PlantAKiss

I'm not a puzzler other than your basic crossword or something like that. I can not begin to solve the vast majority of puzzle caches out there so I don't even look at them. It's frustrating not to be able to do them but...I just have to move on to caches I can actually go hunt for. Personally, if I were ever to place a puzzle cache, I'd offer a "non-puzzler option" so everyone would have the opportunity to go for the cache and not just those who are good solving puzzles.

The South rises again--to get VA moved to a more appropriate regional group! haha! Rabblerousers! I know that song! I live in Richmond and I can tell you its Southern. Sickenly sweet iced tea, fried chicken, Cotillion, The Rivah, Buzz 'n' Neds BBQ (which won a throwdown with Bobby Flay so take yo' ol' NORTHEASTERN BBQ back home), "grits or biscuits" as your side choices for breakfast, country ham in every grocery store, Brunswick stew made by churches and firehouses, and pimento cheese sandwiches. Yum! Heck, half them thar Northerners have never even hud of pimento cheese! Heaven to Betsy! lol People you don't know wave and smile at you and most everybody will hold a door open for you, and folks say "please" and "thank you" without even thinking about it. Exactly. Haha--that's funny. Quite a few of the folks I was with in the Barrens got loaded with [Northern] chiggers. Down heyah, I was taught not to evah pick Queen Ann's Lace as its just gol' dern loaded with [southern] chiggers!

I didn't think the OP's question was intended as a life or death issue. I took it as a "I'm just curious" question. And quite frankly, I've wondered the same thing. I live in VA and would never think of it as being in the Northeast. I grew up thinking I was "from the South" and nowadays, at best, its Mid-Atlantic. We say "y'all" and drink iced tea (for the most part, sweetened, I'm sorry to say) and tawk about NASCAR. Personally I don't like grits but I will say life is not complete without a country ham biscuit in hand! Now that's good eats! I'm VA bred and born but I have visited the NJ Pine Barrens so does that allow me to post?

Fastforty...I believe I have some of your little ammo cans. I bought them a while back. I bought 3 and gave one away as the FTF gift in my first cache placement. The FTFer loved it. The other two I haven't been able to let go of--they are just too cute! Keep up the good work...they are awesome. They can be used as a gift for the cacher who has everything, a cacher xmas tree ornament, a Keeper of Small Things...lots o' uses. I have always wondered what tool is used to drill holes in limbs, logs, rocks, etc. While I like and have a few tools, I don't have anything that would do that. Can someone tell me what is used to make big holes?

There is a large park here with about 50 caches. Awhile back, some cachers discovered a camp within the park. They reported it since camping isn't allowed. The police investigated the camp and found personal belongings they identified as belonging to a young man from the west coast. Upon trying to locate the man, they found out he had been murdered in Paris around Thanksgiving. No one knows why he had been camping in the park, why he left his personal belongings, why he went to Paris and how he ended up dead. It was quite the mystery and still is. I don't believe the murder was ever solved. And geocachers started the mystery rolling by finding and reporting the camp.

I wish you lived in my town! I have similar issues so I understand your concerns. None of my friends are interested in caching so I am left on my own. It doesn't stop me from caching though! I do normally take my dog with me. I think if someone were to make a move to harm me, he might do something but he's basically just a sweet little dog. I think having a dog with me would be somewhat of a deterrant to someone looking to cause harm. Some cache locations, such as heavily wooded parks that don't have a lot of people traffic, make me a bit nervous. There was one situation where I sincerely believe I was in danger of some kind of harm, but I kept my wits about me and took steps that prevented anything from happening. I always make sure I have my cell phone with me. I think if you just make sure you are aware of your surroundings and who's around, you'll be fine. Don't get so engrossed in the hunt that you don't see someone approaching. I think the best advice is to follow your gut instinct. If you out caching alone and are getting bad vibes about any caching situation, leave! You can always do that one another time when you have company. I think following my gut instinct saved me from harm that one time. From now on, if a red flag goes off in my head, I'm gonna act on it! I don't think I'm paranoid about caching alone. I think I have a healthy respect for the issues regarding caching alone including the possibility of getting hurt or becoming a target for a mugging or other harm. I use caution, but still have a great time caching whether alone or with my dog. So don't let caching alone stop you! Also having a dog and/or a camera is a great way to be less conspicuous caching alone. I've passed myself off numerous times as being a "photographer" who's just looking for that perfect shot--when I'm really hunting! People usually just give a glance and then ignore me. I have had people come up and ask what I was photographing so sometimes you have to think quick!

I've seen a number of sprinkler-head caches. Never really thought of them as being "buried" caches since you don't have to dig or uncover anything to find them and they are so common. If they break the rules, then why aren't sprinkler heads banned? One small cache I (and a couple of other cachers) had a hard time finding was placed in a small crevice at a vine-covered fence and covered with leaves. Bearing in mind the "buried" rule, I never even thought to look for something below ground level when it looked flat. But...the hider did not dig the hole.

Are you calling Brian a brain?... ...or are you talking to yourself? Its interesting how many different views people have of the same rule of play--from the "if you thought about going for it, log it" to "I looked and didn't find it but I'll log it when I do." If I made a reasonable effort to look, I log a DNF. If I drive up to posted coords and then have to leave for some reason (gotta pee!), I do not log it. There have been a number of situations where I did not log: arrived to late (dark) to hunt, park closed or closing, ridiculous muggle swarm, area looks unsafe, "creepy guy in car," etc. In a few of these situations, I have made a log anyway but I don't feel required to do so.

Mainly, its lack of free time that keeps me from going out caching. Too many responsibilities that must come first. That's why my find count doesn't measure up to my geocaching enthusiasm. Sometimes, as a few others have stated, its feeling uncomfortable to go out in certain areas alone. I usually have my dog with me but, even then, I get creeped out in some places. My dog is sick and if he can no longer go out with me...I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Caching totally alone will be sad and even more creepy.

I had come up with that idea as well (as I'm sure a million cachers have). I got all the materials to do it but had difficulty finding the right tree in "legal" territory...but also (not being all that young and spry), I couldn't figure out how to get the container high up in the tree. If I can find a tree I can climb, I'd still like to do it. I have all kinds of ideas for camo.

I have the geocaching blues but not from too much snow (I wish!). I've been sick with bronchitis since before Xmas. But even worse, my geodog has been sick for a good while and I cannot take him out anywhere. He was my caching buddy. :-( It just doesn't feel right to go out without him (not to mention it would leave me to cache totally alone in woods, which I'm not too keen on). To make me feel worse, a cache was published not far from my office yesterday and it was killing me that I could not go! I never get a realistic shot at a FTF! We were having snow/rain mix, I was stuck at work, wore shoes not appropriate for soggy hiking, too dark after work...*sigh.* I want to try for it tomorrow but not sure if geodog (now on medication) is up for it. I don't yet what geodog's prognosis is...he has a serious illness. He loved the woods so much... and I do too. Don't know what I'll do if he can't go with me anymore. Cross your fingers that he will be able to resume reasonably normal activities. He deserves a good roll in some rotting leaf mold next to a cache.

I am sitting here in my office laughing! If I get in trouble, it's all y'alls fault! My personal observation is there does seem to be considerable awkwardness and reluctance to acknowledge fellow cachers when you come across them on the trail. I'm guilty of it myself but there have been some occasions I've tried to give a "signal" (although admittedly I did not call them a Ho or skip in circles). I walked past one group who had just found a park cache (finder shouting "I found it!"). As I passed, I said "I found it too!"--they just awkwardly smiled and said nothing...so I walked on by. Recently while checking on my own cache, I noticed a couple hanging out at my first stage. I was excited--someone had come to look for my cache! I rushed to check on stages 2 and 3 so I would not give away any locations. On my way back to the car, I passed the couple (GPSr in hand) leaving my 2nd stage. As I passed them, I resolved to be bold so I smiled and said "Good luck...I hope you find it". They looked startled and mumbled "Thanks." I tossed over my shoulder..."It's my cache." They said nothing. Later, I found a note on my car. It was an apology from the cachers. They said I caught them off guard and they didn't know what to say and didn't quite comprehend what I had said about being the owner until after they found the last stage. I thought it was very nice they left the note. So it is funny that even when you do acknowledge another cacher, sometimes they don't know what to say or how to handle it. I guess its the "be stealthy" rule that makes people feel awkward. Maybe I will start calling suspected cachers Ho's and see how that works for me.

I'll admit it. I'm not pure. I would sign the online log even if I was unable to actually get my name on the cache logbook. Although this hasn't happened to me yet, if I hunted for and found the cache, put my hands on it, opened it...and discovered there was no way to sign the logbook, I would still log the find online....because....I FOUND it. The choices given don't say "I signed the logbook", it says "I found it!" I have managed to squish my name on a number of jam-packed log books. But I thought the name of the game was "veni, vidi, vinci"...I came, I saw, I conquered. So if that's what I did, I log "found it" on the online log AND note online that the logbook is full and needs maintenance.

Personally I would appreciate anyone removing obviously trashy stuff from my cache. Anything broken, wet, molded, illegal or harmful. I can't check my cache every day and to have additional eyes keeping everything ok is greatly appreciated. There is no trade or sig item that I feel has to stay in the [my] cache just because it was placed there. If its an expired coupon, soggy paper, rusted keychain...take it out! I'll restock the cache when needed with good stuff. MHO

When I first started, I was using my GPSr totally incorrectly. I was trying to use the compass and was wandering around aimlessly in confusion. Needless to say, I found nothing. (It didn't help that one my first attempts was a very cleverly hidden micro). After a lot of help from a forum member here...I learned how to properly enter the coordinates and correct settings, and use the map. Now, other than occasionally being led astray by signal bounce, I can usually get where I'm supposed to be. I sometimes forget to zoom in. That can help when bounce is taking you away from where you should be. The last cache I went for, the GPSr was putting me in the middle of a road. I knew that wasn't right! As soon as I zoomed in a little more on the map, it took me right to the cache. (I have experienced a lot of "DUH" moments when geocaching....) I too use GSAK to load in a bunch of caches at one time so I do not have to manually enter coordinates which is a real pain. I'm sure I don't use GSAK to its full potential, but I figured out enough to get the info downloaded in my unit.

I've been musing on geocaching this evening. I was wondering...what is the proper etiquette when someone archives a cache with a note something like this: "Had to archive cache. I hate having to do so. Hope to some day reinstate it." With cache proliferation, the archiving of a cache can mean opening up an area for a new cache. How much time do you give a cache owner to reset and reopen their cache before you move into that territory? I got this idle thought after looking at my cache finds list and seeing quite a few of the caches had been archived. Some seemed temporary and some seemed permanent. So it got me to wondering how one handles taking over a spot that was used by someone else in the past. How much time to you give someone to reinstate their listing before you consider it open territory for anyone to use. Do you ask persmission of the previous owner? The cache reviewer? I don't have any plans to do this, but thought if the situation ever arose, I'd better know the rules on it.

I like tools and have a few...including my relatively new mitre saw. But I don't know enough about tools to know how people hollow out logs, sticks and things like metal bolts. Doesn't it take special tools to be able to do that? Jigsaws? Routers? Big drills? Chisels? I wouldn't mind getting creative but I have a feeling my average tool kit won't do the job. I get ideas but don't know how to execute them.

Thank you very much Starbrand. I appreciate the quick reply to my many questions.

Yes, I read the TB FAQs and also looked in the TB forum first. Although I found a topic on my question, the answer wasn't clear to me and the topic turned into a discussion on stollen bread... SO... Quick question...I just got a cache log that noted the 2 TBs listed as being in my cache are missing and seem to have been missing for quite a while. The seasoned cacher said "the owner" should mark them as missing. Does that mean ME as cache owner or the TB owner marks them as missing? Should I send a note to the TB owners so they can mark their TB as missing? Or do I use the "mark as missing" feature? Does "mark as missing" notify the TB owner?

After my initial excitement in hopes of a FTF, I soon realized that was not likely to happen. If you work or can't leave your house in the middle of the night, you can pretty much forget it. I got one FTF purely by happenstance followed by a shared FTF the same evening. I wasn't expecting it...I simply went for a cache that was newly listed on my route home from work and discovered the log unsigned. So as someone mentioned here, its best just to go caching and one day you might happen onto an unsigned log like I did. Orrr...get your notifications and be prepared to fly at any time, day or nite...and drive reaaally fast!

I have a Mac as well (a new one!) but so far I have still been using GSAK on my office PC. I have not yet explored the options for Macs. I'm getting ready to run a PQ so I have new data for my 3-day weekend. I do wish more companies would accept the fact that there are a LOT of Mac users out here and that's growing every day. Some statistics I saw showed a large number of people gave up on Vista and went to Apple's new Leopard OS.

I wish I had the money to buy you a GPSr. That was such a kind thing to do. You went to a lot of effort to take care of that cache. I hope that sometime soon you will have the ability to join the hunt. At least you have one find to your credit!

DNFs are part of the log history. I don't think they should be deleted or edited to a smiley. To do so skews the view of the cache as to how easy or hard it is.

Who would ever have thunk the Mars company would make such a grand contribution to the world of geocaching. I just wish people would stop using Gladware and the like for containers. They definitely leak.

And a missing single traditional is different...how? I've had fun trying on every one I've hunted for. Of course I'm disappointed if I can't find a cache (or stage) but I go back when I can to complete the hunt and that just makes the find all the sweeter when I've worked harder for it. The more I've hunted, the more satifaction I feel when I find it. I don't get all that excited about driving right up to a lamp post cache. I didn't create this topic to argue people who don't like multis into liking them. I was simply curious when a statement was made to me that multis were less popular and didn't get as much traffic as traditional singles. I didn't know that and wanted to understand the reasons. Having asked the question, gotten a slew of assorted reasons and had a good time reading all the discussion, I'm glad I placed mine as people have seem pleased with it; I would still place a multi if I can make it interesting; I'll still go for multis as I think they're fun. More hunting, more finding. I guess I'm a "journeyman" and not "numberman." I know the answer to that question so I don't feel the need to ask. I asked my original question because I didn't realize multis weren't popular and wanted to know why. I asked and know I know.