Is Somebody "marking" My Caches??

[+TresOkies]

The cache is question is on the route of the Primavera Century, an organized bicycle ride in the California Bay Area, which starts and ends in Fremont.

Is the Primavera part of a circuit of cycling? I ask because we had a few cyclists pass through these parts (Western OK) on Wednesday, heading west. There were several vehicles with out of state tags and nice rigs on the roof. Then there was a tour bus with a number of guys wearing logos of cycling equipment. When I saw this posting, I started wondering if maybe they were headed that direction.

[+Renegade Knight]

You know, It just occured to me that you picked that spot for a cache for a reason. In your photo I can see rusty old guardrail but behind it looks like one heck of a view. The person who did the stencil must have been inspired by the same muse that caused you to hide a cach there.

[+Riddlers]

So who put the X on the gaurd rail. ( in one of the photos) maybe not just bikers are visiting this spot.

[+Riddlers]

Anyway, for those that want to see it:

 

 

And here's the 'graffiti' with an arrow I added showing my cache (less than 5 feet away).

You didn't comment on the big X on the guardrail right above your cache. Maybe someone else is watching it too. Maybe we should start a story about that.

[+bykenut]

Don't they have Dan Henry's out there?

None of the organized bicycle rides I've been on in Northern California (and I've been on a lot of them) use Dan Henry's. Don't know why. Most of the rides here just use plain, color coded arrows.

 

Is the Primavera part of a circuit of cycling?

The Primavera is a one day bicycle tour and is not part of a circuit.

[+Divine]

So who put the X on the gaurd rail. ( in one of the photos)  maybe not just bikers are visiting this spot.

Yeah, and how about this strange marking right next to the cache?

 

[+Renegade Knight]

X probably was code for "Replace me I'm beat to snot."

[dsandbro]

There's a spooky satanic symbol near one of Marky's caches in Carmel.

 

 

Judging by the number of DNF's on this cache (including three for me), I'd say it some editorial comment on the difficulty of finding the cache 

Thats a pentagram, it will protect you from a werewolf, I saw that in and old Lon Chaney Werewolfmovie.

Actually, no it won't.

 

A pentacle (fifth point facing upwards) is the religious symbol used by the wiccan religion. The five points represent the five elements - earth, air, fire, water, spirit - and the circle around them represents how they're all joined to one another.

 

With that in mind, just as people turn the cross upside down for anti purposes, the pentacle has been turned upside down... When upside down, it's called a pentagram, and is meant as a anti-religion or satanic symbol. (Although, incidentally, in order to be satanic, you must also be christian, since wiccans and most other religious groups don't believe in Satan, nor do they give any such being a name)

The symbol is mainly used in alternative circles...

 

 

With that said, Keep us updated on that red white and blue KKK thing... just a thought, but mayhaps you don't want to put a cache in the area? While the pentagram symbol is used more as a symbol for a subculture in america than for it's actual meaning that I just explained, if the people that put that pentagram there aren't just jackasses with spray paint, happy caching families beware....

I know all that I have one, but it was also used in a Lon Chaney Werewolf movie, as a deterent to a werewolf attack,

It must work.

 

That stump has never been attacked by a werewolf.

[+robert]

hey, Stu got a haircut.

 

Well spotted

I enjoy your avatar(s)... don't remember all details but I do notice those kinds of things.

[+SixDogTeam]

The way I remember Lon Chaney's "Wolfman", was that the old Gypsy woman saw the pentagram on his hand, and that marked him as a victim of Lycanthropy...Altho it has been decades since I last viewed the film.

[+Torry]

The way I remember Lon Chaney's "Wolfman", was that the old Gypsy woman saw the pentagram on his hand, and that marked him as a victim of Lycanthropy...Altho it has been decades since I last viewed the film.

Actually, i'd be more concerned with the way the dog team would "mark" the cache!

[+geoSquid]

Hmm... IMO it is some kind of tagging.  Perhaps it is some kind of geocacher's tag, to show that a group on individual has found the cache?

If that's the case, how stupid is that?! I hope they stop. Some people take this game way too seriously. They need to jump back into reality and quit with the Dungeons and Dragons crap. 

 

You know, I've played dungeons and dragons since long before there was such a thing as GPS and geocaching, and I know better than to mark a geocache. I'm going to take a wild guess that I am at least as educated as Pandybat, and probably more gainfully employed. Overall, I'm probably much more grounded in any reality than Pandybat.

 

Perhaps someone, Pandybat, needs to realize that geocaching isn't any less nerdy than dungeons and dragons and that any perceived crap likely comes from within.

 

Odds are, it's coincidental graffiti, or as noted above, a trail marker for a race. If it isn't, all it shows is that geocaching attracts its share of asshats like any other activity. It's kind of unfortunate for the person who put this cache here.

 

On a lighter note, any D&D player would know that when you mark a path, any referee worth his dice is certain to have some wandering critter move or erase the mark so a D&D player wouldn't waste the time making such a mark.

 

My apologies for the small rant, but I get so sick of geeks pouting about gamers and their alleged misantrhopy/grounding in reality/inability to relate to the rest of the world/whatever. SSDP folks. A lot of people think geocachers have too much time on their hands.

Edited April 20, 2004 by dcowan38

[+PandyBat]

Hmm... IMO it is some kind of tagging.  Perhaps it is some kind of geocacher's tag, to show that a group on individual has found the cache?

If that's the case, how stupid is that?! I hope they stop. Some people take this game way too seriously. They need to jump back into reality and quit with the Dungeons and Dragons crap. 

 

I'm going to take a wild guess that I am at least as educated as Pandybat, and probably more gainfully employed.

 

Nice stab at me since you don't even know me. I think you would be guessing wrong anyway. What does this have to do with anything?

 

Overall, I'm probably much more grounded in any reality than Pandybat.

 

I highly doubt that.

 

Perhaps someone, Pandybat, needs to realize that geocaching isn't any less nerdy than dungeons and dragons and that any perceived crap likely comes from within.

 

I realize that. I was responding to adampiersons remark about it possibly being a tag. It would be taking the game too far to go marking caches as a sign that you had been there. Anyway, this was all said before any of us found out what the marking really was.

 

On a lighter note, any D&D player would know that when you mark a path, any referee worth his dice is certain to have some wandering critter move or erase the mark so a D&D player wouldn't waste the time making such a mark.

 

LMAO! No comment.

 

My apologies for the small rant, but I get so sick of geeks pouting about gamers and their alleged misantrhopy/grounding in reality/inability to relate to the rest of the world/whatever. SSDP folks. A lot of people think geocachers have too much time on their hands.

 

Welcome to the forums, dcowan38!

[+bons]

Nice stab at me since you don't even know me. I think you would be guessing wrong anyway. What does this have to do with anything?

Got me. What the point with the stab at the gamers? The people at Kenzerco have always been nice to us, given us good press, mentioned us on a regular basic in their monthly. We've never gotten anything but good things from gamers. But now you have to come along with comments like "quit with the Dungeons and Dragons crap". I'm sorry but that behavior is rude, uncalled for, and it just doesn't belong here.

[+PandyBat]

Let me reiterate:

I was responding to adampiersons remark about it possibly being a tag. It would be taking the game too far to go marking caches as a sign that you had been there.

 

I wasn't slamming anyone that plays D&D, persay. I was merely saying it would be taking the game to a whole different level of seriousness if someone actually went so far as to "tag" a cache and leave their Zorro mark on it to make some sort of weird point to the next batch of cachers that they were there. Anyway, this was all said before any of us found out what the marking really was. I was just as freaked out about it as archeaor was. Seemed very odd and the first thing I thought when I saw his post was that it was some kid playing his own weird version of a geocaching character role-play game.

 

Get over yourselves.

[+geoSquid]

I wasn't slamming anyone that plays D&D, persay.

 

"Quit with the Dungeons and Dragons crap" is a pretty direct slam to everyone that plays D&D, worse, since D&D has NOTHING to do with making marks on the road, finding geocaches, or messing them up by marking them, your statement is also an expression of remarkable ignorance about D&D.

 

D&D is played with a bunch of books, a lot of paper, some polyhedral dice and usually a case of beer and a few pizzas. No roads, no marking, and no geocaches.

 

Seemed very odd and the first thing I thought when I saw his post was that it was some kid playing his own weird version of a geocaching character role-play game.

 

On this we agree: it does seem very odd that you thought that. I can't imagine why you would have thought so. Role playing games (of which there are many besides Dungeons and Dragons, incidentally) have nothing to do with inscribing marks on the road. Marking the road is called vandalism where I'm from, unless you work for the highways department and get paid to do so, or have a special permit.

 

I'm new to geocaching. I came to the forum and found this thread by doing a search for information on the eTrex Legend, and what do I find but some ignorant person slamming one of my other hobbies. If I said that maybe you should quit that backwater Missouri hick crap, would you consider it fair commentary? Because the first thing I think of when I see some person from the southern US taking shots at D&D or any other fantasy based game is less than complimentary. But I won't go there. Best to let this die off now.

 

I offer my apologies to everyone else. I shouldn't have responded in this thread.

Edited April 21, 2004 by dcowan38

[+PandyBat]

Hmmm....ignorant, huh? I think that attack should at least get a warning from the mods but I'm not going to push it.

 

FYI, I've played D&D before. It was fun for a while, then I GREW UP!

 

Go drink another case and down a few more pizzas. Better yet, to borrow a phrase.....GET A LIFE, GO GEOCACHING!

 

Nice profile pic, btw. Welcome to the forums!

[goldfishy]

Ok...so it seems the mysterious red/white/blue marking has been explained, but I, too, now am wondering about the star in a circle!!! I just revisited a cache recently, helping out someone who is new to geocaching, and I swear I've seen this same symbol!!! In addition to this symbol, (which I can't remember whether the star was upside down or not), there was a stick figure of a person spray painted on another tree!!! I remember noticing this the first time I came to this spot, as I had become first lost, and then seperated from the person I was with. I hadn't seen the markings while heading the direction we were first headed, but then when I turned around to look for my other party, I freaked when I saw the markings!!! So, anyone know what that star symbol, in combination with a stick figure drawing would symbolize? When I returned the other day, I also thought it was odd that what looked like a forest preserve truck appeared out of nowhere and entered behind us, driving along what I've always seen as a walking path. We kept on walking, continuing to check behind us, and the truck kept following us. Knowing we weren't doing anything wrong, we kept on walking. Soon, the truck disappeared as quick as it appeared! I've NEVER seen forest preserve rangers in my life around here...so I was spooked that perhaps something had happened there, and they were monitering the area. Should I be concerned, or have I seen Blair Witch Project too many times?!

[+yumitori]

Pandybat, I think some of your recent remarks in this thread could gain you a warning as well. We are all at least potentially friends here, so perhaps it's time we all get back on-topic.

[+4leafclover]

now, see...

 

anyone who has ever read any of my logs KNOWS that this is how I think ALL geocaches should be marked (with the arrows). Perhaps I could then take less than an hour on one.

[+SnowLeopard]

Come on, we're *all* geeks of some kind! Some geeks go hiking with microchips, other geeks roll dice.

(And some uber-geeks do both )

[+cache_us_if_you_can]

I know that road is frequented by you "biker" types, and I had a feeling it might be a waypoint marker for a ride, but still . . .

Hey, I resemble that remark

[enfanta]

Odds are, it's coincidental graffiti, or as noted above, a trail marker for a race.

 

Perhaps.

 

But why is the missing white arrow the one that should be pointing at the cache?? Four red arrows, four blue arrows but only THREE white arrows and where would it be pointing if it'd been included?

 

Hm...

[+bons]

then I GREW UP!

apparently not.

 

Even though you don't enjoy a particular hobby, you don't have the right to accuse and insult people who do. Please try to show respect for people who have different interests than you. If you can't treat people who are different from you with respect, then you still have some growing to do.

[goldfishy]

Wow...talk about people getting off topic. Ok...um wasn't this a discussion about strange markings happening near caches? I posted a response to this topic and have yet to even hear what anyone has to say about the markings I saw near a cache because everyone seems so busy getting off topic! []

[+PandyBat]

then I GREW UP!

apparently not.

 

Even though you don't enjoy a particular hobby, you don't have the right to accuse and insult people who do. Please try to show respect for people who have different interests than you. If you can't treat people who are different from you with respect, then you still have some growing to do.

FOR PETE'S SAKES!! Don't you get it??? I don't have a thing against people that play D&D! I do have something against people playing games with other peoples caches, which is what we kinda thought was going on with this marking until someone pointed out that it was a marking for a bike race. That's it....that's all I was saying. Maybe I shouldn't have used D&D as an example. For that, I apologize. I was merely trying to point out the stupidity of someone taking the game into an unnatural stage by marking caches like an imaginary character. Yes, D&D was not a good example. But so what? It doesn't mean I was making fun of or putting down those that do play D&D. I was talking about someone adding role-playing into geocaching. I was glad to find out later that it wasn't anything like that at all. You are making this into a bigger deal than it is. Don't go making me out like I am intolerant of people with different interests because you couldn't be more wrong. Please drop this and get back on topic, that is if you have anything of value to add to it.

[+Ciyt]

I noticed the 4 red, 4 blue and 3 white...prongs as well. My initial thought was that there was some significance for that. I also held off speculating until seeing the actual photo-where I then noticed the differences between the photoshop and real photo.

 

Just for those wondering where to see symbols of, shall we say, negative aspects check out the anti-defamation league's website. For the D & D fans and occult watchers, sorry, I don't know where you'd find out them symbols.

 

This really feels wierd putting in my input about symbols when this forum is supposedly about geocaching...go figure.

[fuzzybear]

Are there any crop circles in the area also or flying sausers

[+geoSquid]

Please drop this and get back on topic, that is if you have anything of value to add to it.

We're in agreement there. I think the point has been made on all sides.

 

Anyway, it is good to be here, and with regard to my search on eTrex legend which brought me to this thread, I did find some good info elsewhere in the forum, and that is very nice.

 

I opted to buy the Legend, so my Garmin GPS II plus now stays in the car.

 

re: marks on the road

 

Where I live the Girl Guides go out and paint little fish near the storm drains on the road every spring to remind people not to dump crud (paint, oil, whatever) down them, so seeing weird marks on the road is not grossly uncommon around here.