cleahy Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 I know I must look like a kid that has to go to the bathroom right now. After hearing about Geocaching a few times in the news, I finally made it to Geocaching.com about a month ago. Since then I've been researching GPSr's and trying to find the proper combination of features/price. I finally found a Garmin Deluxe GPS V on Amazon for $395 with a $75 rebate, and that got me to order. I've spent the last five days packing an old army courier bag with Geocaching supplies (mostly on recomendations here in the "What's in your backpack" thread) and today my GPS is supposed to arrive. I'm off on vacation next week, so I get to spend this week after work learning how to use it, and next week finding caches in the Louisville area. In any event, I want the work day to end so bad I can't stand it, so I can go home and start learning about my new toy. I feel like a kid waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive... DrMemory Quote
Team Spending Time, Saving Cache Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 And imagine this.... it only gets worse, errr better... well you know Welcome to this great hobby!! Live to Cache... Cache to Live... Quote
+bradtal Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 DrMemory- Welcome to our insanity... Um, I mean, Sport! Here are a few things that may help you before you go out on your first cache hunt... 1. Check to make sure your GPS is set up to the WGS84 datum (this is what www.geocaching.com uses). Your GPSr instruction manual should talk about datums. 2. Check to make sure your gps is set to dd°mm.mmm (this is also how www.geocaching.com displays the coordinates. For example, 40°35.201) Again, your manual should talk about this. GPSr's can display the coordinates in many different ways. So, 40°35.201 is not the same location as 40°35'20" (ddmmss) 3. Always bring water on your hikes! You will be suprised that sometimes a simple hike may turn out to be a difficult hike, so always be prepared. I myself am guilty of not taking water on all my hikes and have regretted it many times. 4. Put extra tradable cache items in your pack before you leave. That way, you can put more than one item into a cache. I find it more fun to put something in and not taking anything out. That way, the next person who finds the cache has a better selection and may return the favor. 5. Most important, have fun! This is a great hobby/sport. Warning: Once you find your first cache, you will be hooked. There is no going back. Therapy is expensive... Cache on! Bradtal Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now. [This message was edited by bradtal on May 19, 2003 at 01:21 PM.] Quote
+unclerojelio Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 quote:Originally posted by DrMemory:I know I must look like a kid that has to go to the bathroom right now. Just wait till your boss catches you doing the "Have to go" dance thirty minutes before lunch. ... Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, ... unclerojelio Quote
+mornin'glory Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 quote:Originally posted by bradtal:3. Always bring water on your hikes! You will be suprised that sometimes a simple hike may turn out to be a difficult hike, so always be prepared. I myself am guilty of not taking water on all my hikes and have regretted it many times. can't really stress how important that is! i went on a 1/2 mile(round trip) hike that was suppose to be easy terrain, well 2 1/2 hours later & a huge elevation change, the sun came out & rose the humidity to almost 90% with no water i'll never do that again! also, it wasn't the first time but it was the worst. Click to subscribe to ozmtngeocachers if you cache it, they will come. Quote
+zoltig Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 Please read the fine print in the Geocaching guidelines stating: When the "new" geocacher goes for the first find, that new geocacher MUST put in $100.00 to the first cache that he/she finds. There is NO exception to ... Your lookin at me funny. What'd I say?? Buy Fugi Quote
Eeyore and Shadow Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 I am still willign to bet he stopps at the store after the first cache to get more gear on the way to the second. Eeyore I'm one sat short of triangulation. Quote
+flask Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 save the dance. you'll need it when you're trying to pretend you're not looking for a cache. it doesn't matter if you get to camp at one or at six. dinner is still at six. Quote
+BigJon Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 Welcome to the sport. It is great fun and you will learn a lot from these boards. I am still buying stuff from suggestions from the boards and it is great fun. I currently have my step-father and brother looking to buy a GPSr. I have had nothing but a great time. Quote
+Faderaven Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 Now that you have mastered the 'Have to GO' dance it's time to work on the compass calibration spin.... Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore Quote
+Bloencustoms Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 Yep, the calibration spin. There's no way to explain it away. You just have to grin at observers and hope they don't know any of your friends. "The way eye" Quote
+RobRee Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 invest in a good set of recargeable batteries. a decent charger too. --- and enjoy your new vice!! robbie required reading My first bible Quote
+TEAM 360 Posted May 19, 2003 Posted May 19, 2003 For your next lesson, you will be learning the "drunken bee" dance... Quote
cleahy Posted May 20, 2003 Author Posted May 20, 2003 Go to the store for more gear? Possibly, you never know until you do it... Still, I'm fairly well equipped, I've been a camper/hiker, I've read about three threads about what to carry, and these aren't country caches... I'm going to SMTC's Iroquois spots first. When I was in High School, I worked there cutting grass, picking up trash, etc., so I know the park fairly well. I wish I had time to go NOW, I've been playing with my new Gps V since yesterday evening, and I WANNA GO!! dadgum job. Quote
+headmj Posted May 20, 2003 Posted May 20, 2003 Lets get the terminology correct. The official name for your gyrations is "The Pee Pee Dance" Quote
+mcdefjef Posted May 20, 2003 Posted May 20, 2003 Lots of things to do while you're stuck at work: - get the online manual and print/read it. http://www.garmin.com/products/gps5/ - make sure you download and know how to use EasyGPS. And then make sure you download cache waypoints near your vacation destination and upload them to your unit - no need to manually enter them. - print out cache sheets for your vacation caches. Also, print maps/topos/aerials of surrounding area, so you know where to park and how to enter the parks. - steal office supplies to leave as trade items! "took golf tee, left hole punch" - haha. Quote
+Team Shibby Posted May 20, 2003 Posted May 20, 2003 Welcome to the game/sport. You will definately have a lot of fun, but like everyone else stated, it is addictive!! Say $395 with a $75 rebate is a most excellent deal. I picked up the V a few months ago and paid $474 on sale from Best Buy. (I could have gotten it cheaper online, but I am one of those instant gratification people ) Good Luck!! TEAM SHIBBY!!!! Krs, Kar & Na Quote
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