fauxSteve

This question comes up often in the Travel Bug forum. A lot of cachers have different opinions, as you can see from a couple recent threads: Is it cheating... and Sending Tbs Overseas Some will argue that you should respect the TB owners wish first, and others say that once a bug is let loose, the owner loses control of it. I think that Jeremy has probably said it best. Perhaps the most important thing is to make sure that the bug gets in another cache soon, and keeps moving... Enjoy!

Jester, while I like the idea of an apple image, I think we might alienate a lot of local cachers...

Your links do not work. They just lost the "www". Here they are fixed: Windtalker No longer patented

Congratulations nolenator on 400 finds!

A few seconds later... Public domain logos I hope that helps.

A sewing machine? I'm intrigued... I have one, and could do basic things, but what do you have in mind? Ball gowns I can not do... Druids? Ball gowns? I'm getting a strange image in mind... Just imagine finding that sig item in a cache! Scary!

I dropped off a WA state coin in the Native Plant Pop Quiz today. I also put a Canadian Geocoin in there.

I haven't really wanted to jump into this, simply because I like to enjoy caching and not get too bogged down in the complaint of the day. I had been following the "lame" thread in the main forum (most recent is this one), and have seen that most of the discussion just comes down to people arguing for what they personally enjoy and calling all other hides lame (“I hate puzzles”, “I hate urban caches”, “I hate hiking in the mud”, ect…). I think several posters have been correct in noting that what may seem lame and common to an experienced cacher (just another magnetic bison capsule or hide-a-key in a guardrail, or perhaps just another ammo can in the woods), can be great for someone who is just having fun out there... Where this discussion got derailed, and I think blindleader was correct in pointing it out, is the issue of private property. "Lame" caches are largely in the eye of the beholder, and further discussion really won't go anywhere interesting. Sure, we should strive for nothing but high quality, but does that mean only mountain hike caches, or only evil hides, or only elaborate urban puzzles? In the city, I like a no-nonsense bison capsule. I know the cache nolenator originally cited, which was in a publicly accessible downtown square that was probably also private property of the high-rise property owners. Not exactly a parking lot, but similar issues of private property. Not an ideal situation to be in, but not as bad as others. But I think there is room to learn: I'm guilty of poor judgment with one that is more damaging to public property than I like and it's been buggin me since before approval--I gotta fix it. If this thread is going to serve a purpose, it should be directed to address ethical cache placement choices, and not just "lameness" based on personal judgment. Afterall, this is a game that ultimately revolves around leaving “trash” out in "public" [edited to change "hoking" to "hiking" - but I'm sure people hate "hoking in the mud" too.]

I think this one comes to mind: Get a piece of the Rock

I'm sorry to see this one get archived. I had fun searching for it, and it appears I was the last to find it (and not keep it, that is)! I guess the pliers left by the Parks Dept. guy who found it were lost too... That was the first time I'd heard of a non-cacher finding a cache and trading up!

The best way to reach the Mission 9 is through the Snoqualmie Tunnel on the Iron Horse trail, but it's not in the tunnel itself. There is a cache in the middle of the tunnel, however, and the name says it all: Bloody Fingers, Dirty Diapers... . I had a lot of fun grabbing both (and some others) a week before the tunnel closed for winter. I highly suggest a cache visit in warmer months!

Congrats fishiam on 100 finds! Way to go!

I have a Palm Zire 21--about as basic as it gets with the current models. It's been great for paperless caching, but I don't know if it's got the juice for whatever is in mind. I'm already in Seattle, though, so I'd participate.

Excellent sig item Kealia! That's up there with a Moun10bike coin as things I'd love to find in a cache. Now, it's time to get myself out of the forums...

Thanks for the good laugh!......that has to be some of the best DNF logs I've read. If you find that cache and then go back and can't find it again does that mean you get your first find taken away?......I could feel the frustration in Bull Moose....all that time wasted on looking for it and it was never there......then finding out it is there. I could hear the screams. Having to go back again must have been agony, but what a relief when you found it. The needle in the haystack type of caches I try to stay away from, but this one I'll have to put on my list. I have a metal detector and some time tomorrow....... I went back to refind that Evil Penguinn and couldn't find it. Really freaking evil! Peace, Nolenator Looking at my three closest unfound caches: the first I haven't figured out yet, the second I haven't been invited to, and the third will have to wait a bit longer for when I've got the time to devote to it (maybe in a week and a half... ). I enjoyed reading all of the DNF stories at that Evil Penguin! And I'm glad you finally found it Bull Moose! Stairs, ivy, and IVs, sounds like a great day out. I know it's tough when multiple people who've found it before can't find it again. So look forward to my first DNF on that one soon! Edited to clarify: not my first DNF (that would be this cache on March 28, 2002), just my first for the penguin cache. I'm not afraid of those silly things. No need to be anonymous!

It looks like it's the signature item for the cacher "winini". Pretty cool! He mentions his "custom drop item" (Clear, Yellow, and Black baby echo) on his user page.

Hi, it looks like you picked up USA Geocoin TBH214 from Ye Olde Backalley Cache. The previous finder notes on the coin page that they moved it there after grabbing it. You might send them a friendly note asking them to drop it in the cache with a "note" since they didn't drop it when they posted the log. Regardless, you should log it into the system properly before moving it on. Since it's a USA Geocoin, you can grab it just like a travel bug using the number on the coin and you will get a new icon in your stats. I hope that helps. [edited spelling mistake.] - Steve

The last one Thot mentions seems to be classified wrong. My opinion is that if you go to the coordinates listed and there is no cache or waypoint, virtual or real, it should be listed as a mystery or unknown cache. Otherwise, it's a traditional or multi-cache. Here are a few puzzles that I've enjoyed: Queen Anne Quandry 3 - straightforward, but not necessarily well-known information. Small Town Connection - Tricky puzzle for which the owner needed to give out a few hints before it was found. The hider also has several other good puzzles worth looking at. Best Leave It Unsolved, Really - puzzle based on watching the movie Spinal Tap. This is a members-only cache. Minimalism - perhaps my favorite puzzle! A simple one for a tiny micro. Mission: Impossible - Flight to Cachistan - a lot of work went into this one. It's not a brain teaser, just a blast to complete. Read the logs if you don't believe me. Those are just a few of the noteworthy ones, and I'm always looking for the latest. I didn't mention all of the cryptographic ones, or those requiring specialized computer programming knowledge (a lot of those are near Redmond, Washington ). - Steve Edited to note that the Spinal Tap cache is member's only.

Hi Mudinyeri, Here's a link to the unfound New Zealand cache, GC3536. I looked at your Rock Garden cache (GCM26K). I'm not surprised it hasn't been found yet. It has only been a couple weeks, and the cache description makes it very clear that it's a difficult find--with special equipment suggested even. Also, why double encrypt the hint? I could understand if you gave a nudge in ROT13 and double encrypted a more obvious spoiler. Just curious. I'm sure some adventurous sort will go get it soon, but most people will be intimidated by the description. Maybe you need to start advertising geocaching with the Trail Krawlers. Bring in some new members to the caching game and get some logs on your hide at the same time. Steve in Seattle (too far to give it try )

One more in Seattle that's fun is Walking Tour of the Solar System.

Several multis around here (Seattle) aren't meant to be finished in one visit, or are at least complicated enough that they are rarely completed so quick. Therefore, it is common to post notes about one's progress, but not post a DNF until a failed end-search. I personally wouldn't post a DNF until I was looking for the final, nor would I post a Find at each waypoint (which is far worse since it would give you multiple cache credits). Then again, check if there are special instructions included on the cache page itself that might void my comments... It is also good to know how secretive you should be about the information you divulge. This might even include being vague about how many waypoints there are, types of containers or hiding method. These types of caches are almost always full of great stories in the notes. The “Found” logs are usually relatively boring, since the finders are completely wiped out by that point! One exception might be a destination cache. If I know I’m only going to try once for a multi (perhaps far from home), and I lose my way at one of the waypoints and it is never found, I’ll post a DNF. That lets people know that I came and looked, and that part of the search proved more difficult. Future cachers can keep that in mind. I will also have a record that I searched for this cache in the past and if I decide to come back, I’ll know where I failed.

I think it stands for "Outdoor Adventure Program". I did a quick web search and found quite a few hits on the subject. Anyone else have a better idea? edited a stupid mistake!

That's not a bad idea. The Iron Horse trail offers several good caches, a unique experience with the tunnel and the Ape cache. The last log on the APE cache was a not found! I worry about that given how big the container is - it's kind of hard to miss. I sure hope that no one walked off with it. I noticed that the last log for the APE cache was a DNF too. But it was posted late for October 16, the same day I had found it. I rode my bike back past the cache around 3 PM (on my way back to my car) and it was happily in its place--not clearly visible from the trail. It was a rainy afternoon without too many people out and about, and hardly an afternoon when I'd want to haul that thing out of there! Since this is probably the last weekend to enjoy the tunnel this season, I think it would be fun to combine some caches on the trail with one of the more difficult hikes nearby.

Hi gg, I didn't have any problem going the <a href="blah blah blah"> route on my travel bug page. I've tried it under both "Description" and "Mission" and it worked in both places. Maybe try lowercase? Link to my bug page. Note: the page is under construction. I launched the bug in a hurry! -Steve Edited: oops, wrong link!

Wow! I'm in the forums! And a picture of me uncomfortably trying to balance an umbrella, globalgirl's congrat's sign (very nice of her to bring along), and trying not to step on the decomposing critter below us (but that's another story...) . With that cache out of the way, I can finally start caching in ernest again... Maybe I'll go on a run of PNGs (!?) ! But only if they're on the way to Cachistan... Thanks for the notice!