Moving Caches Vs. Travel Bug Caches

[+Wild George]

I have a dilemma I need some help with. I have 20 moving baseball caches that were created last year right before it was decided that such caches would no longer be approved. They have been very successful, 14 of them made it to ball games; most of the rest are close to their goal, just waiting for next season. I had planned to retire them as they got back to me but many people have expressed interest in seeing them return next year. I had planed to either archive them or convert them to stationary caches but the continued encouragement I’m receiving from cachers around the country has resulted in the following quandary: Should I archive the moving caches and send out what I’m calling Travel Bug Caches or should I release new versions of the caches to attend 2004 season games?

 

For a background on Travel Bug Caches (including a discussion of moving cache problems), check out one of my attempts at:

 

http://www.geocaching.com/track/track_detail.asp?ID=46449

 

Here's the pros and cons as I see them:

 

Pros for sending the moving caches out again:

1. They are very popular, people really like them, and there have been very few negative experiences with them.

2. I have seen nothing in the forums or guidelines saying I shouldn’t send them out again.

 

Cons against sending sending the moving caches out again:

1. They have been “banned” because of problems associated with them.

2. They are a lot of work for me to keep them updated on a daily basis.

 

Pros for Travel Bug Caches:

1. They avoid the problems associated with moving caches.

2. They require no upkeep such as changing the cache location when rehidden.

 

Cons against Travel Bug Caches:

1. They don’t show up in searches of nearby caches, making it harder to know when one is close by.

2. They really are moving caches disguised as TBs.

3. They seem to be treated more like Travel Bugs with people holding them for a month or more.

 

Any ideas, suggestions, or opinions concerning this problem of mine would be very much appreciated.

Edited January 2, 2004 by Wild George

[+Shoebugs]

What ever happened here???? I have been considering a Travel Bug/Cache but I'm not sure if it is "legal" to hide a TB and give it some coordinates. The rules don't say you can't, but it may be "implied" . I'm not trying to push the rules to the limit nor do I think everything has to be spelled out...but I don't want to pooh-pooh a fun idea because I'm "scared" it isn't within the guidelines.

 

I like your list of pros and cons. My game would require the TB/Cache to remain in our local area and have stipulations as to how long you can hold it and a time limit on posting the coords on the TB page.

[+webscouter.]

with so few traveling caches around these are becoming something out of the norm and are quite exciting to chase after when they come into your area. We recently had one come to Kansas City and create quite a furor. It was found 5 times in the first 4 days it was here.

 

You might think about asking for other cachers to adopt the caches (If this would be allowed) since they are something of a novelty and will grow more rare as caches disappear or the owners loss interest in maintaining them.

 

You could then send out the travel bug caches therefor having the best of both worlds.

[+Shoebugs]

Sooooooooo..........you think TB/Caches are OK?

[+Team GPSaxophone]

Travelling cache by themselves are not ok because each movement would require an approver to "re-approve" the cache. If it's placed in an inappropriate location, who is going to retrieve it?

 

Travelbug caches are great, as long as they aren't too big for the average container. They get placed in existing caches (already approved) and require no extra work from the volunteer approvers.

 

With a bit of coding, it could be added to the site to replace the existing travelling caches that are no longer approveable

[+JeepCachr]

I have been considering a Travel Bug/Cache but I'm not sure if it is "legal" to hide a TB and give it some coordinates. The rules don't say you can't, but it may be "implied" .

It is against the guidelines to hide the TB and post its coordinates. It won't get approved. The TB/cache could only be placed into existing caches.