Lovin'Life

I have heard of a few cachers who have created business type 'calling cards'. Someone recently showed me theirs, but I did not think to ask them HOW they made it. Could someone tell me how to go about this. Where do I get the logo? If you have one you made, could you share an image or tell me what it says? (for ideas) I am thinking on making some that serve to 'quickly' introduce myself & explain what I am doing (geocaching) Plus, I have often wished I had a business card to drop in those 'drop your card here & win a free lunch' type boxes. This would serve that purpose also. Thanks!

I don't know how to quote, so: RE: "Once you see the quick snapshot of the area, you can use the exact coords off the cache page, or use your .gpx file from GSAK or your PQs and load them directly into GE." Could someone please tell me HOW to transfer the info from GSAK to GE? RE: "When I'm on a long trip (in a plane or car) I like to turn on the GPS tracking feature. When I get home I upload the track into GE so I can see the exact route the plane or car took." Do you have to leave it on & running the whole time you are in route? Wouldn't taht kill the batteries? I have yet to figure out what it is or how to use the tracking feature. RE: "I like to reset the refresh rate on the geocaching kml to a manual refresh." How do I do that? Thank you for all your assistance!

Hi I have Google Earth, recently upgraded to premium version of it. I have seen posts that say they use Google Earth to enhance geocaching. Can someone please explain to this newbie how? What do you do? Is there some way to place the geocaches in your area on a map or something? I also have GSAK & CachMate. Thanks in advance. Edited to also ask: I have noticed in Google Earth that the images get VERY blurry when I zoom. Especially anything under 500 feet. So, it seems that the best I can hope for is a broad overview from afar. Is this correct? I don't expect to be able to zoom in on the cache itself, but it's seems that GE is not of much help in any way. Or am I looking at it wrong? I have figured out I needed to download the networking program. Still need to know what to do with it & how to best utilize the program.

Thank You. Can you tell me where to find the gallery that shows past pictures? Also, are the pictures judged? Patricia

Hi I am still new here. I will be attending the Big Bear Cache event this weekend. I know there is supposed to be a green jeep or two in caches up there. I have gone to the jeep page & read the rules, but could use a little help. If I find a green Jeep, do I treat it like any other TB? I assume I should write down the number & then place it elsewhere ASAP. Is this correct? Also, it says I need to take a picture of the green jeep TB completeing a goal. This month the goal is Discovery. How do I take a picture of a jeep TB and the goal discovery. I don't get it..LOL (sorry, like I said, I am new!) Thanks in advance... Patricia Anaheim, CA

6,759 within 50 miles of Anaheim, CA (92804) Patricia Edited to add: Just looked over the numbers. Looks like Anaheim is the highest right now! WOW!!! That is really a LOT of caches. And the pacific ocean is 16 miles from me, so that concentrates them even more!

Thank You for the stories. It makes a lot more sense now. I did pick up a TB yesterday & physically having it in my hands helped clarify things for me. I bet my questions seem so odd to people at times. So much so that sometimes I think I should make a warning statement on my posts about 'how I think' to clarify why I am asking such odd questions! You see 1) I am a nurse, so it is my nature & it is ingrained in me to ANALYZE & use 'critical thinking' type skills in everything 2) I find my self seeking 'clear & specific' directions. I can think on my feet, improvise & all that...but I am not used to 'guessing' or 'filling in the blanks' :-) In my field, guessing is not an option LOLOL Being a visual learner in nursing school was tough. Read it in a book? Oh no, in one ear & out the other! ..Please take me TO the hospital & SHOW me!! Your input & stories made it so I could visualize what a TB was meant to do. It was perfect :-) Patricia Maybe my motto should be "Don't tell me, Show me"

Thank You for the info on the event. My son Brandon & I will be there! Patricia

Is there a way to look for other cachers in my area on here? or how would I find them? Patricia

Ok, so I take the item with the TB dog tag attached FROM the cache where it is at. Then I physically move it to another cache that is big enough to hold it, that I found correct? Then log it here showing that is was picked up & moved, etc. So, someone who makes a goal of their TB going to every theme park in the USA...literally wants someone to take their TB & item it is attached to, to a them park. I assume this would be done by someone picking up the TB/item it is on, removing from cache, taking to a theme park in the area, taking picture, then puting TB into a different cache to see where it goes next. Do I have the scenario correct? I think what confuses me is some TB's seem to have goals of 'international' travel. How can they do that if they start out in a Cache in CA, for example??? They just go from one physical cache to another until someone picks them up & takes them over seas? Thanks for helping me get a grasp on this. No doubt it is so simple. I am just a VISUAL learner to the MAX, so I have to "SEE" the steps in my mind to get an idea of what it is I am supposed to do... LOL Reading it just makes me confused! Patricia

Have yet to find a cache with a TB, have read the guide to TB's and all that. I think I know the answer, just want to be sure. When we find a cache with a TB 1) Is it just a number/code? 2) Is there a physical item/dog tag in the cache? 3) if yes, do we remove it & then place it in another cache? 4) Are TB's a 'virtual' type item that travel by their codes being 'picked up' (as in written down on paper) then logged onto the computer? Maybe it will all make sense when I find a TB, but my mind wants to know 'now' :-) Thanks Patricia

OK..I am good to go. I mapped a few that were fairly local. I have my eye one that I REALLY want to find ASAP... I don't 'get it' yet..but will work out the 'bugs' later. Know enough (with ALL your help) to get out & get going for now :-) Wish me luck! Patricia & Brandon... Out on our first search!

Ok. So if I am going to use 'any' map...how if I don't know the address? Is there a way to use coordinates as an address? Patricia

Ok..Sorry The PEST newbie is BACK again already! geez, I know :-) OK..I Got EasyGPS installed, downloaded waypoints (I did it! LOL), BUT now I can't figure out HOW to get to the cache sites! I THOUGHT the eTrex Legend would tell me, but it does not seem to be doing that. Is it supposed to send me to them?..Like, when I say 'find or goto waypoints, I thought it would show me something like ...left or south on X street, right/north on Z st etc. Am I supposed to use map quest or something to get to the site & then use the GPS to "zone" in on the cache? If yes, how do I use mapquest without an address? Sorry for the 'silly' questions...I really am trying to figure this out on my own too... Thanks AGAIN!!!!! Patricia

OK. Brand new here. Bought a eTrex Legend last night. Got it turned on (whew!), figured out some basics (enough that I think I can make it work today for my sons & my first geocache hunt)...BUT, I have had to enter each waypoint BY HAND..UGH! I book marked way more than I could enter...ended up only enter 7 out of 34 that are VERY local to me. The thought of printing out all that paper also makes me cringe. Anyway... So, I want to download all the waypoints for caches at once..but don't understand "what" program I need; EasyGPS (GPX/LOC) GPX Spinner (GPX) ClayJar Watcher (GPX) GPSBabel Geocaching Swiss Army Knife (GSAK) (GPX/LOC) Have read the descriptions, but I just don't 'get it' yet :-( Can someone tell me what I should download? How do I use the programs? I can DEFFINATELY see that I will need a PDA very soon too! I may be able to borrow one from my older boys. I am at work now, so don't remeber which models they have. But..thinking ahead... Again..which program?? (I know they are Palm OS, not Pocket PC) Cetus GPS iSilo Plucker Ok, also thinking ahead... Once I have downloaded the correct programs, then what? Create a query & send to GPSr? Is it that simple? (again, remember I am NOT gadget oriented & far from tech minded!) I tried to do this more on my own last night from work, but the cable that come with the Legend would not work on the laptop was using. I will try on the desktop cpu when get home, once I know which programs to download & so on. I only have a few hours to get out & search today, so any help to get me up & running will be VERY, VERY appreciated :-) Patricia

Thanks! My son & I plan to go out today (as soon as I get off work in fact at 9AM PST!!) No sleep for me today.. LOLOL I do see that I need more hand holding with the 'how to use GPSr' part of this hobby. I will make a seperate post for that as it is a change of subject...and I need help ASAP! Patricia & now Brandon too!

However, if you want it for other purposes, you might also consider the following(in no particular order): 1. The ability to load maps--that way you can see where you are in the world. 2. expandable memory--you can load all the maps you need and forget it. 3. Color screen--makes it easier to distinguish between features. 4. Autorouting--gives turn-by-turn directions to a given point. 5. Electronic compass--points to where you are going whether you are receiving GPS signals or not. Thank you for the info. I bought a Garmin eTrex Legend tonight at our local REI. They have a 100% refund policy, so I felt comfortable starting with this one. ($150.00) The features mentioned above are certainly something I would like to have. Especially autorouting. The electronic compass could probably come in handy, although I live in a non-wooded area. I believe I can load maps on the legend. Expandable memory maybe (but I don't really travel a lot..long distance anyway). A color screen would be helpful too, I am sure. So, I assume that any GPSr with the above mentioned feature would be those that are in the $400-$500 range, correct? Anyone know what the best deal might be on such a model? Again, THANK YOU so much for your help. Now I am about to open the box on the legend & see if I can figure out how to turn it on!! :-) Patricia

Ok, so I should look for "just a hand held GPS unit"..not a navigator correct? Patricia

Is a GPS receiver like I see mentioned at this site for Geocaching use & a GPS navigation unit (like Street Pilot or Tom Tom) for giving turn by turn directions, the same thing? Do these 2 items work the same way? Will a GPS unit give directions? Can I use a navigation system for Geocaching? I am a newbie & just trying to learn about GPS units. Thanks... Patricia