EPMinnesota

Have you received your digital file yet? We haven't.

What I find interesting is that in investigating a cacher that has hung on to one of my favorite coins who also never has answered any of my emails, I found that many other coins and bugs have disappeared either while they had the traveler or soon after. Several of the items have very low miles on them so they may have been picked up by this cacher soon after release. This is an experienced cacher with almost 3000 finds. Why would such an avid cacher feel the need to keep bugs and coins? I don't get it.

We have a weekly Weds night group that goes out and we log into the physical cache using WNC (WeekNIGHT Crew) but then we each log into the online cache separately mentioning that we were caching with the WNC. Covers both well especially since there can be anywhere from 2-25 people on any given Weds. night.

Looking for an orange slug bug racer (or green?). Our family is racing slug bug cars and my daughter's orange car was stolen from a cache. Apparently, there is a known coin stealer in the LA area I'm finding out. This is the 2nd coin of mine that the same person has possibly stolen. Anyway, I am trying to replace this coin so my daughter can race again. If anyone has an orange slug bug or any other color than yellow and blue, I would be interested in hearing from you. Thanks!

I have a travel bug hotel that has seen a lot of action and I think in part because of how it's set up. I feel that there should be no restrictions on how many tbs you take or leave. If you can help fulfull a tb's mission then take it. If you can't leave it. If you've got one to drop off but can't help another along then that's fine too, of course. I do have trade items in my cache, feel free to trade if you like. The most important thing about my cache though is that if a bug is still enjoying my resort after about 30 days then I will personally help it along on its way. I don't think bugs should sit for months on end. I'd rather my hotel be empty than have bugs that aren't getting moved. I do, however, have a coin bank and ask that coins be exchanged somewhat evenly. However, it says right on its webpage and at the cache that the rule is not written in stone. If you can help a coin along, then please do so. I want cachers to become repeat customers (logging subsequent visits as notes not visits) if it helps them to move bugs and coins along and is in a convenient location for them to do so.

Is it confirmed that these 2 cachers don't travel a lot and cache together? We have a father-daughter caching team that live out of state from each other (one is from Iowa as a matter of fact) but travel back and forth often. They cache in both states so both log their tb find/discovers and caches. Also, living in a state which is an airline hub we have flight crew members that cache around the world and in other states. They'll often pick up and drop bugs/coins here and there as they travel and visit some of the same caches such as airport tb hotels often to exchange bugs. Unless you know the people involved or what their situation is and if they are indeed bending rules, I guess there's really nothing that needs to be done. I personally log each find and placement at the cache site and on each trackables page but don't necessarily mention on the online cache log which bugs/coins I'm dropping. Usually it's because I'm dropping them into my own tb hotel or coin bank and they get logged into the cache and the trackables page at the same time. I do keep a notebook with me to keep track of what I have in my inventory especially when I'm traveling. I have picked up several bugs/coins recently that want to travel to areas where we are going on vacation soon. I have them listed in my notebook so that I place them where they want to go and don't forget them. I don't like to discover tb's. For some reason it just seems wrong but I do discover coins because sometimes they're in someone elses hands but it was great to come in contact with them.

I had a situation recently where a tb was an untrackable coin. The owner had used a tb tracking number for the coin but what he had actually attached to the coin was the tb# not the tracking number. When it was dropped into one of my caches no one could discover it because it didn't include the tracking number. I brought it home to find out what the problem was. I indeed could get to its webpage because I had the its tb# but couldn't enter a log. I emailed the owner explaining the problem and that I would be happy to change the number on his coin so it could be tracked. He could check the notes posted for the bug to see that there were previous messages concerning it so he could tell I was trying to help him. Do you have any notes posted saying there is a problem (something missing)? I was happy to help and was able to send his coin/bug on its way! There are helpful people out there. You just have to determine if its worth the "risk" or if its a big enough deal to you not to. Good luck!

I see a lot of junk in caches and can't even imagine who would even put it in the caches to start with. Since my kids are teen/preteen they're interested in stuff beyond McD toys or bouncy balls. They enjoy finding things like compasses, odd but interesting things like a handcarved walnut shell with a shaky spider inside. It fascinated them for a while and we actually still have it. When we're traveling they like to find batteries (we've never found any leaking ones), fun pens or pencils (that aren't meant to stay with the cache) and things like pencil sharpeners. I often buys things at the dollar store that can be split up (several in a package) like keyrings with a comb and mirror on them. A lot of times I'll actually take the time to put them in a ziplock to keep them in better shape. I also carefully watch when Target's dollar spot items go to 75% off and pick out fun stuff like mini-pens (Scooby Doo, Disney), keychain notepads, and being a woman I especially like to leave things I think other women would enjoy finding like pocket packs of kleenex. I rarely take anything but do like to leave goodies. I try to keep my cache full of great swag and even have gotten comments on the great goodies. I don't spend much but but it is the only real expense (other than gas) that this sport costs me.

I also found some at Dollar Tree and they do have a rubber/plastic gasket. The gasket is the color you see in the pictures, red, green, blue, etc. around the edge.

It's too bad these weren't for sale in time for buyers to receive and release them during their 4th of July caching.

<snort> Oops! Sorry, that was so unladylike!

ADD ME!!!!!!!

I have a 2006 Minnesota Geocachers Association geocoin but its untackable. It's numbered 912 I would prefer trackable coins because we send the MN coins out to travel the state. Thanks anyway!

The other Minnesota coins that I know of are: Minnesota State Symbols Series (Expanded from original MN Loon Coin) MN Loon - Sold Out MN Walleye will start selling tomorrow. Minnesota Geocaching History Series #1 Alvin's Phone Line - On sale in aprox 2 weeks Where would I find these coins? Hook me up please!

I am a small collector so I don't have much to trade. I am seeking any Minnesota related coins. I already have Explore MN, CacheMN and Team Petey's Twinsports coins. I'd be interested in hearing about any others. To trade I only have: Feng Shui Compass coin Doing the FTF Dance Winter Style

I'm guessing it's a Military Challenge coin and not a Geocoin. Thanks! Perhaps I didn't look at it close enough! I thought I saw it in a geocoin venue but maybe it was a coinmakers site.

I don't know anything about this coin but ran across a picture of it the other day and would like to find one. I'm looking for the USS Texas geocoin. Does anyone have one they'd part with?

SOLD! Thanks!

I have a Lowrance Ifinder Go that I purchased one year ago to get started in caching. For our one year caching anniversary we upgraded so now have the Go for sale. It is in very gently used condition. Nothing wrong with it. I don't have the box but do have the instruction booklet. It includes 2 AA lithium batteries that we have only replaced once (fairly recently) in the year we had it. There are only very minor scratches on the screen. Nothing that you notice when using. The reflections on the screen in the picture are just that, my reflection. Good lookin', huh? Asking $50 which includes shipping to you. Paypal is preferred payment. I have good feedback on ebay and will ship as soon as pmt is received/clears. Description: Portable Hand Held GPS. 2.2\" monochrome super-twist display; Stores up to 1,000 waypoints, 1,000 event ;markers & 100 routes ; Handheld design for portability ; 32 MB built-in background map for U.S. cities, highways & exit services, including Hawaii ; Waterproof & corrosion-resistant ; Up to 60 hours of operation on 2 AA batteries Portable hand held gps ideal for hiking, camping and exploring.

Is this the procedure you have to go through to download to the Garmin etrex venture cx?

For my tb hotel I use a 30 day limit (give or take depending on weather) for bugs to hang out. After than if one isn't moving I'll pick it up and move it along or if I know I'm going to an event in the near future I'll leave it until just before I go and if it's still there pickd it up and take it along. Most bugs move along before 30 days but for those that don't, is that too long for coins?

Thank you everyone for your replies. I'd love to hear any other thoughts anyone has. I'm thinking I might consider this further and perhaps use a small cammo container as a hanging cache. It would be somewhat in the area of our tb hotel and not far from home so easy to check up on as needed. I'd like it to be specific to those that are into coins.

Is there such a thing as a geocoin hotel cache much like travel bug hotels? While I'm not sure these would be a good idea I'm intrigued by the idea that it might be depending on where it's located. We are proprieters of a travel bug spa and hotel that I think is set well with no trading required, you can leave or take as many as you like, and barring bad weather (like the subzero we've had here in MN lately) travel bugs only are welcome at our hotel for a max of 30 days and then I personally move them along. Would a coin hotel that worked like that be a good idea or is it just to risky?

I am looking for a Volkswagon Bug geocoin either in orange or green. unactivated, of course. Contact me if you have one to sell!

It's time to upgrade and my budget tops out at $200. I'm upgrading from a low-end unit after 11 months of caching and realizing it's become an obsession. It's time to enjoy it even more with a "real" gps unit. The Explorist 400 or 500 looks good but as an amateur I really need advice. What do you experienced gps'ers recommend? TIA!