Konza Coyote

For the most part, I navigate using a buddy who uses an app as I drive. It's great, offers the chance to be less structured than planning routes, etc. But... my usual navigator isn't always available. I thought I'd see what others do. Besides, if I were sadistic / masochistic enough, I'd plot them on a paper version of a Delorme map or military map. [ ] But, I'd rather spend the time caching. Solo caching isn't optimal in my opinion, but better than none. I just want to be safe and legal about it.

Because in some areas,reception isn't available. I'm pretty good at getting back to an area or home without any form of technical navigation. Unfortunately, my brain doesn't work from coordinates. Besides, a vehicle nav unit is good for solo cachers trying to stay "hands free" while driving.

Hi, I've been seriously considering purchasing a dash mounted navigation GPS to help me navigate when I go solo caching. The Nuvi 500 has been discontinued. I'm sure if I poke around, I can find one new or used. However, discontinued items tend to also mean "no longer supported" by their manufacturers. The Nuvi 500 is the only navigation gps I know of that's also caching friendly. Today, in an effort to learn if Garmin's other devices would be just as useful [i.e. download a pocket query to them, etc] I called Garmin. The lady that took my call was friendly and did the best she could. I'm still not convinced that their "POI" function is going to be what I want. I figured someone out there in the caching community might have some ideas. Thanks.

A TARDIS or another sort of time machine is a necessary TOTT for such challenges. Those three cachers obviously have one.

I posted a week or so back about the frustration I encountered with the search function. This weekend, my frustrations grew. Granted, I've learned a few tips and tricks to help me navigate this "new, improved, intuitive" crap. It's still not shiny. It's certainly got a long way to go. 1) This 30 mile radius needs to stop. It's limiting in so many ways. I heard a rumor that server space was an issue and that was why the limit. But, I also know that Groundspeak uses the cloud heavily. Server space shouldn't be a problem. Server access should be anticipated and planned for. Bad juju. 2) The search function filters just can't do much. The ability to find caches to fit challenge requirements requires some serious thinking. I used to be able to pull up all the caches in my state, adjust by placement date, distance, or D/T. Nope! Not any more! 3)Not all the caches inside the 30 mile radius show up. Why does this problem still exist? It happened on the old search engine as well. Why? 4) The page still feels like an insult to my intelligence. And yes, the whole radius restriction and no recognition for tiny towns really irritates me. It's sad when an unofficial app does a better job than the main source.

Thanks to RCA777, here's the list: Substituting the ID # with the values below will give you different caches for different provinces/states. 2 Alaska 3 Arizona 4 Arkansas 5 California 6 Colorado 7 Connecticut 8 District of Columbia 9 Delaware 10 Florida 11 Georgia 12 Hawaii 13 Idaho 14 Illinois 15 Indiana 16 Iowa 17 Kansas 18 Kentucky 19 Louisiana 20 Maine 21 Maryland 22 Massachusetts 23 Michigan 24 Minnesota 25 Mississippi 26 Missouri 27 Montana 28 Nebraska 29 Nevada 30 New Hampshire 31 New Jersey 32 New Mexico 33 New York 34 North Carolina 35 North Dakota 36 Ohio 37 Oklahoma 38 Oregon 39 Pennsylvania 40 Rhode Island 41 South Carolina 42 South Dakota 43 Tennessee 44 Texas 45 Utah 46 Vermont 47 Virginia 48 Washington 49 West Virginia 50 Wisconsin 51 Wyoming THIS IS AWESOME! THANK YOU!!!

But, some of that equipment can be used for caching! Now, there's a bargain!

While I understand that the new search engine was supposed to have that elusive "intuitiveness" lots of software and site designers strive for, I feel all I've gotten was a slap in the face. I feel as if Groundspeak thinks I need my hand held. All in all, I feel as if Groundspeak felt compelled to dumb down the website. I know that sounds harsh, but it's just how I feel. On to the stuff that Groundspeak has the power to change, and should. I have read through most of the posts in this currently small thread and I agree with the single recurring issue: Search radius. I didn't expect Groundspeak to severely limit my ability to plan my next outing by restricting just how much I see on a map. There's so many more caches than the 448 caches listed for my search. Now, I must have a town's name, zip code, or some street address to gain the ability to judge whether or not to cache in an area. Which means, I have to use a site other than Geocaching.com to be able to get some information before I get any caching information. Really?!? This means I have to search for a lot more just to see a very limited amount of caches. Even trying to search the entire state of Kansas resulted in a whopping total of 6, which isn't even logical if my town has a listing of 448. Even the notifications for premium members allows for a 50 mile radius, more than the current search engine allows. Also, I can't find a way to clear the ones I've already found from the map. I just want to see green boxes, not a map full of smiley faces. Now, not only is the map making caching more frustrating due to the silly restrictions, it's cluttered with caches I've been to or own. Me, being me, and thinking the way I do leads me to wonder about what Groundspeak is hoping with this, currently not very helpful, search engine. Challenges, for one, will be unheard of unless you've got some cheat sheet on how to see the results for an entire state. Not only that, it also fails to show that caching really does take a person off the beaten path, something a 30 mile radius cannot. But, I think, more importantly, the new search engine is insulting to my intelligence by suggesting with it's 30 mile radius per zip code or city, that perhaps I just need to stay home and cache in my backyard. Images are powerful. A restrictive search engine can and will restrict people's activity. Geocaching is just one small part of the powerful and profitable hospitality and tourism industry. Aesthetics are always subjective. Scrolling vs going to page next. No big deal All in all, the elusive intuitiveness isn't anywhere close. I'm really hoping Groundspeak will bring back the ability to 1)search an entire state, or at the very least, a 100 mile radius, 2) make the map more useful with the very useful side bar they use to have, 3) and for the next change, allowing cachers to have input on how they'd like Groundspeak to improve. Thanks for letting me say my two cents.

This is true, especially in the Southwest. Due to the yearly rattlesnake roundups, those without rattles have survived, passing on their rattle-less genes.

Again, I wouldn't and I think most cacher's (that I have ever met) would find that a bit of a cheesy thing to do. Well, then I know a few cachers made of cheese.

I wouldn't mind helping either. Manhattan, Kansas.

Religion is one of those topics that just needs to be left out of the geocaching world in my opinion. Shouting out to the world you found your personal spiritual happiness is just fine. When you dedicate a cache and lure someone in just so you can sneak in a point or two about any spiritual topic, you're doing two things: 1) You're now proselytizing, evangelizing, and preaching. 2)I think you're asking for a lot of things that cache owners really dislike: vandalizing, trashing, stealing, etc. a cache. Not to mention, you're also asking for a few flame throwers. I agree, leave religion out of caches. Leave politics out of caches as well, as often is the case more and more, the two are intertwined. An historical church, shrine, or something is fine. It's historical. And it's the history people are seeking as well as the cache. Personally, I find it an affront to my personal choices and the spirit of the cache to find pamphlet after pamphlet asking me if I'm saved. It's like going trick or treating only to find comic books telling my I'm going to bad, fiery places and so is my kid because we participated in this activity. It dampens the mood greatly. My spiritual growth is my responsibility. Your spiritual growth is yours. I like that boundary and would like to see it continued in the hobbies I enjoy. So, no, don't place a cache dedicated to Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, the Dali Lama, God, Bastet, Aphrodite, or any other religious figure. [And don't cram caches with pamphlets dedicated to such deities either. ]

Sometimes, I won't log a DNF. I'm not the most experienced cacher out there, but I'm not fresh out of the box anymore. However, usually when I choose not to log my DNF, it's not because I don't want people to know I failed. It's because I'm colorblind. I know if I go back, at a different time, the light will be different and I can find the cache [usually]. Containers painted to match their surroundings, especially the micros, which seem to be a local favorite [$1 for a matchstick container at Wally World], are difficult. If they aren't tethered to a branch, fence, etc, there's not much for me to use for clues, as they can be hidden under leaves, and what not. But, I'm a persistent sort, so I'll go back several times before I log a DNF. However, I did log a DNF and posted a picture with it [unusual] because of the Nature provided guardian, a copperhead. [she was beautiful in her grace.] So, sometimes with some, the lack of DNF logs may actually be due to a self perceived shame such as colorblindness, or something else.