wildlifeguy

AWWWWW Dad! Can we at least pull over and get a few caches today! My teacher said it's not the destination but the journey!! Peace!

I really liked "The Grotto". The really hard part is finding the correct road in. Oh and probably the hike in, I was lucky enough to be driven half way in before the real hard part of the climb. Then finding the cache was interesting......... There's also another up the same road, different trail hike, a little easier I'm told, up on Table Mountain. I forget the name of the cache off hand. Peace!

well if we hurry we can make it an even 100 by the days end! Are we ther yet!?!?!?!?!?! Peace!

I'll take a couple, heck I'll even pay for em!! When's the smash/bash/crash/blast?!?!?! Can we have it on the school grounds?? Did I just step in it??? We could have like a memorial service or something. Oh OH how about a good old Irish Wake??? Peace!

After several emails with the MPD this was their final email. I feel it should close this topic for good. >From: MPD >To: Wildlifeguy >Subject: Re: Geocaching and the bomb squad >Date: Tue, 02 Nov 2004 11:05:42 -0800 > >Okay, found it. It was actually October 28th. The principal called it >in. It was a container wrapped in green duct tape under a tree at an >elementary school. The bomb squad came out and couldn't tell what was >in the container so they blasted it. After blasting, the officer found >several small children's toys inside and a log sheet. That was when he >realized that the container was part of a GPS treasure hunt. To quote >the report "No crime committed". We never were looking for the owner of >the item, other than just to return it. The officer notes "There was no >contraband inside the container. I was unable to find any indication >that the container was placed on school grounds illegally or with >malicious intent." We have never been looking for someone to press >charges or deliver a bill for services. When we couldn't find an owner, >we booked the items into our evidence unit to be destroyed. Someone >made that portion of the story up. > >Obviously, an elementary school was probably not the best choice of >location. And we would rather err on the side of safety than to ignore >an item wrapped in duct tape and later find out the hard way that it was >a bomb. > >Personally, I would recommend a clear container that law enforcement >can see into in the event that it is reported like this. The main >reason this was called in was the fact that it was a colored plastic >pitcher sealed using green duct tape. Like I said, we'd rather err on >the side of safety and so would the school. > >Make sure that those out there spreading the prosecution story know >that it is false. > >Hope this helps! Just some good guys doing their job! Think of this one as the ultimate "Muggle". Peace!

Ok further response to my original email. It is listed below in reverse order. So if you want to read it in the order it was sent start at the bottom. So from the bottom is my original email, their response asking what the heck I'm talking about, my second email, Their clarification of the incident, and finally my last email sent this morning. I hope this all made sense to you as well as the MPD Finally, rumors spread alot faster than the truth!!!!! It wold seem we got a little burned in that wildfire. Camel do you want your broken McToys???? Thank you again for your timely response. It is good to hear this information and I will spread it to our community at large. I agree with all of your statements about placing caches near schools and how these containers are marked and hidden. As a relatively new and growing sport we are also learning how to play the game and not be a nuiscence to the communities that we live and play in. Your advice is well taken and we will strive to incorporate them into our game. Again, thank you for your time and efforts in resolving this matter. Sincerely, Richard Enderlein >From: "Gail Smith" <SmithGC@ModestoPD.com> >To: <renderlein@hotmail.com> >Subject: Re: Geocaching and the bomb squad >Date: Tue, 02 Nov 2004 11:05:42 -0800 > >Okay, found it. It was actually October 28th. The principal called it >in. It was a containing wrapped in green duct tape under a tree at an >elementary school. The bomb squad came out and couldn't tell what was >in the container so they blasted it. After blasting, the officer found >several small children's toys inside and a log sheet. That was when he >realized that the container was part of a GPS treasure hunt. To quote >the report "No crime committed". We never were looking for the owner of >the item, other than just to return it. The officer notes "There was no >contraband inside the container. I was unable to find any indication >that the container was placed on school grounds illegally or with >malicious intent." We have never been looking for someone to press >charges or deliver a bill for services. When we couldn't find an owner, >we booked the items into our evidence unit to be destroyed. Someone >made that portion of the story up. > >Obviously, an elementary school was probably not the best choice of >location. And we would rather err on the side of safety than to ignore >an item wrapped in duct tape and later find out the hard way that it was >a bomb. > >Personally, I would recommend a clear container that law enforcement >can see into in the event that it is reported like this. The main >reason this was called in was the fact that it was a colored plastic >pitcher sealed using green duct tape. Like I said, we'd rather err on >the side of safety and so would the school. > >Make sure that those out there spreading the prosecution story know >that it is false. > >Hope this helps! > > >>> "Richard Enderlein" <renderlein@hotmail.com> 11/2/2004 9:33:36 AM > >>> >Hello, >First let me thank you for your quick response to my inquiry. I >appreciate >it very much. The date of the incident was October 29, 2004 and >occurred >near a school. You are correct that it was reported by a non-geocacher >as >suspicious and the bomb squad was called out to investigate. Since the > >incident and since my previous email, I have had time to reflect on who >did >what and why. The placer of the cache definately had no malicious >intent in >placing the cache. I know, understand, and know it was right the >actions >taken by the MPD bomb squad. We as players of this family orientated >game >realize that sometimes our gamepieces get moved/destroyed/or found by >nonplayers. This is part of the fun of the game. I guess we were all >shocked >when one was "muggled" (our term for being found/destroyed) to this >extreme. >My real concerns have to do with what the MPD is doing about the placer >of >this gamepiece. With the rumors that are flying around the website, we >as >players have a vested concern in what happens to our fellow players. >The >rumor is that MPD is looking for the placer with the intent of criminal > >prosecution or financial liability. If this is the case we as a >community >would like to know the particulars so we can help out our friend with >legal >and or finacial assistance. Of course knowing the placer and those who >play >this game, I know there was no malicious intent to hurt harm harrass or > >terrorize anybody with the placing or hunting of this gamepiece. Please >tell >me that MPD has discontinued looking for criminality or some form of >finacial liability in this case. > >Thank you again for your time and involvement in this matter > >Sincerely, > >Richard Enderlein (aka Wildlifeguy on www.geocaching.com) >renderlein@hotmail.com > > >From: "Gail Smith" <SmithGC@ModestoPD.com> > >To: <renderlein@hotmail.com> > >Subject: Re: Geocaching and the bomb squad > >Date: Tue, 02 Nov 2004 09:02:45 -0800 > > > >I am not familiar with the case to which you are referring. When was > >this supposed to have happened? I would assume, based strictly on >what > >I read at geocaching.com that the cache may have been suspicious > >looking, found by a citizen perhaps and reported as a suspicous >device? > >In this day and age, we can't take any chances with anything that >might > >possibly be an explosive device. One of our server installers at > >http://cvc-geocaching.artoo.net/archives/000006.html even mentions > >his concern about someone finding a cache and reporting it to police >as > >a bomb or as a drug drop. > > > >If you can give me a date and location of the case, I can look it up > >and let you know what happened. Until then, I am strictly >speculating > >on what has happened. > > > > > > > > > > >>> <renderlein@hotmail.com> 10/30/2004 5:57:28 PM >>> > >The following form was entered from the City of Modesto Website > > > >MAIL Submitted From: /Default.asp > >MAIL Submitted ON 10/30/2004 5:57:28 PM > > > >User Name: Richard Enderlein > >Message: Hello, > >I am a resident of Calaveras county and became aware that the other > >day > >the MPD destroyed a gamepiece in the worldwide game of geocacheing. I > >was > >wondering why? Also, from reading the online forums related to the > >game, > >the MPD is searching for the player who placed this geocache with the > >threat of criminal prosecution and or paying for the departments >time. > >Again, I must ask Why? What charges could be brought against somebody > >for > >partaking in a legal activity? There are geocaches in over 200 > >countries > >worldwide including countries like Iraq. Why are geocaches being > >destroyed > >by MPD when geocaches are surviving in war torn countries. > > > >I come to Modesto quite often for business, shopping, and recreation. > >If > >the loss of freedoms are to occur in your fair city, I am afraid I > >will > >take my money elsewhere and tell all my friends and associates to do > >the > >same. Please return my email and tell me that Modesto is not pursuing > >criminal or financial damages to an honest citizen playing a legal >and > >harmless game. > > > >Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. > > > >Sincerely > > > >Richard Enderlein (aka Wildlifeguy on the geocaching website, > >www.geocaching.com) > >renderlein@hotmail.com > >Reply: Yes > > > >Generated By: webmaster@modestogov.com > > > >_________________________________________________________________ >Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's >FREE! >hthttp://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ >

My email got returned!!!! And quickly too! Following is my response, their response to my first email and then my original which is posted above. Did this make any sense???? Thanks for listening (reading)!!! Hello, First let me thank you for your quick response to my inquiry. I appreciate it very much. The date of the incident was October 29, 2004 and occurred near a school. You are correct that it was reported by a non-geocacher as suspicious and the bomb squad was called out to investigate. Since the incident and since my previous email, I have had time to reflect on who did what and why. The placer of the cache definately had no malicious intent in placing the cache. I know, understand, and know it was right the actions taken by the MPD bomb squad. We as players of this family orientated game realize that sometimes our gamepieces get moved/destroyed/or found by nonplayers. This is part of the fun of the game. I guess we were all shocked when one was "muggled" (our term for being found/destroyed) to this extreme. My real concerns have to do with what the MPD is doing about the placer of this gamepiece. With the rumors that are flying around the website, we as players have a vested concern in what happens to our fellow players. The rumor is that MPD is looking for the placer with the intent of criminal prosecution or financial liability. If this is the case we as a community would like to know the particulars so we can help out our friend with legal and or finacial assistance. Of course knowing the placer and those who play this game, I know there was no malicious intent to hurt harm harrass or terrorize anybody with the placing or hunting of this gamepiece. Please tell me that MPD has discontinued looking for criminality or some form of finacial liability in this case. Thank you again for your time and involvement in this matter Sincerely, Richard Enderlein (aka Wildlifeguy on www.geocaching.com) renderlein@hotmail.com >From: "Gail Smith" <SmithGC@ModestoPD.com> >To: <renderlein@hotmail.com> >Subject: Re: Geocaching and the bomb squad >Date: Tue, 02 Nov 2004 09:02:45 -0800 > >I am not familiar with the case to which you are referring. When was >this supposed to have happened? I would assume, based strictly on what >I read at geocaching.com that the cache may have been suspicious >looking, found by a citizen perhaps and reported as a suspicous device? >In this day and age, we can't take any chances with anything that might >possibly be an explosive device. One of our server installers at >http://cvc-geocaching.artoo.net/archives/000006.html even mentions >his concern about someone finding a cache and reporting it to police as >a bomb or as a drug drop. > >If you can give me a date and location of the case, I can look it up >and let you know what happened. Until then, I am strictly speculating >on what has happened. > > > > > >>> <renderlein@hotmail.com> 10/30/2004 5:57:28 PM >>> >The following form was entered from the City of Modesto Website > >MAIL Submitted From: /Default.asp >MAIL Submitted ON 10/30/2004 5:57:28 PM > >User Name: Richard Enderlein >Message: Hello, >I am a resident of Calaveras county and became aware that the other >day >the MPD destroyed a gamepiece in the worldwide game of geocacheing. I >was >wondering why? Also, from reading the online forums related to the >game, >the MPD is searching for the player who placed this geocache with the >threat of criminal prosecution and or paying for the departments time. >Again, I must ask Why? What charges could be brought against somebody >for >partaking in a legal activity? There are geocaches in over 200 >countries >worldwide including countries like Iraq. Why are geocaches being >destroyed >by MPD when geocaches are surviving in war torn countries. > >I come to Modesto quite often for business, shopping, and recreation. >If >the loss of freedoms are to occur in your fair city, I am afraid I >will >take my money elsewhere and tell all my friends and associates to do >the >same. Please return my email and tell me that Modesto is not pursuing >criminal or financial damages to an honest citizen playing a legal and >harmless game. > >Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. > >Sincerely > >Richard Enderlein (aka Wildlifeguy on the geocaching website, >www.geocaching.com) >renderlein@hotmail.com >Reply: Yes > >Generated By: webmaster@modestogov.com >

Good luck Camel, I know it was said before but we will all be praying for you. FOr me that would be one big cloud hanging over my head and I would feel the need to act to get out from under it before it rains. But then again, you have talked to a lawyer and got some good advice, I have a hearing problem when it comes to good advice. Peace!

Wow! I wish I had that post when I sent my email to MPD. There were many things in there I would like to have incorporated. C'Est La vie! Very interesting that two incidents have occurred so close to each other in time though. To go for so long without an incident makes you wonder if TPTB have ramped up security precautions with the election so imminent??? Peace!

Besides knives (sharp ones too!) and the ocasional cookie and candy, I have found these annoying little toys with these dog tags on them. It says something about not be a regular trade Item and that I HAVE to move them along on a Mission?!?!?!?!?! Whats up with that???? Seriously besides the knives and the candy, which I still don't get, it would have to be the religious paraphanalia. Yeah yeah, jesus loves me....so does my mother, is that trading up?????? Peace!

I just googled Modesto Police Department and on their main page is a "Contact Us" button. I believe it was www.modestopolice.com. My wife suggested letters because we all know how emails can be blown off. Their address is 600 10th Street, Modesto, CA 95354 (209) 572-9500, also from the website. Also for those who wish some measure of annominity can use the snail mail. Remember Camel, we're here for you! Peace!

Sorry forman but that is probably not the best way to go about handling it. What happens next time. Here's what I have done, and would suggest the rest of us to do. I SENT AN EMAIL, here it is, to the MPD Hello, I am a resident of Calaveras county and became aware that the other day the MPD destroyed a gamepiece in the worldwide game of geocacheing. I was wondering why? Also, from reading the online forums related to the game, the MPD is searching for the player who placed this geocache with the threat of criminal prosecution and or paying for the departments time. Again, I must ask Why? What charges could be brought against somebody for partaking in a legal activity? There are geocaches in over 200 countries worldwide including countries like Iraq. Why are geocaches being destroyed by MPD when geocaches are surviving in war torn countries. I come to Modesto quite often for business, shopping, and recreation. If the loss of freedoms are to occur in your fair city, I am afraid I will take my money elsewhere and tell all my friends and associates to do the same. Please return my email and tell me that Modesto is not pursuing criminal or financial damages to an honest citizen playing a legal and harmless game. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Sincerely Richard Enderlein (aka Wildlifeguy on the geocaching website, www.geocaching.com) renderlein@hotmail.com

As I stated in the CVC thread, I will state here. This is just another victory for those who profit from our fear. We live in a society driven by fear. This fear causes loss of freedoms and will be the death of this sport. When everybody is deathly afraid of everybody else nobody is safe. Modesto, terrorist target, Yeah Right!!!!!! Yes there are some sickos in the world and we should be on the watch for them, but who has ever found a bomb in a tupperware container??? I think our culture of fear is only perpetuated by stories like these and is promoted by those who profit from it. By blowing up a geocache every once in a while the bomb squad shows us that there is a real threat out there and we need to fund them more to protect us from those dangerous McTrinkets. Now because of this, several long time geocachers have pulled ALL their caches and are going to quit the game. Is this living free??? Do some research and find out who profits by us being afraid. I for one refuse. Peace!

Ok, I went out today and got my 300th. I went to Turlock to get the letterbox hybrid there because I didn't have one of those. I get home and start to log my caches and find a good majority of those I got today were archived today. It is sad that in our fear driven world that we must quit a hobby we love because some yahoo wants to keep us afraid for their own profit and greed. I for one will not quit this game because of fear. I will check very closely as to where I place and look for caches for now on. Most of my caches are in cemeteries. Because some jerk stole the flags from a cemetery in Sac I should pull all my caches???? We know not to place them near schools, Police stations, bridges, RR tracks etc. We should not be upset when they (the government) remove them. Finally, I feel for you Camel and our hearts and prayers go out to you. My question is "What can they DO????" Where is the crime??? The only thing I might think they could charge you with is littering. Just because their paranoid, fearful minds thought the palstic Mc Trinkets were dangerous does not make it so! Innocent until proven guilty right??? It is not a matter of the terrorist winning, those in our own government who profit from war are the winners by keeping us afraid. This is just another victory for those who profit from that. By pulling your caches you let them win and we lose another of our freedoms. Peace!

Oh, Ya? How about those endangered Burrowing Owls that are nesting right next to the Tracy Mall. If you've never seen them, you may just pass right by without seeing them like hundreds of shoppers every day. Hey, How about a Geocache there!?! LOL. Just kidding. The reason it's my avatar. These are my favorite animals. I too went out and caught them as a youngster, I was fortunate enough to take herpetology in college to learn even more about them, now is the time of year to really get out and see them before they disappear for the season (EVER???). Like mountain lions, nobody really knows how many there are, but with lions they are studied. If it is not cute and cuddly nobody really cares, and who likes slimy salamanders??? I do! As for the owls Bill, they have state protection. I was on a project once where some nesting burrowing owls were in the way and they just dissappeared one day. They had only been nesting in the same spot for at least 20 years but the week after some construction workers wanted to get through the area the go missing, go figure. Remember nature bats last. The lesson is that......well another example, remember the woman who sat in the redwood in headwaters for a year so they wouldn't cut it down. They made promises she came down and then a month later some wise elbow went and girdled the tree. If it seems that I'm rather cynical it is because I am. Sorry but that is why I am in the middle of changing professions. Now to keep on topic, why not place a geocache near (notice not in) a burrowing owl nest colony. They are some pretty hearty birds, they are not as suseptible to disturbance as some other raptors, and I for one would love to go and watch them, one of only a few diurnal owls. Now if you want to watch something interesting, Harris Hawks of the desert southwest, they are the only polyandrus raptors in the world and they don't mind showing it. Mate for LIFE!!! HAH! Lets do it on a cactus!!! Is this getting to racy???? Ok under 18 ignore the previous post..... Well now ya'all got me started talking about animals and see where I let it go. Peace!

Well I am just waiting for approval of my newest cache to have reached my goals for 2004!!! I wanted to have 200 cache finds and 25 placed by the end of the year. So I overshot the finds (I'm currently at 299), I think the history buffs in the crowd will like the cache I placed today in the rain (bringing my totoal up to 25, with only 1 of them being archived). My newest is Bring Out Your Dead!!! I hope it gets approved quickly. It's at the site of an archived virtual near my home. Real interesting bit of history. Question: Why are there not so many letterbox hybrids around? Peace!

Well I hit 299 today with a FTF on Isolino's Altaville School House. Really weird! Iwas going to place one there in the exact same spot. Won't be able to get 300 until this weekend. The wife has allowed me Saturday to find a good one to get. Thank you all for the suggestions so far, I'm mulling them over and wish I had a few more to choose from to really make a wise and informed choice. Peace!

Yes, CVCers are pretty active. It might help that you really don't have to live in the valley between Merced and Galt. I live in the foothills, many folks on these boards and in the "group" live in Sac or the Bay area. Our numbers are kinda pumped up because we are the center of the state, and if anybody is going anywhere in the state they will usually have to pass through here. That makes these cachers seem active. There are other active areas in the state like the Bay area (BADGES) and Sac (RCGDS). And those are just the nearest other groups! There are active groups all over the country. When you get the chance, cruise the other parts of the board. I have ad cpnversations with people all across the country and the world involving this hobby. Mostly asking "WHere's my TB!!!?!?!?!" I wouldn't say we have more caches than other areas. I would say quite a few of them are more difficult than other areas. We do have a certain few here that ae quite devious. In some areas it is just the game to fool the muggles, here it seems that the players play to fool/stump other players. Realize this as you go to find some of the more difficult caches. DNF's are not neccessarily a bad thing. You are just in an area, probably the best area, for some very difficult caches. The good news is that after a DNF most cache owners in this area are more than happy to help. Oh and did I say WELCOME!!!!???? Peace!

I tried the Kernels but got no response either. They seem a little more active than the earnests. I'll have to keep on trying I guess. Thanks for all the help and if anybody has any more info, I sure would appreciate it. Peace!

I think we are going for some kind of record on this thing. Good caches in Ripon. Pheromone comes to mind eh Farmer Bill!!??? Peace!

I for one would be impressed if you made it this cache! Got it! DOes this mean you're impressed??? Thats a great cache and it looks like I was the one who stuck that TB into it for over the winter. Several people tried after me and looks like now it's gonna be there until the spring thaw. I guess that's what happens when TB's bad mouth my Spiders. Ha ha ha!!! Anybody else got some good sugestions for a 300th milestone? Marky? ANy in the Bay Derrier you would recommend? Maybe I'll shoot for that Webcam at the store in SJ this up coming weeked. Weird things or something like that........I'm at 298 and counting. Peace!

Sorry to have missed that night hike Bill. I was really looking forward to it then something urgent came up and I couldn't go Maybe next time. I'm still looking for a good cache to make my 300th. any suggestions? I went to the asphalt ending cache and the west begins thing. We went to eat, toured around the place, got home then realized it was a virt. We'll get that one yet. Lots of kitties and chickens for Bug to chase around. Now I have got alot of Stockton caches to get!!!! Peace!

Sad day today. Looks like I will be unable to attend. It's thursday and I don't think I'll get done what I need to to justify my presence. Sorry to back out, but thanks anyways. Peace!

California’s Great Central Valley has more than 500,000 acres of San Joaquin soils, named for the south end of that valley. This series is the oldest continuously recognized soil series within the State. It is one of California’s Benchmark Soils, and a profile of it is displayed in the Netherlands World Soil Museum. The San Joaquin series became the Official State Soil in 1997, the result of efforts by students and teachers from Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Madera, natural resource professionals, the Professional Soil Scientists Association of California, legislators, and various state universities. These soils are used for irrigated crops, such as wheat, rice, figs, almonds, oranges, and grapes, and for pasture and urban development. San Joaquin soils formed in old alluvium on hummocky topography. A cemented hardpan a few feet beneath the surface restricts roots and water percolation. Peace!

"The Earnests" live in junction city oregon and are in possession of several travel bugs that are basically stuck. Anybody know these people and can give them a jump start getting these bugs back out there. They have been in possession of mine ("Roo") for nearly 5 months now. They have not been on the site since june. They state on their profile page that their son in law got them into the sport. Is he out there? Any and all help in getting our bugs out of their hands and moving again would be helpful. Peace!