paul.blitz

I bet they are ALL cachers I believe that (a) Garmin staff DO read these forums; and ( some of them do go caching, but don't advertise their connections (for obvious reasons). Yes, Garmin support have helped sort me out too... Paul

Wildlifewriter: The problem with the geocaching.com guidelines is that not only are they American, they have to try and be all things to all men (in many different countries!) Are you aware of the GAGB guidelines? (I hope so!) They were written because of the "failings" of the GC.com guidelines, so that we could put a UK slant on things..... do you feel that THEY address your issues? If not, where do you feel they are "failing"? The reason I ask is that our reviewers DO take the GAGB guidelines into account when reviewing caches (and have, on occasion, been know to point a cacher towards those guidelines). I'm certainly aware that there ARE many UK cachers who are NOT aware of the GAGB guidelines, so maybe we - the GAGB that is - need to publicise the guidelines more. And if you hadn't realised it, the GAGB guidelines have been accepted as-is by some landowners, whilst others have certainly used as a starting point for their own guidelines.... so obviously they are being of use. The GAGB caching guidelines can be found here Paul

I recon you deserve double Have you any idea how much beer costs these days? It's bad enough forking out for TWO pints (one for each reviewer!), but making it FOUR.... heck, it's enough to bankrupt a chap!

Managed to get GPS positions on all 4 planes on our recent trip to Orlando (via Montreal). At one point found were were flying within 10 miles (half of them vertical!) of a place called "Winchester" (in Canada!) On the way there, we were going at about 570 mph, but on the way back, we maxed at 620 MPH ... that is some tail wind we got there! (But then again, the easterly flight is actually SCHEDULED to be faster) Paul

You can't blame the EGNOS team for the delay in getting things working: there was a MAJOR failure at launch, and ESA did VERY well to manage to recover from the failure... ok, it took 12 months to get the satellite into the correct orbit, but the alternative would have been a several YEAR delay.

I sent an email to Garmin UK, and they sent me the CD free of charge. Then, I went online, and registered it. Go to http://www.garmin.com/unlock/update.jsp and select the city select product.... Paul

Was at a cache site a few weeks ago, and another 3 people came up, GPS in hand.... we had a chat.... then a few minutes later ANOTHER cacher came along. We all discussed where the cache might be, noone found it, the 3 went on for a walk, so me & t'other kept looking. As we left, the three returned, and subsequently FOUND the cache! Grrr! But it is always great to meet other cachers... and others have said, I've never heard of anyone getting an adverse reaction from another cacher. So, make yourself known! Paul

I would just like this opportunity to congratulate ourselves on getting to 300 caches found... To be honest, we've only done a few here in Florida, so it kinda "crept up on us". Boy, its terrible having to walk around the theme parks etc in the sun, with 75 to 80 degree temperatures, but what can one do.... Having attempted and DNF a couple of the caches here, as well as having found a few too, I will admit that I find many of the caches here to be rather "lame".... keyholders on someting in yet *another* car park in front of the shops... or a plastic box just over the road from an old-people building (when it could have been another 50ft away, and much better). I will admit, it really makes me appreciate the quality caches that get placed in the UK.... so I hope there's a few lined up for me to do when I return next weekend! Paul

8 x 2300mAh rechargables for £8.99 (no VAT), but you'll need to add P&P on the whole order too. http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_in...oducts_id=99826

As I understand it, in America, the government has a bit that does maps. As anything the government does is paid for by the people, anything that is copyright of the government is thus publicly owned, and thus maps in the US are cheap. In the UK, the OS is part of the government, and thus their work is paid for by the people. However, because we live in rip-off Britain, the government screw us a second time by making us pay for the copyright that we already own... and so maps are expensive in the UK! Garmin City Select for US costs $139, whilst City Select for Europe is $349. Need I say any more? Paul

I was caching today, bumped into a team of 3, then another cacher turned up too! Paul

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... wha??? Would I be right in guessing that, if you are interested in Farley Mount, that you may live in the Winchester area... or somewhere nearby? If so, welcome to the large clan of Winchester Cachers! Paul

For the recent Winchester event, I placed a permanant cache, consisting of a few clue locations, a micro, and an ammo box. The micro was in a cracked tree trunk... the Bramblers, who had found & rehidden the micro were on the way back, and passed a groups searching for it. "Oh, we'll show you where it is, its.......... oh, no its not!". Someone else had found it, and rehidden it somewhere slightly different! We returned the following weekend. We know where we originally hid it. We know where the Bramblers found it the first time, and then the second time.... but it STILL took us 5 mins to find it! (its in a slightly easier place now, a few feet away) So, yes, it's often very easy to think you've lost a cache, when you haven't! We also lost one that was next to a fence... and they re-did the fence! Paul

Ok, I can see that... I was rather hoping there was a way to make them a little more visible... like I will sometimes do with the waypoints to get an overview. Thanks for the info on the tick-box... you were spot on! Now, tell me... how do you manage to get screen dumps from an iQue? Paul

I've managed to get the data onto my iQue too Just a local area for testing), but seem to have to zoom in a lot to get any useful detail.... so which things do you have to adjust to change the zoom when you get the detailed contours, and how do you get the text (hight data) to be visible? Another thing (slightly related) When I use the "map Install" on the Palm desktop, I get maps & routing installed fine. If instead I use MapSource, the maps are sent fine, but the detailed routing info isn't. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong / not doing? Paul

Team Blitz is Mum, Dad, and 2 kids, 9 and 15. We're over in the Kissimee / Orlando area for the 2 weeks after easter (Mar 29 - Apr 9), and whilst we will be visiting Disney etc, we also intemd to go caching too. We'll have a car, so are very willing to go "out of town" too.... 1) We'd love to meet up with any other cachers in the area (I see one of you guys has a cache in your garden.. we'll be visiting YOU!), either socially, or to go out caching. 2) We'd love any suggestions of "really must do" caches in the area... I know there's a lot of caches in the area, but without "local knowledge" it is difficult to work out which are "something a bit different"... so if you have any suggestions, please let us know! Rather than clog up the forum, I'd suggest replying by email may be better! We look forward to meeting you guys, and visiting some of your caches! paul

Hi! We're Team Blitz (family of 4, 2 kids 9 and 15), from the south of England, and are visiting Orlando for our Easter holidays.... and we will be having a one-night stopover in Montreal on Easter Sunday (27th March). We're staying at one of the hotels near the airport, and are certainly planning to visit the Airport TB Hotel cache. However, we were wondering if there was a cacher in the area who might be interested in meeting up with us, and maybe also willing to take us to another cache or two in the area (heck, I'm sure you guys in Montreal must have one or two "must visit" caches!!!). We arrive mid-afternoon, and fly out on the Monday morning... If you fancy meeting up, please email me! Paul

If you ever go to The Netherlands, just use www.geocaching.nl... very easy to use cache map. Paul

We're off to Florida on Easter Sunday... we're in Winchester, happy to add a few more TBs to the 3 I already have for the trip. (I just DREAD checking in: "Has any given you anything to take with you on this trip, sir?") Paul

It seems that there were TWO teams who made the 100 today whilst down at Winchester, at the event and at the "Itchen to get back to the pub" cache. Not only did -Radar- get his 100, Team Marigold ALSO made the 100! And both at the newly placed cache! Well done the both of you!! It also seems that Dysdera *has* now hit 300, despite his commenting that the "Itchen to get back to the pub" cache was only his 299th! It was also good to see several NEW cachers today... well done to "Peeter" whou found his THIRD cache today! Only 97 more needed now to make the 100!!!!! Paul

Well, what can I say? It was GREAT to see so many people! Plenty of people we've met before, as well as PLENTY of NEW faces too! Thank you all for coming along! I arrived a bit later than planned (church was running late), and arrived to see a room FULL of people.... and this was at about 12:05! The pub did a great job of getting us fed (and as others have commented in the log: a good plateful of food (roast / yorkshire pud / roast potatoes & FOUR veg)!)... a marked improvement over the problems at the previous venue. We also raised 30 quid towards the Tsunami appeal from the auction of a pair of Mk II Tim & June Bears. It was quite amazing to see so may TB's there: I was VERY impressed with the piece of TRAM LINE! Suffice it to say that, because of its weight, I declined to take it to Florida with us at Easter! So, a date & location for your diaries: same place, Sunday 29th Jan 2006. (I wonder how far ahead you can get an event approved??) Paul

If anyone has any TBs that need a lift over to the USofA, then get in touch... I'm going out with family on Easter Sunday. Paul PS: of COURSE we'll do some caching whilst we're there!

Tell you what... if you would like to do the cache BEFORE the event, then let me know, and I'll email you the cache sheet.... but beware: if you do the cache and DON'T come along to the pub, I'll not let you claim FTF (or even STF)! I'll still have a pile of sheets at the event for those who wish to come to the pub first. And if you don't all fit into the skittle alley, there's plenty of other space in the pub, and if it's nice, you can even stand out in the garden. Or go & do some caching! Paul

rotflmao!!! Oh, excellent! Just EXCELLENT! Paul

OK, to answer the recent questions 1) As long as dog are behaved (ie lie down, rather than running wild around the room) then dogs are ok in the skittle alley. But make sure they wipe their feet when returning from the cache :-) :-) 2) I'll be arriving about 11:45 (as the pub doors open!) and I'll have the cache sheets with me (just copied a load today)... I'm asking for the cache to be made live online at lunchtime, if that's possible, to allow someone at the event to be FTF. 3) Please remember to get there early for lunch.... so far we are showing almost 60 for the carvery, and we are promised "exclusivity" from opening till about 1:15... so eat *then* cache! And don't queue for your drinks at the main bar... we have our own bar in the skittle alley! 4) I'll be going down the scrapyard for the ammo boxes on Saturday morning.... I have about 4 in stock already, and looks like I need to get about another 12 or 16 (they come in 4's) ... the one's i'm planning on getting are 3" x 7" x 10" (same as the cache that I'll be placing!) 5) if anyone needs to call me on the day (or before!), my mobile is 07731 711 345. 6) Don't forget to bring your secret santa presents: mark them for age / sex suitability (eg "adult only", "child / silly adult", "boy 5 to 10"..... you know what I'm getting at)... and bring as many as (or more than!) you wish to receive! No need to spend any more than 2 or 3 quid on each. Paul