elis

Memory Map, worth every penny, it's fantastic!. I've had it for over two years and it runs superbly on my MioA201 (this is a PDA with an incorporated GPS). I download the cache locations on to the PDA where they are represented as little cache boxes and a red circle indicates where I am on the OS map. Select a cache, press the goto button and Bob's your uncle! 1:50000 has never been a problem. I also run GpxSonar on the PDA which stores all the downloaded cache details making for easy acces when out in the field. Went totally paperless after about my 150th cache and have never looked back.

How and when you use a hint is entirely up to you. Whilst there is a certain thrill to finding a cache without having to resort to the hint, doing so certainly wouldn't be regarded as cheating. Otherwise the same could be said for phoning a friend, e-mailing a previous finder for help, or getting help to solve a puzzle cache etc. There are no doubt purists out there who might consider the above to be "cheating" but the bottom line is you set your own rules and whether or not you stick to them is up to you. Personally I have no qualms in using the hint but I prefer not to get help in solving puzzles unless I've been going at them for several months! Whilst I usually try and find a cache without the use of the hint there are certain circumstances in which I will resort to it early on. For example if I am pressed for time, if their are lots of muggles about, if previous finders have reported difficulty in finding it or if there is poor GPS cover. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't worry about it. As long as you are getting out there and enjoying geocaching no is really going to complain. elis