RichardMoore

Uh, yeah. Okay. Nurse, please keep Radman away from the computer until he's had his medication. Thank you. RichardMoore When in danger, or in doubt, Run in circles, scream and shout. Robert Heinlein

The problem with this type of rating is that it's based on the finder's opinion of what makes a good cache. Say one cacher likes rough terrain and difficult finds and rates the cache high. Another cacher wants a easy walk and find, and rates it low. One cacher likes longer hikes, one likes quick finds. One likes virtuals of historic value, one likes virtuals of natural areas. I'm not saying that any of these views are right or wrong, just that they are different opinions. How do you put numbers on this? If you want to know what other cachers think about a cache, read the logs. You'll get more information that way so you can decide whether or not to go for it. RichardMoore An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. Henry David Thoreau

None of the products listed are delivered in tanker trucks. How much would gasoline cost if it was sold in 12 ounce bottles? RichardMoore I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. Fred Allen

Please provide a list of the profiles with Geo-babes. RichardMoore When in danger, or in doubt, Run in circles, scream and shout. Robert Heinlein

I've only placed one cache so far. It is near a pond in a little-known part of the Cleveland Metroparks. The first person to find it said that they have lived in the area for 30 years and didn't know that the pond was there. Another finder could remember swimming in the pond when he was younger and the pond was private property. I enjoy reading logs like that for my cache. It means that I did something good for other people. RichardMoore Today's date would be easier to remember if they didn't change it every day.

Why do I geocache? The challenge of the hunt. The fun of seeing what is in the cache and what others have written in the log. The fresh air and exercise. The sight a hawk soaring overhead, squirrel playing on a tree, an icy waterfall or a spring flower. The pleasure of reading the logs on caches that you've placed. Such as,'I've lived in this area for 30 years and never knew this park was here, thank you'. Going places and seeing things that I wouldn't have if it weren't for geocaching. The people you meet, both in person and on-line. I've been geocaching for a year now, and I've enjoyed every bit of it. RichardMoore When in danger, or in doubt, Run in circles, scream and shout. Robert Heinlein

But I don't have a camera! Is there another way that I can prove I was there? Or would be if I was in the area? Or would this be a '5' cache, special equipment needed? RichardMoore Today's date would be easier to remember if they didn't change it every day.

Where will you be going? How far from civilization? What kind of terrain? What kind of weather? Most of the caches that I go to (in northeast Ohio) are close enough to people that I don't carry anything but my GPS, a pen and notebook, a printout of the cache, and trade goods. At some point in the near future I will be getting a cell phone, just in case of emergency. If the cache is in the woods I wear hiking boots. If it's a virtual in the city, or the weather has been good and I know the trail, I wear sneakers. I am usually not that far from my van, which has a first aid kit, rain gear, heavy clothing, water, snacks, etc. If it looks like it will rain, I'll take the rain gear with me. I won't suffer from lack of food or water in the short time that I am away from the van so I don't carry that with me. Everyone will have a differant opinion about what to take. Listen to them all and then figure out what would be best for you. RichardMoore When in danger, or in doubt, Run in circles, scream and shout. Robert Heinlein

Just so you know where I stand on 'virtual caches', I prefer traditional, but will not hesitate to get a virtual. There aren't that many caches around here that I can be picky. But I have two questions: Could it have been denied because of the 'something terrible happened' description? After all this is a family hobby, how would small children react? Why was Gloom's 'dead employee in a parking lot' cache approved? It seems that this doesn't meet the requirements for a virtual. RichardMoore Today's date would be easier to remember if they didn't change it every day.

I had a similar problem when I first got my Magellan. The owner's manual is on a disc and I was, and some say still am, computer illiterate. I called 1-800-669-4477 and the very nice people at Magellan talked me through the procedure and sent me a printed copy of the owner's manual. I received it in just 2 or 3 days. Other numbers for Magellan: 1-909-394-5000 Fax 1-909-394-7050 www.magellangps.com RichardMoore Today's date would be easier to remember if they didn't change it every day.

Wait a minute. Jeremy doesn't know? Could it be that the website has developed a mind of it's own, and a sense of humor, and is doing this just to make us crazy wondering why? Does anyone remember 'Colossus: The Forbin Project'? RichardMoore

How often do you check your e-mail? I check mine twice a day (at least) and, as long as I'm on the net, go to geocaching.com, submit my zip code, and check the first three pages for the little 'new' flag (if it's not on the first three pages, it's too far away to get right away). It just takes a couple minutes. There are 3 or 4 sites that I check this way, depending on if the lottery was drawn that day. Total time: 5 or 10 minutes. Okay, I know, I may be turning into a compulsive internet surfer and e-mail addict, and a lot of people are content checking e-mails every 3 or 4 days, but if you want to get 'first-finds' you have to do some homework. In all fairness, I should inform you that all of my 'first-finds' were gotten since I was laid off. So all you need is determination, planning, and lack of employment. RichardMoore

1&2) I found out about geocaching through the Cleveland Metroparks. The naturalist who runs the program was telling us about it on a nature hike that I was on. At that time they were just setting up their program. The caches that the park system has placed have written instructions for people who don't have a GPS, so I started off with those. Then my sister got me a GPS for my birthday and I've become unstoppable. 3) Probably average once a week. I've been unemployed for the last few months and have been going out much more often. Unfortunately, I've been to all the caches close by, so now I have to wait for new caches to be placed. 4) I've been geocaching since March, 2002, but I only registered on geocaching.com in December, 2002. 5) a) My GPS was a birthday gift. I've placed one cache. I am a packrat, so I already had everything that I needed for it. c) Like most people, right now my biggest expense is gas. As I have to go farther out the expense gets higher. Lately my geocaching trips have been carefully planned to maximize my cache/gallon. The only other expense is batteries. LIke I said, I'm a packrat, I have lots of 'trade goods' around here.

I don't know how the rest of the country was, but in Northern Ohio it was in the upper 60's and sunny. Everyone was out enjoying the break from snow and cold. It's not surprising that the site was overloaded. I was expecting it to be, although I was surprised to find 43 notifications from my watch list this morning. Normally I have 3 or 4. Does it need more bandwidth? The way the sport is growing, yes, eventually. But for now it seems to be fine. If it becomes a problem every weekend it might get aggravating, but, hey, the site doesn't cost me anything, who am I to complain?

I just saw the movie 'Agent Cody Banks'. In one scene they had a personal size helicopter with the name 'Solotrek' on the side. I did an internet search and discovered that a company is actually developing it. That is the future of geocaching. Just fly out to the coordinates, and land in any opening in the forest. No bushwacking, no mud, no snow. No fun. I think I'll stick to the old-fashioned way. If you can apply old-fashioned to a hand-held unit that communicates with satellites, after you downloaded the information from a computer network. Why when I was your age we had coal-fired GPSs, and our computers were hooked up to waterwheels for power.

How can you not have a good day geocaching? You didn't break any bones and you're not in jail. I don't understand the problem.

If there are plans to change the site, can it be made to accept a letter in addition to the number of a travel bug? For example: C for copy, if the bug disappears and you send out another; R for resend, renew, or refresh, if your bug completes its goal and you give it a new one. That way noone loses their find and the bugs' owner has an easier way of keeping track of re-used tags.

I agree with SilverRubicon. It depends on where you are and the time of year. It also depends on: 1) Are you alone or with a group? A group can search an area faster than one person, and it doesn't take much longer for several people to sign the log book than one person. There is a net gain in time. 2) Are they virtuals or traditionals? Most virtuals that I have done have been a lot faster than the traditionals. 3) What about multi-caches? Should a three stage multi count as three finds? Probably not. But if you're just going for numbers a multi-cache would slow you down. My best day so far was 12 finds during an all-day Cache Caravan with the Northeast Ohio Geocachers. There were 9 to 13 cachers in the group on a cold February day in Ohio. Could I have done this on my own? Yes. Would I have enjoyed it as much? Definitely not. I spent the day in good company having a great time. It's not the numbers as much as what you're doing to get them. I'm out there to enjoy myself and find new places. Sometimes the pleasure comes from the journey, sometimes from the find, sometimes from seeing a hawk or an icy waterfall, and, admittedly, sometimes from seeing how fast and how far I can push myself. It depends on the mood I'm in. I guess right now I'm in the mood to ramble on. Sorry about that, but I'm going to past this as written.

Like Rusty O Junk, I developed a flyer. The people that I talked to out in the field seemed interested, but I knew that they wouldn't remember the website. I thought that someone should come up with a handout, then realized that I was someone. You can read the text of the brochure at: www.geocities.com/richardsrunaway , then click on Geocaching With Jeeps. It's not the best, but it will get better as I learn more.

My vote is 'good'. The park system is trying to work with geocachers instead of having a total ban on caches in the park. This may lead to other caches being allowed, or it may not. I still consider it to be a victory for geocaching. As for CoronaKid's four points, they are true for caches that have been placed by individuals. We've all seen caches that were poorly located, not maintained, or otherwise not the best experience out there. Notice that I didn't say it was a bad experience. I'm one of those who believe that any cache is better than no cache. In some parts of the country the caches are so close together that you can find a dozen within a mile or so. Not so around here. I'll take any cache I can get. It comes down to: Seeing is believing, so come to northeast Ohio and check it out! RichardMoore