Herdo

Yes, I logged the first one when I got it a few days ago, and the new one I got today. I can see them both under my "Trackables Inventory" tab. Then you are good to go. Seriously. Haha, alright thank you. If you need help logging the drop that's fine, but otherwise I'm not sure what the problem is. There is no problem... I was asking for an explanation of the difference between Travel Bugs, geocoins and things of that nature and I got an answer. I said thank you and moved on.

Yes, I logged the first one when I got it a few days ago, and the new one I got today. I can see them both under my "Trackables Inventory" tab. Then you are good to go. Seriously. Haha, alright thank you.

Yes, you're right. "Travel Bug" is a registered trademark. But that term is loosely used for a "tag" attached to an item (Cachekinz). And it's quicker to just type "TB" instead of "Travel Bug", so you'll see "TB" applied to most any discussion of "Trackables", whether TBs or coins. The tracking number and the tracking works, regardless. You could even drill a hole in one of your own actual "Geocoins" and attach ot to a toy as if it were a Travel Bug. And I have a "Car TB" that is in fact a Geocoin, although it's displayed as a "Travel Bug Barcode" sticker in the car window (due to being unlikely to ever be logged if I instead used a "Geocoin" logo sticker). And, one of my Geocoins is named "TB Night Fury". It's not a Travel Bug, it's a Geowoodstock Cachekinz tag. So I perpetuate the confusion. Sorry about that! Haha, it's all good, I understand. Thank you for the explanation.

Yes, I logged the first one when I got it a few days ago, and the new one I got today. I can see them both under my "Trackables Inventory" tab.

Sorry, double post and I can't figure out how to delete comments.

Ok, so cachekinz are just another form of geocoins? Thanks! Travel Bugs are officially the aluminum dogtags with the barcode bug, the words Travel Bug, and a barcode bug icon. Any of the other "tags" are properly called "Geocoins". An item tracked on Geocaching.com is referred to as a Trackable. So it doesn't actually have to be a "coin" to be a geocoin? I was unaware of that, and I have been calling everything travel bugs that isn't shaped like a coin. So technically this and this are geocoins, and not travel bugs. I think I get it. Travel bugs are the brand name of the trackables that Groundspeak sells, and geocoins are anything else offered through outside companies? Thanks for the reply.

Hello, I am new to Geocaching, and so far in my 12 caches, I have picked up 2 trackables. I picked both of these up because I am going on a trip in 2 days and I plan on dropping them off while on vacation. Both of the trackables I have are NOT Travel Bugs, at least I don't think they are. They certainly are not any of these. One of the trackables I have found is called a "Cachekinz". So I am assuming these are third party trackables, that geocaching.com allows to be tracked through their website? Could someone please explain this to me further?

I'm very new to this myself, but I have picked up on a few things that might help. Don't park your car next to the cache if you are going to be there a while. I have realized it looks a lot more suspicious when passing by to see someone who clearly pulled their car over to dig through a bush, light pole, etc. Bring a dog or children. I went out yesterday with my friend and her two children to do a couple caches. I quickly realized how inconspicuous we looked when the kids were also digging around and looking under stuff. It looks like we were just playing a game, or helping them find stuff for a school project, or whatever. People might still question what you are doing, but their first thought won't be, bomb or drugs. I think the dog would have a similar effect. People would just assume your dog found something and you are taking a look at it yourself. Try not to look sneaky. If you are looking around, waiting for no one to be looking, you are going to draw attention. Bring other people. This plays off of trying not to look sneaky. If you have multiple people looking around for something, it makes it appear as though you aren't trying to hide anything. Nobody stashing anything illegal would be doing it in the middle of the day, with a couple people in tow. Be confident. Again, this plays into trying not to look sneaky. Just look like you know what you are doing, and don't look over your shoulder ever 2 seconds. As for the time of day to go, that depends entirely on the cache. If it's in more of a suburb type area, I usually go between noon and 2:00PM. If it's in a very urban area, like in the city, there probably isn't a best time to go. There will people around all day every day, and you should focus more on blending in, than trying to avoid people. Like I said, I am in no way an expert. I've only been out caching 3 times and today I found my 10th cache. I'm sure more experienced people can give you more advice, but those are the things that have helped my immensely since I've started. Good luck!

I am brand new to geocaching and was just about to start this same thread. Today was my first day out and I found that people love to stare at me. I know what you are thinking; "But Herdo, it's because you are so attractive!", and I agree, but this seems different. On a more serious note, I think it depends on where you are. I was in 2 urban environments today and both had extremely different outcomes. The first was a public park and no one seemed to even notice I was alive, even when digging in a bush by myself. The second was on the side of a semi residential road, and it seemed like every car that passed slowed way down to see what I was doing. A home owner even came out and watched me from his back porch (I was on the other side of the wall next to the street). I agree though, not looking up to see who is looking at you seems to help a lot. People are doing their own things, and if you don't act like you are doing anything wrong, they won't think you are. I can imagine kids or a dog would help immensely. No matter how sure of yourself you are, a grown man/woman getting on their knees to look under a table at a public park at 9:00 AM is going to look suspicious to some people. Throw a kid in the mix and it immediately changes everything. So far the biggest threat to me has been people that are hanging around. On the second geocache I went to, people could have drove by all day staring at me and it wouldn't have been a problem, but as soon as that guy came out onto his back porch I was pretty much done. I guess I was most afraid he was going to ask me what I was doing, and being new I wouldn't have enough knowledge of geocaching to answer his questions in a way that he would believe me. Had he asked me, the conversation would have probably been: Home owner: "What are you doing?" Me: "Looking for Geodes.. errr, Geodecaches.... I'm looking for treasure on the street behind your house..." Home owner: "What?" Me: "Nevermind..."

Hello everyone. My name is Andy (Herdo), I'm 24 years old, I live in Phoenix Arizona, and I am brand new to geocaching. I started looking it up about 2 days ago and I went out today to find my first. I checked one that was within 250 meters of my house or so but I could not find it . I then looked up another that was close to my house and I set off towards it. This one was tough to find but I eventually found it and inside was a travel bug! I decided to take it because I will going on a trip a week from today and I thought it would be nice to get it out of state. I went to work and went about my day until lunch. At this time I pulled up my Groundspeak app on my phone and saw a geocache located directly behind the building I work in, 150 feet from where I was standing! The one hadn't been logged since Christmas day, so I was unsure if it would still be there. So I wandered over there and was searching through the bushes when I heard foot steps. I look up to see a couple walking up on me who kindly say, "Good! We won't have to bend over to log it!" I couldn't believe it. My second geocache and I ran into other geocachers; what are the chances? We ended up chatting for a bit, I got their username and we parted ways. Overall it was an excellent first day for me. My girlfriend and I have already decided we are going out all weekend looking for geocaches.