Squirrel Nut & Beersnob

Why end it in December? If you have a local Children's hospital, see if they take donations throughout the year. I think I've heard about some that will give kids toys on their birthdays, etc. Some charities might accept toy donations throughout the year. As the local food pantries like to remind us, the need doesn't go away after the holidays. I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

Hit 3 today, all 3 were rubbermaid/tupperware, all 3 in overall good shape. 1 was actually a container inside a container, not a hint of moisture on the inside. Maybe if you go the tupperware route, doubling up might help. The thing to really avoid are the cheap plastic shoeboxes... found one of those once, looked like it did squat to keep water out. I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

I think we need a 'chat' forum. I think the intent of the 'general' forum was a catchall for stuff directly associated with geocaching that wasn't clearly under any of the other categories. If we had a 'chat' page where people could post off-topic or stuff only remotely associated with geocaching, that would leave 'general' back to pure caching-relevant stuff. And maybe clear out all those 'testing' posts on the Newbie forum. Every now and then there's something good there, but in the interest of time I find myself avoiding that one more and more. And did I miss something, this doesn't seem like a flame war 'out to get' umc. I think pipedreamer was expressing a valid concern regarding posting for the sake of posting. Some of umc's relevant posts are mostly just comments that don't add a new perspective or any real info, but some of us tend toward the 'yeah, me too' posts every now and then anyway. I try not to post unless I think what I have to say hasn't been said before (at least on the same thread) and contributes to the discussion. I think in general umc is a bit overzealous about posting, and geocaching in general. I know that I was all gung-ho to go on day-long caching expeditions when I first started, but luckily I have Beersnob to drive some sence into me. When I did 3 in 1 day on top of work in Lansing recently, I discovered why I'm gald to have him to bring me back to earth! (legs hurt for DAYS!) Maybe we should to add to the faq for newbies... relax, take it easy, you don't have to (and shouldn't!) dive in the deep end! Do 1 or 2 a weekend here and there, check out the good advice available on the boards.... ease yourself into the sport! Just like pro sports, it's better to plan and 'workout' before you play! and I will admit, at only 15 finds, that I'm still pretty new, too.... Will add a few locationless to 'pad' that # a bit once I get the vacation photos scanned... And maybe I'll be able to bag a few more this weekend.... I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

I think we need a 'chat' forum. I think the intent of the 'general' forum was a catchall for stuff directly associated with geocaching that wasn't clearly under any of the other categories. If we had a 'chat' page where people could post off-topic or stuff only remotely associated with geocaching, that would leave 'general' back to pure caching-relevant stuff. And maybe clear out all those 'testing' posts on the Newbie forum. Every now and then there's something good there, but in the interest of time I find myself avoiding that one more and more. And did I miss something, this doesn't seem like a flame war 'out to get' umc. I think pipedreamer was expressing a valid concern regarding posting for the sake of posting. Some of umc's relevant posts are mostly just comments that don't add a new perspective or any real info, but some of us tend toward the 'yeah, me too' posts every now and then anyway. I try not to post unless I think what I have to say hasn't been said before (at least on the same thread) and contributes to the discussion. I think in general umc is a bit overzealous about posting, and geocaching in general. I know that I was all gung-ho to go on day-long caching expeditions when I first started, but luckily I have Beersnob to drive some sence into me. When I did 3 in 1 day on top of work in Lansing recently, I discovered why I'm gald to have him to bring me back to earth! (legs hurt for DAYS!) Maybe we should to add to the faq for newbies... relax, take it easy, you don't have to (and shouldn't!) dive in the deep end! Do 1 or 2 a weekend here and there, check out the good advice available on the boards.... ease yourself into the sport! Just like pro sports, it's better to plan and 'workout' before you play! and I will admit, at only 15 finds, that I'm still pretty new, too.... Will add a few locationless to 'pad' that # a bit once I get the vacation photos scanned... And maybe I'll be able to bag a few more this weekend.... I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

I think the general concensus is that it's fine to visit your own cache to pick up a travel bug if you can help it on it's way. Generally, you'd log the pickup as a note in your cache. And most ppl. that I know want their bugs moving around as frequently as possible. If you want to wait a bit to see if someone else wants to pick it up, mayhe wait until after the first full weekend from when the bug was dropped. I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

What good is a GPS if you can't steer the darned boat? The article said he appeared to be an accomplished sailor- if he COULD have moved the boat, he could probably steer by the sun and stars accurately enough to hit the coast sooner than it took for someone to find him. Now, once they make 2-way GPS, with a 'call for help' signal... then we've got ourselves a spokesman! I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

mmm... I like cool-looking rocks, too. Spent a while looking around a beach on Lake Michigan that supposedly had quite a few petoskies, never found one. Probably would have traded for one if someone had left one in a nearby cache we found. Luckily, I found a nice big one later on in my vacation- on a lake Huron beach. What I don't get at all is people who leave used golf balls, especially in trade for something of a bit better quality . Does anyone actually collect used golf balls found in caches? Also, am I one of the only ppl. who put every trinket I leave in it's own ziptop baggie, unless by it's nature the thing is already pretty much waterproof? (It helps that I got a bunch of mini baggies real cheap at a craft store a while back... about 4 years BGC-Before GeoCaching ) I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

mmm... I like cool-looking rocks, too. Spent a while looking around a beach on Lake Michigan that supposedly had quite a few petoskies, never found one. Probably would have traded for one if someone had left one in a nearby cache we found. Luckily, I found a nice big one later on in my vacation- on a lake Huron beach. What I don't get at all is people who leave used golf balls, especially in trade for something of a bit better quality . Does anyone actually collect used golf balls found in caches? Also, am I one of the only ppl. who put every trinket I leave in it's own ziptop baggie, unless by it's nature the thing is already pretty much waterproof? (It helps that I got a bunch of mini baggies real cheap at a craft store a while back... about 4 years BGC-Before GeoCaching ) I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

If there's something interesting, I'll trade. If I'm not interested in anything, I'll leave a little something unless it's already stuffed. (I recently got a bunch of cheap-but-might-be-interesting-to-someone keychains, and some other *unused* stuff for free.) I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

For anyone thinking of starting a travelin' cache like the one designed by Team Rusch ( http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=14665 ), it looks like if you place a travel bug in the cache, it's map will show you where the cache has been. One of my travel bugs has been hitching a ride with the Travelin' cache, and is logging the cache's movement on its map. I think you may not even have to have the finders log the bug - it could be vitrually 'attached' to the cache- since Scooby's PPE East ( http://www.geocaching.com/track/track_detail.asp?ID=12514 )seems to update location every time the cache's location is updated. In fact, it has some false mileage on it, since I logged it in the Travelin' cache when the cache was still showing up as being in Lansing. I know Team Rusch palns to eventually have a map of where the cache has been, but for those who don't want to worry about creating their own map, a bug virtually attached to a travelin' cache should do the trick quite nicely... I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

BrianSnat- I was mainly goin' after the daypack thing. Beersnob and I are guilty of buying some of the latest-greatest type packs for multiday backpacking trips this summer I can tough it out hauling stuff in a school pack for day trips, but gotta have the comfort when you're hauling your household around! As for getting water out of the dapack without taking it off- that's what Beersnob's for! I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

BrianSnat- I was mainly goin' after the daypack thing. Beersnob and I are guilty of buying some of the latest-greatest type packs for multiday backpacking trips this summer I can tough it out hauling stuff in a school pack for day trips, but gotta have the comfort when you're hauling your household around! As for getting water out of the dapack without taking it off- that's what Beersnob's for! I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

A multi-cache that takes you across the US sounds cool- though it would probably be best to utilize popular destinations, or places near popular destinations. Maybe something where you don't necessarily have to do some steps in order? Otherwise, only a very few ppl. could ever get it all in! I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish.. [This message was edited by Squirrel Nut on September 21, 2002 at 05:15 AM.]

Ok, is it just me, or are we babying ourselves here? After lugging around your typical school-type daypack for 5 years at college, I don't really need a specialty pack. Heck, when I was IN college Beersnob and I did an overnight trip at the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch and back with school packs, lugging a couple of 2-liters a few squareish rubbermaid containers and several smaller bottles of water, along with camera, food, sheets and change of clothes... (luckily we didn't have to haul a tent- I was a sca volunteer, and got to use the trail crew's bunkhouse @ Phantom Ranch.. ) After that, I've spent many a vacation hauling water, munchies, and my camera & zoom lens around the MI state parks. It dosen't bother me... (Yeah, I'm not doin' any rock climbing with it, but I don't think I'd go for any caches like that, anyways...) And I've got you all beat on price- the pack I use for Geocaching I got free a couple of years back, as part of some rebate deal from Best Buy.... Ha! Beat that! I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

Ok, is it just me, or are we babying ourselves here? After lugging around your typical school-type daypack for 5 years at college, I don't really need a specialty pack. Heck, when I was IN college Beersnob and I did an overnight trip at the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch and back with school packs, lugging a couple of 2-liters a few squareish rubbermaid containers and several smaller bottles of water, along with camera, food, sheets and change of clothes... (luckily we didn't have to haul a tent- I was a sca volunteer, and got to use the trail crew's bunkhouse @ Phantom Ranch.. ) After that, I've spent many a vacation hauling water, munchies, and my camera & zoom lens around the MI state parks. It dosen't bother me... (Yeah, I'm not doin' any rock climbing with it, but I don't think I'd go for any caches like that, anyways...) And I've got you all beat on price- the pack I use for Geocaching I got free a couple of years back, as part of some rebate deal from Best Buy.... Ha! Beat that! I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

Ok, is it just me, or are we babying ourselves here? After lugging around your typical school-type daypack for 5 years at college, I don't really need a specialty pack. Heck, when I was IN college Beersnob and I did an overnight trip at the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch and back with school packs, lugging a couple of 2-liters a few squareish rubbermaid containers and several smaller bottles of water, along with camera, food, sheets and change of clothes... (luckily we didn't have to haul a tent- I was a sca volunteer, and got to use the trail crew's bunkhouse @ Phantom Ranch.. ) After that, I've spent many a vacation hauling water, munchies, and my camera & zoom lens around the MI state parks. It dosen't bother me... (Yeah, I'm not doin' any rock climbing with it, but I don't think I'd go for any caches like that, anyways...) And I've got you all beat on price- the pack I use for Geocaching I got free a couple of years back, as part of some rebate deal from Best Buy.... Ha! Beat that! I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

It appears Team Rusch is on vacation, as it has been several days since I submitted the new coordinates for this cache. I'm posting this note for anyone that might not be following the current thread about rescuing the Travelin' Cache from Lansing, to give as many cachers as possible a fair chance of getting to this one if they wish. The website for the Travelin' cache is: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=14665 The new coordinates and info are located on my most recent note. I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

Scook- I submitted the updated coordinates on Sunday as soon as I placed the cache- I have the suspicion that Team Rusch is on vacation. Yesterday I sent them an e-mail that I'd post the coordinates on a note in the page if they weren't updated by Friday... In the interest of keeping it moving, I'm just going to go ahead and post a note giving the new coordinates this morning. Hope they don't mind too much. I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish.. [This message was edited by Squirrel Nut on September 19, 2002 at 06:05 AM.]

Any pipe smokers here? I've been tempted to get some of the stuff (and immeadately dispose of the contents) just for the container, and make a joke-themed cache out of it. Also, I was saddened to discover that it appears Fingerhut went out of business. I remember that (at least when I was a kid) they had fake pop cans to hide your jewlrey, etc. in. The only problem with that would be if a cacher picked it up as trash on the way *to* the cache!! I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

Though not a container, I've been on the lookout for these or somethign similar locally: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2054461844 If you don't mind blowing huge bucks you can try http://www.kruppsdecor.com/krupps/ProductDetails.asp?iDeptID=130&sDepts=+130%2C&mscssid= Take a peek at- http://www.kruppsdecor.com/krupps/ProductMain.asp?iDeptId=130&iProductId=worock&sDepts=+130%2C&mscssid=CWQ98F1406279HX5575CXF1PSB0UCWBE Get a load of the large and extra large rocks! Imagine trying to hollow out those suckers! (but then, imagine the size of the cache container you could get, too! I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

It'll be placed in the Metro Detroit area this or next weekend. I might place it as the 2nd phase of a multi-cache if Team Rusch agrees. I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

I'll be in Lansing on the 12th... Unless someone really wanted to retrieve this one, I'd like to give it a shot.... I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish.. [This message was edited by Squirrel Nut on September 10, 2002 at 08:27 AM.]

You couldn't stop them from keeping up with the goings on. If someone really wanted to watch, they'd just save the cache page under 'favorites' and check in every now and then. I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

Jbird- I probably wouldn't get around to placing it for at least another month... haven't had the chance to look for good hiding spots, and the 1st cache I place will be a joint adventure with Beersnob, (he dosen't want to be left out) and probably won't be the scrapbooking one. If you've already got a good place to stash it in mind (southwest Oakland county area perhaps?? )I wouldn't mind you taking the idea. Besides, we're now house-hunting, which will probably gobble up a bit of free time anyways. We've got a few other ideas - perhaps our first cache will be a sci-fi/fantasy paperback book exchange, or whatever else we can think of. Maybe eventually we'll place a brewpub coaster/keychain/etc exchange cache... Just don't know how many cachers also frequent brewpubs... I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..

Jbird- I probably wouldn't get around to placing it for at least another month... haven't had the chance to look for good hiding spots, and the 1st cache I place will be a joint adventure with Beersnob, (he dosen't want to be left out) and probably won't be the scrapbooking one. If you've already got a good place to stash it in mind (southwest Oakland county area perhaps?? )I wouldn't mind you taking the idea. Besides, we're now house-hunting, which will probably gobble up a bit of free time anyways. We've got a few other ideas - perhaps our first cache will be a sci-fi/fantasy paperback book exchange, or whatever else we can think of. Maybe eventually we'll place a brewpub coaster/keychain/etc exchange cache... Just don't know how many cachers also frequent brewpubs... I walk the Maze of Moments, but everywhere I turn to, begins a new beginning, but never finds a finish..