fat boy slow

Like it says on the tin .... For you folks who do paperless caching and have been to the US what mapping software have you used ? I currently run Memory Map on a MIO 350 PDA and it works fine in the UK. Having asked this question on a US forum I am still not quite sure that the suggested solutions will work on my MIO, as they all seem to be GARMIN based and as far as I know my MIO is not Garmin compatible. Or I guess I could use this trip as an excuse to finally the Oregon I fancy but don't really need

Or if the Forestry Commission start logging in the area of your new cache and this delays the permission from the local ranger it may take 4 months ( and counting ) but that's just down to common sense as I wouldn't want any conflict with the big logging machines so I can wait

Looking forward to it already... Booked the time off this morning,

I would say of course it's different ..... Not better or worse but different ...... As hobbies, sports, games develop they evolve and change. When I found my first cache in Oct 02 I didn't have a GPS ( couldn't afford one then ) and just used an OS map, at the time it was the second closest to me at about 16 miles away the closest was in woods about 6 miles away and I couldn't find it with a map ... Now there are well over 500 within the 15 miles, some I like, some I don't, some I may go look for , some I won't, but I'm not going to judge if they are better or worse than the first cache I did as my criteria may well be very different to yours. I liken caching in many respects to my other hobby of Mountain Biking, when I first entered a competition in MTB in 1993 we all did which ever events we entered on 1 bike, Cross country , Downhill and observed trials and 1 bike was all you needed and most folks tried all 3, now you need a very different bike for each aspect of the game and most folks do the bit they like best and leave the bits they don't like alone. I think that those folks are missing out on some of the fun and now I have a collection of different bikes and depending on my mood may ride a different bike each time I go out, sometimes 1 of the bikes will get left in my cellar for weeks on end without use but sooner or later I go back to it and enjoy it a lot. Likewise with caching, some times I'm in the mood for different types of cache and I'll enjoy the ones I do cos I'm in the mood for them.... Like I started with.... YES, caching has changed and will continue to do so, I'm rambling now so tha'ts all folks

Lately I jusat tend to look at of the window ..... if it's raining then I'll get wet and whats new ? If it's not raining .... IT SOON WILL BE

I submitted one on Sunday afternoon , went out for the evening and came home later to find a nice message from Deci, no problems at with publishing delay.... Except this MUPPET (me) totally forgot the name of the person who gave permission to place the cache, can't find my correspondance So I'm going through getting permision again, STUPID BOY !!! ...

As an aside to the main topic here can I just point out that ( imho ) none of these coins is particularly rare, in that if I understand things correctly there were 1,000 made of each design. As I understand it that would be quite a large production run for most coins you see in caches, I know for example that there were only 500 of each of the UK Mega coins ( supporter & attendee ) made which makes them twice as rare, and as I paid for 1 of each I am holdng on to them, although the second Silve ( supporter ) coin I bought is already out in the wild Likewise I have bought a coin out of a run of 250, again much more rare which I am holding, but I bought it cos I liked the look of it BUT the least common of my coins were a MEGA BLACK coin, given on the day to approx 50 people and a Groundspeak Volunteer coin which is not possible to buy or beg and that is definately staying with me. I guess what I am asking for here is a sense of perspective, they cost nowt but time, are worth practically nothing and should ( in theory ) be fairly common place in caches, after all if they issued 5,000 and the UK has approx 25,000 caches then in theory 1 in 5 caches could have one of these coins which would mean most folks could get to see all of them in a relatively short time....

I would say it was BAD, VERY BAD to hold onto these coins as the website makes it very clear ( imho) that the intention is for these coins to be released :- quote:- Join the great Garmin Geocoin Challenge! We've placed a hoard of limited-edition Garmin Geocoins in participating Blacks and Millets stores throughout the UK. These unique treasures have been designed for you to hide-and-seek around the UK. Provided for free, each Geocoin is stamped with one of five great British landmarks and a unique ID number. Register a Garmin Geocoin online and discover "hidden Britain" for a chance to win adventure prizes for the whole family. Note the phrase ...These unique treasures have been designed for you to hide-and-seek around the UK. Having been lucky enough to get hold of 3 of them I know mine will all be out in caches shortly with the mission to keep moving and collect pictures of other iconic locations. I think it is fine to build a coin collection out of coins you have bought or been given with the request not to send it out in the wild and that is what I do on occasion but when you are given some thing FOC with the request to release it then I think that it is only right and fair that you honour that request.

I've just got one from Blacks Harrogate

Millets in Harrogate still don't know about the coins but were very helpfull when I explained about the web site and 4,000 coins being available for collection from ALL Millets and Blacks stores as from today, they even took my phone number and offered to ring me when they come in so I've hopefully got one reserved there... At BLACKS the result was even better they had a pile of the coins by the downstairs till and the leaflet on the wall.. when I asked if I could have a coin one was pushed in my direction so being a bit cheeky I asked if they were all the same design and if not could I have 1 of each ...... RESULT I now have a Stonehenge, London Eye & Clifton Suspension Bridge coin in my excited not so little hands However I would like to promise you all that ALL and ANY of these coins will be released into the wild as was intended.... but don't expect me to put them in easy drive bys I think after the number of times I've been in and out of Blacks & Millets lately it's only fair that I put them some where you have to work to find them

Plenty of rain up here in Yorkshire... if you want you are welcome to come and take it away

Ooh ! I didn't realise I could do that ... so as a coin has been missing from 1 of my caches for over 6 weeks now I've not only removed it but added a note to the coin page Thanks for the nudge...

My 2p worth.... I'd say let it move round a bit Jamie, for now I'm all Mega'd ( can I say that ) out but by 2011 if no one wanted to run one I may change my mind and say OK I'll help out.. Having said that there is a slight ulterior motive for supporting an event in Scotland... I used to live in Dunblane so going to a Mega any where near there would be great... Now a smaller camping event... may ( just may ) be a differant matter

Try telling the 10,000 or so MTBers who travel to Fort William every year for the Mtb World Cup round that it's too far... I have done it every year bar 2008 since it started in 2002 and it's not a major problem ... OK I live in Harrogate and have ahead start on a lot of folks but when I go I pootle along at 60- 70 mph where I can and make a day of the journey stopping off along the way to grab a bite to eat and maybe a cache or two. In the past I've travelled all over the country for events of all kinds , music, mtb, football and if I'm honest my main driver has always been .. DO I want to be there... if the answer is Yes then I start to look at ways to make the trip as doable as possible and that is what I would do for any future Mega be it in Devon/Cornwall/ South West , Kent/ South East, Wales or Scotland. Learning from this year what I would suggest is that we all wait a while untill the folks who have offered to run an event in 2009 announce the venue and then support them as best we can. If that means we can't go then I would suggest a shrug of the shoulders and a thought of oh well next time maybe but not posting on the forum of WHY is it there, or then.... And if we can go ... then maybe a post of support and intent would be welcome....

I'd just like to say Thank you and Good Luck to the team which is stepping up to run a 2009 event. It's not easy and there are bound to be a few grumbles along the way but I'm sure it will all be great in the end. All being well I look forward to attending an event some where in the South West, some time in 2009. Lots of great MTB trails that way and more than enough caches to make a weeks holiday ( dates permitting ) of it.

Looks like a set of EEyjits has been conned .... err FOUND .... Good luck to them and I look forward to attending a Mega near Bristol some time next year...

For those who want them... The answers can be found here

Hi Folks, Just a quick word of thanks to those who had a go at the dingbats we included in the welcome packs, we did it just in case it rained and no one wanted to grab the stray caches No.. not likely really.. after all it doesn't rain on cachers does it ( much ! ) As it happens we were blessed with fair weather ( most of the day ) and I suspect many of you never got round to taking a look till you were on your way home. Any how I have got round to casting my eyes over the 25 or so completed forms and have come to the conclusion the the Mega Event 2008 Top Ding Batter was....... MACKEM. who will shortly be contacted to honour this fantastic acheivement ...

I saw the new Garmin Oregon at the weekend and an very tempted by that.. Touch Screen, geocache mode, maps, If your budget stretches that far ( approx £250) then I think it is very worth considering

No Coins in either Millets or Blacks in Harrogate as yet, but both places new about them and are expecting them .. they just don't know when

At the acceptance speech Chris did specifically state is was Graculus and not Gracky, Gracie or any other short version...... oops to slow ...

Cafe Latino right in the middle of town also has free wi-fi for customers, with a convenient bench nearby which may well be in range if you don't fancy a brew.

Coming where ??

To keep the wee bitey things at bay you should try AVON... SKIN SO SOFT Worked for me in the Scottish Highlands far better than any other stuff I've tried. In fact iirc most of the shops in Fort William sell the stuff and highly recommend it.

What really worries me is the label stating, " North West " right above Yorkshire ........... Now that is just not right