Matt1344

Got curious so I wasted a little time checking the early coins' status. I discovered that of the first 151 USA coins (numbers 10000 through 10150), there are 44 that have not been activated. A few more have been activated but never released. Incidently, the very first USA coin (no. 10,000) just started traveling this year.

are you sure? they look like the USA coins that were made that could be tracked on another site, but not on Groundspeak. made by the same folks that made the canadian coins. i sure wish i had kept a couple of those! i could be wrong ... FWIW, they say Groundspeak on them.

Are you suggesting that the first USA geocoin was numbered 10,000? If so, that means the three I just listed on eBay were among the first 200 . . . wow! Now that I think about it, I do recall jumping in early to get coins. Are these worth anything to anyone or just a curiosity?

I want to check something. I just listed three unactivated 2003 USA geocoins on ebay and I say in the description that you can still activate them. Is this correct? I wouldn't want to steer anyone wrong. BTW, the numbers on these coins are under 10250. ETA: my ebay auction

I buy foreign coins by the pound on Ebay and sprinkle those in caches. These are really cheap. I've been able to buy 5 pound lots of unsorted, mixed coins for about $25 (watch the shipping charges, though).They seem to be real popular. I see a lot of folks grabbing them. By the way, I NEVER leave U.S. money -- how tacky! Along the same lines whenever a friend goes to Europe I ask them to pick up some $1 Euro coins for me. These are real attractive with a bi-metal construction. They're currently worth about $1.25 each so I only leave these one at a time. They get snatched up right away, according to the logs. I also occasionally leave scratch off lottery tickets. I don't play them myself but some folks seem to like them. I keep waiting for somebody to win big bucks off of one of these tickets but it hasn't happened yet (that ought to tell you something). Still, it would be cool if it ever happens. Another item that I've started leaving that people seem to like are the little CD openers. This is a little plastic deal with a blade inside that will cut the wrapper on a music CD. I found some place selling them for about a buck a piece and bought a bunch of them. Do a google search for "EZ CD". Some places get big bucks for these ($4 or so) but you can find them a lot cheaper if you look hard and you're willing to have the name of some music store on them. I also like lapel pins. Geocaching.com pins are popular. I live near the Katy Trail, a big rails to trail project, and often leave Katy Trail pins in caches along the trail (there's lots of them). Also, for the Lewis and Clark theme that's big in these parts about now I leave Lewis and Clark lapel pins or a reproduction of their friendship coin in caches near places they would have visited. I must admit that people don't seem to respond to these as well as they do some other stuff. Other items I carry and trade or put in caches include fishing lures (Rooster Tails are great lures and cost just a bit more than a dollar), polished rocks (you can get them in almost any tourist trap) and Geocaching buttons from honeychile. I also carry Mardi Gras doubloons (the fakey coins they throw at Mardi Gras. I bought a boatload of these thinking kids would like them but apparently they don't. They tend to stick around a long time and people rarely post that they took them. Still they're a good thing to have on hand to leave in sort of lame caches. Finally, I always carry a few extra baggies, pens and blank log books with me. You never know when you're going to need to spruce up somebody's cache for them.

Matt1344 = Matthew 13:44: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." The scripture has to do with recognizing truths in another person's mind and letting go of some old ideas. But it seemed to fit the geocaching theme pretty well too . . .

Just make sure the cache description gives a good explanation of what's involved. Also make sure there is an explanation attached to the travel bug. Personally, I wouldn't bother with it. I don't want to have to go home and listen to a CD full of "some punk kid's music choices" in order to find a cache. I'm being sarcastic with the punk kid comment but that's what a lot of older cachers and families are going to think. Personally, I think you're limiting your field too much.

quote: this seems like common sense but how many people carry a magnesium fire starter but have never tried using it? I think you're taking this game MUCH too seriously . . .

My son is finishing up the Missouri Scholars Academy that day so I'll be in Columbia but I'm not sure I can get away from family functions -- or not sure I would want to, having not seen him for three weeks at that point. I'll try to make it if I can, though.

quote: For places that already have a number of caches out like, say, Columbia Parks, it could really rub them the wrong way if a caching group were to approach them and say, "hey, we'd like to get official permission for geocaches, and by the way we've already gone and hidden a number of them without any permission." Now granted, it's a trap we've created ourselves by failing to get permission in the first place. But it could lead to some cheesed-off cachers if the organization inadvertently ends up getting some caches archived that wouldn't have been otherwise. (Even though again, it would be their fault for not getting permission.) I've blown two cacher's covers while seeking permission or asking about a policy. When I approached Jeff City parks I had to reveal that there was already a cache in one of their parks -- specifically Thunder's Keychain Exchange. This actually worked in my favor as they were fascinated with and encouraged by the logs. It really helped them understand the allure and attraction of the game. On the other hand when I approached the manager at the Runge Nature Center about placing a cache there she checked out the GC web site and found the micro that Jim Geocacher placed there. I flat out got him busted. When she said she might pull the unauthorized cache and work with me I backed off and suggested she contact Jim, which she did. I believe they've worked everything out. And yes, I did apologize to Jim. He seemed to be cool with the whole thing.

quote: I'm guessing that Matt1344 did the same for his cache in MTNF. So, we already have a relationship going with them. (and they've been great to work with, too!) Actually, the Nevin's Homestead Cache and the Mel's Bench Cache (Katy Trail) were the two caches I've placed that I did not get permission for. I should have, I know, but I was operating under some assumptions that may not have been correct. I feel really bad about it too . . . But, that being said, I think the Columbia Area Cache Hunting Enthusiasts group (or some other name that spells out CACHE) is a dandy idea. In fact, I believe it already started informally with A-Pineapple and Spongy Mesophyll's picnics. It's just a matter of formalizing it. As to what we/it should do I'd say: *group caching hunts *picnics and other social activities *resource for beginning cachers *organize CITO events (how about the hill above the King Key Cache?) *assist with cache maintenance when needed *limited point source for interaction with officials (i.e. if they need someone to speak to a meeting or if they want someone who will bear the responsibility of sharing the word of some policy change to the geocaching community). As others have pointed out, I worked with the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Department to develop a geocaching policy. I did that as an individual so it's not necessary to interact with officials as a representative of a group. I can't say it would have helped to be associated with a group because they were quite open and receptive to geocaching. More contentious officials might respond better to a formal organization. So, in that sense I think the group could serve some political purpose. Anyway, I say "go for it." I, for one, lend my endorsement to A-Pineapple, Spongy and whoever to take this ball and run with it. Take ownership of it. If some don't like the results they don't have to join.

Some things are just worth supporting. Geocaching is one of them. I don't use the premimum features much but I'm happy to pay. It's a small price to pay for all the enjoyment this game has provided.

In the past few weeks I've had two light outbreaks of poison ivy on my face -- not to mention my hands and feet. Last night I pulled a tick out of the back of my knee. I brushed off countless of the little bloodsuckers in the past few weeks. With the high humidity season coming on I believe my season of doing deep woods caches is about over until fall. I think for the next few months it's time for the 1/1 urban caches. Maybe I'll catch up on some of those virtuals I've been avoiding . . .

I've been leaving USA geocoins. All of mine have been activated but I state that it's up to the finder whether they want to keep it or let it go. Most keep them moving. Perhaps I should follow the advice posted here of placing UNactivated coins in there.

quote: posted May 16, 2003 02:14 PM I wonder what David Letterman leaves in caches. Free front-row tickets to his show? Backstage passes? Copies of Paul's music? Of course, he wouldn't be able to sign the log on a visit if he left something, if he did that, they could figure out what his caching name is....but how cool would it be to find something like that? Hmmmmm..... OK, maybe I'm just dense and missing out on the joke but I don't think anyone has said that Dave caches. At least it was not Dave wearing the CITO t-shirt Thursday night . . .

Lately, a two-week bout of poison ivy . . .

quote: ToniteLetter #1 I saw it! The "cache in, trash out" shirt — OK, what's the deal? Is that guy one of us?

quote: i was in a movie once...one crazy summer- Great movie! The Bobcat Gothwait/Godzilla scene is priceless!

I have a Garmin Etrex Vista which I use with my Macs. Yes, I used a PC at work to load the Garmin maps into the Vista but I use the Macs to transfer waypoints from geocaching.com. All you need is the Mac GPS software and a serial to USB adapter. It's no problem at all.

As long as a bunch of people in your area aren't leaving them, geocaching buttons are great! You can even get personalized ones as a signature item. They're pretty cheap, too . . .

I, too, carry a logbook with me and use it to record not only all the details of the caches I place but also my tooks and lefts and my impressions of the caches I find -- nothing too detailed, just things I want to remember to mention. These logbooks (I'm on my second) create a fascinating record of my caching experience. On the TNLN topic: Trading is part of the game, folks. And while I rarely take anything I almost always leave something. I consider a few foreign coins, a geocaching button or some other inexpensive trinket as a pretty cheap price to pay for what, so far, has proven to be mighty fine entertainment. Also, I know what it's like to open a cache expecting to find something cool and interesting and be disappointed by a bunch of junk. If I can do my part to reduce the chance the next guy will have the same experience I'm happy to do it. I confess I don't appreciate those cachers who have adopted a TNLN habit as some sort of badge of their vast geocaching experience. It seems like they're saying "I'm above that now." I don't think they're doing anything to pay back to the game. I consider that a shame . . .

quote: would like some tips about both using the GPS unit and searching the area when I am "there" Generally you're not looking for a cache. You're looking for a disturbance — something that looks man made, or somehow "not right" -- the unnatural pile of rocks, the suspicious cluster of brush or limbs, the shiny new galvanized bolt on the weathered 50-year-old telegraph pole (a micro I found once). Trust your instincts. Look for places that YOU would hide something.

My local parks department recently adopted a geocaching policy. Here's it is: Jefferson City, Mo. geocaching policy You'll notice that this policy requires no formal approval to place caches. Rather, it establishes some basic guidelines and assumes cachers will follow them. This approach puts the burden on cachers and reduces paperwork and hassle for parks staff. The policy was drafted from the approach that it is better to start liberal and see how it goes. Strict enforcement can come later if problems arise. I thought this was a totally cool attitude! I would suggest you begin by offering something like this to your parks department rather than trying to set up some cumbersome approval process.

I use an etrex Vista with my Macs. I use the MacGPS Pro software to convert the loc files to waypoints and transfer them to the Mac. That's all I do with the software though I understand it is capable of a whole lot more. Seems like I read there used to be a shareware version of MacGPS. That might be a better approach if all you want to do is move waypoints. And yes, you do need a serial to USB adapter. How come these GPS receivers are not firewire (or at least USB) ready? BTW, I used a PC to load my Garmin maps on the Vista. You can do it with VirtualPC but it was easier to just use a PC at work.

quote: Hmm.. I like that plan. Now if I could only get my mom, dad, wife, etc. to agree with me. My wife's in on it. I can't say that anyone else really understands or appreciates our point of view but they've gotten used to it . . . quote: in my family we really like presents. we like 'em for mother's day, for halloween, for groundhog day, or tuesday for that matter. I like your Tuesday idea. I can justify that a little easier than buying cards or flowers on a certain day because Hallmark and the florist industry says I "have" to. But regarding birthdays, etc. I've come to find it extremely strange that grown people with their own income convince themselves that they need to wait for a certain day on the calender to buy something they need or want. If you need a dishwasher then buy the thing. Don't say you're giving it to each other for Christmas! You want that new GPSr? Buy it. You're not fooling anyone but yourself when you say you've bought YOURSELF a birthday present. Besides, celebrating birthdays is just a tad childish, isn't it? Sorry, I'm ranting now. I'll shut up . . .