wmpastor

Why? What problem does this solve? Wouldn't it be shocking to you to have a find of yours from, say, three years ago suddenly deleted? The personal numbering is meaningful to many, including finding a special cache for find #1,000, etc. Now it's, "Oh, gee, I visited the undersea vent cache for find #999." Even the IRS has a time limit during which they can audit your tax return.

This proposed audit system, in addition to creating tedious work for cache owners, is not foolproof. Suppose my friend agrees to sign my name (along with his own name) when he finds a cache. Fantastic - I have "approved" and "confirmed" finds that support my huge find count and boost my ego and status in the community.

Overdone. Overkill. This recreational activity is not geared toward Olympic-level stats. We have a local cacher with over 1,000 hides over a wide area. He maintains them well whenever a problem is noted. Now he is supposed to be traveling 40 hours a week and do a log search and reconciliation audit?? Nah, fogetaboutit!

The hide is supposed to be exactly at the listed GZ coordinates. However, when coords are measured, there may be slight errors. Also, the hider and searcher have two different GPSr units, each with a slight possibile error. So figure a potential of maybe 25 feet of error, hopefully much less. If it's a lot more, someone did something wrong.

Good observation. So keep the prize drawing moving. No two-minute intervals while each person lifts themselves slowly out of their comfy chair, threads their way between tables, chats along the way, and finally makes it up to the MC, shakes hands, receives their prize, smiles to the crowd, listens to the applause, etc. No, no, no! AND save the best prizes for last, if the values differ.

Glad you raised that point! First point of attack is to avoid those circumstances. But in other cases, knowing that I'm human and can forget my pen, I make sure to carry a green leaf and a coin at all times! ((They're in my right hand, and the gpsr in my left.)

...then you use grass, leaves or dirt, combined with key or fingernail or stick or stone. I've done it more than once. I've written about it and attached photos in different threads more than once. There's *never* a reason not to sign the log if the log is in your hands. Some people think "sign" means a full signature. Not needed. Tiny sheet, almost full, in a micro? Pull out, say, a red pen. Put a red dot to the right of cacher "John Doe's" signature. In the log say "I signed by putting a red dot next to John Doe's signature." But again, grass or leaves work wonderfully when there's no pen.

The finds remain; the other benefits of premium would stop going forward.

Also, there's another option here since the CO apparently deleted the OP's log in error. Repost the log using the original found date. That should preserve the numbering. Also it's less effort than the appeal, which can be used when the CO deletes the log because it's not favorable but true.

Four months sounds unusual. Maybe a reviewer will see this thread and check for you.

I'm guessing there is a physical (not virtual) stage of a multi nearby. The other stages could be a considerable distance away.

I didn't notice how long you'll be in the foreign country. If two more months, then definitely no. On the other hand, if you're there on a two year job assignment, then maybe so (archiving the cache when you leave, two years later).

I looked at two of the four listings, and in both cases it seems like the container is already gone.

That was really your first instinct?

Youve already heard from a reviewer (Keystone). Reread his response because it is gospel. Keystone's advice is gospel plus he quoted the gospel. However, he didn't say what the OP wanted to hear, so the OP is looking for a second opinion. It's always a savvy move to ask for a second opinion - that's the American way!

Strong and lightweight, but difficult to tie a knot because slippery. Some fishing knots work well, but can be untied.

Use the thickest bicycle cable lock that's practical - stranded half inch diameter cable is a great leash to prevent the cache from walking!

Some say do nothing because you can't stop a determined thief. True...but you can *discourage* a thief. If the thief needs to go back home, get heavy-duty bolt cutters, come back and carry the heavy, bulky equipment in a public area while getting suspicious looks, the cache will last longer. Less maintenance, less replacement.

No cities, no suburbs. Take them out in the woods. A hole in a tree would work. Or placing a rock on top. Or off the trail where plants help hide it.

Often such things have letters and/or numbers already on them. Do something creative with those. This eliminates writing on the items (not allowed) and creates a "virtual stage" that eliminates some future maintenance for you.

You've only put out one cache in ten years, but somehow imply that it's some widespread epidemic of theft. One cache theft is not a pattern. Right, but he's had 100% bad luck - do you blame him for being irate?! And an esteemed gambler said "Always bet on a trend to continue." So the OP's reasonable conclusion was, hey, that failed, I'm not going to burn any more time and money. BUT we can take this a step further. Can the odds be improved? Maybe! Choosing the right location helps prevent cache muggling. Chain it to a tree or post. Engrave a name. Make it premium. Hide it better. As for the TBs, there things are mostly out of your control.

Post 35 indicates there is not enough local interest among cachers in Athens to create the number of good caches needed for everyone to have a wide selection. The only way to break the cycle is to place more good caches. Then interest will rise, and even more caches will be placed.

That is often a problem without tweezers.

Interesting anecdotes. Now let's add another variable. Does anyone know of a muggle who happened to find an unfound cache and then quickly read about caching, immediately joined and claimed the FTF?!