freejam

Just how long would you expect an ammo box or plastic cache container to last - assuming it's not interfered with in any way? Ammo boxes will eventually rust away but a plastic box seems virtually endless. Is there any reason a cache can't last 100's of years?

Sorry guys but the usual spelling is bollocks - don't ask me why - aka testes, nuts or crown jewels. A similar phrase to dead nuts is "the dog's bollocks" - meaning the best or spot on. My guess is the original cache owner thought the term dead nuts meant mad or bad co-ords. I personally wouldn't change the posting other than adding after dead nuts (perfect co-ords) to highlight the fact you were praising rather than cursing.

The options are endless (almost) - for my pocket PC setup I use GPXSonar cheaper than GASAK - it's free. Mapping software I use is Memory-Map this loads onto PC and the PDA. Just drop a pocket query onto the MM on the PC and transfer via ActiveSync to the PDA. No keying its all electronic - then copy the pocket query file to the PDA. Perfect everything you need for caching. Memory-Map has masses of features with many high quality maps available. It'll give speed, bearing, topo, routes and proximity warnings as well. The PDA buzzes when you're within a user selected distance of the cache.

Maybe it's the query criteria try for a query based just on GPS co-ords and no other conditions. Never had a problem. Also you may want to load into GPXSonar as an alternative to GSAK if you have a PDA - it's free.

I always provide a waypoint for parking and describe the type of parking. Albeit a layby or a paid for area. This information is especially useful for cachers with children in tow or grandparents along for some fresh air. Being able to park easily is a prime concern for me for cache locating - I want to make the caching fun not an urban stress farm.

The Sussex Downs growth is great early on - but mid East Sussex has been a late starter - I've placed 30 odd caches in the last few months - that may account for some of the later blue occuring in this area - plus the efforts of many others e.g Deep Digging Mole, Go Pack Go et al.

Whenever I list my caches I always include a photgraph - this provides people with a good idea of what will be found and I feel it whets the appetite and encourages extra visits. Example is my Pyramid of Giza cache (19th Century version ) - on this occasion I used a photograph posted by a cacher. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...1e-b28411d4ad18

Not personally - but cachers looking for one of my caches 4' off a public footpath into open woods keep getting chased off by a landowner snake.

It's a combination of circumstances that make a cache memorable. A late Spring evening on the Sussex Levels, with a die for glory-scene sunset, perfumed air from wild flowers, a charming stone bridge over a crystal trout stream - retrieving a cache modelled on a fairytale Troll. Now if it had been pi55ing down with rain with a cold Northerly blasting out earwax, the charming character cache would have seemed a cheap movie prop hidden down a slimy slope under a span that dripped cold water down my neck.

I set out a range of caches - from granny-can-do to 4.5 beasties. Variety is a key ingredient to caching - but many finders complain in their finding posts at how awkward the difficult finds are. Clearly this doesn't amount to physical interference but can detract from the desirability of a cache to others. I always leave the negative posts - but know from the frequency of visits to my toughies that this negativity on cachers part is putting others off even trying.

About half a mile - I set up a series of caches to encourage out of town visitors - that's pulled in about 50 peeps in two months to an out of the way village in East Sussex. It won't change our rural economy but does mean places of local interest get better known.

You could also try Memory-Map has lots of features and will show current location and any number of waypoints and routes with an on screen pointer with the cache direction distance and eta - but check to see if it works on your PDA.

Try giving map co-ordinates instead of post codes - always seems more accurate. Pete.

I booked flight tickets to Turkey for my son and his four mates - we had accommodation booked - but this has now been lost through no fault of ours. I explained this to XL Airways but they have stolen my £200 deposit. Even though I told them I'll be booking more tickets. I'm an old customer and have flown with them about 4 times already. What a crappy airline - the flights are in August - I can't believe XL con merchant will not resell the tickets. If they cancel the flights they'll pay £10 compensation - one sided or what XL.CON never again.

Took about two days for mine to go through paying with credit card via the GS shop.

4 inches of snow down here in East Sussex - no trains today ...

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...22-a3e3f34b6350 On the Border - Afganistan This is Asadabad's First Cache. It is about 7 miles from the Afghanistan/Pakistan border and because of this it's also prone to rocket and mortar attacks from those pesky Taliban and Al Queida losers!!! It's been given a difficulty rating of 1.5 - is that mad?

"I know I would have trashed the Pocket PC at some point by taking it out in the woods all the time." I've been lucky so far take my PDA everywhere. Just slip it into an inside pocket to keep safe. Real danger is heavy rainfall on the open screen.

I spent hours cutting and pasting cache details onto my PDA and somehow managed to carry out a total reboot, and lost everything, as I tried out a new PDA holder in my SUV. The same day my PC's hard disk crashed! Pocket queries saved me from carrying out Hari Kiri. Pete.

thanks oneeye

Hi Is it at all possible to load Pocket Queries into Memory Map PC (or PDA version)? - I'm using the UK Ordnance Survey version. I understand it was possible with some versions of Memory Map but does not seem at all obvious with v5. Many thanks. Pete.

kb9nvh - try blowing up the image - IMHO I doubt very much it's a structural column its just floating up at roof level pete

Correct I slipped up I'm on BST now so I should have posted 21.00hrs GMT.

Is it me or has the forum just suffered an attack of rickets? Pete

I must be lucky I've had two outages in the last four week's usage - but today was fine 08.00 hrs GMT but is pants at 22.00hrs GMT. Luckily this is a two way activity - get out there guys and set up new caches in your spare time!! Server downtime is a symptom of growing participation (I think) so the signs may be good on the growth front but with continued failure new users just won't bother to get involved. Server separation is a good idea - there are too many functions running on the same site - far better to set up a separate server just for downloading cache information. We also have the luxury of uploading very large images this is a massive killer on any system bandwidth - maybe just maybe - users can help out by not uploading images for a while. Pete