Travel Bugs On Television Show "lost"

[Cachekingers]

I've been following a thread on SurvivorSucks.com, under "Other shows that suck" "Lost season- 2" on page #298 there is a posted photo supposedly from a future episode that shows 3 travel bugs. Can anyone determine the numbers on any of the bugs so we can track the whereabouts?

[+blackjack65]

So, If we can get those numbers,

we would know on what island they were dropped.

 

That way we would know where to send help out to that bunch,

and if we're lucky, the show would then get cancelled,

so we could get a new reality show instead.

 

Wouldn't that be awesome?

[+welch]

got link??

[+fishingdude720]

Cool! but website doesn't work

[+OzGuff]

Here is the photo

 

TBs are seen on the left of the photo.

 

And I loaded a blow-up of the TBs too. (This should be obvious if you are looking at the monitor. )

Looks like 316?77 maybe...

[+Snoogans]

Figures......

 

It's a TB that I know about and a cacher I've met that has it right now. Geoworms IS a writer......

[+AV Dezign]

Mesa Tupid?

[+welch]

Hmm... tried a couple possiable numbers. one TB5CFA disappear in CA last year, the other is in Texas TB5F0C last month... maybe I got the wrong numbers

Does anyone else notice it seems like there are three tags, but are none attached to anything? (or maybe they all ended up out of the picture?)

[+EleriandBlade]

There's been huge amounts of discussion over on The Fuselage about this pic, and no one there noticed the travel bugs. I hadn't been folowing the thread, so I hadn't noticed the pic, but I spotted the TBs right off.

 

*goes to add to the wild speculation that comes from weeks without a new episode*

[Dupiedoo]

I started to do a search on the little army guy that's on the upper left corner of the keyboard. I tried with the word "soldier" and went from there. I can't quite tell what the little soldier is doing? Sweeping for mines? Anyway, it seemed like the kind of item that would have been attached to one of those tags. There may be some other item in the photo also.

 

I did find one travel bug soldier same size and color but he was holding a rifle. I didn't have a chance to check them all yet. (Dial-up stinks).

 

This is kind of a fun hunt though. I checked all of the number combos, they were kind of ify. No smoking gun. Any other thoughts?

[Dupiedoo]

Well, I took it one step further. I looked under "Army" and "Sweeper". Looks like he is a sweeper. Check TB ID TBD279 Or this link may work: http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=53881

 

It would be fun if we could solve part of the puzzle. Any way to cross-reference the TB No. with the serial no.?

[Dupiedoo]

Here is the last place the minesweeper was logged. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...&log=y&decrypt=

 

If you read the logs, you find there was a time when TB's left without a trace. (Not just this one). If you figure out which other ones turned up missing, you might match the number.

Edited December 18, 2005 by Dupiedoo

[+Bill & Tammy]

Looks like 316877 to me but that TB didn't seem plausable.

[+Airmapper]

This is cool, I'm a lost fan. Definitely going to

[back_gammon]

Does anyone know a geo-cacher named Happy Hodag? It seems the mysterious photo was first posted on a Lost forum by someone with the user name of Hodag. I'm wondering if there is a connection, given the appearance in the photo of travel bugs as well as $5.00 bills, which could also be part of the "where's george" game, and given that Happy Hodag apparently is a fan of the where's george game and likes photography?

[+fishingdude720]

I'm guessing REX? It went missing awhile ago?

[+Mopar]

OK. never even saw the show, but anyone else catch the set of coords in the lower right corner?

 

Blown up and rotated:

[+fishingdude720]

Anyone catch the address on paper next to coords. It says switzerland.

[+Ocean Archer]

OK - I've looked at the rotated coordinates. The line above, does it say "Projected Site ..." or "Rejected Site ..."

 

Of course, if the site was rejected, why is it shown in the picture?

 

And I agree -- the missing digit on the TB appears to be an "8"

[Dupiedoo]

Here is the direct link to the forum site listed in the begining of this topic:

http://p085.ezboard.com/fsurvivorsucksfrm1...=5941&stop=5960

[Dupiedoo]

You have to be carefull. I don't watch the show and do not want to get hung up on the fictional story line. But I would like to solve the real mystery of how three Groundspeak travel bug tags ended up as a show prop. The clues I was looking for were anything that might have been the actual travel bug. Here is a link from the folks that posted the photo. If someone could chase down these leads, someone may have access to those tags. Now that would be fun to solve.

 

If you can solve this one, your good. ( No jeep prize though)

 

http://www.lostlinks.net/#BEHIND%20THE%20SCENES

[Dupiedoo]

One more thing, The coordinates on that paper are spelled out in the forum. People following the story line believe this location is exactly on the opposite side of the earth from the island. (Way to deep for me!)

[Dupiedoo]

I just contacted one of the filming / prop companies for the show "Lost" It will be interesting to see where the reply will lead??

 

Keep your fingers crossed.

[back_gammon]

I would like to solve the real mystery of how three Groundspeak travel bug tags ended up as a show prop.

 

Here is a link from the folks that posted the photo. If someone could chase down these leads, someone may have access to those tags. Now that would be fun to solve.

 

If you can solve this one, your good. ( No jeep prize though)

 

http://www.lostlinks.net/#BEHIND%20THE%20SCENES

Practically every LOST forum around the globe is discussing the photo, and many of us are skeptical that it is from the show's producers, and, thus, it would not be a show prop. Many of us think it is an elaborate prank and are working to solve the mystery of who is behind it.

 

The first mention of the photo, anywhere, was actually by a poster named Hodag on the lost-tv forum. Hodag claims to have found the photo on a legitimate Disney-owned LOST website under what many consider mysterious and suspicious circumstances. Since Hodag is the one and only source for the picture, that in itself is cause for doubt because the legit websites leave photos, letters, clues, etc up for all to see. They don't appear for an hour and then dissappear, as Hodag claims this one did.

.

Here is a link to the thread where Hodag first mentions the photo and where it first surfaced. The website you mentioned, lostlinks, posted it a couple of days later.

 

http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthre...?t=6670&page=56

 

The posts from Hodag start at post # 69 and continue for several pages. Then Hodag dissappeared.

 

Also, if anyone is interested, we have been discussing the photo and its links to travel bugs and trying to unravel the mystery of who or what is behind it on my thread on the abc board. The photo discussion begins on page 5 or 6.

 

http://forums.go.com/abc/primetime/lost/th...01&forumStart=0

[back_gammon]

I just contacted one of the filming / prop companies for the show "Lost" It will be interesting to see where the reply will lead??

 

Keep your fingers crossed.

The entire LOST fan community is waiting for this reply

[+welch]

Does anyone know a geo-cacher named Happy Hodag? It seems the mysterious photo was first posted on a Lost forum by someone with the user name of Hodag. I'm wondering if there is a connection, given the appearance in the photo of travel bugs as well as $5.00 bills, which could also be part of the "where's george" game, and given that Happy Hodag apparently is a fan of the where's george game and likes photography?

hmm... I don't know, to me that 5 has a blue seal and redeemer demand note making it a silver certificate. I think they quit issuing those in the 50s or early 60s (1963?). You get put 1963 and 1963a series 5s on Wheresgeorge, but nothing older. Course who knows how well that would circulate...

Anyone want to try and figure out the serial number and series off the bill? maybe see if its been entered at WG?

[+Bill & Tammy]

OK. never even saw the show, but anyone else catch the set of coords in the lower right corner?

 

Blown up and rotated:

Projected those coords and they are indeed approx. 20 km NE of Jackson , Michigan. However there doesn't appear to be any landmarks present other than Waterloo Munith Rd and Bartig Lake. There does happen to be a cache site nearby: GTW1 Grand Trunk Western 1 (GCP07V).

Edited December 19, 2005 by Bill & Tammy

[YemonYime]

The computer casing is from an old Apple IIe Platinum!

 

Holy bejeebus that brings back memories...

[+Airmapper]

I managed to read some of the upside down letter in the photograph. The bottom one.

--------------------------------------

 

Global He(adquarters?)

Avenue

1211 C??

Switzerland

 

23 August 2005

 

To: (???) council

(illegible)

From: Dr. Marvin C???

Re: The H???? Life- E???????? Project

 

Mr. L??????/

 

It appears that (???big word???) (rest of paragraph illegible)

 

A fascinating discovery was made immediately after the first of the MRI scans of one (next line.)

(??? and ???) groups While the MRI scans showed (xxx) (xxxxxx) irregularities? some (next line)

subjects

 

(Rest of document illegible, needs more photo shop work to bring out.)

[Dupiedoo]

The computer casing is from an old Apple IIe Platinum!

 

Holy bejeebus that brings back memories...

Just curious did you win?

[+Ocean Archer]

Well, it is interesting to note, that if one tracks down the point exactly opposite to the coordinates shown in the picture, you find a location in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Pearth, Australia. Also, the bottom line of one of the messages in the picture says, "Enjoy your stay in Australia..."

[+Ladycacher]

If you look in the middle of the photo on the white paper it looks like a fourth set of travel bug tags......

Edited December 20, 2005 by Ladycacher & Boys

[+Airmapper]

If you look in the middle of the photo on the white paper it looks like a fourth set of travel bug tags......

Naa, I think it's a piece of jewelry, like a pin or something.

 

Edited December 20, 2005 by Airmapper

[+EleriandBlade]

the 'numbers' ( 4 8 15 16 23 42 ) have been parsed into coordinates, too

 

Now, IF the pic was legit...and IF those TBs came from somoene on flight 815, then there might be a GPS kicking around on the island somewhere...

 

Ahhh, I love it when my addictions overlap! (don't you mtnman? )

 

Hmmm. one of the bugs it could have been is about half an hour away from me...

Edited December 20, 2005 by EleriandBlade

[+jwigner]

It could be 316077. That particular TB hasn't been activated, and the earlier picture has the plastic wrap still half-clinging to the dog tag.

 

I'd like to believe that the props masters picked up a TB that hadn't been activated yet so as not to disturb other TBs' journeys.

[Dupiedoo]

Is this the army guy on the keyboard?

 

 

[+GeoBlank]

It does look like him. I wonder if someone de-tagged him!

 

It is nice when addicitons cross path

 

If someone had a GPS on the plane though they would already have had it out. Maybe one of the people there before them was a cacher and left things behind.

[fisherman28]

Is this the army guy on the keyboard?

 

 

I don't think so lighter colors and it looks like 316677.

[+Colorado Cacher]

OK. never even saw the show, but anyone else catch the set of coords in the lower right corner?

 

Blown up and rotated:

"Rejected site 2oKm NE of Jackson, Michiga(not shown>n).

 

N42* 23.1(or 3)6

W 6(or 8)4 15.00

 

Its an satellite shot of the area?

Edited December 21, 2005 by Colorado Cacher

[Dupiedoo]

The "mind sweeper" TB was dropped into Tikirose's Thorns Cache, MT on 3/6/05. On a log visit dated 9/6/05 there were no TB's in the cache. So it vanished sometime between those dates. I'm not saying it is the one in the picture, but I believe it's missing so it could be. This cache, I believe is close to Yellowstone park.

[+fishingdude720]

How about REX? He looks promising. Check earlier post.

[+fishingdude720]

hmm... I don't know, to me that 5 has a blue seal and redeemer demand note making it a silver certificate. I think they quit issuing those in the 50s or early 60s (1963?). You get put 1963 and 1963a series 5s on Wheresgeorge, but nothing older. Course who knows how well that would circulate...

Anyone want to try and figure out the serial number and series off the bill? maybe see if its been entered at WG?

Got some numbers. Needs some more picture work, plus bill is folded.

 

026??404

 

Maybe I can try to fill in all plausible numbers and see if their are any fives.

[+fishingdude720]

Scratch the last numbers. I think i Got the numbers. 0076020404. I really zoomed in but it is hard to tell because it is folded

[+fishingdude720]

Zoomed in on Tb's and think it might be a 9 that the # is scratched off.

http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=316977

[back_gammon]

Breaking news alert:

 

Hodag has just confessed that the infamous picture was a hoax, and not related to Lost in any official capacity whatsoever. He has expressed remorse about using the travel bugs in the picture and causing the geo caching community to get upset.

 

Please know that the Hodag who pulled this hoax has just stated for the record that he is NOT connected to the Happy Hodag who posts here in any way.

 

Here is a link to the website page (on the same website where the picture first surfaced) where he just confessed the whole prank.

 

http://www.losttv-forum.com/forum/showthre...t=6670&page=117

Edited December 22, 2005 by back_gammon

[+GeoBlank]

That is awesome. He could have kept a lot of people going for a long time. People sure jump on the bandwagon quickly to get to the bottom of things.

 

I think he should have kept the plot going. Would have been better than lost re-runs!

 

Addictions!

[SCP-173]

I've never even seen an episode of Lost, but I found that very interesting to read. Am I the only one who's thinking that if this guy had TB tags me must be a cacher? Who is he?

[+welch]

I've never even seen an episode of Lost, but I found that very interesting to read. Am I the only one who's thinking that if this guy had TB tags me must be a cacher? Who is he?

If you follow the link a couple posts up, the confession...

they explain where some of the items in the picture are from. among other things it says:

I mixed up the names. I consider this my second-worst blunder, though I would have left it in if I had discovered it. (Showing numbers on a travelbug, thereby leading people on a geocaching wild goose chase being my #1 lapse in judgement).

and later in references to the open notebook

It's mildew, from an old wet notebook I used for geocaching.

and later

3-Putt #532- "Did you see that someone there found this ? Quite a coincidence. (Notice that the owner is from Michigan.) http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=53881 "

 

The minesweeper travelbug is a coincidence. Please leave those poor geocachers alone. I feel guilty that they were dragged into my joke, especially the one that was in memory of someone who died.

[SCP-173]

Yeah, but none of that points to a single player profile. Whoever he is, I bet he's got some crazy puzzle caches out there.

[Dupiedoo]

So was I right in identifying the Mindsweeper travel bug?