anavolena

I vote for ignoring them. You found a cache you didn't hide, totally legit to log it as a find. And you are contributing to the game by actively maintaining hides you feel are worthwhile to keep alive. Win for everybody.

I was just in the REI in Redmond today, and they seem to have the complete Geocaching.com store line up (sans clothing).

Were I in a similar situation, even if I did add a replacement log per the above advice, I'd still log a Needs Maintenance. Finding the cache in that state means I'd have no way to be sure I could replace it exactly as the CO intends. Which reminds me, I need to go check on the cache I adopted as the most recent log makes me think it must have recently migrated!

I would be especially happy to do it if it was horse accessible, as that's my preferred mode of transportation, but yes, I'm definitely in favor of caches, traditional, multi, or mystery, that get me out and about.

How do I know it's the CO? and not just "somebody else is out there"? I'd probably call out to ask who was there, hoping it's another cacher. If no response, I'd leave and log a DNF due to creepiness. And if I found out it was the CO who thought that was part of the game, well, I'd probably never reattempt and never do any other caches by that CO because I play this game for fun, and feeling like I'm being stalked is not in my definition of fun. Would probably turn me off night caches for good, or at least for a good long time, to boot.

What's your process for preparing for finding a cache? Do you read the cache page? Logs? Hints? Personally, I read the cache page for critical information to get me there (does it require bushwhacking? Should I not park in the residential neighborhood that's nearest to it?). I then like to try to find the cache before reading any logs. I use CacheBerry for paperless caching in addition to my GPSr, so if I'm having no joy, I look first at the last five logs for any clues. And only if that doesn't help, I check for hints. And if that doesn't help, I go to the web site to read any additional logs. This usually works well, although in some cases, not reading the logs has meant I've missed key information like "looks like a homeless person has set up camp nearby" and "BEES!" I'm conflicted, though, because I like the idea of finding caches based just on the cache page. What works best for you?

I've been looking for a place to drop off Out of Dusseldorf, just such a TB!

I would assume the home owner is a huge fan of the History Channel show "Mail Call," hosted by R. Lee Ermey. Which is a heck of a fun show.

I certainly just fell prey to that. Was out caching yesterday, heading up a popular local trail, saw that GCJDGZ was about a quarter mile away. Set the GOTO, start walking, and pull up the description on CacheBerry. Checked the logs as I was almost there to find several DNFs and no finds since May. Checked the CO's profile, saw they hadn't logged in since the DNFs started. Decided to give a looksee anyway. Found GZ, no ammo can. Checked the hint, which was pretty much a spoiler, and it put me right back where I was. Did what I thought was a thorough search 30 feet radius for everywhere an ammo can could be, no joy. Decided to post my very first Needs Archived. Continued caching for the day, even met Omega_1 at a nearby spot. Now, you know where this story is going... Not half an hour after posting my Needs Archived and adding to my DNF bookmark list, I get an email on it. Omega_1 had just found it, had even picked up a stranded TB! Turns out my search wasn't as thorough as I thought it was. LTBALTM.

Anavolena was how a friend wrote the name of the Peruvian horse he bought that he was very excited about. Turns out it the horse's registered name was really Ana Bolena (Spanish version of Ann Boleyn), but then again Spanish apparently isn't always picky about using b versus v. I started using the name as a login about that time on a couple sites I didn't want to use my real name, and I still like it.

Oh NO! I'm actually astonished my phone doesn't have more than the few corner dings it has. I drop it all the time. I've even dropped it from horseback. Twice. At a pretty fast gait, too!

Add me as another vote for CacheBerry on the BlackBerry. Works great with GPX files for loading lots of data, and can also be used with the BlackBerry browser to load caches one at a time. In the latest betas, there's pretty good support for adding waypoints, great for multis and mystery caches. Definitely worth the $15.

Sorry, was going by memory. If you are a premium member, then you should see in the "Download" section a button that says "GPX eXchange File". this is the best data source for CacheBerry. It can also import a LOC Waypoint file, which is available if you're not a premium member, you'll just get far less data.

You can get individual GPX files (just for the one cache) by using the browser on the phone to go to the cache page, and clicking the Upload GPX button; CacheBerry will be registered to process it. I do this a lot. If you have a media card in your phone, I think you can email yourself the zip file from a PQ, save it to the media card on the phone, and then import it into CacheBerry. Since I don't have a media card, I never do this, but check out the CacheBerry forums, people have discussed this. Otherwise, you pretty much need to have the USB cable.

I just answered this question in another thread, so to save time typing, here's the link: Version BB Geocaching ok so far so good but i dont get the cacheberry part, what is that and how do i get it? It's an application for storing geocache information on your BlackBerry. The free trial is 30 days, which I found to be plenty of time to decide it was worth the $14.95 he's charging for it. CacheBerry Web Site For my Curve 8330, and using Windows, I find the easiest way to get GPX files in is to use the USB cable and the CacheBerry desktop application (also downloadable from that site) to upload directly to the BB. Check out the CacheBerry forums, there's a few short tutorial pages on the various ways to upload caches to the application.

I just answered this question in another thread, so to save time typing, here's the link: Version BB Geocaching

Actually, in one of the latest OS updates (you'll have to search the forums or crackberry forums to verify exactly which revision), Verizon enabled Location GPS for BlackBerry Maps (only -- doesn't work with Google Maps, AFAIK). To find out if you have it, go to Options, Advanced Options, GPS, GPS Services -- if you click on that, and you see '911 only' and 'Location On', select Location On, and you can access GPS via BlackBerry Maps. What I do to cache with my phone is use CacheBerry to load up GPX files, then on the cache I want to find, select "BlackBerry Maps..." from the menu, then it shows the cache on the BB Map. Then select "Start GPS Navigation" from the BB Maps menu, and you should be good to cache with just your BB. Warning -- it will drain your battery fast! I always turn it back to 911 Only when I'm not caching. Have fun!

I first signed up at geocaching.com ages ago, when I wanted to learn about the sport, and to research GPS units. My boyfriend finally gave me a GPS as a gift this spring (he called it an act of mercy when he realized just how easily I can get lost) for trail riding in the mountains. Naturally I turned to geocaching as a way to learn how to use it before actually relying on it in the mountains. And now I'm just a teeny tiny bit addicted to geocaching. Really. Not much. Haven't been able to get the boyfriend interested, so the joke now is, "I'm going to go verify some coordinates are still there..." Nice to see you all here.

You can transfer your CacheBerry to any other BlackBerry, but not to the iPhone, since the iPhone isn't a BlackBerry!

I've been using CacheBerry on my BlackBerry Curve 8330 with my Magellan SporTrak Color GPSr to have paperless caching while not running my BB batteries down too fast. Can't believe how fast having Location GPS on drains the BB! I turn it on only for cacheing, but still... I did use the BB alone when I was on a trip in New Orleans and didn't want to take the GPSr with me. Most of the caches I did there were virtual, but had decent success on finding some micros in the French Quarter. I'd have found more but it was just always too hot for me when I had time to search. I've been experimenting with comparing the BB (using BB Maps, as I'm on Verizon so it's my only GPS enabled option) and the Magellan next to each other. Sometimes the BB has better signal, sometimes the Magellan does, so it's nice to have both options.

Awww, geez, here I thought I was bein' all cool 'n' stuff usin' all the acronyms, showin' how I read all the background information before I started cachin'. Now I have to worry I've offended all the Cache Owners out there instead!