getting started EH getting started !

[+ayrbrain]

Where am i going wrong? All I want to do is find a cache of my very own. ok I know some are micro and I have helped a friend in York with these ones. Yes I know i need to start bigger first but

I am trying local to me first. Honestly I cannot find any, I have tried umpteen and too affronted to tell you all how many

I have the correct cords in the gps but it just seems to take me one place and I think this is it then it takes me somewhere else and this is supposed to be the same cache, to say i am disappointed is putting it mildly.

Even last night I know where there is one in town and I must admit it was funny in the dark running our hands along the area where it told us to look minding to look for muggles and yes its a micro I think but thought it was worth a stab in the dark literally!

arggggggg

[+kunarion]

I have the correct cords in the gps but it just seems to take me one place and I think this is it then it takes me somewhere else and this is supposed to be the same cache

A GPSr can vary 20 to 30 feet in normal operation. Hold still for a while (set it down), and it might settle down, but the signal is affected by structures or tree cover.

 

You're starting the hard way, by hunting micros. They can be smaller than a bolt head, and even disguised as a bolt head. Maybe you enjoy the challenge. I require the cache page to have very a specific location (like “it's under the park bench, left side corner”), or I'll often pass on those evil little hides.

 

Log your "DNF", and contact the Cache Owner. Ask for a hint. If the difficulty is rated low, and if it's been found before, the CO may give you a nudge. Once you've found some, you may become the Micro Master. Then you need to drop by my town, and show me how to find them.

Edited October 13, 2010 by kunarion

[+Team MacKenzie]

It would also be helpful if you can tell us what GPSr you are using. Not all are created equal and some have settings on them that might need to be looked at.

 

If you give us a couple of GC #'s that you've been hunting for, we're a bunch of great armchair hunters in that we can read the logs and give you suggestions on where and what to look for or whether that specific cache(s) should be set aside until you've a bit more practice.

 

Is there any local events coming up that you could attend and meet some of the cachers in your area. A little mentoring goes a long, long way!!

[+ayrbrain]

It would also be helpful if you can tell us what GPSr you are using. Not all are created equal and some have settings on them that might need to be looked at.

 

If you give us a couple of GC #'s that you've been hunting for, we're a bunch of great armchair hunters in that we can read the logs and give you suggestions on where and what to look for or whether that specific cache(s) should be set aside until you've a bit more practice.

 

Is there any local events coming up that you could attend and meet some of the cachers in your area. A little mentoring goes a long, long way!!

 

Thank you both for taking the time to answer my plea.

I am in Ayr, Scotland UK so the ones i am looking for are local to here.

Even the one in town with a huge statue which I found going by the clue i am struggling with, I wondered around and around stood still and still no joy. What a wally I am!!

The statue is The Royal Fusilier and I think that is the name of the cache heading.

I am using a Garmin Etrex.

thank you

[+geekslady]

Wow there sure are alot of micros in your area. I found this one for you Urban Ayr From the description it seems fairly simple. Maybe going out and getting this one solo will keep you from getting discouraged.

I think the statue one you mentioned might be missing.

There is another decent sized cache located at the university, if you go look for that one I would suggest looking for odd piles of leaves near the base of a tree or a random pile of sticks.

I know if I hadn't had my boyfriend to teach me the clues and geo-cover I would have given up shortly after starting this adventure.

 

When it comes to micros I can't find the first time around, use the uploaded pictures for hints. Sometimes they are helpful.

Good Luck and Happy Caching

[+The Blorenges]

Unfortunately it seems that you've just missed out on a local event a couple of weeks ago...

 

Ayrshire caching catch-up event.

 

There are some pictures attached to the logs - You might even recognise someone!

 

You could try contacting McBee77 and Biffo69 who organised the event - the fact that they did so suggests that they're keen, local cachers - and ask them whether they would be able to give you some guidance. They might even offer to meet up with you and give you some practical help on a hunt or two.

 

MrsB

[+Team MacKenzie]

That 'Royal Scots Fusilier' may be underated even at a 2. There's almost as many DNF's as there are finds on it and considering that not everyone logs their DNF's there's maybe more of them than finds.

 

From the find logs, I would hazard an armchair guess that it's in a flowerbed...lots talk of getting down and dirty, one said he'd never have clean fingernails again! If there's any raised flowerbeds, I'd be checking in the corners and along the edges where the soil meets the wood surround.

 

Since it's been confirmed that it's about 5" long and cylindrical, I'd be looking for something like a camo'd cigar tube or a matchstick case that's been camo'd.

 

While there are 'rules' about not burying anything, that doesn't preclude pushing it down in the soil.

 

I've seen caches that, whilst not being buried and therefore against the rules, you could only see the top of it as the rest was pushed down into the soil.

 

I second contacting a couple of the local cachers and team up with them for some mentoring. Most cachers are more than willing to help a newbie.

[+ayrbrain]

It would also be helpful if you can tell us what GPSr you are using. Not all are created equal and some have settings on them that might need to be looked at.

 

If you give us a couple of GC #'s that you've been hunting for, we're a bunch of great armchair hunters in that we can read the logs and give you suggestions on where and what to look for or whether that specific cache(s) should be set aside until you've a bit more practice.

 

Is there any local events coming up that you could attend and meet some of the cachers in your area. A little mentoring goes a long, long way!!

 

Again thanks for help and hints etc. Since my last posting I have spoken to Rose & Thistle and yehhhhhh they are meeting up with us tomorrow night and going to help me, and check my gps that I doing/setting it up correctly. Apparently there is one amost across the road from our house so I may have a look tomorrow if I can.

Watch this space ! I may even manage a posting soon that I found a cache

again many thanks all.

[+niraD]

A common recommendation for beginners is to stick with small size, regular size, and large size caches. Until you're more experienced, avoid micro size caches, some of which are smaller than most beginners can imagine (sometimes called "nanos"). Save those for later, after you have some experience. (But you already knew that, right?)

 

Also, stick with caches that have a difficulty rating of no more than 2 stars . Save the more difficult ones for later. You may also want to choose caches with easy terrain ratings. (The difficulty rating tells you how hard it is to find the cache once you get there. The terrain rating tells you how hard it is to get there.)

 

Under ideal conditions, a consumer GPSr will be accurate to about 3m (10'). That applies both to your GPSr, and to the GPSr of the cache owner, so you may find the container 15-20' from ground zero under ideal conditions. Under less than ideal conditions, both GPSr readings can be much less accurate.

 

It might help to look at some of the cache containers available online. For example, check out the cache containers sold by Groundspeak.

 

Also, take a look at the Pictures - Cool Cache Containers (CCC's) thread in the forums.

[+Bear and Ragged]

Check the GPS is set to the correct Datum...

While the co-ords may be 'off' by 15 to 20 feet, if you have the wrong Datum set the co-ords can be a further 50+ feet 'off' on top of the 'normal' GPS error!