astrowolf67

We carry tweezers, but, our most used tool, is a Schrade multi tool.

I downloaded the FTF android app to my tablet, and the free issue. The content is great, however, for future versions, the ability to enlarge the pages and pictures would be great! If that feature were available, I would gladly purchase past digital editions, and buy a digital subscription.

Maintaining a cache, as a finder, is totally up to you. However, if you take it upon yourself to do needed repairs, do it right. I hate to find a micro, where logs have been added to the point the wad of paper is not able to be removed. Or, a leaking container, that had a new log placed, but, is still leaking. For maintaining cacches, our pack contains some baggies, paper, camo duct tape, and we recently added an assortment of rubber o-rings that I found in a dollar bin somewhere (great for bison tube/match container types). All are common items that suffer wear, tear, and loss very easily. David

We enjoy collecting personalized swag items from others. In exchange, we leave our own personalized wooden nickel. I buy the blanks at area craft stores, had some stamps custom made with my own designs for front and back, and can make a few dozen in very short time. I don't know that anyone has ever collected one of our nickels, however, I'd like to believe there are others out caching, who are like us, and like to collect personalized items. David

I got a promise from the wife to pick up one of those good military UTG shoulder packs next time we are at the nearest army base town (should be in another week or two). Our current cache pack works, but, with only three compartments, things tend to get pretty mixed up. Other than that, leading up to Xmas, I got one of those little telescoping mirror things, one of those extended reach grabber thingys, and a Dakota 20. All of which I told her to just consider part of Xmas. I usually don't want/get anything for Xmas, I have more fun getting stuff for her and the kids. David

Clean it out with a wire brush, then use some primer on it. WD40 will clean it, but will not prevent rust as it contains water too. If you just want to clean it and oil it, a light coat of motor oil will work. But, a paper log will soak it up and be hard to write on. David

We make our own. You can buy blanks at most any craft store (Hobby Lobby, Micheal's), along with an in expensive ink pad. I had our stamps custom made using our own design at www.rubberstamps.net, two stamp designs, for less than 20 dollars shipped. Or, if your design is simple enough, you can make your own using a large rubber eraser. Before placing in a cache, I put them in a small ziploc bag, also available at craft stores (for jewelry), or drug stores (pill baggies). I spent ~30 bucks total to start, which included two bags of blanks (22 per bag). Now, when I need more, I just stop and pick up a bag of blanks, stamp and bag them, and I'm good to go. My son loves to help make them, and, when someone finds one, it's something we enjoyed making ourselves. Eventually, I'd like to try lightly stamping a couple, and try to use a wood burning tool to make them even more unique. My few attempts at wood burning have been disasters so far though. The old hands aren't as steady as they use to be. David

Ours survived a 45mph collision a couple of weeks ago when a pickup turned in front of us. It doesn't have a mark on it. I had questioned the durability of it when we first got it, but, am now convinced it's more durable than it looks. However, that being said, a single accident is nothing compared to the use and abuse that kids can put something through. David

I just went through this with a new Dakota 20 my self about a month ago. Once you get your pocket query, you first need to unzip it. Next, connect your Dakota to your computer (Make sure to wait for windows to install software and drivers for it). Open windows explorer, and you should see the Garmin listed as a drive. Open the Garmin Drive, Garmin folder, and look for a folder titled GPX. This is where you will need to drag and drop your unzipped pocket queries to (each query has two files, drag and drop both). Make sure you drop them into the GPX folder, not the "current" or "nav" sub folders. Hope this helps, David

Well, we just got a new Dakota 20 about a month ago. And, while I'd love for Santa to bring me City Navigator to go along with it, I'd rather see Santa deliver some GPSr's to less fortunate families so that they can experience the fun that caching has brought to my own family. David

I've never used, or even seen one yet, but the Magellan Explorist GC seems to fit into your requirements. It seems to get pretty decent reviews, with the biggest con being, it's not much use for anything but geocaching. I just looked it up on Amazon, and it's priced as low as 169.99. We just started using a Garmin Dakota 20 this weekend, and, while a bit pricey, I don't regret it one bit. So far, it's been a great little unit. David

I finally got a chance to play with the Dakota 20 for a while last night, and, eventually figured out how to get the queries loaded, and where to load them. I tried everything, EXCEPT loading them directly in to the GPX folder. I was trying to put them in the two subfolders that were already there, but, all that's needed is to put them in the GPX folder. Duh! Sometimes, when it's too easy, it's hard to figure out, lol! David

I just got a Dakota 20 this week, and haven't had a chance to play with it yet. Do both files have to be dropped in to the GPS? Also, if I have multiple queries, can they be put in as well, and kept seperate? Thanks, David

Before taking it apart, have you tried to update the firmware? We recently had problems with ours, coincidently, just after being dropped. The screen would go blank, with a line down it, and, no controls would work. Sometimes it would work for only a few minutes, sometimes an hour or more. Turns out, there was a new WAAS satellite that had been launched causing problems with the original firmware. The easiest way to update it, is to go to Garmin's site, download their web updater, then follow their instructions on connecting the GPSr and updating it. A quick google search on the legend and it's problems will turn up plenty of posts throughout various forums related to the issue, along with various fixes.

When we first started, lots of paper, and a Garmin Etrex Legend. Currently, a Nuvi 205W for driving, Dell Netbook in place of the paper, and the same 4 year old Etrex Legend. In another week, the Nuvi 205W, and a Garmin Dakota 20. David

Membership has many benefits. It supports the website, and keeps it available to all who wish to join in on the fun. It allows you to run pocket queries, which can be put into a program for portable use, allowing you to leave paperwork at home, and still have access to all the info on the listings. Furthermore, you can filter out the caches you aren't interested in before exporting them to your GPS. It also allows access to premium members only caches, which are becoming more and more common due to cache thieves, and geo-haters. David

My son likes to swap hot wheels and matchbox cars. My wife and I usually swap for signature items, or if there's something else we want, we leave stuff such as small pocket sized first aid kits, little flashlights, compasses, ect. For the kids, we leave miniature decks of cards, hackey sacks, or water bomb balls. David

Hi, I'm sort of new here, well, I haven't cached in a while. But, having experienced theft of my daughter's Sunday school class cache just a few short months after placing it, this subject hits home. If you are a member of a local club, I'd suggest a collective purchase of a wildlife camera, that you could hide on a tree. It would only take pics when there is activity at the cache. The types of caches the thief is taking should give a clue which ones could be future targets. Once you have the pic of the thief, take it to the local police, and, if they won't pursue it, consider posting the pic on the cache page, and also contact local clubs and distribute the pics to them. David