Lost Girl

My caching buddy Shamrokk and I found out the hard way that a CITO event will NOT give you credit for both the CITO event and a regular event. We will lose out on the final souvenir because there are no other events in the time allotted to get the crew souvenir. Highly disappointed. Most events happen while I'm working. I would be happy to receive credit for the CITO event as just the event, and go do an Earthcache. :-(

When I first started caching, I didn't know what to say. TFTC was the first thing I learned, and figured that was sufficient. I am ALWAYS thankful for any cache I find, even if it is a simple PnG. Some days, a PnG is all I really have time for; I just want a break from the insanity of every day life. Caching does that for me. So, if I can pick up 13 PnGs on the way home from a doctor's appointment (I got to leave work early that day, and the weather was beautiful), I'll do it. This is what I did a few days ago, and frankly, it was relaxing and just what I needed. If someone hadn't placed caches along my route back home, I never would have gotten to cache at all. Therefore, they will get, at the minimum, a TFTC. Lately, I've become rather winded in my logs. I typically copy and paste the beginning of my log for all of the caches I've done that day, and then tell some story about my experience to/at the cache. Always ending with some form of thanks. On physical logs, I only sign my name and date it. I take notes "in the field" on each cache (plus I have a pretty good memory as well as log caches in the same day that I find them--with rare exceptions). Frankly, every cache takes me somewhere I've never been, even if it's only 250' from the grocery store I go to on a regular basis. There is ALWAYS something new to see! Here I go again, getting all winded in a post. Oy.

I definitely don't think bad hides are just a newb phenomenon. I've come across many caches placed by "veterans" who obviously just don't care enough about their caches to place ones appropriately (outlandish ratings, etc.). My biggest complaint, however, would be the unbelievable amount of cattiness, and just plain rudeness, of some cachers (many of them being local "veterans"). I got such a severe dressing down by own local "vet" well over a year ago, that I'm still not fully recovered from it. Not only did they e-mail me with a nasty note, they also went off on me on the cache page itself (where, at the time, I made a minor newb error that I offered to rectify personally--alone--or with the COs). They then deleted my explanation from their page, but kept THEIR horrible note on the page, for all the world to see. Nice way to welcome a newb into your area. I've been caching since 2005, but took a few years off. When I finally got my own GPS a few years ago, I went crazy finding caches all over my area. I've always been a courteous cacher, making sure I am careful with retrieval and replacement of caches, trying to help out with worn out baggie replacement/issues with logs, etc. I e-mail COs with any issues I think they should be aware of, and I NEVER say anything bad about a cache, even if I found it to be a cache that I have some type of issue with (like inappropriate placement, poor maintenance, etc). I appreciate all the work all COs put into placing caches, and I really have a lot of respect for them. So, that being said, I would really love to see everyone just let everyone be, and ENJOY this sport! Who cares if you aren't part of a caching group, or don't go to socials/events! I'm a "lone wolf", and I prefer to either cache solo or with a couple of friends here and there. If I meet up with other cachers at a cache, I always stop and chat and always have a smile on my face. Ok, sorry, I got a bit off topic. Just keep placing those caches, regardless of how your "status" in the caching world. I need another "fix"!

Lost Girl here. I'm a "lone wolf" cacher. My (now) husband got me into caching in 2005 when we first met. His GPS was crazy and it got us into all sorts of predicaments. We always had an adventure (and, due to the instability of his fancy "fully-loaded with bells and whistles" GPS, had many DNFs. After VERY infrequently going out caching over the years, he finally bought me the lowest end eTrex possible. So, out I went solo (he has since become a born-again Muggle *sigh*)2 years ago, and haven't looked back. Most of my finds have been since I got my own GPS and even though it isn't paperless, and has NO MAPS, it has almost dead-on accuracy! I am purchasing a higher end GPS in Sept., and am looking forward to FINALLY going paperless. My beautiful little eTrex that has brought me to almost 600 finds, will always be with me, even with my "fancy" new one. This is such a fantastic hobby (and, for me, quite the addiction). I'm so grateful for this sport. It has taken me to so may wonderful places I never knew existed AND it's my favorite way to get exercise. As a person with Fibromyalgia, it is difficult to be very active, but there are days where I will push myself to do "park once" caching (my FAVORITE types). On days when I'm not doing well, I resort to PnGs. Now, if we could just keep the wars between cachers to a minimum, this will continue to be a fun experience for me. Unfortunately, there are many out there who have a Napoleon-Complex and feel it is ok to treat others like dirt. I had to state that last part because I just got back from a short caching trip and DNFd on a cache placed by a well-known local cacher who had me in tears due to (at the time) a minor newb error on my part. That was well over a year ago, but I'm still scarred by the experience. I won't even post a DNF on this one, because I am pretty confident they will run right out to that cache and post some nasty note on the cache page accusing me of some outlandish type of mayhem. Ok, end rant! I have gotten quite a few friends into caching, and 2 of them are my caching buddies whenever we can get out there. Welcome to all the new cachers! Have FUN! That's what it's all about IMO.

We also have a Battleship Series in the Chicagoland area (done by zzephyr). Twenty-six (including the final which you have to get the coordinates from by doing all 25 of the pre-final caches) caches spread out all over Chicagoland and out into the "countryside". Lots of traveling to get to these caches as they are spread out all over the place, but they are all in forest preserves that I never knew existed (for the most part). That's one of the things I love about caching--take me to places I never knew existed! In addition, the CO actually makes you WALK to find them (no easy PnGs or locations closer than 800' to parking --at least not on the ones I have found so far). Bushwhacking of various degrees is also a given. This is my favorite form of exercise, so I prefer to do "park once" caching. He also maintains each of the caches VERY well (no wet logbooks or filthy containers, etc.) He also has really nicely printed game cards in each cache in case someone decides to start the series at any particular cache. I've only done 9 so far, but plan on doing the whole series. Just lots of driving that's slowing me down a bit. Fortunately he places them in the woods with plenty of other caches around, so it's not just driving all over to get just his one cache.