+AbbieK Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Sorry the probably very dumb question! I'm very new to Geocaching (11 finds!) and I'm always very nervous about accidentally picking up a trackable and not doing anything with it. To ease my anxiety a little, is it always obvious if something is a trackable or something? Is it always made clear that it isn't usual swaps stuff? Quote Link to comment
+topmonkey Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Welcome! It should be pretty obvious as it will have a 6 letter/digit tracking code on it that you will need to type in as proof that you have found it. If you picked it up from the cache where it actually said it was, then just use the 'retrieved from' type log when you log it Most Travel Bugs have a metal 'dog tag' and are likely to be attached to the item with a chain. Geocoins just have the code etched into them or embossed on them. It is exciting when you find your first one. Just don't be afraid to log it so the owner knows where it is... Good luck! Quote Link to comment
+Bear and Ragged Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 (edited) TB's will (mostly!) have a dog tag It may or may not be attached with the original chain! I've used a cable tie before now! Edited May 24, 2011 by Bear and Ragged Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Welcome Abbie Also, if it's a trackable geocoin it will have "Trackable at geocaching.com" (or similar) written on it somewhere. You might like to try searching Google images for "geocoin" and "travel bug" just to give you some idea of the variety of travelling items you might find in caches. MrsB Quote Link to comment
+Bear and Ragged Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Just checked your profile... I see you found Motorway Mayhem M6 - Stafford Services South, after I found it! (Probably had B+R on the log sheet) Quote Link to comment
team tisri Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 (edited) Sorry the probably very dumb question! I'm very new to Geocaching (11 finds!) and I'm always very nervous about accidentally picking up a trackable and not doing anything with it. To ease my anxiety a little, is it always obvious if something is a trackable or something? Is it always made clear that it isn't usual swaps stuff? If it has a tag on it like someone already showed in an image, it's a Travel Bug. Sometimes travel bugs go missing and people resurrect them using a laminated tag but it will still bear the code. A coin will have a code on it somewhere although if it's a small coin you might have to look hard to find it (I'm sure I found one that had the code along the edge of the coin, for example). If it says "trackable at geocaching.com" then it's a trackable of some form, and will have a code on it somewhere. If you're not sure then either leave it in the cache, or pick it up and ask another cacher about it (maybe at an event, or ask a friend if you have friends who cache). Worst case is you move it to another cache without logging it, in which case the next person to pick it up will log it and the worst that happens is the mileage isn't 100% correct. ETA: One thing not to do is mention the code on the trackable in a log. Sometimes people leave a log that says something like "Left coin 123456" which means anyone who fancies claiming a find on the coin can do so with the code. Edited May 25, 2011 by team tisri Quote Link to comment
+MartyBartfast Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Note there are also some trackables which are trackable on other sites and not geocaching.com. The one that comes to mind is geokretys and I think there are others, but they will say "trackable on xxx.com" somethwhere on their person. Quote Link to comment
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