+kitmonster Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Only been at this a few days and already having a problem with muggles. Is lurking something you just get better at? So what's your technique? I always carry around lots of camera gear, so that helps. Pop on the macro lens and stare at a tree roots for a bit. Didn't work at 6:30 am in the dark though - might have to resort to getting a dog! Quote Link to comment
+ToolkiT Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 I use the camera trick too. Or pretend that my shoelaces got loose (again and again ) Quote Link to comment
markandlynn Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Keep Aaron as far away as possible Quote Link to comment
+lordelph Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Busy cache location? Become engrossed in your mobile phone and do the "phone trouble" mime while casting your eyes around for the cache. Emerging from a hedge into a group of muggles? Play the lost-dog gambit: "You haven't see a little black terrier have you?" Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 I find 'hiding in plain sight' the best bet.... Suddenly coming across a scruffy ol' git in a camo jacket and funny hat who's walking round in circles and muttering obscenities at the 'phone' he's waving around at arms length is enough to make just about anyone grab their kids, dogs & grandparents, turn around and beat a hasty retreat Quote Link to comment
+rusty_tlc Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 (edited) The only time I really worry is when I'm hunting around a playground or schoolyard. A middle aged man hanging out in these areas arouses suspicion. My dog is the only cover I've come up with so far. Edit:Speeling Edited October 13, 2004 by rusty_tlc Quote Link to comment
+NickandAliandEliza Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 I find 'hiding in plain sight' the best bet.... Suddenly coming across a scruffy ol' git in a camo jacket and funny hat who's walking round in circles and muttering obscenities at the 'phone' he's waving around at arms length is enough to make just about anyone grab their kids, dogs & grandparents, turn around and beat a hasty retreat .........don't forget the larger than average maglite!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment
+Birders Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 I just wear the same clothes I used to wear to work as an air traffic controller. Nobody there took any notice of me so why should any muggles: Quote Link to comment
+Beds Clangers Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Has to be the old shoe lace trick or, if there is a handy telegraph/electric pole about looking up and down the pole , scratching your head while looking at the cache sheet works . Use to work for BT so looking at telegraph poles used to an intrest!! Quote Link to comment
+Subarite Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 I find people will ignore you completely [maybe thats just me ]. The English are far to shy to enquire what you are doing . Andy. Quote Link to comment
+Naefearjustbeer Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Where I live and cache you can walk for hours without seeing a single person It is great all that fresh air and open space Dont have to worry about searching and getting spotted very often. I did once get approached by a gamekeeper who wondered if I was a poacher having a gps and a cache sheet convinced him otherwise and he even offered to help me look Quote Link to comment
+Bill D (wwh) Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Talking aloud, together with the occasional manic laugh, works for me. It helps keep muggles away, too... Quote Link to comment
+kitmonster Posted October 13, 2004 Author Share Posted October 13, 2004 All good advice! Mobile phone trick worked this evening. Quote Link to comment
+ventura_kids Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Just ask them for money , then start searching under things ... they will leave Quote Link to comment
+allieballie Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Pretend that you are a botanist and are totally engrossed in examining the foliage. Quote Link to comment
+Simply Paul Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 I find people will ignore you completely [maybe thats just me ]. The English are far to shy to enquire what you are doing . Andy. Too shy to ask what you're doing, sure, but not too shy to phone the Police. No, I DID NOT have a good time caching in London today! SP Quote Link to comment
nobby.nobbs Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 used the shoe lace trick more than once. also carry small fold up stool so that i can sit down next to where the cache is. people tend to ignore what you're doing if you're sat down quietly. you can then grab the cache between muggles and likewise put it back. the nutter trick sometimes works but other times just gets extra attention. Quote Link to comment
+Lizzzzeeeee Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 It's got to be kids - take a couple with you at all times and you can get away with all manner of strange antics! I have a couple available for hire, contact me via the PO box no, very reasonable rates for geocachers! Quote Link to comment
+Papakas Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Emerging from the undergrowth in camo gear, in your best cavalry officers accent just ask "have you see my tank?" then disappear back into the undergrowth chuckling hysterically to yourself! Quote Link to comment
markandlynn Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 It's got to be kids - take a couple with you at all times and you can get away with all manner of strange antics! I have a couple available for hire, contact me via the PO box no, very reasonable rates for geocachers! Can we do an exchange 3 for 1? Quote Link to comment
davester Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 I generally sit and wait in a suitable nearby location until the intruders are gone. Been caught the once and that bloke has turned into a semi-keen cacher. Off topic:- How I hate that word muggles!! Not all of us feel the need to use words from or read mindless pap children's books (children excepted) that are wholly overmarketed trash coming from the ideal of the Pop Idol "We'll tell you to buy it, so buy it!" culture. My word of choice would be a nonini - an abbreviation of non-initiated. Quote Link to comment
+snaik Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Off topic:- How I hate that word muggles!! Not all of us feel the need to use words from or read mindless pap children's books (children excepted) that are wholly overmarketed trash coming from the ideal of the Pop Idol "We'll tell you to buy it, so buy it!" culture. My word of choice would be a nonini - an abbreviation of non-initiated. My middle name is "Nonini" Quote Link to comment
+kitmonster Posted October 14, 2004 Author Share Posted October 14, 2004 Off topic:- How I hate that word muggles!! davester - as a newbie, I've seen lots of threads mentioning muggles but not nonini, and thought that was the normal term for the non-initiated. Is there a glossary around here somewhere? Quote Link to comment
+Daisy&me Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Off topic:- How I hate that word muggles!! Not all of us feel the need to use words from or read mindless pap children's books How do you know they are 'mindless pap' if you haven't read them? Quote Link to comment
davester Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Off topic:- How I hate that word muggles!! davester - as a newbie, I've seen lots of threads mentioning muggles but not nonini, and thought that was the normal term for the non-initiated. Is there a glossary around here somewhere? Oh, I made up nonini. A poor attempt but better than the M word. oh....mornings..... Quote Link to comment
+Eckington Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 This seems to be a standard.......here........I must admit on my forray to HP, GP and STJsP in the summer I dropped the same handful of change under park benches about a dozen times (and lost a quid in the process ) Quote Link to comment
+kitmonster Posted October 14, 2004 Author Share Posted October 14, 2004 This seems to be a standard.......here........I must admit on my forray to HP, GP and STJsP in the summer I dropped the same handful of change under park benches about a dozen times (and lost a quid in the process ) Eckington - you might want to read the latest log - bit worrying! Quote Link to comment
markandlynn Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Off topic:- How I hate that word muggles!! Not all of us feel the need to use words from or read mindless pap children's books How do you know they are 'mindless pap' if you haven't read them? Ignore the hype. These books are actually very good for adults and children. Muggles is the perfect word, it means in the books non magical folk who know nothing of magic. Replace magic with geocacher and it fits perfectly. To do a "Delia" , "deja vu" etc are all words that move away from there original use. Try a google search on muggle its used in lots of ways. Quote Link to comment
+Eckington Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 This seems to be a standard.......here........I must admit on my forray to HP, GP and STJsP in the summer I dropped the same handful of change under park benches about a dozen times (and lost a quid in the process ) Eckington - you might want to read the latest log - bit worrying! Hi kitmonster, it was reading Simply Paul's log that reminded me, and then I read the Grockles' comments about shoe lace tying somewhere and the two sort of gelled Quote Link to comment
+Lance Ambu Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 ... My word of choice would be a nonini - an abbreviation of non-initiated. My belly button is a nonini Quote Link to comment
Cholo Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 Off topic:- How I hate that word muggles!! My word of choice would be a nonini - an abbreviation of non-initiated. I'm sure that you meant well, but this would seem to imply that the initiated are ninnies. Even further off topic: Your word reminded me of the Iroquois word "ondinnonk". This roughly translates as the soul's innermost benevolent desires. Think of the natural goodness of children before they are corrupted by adults. Quote Link to comment
+aisledog Posted October 16, 2004 Share Posted October 16, 2004 I thought I'd recount my experience of this morning which was the closest I've ever come to being caught red-handed, although I wasn't actually geocaching at the time. I'd been to my GP for a flu jab and the doc had told me to take a seat for five minutes in case of a reaction. Well I wasn't stopping there was I? The place was full to the gills with folk waiting for their jabs, or worse still, SICK people. So I went off to the park over the road for a 5 minute short walk. I suddenly remembered Ray Mears' book on outdoor survival and, in particular, the chapter on making rope out of nettles. As luck would have it there was a stand of nettles by the path of what was otherwise a well manicured and presentable urban park (funny that!). I decided to take just half a dozen stems to work on at home. The problem was harvesting them without getting stung. As luck would have it someone had dropped a magnum wrapper on the path (they're helpful like that in Wolverhampton), so I used this to strip the stems of leaves and stingy bits. This was when I looked up to find a young mum pushing a pram along the path with a toddler in tow. The mum was trying not to look but had that look on her face which said "dont look him in the eye and we might get out of this". The toddler had not yet learnt such subtleties and was staring at me like I was part of the cast of tellytubbies. What could I do? Clearly the shoelace trick wasn't appropriate this time. and a long explanation about Ray Mears might, I thought, only make things worse. still, no harm done... at least she wouldn't be returning to find someone's hidden cache. I picked up my nettles and walked back to the car in silence. Incidentally, I worked on the nettles this afternoon in front of the golf on TV. It makes excellent, exceptionally strong cordage. This may be a little off-topic but you started it! Aisledog Quote Link to comment
+Cryptik Souls Crew Posted October 17, 2004 Share Posted October 17, 2004 Muggles is the perfect word, it means in the books non magical folk who know nothing of magic. Replace magic with geocacher and it fits perfectly. To do a "Delia" , "deja vu" etc are all words that move away from there original use. I don't like the word Muggles either, but it seems to have been (almost) universally accepted so not really much I can do... I would rather we had our own word, not one stolen from a tedious series of books... Deja vu means already seen, whats doing a Delia?? Anyway, to try and stay on topic, we got busted by the police once. Very near heathrow pulling an ammo box out of the trees. We explained, they asked for it to be removed, the rest is history. The funniest bit was when they were looking at my car and said "You have to admit it looks a bit suspicious with all those wires" meaning my gps aerial on the roof, "all what wires?" I replied, to which the officer sheepishly pointed to the single visible wire and said "Erm, that one" Quote Link to comment
+BountyHunter1 Posted November 1, 2004 Share Posted November 1, 2004 hi just thought of a new rouse to eliminate muggles from a busy muggle area. How many time are you walking through the streets and are accosted by a market reasearcher most people keep there eyes open and walk in the opposite direction. so all you have to do is walk around with a clip born and a look on your face that says i want to ask you a few (hahaha) questions. garunteed to make a 100yard exclusion zone around were you are. i should kow my wife has been doing market reasearch for about 13 years. also if i am going to a childrens play ground i take my son with me and push him on the swings for a while and then let him play on the slide while i search around for the cache . this always takes the heat of me as everyone stairs at him maybe because hes 18 years old and 6ft 2in but he enjoys a little father son bonding lol cheers BountyHunter1 Quote Link to comment
+Team Ullium Posted November 1, 2004 Share Posted November 1, 2004 Off topic:- How I hate that word muggles!! My word of choice would be a nonini - an abbreviation of non-initiated. I'm sure that you meant well, but this would seem to imply that the initiated are ninnies. Even further off topic: Your word reminded me of the Iroquois word "ondinnonk". This roughly translates as the soul's innermost benevolent desires. Think of the natural goodness of children before they are corrupted by adults. I would be surpised to find that you are a parent yourself Cholo Kids have absolutely no morals whatsoever....this is the reason we as parents have the devil of a job instilling them in the first place And look at the the fairy stories and what really makes kids laugh....The Simpsons kids are just so close to the truth! Also, the reason the movie Lord of the Flies hits home so effectively is because we all suspect deep down that if kids were left to rule the roost....it would be like letting the fox among the chickens There is no such animal as 'the natural goodness of children?....believe me...and I have raised five....hopefully a credit to their parents eager attempts to instill some apparently 'unnatural' goodness into them Ullium. Quote Link to comment
+Kitty Hawk Posted November 1, 2004 Share Posted November 1, 2004 I'm with Ulium, Kids are clearly aliens sent down from another planet to mess with grown ups minds. How else do they know exactly how to manipulate adults to get exactly what they want all of the time. I've got two. Picture of my kid without the baby disguise - imagine evil laughter. Quote Link to comment
+Simply Paul Posted November 1, 2004 Share Posted November 1, 2004 But there *is* natural goodness in children! Think of all the vitamins, the protein... the marrowbone jelly! I love children, but I couldn't eat...etc. SP Quote Link to comment
+Team Ullium Posted November 1, 2004 Share Posted November 1, 2004 Yep .... there might be something in what you say SP I can remember when the kids were very wee...gee they really were good enough to eat...afterwards when the got a bit older....I began to wish I had Just joking of course....I love them all to bits....(no...not the more bits the better SP ). Ullium. Quote Link to comment
+rufty tufty boys Posted November 1, 2004 Share Posted November 1, 2004 Not sure where this is going but, for those who have children here is something to make you chuckle: GOD CREATED CHILDREN Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve and the first thing he said was "DON'T!" "Don't what?" Adam replied. "Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said. "Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve, we have forbidden fruit!!!!!" "No Way!" "Yes way!" "Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God. "Why?" "Because I am your Father and I said so!" God replied, wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants. A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked! "Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God asked. "Uh huh," Adam replied. "Then why did you?" said the Father. "I don't know," said Eve. "She started it!" Adam said "Did not!" "Did too!" "DID NOT!" Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed Quote Link to comment
+Team Ullium Posted November 1, 2004 Share Posted November 1, 2004 I just knew there had to be a logical reason Ullium. Quote Link to comment
Cholo Posted November 2, 2004 Share Posted November 2, 2004 Even further off topic: Your word reminded me of the Iroquois word "ondinnonk". This roughly translates as the soul's innermost benevolent desires. Think of the natural goodness of children before they are corrupted by adults. Can we begin to see why this is an Iroquois word and not an English word? Believe me, the Iroquois learned soon enough about the English. Quote Link to comment
+Team Ullium Posted November 2, 2004 Share Posted November 2, 2004 Even further off topic: Your word reminded me of the Iroquois word "ondinnonk". This roughly translates as the soul's innermost benevolent desires. Think of the natural goodness of children before they are corrupted by adults. Can we begin to see why this is an Iroquois word and not an English word? Believe me, the Iroquois learned soon enough about the English. Whew! I'm glad the Scots were apparently 'inconspicuous' in the Iroquois eyes Ullium. Quote Link to comment
+Brodie Clan Posted November 2, 2004 Share Posted November 2, 2004 Only had to use this one once but its a goodie. There is a micro cache in the Southamton City Centre Parks. Shoppers pass with in feet of it every minute. So we hunted for it for best part of an hour, with out a result, because we just couldnt get stuck in. We came back the next day, but this time my son aged 4 held in his hand...... Wait for it ....... a Tennis Racket with the rehearsed phrase 'have you found the ball yet dad' Cache found in minutes. Try it, it works wonders. Quote Link to comment
+Brodie Clan Posted November 2, 2004 Share Posted November 2, 2004 Only had to use this one once but its a goodie. There is a micro cache in the Southamton City Centre Parks. Shoppers pass with in feet of it every minute. So we hunted for it for best part of an hour, with out a result, because we just couldnt get stuck in. We came back the next day, but this time my son aged 4 held in his hand...... Wait for it ....... a Tennis Racket with the rehearsed phrase 'have you found the ball yet dad' Cache found in minutes. Try it, it works wonders. Quote Link to comment
+M3ZPY Posted November 3, 2004 Share Posted November 3, 2004 This has got to be the best one to fool muggles and could get you arrested: While I was out doing Worsbrough Country Park Deca-cache I was all set to open the cache when an elderly gent walked past me and without even realising my stance he uttered the words and I quote "when tha's got to go..." and carried on his merry way, I then had a quick recap on my position and noticed my back was turned away from the pathway facing the woodland clutching this tupperware box as close to me as I possibly could get!! Hence the reasons of this guys sentence. So I reckon this beats tying laces and looking for lost dogs! Quote Link to comment
+Kitch Posted November 3, 2004 Share Posted November 3, 2004 If its an urban hide.... I don't take a shower for a few days, grab my old jacket, torn jeans, and have a cardboard sign that says wil work for food. Everybody leaves me alone and I sometimes get some "beer" money. Quote Link to comment
AuldWilly Posted November 3, 2004 Share Posted November 3, 2004 I just made up a system that worked for me. My second time out I took a clipboard and became "an inspector". Works really well if you're an "auld", fat, white-haired dude. Quote Link to comment
+Team Ullium Posted November 3, 2004 Share Posted November 3, 2004 "auld", fat, white-haired dude. Someone call me ??? Ullium. Quote Link to comment
+badger Posted November 4, 2004 Share Posted November 4, 2004 I must have been really conspicuous on my second cache, I was spotted by Puppygalore who was leaving the area... Oh well, I'll try harder next time Quote Link to comment
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