JennM

I miss Lee Valley Tools... (I'm from Ottawa!)

+1 to Eartha's suggestion. Last year I dropped off a friend's TB in another country, and it had a little pony toy on it (belonged to my friend's granddaughter). Somebody plundered the cache and stole all the trinkets off all the bugs, but left the bugs in the cache (wasn't that nice of them?) The cacher who retrieved the bugs, went to each bug's page, printed the pictures of the bugs, laminated them and attached them to their tags and sent them forward. I thought that was really nice of him! It would be easy enough to find an image of Paddington online and do that. Jenn

I came here to vent about the same thing and I see that others have the same concerns that I do. I have released a total of 5 bugs, and only one is not MIA. One got 5 months and 894 miles, then picked up by a new cacher on her first day (along with others' trackables - she moved some into other caches, and kept the rest). That was nearly 2 years ago. After a couple of months I sent the customary polite email and I was told that her son was taking them out of state when he went to his father's. So mine and the rest are as good as gone. The second one was Australia bound, got as far as Hawaii and back to Seattle. It roamed around Seattle for a while, then vanished out of the last cache it was placed in. It's been missing for 9 months now. The third one got stuck in a remote cache for a long time (which I don't mind because it's less likely to be plundered) then it got moved to another state and vanished out of the last cache it was placed in. I marked it missing nearly a year ago now. The fourth one I started from back home in Canada a year ago December. It was picked up in November of 08 and is still in the hands of a cacher. They were going to place it around Thanksgiving, but left a note that they did not get a chance to. I emailed to thank them for the update. It still hasn't been dropped. I emailed twice (a month apart, once in January, another time today) to ask politely if the bug could be mailed to me, or placed in a cache. The cacher is not a new cacher - been registered since 2003 but only finds a couple of caches per year, so I'm hopeful that he will send the bug back out there eventually. The last one I started in September and it got "lost" in a geocacher's son's room for a bit (I can relate to that, I have a teenaged son!) and with apologies for the delay, he sent it along (and I emailed a thank you). So it's still on the move. They may turn up again, they may not. It's hard not to be disappointed when they do vanish - after all, if we didn't care, we wouldn't spend the time and few dollars to get them going in the first place. The first day I started caching, I intended to pick up a couple of travelers (I had done my homework so I knew what to do) - and neither one was in the cache they were listed in. Oh well... I moved on. That was in Sept. of 2006. Last year, New Year's Day 2008, a local placed a cache in their own front yard... and lo and behold the bugs I'd sought in Sept of 06 were listed in the cache! We FTF'd the cache, and retrieved 2 of the bugs (they had 3 or 4 in it, I daresay they were all "hostages" as the cacher had not been caching in a while, but placed a cache). We did not trade bugs, just picked the 2 up but over the next few weeks people traded bugs through that cache. Almost as soon as it had no bugs in it, the cache was archived. At least they had the courtesy to get the bugs back into circulation. I posted notes about having sought the bugs 18 months or so earlier on each bug's page. Concerning bugs not being where they should be - I will often post a note on the bug's page (you do not need the bug's number to post a note), if it's not where it's listed, and considerable time has passed. If there's a possibility that somebody just prior to me picked it up and hasn't logged it yet, I don't do anything but it's a common-sense thing. At least then the bug owner is notified that a log has been posted, and then they can decide whether to mark it missing or not. Similarly, if somebody logs one of my caches and mentions that a bug is missing, I'll have a look and if it appears that sufficient time has passed for a previous finder to have logged it, I will mark the bug as missing from my cache, as well as note it on the bug's page. While I don't seek caches specifically for bugs - except for one... Microburst It had The Bug for Jenns in it, and I just had to have that! (I think that bug is AWOL now too!) It is kind of frustrating if you've researched your cache run and you spot a bug in an inventory and you know you can help it on its mission, only to find that it's been plundered - well that's a bummer. All part of the game, I guess, but I do understand the frustration. Jenn P.S. Runaway46... I used to live in Perth, ON! (Actually Gillies Corners)

Just telling it like it is I talk caching to anyone who will listen. Usually other cachers. I've "sold" the sport to a few muggles too - and they aren't muggles anymore. Like I said, there's something in this game for *everyone* regardless of age or ability, and I really like that. There's also plenty of opportunities to push your own envelope and try stuff you might not normally try. I also like where I think Canada Kate said - you can be a kid again... so very true! And AB3, I think I heard a lot of myself in your original post, which is why I replied in the first place. I'm lazy by nature too. And I like Star Trek! For me though, now, instead of looking forward to lounging around in pajamas on an off day, I am up early and eager to get out the door to go caching! Never would have predicted that from this couch potato! I don't get to cache as much as I'd like to - I own my own business and this, I'm A.) Chained to it and B.) Broke. But that's OK - I cache when I can. AB3 - hang in there - you'll get the hang of it and in no time you'll be just as obsessed and addicted as the rest of us are!! BTW - Scrapes, briars and FOA (fall on @--) are badges of honor! I proudly display scars at event caches!!! OH and Nuggs (my better half) hid a gift of jewelry in a micro cache in our Christmas tree last year. How sweet is that? Cheers, Jenn

B3, congrats on 2 finds now What I "heard" in your original post, was disappointment, and a bit of frustration... what I heard is, "I want to do this, but it didn't work out like I thought and my hubby doesn't like it"... but a part of you wanted to try again, so you posted. Good for you I found out about the hobby from a customer of mine. I signed up for the site, but it took 2 months for me to save up and find/buy a used GPS on eBay, and 2 more months to get the time/work up the nerve to try. My first day we found 6 I think... but we had to make 2 trips to each because we had NO IDEA what we were doing. My kids and me, and I dragged along their uncle, I think. The man I was seeing came along with me from time to time, but he really wasn't interested, so I either went with my kids, or alone - but always stayed in my comfort zone. Early on it was easier ones - urban micros and stuff in parks where bushwacking wasn't necessary. Then I unloaded the boyfriend (LOL) and got more serious about caching. It was good "therapy" for me - physically and emotionally. Sounds lame but getting out there and upping the ante on difficulty/terrain and coming away successful (even if it took a few attempts) built up my confidence. I went to an event breakfast with my kids and found out that most of the locals were in my age group (+/-15 years!!!) and made some new friends. Just the social aspect is great! As time passed, I tried more and more challenging ones - and the easier ones too - I like all kinds of caches. Then I met another cacher who turned my head... and apparently I turned his too We've been together for about 18 months now I found my 400th cache a few months ago. I ended up taking the hard way to get it... the VERY hard way. I couldn't find the right trail that would have made it an easy walk - but I really wanted to find this cache so I bushwacked... but that made the milestone that much better. Not everybody wants to bushwhack - just as some cachers don't like urban micros. That's what I love about this sport - there is something for every age and ability. The customer who put me on to caching, maintains a cache outside my place of business, and someone in a wheelchair can access it - or someone with a stroller, etc. I maintain several caches, some are a bit of a hike, a couple are skirt-lifters and some are in between. I have an easy multi that takes you to an historical marker in our town square, and the final is just a short walk across the parking lot. Don't spend a ton of money on it unless and until you're hooked I cached for a whole year before I sprang for a premium membership. I still use the same Garmin eTrex Legend I bought for $98.50 in eBay (used)... I got GSAK and registered it and I use Cachemate (free) so I can download stuff into the GPS and my PDA phone - but those are only useful if you have a premium membership... it's still not a lot to spend, but if finances are snug, and you're still not sure about your stick-tuitiveness, make do with what you have, and pick and choose the caches that match well with your equipment and ability. I'm glad you gave it another shot Geocaching has literally changed my life, in so many good ways. It helped me get fit, got me out of the shop and off my butt, helped me meet lots of new friends, when I travel for business (once or twice a year) I find caches and see places I'd never see otherwise, or even know they were there. And I met the man of my dreams too It doesn't get any better than that! Jenn

I think the bottom line is, common sense should prevail. I won't beat the already-dead horse (too much). We carry cache repair stuff and if we should need to remove a damaged/full log, we always contact the CO and offer to mail it to them (nobody has ever taken us up on that). If we can leave the full/damaged log in the cache without it compromising the rest of the cache, we do so, leave a new log, and note it in our log (no NM... just a comment in our "found it" log.) I personally do not think that finders should have to replace a cache container - that's up to the CO... but I do have a few micro containers and have been known to do that with prior conversations with the CO... ie last finder mentioned the container was leaking etc., so if I plan to go to the cache in question, a quick note to the CO asking if they'd like me to take care of it for them usually results in a "thank you for saving me a trip". If it's really something we can't fix on the spot, but it really compromises the integrity of the cache, we post a NM and usually I send a note to the owner also. It's also happened that a cache needs maintenance, the owner hasn't logged on to GC in forever - the cache is more or less abandoned. I usually acquaint myself with a cache's history before I hunt it (and sometimes check out the owner's profile if it's a local and I don't recognize the geonick) - so I have an idea ahead of time if the owner still participates. That has a strong influence as to whether I'll log a NM, NA (if I CITO out some geo-litter remains of an abandoned cache) - or offer to adopt etc. Again - it really all boils down to common sense. Before posting a NM or NA, make sure it's a valid "complaint" - and govern oneself accordingly. As for traveling items - again - if the item has been in a cache's inventory for a long time, despite many visits to the cache over a reasonable amount of time - chances are it's gone (for whatever reason)... if others have noted in previous cache logs, that TB XYZ is not there, and I make the same observation, I'll post a note on the bug/coin's page - "I visted GCXXXX today and this item was not there. It may be missing, hope it turns up again soon!" - Again - I have to have a reasonable certainty that it's really missing, not just picked up recently and not logged yet... there's that common sense thing again... I think the OP means well - just his/her "delivery" may need a bit of tweaking. I'm always grateful when somebody posts a helpful note on my cache, whether it's in a regular log, a note, or a NM. I really appreciate if somebody does a bit of maintenance on my behalf - I think for the most part that sort of helpfulness is always appreciated. Jenn

There's some truth to that for my brother, check out this TB My boyfriend (also a cacher - that's how we met, in fact), gave me a ring last Christmas (albeit not an engagement ring)... it was in a micro in the Christmas tree. After we'd all opened our gifts, he sat there with a funny smile and told me there was a cache in the tree... sure enough - little camo-taped round plastic box with a beautilful Emerald ring in it Isn't he a romantic devil? I loved it! Jenn

So how do the bugs get from one Stargate to another? Mail? Jenn

Not sure I understand - what's a "Stargate" cache? Thanks, Jenn

Duh - double post...

That stinks. I do my best to move bugs promptly. I have one right now that I've had for a bit, but my other half is taking a trip at the end of the month that will move the bug significantly closer to its goal, so he'll 'grab' it from me and get it going... I try to place bugs in reasonably "muggle resistant" caches, but ones that get fairly frequent visitors too. There's no sense in placing one in a 5/5 that gets 2 visits a year either... A local told me recently that he "lost" a coin in his car for several months, and then found it again and placed it - along with an apology email to the traveler's owner. IMO that's good etiquette. Crap happens... it's what we do to make it right that matters. Ditto if my bugs were picked up and "forgotten"... they turn up in the bottom of the geo-bag or whatever... get it out there asap or at least drop me a line to let me know that they are still around, just that... crap happened. Jenn

Thanks for the fast reply The first MIA bug, I contacted the picker-upper and asked that he/she please either place the bug, or I'd be happy to reimburse for postage. That was in July of '07. I'd let a couple of months pass before I contacted her(?). At that time she did reply kindly and explained that the bug went with her son, back to his father's home, out of state, and it would be placed shortly - great, I thought - more miles Well it never resurfaced. I did attempt to politely contact her again but did not receive a reply. They were 2-day cachers - only cached twice. It's probably in the bottom of the kid's closet someplace (if that kid is like my kids!) That's the one I'm pondering a duplicate for. The other 2 have been missing for 6 months or less - so I'm going to give them some more time. Both vanished out of the last cache they were logged through. After seeing multiple visits to the caches, but the bug didn't move, I posted notes on both cache pages, kindly asking the next finder to please take a look to see if the bug was there, and feel free to move it along. In both instances, helpful cachers confirmed that the bugs weren't in their respective cachers, so I marked them "unknown". I'll give them some time to resurface. In all 3 cases, I cannot confirm that they are destroyed or otherwise gone forever... In my own caching experience, I picked up some bugs in January that had been missing from local caches for as much as 2 YEARS. I suspect that the cacher that picked them up and "forgot" to drop them off, then got out of the game more or less, created a cache - in their own front yard, no less, logged/placed the bugs in it, and the cache was archived shortly after there were no bugs left in it (some folks traded bugs so the cache lived for a little while). In fact - 2 of the bugs I picked up on the FTF of that particular cache, I'd looked for about 18 months earlier, on my first day of caching (and I knew what to do with them if/when I picked 'em up)... I am sure their owners were surprised to see them resurface after that much time...and to my knowledge they are still moving - I moved them both across town and out of here, where they spent way too much time! Jenn

I often drop small TBs or coins in a cache outside where I work (cache belongs to another cacher)... I "write note" to make the drop. I've never logged a find on that cache since I helped the owner place it. I would think the same would apply for picking up a bug in a cache you've already logged - just "write note" to grab the traveler and help it on its way. JMO Jenn

I have a few bugs that have gone AWOL. I have the copy/duplicate tags. A couple that have vanished have done so in recent months - they may resurface again, they may not. One was taken by a new cacher over a year ago, handed off with their child to the other custodial parent in another state, and hasn't been seen since... I've pondered sending out the duplicates - but I'm not ready to give up on the originals just yet. My question is this: If I send the duplicate out into the world, what happens if the original surfaces? Then potentially, 2 physical bugs with the same tracking number, are going to show up under the same bug page... If I release the duplicate and it begins its travels, then miraculously my bug missing in Seattle turns up, or the one in GA, or the one in PA... then what? I'm sure both would be able to be logged since the number is the same - but I would think it could only "be" in one place at any given time... that would create major logging confusion. Can anybody shed light on this? I'm sure it's had occasion to happen... Thanks Jenn

Ah. Tell me about it. My bug who wants to see the world finally made it to Europe, after three years wandering about the USA. Austria, Lichtenstein and Germany! And now, he's back in Pennsylvania. He's already been to Pennsylvania! Oh, well. My son sent one out with a mission to get to Australia - granted it didn't have a mission tag on it (now we know)... it got all the way to Hawaii from GA... then somebody brought it back to Seattle! DOH! It's lost in Seattle - was logged into a cache and vanished - just like another of my bugs. One was logged by a noob (along with a bunch of other bugs/coins belonging to others) never to be seen again... For me anyway, having travel bugs makes the game more frustrating since I've only got 2 out of 5 (one I just released a couple of weeks ago and was just picked up yesterday) left... Jenn

I have found letterboxes too - it's easy to tell the difference, especially when you open the log book I actually traded out a stamp in a cache once, and I carry it with me in case I stumble upon another letter box - then I can sign it properly Jenn

I actually thought the series was a great idea. So much so that Nuggs and I each placed one. His is a micro, but mine is a multi - he helped me come up with the particulars on it. Mine is not a cookie cutter cache. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...5a-4ce206796504 It was placed in June, shortly after word of the series made it here to GA. My other half placed the Downtown Woodstock GA cache. The downtown Canton cache is a short multi - but teaches a history lesson. It's got a simple puzzle, the walk is short... I'd like to think it's a quality cache - and so I've been told by the handful that have sought and found it. Unfortunately it only has 9 finds - I think sometimes people are put off by multis and/or having to read signs to get the missing numbers on the co-ordinates etc. The whole thing should take less than 15 minutes to accomplish. Bottom line is, you can't please all the people all the time. Before you tar any single cache in a "series" - judge it on its own merit. Whether my particular cache was part of the series or not - or just a lesson in local history, it's a quality cache nonetheless. I just happened to think it was a good addition to the series Jenn

I've de-junked many caches. If it's clean and viable, no matter what it is, I leave it. If it's growing something bacterial or fungal, expired, or otherwise past any remote usefulness, I trash it. I do carry some inexpensive swag and try to leave things in better shape than I found them - but I'm not going to leave 4 items behind if I took out an expired coupon, a cut golf ball, something plastic and broken and something that cannot be identified... I will leave a couple of good quality trade items in their place. As for the soggy log issue - if there's no room to add another (page or a book, depending on the size of cache), I usually replace the log completely and contact the cache owner, willing to mail the log to them. Thusfar, the half-dozen or so I've done that for have all declined my offer to mail the log, but *were* appreciative that I saved them a maintenance run. Jenn

Same sort of thing happened to me recently. I was hunting stage 2 of a multi, which was a micro with co-ordinates to the final, but in my search for that we found a plastic container with a regular cache. Had a title name and log - log had been signed by a few people - but several of them noted in their log for the "real" cache we were looking for, that they'd found that one in addition. I checked other local sites and found nothing on it, and did check with my local reviewer as well - nothing. No CO name in the cache (that I could find) so it's a mystery. Nice to know it happens elsewhere too Jenn

They're fast - got my activation code already - and my bug is good to go! Jenn

A few months after I started caching, I bought a "personal" TB and I log it through every cache. Of course when I got it, I already had some finds behind me, so I dipped it after the fact, but dated the logs on the dates I'd actually made the finds. I can't recall if I deleted my logs or not... but I wrote them as "notes" not "found it" for the TB dip. Hope that's clear... So if you decide to do that, when you re-log a cache you found just to dip the bug, use the "write note" feature, not the "found it" feature. Hope that helps. JennM (logging personal TB through!)

Thanks for posting this info. I bought some bugs back at Christmas and want to activate one. I took it out of the wrapper and threw the wrapper away... called home to initiate CITO in my wastebasket to find the wrapper - it's there but no code (now I remember in the past there were stickers on the wrappers with the codes on 'em)... So I just emailed to retrieve a code for my little bug which I hope to release in the next few days. Thanks for the info! Jenn

Well the single use wet wipes are well sealed so they don't carry a scent unless somebody opens 'em. Batteries in a baggie - always. Of course the cache has to be appropriate to leave them in also - I'll leave those things in a sturdy ammo can, but I won't leave good stuff in a Gladware with a crack in the lid and a ziplock bag pulled over the outside of it (and I found a cache like that just last week...) Of course common sense should always prevail. Jenn

Oh - forgot to add... also leaving the evening before instead of the morning of... why? To cache on the way, of course! Jenn

You know you're addicted when you are on a business trip and take an extra day just for caching... I've done it for the last 2 years and I'm doing it again this weekend! Taking some TBs to get 'em out of this area too - and I'll trade for some to bring back into this area. I've already done 2 pocket queries... one for the drive down, and one for near our hotel... and we have a 3rd area scoped out to go on our extra day - the others will be done in between the business stuff. I hate when I'm expected to actually do business while on a business trip - it cuts into my caching time Jenn