But what happens if that tag is also lost? Is there a way to order further copies? The alternative would be to make a small metal plate and engrave it with the identification number. Do you think fellow cachers will still recognize it as an “official” travel bug? Has anyone seen a home-made copy like this? Zilvervloot.

Ah I see, you consider a Jeep as a personal trading item. You have to be one of your friends to earn it. But, only one of your friends with valuable merchandise can trade with you. Is that correct? Does this mean it is impossible for a regular cacher, without something to trade, to get a Jeep from your parking lot? Or, do I get your permission to discover the Jeep? Just to compensate my sad feelings. Does your way of dealing with Jeeps imply that you keep Jeeps longer than 2 weeks in your possessions? To me, you are not better than the Jeep stealers. Let me explain: You withdraw travel bugs from the international travel bug game. The sophism (dictionary word for a foreigner like me) that you prevent stolen Jeeps by holding them to yourselves is very strange. It is something like; you will not send your child to school to prevent it from learning bad things. Or, you take people hostage to prevent them for possible future car accidents. Your medication is worse than the disease. The Jeeps are not your property. Let’s just pay the game like it was planned. A Jeep is a travel bug, let it travel. But the initial question was how to deal with Jeep collectors. I think, when a Jeep is longer than a month or so at a cacher you could send him/her a polite mail. When there is no answer you could post the link to the Jeep somewhere (here on the forum). So we can all ask the hoarder polite if he/she will participate in our little game. Perhaps someone might think this publication is too rigorous, but this system works with ordinary travel bugs. Like here and here. Zilvervloot.

The changes are very nice for geocoins. Great! It would be nice if the beautiful map can also be implemented for travel bugs. I have a small remark on the content of the travel bug pages. In the page how to log a travel bug, here, there is no explanation in how to use the types to log a bug. It would clarify a lot if the log types retrieve/grab/write note/discover/drop would be explained in simple words. Zilvervloot.

Yes! I would love to release some Jeeps in Amsterdam. If you send me an email, I know we can arrange something. Zilvervloot.

AHHHHHHGGGG Underneath your translated Babelfished text, you see it does not make any sense. Since almost everybody in the Netherlands speak and reasonably write English, it is wiser to write it in English. But, the majoraty of Dutch geocachers use our own forum at geocaching.nl I posted your request on that forum. Here. Zilvervloot. Know everybody it cacher Scarlet Korund of Henglo, Gld, the Netherlands? This cacher taken my insect TB4B17 Bobcat Rhinehart of the travel on 1/22/06 bee The Hunter GCE5F4 on and has it not since than placed. Last cacher registrated on Geocaching.com on Thurstday, 03 august, 2006. If everybody this secret prememories know to ask loved female chicken around my TB in circulation PLEASE back to put. Thank you.

What ever comes out of this discussion, I hope the word “discovered” will not be used. To my opinion, the word “discover” is too unclear and gives too much problems outside the area where English is the native language. You can see it in the “Discovered it” feature for travel bugs. People mix retrieved and discovered up, just because they do not know the difference. I have to admit, as a foreigner I can honestly not tell the difference between finding and discovering a cache. To me these words are synonyms. Zilvervloot.

Which log do you mean? The electronic one on the cache page, or the paper one in the cache. I am not sad if someone only writes an abbreviation in the paper journal of my cache. I understand this, the cachers who found my cache have walked quite a distance, they must be tired and want to go home. Furthermore, judging my selves, I am also some one who only writes one-liners. I know my handwriting is so bad, no one will/can read the words anyway. If my name and date are clear, I am satisfied. But I will be a bit disappointed if the log on the cache page has only a few characters. I put some effort in it; it might be nice to be rewarded. But, if not, so be it. Not everyone can or wants to write a long text. But eh, what was your reason to make a cache? Was it for your joy in reading the messages? Or was it for the pleasure you can give to others by sharing a remarkable place. Zilvervloot.

No. You can only post a “needs maintenance” when you find a cache. When you do not find a cache you post a “do-not-found”-log. To my opinion, in this case, I hope everybody post DNF-notes on the cache pages. That is the only proper thing to do, since that is what you have done, you did not find it. And it is nothing to be ashamed of. All the DNF-logs should inform potential cachers this is not an easy pick-up. And gives the cache-owner a warning something might be wrong. Since the owner placed the cache we must assume he wants the cache to be found. Besides, if a cache is not found by cachers with a lot of experience, does not mean a lot. Even experienced cachers can have some blind spots. Or it can be a new way of hiding a cache. Once you have seen it, it is very easy, but the first time…. The cache might be there and it could be in great shape. I do not know your area, but I suppose there are a many other caches to discover. Zilvervloot.

So what, I do not care what Jeep wants. The extra rules do not apply me, just as it does not apply to anyone outside the 48 states. And it does not bother me. In contrast to Eartha’s personals opinion, I think: bug owner requests do not overrule the general travel bug rules. Lets give an example, If the a bug owner wants “his” bug on a picture with a redheaded photographic model, I am still allowed to move the bug from cache to cache, even if I am not a redheaded model. Tough luck for the “owner” An other example: Bug in a travel bug race heading for a designated cache. Whenever I find such a bug, I take it with me and depending on my travels; I put it in a cache with the best chances for the bug. If this cache is further away from the designated cache: "Tough luck for the owner" Last example: Green Jeep, when I find it in a cache or at an event, I am allowed to take it, log it and put it in an other cache. Maybe this next cache will be visited by someone who wants to participate in the picture-contest, if not, tough luck for the “owner”. If I can not fulfil the wishes of a bug owner, I still am allowed to take the travel bug from a cache and move it along. The rules set up by a travel bug owner do never supersede the general travel bug rules. That is not the point. I hope you have lots of fun in a picture contest; I do not envy you for having a contest. It is nice of the Jeep company to organize it so, please enjoy it! What is the point: I think it is completely wrong to exclude geocachers from the general travel bug game. It is wrong to reserve some travel bugs only for a special group or in a special area. To use a big word: discrimination. And pardon me, whenever I notice it, I become alert and can not shut up my big mouth. That’s the game of travel bugs, to quote Alice Band: “You win some and you lose some.” Tough luck for the “owner” The travel bug game is a global game. Perhaps you should, I received some rather disturbing emails. The anti-European feelings are sadly real. Then again, perhaps I should just shut up and don’t worry over a toy+label and some pixels. Zilvervloot.

You are so right, why should we fuss over a toy+aluminium label and some pixels. Even if I hope to earn the icon in a proper way by finding a green Jeep in a cache, I do would not shed a tear if next year will be a Jeepless year. It is dividing us, and that is not the idea of geocaching. But I am sure, when there will be a contest next year, with the same strange unexpected rules, I will protest again. Zilvervloot.

Eh, there are not enough green Jeeps overseas otherwise we would not ask for them over and over again in this tread. The strange thing I have noticed is, even if you do not want to participate in the picture contest, you still have to obey the contest rules. The contest rules overrule the general travel bug rules (see previous replies). Besides what I have learned from Eartha, the reason why it is not possible to have green Jeep travel bugs in Europe is because it is not allowed to send the Jeeps by mail. That's a new rule. Or isn't it? Zilvervloot.

There are two things. The travel bug and the competition. Travel bug: The Jeep is just like any ordinary travelbug/geocoin. You take it from a cache (retrieve), you take with you to an other cache and place it there (drop). That’s it. In your statistics you see you earned the new icon, a little green Jeep. So what you do is when you see the green Jeep at the Big Bear Cache Bash II, you take it (home) with you. Later, on (at your house or so where you have the ability to use the internet) you retrieve the travel bug. Then comes the fun part, the Competition: You can send a photo to the Jeep company. Since this month the theme is discovery you should have some inspiration to make a picture with this theme. You can use the green Jeep as the main character in your picture, as the thing that is discovering something. At the end of the month the best picture wins. Naturally, at the end, you have to put the Jeep in an other cache within approximately two weeks, just like a normal travel bug. By the way, you do not have to participate in the competition. If you do not want to join the picture contest, you can look at the Jeep, write down the number on the label and use the “discovered it” function to log it to your statistics. For this achievement you will receive the green icon as well. Since a lot of people would like to have this icon, sometimes green Jeeps are on display at a gathering. It seems strange but sometimes you are only allowed to discover the green Jeep travel bug. To my humble opinion it would be against the rules of the picture competition. I envy you for having the opportunity to find a green Jeep. I am not interested in the picture competition, no; I would love to earn the green icon. Have fun at the meeting! Zilvervloot.

Just say it wants to travel a lot and wants to visit as much as possible caches. And ask the finders to post a picture. I would advice not to make the mission to difficult; otherwise people won’t pick up your bug. Zilvervloot.

Just a thought… When you eventually find the cache, do you make a new found-log and delete the old DNF-log? Or, do you edit the DNF-log and change it into found? Zilvervloot.

There is an annoying cache in my neighborhood. This cache is meant for children. I have been there several times, in different weather conditions and I still have not found it. In the posted logs there are lines like “This was a simple one” and “my kid of four years old found it easily” I consider myself as a reasonable cacher, I have very good eyesight, I have a degree and a job where I am persistently challenged to “think out of the box”; but this cache is too difficult for me. I guess the only way to find this one is to “borrow” a child for a cache hunt. I have some nephews & nieces who might enjoy being a tracker dog. The worst thing is, I do not dare to post a DNF-log. I know the cache is there somewhere, posting a DNF-log would only display my stupidity. Zilvervloot.

Dear Eartha, I hope you will not be offended by this reply. But now I really want to know. Since I have so much fun participating in the travel bug game, I am now, and I guess some cachers with me, a bit concerned. It seems there are some new rules applicable for travel bugs. What new rules did I miss? Who set them? When were they established? As an owner /as a mover of some travel bugs, why have I not been notified? It seems never mailing a travel bug is a new rule, are there more new rules? Could you please, to clarify how important these new rules are, tell us your position within geocaching.com? From your profile you are a (group of) moderator(s) and you do al lot of geocoin things. What I mean is, are you like Jeremy geocaching.com and are the new rules therefore geocaching.com’s policy? If so, I will never send a travel bug by mail anymore. Please bear in mind, the reason why I ask this question is that my only intention is to let as many a possible geocachers enjoy the travel bug game. This by letting travel bugs travel as much (and hopefully as far) possible. Restrictions in this, are to my opinion only obstructing the intention of a travel bug. But I can be wrong. Please explain it to me. Zilvervloot.

It is Dutch. Translated, it is a question if there are caches only to be reached by boat. To answer it, a Dutch cache like Robinson Crusoë is a good example. On the site of this cache (GCQ99G) you can see a bookmark called “Eilandcaches” by BigFurryMonster. This gives a list of the Dutch Island caches. Or translated: GCQ99G is een erg leuke cache die alleen per boot is te bereiken. Daarbij staat op de cachepagina hiervan Robinson Crusoë, ook rechts een link naar een bookmark van BigFurryMonster genaamd “Eilandcaches” Dit geeft een mooi overzicht van andere eilandcaches in Nederland. Zilvervloot.

I see the same difference. The speed shown on my digital speedometer in my car is always approx 5 km/h (3 mph) lower than shown on my Garmin map60 Cx. I did not, like you, measure which speed might be the correct one. Zilvervloot.

Very well, you would like to keep your travel bugs to your selves, I can understand this. It is difficult to share when you are favored. There has been/are/will be released some new travel bugs in your county, special travel bugs with a special icon. That is cool. These new bugs are free, since a car company paid for them. That is extremely cool, and nice of this car company. But travel bugs are international. Grounspeak is international; among other things it hosts/maintains web pages from travel bug pages all over the world. To do this it receives it’s funding from all over the world. Therefore it is strange that the Jeep bugs are solely for your 48 states, they should be available by everyone. This limitation in ordering has nothing to do with the additional contest. The contest is a funny thing hosted and organized by the car company. To my opinion, in this contest the car company can do what ever they want. If they want a picture of you reciting poems in your bathroom, hanging upside down in a tree or sleeping a night over in a hen house; it is up to them. They can even make whatever restriction they feel is necessary. It is fine with me if they only want the contest to be available for white American middle-class heterosexual males; even if I do not meet to the criteria they have set. But Grounspeak is international; it should not favor one area over an other. The Jeeps should be available for everyone; I do not care if the contest is not. There is a “conter contest” see The FEEP Contest It would be extremely cool if a special (desirable) icon could be made available for this project. I hope someone in charge, will say something regarding this matter in the Feep contest tread. Zilvervloot. By the way, I’m not into a big polluting car, see my avatar. But I am into scoring the special icon, by shipping a bug around.

Sorry but that's not working for me. As result I get just one (standard) point, "Network KML Error" somewhere in Seattle, USA. It is a pity; I really miss the coloured points. Zilvervloot.

Just a thougt: Why does the international Groundspeak participate in a local marketing stunt? Sorry, sorry for even saying that. Sorry, sorry for even thinking that. Groundspeak is great, Groundspeak is divine, Groundspeak has giving new meaning to my live. Zilvervloot.

The cache should be approved; there is nothing wrong with the cache. It is always good to find a box in the desert. However, the owner of the cache requests some additional requirements on travel bugs. Since there are no regulations set for travel bugs, it is up to the visitor of the cache if he/she wants to follow these rules. There are no regulations set for travel bugs. If there is a rule, it must be to let them travel. If you think you can let the bugs travel better than the travel bug hotel/resort can, please do so. If you want to take all the travel bugs at once, this is allowed. It is. It really is. The desire of the travel bug owner overrules the wish of the cache owner. Coming back to your original question, the cache should be allowed. Even with the supposed illegitimate extra travel bug rules. It is up to the individual cacher if he/she wants to obey. I have some mixed feelings over this cache: The Hitchhiker’s ride to Legacy – TB Museum This one is only an example, there are more travel bug musea around the world. I do not know the owner, neither have I contacted him. What is nice in this museum is the display of rare geocoins. Everyone can look at them, feel them, discover them or drool over them. Most of the coins are donated by the coin owner. This is a very nice, social gesture towards the geocaching community. Cool I love this. Less nice in this museum there are the items on display without the owner’s given permission. Like the Jeeps. If I were to visit this museum, I would drool over the coins and take the Jeeps. And put them ASAP in a next cache. Zilvervloot.

Does anyone know the cacher spire3660? He claims to have one of "my" travel bugs, called Stuiver [TBJZCP]. On the page of my TB he/she retrieved it from P in San Diego [GCHJHW] I have send several mails to spire3660, no reply. His/her statistics are also very strange he/she logged only 5 caches, all in 2004. He/she owned two caches in the LA area, but both of them are disabled. But he/she still lives; the last time spire3660 logged on was Sunday, June 11, 2006. What do you think, is my TB lost? It would be a pity, it's not for the value (1 stuiver is approx $0,03) but it's for the lack of joy you Californian cachers must suffer, since you can not look at this funny little coin. Zilvervloot. (From the Netherlands)

It would be an extremely cool gesture towards all the geocachers in the rest of the world. Could it be done with a special “geocoin” looking just like a normal travel bug tag? The advantage is we could have our own icon. Perhaps a red Jeep icon, or a jeep icon rotated 180° Zilvervloot.

A cool idea. It might be something for my first cache. Does anyone have a picture of such a under water cache on a rope? Or could someone post a link to a cache page with a Submerged Cache? Zilvervloot.