+Rocky Balboa Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 I have recently seen the thread congratulating Seasider on his achievements. He has completed 200 caches in 6 Weeks, over 60 of these were locationless. Before people get the wrong idea this is not ment in the slightest to put down this amazing effort or to say that it shouldn't count, I am just wondering what people in general think of Locationless caches. We could all go out and complete loads of them but many of us don't seem to. I myself have completed 1 but felt a bit guilty logging it, this again is just how I feel and not ment to discourage or put down anyone else. I heard a while back that soon there would be a different section for this type of cache and that they would be taken off our tallies but have so far seen no changes. Anyone got any views about them? All meant light heartedly (SP!) Its just a hunt for a lunch box, why be so serious!?! Dan Wilson - www.Buckscaching.co.uk Quote Link to comment
+kennamatic Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 I've just started working my way through some of them. Rather like normal caches there are some easy ones and some difficult ones, some are interesting and others aren't. The first that I did, http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=12627 ,means a lot to me as previously, although like many others it was a US cache it didn't need to be. Because the US is so large they were managing to log it from two US locations but that would not have been possible for me in the UK so it meant contacting a cacher in another country (Canada) and getting help. I am proud we were the first international find for that cache, there have been many more since, and I made a new friend in another country. My big gripe is about what a locationless cache is in relation to the guidelines. You are not supposed to set them (and for those who don't know, the setting of them is suspended at the moment) where you are restricting the (non)location. There is one that is restricted to just one area of New York! To me that is not locationless, it just meant there were a few nearby places that would give you a find. I'm for them as they are just as able to take you somewhere interesting as standard caches and I agree with Seasiders post on his congratulatory thread that many of them take a lot of planning to get and a heck of a drive to reach. I'm going to have trouble, for instance, finding a lighthouse close by me in West London. There is another bigger plus though. Many of them can be planned and done by disabled cachers and anything that opens our hobby to a group of people who are often excluded from many other things has to be a good idea and reflects well on our hobby. So yes, for me they are a Finding your caches - Losing my marbles. Quote Link to comment
+Chris n Maria Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 quote:Originally posted by kennamatic: I'm going to have trouble, for instance, finding a lighthouse close by me in West London. Here you go Lighthouse Bear rescues a speciality! London & UK Geocaching Resources: http://www.sheps.clara.net Quote Link to comment
Slytherin Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 We did a sprinkling of locationless caches early last year when we had simply run out of caches to do within 100 miles of home. (Remember the days where there were less than 100 caches in the UK?). They proved to both fun and challenging in different degrees and I had no hesitation in logging them. I haven't bothered with any for a while although we still quite like doing virtuals. I think you can look at it this way. If they are on the geocahing.com site, then go and do them and log them. That's what they are there for and as regards the critisism that you don't need a GPS to find them, well the same can be said for Burial Mound. Alex. --------------------------------------------------- Knights of the Green Shield stamp and shout..... Quote Link to comment
+The Hornet Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 I've done a couple of locationless caches but have never really felt comfortable with them. To my mind geocaching is all about using a GPS to find something - a box, a signpost, a location or whatever. In the pure sense if you don't need a GPS it can't be a geocache (IMHO). In the case of Burial Mound I agree it's not a "true" geocache by the above definition but I did it for my 300th cache and really enjoyed it. At least it had the virtue of being out there in the woods unlike so many locationless caches that can be done from an armchair. At the end of the day though, if they're on the database and you're happy doing them, then fine. Total numbers logged are nice but what really counts is the "fun of the chase". _________________________________________________________ Enthusiastic user of GeocacheUK - Information, not control. It is better to regret something you did, rather than to regret something you didn't do. _________________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment
+kennamatic Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 quote: unlike so many locationless caches that can be done from an armchair I've yet to find any that can be done totally that way, although I'm only halfway through looking at them, no "nearest" search to order them. Certainly there are a number that require research that can be done on the internet but then you have to visit and get photos with the GPS in them. This makes them little different to real caches where we look at the internet and someone tells you exactly where to go to in order to find the cache. However, each to his own, and I certainly wouldn't give up on the "real" ones. Thanks C & M. This is a good example of why I like some of the locationless caches. I had no idea yet that was there, no idea of the history involved and I've learnt something and will see an area I've never seen before when I go get it. I will have learnt more from this one locationless cache than many plastic boxes I have found, no matter how good the view is. For me that is one of the things that interests me. It's why I often do multicaches as you sometimes learn something as well as go on the hunt. Someone on another thread, I haven't looked back and I've got to get to work, had mentioned that you can't say geocaching has an educational value. I think that proves it can. And for school and Scouts etc. using the GPS to find somewhere just adds a new twist of "excitement" to what is really an educational trip. Right, off to work. I still haven't worked out how that's part of geocaching though. Perhaps I need a new job. Finding your caches - Losing my marbles. Quote Link to comment
Rockratgirl Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 Great message thread (although I hesitate to post anywhere!). I haven't done any locationless ones but I have the same reservations. I like to use the GPS (to my best abilities!!!) and also involve my young son in the "hunt". Some of the locationless ones have more of a point than others (IMHO) but I won't be using it to bump my numbers up. Having a separate section for those logs on here would be useful too. Enjoy, not complain! Love many, trust few, learn to paddle your own Canoe. We can't run away for ever ... but theres nothing wrong with getting a good head start Quote Link to comment
+SimonG Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 I've got nothing against locationless caches per se, but I do think they're sufficiently far removed from standard caching that they don't really qualify as the same game. I'll be much happier about them once they have their own section. What's your favourite thing? Quote Link to comment
+The Bennett Family Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 We have not done any yet but don't see a problem with them. As has already been pointed out they seem like a good idea if the weather is really grim or if you start to run out of 'local' caches (though that may be unlikely these days!) Perhaps if the totals were split up though it would allow specialists in each area to appear? Our kids might have something to say if we do start to log them, they already dislike virtuals, like most kids i guess they are box-finding purists. We take our children everywhere, but they always find their way back home... Quote Link to comment
+The Hornet Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 quote:Originally posted by kennamatic: quote: unlike so many locationless caches that can be done from an armchair I've yet to find any that can be done totally that way, The one I was thinking of here is actually a virtual, not a locationless. Sorry!! _________________________________________________________ Enthusiastic user of GeocacheUK - Information, not control. It is better to regret something you did, rather than to regret something you didn't do. _________________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment
+Travers Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 I'm kind of divided on this one. Some are easy, some are difficult...much like traditional caches. Firstly, not all of us live in an area where there are unlimited local caches...we are definitely running out of them and the ones that do remain are fairly widely spread, which is the main reason why we often only manage one or two at a time. In fact some locationless caches are more difficult than many 'regular' ones. You often have to do some research to find what you're looking for or drive a not inconsiderable distance to log them. Some of them are amusing: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=21566 Some are fascinating to certain groups of people, for example I would be interested in unusual art locations: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=19564 This is also a good one for natural history/photography: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=20831 This one has caused much amusement because even though we've logged it, we've become compulsive post box watchers: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=49891 Lots to do and see. Quote Link to comment
+paul.blitz Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Travers:Some of them are amusing: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=21566 I had a dadgum good laugh at the one about 'This sign has sharp edges... do not touch the edge of this sign' and then in very small letters: 'also the bridge is out ahead'. (look here) Paul My wife uses a cache box to take her sandwiches to work... how odd! Quote Link to comment
+Travers Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Team Blitz: I had a dadgum good laugh at the one about 'This sign has sharp edges... do not touch the edge of this sign' and then in very small letters: 'also the bridge is out ahead'. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cachelog_details.asp?ID=211270&L=1268052 Paul That was one of my favourites...who says locationless caches aren't fun? Quote Link to comment
+Seasider Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 Ho hum. I'm on my travels again at the end of this week and early next so I shall pass the 200 target for 'proper' caches very soon anyway - after 8 weeks rather than 6! However, having read the other internecine discussion threads I'm wondering whether to bother. Seasider Quote Link to comment
+Travers Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Seasider:Ho hum. I'm on my travels again at the end of this week and early next so I shall pass the 200 target for 'proper' caches very soon anyway - after 8 weeks rather than 6! However, having read the other internecine discussion threads I'm wondering whether to bother. Seasider Take no notice Seasider, it's a major achivement. You should carry on doing the caches you like. As I said, the locationless ones can be lots of fun whether or not there are many traditional caches left in your area. Quote Link to comment
+Rocky Balboa Posted May 12, 2003 Author Share Posted May 12, 2003 Good call. I hope you didnt think this was a dig at you Seasider, like I said in the first post its not meant to be, just a question after reading all the responses I am actually thinking about going and doing a couple myself Its just a hunt for a lunch box, why be so serious!?! Dan Wilson - www.Buckscaching.co.uk - Stash Notes, forums & Much more... Quote Link to comment
bignoseduglyguy Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Chris n Maria: quote:Originally posted by kennamatic: I'm going to have trouble, for instance, finding a lighthouse close by me in West London. Here you go http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/millennium_dome/114739.stm Spooky - I was planning a physical cache here but due to access issues, I ended up placing Millenium Dome View just up the lane - which has better if still restricted access. bignoseduglyguy www.bignoseduglyguy.com - obligatory caching page now added! Quote Link to comment
Rockratgirl Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 It really wasn't meant as a dig Seasider. I didn't think there were many UK "locationless" caches when I first looked through the list but we intend to complete one as soon as we can. Then we will have the full spectrum of micro, virtual, regular, multi & locationless. Any more classifications I have missed out? Off topic a little - Seasider - we'll be heading your way soon to take a good friend caching. She collected a TB in the US when she was visiting friends and wants to leave it in a cache nearby in the UK. As she is partially sighted she has asked us to help out. Looking forward to some Lancashire caches next month! Sam ~ Love many, trust few, learn to paddle your own Canoe ~ ~ We can't run away for ever ... but theres nothing wrong with getting a good head start ~ Quote Link to comment
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