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Bench Mark

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Posts posted by Bench Mark

  1. Hey guys,

     

    Today I retrieved (what I believe to be) a geocoin from the "Celebration Travel Bug Hotel" cache. It's not the normal geocoin, it doesn't have the typical hex code like Geocaching.com's coins. Instead of that, it has a 7 letter nickname for a code.

     

    The coin is in a transparent envelope next to a HogWildStuff.org card.

     

    The reverse of the coin says: "Midwest Geobash 07", and has this 7 letter nickname below.

    Te reverse of the card says:

     

    World Famous Geocoins by Hogwild Stuff

    Coin:________________

    Number:______________

    Code:________________

    Code Retrieval: www.hogcode.com

     

    Geek.jpg

     

    Is this a geocoin?

     

    What should I do with it??

     

    Thank you very much in advance :)

     

    Best regards.

  2. I guess everyone is free to do as they please. As far as I know there's no rule against proxies.

     

    That said. The whole idea of the trackable is to see how far an object can get in pursuit of a travelling goal. If you don't want to risk to lose a coin, then don't use a coin. Just buy a tracking code, print it, laminate it, and send it over to travel the world. So when people see that there's a trackable in a cache, they can know what to expect to find (a piece of laminated paper in this example).

     

    If a coin is too expensive to risk, then one shouldn't buy it, at least not to use it as intended. You could collect it and let people discover it.

     

    making people believe there's a coin somewhere and instead there's a piece of paper is lying. Yeah, it's just a game and the consequences are not that big (just making people lose their time, maybe), but in principle it's still lying. And makes the game less interesting.

     

    But again, anyone's free to do whatever, but they are responsible for their actions.

  3. Should I log it as discovered, or just a note on the "geocoin's" page?

    If you log it as "discovered", your profile gets the icon for the coin. So if you want those icons only when you held the actual coin, a note is what you'd do instead. You may use the term "Proxy" or "Coin Copy" or whatever, when making your note, if it's not clearly listed as a "Proxy". Many coins become laminated paper without the coin owner's knowledge, so your note may be important news.

     

    Cool. I didn't know the term proxy was the thing to search. Cheers.

    I ended up posting a note on the geocoin page, stating that I saw a photocopy of it in the cache. I think I'll take that road, and only discover or move real trackables. Makes more sense, it's more fun and it doesn't feel like cheating...

     

    Cheers! And thank you all for the quick responses! :)

  4. Hey guys,

     

    I tried to find threads about this specifically, but couldn't. I'm sure it has been discussed before, sorry if it's a common topic.

     

    Today I found a cache with a photocopy of a Geocoin inside. It's the second time this happens to me. I know that virtual logging is viewed in the community as sort of "cheating". So I was wondering if this would fall under that category (virtual logging or tracking), since I haven't really discovered the geocoin, just a paper copy of it.

    I assume this was placed by the owner to avoid losing the coin eventually, but it's not really what the game is about, right?, since it's two different objects. One could as well buy a code of a piece of paper and keep the coin safe at home.

     

    Anyways, how is this activity viewed by the community? Should I log it as discovered, or just a note on the "geocoin's" page?

     

    Cheers!

     

    Bench Mark

  5. This is our second location we visit in Buenos Aires for geocaching. A wonderful place to see and to be. Contacting the owner I hear that the cache was stolen. But the owner allowes me to log the cache with posting a picture from the sitting point and the place. Thank you blueberry for showing us a few places in Buenos Aires and for the nice cache. TFTC!

  6. It happens to all of us. Sometimes what seems like a great spot turns out bad. I had one in a park that was completly bulldozed days later to start renovations. I had one in a great area by a creek between a couple hospital buildings, it had a ton of sand dumped on it for no reason. I've had containers stolen within the first few weeks while others lasted a couple years before going missing. I always HATE when a cache goes missing with a trackable. BUT every trackable owner knows that is a possibility.

     

    Thanks for the support IkeHurley13, makes me feel better. As I read your entry I realized I should have as a rule to only put trackables in caches with some history, that have proven effective before. I don't know why I though since it was a new cache that the coin would've been safer due to less activity in the area... facts proved me wrong in a horrible way. :tired:

  7. If it makes you feel any better, although our first cache lasted a week, we ended up removing it ourselves and archiving it because I'd picked a terrible spot to hide a cache. I would much rather have found your first than our first. Keep at it, try it again.

     

    edit: as for the coin, you didn't lose it, someone took it. Don't blame yourself too much about the actions another person took. Coin or TB owners take the risk of losing their coins or TBs the second they release their trackables into the world. Not fun, but it happens.

     

    Thanks a lot for your kind words. Means a lot, really. :)

  8. That's unfortunate, especially as you obviously went to some effort make a good cache with nice contents. :(

     

    I know this is a very slim chance but I would try going back to the location and leaving a note there saying something like, "Please can you replace my container. It's part of a game I'm playing with friends."

    I'm just thinking that someone may have taken it out of curiosity, taken it somewhere to examine the contents... they may have no great interest in it any further but they may go back to the spot to look again. You might not get the geocoin back... but then again... who knows?

     

    MrsB :)

     

    First, thanks for the empathy.

    And thank you for your advice. In fact I thought of that, I might try it to see what happens. Just left the bad news on the Geocoin list http://coord.info/TB34EBM . I hope the owner doesn't get too sad. :(

     

    Here's a picture I took from this beautiful geocoin, lost by my actions:

     

    b28247d5-c35d-4628-a71f-11ad982de708.jpg

  9. 2) Don't hide at night. What looks invisible might be evident during daylight. Plus, don't use a flashlight, obviously it draws attention.

    That's a great observation! One of my caches is among some trees, and was invisible when I hid it (in late afternoon). I returned one morning, and noticed it really stands out at certain light angles.

     

    Each of my caches was in place long before I activated it -- just in case it was a popular hang-out and easily found by anymuggle. My first was in place for two months.

     

    Ask some local cachers why there's no cache in the spot you've selected. For two of mine, veteran cachers specifically mentioned how those spots were "familiar", and how previous caches were archived due to too much non-cacher activity (long before I joined Geocaching).

     

    That's a good piece of advice. Thank you. I never thought of leaving the empty container for a while to test the cache, that would've been a lot wiser.

    Also, good tip on contacting local cachers, I'm sure there must be a lot to learn from previous experiences.

     

    Thank you very much for your reply. :)

  10. Hey guys,

     

    So I was so excited I had found a good spot for a Geocache, and hid my first one (http://coord.info/GC3V2YV) last night. I was very happy because it was the center of a very nice area of the city and the spot allowed to hide a small (almost regular) size container.

    So I got the best container I could, created my own personalized logbook and labels, and filled it with nice goodies and a Geocoin! (someone else's).

     

    This morning I go back to the area to take a picture, and the cache is gone, someone took the stuff that was covering it and took it. I'm almost certain that I was unlucky enough to have hidden it in a spot where some homeless guy hides his stuff, because there was a bag next to where the container was. Of course, a nice waterproof container can be life-saving for a homeless person, and the goodies would have been a real treasure. So if that's the case, well, at least it has done some good. But what I regret is having placed someone else's geocoin there, before the cache proved to be effective.

     

    I'll attach some pictures so that at least I can share the cache with you guys this way.

     

    On the technical side, I already disabled the listing, but I need to know how to proceed with the Geocoin issue. What I have planned is contact the owner, tell him the situation, and set the trackable as missing. Anything else I should do?

     

    Remembering...

     

    My home made LogBook:

    96e35e2a.jpg2b8ff72e.jpg

     

    The container filled with goodies (for adults and kids), AND a GeoCoin :(

    545435f9.jpg

     

    The cache (just hidden) behind the rock (we never saw that blue bag to the right)

    2f8d0f12.jpg

     

    The next morning... gone!

    a5240340.jpg

     

    What I learned from this experience.

     

    1) If it's a good hide, and in a city, it's probable that people who live on the streets might use it to hide their stuff.

    2) Don't hide at night. What looks invisible might be evident during daylight. Plus, don't use a flashlight, obviously it draws attention.

    3) Don't place a trackable in a cache that hasn't yet proved to be effective. More so if it's not yours.

    4) Don't put a lot of hope in your first hide.

     

    Open to criticisms and tips.

     

    Cya guys, I'll go cry for a while :cry::P

     

    Bench Mark

  11. Podobno jak się zbierze 10 suwenirów, to dają za to medale ze szczerego złota...
    To nieprawda. Coś bym o tym wiedział :-).
    Faktycznie. W rzeczywistości są platynowe :)

    Ja słyszałem, że z Ambergolda.

    Wasn't it supposed to be on the 18th??

  12. (Some cachers virtually log trackables by using tracking codes shown in photographs, or they make lists of tracking numbers they see at events then share them around the internet for all to log. This is not acceptable and if trackable owners are seen to encourage this practice Groundspeak will sometimes lock such trackables so that no further logs can be added to them.)

     

    MrsB :)

     

    Thanks a lot MrsB! I actually learnt about this today reading the thread Braytography referred me to. It sounds logical and I agree with that.

    So far I'm finding this GeoCaching game very cool. I'll leave now, I got some caches to find :P (seriously, going to Pedestrian Bridge (BUE) Cache in a moment)

     

    Cheers!

  13. I would say that is the ultimate TB prison. It looks similar to the: "Three W's Little Hill (ID)" Green Jeep Travel Bug Reference number TB1F7JD

    Maybe there is a whole lot of those jeeps out there, and I never searched the whole TB data base. The items are identical though. I would just consider my TB lost and gone forever if it were mine.

     

    Or we can all flag it as stolen property on ebay

  14. 2) If it is. Is this common, or am I an incurable collector? lol

    Common -- except for using the term "collector" (I would stay away from that).

     

    @Gitchee-Gummee: Thank you very much for the answers!! :rolleyes:

    When I meant collector I meant "Virtual Collector", that is having the icons to my finds and taking pictures of the stuff I discover or move. (Not keeping the trackables). So if I know I can move the trackable I would take it, if not just discover it. Would you still say to stay away from this behaviour, or was it just because you thought I meant physically collecting the items? (thanks a million again)

     

    @Braytography: Thank you very much! All of the answers seem to be there. Will read it all. Cheers! :smile:

  15. I think it's a useful feature if used with some consideration.

     

    e.g.

     

    (i) The TB's mission is to go and visit famous landmarks. We take it to Trafalagar Square, London, and take photos. Oh dear. The nearest suitable container that will hold a TB is 1.5miles away... but there's a nano on the corner of the square. I know - We'll give it a visit there!

     

    (ii) I have a TB in my bag. It wants lots of miles because it's in a race. I'm going to Edinburgh, Scotland on business for two days. Not a lot of time to do caches in the city but I find a couple near work. Oh dear. They're micros so I couldn't leave the TB there - But I can give it a visit to show it was there, then bring it back south again to drop it off.

     

    (iii) This TB wants to travel to France. I'm going to Paris in 6 weeks, so I can take it with me then. But that's quite a long time for me to hold a TB with no activity... I know - I can take it to a few local caches to visit. That'll keep it moving, give it a few extra miles and the owner will know it hasn't been forgotten about.

     

    Have I convinced you yet that it's a worthwhile feature?

     

    MrsB :)

     

    Brilliant response :anibad:

  16. I like signature items.

    Something a certain cacher usually leaves in the caches he finds.

    How would you identify what's a signature item and what not? I mean, if you find a lapel pin or something, how do you konw if that's someone's signature item or not (sorry I'm new and I still have basic doubts like this)

     

    Cheers!

     

    Bench Mark

  17. I like signature items.

    Something a certain cacher usually leaves in the caches he finds.

    How would you identify what's a signature item and what not? I mean, if you find a lapel pin or something, how do you konw if that's someone's signature item or not (sorry I'm new and I still have basic doubts like this)

     

    Cheers!

     

    Bench Mark

  18. Hey guys, :rolleyes:

     

    I'm a new to GC, and I'm already hooked. I've been reading all I could for a week now, and there are still a couple of lose ends for me. One of them is about trackables etiquette:

    I find it really cool to virtually (not physically) "collect" trackables in GeoCaching.com, so I'm trying to be aware if there are trackables in my surroundings so I can discover, or move them. Now, here's my doubt: How is this attitude seen in the community? I mean,

     

    1) is it OK to go to a cache you already found just to visit or move a trackable?

     

    2) If it is. Is this common, or am I an incurable collector? lol

     

    3) If I go back to an already found cache, and take a trackable to move it, should I place a note in the cache's log to make sure the mileage is being counted, or is there a better way to do it?

     

    I appreciate any help. I posted this here since it seemed more appropriate than in the "getting started" section.

     

    Cheers.

     

    Bench Mark

  19. I've only been caching a short time, but I do clean out the caches and replace it. I never expect to find anything of real value, but I also don't enjoy finding junk in the caches. On several occasions I've found a single playing card or puzzle piece, and I thought "come on. All you have to do is go to the dollar store and spend a couple of dollars." I've also found broken toys. In one cache I found a torso of a small action figure. No arms or legs, just a head and torso. I threw it away. I've never really found anything special. I guess I just try to use items that won't hurt if they get wet, and are pretty durable. They may not be fancy, but they will last.

     

    LOL I had a good laugh reading your entry! Thanks lol (the action figure without limbs made it for me hahaha)

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