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Geocache nostaligia...


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Seems like someone else got there first (linky). Nice looking one at the end though!! :)

 

Maybe we could call them "AGOFG" (A good old fashioned Geocache) instead. Or maybe even A GOG ;)

 

Is this open even to relative newbies? I could place me first ammo can.

Edited by pklong
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Remember Tim & June signature Bear hunting? There were always people trying to follow them to grab the bear, and Teasel even added a T&J bear hunting function to geocacheuk.

 

I can remember Peter "The Hornet" selling ammo boxes out of his van at the late xmas meet at winchester.

Ah yes, I managed to get 2 pallet loads from an army surplus place in Nottingham very cheaply and I think I sold them for a couple of quid each. Happy memories indeed:

 

T&J hid a bear in the huge pile of Hornet's ammo boxes and didn't let on until afterwards. I remember everyone going through their Hornet Ammo boxes in hope.....

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Funny this topic should crop up now as I've been considering placing a series of "Good old fashioned geocaches" just as described above.

I've been planning to do a couple of similar "Back to Basics" caches. If we can agree on a name, this could be a much preferable series to "Motorway Mayhem", "A road Anarchy", "Off the Rails", "Supermarket Sweep", etc, etc.

 

No need to debate it - "Back To Basics" is fine, get it started and we'll all join in, I'll wager! Practice what you preach, people! :)

OK. I'll be placing the first one at the weekend. "Back to Basics: A proper cache in Northampton". :)

 

Suggested guidelines (not rules!):

Size/type: Ammo can would be ideal; or a decent sized lunchbox; big is good - I've managed to pick up some catering sized Mayo tubs from the works canteen... ;)

Location: Somewhere nice! Not you're local litter-ridden back alley. Somewhere you'd be happy to stumble across. Ask yourself "Why would I want to bring somebody here?". If the answer is not obvious, find somewhere else.

And a bit of a walk might be a good idea. I don't want to get run over while signing the log...

 

I'll start a Bookmark list too. :)

Baz.

 

Here's one for the list - set in Warwickshire this afternoon GC1CA1K

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No need to debate it - "Back To Basics" is fine, get it started and we'll all join in, I'll wager! Practice what you preach, people! :D

OK. I'll be placing the first one at the weekend. "Back to Basics: A proper cache in Northampton". :D

 

Suggested guidelines (not rules!):

Size/type: Ammo can would be ideal; or a decent sized lunchbox; big is good - I've managed to pick up some catering sized Mayo tubs from the works canteen... :D

Location: Somewhere nice! Not you're local litter-ridden back alley. Somewhere you'd be happy to stumble across. Ask yourself "Why would I want to bring somebody here?". If the answer is not obvious, find somewhere else.

And a bit of a walk might be a good idea. I don't want to get run over while signing the log...

 

I'll start a Bookmark list too. :D

Baz.

 

OK.... I'm up for some of that. I've got one 'Hornet' size ammo can and 4 'Half Hornet' size cans sitting around. It's about time we showed them pesky micro cache setters that they're not getting it all their own way. Comes the revolution and Pharisee is 'El Supremo', I know who's going to be first into the football stadium... :);):):)

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I could not agree more with all of the above sentiments.

Finding micros used to be quite acceptable and they were often placed in sites where a cache was warranted , but anything bigger would not survive.

 

Lately, it seems that the way to set a cache in this area (Havant / Chichester) is to toss a film canister in the hedge every 528 feet then call them a "ring" or "series" .

I'm sure that it's going the same way in most other areas.

 

Most of my caches are good sized ammo boxes and I want it to stay that way.

 

This is not a commercial, (GSP please note), but I can get unlimited numbers of both full size and half size ammo boxes for £4 each.

I can also get "charge cases", which are watertight tubes about 18" x 6".

If anybody has problems getting hold of such items then I would be pleased to help where possible.

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Seems like someone else got there first (linky). Nice looking one at the end though!! :D

 

Maybe we could call them "AGOFG" (A good old fashioned Geocache) instead. Or maybe even A GOG :D

 

But have you looked closely at some of those listed?

I've checked out some and the 'Basics' is basic school work sums, which many of us have not used for years!! :D

 

The Dutch ones are even on a Scouting theme (the clever so-an-so has even done a bilingual listing) :D His theme is basic navigation skills. Brilliant! B)

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With being seconded to Sheffield (from the South East) for a couple of days a week, I can truly attest to the fact that in the Peak District it does feel like caching when I first started (Feb 2003). Great walks, great views, plenty of exercise, and some bloody good caches.

Huge's Tadaima! and Led's double 5 star Jonah's Journey instantly spring to mind. Whilst this was a dnf, it had me crawling through rock formations on my stomach to be back on a ledge staring straight out into open space, second attempt in two weeks.

Maybe thats part of the answer and has been mentioned in other postings, get away from your own neck of the woods and the pleasure component is increased.

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This is not a commercial, (GSP please note), but I can get unlimited numbers of both full size and half size ammo boxes for £4 each.

 

Would you be willing to ship? Is it likely to be expensive?

 

Otherwise, where's the current best place to pick up ammo boxes? Maybe I should try to track down an army surplus store near here...

 

Simon

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No need to debate it - "Back To Basics" is fine, get it started and we'll all join in, I'll wager! Practice what you preach, people! :D

OK. I'll be placing the first one at the weekend. "Back to Basics: A proper cache in Northampton". :D

 

Suggested guidelines (not rules!):

Size/type: Ammo can would be ideal; or a decent sized lunchbox; big is good - I've managed to pick up some catering sized Mayo tubs from the works canteen... B)

Location: Somewhere nice! Not you're local litter-ridden back alley. Somewhere you'd be happy to stumble across. Ask yourself "Why would I want to bring somebody here?". If the answer is not obvious, find somewhere else.

And a bit of a walk might be a good idea. I don't want to get run over while signing the log...

 

I'll start a Bookmark list too. B)

Baz.

 

OK.... I'm up for some of that. I've got one 'Hornet' size ammo can and 4 'Half Hornet' size cans sitting around. It's about time we showed them pesky micro cache setters that they're not getting it all their own way. Comes the revolution and Pharisee is 'El Supremo', I know who's going to be first into the football stadium... :D:D:D:D

 

Once I have enough 35mm containers that'll "totally" fill a 3 litre cache box I'll be more than happy to join in this fun new series. :D

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Do you remember when...

 

... you'd drive a 160 mile return trip to get to a cache with a "new fangled" Geocoin in it?

 

... every cache you found was a big box full of decent trades?

 

... a micro was uncommon?

 

... every single cache you found had a great view and/or a pleasant walk and/or some history?

 

... a big day out would net you no more than 12 caches?

 

What else do you remember?

 

Great OP Stuey, I remember passing the gauntlet between me and yourself on the most done in a day!! and I remember when I used to stop in laybys for something other than a micro :P

I'm sure this is the reason some of us have lost the "Urge" or "Enthusiasm" micros have their place, but nothing beats a decent walk a nice box and a great view. (Sounds like life in general :D )

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This is not a commercial, (GSP please note), but I can get unlimited numbers of both full size and half size ammo boxes for £4 each.

 

Would you be willing to ship? Is it likely to be expensive?

 

Otherwise, where's the current best place to pick up ammo boxes? Maybe I should try to track down an army surplus store near here...

 

Simon

 

I would be more than happy to send some out to you if required.

I already use a courier service for lots of other non -caching shipments so I qualify for a discounted rate.

Their basic charge is £10 (for up to 10 Kg), and I reckon that this would cover up to about 6 ammo boxes on a "next day" delivery service.

If a few of you in the Chepstow area wanted to share them around and split the cost, then this could be a useful option.

 

Rod

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I have just gone out and placed a largish ammo can and would like to be part of this if I can. Can anyone explain to someone completely computer illiterate how to get the banner above onto the cache page?

 

Thanks, Ness.

 

Not easy to explain - but I'll try!

 

1. Right click on the image above, and save it to your computer.

2. Upload it to your cache page. There's an option to do this somewhere...

3. Go to your cache page, and click on the image link you just uploaded. Copy the URL ("http://....")

3. Make sure you tick the "description contains HTML" box on your cache page.

4. Include the following in your cache description: <IMG SRC="">

5. Paste the URL you saved above between the quote marks --^

 

Hope that helps. If still stuck send me a message through my profile.

Baz.

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Having suffered cache 'burnout' a few years ago I hung up my GPSr. I've started up again and managed to get my 500th yesterday. So far I have been quite impressed with the quality with the caches I have found. There are a lot of people out there putting a great deal of effort into placing caches in an ever diminishing choice of good locations. Admittedly a lot of caches I did in the early days are now archived but the good ones tend to remain, being adopted by teams when the owner leaves the hobby.

 

In the early days I remember clearing a 30 mile radius from where I lived and as soon as one popped up I would take the first opportunity to go and try to get first to find. When I returned to Geocaching I was shocked at the number that were out there, and getting anywhere near my previous clearance is going to be a real challenge.

 

Anyway I am in danger of waffling so here are my memories of the early days.

 

-Robin Lovelock was a swearword.

 

-A majority of gecaches were in ammo tins

 

-Nobody had seen a geocoin in the UK....Ye gods there are millions of different ones now

 

Anyhow as a returnee I do not think much has changed while I have been away, lots of new people and heaps more caches.

 

thanks

 

Lassitude

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Of the first 40 I found in 2004 -

 

22 were in tupperware, including ice cream tubs (none of it Lock n Lock)

16 were micros - including micros under rocks on the moor

2 were in ammo cans

 

And the furthest I had to walk for any single one of them was about half a mile (and that was to one of the bl**dy micros)

 

It really seems like the only things that have changed are the number of caches we have to choose from nowadays......and the quality of tupperware!!! :D;)

 

Edited to add - my "closest 500 unfound" PQ still only goes out to 45km - these still are "the good old days" for me :anicute::anicute:

Edited by keehotee
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The last couple of weeks I've been on several day or half day caching expeditions as there was only one unfound cache within 20 miles of where I live. I've done traditional caches, multi's, puzzles, large and small caches and have had a wonderful time. All the caches were well thought out, well maintained and mostly contained good booty. Even the DNF's were enjoyable.

 

Today I happened to be passing my one "local" cache so decided it needed picking off. What a complete let down :D To my mind it was everything bad in a cache - an old unmarked tin, scruffy nondescript location and virtually non-existent swaps. There are so many much better locations in the area I can't for the life of me think why this was chosen. If I was showing someone geocaching for the first time and I brought them there I'm sure they would be put off for life.

 

As it seems not to be the done thing to criticise people's caches I left a fairly neutral log and I'm deliberately giving no indication of which cache it was. If anyone comes across it I'd prefer it to remain anonymous here.

 

Sigh!! :o

 

Rant over. Just makes you appreciate Proper caches even more I suppose.

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The mention of sirf chip sets reminds me of the days when logs saying co ords 30ft out or less did not exist and indeed half the fun of many caches was working out just where marcb thought he was compared to you :);) .

 

:P:D:D .

 

Hey! It wasn't my fault I had a dodgy GPS... well maybe it was... ;)

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I've no problem using the "Back to Basics" prefix - the good old boys in US of A took a whole raft of names with them to the new world so it's only fair that we reciprocate by stealing back one they've already thought of.

 

What about prefixing exisiting caches that qualify? I would like to consider renaming our two Norfolk Rambles (both nice longish walks with intermediate micros leading to a classic ammo box).

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The last couple of weeks I've been on several day or half day caching expeditions as there was only one unfound cache within 20 miles of where I live. I've done traditional caches, multi's, puzzles, large and small caches and have had a wonderful time. All the caches were well thought out, well maintained and mostly contained good booty. Even the DNF's were enjoyable.

 

Today I happened to be passing my one "local" cache so decided it needed picking off. What a complete let down :anicute: To my mind it was everything bad in a cache - an old unmarked tin, scruffy nondescript location and virtually non-existent swaps. There are so many much better locations in the area I can't for the life of me think why this was chosen. If I was showing someone geocaching for the first time and I brought them there I'm sure they would be put off for life.

 

As it seems not to be the done thing to criticise people's caches I left a fairly neutral log and I'm deliberately giving no indication of which cache it was. If anyone comes across it I'd prefer it to remain anonymous here.

 

Sigh!! :D

 

Rant over. Just makes you appreciate Proper caches even more I suppose.

 

Someone has been much less tactful on October 13!

 

I've got 3 decent sized containers looking for good hides. Got a couple of ideas now there is an agreement with the National Trust.

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Someone has been much less tactful on October 13!

That, and the previous logs say it all really. And I notice the owner, who has found just one cache and placed only this one, joined the day before he placed this "cache" and last logged into the site on May 23rd (10 days later).

 

I wonder whether a SBA is in order?

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Someone has been much less tactful on October 13!

That, and the previous logs say it all really. And I notice the owner, who has found just one cache and placed only this one, joined the day before he placed this "cache" and last logged into the site on May 23rd (10 days later).

 

I wonder whether a SBA is in order?

Interestingly the one cache he has found was his own cache :laughing: , but at least he only lives a 10 second walk away so maintenance wont be an issue :anibad: .

Edited by Mad H@ter
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Would it be possible to have some kind of a rating system for caches? I.E. you find it and give it a score out of 5 say? This score could then be searchable on, so maybe along with Difficulty & Terrain you could also search for this rating? Not sure if it should be annonymous or not, but it would be nice to have some kind of a feel for the type of cache as scored by other cachers.

 

J

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Would it be possible to have some kind of a rating system for caches? I.E. you find it and give it a score out of 5 say? This score could then be searchable on, so maybe along with Difficulty & Terrain you could also search for this rating? Not sure if it should be annonymous or not, but it would be nice to have some kind of a feel for the type of cache as scored by other cachers.

 

J

 

Don't suggest this on the main forum. I did :laughing: Apparently this has been suggested many more times than once or twice before. The US forums are very quick to let you know this. :anibad:

I guess its not something that is going to be implemented soon if at all.

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Don't suggest this on the main forum. I did :anibad: Apparently this has been suggested many more times than once or twice before. The US forums are very quick to let you know this. :)

I guess its not something that is going to be implemented soon if at all.

 

Hmm... Red rag to a bull :laughing:

 

We've all heard of Flash Mobs? How about Flash Posts? Say at 18h00 this evening, we all put a request in for this on the US forums? :D:)

 

Another thought... Bookmarks? Say create a set of Five Public Bookmarks, Rated *, Rated **, Rated ***, Rated **** & Rated *****. Then at least it would be browseable... If these bookmarks were owned, by lets say a 'public' sock puppet type of geocaching account <ahem - I'm guessing here there is probably some kind of a clause that prevents this in the T&C's???> then we could all rate them in a single place? Of course, you could go in and rate your own caches at five stars of course....

 

J

Edited by Dakar4x4
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We used to have such a rating system on the late, lamented GeocacheUK.

There may be a ray of hope here:

"There has recently been some developments behind the scenes, which if they come to fruition will see T:UK come back ..."

MrsB

Yay! That would be awesome... :anibad: Although I'll have a huge backlog of caches to rate! :laughing:

 

J

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I remember when:

 

Petrol was 4/6d a gallon

Cache was really cash

Tupperware was an excuse for a ladies' night in

All toys were educashunal

The Hunting of the Snark was a poem

A walk in the woods was an excuse for .... ?

The Batmobile existed but the CacheMobile didnt

Ammo cans were left behind after CCF camp and Lee Enfield was a 303

The US of A was over there and it didnt matter

 

and of course

 

the map was pink - and pink didnt mean gay.

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And a voice in the distance whispered...............................

 

 

 

Cliffe Park Drive-By

 

Aargh! no I had nearly wiped that memory :laughing:

 

Oh Alex, Alex, Alex...

 

It's a bloody good job I'm in a good mood this morning.....

 

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

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Surprisingly enough, they have!

 

Either that or I was lucky when I started, and only discovered lame cache descriptions later on!

 

It just seemed that most of my first cache finds had some effort put into the cache page and were in decent places. I guess I've cleared all the good ones and I'm now finding the others that I'd chosen to ignore before.

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Remember Tim & June signature Bear hunting? There were always people trying to follow them to grab the bear, and Teasel even added a T&J bear hunting function to geocacheuk.

 

I can remember Peter "The Hornet" selling ammo boxes out of his van at the late xmas meet at winchester.

Ah yes, I managed to get 2 pallet loads from an army surplus place in Nottingham very cheaply and I think I sold them for a couple of quid each. Happy memories indeed:

 

T&J hid a bear in the huge pile of Hornet's ammo boxes and didn't let on until afterwards. I remember everyone going through their Hornet Ammo boxes in hope.....

 

I think we've got about 7 T&J bears..............are they worth anything now?? :rolleyes:

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I remember when I placed a puzzle cache it would be found within at least 3 days. My latest puzzle, a 2 difficulty cache, and an ammo box too, still unfound after nearly a week. :rolleyes:

 

hah - be lucky if any cache lasts 3 hours around here! We were 2TF after 20 minutes on a driveby cache 6 miles from home! met the FTF there, and 3TF showed up as we were leaving!

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