gis6685

For EVERY MOC cache, ANYWHERE? It seems like he'd have a lot to do. What is the average amount of MOCs released in the world on any given week? Is that information available? This is highly entertaining! I'm not a member yet because I don't have all my paperless stuff ready to go yet. I'm hoping to get my PDA situation resolved in the next week or so... Maybe I'm mistakin', being new and all, but I don't think non-members can see MOCs. Is that correct? If that's true, how would this person even know if there's a new MOC??

Another point would be that it wouldn't always be possible. We're getting ready to go on a Alaskan cruise and I'm hoping to cache in a couple of the ports. Our time will be limited so I'd only be able to find one or so each time we stop. I wouldn't have ANY way to take a flash drive with me, hook it up to my computer, and get it back to the cache.

I didn't see anything about updating logs and my request fits in with that mostly. I get frustrated getting around when there's no "back to list" option. I did a search on caches in my area so I could log some finds. I clicked on the first one to log it found, filled in the infomation and submitted it, and... there's no back option. If I click the back button, sometimes it takes me back out to where I logged in (if I forget to do that first, which happens ) It would be nice to have some kind of "back to search list" or similar. Kind of like how eBay has. And I must say that I think 2007-03-02 would be more confusing to me than 3/2/2007. In a perfect world, maybe our account could specify how the dates are displayed...

So when I'm looking around in Google Earth, should my found caches be showing up as found and not as regular? Because they're not and I would love it if they did!!

Windchill - I've been trying to get set up at the IGO and have had some sort of error. I tried emailing the board or contacting the group (I'm not at my home computer to check to see who I contacted) and haven't heard back. Before I try to set up an account again, I want to be sure my old one disappeared. Can you help? Thanks!

We just started caching last weekend. I chose the first one on the campus where I went to college which was also close to my house. It was a micro and I've seen lots of suggestions not to start with that, but I could see it on Google Earth and the building it was at was obvious and the clue said courtyard. We found it fairly easily. After finding that one, we headed to a park, also close to our house, but now working in the woods on unfamiliar trails. Because I was still getting used to the whole process, I led my family up a big, steep hill trying to follow the GPS before realizing that I was probably not being smart. Terrain was listed as a 1 or 2 on that one and I had just made it a 3 or 4!! So we went BACK down the big, steep hill and followed the trail until we got close. It's important to think hard about the clues, the ratings, and the name of the cache. These seem to be hints about the cache. This second one was titled "If a Tree Falls" and was located under a very large log that had fallen - go figure!! I think ou're probably better off starting in areas that you're pretty familiar with. Look on Google Earth to find some that are not WAY off in the boonies and where you can pretty much tell where they are. I think that will eliminate being frustrated when you start. So far, it's worked for us. Love this game!!

I'm a newbie - only been caching since Easter Sunday. We take two young kids with us and have let them do the trading. I can't comment on how nice or not the swag has been since I haven't much experience, but it's seemed fine from what I saw. We carry a small pack of swag so we have options for equal trade including something if Mom and Dad see something they want to trade for. I would suggest that the trading and suggestions for cool things (another thread in Getting Started, I believe) be part of the main introduction to geocaching. I think that it would be very helpful to have suggested items and a few examples of equal trade. As we were packing our swag bag, I wasn't sure what types of items to include. We picked several kid items as that's what we'd be trading for most likely, but we also have included some European money, some golf items, and a wheat penny. I agree with several who have commented that what one person would really like, others would perceive as junk. I'm another one who would love to come across some polished rocks. And I wouldn't even mind finding a very cool rock even if it came from a nearby creek. Personally, I collect Coke cans from other countries - full or empty doesn't matter to me - lots of people see them as trash. (And, no, I wouldn't put one in a cache!! )

Interesting idea, but I've been working on a couple trips that I'd like to take and a trip "home" wouldn't be possible during those. One is an Alaskan cruise where we will be in port for a limited amount of time and wouldn't even be able to get back to the ship to check anything out. Of course, given our limited time there, wouldn't probably attempt a puzzle cache anyway...

I would add another comment about Google maps. You can view caches in Google maps (you can download what you need in the "Your Account" area) and see if you were looking in the right area. Zoom into the area where the cache is to make sure you're in the right area generally. Then use all the great advice listed above. Good luck!! Don't give up yet - finding them is SO much fun!!

I'm new too and not sure how to get streets. Figured out the mark ok and have added not only my house but several caches that I want to start with. I got a Venture CX recently and the maps on it aren't very good. I've been reading up on how to get maps from my computer to my GPS. I have GSAK, GPS Trackmaker and Easy GPS. I have downloaded a street file from the internet (which looks good) and it's in Trackmaker. However, all the streets are tracks not routes so I can't load them all on my GPS. I can't see how to convert them to routes without really messing them up (makes them look bad and not where they're supposed to be.) Now I'm trying to figure out if I need to buy City Navigator version 8. I will eventually be caching in other states where I wouldn't have access to the internet file I am using for my area, so I figure I'm going to need something different in the future. I need someone to advise, please!!!

Why does my post say Tadpole?

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