Braff-n-MandaRue

I made a whole fishing related cache once, full of fishing stuff, and set it out near a lake. Of course, it got muggled after only a few people had found it, someone got them a cool ammo box full of fishing toys. Of course, everything in it was wrapped, so no one ever got poked. I did find an envelop opener in one of mine once, that had a razor blade in a small hook. Was glad that no kids had gotten a hole of that once, the opening to the razor blade was almost big enough for me to get my finger to it, a kid would have had no trouble with that.

I don't know that I would change much. Definitely would have went paperless much earlier. I went one and a half years before finally getting a Palm Z22, and that has definitely been a great addition. Especially since we didn't really print the papers out either, we just used the GPS and hoped we could remember enough information to find the cache. Would have taken many more pictures. Got off to a good start with that one, but then it just kind quit happening. Have so many pictures of our early geocaching experiences, and so few of the later ones. Would have just avoided one of the other local geocachers all together to start with, he almost ruined the sport for us. He still finds little ways to get on my nerves now, but I finally learned to ignore him, and geocaching is starting to be fun again. Other than that, I'm glad I have always had a friend along to geocache with, to celebrate the finds, and join in the aggrevation of DNF's. We've always just took our time, and found geocaches at our own slow pace, and kept a few to go look for on the really slow boring days around home. It's definitely been great to do on some of our vacations as well, you don't quite get to see a town, not until you've geocached in all it's secret spots.

You know, I posted the original question on the forums because I couldn't find the answer I was looking for on the FAQ/Help pages. I was hoping to get an answer of whether or not I was looking over something or if there even was an answer to my question. And the responses I got have been "well if you don't feel safe then don't do it." I've not said that I think climbing and hiking and wading should be banned as being too dangerous. I have not said that I think anything should be banned. I agree you are free to do what you choose to do or not to do. Hiking and climbing and wading through waist deep streams have nothing to do with parking on a shoulder of a busy 4 lane road either. As I stated earlier my opinions never count for much and I see that my concern for everyone's , not only my, safety is going to be a waste of time. Keep debating this issue if you must, leave me out of it, as I am stepping out. I got an answer to my question, maybe not the one I was seeking originally but still yet an answer. Have a nice day.

No I'm not saying visit every one before it gets published, I realize that is almost nearly impossible for most reviewers to do. But there should be something that constitutes safety for cachers seeking proposed caches... The cache owner needs to ask themselves first off is this going to cause any danger to anyone seeking this cache, i.e., beside of a busy 4 lane highway where there is no parking but on the shoulder. Maybe there should be something on the submit new cache form asking does this pose any danger to cache seekers. The difficulty/terrain rating shouldn't rate safety either. Difficulty/terrain to me, does not equal safety. But again that is just me. If I look at a cache page, it isn't necessarily going to say "this is beside a busy 4 lane highway where you park on a shoulder, so be careful" So I being a cache seeker am going to take time and go to this cache and get there only to have my safety jeopardized. If I know something isn't safe, I'm not going to do it, but if I don't know if it's safe or unsafe, I make the trip there and waste my time. I guess that is a risk geocachers have to take, but I for one am not taking that risk much longer. I guess it's going to have to take more than just me saying they want to be assured safety, instead of having people tell them to take that risk or pass on it.

No it is not near a bridge. The intersection near this road is also connected to yet another busy highway. This cache is also located within yards of an elementary school. The shoulder is the only place to park to access this cache unless you want to park at that elementary school and walk through a creek to get to it. The cache is not beyond my skill , but it is beyond my safety concerns, as I do not feel safe getting out of my vehicle on a shoulder of a busy highway where anything could happen (i.e., a car losing control and striking me and my vehicle and killing me). And I have read the Guidelines that was posted for myself, that is why I posted the question on the forums to see if I was missing something. I understand that the cache review process is not a guarantee of safety, but I myself think it should be. I don't think a cache should be placed where someone could get hurt, or killed. Of course, that is just me and usually my opinions don't count for much. Thank you for your responses though. I truly appreciate them.

Just wondering what the guidelines are to placing a cache near a Highway? It is a U.S. highway, the cache is approx 50 ft -80 ft from the highway edge and parking is on the shoulder, near an intersection. The highway is busy with cars at all times of the day. We looked for this cache and was concerned about it's location and wondered if it would be appropriate to report it as being a possbile danger to one hunting the cache, as it seems the owner doesn't seem concerned. Any information or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Thats an interesting thought. I was thinking along the same lines as the other person, that there are just too many gas stations. Around here it seems like you can go hardly 10 miles without passing by one, without exageration. There are some more remote places were they might be 30 miles are the farthest, but that's pretty uncommon. I had a geology teacher from out west, and she said things there were totally different than here in Eastern Kentucky. I think she was from somewhere in Utah. Around here we have small towns every 20 to 40 miles pretty much, they aren't too far apart. She said that you could go as far as two hundred miles at a time and never see a building once you get out west. We were discussing a trip I was planning with my sister and brother, which they went on and I didn't, and she was saying how good an idea it would be to fill up on gas a lot more often out there than you would around here because you never knew when you would come across a gas station again.

Since it has been brought up two times before, then it seems as though it should be a prime candidate for a category, but it does seem as though the idea would need some refining, already there are a half dozen different ideas for different types of diners that may or may not need their own category.

I've ate at a couple of those pre-fab diners before, and they always seem to have the best food. I don't know if it's just the atmosphere, or the food really is that good, but I sure do like em. Actually, I bet it is that the food is just that good, most of those places are privately owned and they have to really make good food so people will come back, instead of just heating something up on a grill and throwing in a paper bag whether it's the right or wrong order like so many fast food places do.

This sounds interesting to me. I enjoy visiting a lot of these historic places. We have a couple around here that I could put on a map for sure. A lot of these places don't always seem to be included in brochures of area attractions, and this would be a quick easy way to find them.

I have an idea for a new sub category. It would be in the Places\Business/commerce\restraunts It would be called Diners, and be a place to include all the privately owned diners/eateries. The description of them should state whether or not they are the old drive in type, where you have to park, get out of the car and order your food at a window, or if it is a the sit down inside type. Hours of operation of course should be included. If they have a speciality like a Mega Wafffle Cone, or a Jumble triple quadruple cheese burger, maybe even a 2 foot long hot dog, who knows. Well, that's my idea for now.