ZachNLiam

It's October 12. This seems to be the best date overall for the largest number of cachers! Please email me if there are ANY questions. Here's the link: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=33542&Nocache=0.7055475

It's October 12. This seems to be the best date overall for the largest number of cachers! Please email me if there are ANY questions. Here's the link: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=33542&Nocache=0.7055475

I have the Blue Chart with an unlock code only for my computer (not my gps, which is very expensive). We won't go into how I got this... lol Anyway, the Blue Chart maps look VERY impressive. My uncle has a boat in Canada and he has the c-chart (I think that's what they're called) maps. He saw a friend's Blue Chart maps and he was completely blown away. By the way, Garmin's website has a viewer where you can see what the maps actually look like. Just remember, you really have to zoom in on the Blue Chart maps to see all the detail!

I have the Blue Chart with an unlock code only for my computer (not my gps, which is very expensive). We won't go into how I got this... lol Anyway, the Blue Chart maps look VERY impressive. My uncle has a boat in Canada and he has the c-chart (I think that's what they're called) maps. He saw a friend's Blue Chart maps and he was completely blown away. By the way, Garmin's website has a viewer where you can see what the maps actually look like. Just remember, you really have to zoom in on the Blue Chart maps to see all the detail!

What version of MapSource are you using? Mine shows the total number of MB for the maps at the bottom of the map list. The current version of MapSource is 4.09, and it's a free download from Garmin. There's some other good features added to the 4.09 MapSource, and some things are more intuitive with it now also. The earliest MapSource I used was 4.03 (I think) and it had the total size listed as well.

What version of MapSource are you using? Mine shows the total number of MB for the maps at the bottom of the map list. The current version of MapSource is 4.09, and it's a free download from Garmin. There's some other good features added to the 4.09 MapSource, and some things are more intuitive with it now also. The earliest MapSource I used was 4.03 (I think) and it had the total size listed as well.

I'm not 100% sure what you're asking. Do you mean is there a way to see how much you actually transferred AFTER you've transferred it? I don't think so. You would have to load up the same maps in MapSource and then see what the total is. MapSource will allow you to save a mapset with routes and tracks and stuff. Then you could refer back to it. Or do you mean, how much memory is left over? This doesn't matter with Garmin units because EVERY time you transfer maps to your gps it erases what's there. So you always need to load it with what you want - there's no way to add to what's already been transferred.

I'm not 100% sure what you're asking. Do you mean is there a way to see how much you actually transferred AFTER you've transferred it? I don't think so. You would have to load up the same maps in MapSource and then see what the total is. MapSource will allow you to save a mapset with routes and tracks and stuff. Then you could refer back to it. Or do you mean, how much memory is left over? This doesn't matter with Garmin units because EVERY time you transfer maps to your gps it erases what's there. So you always need to load it with what you want - there's no way to add to what's already been transferred.

On your number 7 point, Garmin's memory usage meter only applies to a combined amount of total waypoints saved, tracks (saved and current), and the routes saved. It has nothing to do with the map memory. The only way to know how much memory you're using is to check the total map size in MapSource when you transfer them. But all your observations I agree with. I bought the GPSMAP76 (not the S) because I couldn't justify the extra expense of the altimiter and compass, but I'm very happy with mine. Our family has 4 Garmin gps units (sick, huh?), and the 76 is my favorite once I get out of the car to find a cache (my Street Pilot III gets me to the nearest parking lot!)

On your number 7 point, Garmin's memory usage meter only applies to a combined amount of total waypoints saved, tracks (saved and current), and the routes saved. It has nothing to do with the map memory. The only way to know how much memory you're using is to check the total map size in MapSource when you transfer them. But all your observations I agree with. I bought the GPSMAP76 (not the S) because I couldn't justify the extra expense of the altimiter and compass, but I'm very happy with mine. Our family has 4 Garmin gps units (sick, huh?), and the 76 is my favorite once I get out of the car to find a cache (my Street Pilot III gets me to the nearest parking lot!)

hmmmm... We just missed it then. We had great gps readings, so we'll have to go back soon. It didn't help that when we tried it the first time we took the hard way in, and six hours later I was still pulling little sticker things off my legs! Also it was hot and the kids were upset because they didn't want to walk any farther, but they hated being out of sight of us (even though they were 20 feet away) more. We'll take the correct way in this time and hopefully have better luck!

hmmmm... We just missed it then. We had great gps readings, so we'll have to go back soon. It didn't help that when we tried it the first time we took the hard way in, and six hours later I was still pulling little sticker things off my legs! Also it was hot and the kids were upset because they didn't want to walk any farther, but they hated being out of sight of us (even though they were 20 feet away) more. We'll take the correct way in this time and hopefully have better luck!

I assume everyone is out caching! We're going out this afternoon for a few South of here (down Merced way). Have work to do until 3 or 4, I hope that'll give us enough daylight!

I assume everyone is out caching! We're going out this afternoon for a few South of here (down Merced way). Have work to do until 3 or 4, I hope that'll give us enough daylight!

Great job. I can't even imagine when I'll be hitting a number like that. 100 seems far away. Of course 50 did when we started too! Keep it up!

Great job. I can't even imagine when I'll be hitting a number like that. 100 seems far away. Of course 50 did when we started too! Keep it up!

I've been having really good luck with the combination of Garmin TOPO (in my gps) and transferring hiking trails and so on from National Geographic's TOPO! (I have California, since that's where I live!). I've been very impressed with the NG TOPO! maps, which are also based on 7.5 degree quads. Plus, the www.topo.com website has free downloads of trails and things that really enhance creating routes on your gps. The Garmin maps aren't the best (they're supposed to be similar to 1:100000 USGS maps), but they're the only ones that work in the gps! I also like the NG interface. It's pretty intuitive and has some great printing capability.

I've used Delorme Topo v3 and it's very good I think. But I finally went out and bought the California TOPO! State Series from NG. It's really amazing. I like the interface much better, and it's obviously really geared toward hiking (or geocaching)! NG has a bunch of free downloads on their website for pre-drawn trails and things that were created by authors of trail manuals and such, and they're very good. It will automatically generate a route from any of these trails (or any that you draw freehand) with as many or as few waypoints along the way that you want. The print engine is also very powerful. I'm very impressed. DeLorme fits the western USA on one CD, and the NG TOPO for California alone is on 10, so you know there's detail!

Since a lot of the central valley "regulars" can't attend the BBQ on the 14th, I want to postpone it to a date that seems a little better for most people. If I could get notes from everyone on the cache page, or emails (randy@jamzcheer.com) with everyone's "best dates" I'll try to accomodate as many people as possible! Thanks! Randy

Since a lot of the central valley "regulars" can't attend the BBQ on the 14th, I want to postpone it to a date that seems a little better for most people. If I could get notes from everyone on the cache page, or emails (randy@jamzcheer.com) with everyone's "best dates" I'll try to accomodate as many people as possible! Thanks! Randy

I got the National Geographic TOPO! for California. It's crazy detailed. It's only California, and it's on 10 CDs. I'll burn 'em for you and let you know when I'm done. I'll do it at work where I have a 16x burner. It'd take me forever at home. There's some really cool downloads (free) from their website. Trails and stuff that you can overlay on the maps and then it will automatically create routes and download them into your GPS. It works really well with Garmin's TOPO maps loaded, and the TOPO! (NG) trails on top of that. ALSO: Congratulations Fattuhr! Excellent job!

I got the National Geographic TOPO! for California. It's crazy detailed. It's only California, and it's on 10 CDs. I'll burn 'em for you and let you know when I'm done. I'll do it at work where I have a 16x burner. It'd take me forever at home. There's some really cool downloads (free) from their website. Trails and stuff that you can overlay on the maps and then it will automatically create routes and download them into your GPS. It works really well with Garmin's TOPO maps loaded, and the TOPO! (NG) trails on top of that. ALSO: Congratulations Fattuhr! Excellent job!

Welcome back Kevin. Got some new software you might like. You gonna hit the trails or at least go to our BBQ? Hope so! Randy

Welcome back Kevin. Got some new software you might like. You gonna hit the trails or at least go to our BBQ? Hope so! Randy

Being here in California he didn't hurt me at all; in fact he gave me something interesting to read and write about. But if I lived near him, like the above post, I'd be a little pissed. Each area has its own community of geocachers, and he failed his own. Also if he had logged a cache of my own I'd be even more upset. I assume someone logging the caches I have hidden is being honest about it. That's what makes stories of caching interesting. He only has the same story for each one, "I was sitting here, using Photoshop when..."