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Flash Intro-"Geocaching"
6 minute Movie-"Searching for a cache"
Basic Info
- Buy or borrow a Global Positioning System receiver. A basic unit is the Garmin eTrex GPS or Magellan GPS 315. Both cost about $100 and can be found at stores such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy or online at http://www.amazon.com
- Find a cache near you at <http://www.geocaching.com> Enter a ZIP code and the site will list nearby caches. Select a cache, such as "Geocache by Ray" or "Arboretum One" and click on its "details" button. Write down the cache's coordinates and print out the description. Use the online mapping site link at the bottom of the page to get driving directions to the location.
- While still at home, enter into your GPS receiver the coordinates of the cache as they are listed on the Web site. Coordinates -- such as N 39 degrees 24.661; W degrees 094 14.86 -- describe the latitude and longitude of the site.
- Follow the driving directions until you can drive no closer to the cache and park your car. Follow the arrow on your GPS receiver as it leads you to the cache. Be aware that heavy tree cover can block the GPS signal. Once you leave your car, it could take anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes to find the cache.
- The GPS signal will fluctuate once you are within 100 feet of the cache, so from that point on, you're on your own. Check around stumps and under rock and leaf piles. Remember that almost all caches are placed above ground, so no digging!
- Congratulations! You've found the cache. Take an item, leave an item and record your experience in the logbook. Reseal the cache and put it back exactly the way you found it.
When you get home, e-mail the person who hid the cache and let him know you found it. Also, post a description of your experience on the cache's online page at <http://www.geocaching.com>
Have Fun !GPS info ... Minnesota Geocaching Association ... Geocaching videos
Attachment: etrex.jpg
Call around and see what's out there........ lots of people trade up to newer models and have their used GPS for sale.
I can't bring myself to go into a pawn shop, but I'll check out E-bay.
ahh ebay. the world's largest garage sale/pawn shop. when i buy that digital camera i was talking to you about, jt, unless my current one ends up on the end of a baseball bat, it'll go up on ebay too. looking at whats out there i can probably get around 200-250 bucks for it and the picture dock.
Groundspeak Cache Log
 February 22 by Centris
Never hated a cache find so much in my entire life. Interesting, but awful......
We came DOWN a muddy slope, DOWN some tracks, DOWN another muddy slope, met up with a creepy weirdoin the woods, UP another muddy slope, found the cache after digging thru lots of snow (unnecessarily), DOWN another slope, across the tracks, UP a really steep, really muddy hill where I fell DOWN into an enormous sticker bush and got stuck, fell back DOWN the hill and ripped my new jeans.
I had so many burrs in my hair I was sure I would have to get it all cut off short. I broke a nail and ruined my manicure
All this adventure and we parked only 435feet from the cache -- unbelievable!
KB (and his monkey) are both NOT on my 'favorite people' list today....grrrrr
February 22 by Wallypog (126 found)
My mom was digging thru the snow and putting various curses on Kingboreas about all the mud and I walked over and found the cache. I can't believe nobody has taken it. My GPS said about 80-90 feet away from where it was, but you really can't miss it if you look around.
We saw a guy in the woods who looked just like kingboreas and we didn't realize it was not him until after he came a lot closer.Big mistake.
Take my advice and don't park on the side street and come down thru the stickers and mud. Park at the real parking lot and hike in.
Took nothing, left nothing, but it ended up being an interesting day.
Bad Randy and I have to head out to get C-bug tomorrow morning - It is a little over a mile hike right next to the river - very windy and cold! I hope she is still there and is not too lonely and sad. I am still mad at your monkey and thinking hard about how to punish him.
That guy at orphans DID look like you up until about 200-300 feet away, (but you are better looking and have better hair) and he turned out to be a *major* pervy creep.
For the life of me I don't understand why these weirdos hang out all alone in the parks like that, especially when it is so cold out.
:::::::shiver::::::: I can't imagine they get all that much action out there like that............
Centris:
You need to remember which forum you're posting in. I guess we can't "chit-chat" in the Birthday room. I wonder if we should create a "Insider Chit-Chat" room ? Who the hell is that, anyway? Do you know?
And regarding last night? How many hours did that last? I was up way longer than I planned.
What did you tell me that I'm supposed to forget? I probably already did, unless it's about early removal.
No idea who that is -- some old grumpy granny who hates us.
Can't chat in the birthday room, can't chat in the bug room, can't chat in the meeting room....... what's the world coming to?
Yes we should create a personal off-topic chit chat thread. I can't believe how many people are sooooooo serious and have no sense of humor at all.
And regarding last night? How many hours did that last? I was up way longer than I planned.
Do you really, really, really want me to answer this in a public forum?????
It was a l-o-n-g time............hours upon hours upon hours of pure bliss. Seriously? I think about two and a half hours. Was it good for you too?
What did you tell me that I'm supposed to forget?
Now you sound like my husband.
early removal
not even touching this
http://www.m.kth.se/m95_bef/geo/worldp.asp
It's not updated, but I still like looking at it.
CCCooper is at 183+/- and I'm at 169
I have a "virtual cache" near the Conservatory. This is an item, or sign, etc. that you describe in order to claim a 'find'. Just by saying Conservatory, or Como, most of you could figure it out. Here is an e-mail I got today:
God it was cold out in the wind. I trust that the object you are refering to is the concrete frog. I thought the place must have some official name, but the guard in the conservatory said, "We just call it the frog pond".So much for poetry.
Lol!
You know what?? I always swore that the day geocaching became no fun was the day that I quit! Well today might be it!
I am so sick of people raggin on me. Paul posted that I hit 200 bug finds (which is really an awesome accomplishment) and all weekend, emails from people griping.
In the forums, who is alwaysthe first to say "woo-hoo, way to go" when somebody hits a milestone or has some success -- it's me!
So now that I am up in the top on the bug grabbers, everyone is giving me grief....... Nobody thinks it is cool at all except me and Paul. I am now fair game to criticize put down -- how nice is that????
No good bugs to be found -- must be Centris fault -- NOT!
It is a dilemma -- do I go on and reach my goal as #1 in the world for one shining day and incur the wrath and crap of all these idiots who have nothing bettter to do than complain? or quit?
So sick of it this week!
awwww- go visit Bad Randy @ the Hemp Farm. Better yet, team up with Marley looking for the coin.
Only one of the Cooler Crew bugs left Harriet, and I took it off Members Only for a day. NOBODY has a reason to bitch. Don't let 'em get ya. I'm 4 away in hides ... mtn-man ain't stopping me.
Well -- I suppose I had better get to editing my KB logs today, eh? Some folks will be in a world of hurt when/if you start deleting.
I just read that Hardware (who I suspect is also glisher) is going to start grabbing and moving bugs and not logging them just to keep them away from the bug grabbers -- as if! What an idiot!
Hardware is one of those reporter guys, isn't he? Damn, I had it figured out, but I can't remember. Media Jackal ?
Mmmmm....jackals.
I am about halfway through editing my posts -- it has been a fun walk down memory lane to be reading all these logs from everybody who has visited the caches.
I'll get Paul to edit his later, he is going to hate that -- he does TN/LN way more often than I do since we often do only one trade and I am the first one to log it.
You are only 4 away huh?? May I suggest Twin Park in Coon Rapids?? Parking coords are N45 09.920 & W93 19.280.
I had planned on placing one there because of the snowflake hunt, but since I am considering quitting geocaching it is now free and open for you -- I even have a copy of the clues if you want them and a great "after" picture of the field that was tromped through.
Lots of trees and great hollow spots if you head back toward the north fence, but be careful of the area that floods in the middle -- go check it out....... you'll see
You don't have to edit
Well you shouldn't threaten to edit if you don't mean it (grin) -- actually it was fun to go through the past logs and see what folks were coming around and what they are writing -- brought me out of my funky mood.
I ought to keep more caches on my watch list since it is unlimited -- I am only watching 32 caches now -- 17 of which are KB caches, but but all are northern, like Columbia Heights, Fridley, Coon Rapids, etc and they are not visited that often.
I have been called a new name -- now I am a "bug bunny" -- it gives a whole new dimension and thought to my bug grabbing activities -- hmmmmmm............
Don't let em get ya down Centris! Go for it! Don't quit something you enjoy because of some grouchy jealous fools!
Congradulations! Way to go!
Well you shouldn't threaten to edit if you don't mean it (grin)
Everyone missed the April 1 start. And on top of that, it's April Fools Day. I edited/deleted most of it. I don't give a shit any more. Let the Board deal with angry Park Departments, right? Oh yeah, you're on the board.
Oh yeah, you're on the board.
Oh yeah, I am a chairperson on the board -- whoops I forgot! Anyway there is only one time I "claimed" the title and went to bat against the admins for a friend....... other than that it has just been a reason for people to gritch and moan to me and argue with me.
Can't wait until I can claim the title of PAST chairperson and sit back and watch everybody else who thinks they can do it better.
today I had my first physical therapy appointment for back pain. I was wearing a geocaching sweatshirt, and Amy (my therapist) asked if I was involved? Well, yeah. Anyway, she does her 'caching up north and asked about Beaver Dam Booty. (Only 3 people have found it in 16 months.) They are going for it on their next trip up.
She lives near Bunker, and I'm SURE those caches will be visited soon.
How cool is that???
On a different note........Got this email from a guy at Great Plains geo-assn this morning -- I didn't know anything about this and was not involved in the initial discussion, but it's something to think about.
"Just a quick note with regard to the buzz about degrading GPS signals during wartime. I would like to believe that there are enough businesses using GPS that the government wouldn't institute degrading, but I've seen articles on reputable web sites refuting each other."
Today at 10:30 am Erik~l-r~ (WHATEVER) approved my 191st cache placed (hidden), giving me the #1 ranking in the
WORLD !
-- so are you posting this bit of news on the other boards so we can all get SNARKY at you about monopolizingthe area?? (kidding)
Truly -- congratulations! I think it is great even if nobody else ever does.
I'll be right over to dump a huge cooler full of Gatorade on your head in celebration! (isn't that what they do to the winner?)
Way to go Ian!!!That makes you a world leader then doesn't it? Maybe there's something you can do about the war then. ;o)
I thought this cachewas stolen, but it seems to have landed somewhere in Iraq.
No shit?
It's in Iraq?
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=38643
Have scribe log in, and take a look at this one. A couple of Clue Master's boms are falling toward Baghdad. It's in "cyber-baghdad"
The 101st Airborne was sent to Iraq, so when my cache was missing, it only made sense that it must be there with them. Here are a couple of logs:
March 28 by tricolor (294 found)
I was in town on business, so I thought I'd get this one over lunch. Had to sandwhack the last 100ft or so, but I don't feel the 5-star terrain is warranted IMHO. Difficulty was probly right on as there was much stealth required at the cache. There was no pencil in the cache and my pen wouldnt work, so I could not sign the log. I was not the first finder either. TNLN. thanx
March 28 by Moe the Sleaze (250 found)
When I got to the cache location, all I found was a big crater. I think you'll need to archive this one
She's now a World-Class Dominatrix
(I think that's what she said ?)
Can you read between the lines?
_________________________________________________
Looking for more material?
_________________________________________________
(grin) - yup, that's me........ Lots of cowering men in my path today!
Maybe your 250 tag needs to be attached to my whip!
So far have received congrats from bthomas and WaldenRun, but I don't think Feathers is amused by my shenanigans last night.
Did you see your friend back on his perch this morning? I couldn't bear to take him -- he would miss you too much!
"Gary" is an idiot -- don't let him get to you.
I left home at 1:30 this morning to start work at 2:00 ... a little tired, dragging my ass to the car, carrying the garbage, and my backpack. Get to the driveway, the security light came on, and I immediately noticed my "friend" came back. Had the loudest, best laugh I've had in a long time. Thanks, N.
Release to all media:
On March 31st, 2003, there were only four "World Class" bug grabbers who had logged over 200 Travel bugs found.
They were.......
bthomas with 245 finds.
FEATHERS with 244 finds.
Centris with 239 finds.
WaldenRun with 231 finds.
That all changed the very next day.......
...........when Centris hit 250 finds, and for one shining day she was the #1 bug grabber on
<www.geocaching.com>
April 1st, 2003......
Centris with 250 finds
FEATHERS with 245 finds
bthomas with 245 finds and
Now she can finally quit this crazyness........
Whose bug was the lucky #250 ? Hmmmmmmm ?
Congrats Centris!
Thanks!! Even the snarkers aren't getting me down today.
Hmmmm.... two Geocachers currently holding records on geo.com
Both from Minnesota --- must be the water or the cold or boredom or................ something???
My two little pink bears are sitting here so cute on my desk.
oooooooh, you have a cellular one guy? He is very cool!(cooler in green)
LOL....... I know it looks like a guy -- but it is a girl. (see the pearls?)
She is Princess Bug Bunny and she travels around giving high fives to manic geocachers.
Actually Target had a bunch of these in their clearance bin for 27 cents -- they are "supposed" to be napkin rings if you can imagine that. They had whole multicolor tableware sets in this theme.
I don't know what I would think of going to a dinner party that had little naked blue happy people holding big cloth napkins between their legs.......and who would want to pull it out and use it????
Nope -- too weird!
Congratulations Centris
#200, 201, 202 and 203 Stillhave not been approved. Tomorrow will be one week.
Well that article was well hidden in the site -- I didn't even see it until you pointed it out. I was #1 for 6 days - it was great.
However.....I am no longer #1 -- Feathers and WaldenRun went to an event yesterday and each bagged a bunch of bugs. I am down to #2, but I am OK with that -- too much trouble to stay on top.
I wonder what is up with the approval team?? Only one cache approved since 4/2. I bet RJ has some waiting too.
\09\09\09\09
I cannot blame the police in this day and age, but I still think it is a tad silly.
The real issue here is that the cache was not hidden that well. I can accept all fault for that - it was pointed out several times to me and I knew it from the moment I hid it.
I have already stopped hiding olive-drab ammo boxes even before this incident. My newer caches in ammo boxes are all now hand-cammo'd with a mix of brown, tan, black, and forest green. All still have the official sticker on them as well.
Details:
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Quote:
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HI Towlebooth-
We went to Perry's Cache in Como today and were greeted by four police officers. They said that a park clean-up crew found your cache and was worried that it was in an ammo box so they called the police who called the bomb-squad. The bomb squad was on the way when we showed up in the area. Although we were trying to be inconspicuous, as we always are when caching, I guess we looked suspicious b/c the officers approached us (we thought they were just hanging out chatting...two were bike cops the other 2 in a squad) Anyway we described that it was a geocache and they began to ask alot of questions about what it looked like etc. We told them about the website, and how it all works. They took our info and asked us to email you. They weren't real thrilled about the ammo box container as it is "too suspicious in this day and age." We all went over and we showed them what it was, how it had been marked, and the contents. Anyway it has been "disabled" by the St. Paul police and they said if you want to pick up the cache you have to go down to the St. Paul station to sign for it.
ps- we offered to a take picture with your camera of us with the cops but they weren't into it...oh well. The most memorable cache by far!
\09
The most memorable cache by far!
I'd say. Cool. I wish I was there since I always have my camera with me on hunts.
soooo, I can see it now...
place: Police station
police officers playing with the toys and putting them on their desks like in the Leathal Weapon movies or Starsky & Hutch.
OR maybe you should show up and just tell them you want to switch an item for another item and the cache can just stay there...maybe place a condom or bullets or even illegal substances in the cache hehehehe
only the bravest of cachers will go there to trade :)
maybe even they may trade a cache for a prisoner.
actually that'd be a cool idea
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Officer: Excuse me, but what are you doing there?
Terrorist: Uh, officer! Hello there. Uh, nothing actually, I’m, er, just placing a Geocache, yes, that’s it, putting out a Geocache!
Officer: Hmmm, a Geocache, eh?
Terrorist: Yes, yes. It is a fine wholesome family activity. I am placing this cache here for people to find, yes.
Officer: Well, I can see you have some kind of stickers on the ammo can there, is there information on there?
Terrorist: Oh, yes, yes, there is a tremendous amount of information for you on the stickers, Great profundity of information...
Officer: Uh-huh, I see. What’s inside? Open it up and let me see.
Terrorist: Uh, yes, of course, open it, yes. Uh, wait just one little moment so I can put this little cotter pin back in this little bitty hole here....
Officer: Hmmm, what’s the cotter pin for?
Terrorist: Oh, it is nothing, it is so the music does not play when the box is opened, yes, the music...
Officer: I see... so can you open it now?
Terrorist: Yes, yes, immediately of course... there, you see, it is just full of items wholesome families can trade for.
Officer: Oh yeah, what’s that?
Terrorist: Oh, that? It is nothing, it is just some white modeling clay for children to play with... yes, harmless.
Officer: Hmmm, modeling clay, eh? Well, what is that? Why are there batteries in there?
Terrorist: Hmm, yes, batteries...well, we put batteries in our caches so that those whose batteries get low can put them in their GPS in order to better find more of them... yes, harmless as you can see....
Officer: Okay, what about the little silver cylinder with the wires coming out the end that’s stuck in the modeling clay?
Terrorist: Oh that, it is nothing, it is a Christmas ornament, yes, just an ornament. It must have become entangled in the clay while I was carrying it around with me. Yes, I will have to disentangle it before I place the cache, thank you so much for pointing it out to me...
Officer: Okay, well, seems harmless enough. Hey, can you make the music play for me?
Terrorist: Uh, actually, it will only play one time, for the first person to find it.... It is a, er, reward for being a first-to-find....
Officer: Ah, too bad...oh well. Have fun caching then.
"With tongue firmly placed in cheek"
soooo, what are YOU trying to say about our law inforcement, eh?
Or Geocachers?
or terrorists?