WindChill
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Posts posted by WindChill
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Looks good, here are a couple of minor wording suggestions on the examples:
"could be found by children or even prisoner work release"
could be found by people such as children or prison work crews
" might be a target for terrorist."
might be considered a target for terrorist
edit: or....might be considered a terrorist target
"and is in as good of shape or better for the next finder as you found it."
and is in as good a condition, or better, for the next finder as it was for you
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I just tried adding "width=320 height=200" to the html that they provide and it works just fine. Play with the numbers to get them the way you like it.
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And if you really want more info about the Central IA group, pop down to Ankeny on Tuesday evening for their "Pizza n Meet".
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...52-5c1bb216af94
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Seems to me this has been suggested before. The problem, as I recall, is that the email is sent right away when the log is submitted. At that point, the pictures havnt been added yet. And in some cases the pictures wont be added for several days/weeks.
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Sounds like a good trip. Im glad we could help.
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Hi Hermit Crabs, welcome to our playground.
Here is a link to the Waterloo page on the Eastern Iowa Geocachers Assoc. website. It lists a couple of recommended caches and the name of a local cacher that can answer specific questions.
In addition, the EIGA has recently been contacted by the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau about working together. They recogonize that geocaching is a growing "tourist" activity and have offered coupons and such good at area businesses. Drop them a note and let them know you are a geocacher and will be staying in the area for a few days. Let us know what they will do for you.
On specific caches, if you are up for a good puzzle, I highly recommend Unusualoo (bring a good calculator). Most caches by Iowa Tom are micros but will have an interesting story or some local history associated with them. There are a couple of caches in Hickory Hills park, a very nice county park about 10-15 miles south of town.
If you have time for a daytrip, and especially if you'll have kids along, go east about 30 miles to the trout hatchery near Manchester (Beaglebox cache) or to Backbone State Park (Maltese Goldfinch cache).
Good Hunting...
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So it looks like there is no explicit policy about geocaches on Iowa State Park property. TeamBucky is thinking about just this type of placement this weekend. Perhaps we'll just wait and see...
Huh? The geocachingpolicy.com link takes you to the section that says
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released a draft of their Geocaching Policy to Great Plains Geocaching. This policy is being implemented by DNR on an interim basis.
The policy is quite reasonable (especially compared to many that we have heard about). Please check it out, and contact the park manager before placing the cache. In eastern Iowa at least, we have a good relationship with the parks (the EIGA is holding a big event at one of them in a couple of weeks), lets all work to keep it that way.
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Also, if you're a hopeless geekburger, you can go out in a big field and try to draw pictures with it.
Evidently there are bigger GPS geeks than us. Check out these: http://www.gpsdrawing.com/gallery.htm
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I'm curious, exactly how do you refresh your caches so quickly?
By becoming a premium member and setting up a pocket query for the area and cache types you are interested in. The results of this search are emailed to you on the day(s) that you choose.
One thing that may slow me down is that prior to uploading to my gps, I rename all my waypoints to the more familiar cache names . I do this with EasyGPS, and it helps me remember any particular details to assist in finding the caches.
Ouch, that's slow! There are tools (see www.geocaching.com/links) that will do this for you automatically. Just feed them the pocket query.
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I spent part of my cache day today looking for a cache without any luck. Another cacher found it with the lid off and the log missing, they then place it in another location, two big problems with this practice
I fully agree that people should pay attention to where the cache was and return it to the same spot. This is why our rule is "the person who gets it out of the spot, also puts it back".
However....What you describe sounds more like a case of the cache being muggled and the next cacher "taking a guess" as to where it was supposed to be hidden. I have had one case just like this. I didnt know where it was supposed to be so I hid it in a rating-appropriate place near the coords and emailed the owner with pictures and an explanation.
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And, what would get generated in the PQ? Presumably nothing, so the paperless cacher has none of the clues.
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One other suggestion: to make switching the cables easier buy a serial extention cable. That's plugged into the back of the machine, the other end is anywhere convienent. No moving machine, bending, pulling and such.
Exactly what I do Jester.
And just as a note, you dont have to actually exit HotSync. If you right-click the tray app and _uncheck_ the "local serial" connection option it will release the port. Though the "Available only when Palm Desktop is Running" setting is fine if you use Palm Desktop, it doesnt help if you sync with Outlook.
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We just got back from two weeks in the front range then up through the black hills and badlands. We did several caches along the way, and took Tahosa up on his offer to show us around a bit (well worth it). You can check my profile to see the caches we did.
Here are links to the threads where I asked basically the same question about a month ago: This forum, and the C.A.C.H.E forums.
One warning, since it was mentioned here; the Elk Poop cache along Estes Lake has gone missing and been archived. The walk along the lake is still worth while though.
For non-caches, of course Trail Ridge Road (if it is open) is an amazing drive, and Hwy 34 from Estes to Loveland is also incredible.
We didnt do any caches on the way out so cant help with western Iowa or Nebraska. Around eastern Iowa (home), "Cache as Cache Can" is a quick find just off of I-80 in Iowa City. "Gobble Cache" (in F.W. Kent park a little west of Iowa City) is a little bit farther from the highway but a neat park.
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Hey....I just noticed that there are no map links on the page for these guys. That's no fun!
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Thanks for all of the suggestions. Ive added them to our list.
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I posted this in the forums over at the C.A.C.H.E. site, but they dont seem to get much activity, so Ill copy it here also:
The WindChill family will be in Colorado in a week or so on vacation, and Im looking for recommendations on some "must see" caches. We'll be staying in Denver but wandering around the whole area from Colorado Springs to Ft Collins (and eventually north to the Black Hills).
We prefer traditionals over virtuals or micros, but any cache that lets us really experience the area will be great. Oh Yah, we are "flatlanders" so not too big of a hike please
We will be in the area for several days, so other suggestions are also welcome. We have a pretty good list of the tourist places, but lesser-known attractions or resturants would be appreciated.
Thanks for your help.
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I got a chuckle from this log for an event being held on April 25:
April 27 by xxxx (1 found)Hi. I went to [the resturant] on April 23rd and found the [the resturant] with my GPS. I had a coke and asked the wait staff if the cache event was still scheduled for Sunday. Sorry that I couldn't come on Sunday--sounds like it was great fun.
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I CAN'T FIND A LINK TO THE EFFIN CAT VERSION. ITSA SHOCKER!!!
Here you go...It definately is a shocker.
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Actually there is a way to get the fun of being able to move the cache without a lot of the other headaches. Simply make it a two-stage multi.
The first stage is at a fixed location and has its own logbook. The second stage gets to move and its new coordinates get recorded in the first-stage logbook.
See this cache.
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If you ordered a new 60cs GPS off of the internet and they took your money and said they are busy and we can't get your GPS to you until 6 months from now, but if you spend an extra $100 we will send it to you right away, would you?
Happens all the time:
"Thanks for your order.
If you choose FREE shipping so you will receive your item in 7-10 days.
If you choose Premium shipping for an additional $10 you will receive your item in 2-3 days.
If you choose Premier shipping for an extra $20 you will receive your item tomorrow."
If you dont pay extra, you'll still get your item. If having your item sooner is of value to you, that option is available.
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I started this as seperate thread, but it makes sense to keep things together (to simplify our lives next year
Here is what I learned from the Eastern Iowa Geocachers Association events:
- More may be better. We had three seperate events that were spread around our area. Each was very well attended, IMO, because people didnt have to drive as far. An added benefit is that we helped three parks instead of one and we got media coverage on three events instead of one.
- Find a park that will work with you. When we started planning an event it was to be along a rails-to-trails trail. The trail organization was thrilled that we wanted to clean it up, but they had no money to provide bags or to haul away the trash. We were unable to find a sponsor so we found another location instead (actually this is when we split to three locations). The new locations all provided bags and removal, one even provided some items for door prizes.
- "Officially" contact the media. Of our three events, each organized by a different member, two had media coverage. One organizer sent out a press release and had a local TV crew and reporters from two local newspapers. One member contacted "an uncle" at the newspaper. Though the uncle did show up and take photos, he had thought it was the following weekend and had to be called to remind him. I wonder if an "official" contact such as a press release would have made a difference.
- Just do it, If you build it they will come and expect the unexpected. Enough cliches? What I mean is, dont worry about finding out if there is "enough" interest, just post the event. People will show up. And dont try to judge how good the turn out will be from the number of "I plan to come" logs. Again, people will show up.
- Be careful not to overestimate how much area can be covered. When I looked at the area we had planned to cover, it seemed small. By the time we got to the end, we were all ready to be done.
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MissJenn suggested that this be combined with the existing CITO Event tips from '03 event organizers that is pinned here.
So....This one is closed.
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There was a posting on another board, asking people to share their lessons learned from last weekend. So, while they are still fresh on everyone's mind.....Here is what I learned from the EIGA events:
- More may be better. We had three seperate events that were spread around our area. Each was very well attended, IMO, because people didnt have to drive as far. An added benefit is that we helped three parks instead of one and we got media coverage on three events instead of one.
- Find a park that will work with you. When we started planning an event it was to be along a rails-to-trails trail. The trail organization was thrilled that we wanted to clean it up, but they had no money to provide bags or to haul away the trash. We were unable to find a sponsor so we found another location instead (actually this is when we split to three locations). The new locations all provided bags and removal, one even provided some items for door prizes.
- "Officially" contact the media. Of our three events, each organized by a different member, two had media coverage. One organizer sent out a press release and had a local TV crew and reporters from two local newspapers. One member contacted "an uncle" at the newspaper. Though the uncle did show up and take photos, he had thought it was the following weekend and had to be called to remind him. I wonder if an "official" contact such as a press release would have made a difference.
- Just do it, If you build it they will come and expect the unexpected. Enough cliches? What I mean is, dont worry about finding out if there is "enough" interest, just post the event. People will show up. And dont try to judge how good the turn out will be from the number of "I plan to come" logs. Again, people will show up.
- Be careful not to overestimate how much area can be covered. When I looked at the area we had planned to cover, it seemed small. By the time we got to the end, we were all ready to be done.
April 27 by xxxx (1 found)
Tips, Tricks, And Timesavers
in General geocaching topics
Posted
Instead of "banding" my recharables, I us a permenant marker to "letter" each pair. I always use them in lettered pairs and always recharge them in lettered pairs.
Somewhere, probably here, I saw a suggestion that a film can will hold three AAs. This serves the same purpose as the tape that OP suggested, without the goo problem. + end up for charged, and down for needs charged.
For years I have used self-sticking velcro to make "straps" by sticking the two pieces back-to-back. When you wrap the strap around a cord or something, it will stick to itself where it overlaps. When I started geocaching I wanted a way hold the GPS up on my shoulder, so I wrapped one of these straps around the strap of my pack, near the top. A piece of velcro on the back of the GPS and it stays out of the way and with good reception. I put a keyring on the velcro strap and a small carabiner on the GPS lanyard to secure it. The lanyard is long enough to use the GPS without uncliping it.
You know those CITO film cans that you have a bunch of....throw a couple in the glove box, your purse or brief case. They dont take much room and you never know when a plastic bag will come in handy. I always have a couple in my carry-on bag in case the motel doesnt have a laundry bag.
Also, I use the ever-present Walmart/grocery store bags instead of actual trash bags. Our recycling place wont take them so they were going to be in the trash, and we usually dont fill a kitchen garbage bag anyhow.
Not really caching related, but when I travel I hate to have a pocket full of change. I used to just toss it in my brief case, or carry-on bag but now I put it in an empty film can.