purple_pineapple

Can I suggest going to some family friendly events to meet some local cachers. I met another mum at a local picnic event a couple of years ago and now we regularly go caching together when the children are at school. We've even been known to take the children with us sometimes! Sandra Hi Sandra Thanks for the reply, I know there is a camping event soon but we are already busy that weekend, then there is an evening meet at end of Sept which I am hoping to attend. other than that I dont know of any events in my local area, or where to find such things I have taken my children with me to every cache I have found so far, they love it. Be nice to carry it on when they at school tho Jane depending upon where in kent you are, the South East is fairly well-off for events! Kent, Surrey and Sussex all have monthly meets, there is a camping event coming up which you know about, and there MAY be some events on 10/10/10 (just cos we can!). Finally, for the real loonies, there is a possible camping event in Sussex over the new year weekend - bring the thermals! A search for events on GC.com should bring up some close(ish) to home!

Also, do keep in mind that in North Surrey (and now stretching in to kent) RTB is a completely different series of caches, and nothing to do with telephone boxes!

Hi all! The zip on my Ajungilak sleeping bag has finally bust, and I'd like to get it replaced. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of where I can get this done? I'm reluctant to use a high street dry cleaner, as I don't think they'll be able to do it properly. I've only found one place in the country to do it, and thats in scotland! got a winter camping event penciled in and I need my warm sleeping bag or else I'll freeze! Cheers PP

of course, making it deep doesn't make it extreme - accessible only by abseiling possibly?! How about a beachy cove that can only be approached by rope or boat?

Looking for help and advice from some cachers around the Giant's Causeway area in Northern Ireland. We're arriving by boat in Greencastle in mid August, and very much want to go to Giant's Causeway (organised tour sold out). Does any local cacher know of a taxi firm or any other route that we can take? We're planning on taking the ferry across to Magilligan point, but there doesn't look to be a lot there! if a more local forum is around, I'd be grateful if someone could cross-post it for me! Ta muchly! Dave and Mary

myself and Mrs Pineapple both have tracking numbers on our T-shirts! It sounds like you hve the general idea of using a number from an unused set of dogtags - beyond that, you can do what you like with it! The number is yours to put wherever you want. For example, our T shirts have a small purple pineapple logo over the heart, with our name (eg Dave) under it, and the tracking number under that. on the back of the T shirt is Purple Pineapple, written large! We're going to make a few more T shirts, possibly with the tracking number on the back, where people don't have to stare at bits of my wife they shouldn't be staring at! But its entirely up to you what and where you put things on a t shirt. Ours generally gets logged, although it is discrete - I'd probably recommend either the number on the back, or maybe the words "I'm trackable - PTO for number!" HTH Dave

cheers Chris - that answers a question i was going to pose about iphone use overseas! Namely, will it automatically try downloading e-mails and so on, therefore costing me an arm and a leg!

you won't be short of caches near brighton! Some lovely walks - I would recommend the Devils Dyke circular as a must do series while there - make sure you read the cache pages before you leave home though - you might need a few things! its one of my favourite circuits of all! Happy caching! Dave (and Mary)

terribly inaccurate is probably an understatement! I have a handy little app by thetrainline on my iphone, which has my home station programmed in, and I can click a button to 'find next train home' and it SHOULD work out which station I'm at and then give me the train times. Unfortunately, 90% of the time it can't even accurately place me at a train station - ie Clapham Junction or East Croydon, which means its inaccurate by at least a mile! However, when it can get a GPS signal, we've also used it for FTFing! Out of interest, am I right in thinking you don't need a subscription to have full access with the iphone? Does this include member caches?

its as complicated as you want it to be! There's a single macro that will produce all your stats with one click, which is pretty simple. Obviously, if you don't use GSAK at all, then it might take a few more clicks to start with!

I haven't read the whole thread, so apologies of this repeats anything! Down here in Surrey and Sussex, I think we are very lucky with the standard of caches. there are a huge range of types, including lots of long circular walks in the country with plenty of caches - which we happen to like! There's also extreme caches, puzzles, unusual trads, and simple drive bys at Churches etc. My point is though - because the general standard is high, new cachers will see this and put out caches of reasonable quality. (monkey see, monkey do...) Obviously, there are a few that fall short, but not all that many. So, how do we bring the standards back up in other areas? Well, IMHO, it requires two things, firstly, that the experienced cachers get out there and show what they should be like. This includes placing easy drive bys (micros if necessary) that have a purpose. I know opinions differ, but micros have their place, and we need to show the 'less experienced' cachers what that place is (not in the bin, before anyone says it ) Secondly, and possibly more usefully, there are over 60,000 caches in the UK now. Apart from Dr Solly, none of us are going to find them all, so if we all ignore the poor quality caches, as a group, then eventually they can be replaced with better ones. Constructive advice on any logs (eg this cache would probably be much more enjoyable 500 metres further down the road, bext to the local blue plaque, and might get found more there...) could only help. Anyway, just my tuppence worth! back to work!

was there an echo in here?....

well said. Regarding the names, maybe a compromise is that there isn't an "official UK" Mega in 2012, but instead a Northern Mega and a Southern Mega - with both organisers agreeing not to call themselves UK? Just some early morning thinking! I'd have thought there'd be more mileage in organising the worlds first Geolympics, to be held every 4 years in the host country, to coincide with the "other" two Olympics - the international appeal would be far bigger.... Edited to add - not forgetting the potential to bring in a Winter Geolympics every other year too.... hmm - not up to me, obviously, but I wonder if there is any mileage in approaching GS for a new official event type, based on Geolympics. They're obviously happy to have specific use icons, otherwise we wouldn't have had any ten year events. Think of the attendee numbers if there is only one possible chance of getting the icon every 4 years! (SP might want to start looking a different venues!)

well said. Regarding the names, maybe a compromise is that there isn't an "official UK" Mega in 2012, but instead a Northern Mega and a Southern Mega - with both organisers agreeing not to call themselves UK? Just some early morning thinking!

IMHO, TLAs are a PITA HTH PP

Dave, You'll probably be as well to have a chat with Geotees and ask them to make you a decal (talking of which, I need to remember to have a chat too) could do - keeping in mind that I already have the numbers, I just need the decal made up! /me waits for a GeoTees rep to pop in and tell me how much it would cost for an A4 window decal!

i think the OP meant a bigger racer against lots of other cachers! There's usually a few going on at any one time - although not one here recently. Currently, the NW and SE cachers are having a race, which is halfway through - pop along to either forum and have a look, although you may need to wait until a new race starts!

if buying the magnetic TBs for the car - make sure your car is magnetic! Our focus was, but the new Scoobie doesn't have a magnetic boot... On which note, does anyone know a good supplier for transparent car window cling? I only need a couple of sheets, so I can make one to replace the magnetic jobby...

Stratford-on-Avon? I doubt the residents would agree with being classed as the South East. Also it's 2hr15min by the fastest train from London. Stratford in Greater London? Costs close to the Olympics, even if you could find a venue would be prohibitive. Stratford East London - the SITE of the Olympic village yes, that one was a joke

As in "Smega up"??? huh?

Now let that be a lesson to you! Seriously, though, don't let it put you off using the forum, these things happen round here from time to time to drag this topic kicking and screaming back on track, It may be that the Olympic Rings are protected, but there's no reason we couldn't ask to use them! I too think they'd look rather good on a coin, and would be hopeful that we could be allowed to use it! Not so sure about Muchlock and Wendyville though...

It would be great if it was, just imagine the events you could have! Power Trail Time Trials, 35mm film can scavenge hunts, extreme multis on top of mountain time trials, The Skeg to Ness Indy 500 race. Of course if it was an olympic sport you would need somewhere with some countryside, which kind of rules London out. Nice to see some suggestions. Yes, there will be a range of caching events (and Events) relating to the Olympics for 'competitors' to enjoy at, and around, the SE Mega. So the northern contingent can have some fun with it, perhaps we should just call it the Southern Mega so it can be easily shortened to Smega? (one for the Red Dwarf fans there). I feel like typing using caps again, not to shout, but to use a loud, clear voice: The SE Mega won't be in London. It'll be near to London. Near, not in. Anyway, watching 'Griff Rhys Jones' World's Greatest Cities' the other night, he said because of all its green spaces, London is technically listed as a forest... I too am getting a little cheesed off with the obsession at calling this a London Mega, with the associated cost and lack of green space comments. Some potential places which could all qualify would be; Brighton, Guildford, Windsor, Oxford, Stratford, Cambridge, Milton Keynes (?!) All are within an hour train journey from Central London, all are surrounded by nice green countryside and thousands of caches, and I doubt any resident would say they live in London. Much like Perth this year, they have successfully managed to make use of existing celebrations to gain funding and publicity, all we would like to do is the same. Oh, and I love the idea of calling it the Smega!

hear hear!

As usual, pretty much agree with Dave's sentiments. However, in defence of a 2012 SE Mega, SP proposed this back in August 2009, precisely 3 years before the likely event. At this stage, AFAIK, there was no hint that another Mega was on the cards and, to my mind, SPs post was essentially a 'provisional booking'. (Obviously, nothing is formal, and I'm not gettin in to the issue of having two events!) Dave - when planning started for the Perth one, there were no other areas 'in the running' and if anyone had come in late to organise something, I'd say that was somewhat bad manners! If we're getting to the stage that formal announcements need to be made more than 3 years ahead of the proposed dates, then I can't see anyone bothering to organise it after 2012. I'm a little surprised and insulted that people have said they wouldn't come to the SE (and lets make this clear, its a SE mega, NOT a London Mega) for any reason - we have a wealth of caches, beautiful countryside, and I didn't hear anyone saying similar things about previous Megas, neither of which were in locations that would be top of my holiday list! But we went, and had a great time!

a very valid point IMHO, however I don't think we can realistically expect TPTB to lock down the D/T ratings. Especially as they are subjective rather than objective, and they often get tweaked a bit when a cache is new, based on finders feedback. For this reason, if I'm finding caches to complete my D/T grid, I tend to use more esablished ones, as they have less chance of being changed. Conversely, I would hope (and encourage) owners of any established cache not to tweak its D/T rating! Dave