Have You A Church Micro Handy?

[+Gralorn]

Have just noticed that there is an opportunity to have your Geocaching 'Handle' appear in a Special statistic list that will be going out after the 7th November 2012. Wednesday the 7th November is the fifth (5th) Anniversary of the Church Micro Series. There are now some 3,500 of these set all over the UK, quite an achievement to say the least. So have you a local one nearby to find on the 7th, or have you done them all. Considered putting one out to join the ever growing list for the Anniversary? So there you are Wednesday could well be a little mass Pilgrimage for Geocachers who like to join in with these types of challenges. Now where is my nearest unfound Church Micro? <_< <_< <_<

[+Happy Humphrey]

Good post: I've just placed number 3112 tonight!

[+Beach_hut]

There's one not too far from work we've been sort of saving for a gap in our calendar :-)

[+simplysup]

I've tried, and failed, to work out how to search for Church Micros I've not yet found, centred around my home location. Anyone have a trick for doing this? I know I can use the bookmark lists, but there's now quite a few of them, and I understand they lag behind by a few days.

[+simplysup]

And to answer my own question.. - I've finally remembered I have GSAK! It shouldn't take much to "fetch" Church Micros, and sort as nearest from my home location.

 

Still would be nice if you could do it using Groundspeak's own search tools though.

[+Gralorn]

I never realised that one could ask GSAK for say 'Church Micros' and it would produce a list ! Always thought that you had to generate a Pocket Query first and install this into GSAK before any searching or filtering. Or am I wrong and have not been getting maximum use out of my GSAK? :blink: It also seems as if my nearest Church Micro is about eighteen miles away...Gosh! Hope someone puts out a few more , ideally nearer!!

[+simplysup]

I never realised that one could ask GSAK for say 'Church Micros' and it would produce a list ! Always thought that you had to generate a Pocket Query first and install this into GSAK

 

GSAK 8 can download caches directly (via the "Geocaching.com access" menu). Unfortunately my earlier surmise was incorrect, you can't generate a fetch list using anything related to the Listing title (yaa-boo-sucks). For my own purposes that isn't too much of a restriction; I already have 70000+ caches in my "Ongoing" gsak database (frequently updated from different PQs), and once caches are in the database I can carry out all sorts of categorised searches.

 

I have determined that the nearest CM to me that I've not yet found is a trifling 7.56 miles away as the pigeon flies. However, as it is an urban Church, I shall probably find a different CM to visit on 7/11.

[+lodgebarn]

I never realised that one could ask GSAK for say 'Church Micros' and it would produce a list ! Always thought that you had to generate a Pocket Query first and install this into GSAK before any searching or filtering. Or am I wrong and have not been getting maximum use out of my GSAK? :blink: It also seems as if my nearest Church Micro is about eighteen miles away...Gosh! Hope someone puts out a few more , ideally nearer!!

The further South you live the easier it gets! The bookmark lists of CMs are on this page CN Notes along with other useful information. I have a separate GSAK database just for Church Micros since I like to find them when out travelling. You can create PQs from the lists and load them into GSAK. I do this a different way which is a couple more steps but works well for me. I just download the .loc files (all items on a list selected) into GSAK with Add only selected. I then use the Refresh API with GSAK 8 to update the new ones so they end up with full cache info. Just keeps my PQ screen a little neater and does not waste a PQ.

[+Happy Humphrey]

I've just checked and I've only found 11...and one of those is St. Martha's, which isn't an official Church Micro so I'm down to 10. Mind you, there are only 68 Church Micro caches in my GSAK database of 12000 caches within 55 miles. Anyone want to add a few?

[+Gralorn]

Had never seen the CM Notes page before, quite interesting to read. Realised there was a list and stats of finders, but not the other notes. Still hoping that someone puts out a nearer one for next Wednesday. I know that there are lots in Suffolk and Somerset, but that is a long way to go! :D

[+Maple Leaf]

There is also an article about Church Micros written by sadexploration in the current issue of the GAGB Seeker magazine (issue 11).

 

It is currently only available to GAGB members in the members forum (but free to join if you are not already a member) ........ but will appear on the GAGB website newsletter section sometime next week.

[+maxkim]

There are bookmarks for the whole series which means you can run PQs for them. They are broken down into lots of 500 for that purpose. Bookmarks and info page

 

Also St Marthas has been given an official number.... 1036

 

Cheers MaxKim.

[+Gralorn]

So how many new ones have gone out since last week and the news about the Anniversary tomorrow, The 7th November 2012 ? Still hoping that a fairly near one goes out for us tomorrow and that the Reviewers release all those awaiting release soon!!!! or its a eighteen mile drive to locate one. Thirty six miles all round for a 35mm film cannister! It's a great hobby !! or are we just sad? :rolleyes:

[+redsox_mark]

So how many new ones have gone out since last week and the news about the Anniversary tomorrow, The 7th November 2012 ? Still hoping that a fairly near one goes out for us tomorrow and that the Reviewers release all those awaiting release soon!!!! or its a eighteen mile drive to locate one. Thirty six miles all round for a 35mm film cannister! It's a great hobby !! or are we just sad? :rolleyes:

 

That's the downside of clearing out your local area!

 

My nearest is about 5 miles. It was a former DNF. All being well I'll try and find it tomorrow on the special day.

[+mellers]

I've got three possible Church Micros on my list for tomorrow. Bit of a trek, yes, but I'm having something of a day of it, so they will be 3 of 42 caches that day (if everything goes according to plan). There's a challenge in it too!

[+maxkim]

8.5 miles for me... so here's hoping..

[+Gralorn]

Sadly its the thirty six mile trip for us today! Still the sun is shining and there will obviously be the opportunity to get one or two other caches as well. Just hope that it is not a DNF or it will become more of a sixty mile journey!! Perish the thought. Right off on the Pilgrimage we go. Good luck to all Church Micro finders today. If you get one let us know! :P :P

[+simplysup]

I'm about to set off on a 260-mile round trip, to bag some CMs in sunny Suffolk

[+The_Street_Searchers]

Ive been out and found 2 this lunchtime including an old one - Church Micro 16

[+Ade3]

Been out and done 4 this lunch time local to work! in under an hour.

[+Gralorn]

A total of thirty seven miles driven in order to locate and sign the log of a Church Micro on their Anniversary, but worth it. Also did another twelve caches as well whilst out and about. The two counties beginning with 'S'. Somerset and Suffolk really do have some lovely Church Micros. We really found the round towers in Suffolk and Norfolk quite different to those normal square towers in the Southern counties. Anyway that is it Challenge achieved, sorry aim not challenge as it was not a challenge as such. :blink:

[+redsox_mark]

I got the one today I had planned. Around 11 miles return. Didn't have time for any others.

[+weston wanderer]

I found 2/3 church micros today and a few other caches too - but we went out especially as it is the CM anniversary today.

[+maxkim]

CM2650 found and logged... and only a 20 miles round trip to do it after work this evening.... LOL. Cheers MaxKim.

[+MartyBartfast]

I had a little diversion on the way home from work, and went for a big church, CM3000 London St Pauls Cathederal.

[+MTH]

I hope you had more luck at St Paul's than I did today. I waited 15 minutes for some woman to shut up talking to her friend and eat her sandwich. In the end I had to give up and heading back to work.

[+MartyBartfast]

I hope you had more luck at St Paul's than I did today. I waited 15 minutes for some woman to shut up talking to her friend and eat her sandwich. In the end I had to give up and heading back to work.

Well it was about 18:00 when I was there so everyone was too eager to get home so nobody hanging about (except me!).

Edited November 7, 2012 by MartyBartfast

[+simplysup]

I found 2/3 church micros today and a few other caches too - but we went out especially as it is the CM anniversary today.

I saw your sig in a couple of CMs I visited today

[+Gralorn]

Well Sod's Law as they say. Two Church Micro's were published late last night, one 4.6 miles away from me and the other 4.8 ! Incredible after that long circular trip yesterday. Oh Well That's Life as they say. <_<

Got both of them this morning though to keep up the tally!

[+Dorsetgal & GeoDog]

6.8 miles round trip by mobility buggy to bag my nearest CM - but I did it anyway

[+GAGB committee]

Seeker magazine is now available on the GAGB website - article about Church Micros by sadexploration.

Edited November 9, 2012 by GAGB committee

[+Maple Leaf]

I saw your sig in a couple of CMs I visited today

 

I wasn't that far from you on CM day (but only had time for one) ... but looking at your logs, how many did you find!

 

Maybe there needs to be another category for the person that found the most CMs on 'Find a CM day'.

[+Gralorn]

Just went to the GAGB Website and read the latest copy of 'Seeker'. Have to be honest, did not know that it existed, the magazine that is. Was a good article about the Church Micros and enjoyed reading about them. Must also say that the photo of the Cathedral in the quarries was excellent as well. Did another church micro that was released last night, so they are still going strong that is for sure. :D

[+simplysup]

Stats for "CM Day" have been published: Church Micro Day Stats

[+Gralorn]

Great that so many Geocachers joined in and did the Anniversary proud. Some nice ones named there as well. Excellent Stats, congratulations. :blink: