cimawr

Re the playground cache I mentioned upthread, I'm fairly sure that a large part of why the father felt comfortable approaching me, offered me help, and was quite nice to me (even though he was ticked off about the cache in general)is that I'm a smallish middleaged woman. The fact that I was upfront about what I was doing, as well as polite and friendly when approached, didn't hurt either. Editing to add: Even when I know the property owner has approved - or placed! - the cache, I'm rarely comfortable with caches placed on private residential property. My level of comfort, and willingness to look for it at all, is directly related to how close the cache is to the house and/or to neighboring houses.

Adding my person 2c on the subject, and an angle that I haven't seen mentioned: A pet peeve of mine is caches that are placed without taking thought to as to whether people looking for them are going to be a hassle for nearby residents, and/or with disregard for whether the search may lead fellow cachers onto private property... especially cachers who ASSume that just because a bit of woods or a structure is next to the street or sidewalk, it's fair game for cache placement. I was recently told in these forums that it's legal to place a cache on a private fence if the fence is next to a road or sidewalk... no, folks, the fence around my yard or my neighbor's livestock pens is NOT fair game for a cache just because there's a nearby road!! Correllary and equal pet peeve is geocachers who ASSume that just because someone has placed a cache, they have a RIGHT to tromp whereever they please to look for it... even when a bit of observation and common sense should tell them they're probably trespassing. For example, I've seen a couple of caches placed on the borders of parks in such a way that cachers were easily led literally into a neighbor's back yard, as well as a number of caches placed in small wooded areas that are actually private residential property. (I'm not talking about common areas in a development, but one person's private farm or yard.) And then there was the cache that was placed on the edge of a playground designed for small children, which also happened to be about 60 feet from someone's front door and picture window. I went to look for the cache without realizing it was on a playground... walked around a bit going "these coords have to be off!". As I was checking out a tree that was about 20 feet from the playground, the homeowner came out with his young daughter, and asked if I was looking for the cache. I told him I was. He confirmed that it was, in fact, hidden on the playground, and asked if I'd like him to show me where it was so that I could finish and leave. He was civil, but it was very clear that he was NOT happy at the cache being there, at what he felt was repeated inappropriate use of the playground he daily took his daughter to, nor with the concept of geocaching in general. We talked a bit, and I told him that most caches are placed with more consideration, but I could tell that he'd already made his mind up that geocachers are a bad lot, and that my level of courtesy was not the norm. What made that cache placement particularly stupid, btw, is that it was a good-sized park, and there was AMPLE opportunity for placement away from both the little kid area and private residences. But nooo, the cache hider wanted to place a "clever" micro that required "stealth". Shortly thereafter, a cache thief began operating in the area - he went all over the place, removing as many caches as he could find. At one point, members of our local geocaching society set up a "sting" and caught the individual... he was reported to have a young child with him. I've always wondered if it was the ticked-off father. Anyway.. the reason I'm bringing inconsiderate/inappropriate placements up in this thread is that IMO not only are such caches a good way to alienate "muggles" to the game, but are a good way to put cachers in conflict with local LEOs.

In fairness to nittanycopa, s/he didn't post that in response to my comment.

Hrm, well... there really wasn't any way to tell you meant it as a joke, and as someone else mentioned, it's pretty infuriating to get snarky "Ever hear of CITO?" in response to legitimate complaints or comments about nasty hiding locations. There's a huge difference between the type of trash you're talking about, and the type of locations most of us were referring to. My worst experience of the sort: I'd been to a dog agility trial about 60 miles away, and was doing a cache run along the way home. Now, I nearly always have my dogs with me when caching *anyway*, and since I was on a trip with them, had deliberately chosen only caches that were dog appropriate... IOW, ones that had the "dogs allowed" attribute. About midway, I stopped to look for a cache that had been placed fairly recently. Parked a block or so away, and walked to the cache area with my dogs... only to find as we started to go into the little patch of woods that it was directly behind a mall dumpster, and the ground and bushes in the entire area (not just the immediate vicinity of the dumpster) were saturated with all sorts of trash, including huge amounts of broken glass... a mixture of smashed bottles and shattered fluorescent tubes that had clearly accumulated over a long period of time (a lot of it was partially buried). It was crystal clear that the mall workers were in the habit of tossing bags of trash into the woods if the dumpster was full, that *someone* made a habit of smashing bottles and fluorescent bulbs on the ground back there for fun, and that this was a condition that pre-existed the cache's placement. (Have you ever seen what happens when a fluorescent is broken? If not... they literally explode, and small bits of glass go EVERYWHERE.) At any rate, I left without further search because it was way too risky to take my dogs anywhere close to GZ, and I'll be honest - I was pretty irritated. When I got home, I posted a note stating that I'd had to abort my search and why, and suggested that the owner should remove the "dog friendly" attribute since the ground was literally saturated with glass shards, and dogs don't wear shoes. I did it publicly to prevent anyone else from putting their dogs at risk... I'm far from the only person who routinely caches with canine companions. The CO's response was to post a public nastygram castigating me for not doing "CITO" . Even the smallest bit of "CITO" there would have required protective gloves due to the glass shards, as well as a metal trash can to collect the glass in; to actually get it clean would have required hours of work by several people.... not to mention that the only way it would have *stayed* clean was if the dumpster were moved. Which is exactly what I told the CO in response, along with suggesting that if he felt the area needed CITO, perhaps he should mention it in the cache listing, or organize a CITO event. What really irked me about the whole thing is that I didn't even post a NM... just a note regarding the fact that the cache area wasn't safe for dogs.

Just as an FYI on terminology - activation code and tracking number are two different things. The activation code won't appear on the coin itself; an activation code is used only once, by the owner of a coin if and when they "activate" (register) it on geocaching.com. When you buy a coin, sometimes it'll have an activation code provided by the seller, sometimes you need to go online to find out what it is. As you probably know, it's extremely rare to find an unactivated coin in a cache... usually the only time that happens is when someone places a new cache and wants to give a special prize to the "FTF", or if someone's had some personal coins made and decides to share some. Tracking number is, of course,the number that's engraved on the coin, and used to log it in and out of caches.

I've now listed my remaining Scorpio Geocoin on Ebay - like the other, it's in new condition, trackable on Geocaching.com, and unactivated. Lower "Buy It Now" price since the first one didn't sell by that method; reserve price is higher than the starting price, but lower than "Buy It Now". http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190521662358

Well, then I'm puzzled as to why you replied to my original post with what comes across as complaints about him asking for homework help etc. <shrug> Repeatedly attempting to insult me, when I've been nothing but polite, isn't going to accomplish you much. And if you have a son in that age range, then you ought to appreciate someone speaking up when a post to a youngster comes across as snarky. (And no "reading between the lines" was needed to get that impression, sorry. Maybe if you'd added a "just kidding" or some such, it wouldn't have been so open to misinterpretation?) But if it really wasn't intended that way, then there's no reason for you to get your knickers in such a twist. right back atcha, kiddo. BTW - I wasn't "upset" originally, nor am I even remotely "upset" now. I'm also not new to these forums, or to geocaching even though I've not posted much in the last couple of years.

It's a technique that's been in use for a couple of decades, and if the software is good it's generally successful. If you Google the terms "freeware", "shareware", "nag screen", and "crippleware" you can learn more. In the case of GSAK, lots of people pay for it simply because it's an excellent software.

I don't check *every* profile,but I do double-check when I suspect someone's underage. Have to be honest, btw - the fact that you apparently find him annoying rather tends to support my initial impression that your post wasn't particularly friendly. Re Signal dolls, no thanks... my dogs killerate stuffed toys in short order.

I've been doing "CITO" since I was a kid, and that predates geocaching by about 40 years... I'm forever picking up bits of trash at parks, on the street, in the woods, what-have-you. I've also participated in quite a few organized events (not geocaching-realated) to clean up parks, streambeds, etc from large amounts of accumulated trash. I even have a special side pocket in my backpack so as to carry out my dogs' droppings if they go on the trail, and routinely clean up after less considerate dog owners. And I'm here to tell you that when it comes to seeking caches, "CITO" does NOT mean "go to a trash/garbage dump behind a shopping mall and singlehandedly clean it up while looking for a film canister", nor does it mean "go to caches prepared to stick your hands into a filthy area and/or risk slicing yourself open on the broken glass that's everywhere". Placing caches in areas so filthy or trash-strewn that it would take a crew of people and several hours to actually clean them up is just plain obnoxious, in my book.

No offense, but personally I double-check whether or not I'm talking to an adult before making sarcastic remarks like this. If the profile pic is accurate, Jacob's a fairly young cacher...

Checking Garmin's website, I see that the ETrex H is marked as NOT being "geocaching-friendly". However, a GPS that IS "geocaching-friendly" is going to be a lot more expensive than the cable, so I guess my answer is "it depends on your budget". I will say that if your budget is in the $150 -$180 range, you may still be able to find a GPSmap 60 or 60CX out there - a lot of vendors marked down their existing stock when the 62 series came out, and both are good geocaching units. A second issue you need to consider, btw, is whether your computer has a serial port for the cable to connect to. Some newer ones don't, which means in addition to the cable, you'd need to purchase a serial-to-USB adapter. GSAK is free to download and use. However, if you don't pay for it, each time you start it up, a screen will pop up "nagging" you to consider paying for it, and you will have to wait for a timer to count down before the program starts. (I believe it's 30 seconds but wouldn't swear to it since I paid for my GSAK years ago.)

Well I am well and truly back into this addiction, although I don't have a huge budget... today I had two packages. One was the Scavok Celtic Tree of Life, silver tree on dark green background.. BIG coin, just lovely, especially since all the writing is on the rim of the coin. The other was the awesome and truly unique Mega Wales coin, which is made out of Welsh slate. There's a thread on that one somewhere 'round here. <making note to myself that I need to find a spot to set up my coins so I can take photos and post 'em>

They are gorgeous! I'll be buying a couple if the budget's big enough when they come out. I particularly like the Celtic-esque (don't think that's a real word but I don't know how else to say it ) way the tails intertwine on the reverse.

Ha. Glad to see somebody else does exactly the same thing I do. The clip gives me a place to put it when I need or want my hands free, the attachment of the lanyard to belt or belt loop not only safeguards the GPS if I should happen to drop it, but keeps me from setting it down somewhere and forgetting it. I can't imagine putting the GPS around my neck - not only would it clunk like crazy, but when I'm hiking I'm usually already wearing a lanyard with a dog whistle and the remote for my terrier's e-collar.

The only way you can "get" the original video is if: 1) you've ever seen an enhanced/enlarged version the infamous "Patterson footage" which allegedly shows a female Bigfoot 2) happen to notice that the person in the rabbit suit mimics the movement of the "creature" in said footage. IOW, the film appears to be a rather lame attempt at parodying the Patterson footage and/or poking fun at geocachers as odd creatures who slink around in wooded areas. It would be more understandable - and a lot funnier, IMO - if they hadn't made the peculiar decision to also dress the "geocacher" up in a rabbit suit. My guess is that they happened to have the rabbit suit around for something Easter-related, or maybe for a costume party, and decided to try to make a funny video while they had it around.

First, when you say you've "checked on" caches, do you mean that you've previously found the caches, and have physically returned to the sites, looked again, and verified they're actually missing? If so, AND if it's accurate that the COs hadn't been on the site for an extended period of time, I'd say a polite and regretful NA log isn't inappropriate IF - and only IF - there has been at least one reliable "needs maintenance" log on the cache for a month or more. If there have been no previous "needs maintenance" logs - DNFs, notes, and/or Found logs relating problems don't count - then IMO the more appropriate place to start is by posting one.

At the $10 price range, I'd be in for at least two.

That's an excellent idea. Oddly, despite the fact that I've been caching since 2006 and have moved quite a few trackable coins, I've never seen it done - unless you count the "coin" that was just a laminated photocopied *picture* of the coin, with an ID tag attached. Since I'm posting in the thread, and am just coming back to posting in the forums after a lengthy hiatus, I guess I'll go ahead and introduce myself even though the cointest is over: 5 years ago, I was reading my e-mail when my then-SO called me, all excited. "Are you sitting in front of your computer?" says he. When I replied yes, he said "Go to www.geocaching.com and read the description of the game." I did, and agreed it sounded really cool. He then informed me that a co-worker had told him about it earlier in the day, and that he was in Best Buy purchasing a GPS. A couple of weekends later, we went on a cache run with his then-13-yr-old kids, and I was hooked. Bought a second-hand eTrex off of Ebay, and the rest is history! The ironic thing about it is that the guy who got me into it didn't stick with the sport - his daughter loved it, but his son didn't, and his work schedule got in the way, etc. Me, even when I've been really busy, I've still done a cache here and there. Recently changed jobs from one with routine 12-hour days in a fixed location to one with a flexible schedule and where I'm driving around, so I've been able to really get back into it, including once again having time to participate in the forums and pursue the geocoin aspects of it. I got into coins after finding a GCC traveler in one of the earliest caches I found - when I looked up what it was, I loved the concept, and also started seeing some really cool designs, bought a few... y'all know how it goes! As to who I am... my caching name is the same as my forum name; my real first name is Sarah. I'm 51, and live just north of Baltimore, Maryland. I'm of mixed ethnic heritage - my dad is mostly German-American, with some Haudenosaunee; my Mam was half Welsh (her father born there) and half Scottish-American. I love to hike and spend time out of doors with my dogs (I grew up going out on hikes with my father and our English Shepherd), love puzzles and games, and am a techy gadget nerd (among other things I build my own computers), so geocaching was a natural for me. My other favorite things are dog training, dog sports, photography, reading, music of all sorts, and martial arts (I have a brown belt in Kodokan Judo). I'm an animal lover in general - including loving spiders, snakes, and bugs - and currently have two cats as well as two dogs. My dogs and I compete in NADAC agility (the sport where handlers direct dogs through obstacle courses) and are learning K9 Nosework; I also teach them tricks, and have done terrier trials in the past. Current dogs are Cenau Goch, a crossbred working terrier (half Jack Russell, half Zwergpinscher), and Cerys Coesau, who is some sort of spitz crossed with some sort of sighthound, with possibly a dash of terrier. The cats are Gwydion, a tabby-and-white alley cat type, and Robyn, a Sealpoint Siamese ex-tomcat. Gwy's from a shelter, Robyn was a stray. I've had a mixed bag career-wise, including 10 years running a bookstore, document work at a civil engineering firm, office management for a car repair shop and an electrical contractor, and veterinary assistant. I'm currently employed by a dogwalking and petsitting agency, and working on getting certification as a dog trainer. I currently have 20-odd geocoins (not counting duplicates); my collection and interest in coins is related to my other real-life interests. I love coins with Celtic designs, and am trying to get one for each Celtic country or region, as well as any that are related to Cymru (Wales). Native-American-related ones also interest me IF they are respectful and actually relate to real Native mythology, art, etc. I've also started looking into ones related to the German songs and stories I learned from my dad. Other interests include coins related to states or cities I have connections with, especially Maryland. Last but not least, I like coins with snakes, spiders, bees, crows and ravens, and cats. Although I'm very much into dogs, I haven't cared for most of the dog-related coins I've seen as they tend to be be too cutesy for my taste, or to be related to specific breeds. Most of my activated coins are in my collection, but I do have two out traveling - a GCC birthday-cake coin, which is still on the move, and a GCC Ghost Jeep coin which a cacher in Michigan has apparently been holding onto for almost a year. I recently sent them a message asking them to please either put it in a cache, or otherwise let me know what the status is, but no reply yet.

Yes indeedy! In fact, that's the use I've seen them most often put to. Side note, but I used to participate in a USENET forum about dog behaviour and training... we had a literal nutcase mentally ill individual who not only wrote 5,000-word posts incoherently ranting and raving about everyone else on the forum, but went through several phases of creating multiple sockpuppets and not only posting in support of himself, but having conversations with himself. The individual in question is arguably the world's best-known Internet kook... he even won some kind of "award" for it (and was proud of doing so )

Possible but unlikely. He claims to have read about 10 forum posts: "Claims" would be the operative term there.

It's mildly amusing. Funniest bit is when the critter runs away - the "actor" did a good job of copying the movement from the original video - I believe the film's intended as a parody of the infamous "Bigfoot" video.

Trolling and sock puppets aren't geocaching-specific; in fact, the terms have been in use since before the Internet existed - they originated on USENET. "Trolling" is posting to a discussion group for the purpose of deliberately upsetting people, starting arguments, starting flame wars, etc. - IOW, not because you want to actually discuss something, but for the "fun" of getting a rise out of genuine posters. People who behave this way are referred to as "trolls", but "trolling" doesn't refer to the fairy tale creatures who live under bridges etc. - it's actually fishing terminology. In fishing, "trolling" is dragging bait through the water. "Sock puppet" is when someone creates a fake identity on a forum in order to say things they don't want to say with their real account. Editing to add: And not only does the first post does indeed smack of both, the followup posts do little to change the impression. However, it's entirely possible that the poster is exactly what he says he is, and is simply one of those people who obsessively reads up on something new in order to sound like an expert.

<applause>

Arrrrrrgh! So it is. Thanks... <goes off to change it AGAIN> Fixed it again - Ebay had somehow reverted to "calculated shipping" instead of "flat rate" - and added a note to the listing in case the glitch re-occurs.