Geocaching

[THERESA]

I never heard of Geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/faq/) until tonight. My oldest daughter was looking at my room mate's (some of you know that is Ray) GPS (http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/). She was asking him about it and he was explaining it to her. (I heard of GPS before but that was the extent of it) I wasn't paying attention to the conversation and the next thing I know she is all excited asking me if we can all go on a treasure hunt. I had no idea what she was talking about. Ray filled me in a little bit and I became intrigued.

We all piled in the car GPS in hand and off we went. It led us to Genesee Valley park (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3808). We had to move quickly because we had to hurry up to get out of there before it got dark out.

We saw 4 deer about 200 feet away running through the woods along with us. We were getting so close to finding our treasure at this point it said we were only about 200 feet from it. Then when it said we were 80 feet away, there was a creek in our way. :motz: The person that hid this cache, had left a poem on the geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/) website that said "over the river and through the woods.................... there is a path for the meek" We figured we were going to run into water somewhere but that there would be a way to get over it. There was a bridge but not near where we were. We had to go back and change our route. We found the bridge and then got to the spot we wanted to be, on the OTHER side of the creek within 80 feet of our "treasure." The GPS got us within 14 feet of the cache and we began scouring the area looking for it. It was described as a Lock'N'Lock smothered in camouflage tape.

Ray was the one that found it. It was about eye level hung on a hook on a tree. It blended right in. What gave it away was the neon green push pin that was stuck in the tree directly above it. (not sure if the person that originally hid the cache put the pin there or someone that searched for it after) It was a very small cylinder about two inches long. It was very small in diameter. A bic pen would not fit width wise inside of it. (Ray was trying to fish out the clue that was locked inside using a pen and it was too wide) We finally got it out and it was a clue to the next one that is hidden within 1000 feet of the one we just found.

It was getting dark so we had to move really fast. We quickly wrote down the clue (coordinates to enter into the GPS) that was in the cylinder, and headed back.

That was really exciting. I am looking forward to doing this again but I would prefer to do it in the summer. :)

If you plan on doing this, follow these Do's and Don'ts (http://www.treadlightly.org/page.php/news-pressrelease/Press-Release?i=7&gclid=CNzSr_mZp5ECFQR4Hgodv0ZZYA)

[popowich]

There was a tree that had my attention and I checked it a couple of times but did not see anything. A little later JennaBenna98 got me to go back and check it again saying that was her best guess too. That last time a little green push pin caught my eye, and the rest is history.

-Raymond

[Raven]

Sounds like fun. How can we play it online. :D

[THERESA]

Maybe I can come visit you sometime and look for one near your house with you.:) They have them all over the U.S.

[Raven]

Sounds great. I have been waiting for you to say you will visit. :yippee:

Maybe I can come visit you sometime and look for one near your house with you.:) They have them all over the U.S.

[Cittykat07]

Sounds great. I have been waiting for you to say you will visit. :yippee:

can i come 2?

[Raven]

Sure. Do you like birds. I have like 20 some. And a cat.

can i come 2?

[popowich]

I get to assist the great Eric next weekend at a geocaching class in Buffalo (http://wnyscouting.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=profile&refno=25851)!

-Raymond

[THERESA]

I get to assist the great Eric next weekend at a geocaching class in Buffalo (http://wnyscouting.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=profile&refno=25851)!

-Raymond

Have fun and don't worry about the house while you are gone, the girls and I won't make it even more girlie or anything. :innocent:

[THERESA]

:yippee: I found my first geocache yesterday while camping. I took a small magnetic ladybug for the fridge and left a dollar.

Team DiscussNY found 3 total. :rockernana:

[esnagel]

Congrats! In an unprecedented day, I went 3/4! The last was funny... we were on the wrong side of a ridge, so had to walk around (about a 1/4 mile detour). Then after looking for about 30-40 minutes, I said, "Well, I give up - Oh my God!" and there it was - right in front of me. I should've given up after 2 minutes, maybe I'd have found it sooner :)

[popowich]

Yes, we went three for three yesterday!

There was a 4th attempt but there were people playing ball near it so we skipped it.

I started a Geocaching Pictures (http://www.discussny.com/album.php?albumid=27) album, and also started a Geocaching Social Group (http://www.discussny.com/group.php?groupid=2).

I had a lot of problems with my GPS accuracy last weekend at Letchworth and this weekend while at Webster Park. I downloaded some updates for my GPS and got it's software up to date so hopefully I'll have better accuracy while working on my next finds!

-Raymond

[popowich]

Here is a picture of Theresa's first find lady bug.

Not to be confused with first to find.

This is the first one she found before the rest of us, not the first ones at the cache.

-Raymond

[THERESA]

Yes, we went three for three yesterday!

There was a 4th attempt but there were people playing ball near it so we skipped it.
-Raymond

3 for 3!!! :yay::yippee::rockernana:

[esnagel]

The one we didn't find had a terrain rating of 3-1/2... having 3 9 & 10 year-olds with us, we stopped looking. I was even having trouble on the side of the ravine.

[Kaos]

Way to go Theresa!!!! Girl Power...and all that stuff

[Westchesterguy]

I've gotta get a handheld
GPS this sounds like fun.

[THERESA]

You should definitely try it. It's really fun.

[popowich]

I think I am doing some more tomorrow in Buffalo.

Do we know what geocaches we are going after yet? :wavey:

[THERESA]

I think I am doing some more tomorrow in Buffalo.

Do we know what geocaches we are going after yet? :wavey:

Who are you talking to?

[popowich]

Eric. If he can go we are working on: GCT00W, GCVJB0, GCG9ET, GC171XX

[popowich]

I found GCXGZJ tonight. I'll include the official log below. What I didn't put in the log is that while digging it out of the hill i wasn't sure what it was. It's definitely the biggest geocache box I've found. The problem was that is was casket shaped, and next to a cemetery. It was too small for a person, but a small pet could have fit inside. For a minute or two I really wasn't sure if I was digging up a casket or a damaged geocache. Once half of it was unearthed I saw a "geo" sticker on the middle of the side and felt not so bad about digging it up.

Hello,I am sorry to report that this site was recently bulldozed over and the cache was damaged. I found it barely sticking out of a dirt pile and buried in branches, rocks, and other debris. It took a lot of effort to remove it from the hill. If you get there soon you will see what I mean. There was water in it, the items were wet and/or rusty, and the log book was soaked. Even the stuff inside the zip lock baggies. I wasn't sure what to do, and actually it seemed very lucky that I found it. I moved it a short safe distance away until the owner can relocate it. The cache is now located at N 43.08.293 by W 077.44.404 as of about 6:00pm on May 15, 2008.
-Raymond

[popowich]

I went geocaching (http://www.discussny.com/group.php?groupid=2) with Eric (http://www.discussny.com/member.php?u=12) and Steve (http://www.discussny.com/member.php?u=488) yesterday afternoon. It was a nice afternoon and I got a slight skull burn and pricked several times by some Cheektowaga pricker trees, but it was a good day overall. We went 3 and 2/3 out of 4, so technically we only found three. The first cache GCT00W we found parts one and two but did not find the final. The three that we found are GC171XX, GCVJB0, and GCG9ET. We had a tough time finding the coordinates for the first leg of the first cache. Eventually Steve found them on the bridge. A picture of the faded coordinates is attached below. A couple of these caches were in public places so we had to try and be careful about making other people curious about what were were up to. Eric was so good at it he started having a fake discussion about pine cones with me and I didn't realize he had already found a cache. :laughing6: I attached some more pictures here, and also updated a few of my picture albums (http://www.discussny.com/album.php?u=8), and also the geocaching social group (http://www.discussny.com/group.php?groupid=2).

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I'll have to remember my camera next time! The one on my phone doesn't cut it. However, I'm quite happy as this was my first time paperless-geocaching. I used the wap.geocaching.com mobile site to lookup cache info, logs & hints. It worked fine as I had great coverage - but not something to rely on in Letchworth, where coverage is scarce.

I also picked up my first Travel Bug - (http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?guid=048d79a7-5b2a-41bb-9707-165d19bc46e5)The Unknown Soldier Geocoin (http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?guid=048d79a7-5b2a-41bb-9707-165d19bc46e5). Now I have to find a good cache to place it in.

[popowich]

I forgot to mention that Eric and I compares GPS settings and after disabling battery saver mode and the option under it in the main settings my accuracy was great! I spent a lot of the day at +/- 9 to 12 or so. Thanks! :yay:

-Raymond

[popowich]

I also learned an idea on how to make a geocache.

Use a peanut butter container and wrap it in camouflage duct tape.

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I forgot to mention that Eric and I compares GPS settings and after disabling battery saver mode and the option under it in the main settings my accuracy was great! I spent a lot of the day at +/- 9 to 12 or so. Thanks! :yay:

-Raymond

On a Garmin, that's Setup > System:

GPS: Normal
WAAS / EGNOS: Enabled

I was getting 7' accuracy in some parts! 12' if normal for me. From Garmin (http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/waas.html):

You've heard the term WAAS, seen it on packaging and ads for Garmin® products, and maybe even know it stands for Wide Area Augmentation System. Okay, so what the heck is it? Basically, it's a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. How much better? Try an average of up to five times better. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters 95 percent of the time. And you don't have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay service fees to utilize WAAS.

http://www8.garmin.com/graphics/WAASaccuracy2.gif

[popowich]

We went 2 for 4 tonight. JennaBenna98 went with me for a couple that are located around my house. All of them were within 2 miles which is nice. We found GCTACF and GC144NM. We are pretty sure we know where GCWRNE is, but there were too many people around and a car parked in that parking space. The one in the middle we gave up on was a hard one GCX5G8. It is a 5 part multi cache. We didn't even find the first part. But quickly found the others when we moved on. It was a nice night out and had some spare time to play at one of the local parks.

-Raymond

[popowich]

We were talking about the trackable geocaching coins over the weekend.

Here are the geocaching trackable coin policies (http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=116641).

-Raymond

[popowich]

There are 579505 active caches worldwide.

In the last 7 days, there have been 437855 new logs written by 60683 account holders.

wow.

-Raymond

[popowich]

I found two more today! This is fun! :D

Eric, what do you think about a race to 100? :yay:

-Raymond

[Cittykat07]

Sounds like fun. How can we play it online. :D

thats a good idea! although we don't know any game creators. you could have a "gps" and it would help you find the area and then we could have the mouse pretend to be the eyeballs. then you just look and search. it would be really fun!

[esnagel]

You'd kill me in a race to 100. Although I do plan on taking it to Boston with me and picking up a few there.

[popowich]

50? :)

[esnagel]

The advantage you have is free time. While there may be more caches around me, I only get out once a month IF THAT. I can't believe some of these people have found > 1,000. I guess if that's all you do, then it's doable. I just need to get out more.

[esnagel]

I just bought 2 geocoins from eBay:

http://i15.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/e5/02/7487_1.JPG (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=2&campid=5335857168&toolid=10001&customid=&ext=190221944762&item=190221944762)

http://i10.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/f0/ac/f61f_1.JPG (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=2&campid=5335857168&toolid=10001&customid=&ext=200224520778&item=200224520778)

I'm giving the pirate one to my son & keeping the microchip one to place myself. They include unique tracking numbers, trackable on the geocaching.com website.

[esnagel]

I took my 5-year-old daughter out tonight, but we didn't have much luck. Too many muggles and no luck w/ microcaches. One was in a cannon in Sheridan Park (no find), then we looked in some newspaper boxes, 2 no finds. Then we went in the middle of the woods, saw 6 deer & 4 wild turkeys and made a find! But I forgot to take a photo! DOH!

We stopped twice more... first was a no find & my daughter needed a potty break, so we stopped @ my parents house. Then on the way home we tried 1 more, but there were more geosmashers around so didn't even get out of the car.

So we found 1, looked for 5, didn't try 1. Not a good night, but given the circumstances, I'm still happy I'm +1. Oh, and I got a geocoin... Canadian one ("Canadian Caches from Eh to Zed")

Eric

[popowich]

My DC power cigarette lighter adapter came in today.

I have the dashboard mounting kit on the way too.

Now all I need is a mobile phone for looking up new caches and getting alerts!

-Raymond

[esnagel]

Why did you get a "DC power cigarette lighter adapter"? What are you charging? I just got 2 from woot.com... Philips 80 Watt Power Inverter - 2 Pack for $17.99 including s/h.

The dashboard mount would be nice, but luckily in my Maxx there's a spot I can stand up the GPS.

I love using wap.geocaching.com on my Moto Q - you should check it out.

I've got 4 lined up for this weekend, if I can get up to Canada. Not including whatever we may do together Friday night.

[popowich]

I figured that's better than using up my batteries while I am driving around.

I plan to start trying to use the driving directions feature for some road trips too.

-Raymond

[popowich]

I went 8/8 on trackable geocaches this weekend. There was a 9th that does not count as a find as it was part of a multi cache, and a 10th one that was a night cache that we did not attempt but I'm saving for my next trip to Buffalo. All 8 were found in the Buffalo New York area. Everyone who went geocaching found at least 1 cache! You can find the pictures from the trip spread out across my albums (http://www.discussny.com/album.php?u=8).

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I found a total of 7 Friday & Sunday, and placed 2 geocoins. Going after 1 more today. Photos still on my camera.

Hit up Buckhorn Island State Park yesterday; had to pick some ticks off me after the last one - yuck!

[popowich]

We went 1/2 today. The find was my third attempt. I had to take the proper tools along. The other was also a reattempt, but this one needing the fixed accuracy. I'm going to need to figure out a tool for GC140R9 too and go back at night, it's far too busy during the day. I forgot my camera today. too. :(

-Raymond

[esnagel]

1/1 today. Was at a party w/ cache 1/2 mile away, so took off for 10 minutes, found the cache, signed the log & back before anyone knew I was gone.

[THERESA]

Sounds like you are a touch addicted. :D

[esnagel]

Just trying to keep ahead of Ray

[popowich]

I'll have to pick up some more tomorrow. :yippee:

[popowich]

There is a geocaching event (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0287dd0a-ca03-4234-bf33-32b5f61467a3) that will be held at Letchworth in October! :)

-Raymond

[popowich]

I found 3 more tonight but forgot my camera. :(

-Raymond

[esnagel]

:gah: Ray takes the lead! I need to get out sometime soon - I pass 2 every day, but with tons of muggles around, don't get a chance to grab them.

[popowich]

4 more tonight. Submitting them now. :yay:

[popowich]

Hi Eric,

I found 3 more today. I found my favorite cache so far too: Are you feeling lucky? (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=fc9baaec-c3fb-4818-93d3-c8dc0a1bd148) It is located on the Pfrengle Property (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3768), a wild park located in Chili New York. This cache is pure evil, but I plan on changing it a bit to make it a little more evil and my first hide. While looking for part one of this multicache I found some red ants (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3769). The first part is over 100 small plastic film containers contained in an office water jug. They just fit through the opening and took about 30 seconds to check each one. The coordinated for the final were spread across two film containers. I found them in containers 32 and 87. When I found the first one I thought I got lucky since I could hear the paper in it, but that was the first of 85 heckles that I was about to find. The first one said "Do you need a snack?" but there were many others such as "Are there a lot of mosquitoes today?" and "If you meet me in real life I hope you won't hate me." or something along those lines. I includes some pictures of the jug with film canisters below. I highly recommend this cache to anyone who can make the trip to Rochester.

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I surrender. You win.

I'm going to my wife's aunt's property tomorrow to build a deck, and my in-laws cottage on Sunday to build a kitchen floor. While I'll try to pick up a cache or two, I won't be able to do the 6 I had planned here locally. At least I'll be able to take the Canadian coin back to the mother country.

[popowich]

I tried to go out and get two more around 8:00pm tonight and went 1/2. The first one I found but went in the wrong way and ended up having to do some jumps, use rocks to cross the swaps, and figure out the spots where the deer like to cross Black Creek. After I found the first one I popped out as an oasis of sorts and found the Chili Nature Trail. I turned around, made my way back to my truck, and found the correct parking spot on my way to #2 for the night at Union Station Park in West Chili. I did not find this one since it got too dark in the woods before I could find it. I'll try and start off tomorrow with GCKDXH.

-Raymond

[popowich]

I did some more geocaching today and picked up 3 more plus part 1 of 9 of a 4th multicache. We found GCKDXH at Union Station Park (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3771), along with GC271F and GCV8QJ in Black Creek Park (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3793). We also found the first part of GCRA6P. I added several new geocaching pictures (http://www.discussny.com/album.php?albumid=27) to my geocaching album too. Today brings me to a total of 42 geocache finds! :D

-Raymond

[popowich]

I received a notification text message for a new hide near me at 10:08pm tonight for Aberdeen (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=f2ce5a75-d983-4d47-96eb-877179034add). I was the first person to arrive and had a 15 minute or so head start on the second person to arrive. We searched for about an hour and couldn't find it. Geocacher #2 (a geocaching veteran) suspected it's possible some digits on the posting may be transposed. Too bad, I was really psyched at the possibility of getting my first "first to find". :(

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I went 0/2 this weekend; on the way to a roofing project (I'm a weekend handyman (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=2462)) I stopped and tried to put my Canadian geocoin back in Canada, but was foiled by the defenses of ticks. Next weekend, armed w/ long pants & bugspray, I'll succeed!

On Saturday I was early to a decking project and tried to get one, but it was very wet and I wasn't dressed properly. I only had sneakers w/ me and was w/out a change of clothes. Too bad - I won't be getting up that way again anytime soon.

[popowich]

Tonight I got a late start and did a 5 part multicache called Weid Remember (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=e1a946ba-f0a5-4ca8-ab33-3c5f34b167b7). All five parts were located on a bike trail running between Genesee Valley Park (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3808) and the Rochester International Airport (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3807). I completed it in a little over an hour and walked roughly two miles. I liked the final hide and the way the bark was used to cover up the hole in the hollowed out tree. While walking the trail I saw the Chili Fire Department training, and also managed to suffer my worst geo injury. I'll live, but while looking for part 3 of Weid Remember I got poked in the eye by a tree branch. I saw where the cache was, got a little excited, went down for it too fast, and caught a small branch that was sticking up direct in my eye. It's still sore and bloodshot red an hour later and took a while for it to stop watering. I normally don't care about the branches, prickers, and getting all nicked up but I had the Lasik Eye Surgery (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3809) done last august in Niagara Falls so I'm understandably a little protective of my eyes now. I like posting pictures so I took one of my geocaching red eye to go with this post. :)

-Raymond

[esnagel]

... On Saturday I was early to a decking project and tried to get one, but it was very wet and I wasn't dressed properly.

Some photos where I didn't find a geocache, but it looked nice. Sorry for the quality, or lack thereof - I used my phone to take the pictures.

[THERESA]

Still nice! Hey Ray, you can use that pic of your eye under the "I can still see you" thread. :laughing6:

[popowich]

I need to convert to paperless geocaching. Here is a picture of the stack of caches that I printered but did not have time to try and find yet. They are scattered all over the Rochester and Buffalo areas. I have them clipped together by area such as Buffalo, Genesee Valley Park, Black Creek Park, around town near me, and other misc Rochester caches. What a waste of paper and ink, not to mention the annoyance of carrying them around!

-Raymond

[THERESA]

Ray is addicted to geocaching. He had me go online and control a live webcam at the University of Rochester and take pictures for one he is working on. What next??? Although it was fun telling him where to go. :laughing6:
errrr I mean where to stand. :cool:

[Rebecky]

Ray is addicted to geocaching. He had me go online and control a live webcam at the University of Rochester and take pictures for one he is working on. What next??? Although it was fun telling him where to go. :laughing6:
errrr I mean where to stand. :cool:
LOL. now that's funny!

I first heard of Geocaching about 4 years ago. I thought it would put another element of fun in our "lets-drive-until-we-get-lost-and-find-our-way-back" trips. Just haven't had the extra cash to put on a GPS yet. Reading these have gotten me really pumped to start though!

[THERESA]

LOL. now that's funny!

I first heard of Geocaching about 4 years ago. I thought it would put another element of fun in our "lets-drive-until-we-get-lost-and-find-our-way-back" trips. Just haven't had the extra cash to put on a GPS yet. Reading these have gotten me really pumped to start though!

You could tag along anytime. Ray goes on days that end in "Y". Me, not so often. :cool:

[popowich]

I got my 50th tonight! I have a lot of pictures and info that will have to wait until tomorrow.

-Raymond

[esnagel]

Congrats on your 50th!

Paperless is great - if you have cell access. When in Canada, I still bring paper copies, although I'm sure I could save the PDFs to my phone, too.

[popowich]

Ray is addicted to geocaching. He had me go online and control a live webcam at the University of Rochester and take pictures for one he is working on.

University of Rochester Eastman Quadrangle Web Cam (http://www.rochester.edu/aboutus/chapelwebcam.html)

I just got a shot of the nearby bridge for Raven.

I took several other bridge shots last night too that I'll get posted later today. :)

-Raymond

[popowich]

I got my 50th tonight! I have a lot of pictures and info that will have to wait until tomorrow.

I'm spreading the pictures out across the site. The big news is that I found my 50th cache. My 50th was On the Mark (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=1c5e0598-9119-486d-80c0-e703e23c4544). I was rushing since it was dark out and didn't think to take a picture of this one. I found 7 caches and part of an 8th last night, and went 2/3 tonight, including finding an empty bug terminal (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b0754ff1-e607-4811-9ffc-cc6a900ef50a) at the Rochester Airport (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3807). I spent most of my time walking in and around Genesee Valley Park (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3808) and the University of Rochester (http://www.rochester.edu/). The next milestones that I am aiming for are 100, 250, and 500! :yay:

-Raymond

[popowich]

Local Geocaching Contest (http://www.routes5and20.com/) and the Cache List (http://www.routes5and20.com/geocaching.cfm).

-Raymond

[esnagel]

Are you planning on doing this contest?

[popowich]

Yes!

[Raven]

Are you going to try and Geocach a Raven soon. :p No pictures please. I like to remain a mystery. :p

[popowich]

We went 3/3 tonight. I found one, and Theresa found the other two first. We also found another travel bug. The mosquitoes were out in full force tonight. I got quickly irritated by being simultaneously bitten by 7 mosquitoes at any given time. :motz: We visited some trails in the new Gates Town Park (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3862) and also along the Erie Canal (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3861) at Henpeck Park (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3860). There was a frog near the second cache that didn't mind posing for a few pictures. Theresa took three pictures of it and it didn't move. She also took a crack at a fourth geocache that I previously failed to find outside of Applebees. All in all it was a good night. At the rate I'm going I've decided to increase my caches found goal for this year from 100 to 250. That's right, I want to be at 250 before the end of 2008. :yay:

-Raymond

[THERESA]

The frog just sat there and didn't move. I decided to see how close I could get the camera. I seriously think he would have let me lie it on his back. I am sure I could have caught him and would have if Jenna were with me. She loves frogs just like I did when I was her age. :frog: Maybe I should have carried the frog around on my shoulders to eat all the mosquitos. They were RIDICULOUS!! I was eaten alive! :censored1:

[Raven]

OH NO, at this rate I will never get new additions to MCF. Maybe I need some geocaching going on in there. :p

I've decided to increase my caches found goal for this year from 100 to 250. That's right, I want to be at 250 before the end of 2008. :yay:

-Raymond

[diane7]

LOL. now that's funny!

I first heard of Geocaching about 4 years ago. I thought it would put another element of fun in our "lets-drive-until-we-get-lost-and-find-our-way-back" trips. Just haven't had the extra cash to put on a GPS yet. Reading these have gotten me really pumped to start though!

the FIRST i heard of Geocaching was this Forum :D
I realy thought it was a field trip to Catch Geckoes ;) :siterock:

[popowich]

Geocaches are hidden all over the world.

You can Seek a Geocache (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/) and find out where they are in your area. :)

-Raymond

[popowich]

This weekend is the 4-H Camp Cache Bash (http://www.4hcampsny.org/bristol_hills/CacheBash08.html).

I'm looking forward to some camping, meeting some geocachers, and finding some more caches!

-Raymond

[popowich]

I finally got some geocaching done today! We went 7/8 with 9 in the plan. There are some nice pictures that will have to wait, including the one of the tick embedded in my right hip. I didn't even feel him but noticed it when I was changing into my bathing suit. Good thing he wasn't there much longer! There are many plants to look out for in North Carolina, and a few snakes including copperheads and cottonmouths. I have to say New York is very safe. No natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornados, and few of the problems with the snakes, spiders, ticks, and other critters. I dropped 3 travel bugs and picked up 2 new trackable items to bring back to New York. There are a few more bugs to pick up that are nearby and bring back too. I will be out for at least one more geocaching trip this week. The site is not updated yet but I'm at 62 total now. :D

-Raymond

[popowich]

The Desiderata (http://www.discussny.com/showpost.php?p=19632&postcount=14) is an inspirational poem that I found at GC10Y2Y.

-Raymond

[popowich]

I'm running double Eric now. We should look up an area with a high concentration of caches in between us around the Batavia/Pembroke exits and meet there for some geocaching? :)

-Raymond

[esnagel]

How'd you get the tick out? I'm horrible... I still have this Canadian geocoin in my possession. We're going to Toronto on Saturday - maybe I can drop it then. But we have a full day planned... maybe Sunday, if we go up to the cottage.

[THERESA]

You are supposed to use baby oil. (they breathe through their skin when their head is embedded in your skin. The baby oil suffocates them, they pull their head out to breathe and you can then safely remove them. There was no baby oil in the house so we resorted to rubbing alcohol.

When the tick was discovered, rather than search for something to remove it I was saying, "Find the camera." :laughing6:
Will post the pic after returning home.

[popowich]

The other alternate serious answers were to use alcohol to suffocate them, or light a match let it flame out and touch it to the skin near there so they pull out to run away from the heat.

-Raymond

[THERESA]

The alcohol and match method are really not recommended. The number one method is the baby oil.

[esnagel]

I've read that while that works (suffocating them) they breathe very infrequently.

Because ticks can close their spiracles for hours, using petroleum jelly or other materials to "suffocate" the ticks and cause them to back out of the skin on their own, are not usually effective. Even if they do back out, it takes several hours. The best way to remove a tick is to use a pair of strong forceps and firmly grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and apply a slow, steady pressure until the tick comes out of the skin.
http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/qa/entomology0001.htm

[Raven]

[/URL][URL="http://www.health.state.ri.us/disease/communicable/lyme/kids_bitesme.php"]Removing a Tick (http://www.placervillevet.com/tick_remove.htm)

The alcohol and match method are really not recommended. The number one method is the baby oil.

[THERESA]

That site says to just pull it out. That is not recommended from what I have always heard. I would still use baby oil as a first choice.

"Okay, I know this works first hand from that location. Baby oil. Seriously, I know it sounds bad, but ticks breath through their "skin", it will back out as it starts to suffucate."

SOURCE (http://beerbrains.mu.nu/archives/170994.php) never mind that it's from drunken wisdom :laughing6:


Center for disease control method (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_tickremoval.htm)

[Raven]

Oh well, I guess its true, I am losing my touch. :p I guess just get the sucker out no matter how you do it.



SOURCE (http://beerbrains.mu.nu/archives/170994.php) never mind that it's from drunken wisdom :laughing6:

[Kaos]

Note to self...never read a thread in reverse order...meaning may get miscommunicated...

R- I am losing my touch. I guess just get the sucker out no matter how you do it.

T- That site says to just pull it out. That is not recommended from what I have always heard. I would still use baby oil as a first choice.

Sorry, I can't control here my mind goes sometimes :rofl:

[Rebecky]

:laughing6:LMAO! Thanks for sharing! :rofl:

[Raven]

I can see why that sounds a little on the perv side. :rofl:

Note to self...never read a thread in reverse order...meaning may get miscommunicated...

R- I am losing my touch. I guess just get the sucker out no matter how you do it.

T- That site says to just pull it out. That is not recommended from what I have always heard. I would still use baby oil as a first choice.

Sorry, I can't control here my mind goes sometimes :rofl:

[popowich]

We cleared out an entire small town today and went 8/8 in Louisburg, North Carolina. I also picked up my second tick today. This time it was my left leg on my calf. Around the town there were some along the streets, and a couple others spread across 2 town parks. I have more pictures from today too that will need to be uploaded when I get home.

-Raymond

[THERESA]

I can see why that sounds a little on the perv side. :rofl:

Funny!:p

[popowich]

It's just outside the area I was looking at for yesterday, but I have a shot at a first to find (FTF) today!

GC1DP34 was placed on 6/29 and has not been found yet.

-Raymond

[Raven]

How do you know what to look for? And I don't mean a tick, I mean the items.

We cleared out an entire small town today and went 8/8 in Louisburg, North Carolina. I also picked up my second tick today. This time it was my left leg on my calf. Around the town there were some along the streets, and a couple others spread across 2 town parks. I have more pictures from today too that will need to be uploaded when I get home.

-Raymond

[popowich]

Visit geocaching.com (http://www.geocaching.com). The geocaches and locations are published on that site. You then download the coordinates into your Garmin GPS and go searching for them.

[popowich]

Me and my tick. He liked me. :rockernana:

[popowich]

Long story short on Friday I went 2/5 out of 7.

That makes 3 "did not finds", 2 I wanted to try and did not attempt, a first to find failure, and my third tick.

Hey, at least I went 3/3 on getting ticks while geocaching! :D

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I went 2/2 yesterday, dropped a coin, picked up 3 ticks. Oh, and got to eat some wild raspberries... yum!

[popowich]

Three ticks or travel bugs?

[esnagel]

Ticks - none embedded, though.

[Raven]

Sounds like ticks are becoming a regular geocaching thing to find. Do you find them on your GPS or do they find you on their GPS. :p

Ticks - none embedded, though.

[esnagel]

I need to do some inner-city geocaching to avoid the ticks

[Raven]

My hairdressor was here last night and thought she felt something in my hair. I guess she was thinking tick. But it was just my daily dose of birdseed that the birds throw at me.

:rofl:
I need to do some inner-city geocaching to avoid the ticks

[Raven]

Ok after reading this thread all the time I now want to take the plunge.

First I need to find out if there is geocaching in Cecil County Maryland and if so what type of GPS do I buy for it and I only have $200 to spend.

I thought this would be something me and hubby could do together but with the gas prices I would want it only if it was in our county.

I know you are going to say GOOGLE IT but I thought you would know the answer faster than I would find it. :D

[popowich]

Go to geocaching.com, click the seek a cache link, and do a zip code search to see how many caches are in your area. There are likely to be many within a 10 mile radius. I still have many within a 3 mile radius. I have a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx. I forget what model Eric has. Mine cost $350 plus $70 or so for the detailed topo maps.

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I've got the Extrex Vista CX (http://www.whooshusa.com/sdc-garmin-etrex-vista-cx-handheld-gps-receiver-29184739.html?q=Etrex+Vista+cx&nSDCCatIDList=c189&nSDCSubIDList=c224&x=0&y=0&b=products). It's about $200 now.

[Raven]

Here is the one I am getting.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=8701

I went on a Maryland Geocaching website and looked to see if anyone had one for sale.

This dude near me has one for sale that is brand new in the box because he ask for one for a gift and got two.

So I am getting it for $140.00

He sold the case out of it so he knocked off alot of the price.

This Friday I am getting it.

I've got the Extrex Vista CX (http://www.whooshusa.com/sdc-garmin-etrex-vista-cx-handheld-gps-receiver-29184739.html?q=Etrex+Vista+cx&nSDCCatIDList=c189&nSDCSubIDList=c224&x=0&y=0&b=products). It's about $200 now.

[esnagel]

I like the new geocaching.com homepage (http://www.geocaching.com/) - check it out.

[Raven]

It is nice. I put my geocaching on hold until I figure out whats up with my health. I didn't even get a GPS yet. Paid ahead on my bills instead.

I like the new geocaching.com homepage (http://www.geocaching.com/) - check it out.

[Raven]

It is nice. I put my geocaching on hold until I figure out whats up with my health. I didn't even get a GPS yet. Paid ahead on the bills instead.

I like the new geocaching.com homepage (http://www.geocaching.com/) - check it out.

[THERESA]

You may want to think about it a bit longer if you want to get one. They are expensive and geocaching is pretty physical. Just a thought. It would suck if you spent your money on one to find that you werent physically able.

[Raven]

Being the Slacker that I am, I probably won't get one. :(

You may want to think about it a bit longer if you want to get one. They are expensive and geocaching is pretty physical. Just a thought. It would suck if you spent your money on one to find that you werent physically able.

[diane7]

You may want to think about it a bit longer if you want to get one. They are expensive and geocaching is pretty physical. Just a thought. It would suck if you spent your money on one to find that you werent physically able.

Dont you have to have a 4by4 for all the ........:D

[Raven]

We have a 4x4 :D

Dont you have to have a 4by4 for all the ........

[THERESA]

There are long hikes on foot over rough terrain after you plow through everything else with your 4X4 ;)

[Raven]

Oh great, no wonder that one pic showed you in a bush. :p

There are long hikes on foot over rough terrain after you plow through everything else with your 4X4 ;)

[popowich]

Long story short I had my 3rd first to find failure tonight at Churlish Kneeslapper 2.

-Raymond

[popowich]

I like the new geocaching.com homepage (http://www.geocaching.com/) - check it out.

I like the new driving directions.

-Raymond

[popowich]

2 more new caches within a couple miles.

The site upgrade seems to include sending out notifications faster and not queuing them up for Sunday nights. :D

-Raymond

[popowich]

I finally got out and made some finds today. Actually, Theresa found 3 I found two. We got parts 2 and 3 of a 9 part multicache, completed a 2 part cache, and found one more, making it 2 complete finds across 5 stops for the day. I also added a couple more pictures to the Black Creek Park (http://www.discussny.com/album.php?albumid=35) album and Black Creek Park (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=3793) thread.

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I've got a multicache here in Boston yet to tackle; hopefully some evening I can get to it. I got 2/2 - interesting way to see an unfamiliar city.

I wanted to see how far the multi took me away from the hotel, so I mapped the points in Google Earth

[esnagel]

I found all parts of the Inner Harbor Fitness Cache (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=4cac6ce7-0159-4f32-b7f9-06822f8abe35) today in Boston. There are 5 clues, plus the final cache. I really wish I did this the first day. Got to see lots of things that I wish I knew was in Boston. I saw some amazing yachts which probably cost as much as all of the homes on my block. I'm talking yachts so big they have a boat and multiple jet skis on board. Yachts so big they have a live-in crew! But no yachts with helicopters on board. Too bad I left my camera in the hotel room (d'oh!)

Heading home tonight with Colonel Sender (http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?guid=2c36ecff-166a-4c17-8b0e-9f46498094d2); my coin (http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=1635029) was quickly picked up & is heading to Wichita, Kansas.

[popowich]

Sounds like a lot of fun. Good luck with the rest of the hides!

-Raymond

[popowich]

I found two more caches while in North Carolina.

There are over 600 within 20 minutes of downtown Raleigh !!!

Attached is a picture of the capital building while I was walking around downtown.

The urban microcaches are far more difficult than the caches you look for in the woods.

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I found 1 cache (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=2a21f74b-3a50-41c7-a40f-aa5c3c28c62a) yesterday in Getzville.

Tried to get one by the Niagara River (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=6fb6c11a-60f9-42e4-8eb5-29ccc8a64398) but there were too many people around. I'll have to wait 'til later in the year. It was a fun one, though, as you had to do a puzzle before getting the coordinates.
Latitude
N 43 00.***
1-1-3-2 1-4-1-1 1-2-3-1

Longitude
W 78 54.***
3-1-1-2 1-2-3-1 1-1-3-2

[esnagel]

1/2 yesterday while geocaching via kayak! Found GCGFNW Island in Buckhorn (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=e162f4ba-b9f7-4dfa-823e-aab8b242a454) but couldn't find GC6002 FISH'S SPAWN (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=00931359-ee51-4a4a-a14d-450b2c91159c&log=y&decrypt=y) :(

Strangely, Fish's Spawn was found yesterday! After looking at some of the other photos, I think I know where it may be. I'll head back someday, but go via bike, not kayak. As we were looking, we saw a storm moving in & were about a mile away from the cars. In the kayak, with a head-wind, it took us a good 1/2 hour to get back, and as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot, it started to rain.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/esnagel/SM5SOIFYQmI/AAAAAAAAeSU/gXRoNVcB53U/s400/IMG_1039.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PglZ6B1gWB0yZH0DOnPS7w)

[THERESA]

Cute pic Eric. :thanks:

[esnagel]

I'll be in Pittsford, Powder Mills Park, the morning of Oct 11 for some geocaching before a rehearsal dinner that I have to be at that afternoon; I'll also be in Letchworth on Oct 13th - mainly for the craft fair (http://www.artswyco.org/letchworthcrafts.htm), but also some geocaching. If someone wants to meet up, let me know.

[Raven]

It was in our local paper this week that they are starting a geocaching club in the town I live in. Must be catching on in our area. The website you guys log into for geocaching was mentioned in the article.

[THERESA]

Jenna told me that they did some geocaching for gym class!! What a great idea! Jenna of course had an edge on the other students because she has gone several times. She knows a lot of the tricks and what to look for. She was the one that found it. She was so excited when she told me about it.

[popowich]

We found 4 today, the first part of a 5th, and 3 bugs. It was a good afternoon! :D

-Raymond

[THERESA]

We found 4 today, the first part of a 5th, and 3 bugs. It was a good afternoon! :D

-Raymond

I found 3, Ray found one and we tied on one. We both looked at it at the exact same time.

[popowich]

We completed 1 multicache today. It was The Yo Yo by the Rochester Airport. I had a tough time with the first part last June. Theresa ended up finding part one and it was cake from there earlier today. We passed 80 this weekend and I'd like to hit 100 by the end of the year. It's great weather out right now and now is a great time to be out in the woods on the nice days. :D

-Raymond

[esnagel]

I got 2 this weekend in Powder Mills Park in Victor, NY. Awesome area - I'd like to spend an entire day there geocaching, and there's enough caches to do so!

[THERESA]

I got 2 this weekend in Powder Mills Park in Victor, NY. Awesome area - I'd like to spend an entire day there geocaching, and there's enough caches to do so!

Thanks for calling me! :rolleyes:

[popowich]

I got 2 this weekend in Powder Mills Park in Victor, NY. Awesome area - I'd like to spend an entire day there geocaching, and there's enough caches to do so!

What are you doing November 1st? :D

-Raymond

[esnagel]

Thanks for calling me! :rolleyes:

I believe I let Ray know... anyway, we were in town for a wedding & weren't quite sure what times we'd be available.

What are you doing November 1st? :D

-Raymond

Waiting for you to add a signature to your account so I don't have to quote your name... what are you doing? ;)

Actually, Cub Scout training in the morning, then putting up the Christmas lights! Yeah, I know its a bit early, but it takes about 30 hours to get them all set-up.

[popowich]

A small group from work will be reattempting the nano size geocache (yes, they come smaller than micro!) outside our building tomorrow.

[THERESA]

A small group from work will be reattempting the nano size geocache (yes, they come smaller than micro!) outside our building tomorrow.

If they need a pro, let me know. :D

[popowich]

I earned my first FTF (first to find) tonight !!! :yippee: :yay:

[popowich]

I found #87 outside my work today. My goal is to hit 100 by the end of the month. :)

-Raymond

[popowich]

1 for 2 this morning. DNF on an FTF that was actually found an hour earlier anyway.

[THERESA]

1 for 2 this morning. DNF on an FTF that was actually found an hour earlier anyway.

How about speaking in laymans terms for the non geocachers.

[diane7]

I earned my first FTF (first to find) tonight !!! :yippee: :yay:

How about speaking in laymans terms for the non geocachers.

DNF ( did not Find ?)
:D

[popowich]

correct!

[popowich]

3/6 on Saturday (2 trips on Saturday) and 2/3 Sunday morning. :D

-Raymond

[THERESA]

3/6 on Saturday (2 trips on Saturday) and 2/3 Sunday morning. :D

-Raymond

Could have been 9/9 but I couldn't go. :cool:

[popowich]

You went and we went 2/2. :bowdown:

[popowich]

No kidding, this video (http://home.ec.rr.com/cheetahson1/GeoBadger.html) contains the coordinates for a local hide.

Can you find all 6 numbers?

-Raymond

[THERESA]

No kidding, this video (http://home.ec.rr.com/cheetahson1/GeoBadger.html) contains the coordinates for a local hide.

Can you find all 6 numbers?

-Raymond

huh? :confused:

[popowich]

That's part of the information needed to get the coordinates.

In other news, I found my 100th geocache tonight! :yay:

-Raymond

[esnagel]

In other news, I found my 100th geocache tonight! :yay:

-Raymond

Congrats!

[popowich]

Yesterday I went 19/20 with my brother in Hunters Creek Park (http://www.discussny.com/showthread.php?t=5079).

This brings me up to a total of 125 finds and another great day of hiking!

[popowich]

I earned my second FTF today at Westside RTC Cache (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=6dc56e93-7c91-424e-8fc6-eae944def788).

Today was a great day to slip away from work for an hour to make a find! :innocent:

[popowich]

I forgot to mention that the FTF prize was a magnetic micro container so I can hide my own geocache! :)

-Raymond

[THERESA]

I forgot to mention that the FTF prize was a magnetic micro container so I can hide my own geocache! :)

-Raymond

Finally!!! :cheers2:

[popowich]

Note to self for later, check out: http://www.gsak.net/

[esnagel]

Note to self for later, check out: http://www.gsak.net/

I have this on my laptop... never got around to using it, though. Litten uses it - I just use my Moto Q

[popowich]

Geocaching Song

[THERESA]

I heard snippets while you were downloading this....I would have to stab my ears with screwdrivers if I were to hear it again. Where's the "I'm plugging my ears singing LALALALALA" smiley???

[Raven]

You need this one Tshirt I have. Its a cartoon character and has headphones on and it says "Itune you out" I wear it when I am around anyone that annoys me. :p

I heard snippets while you were downloading this....I would have to stab my ears with screwdrivers if I were to hear it again. Where's the "I'm plugging my ears singing LALALALALA" smiley???

[THERESA]

I would have to wear it almost everyday. :p

969

[johnferran]

and Theresa , of course, I got my new GPS today, now all I have to do is learn how to use it. I went for the Delorme PN-40. I think its a good deal because it comes with all the maps Im gonna need for awhile. Hope to talk to you soon.....
John

[THERESA]

and Theresa , of course, I got my new GPS today, now all I have to do is learn how to use it. I went for the Delorme PN-40. I think its a good deal because it comes with all the maps Im gonna need for awhile. Hope to talk to you soon.....
John

It isn't the same as Ray's but I'm sure he would be willing to help you figure it out. (I love offering his services) :laughing6: He rarely turns down an opportunity to geocache. :)

Thanks for posting! :thanks:

[kim woodin]

It isn't the same as Ray's but I'm sure he would be willing to help you figure it out. (I love offering his services) :laughing6: He rarely turns down an opportunity to geocache. :)

Thanks for posting! :thanks:
I will also be looking for Ray's skillful services as it is nearing Christmas.
hubby really enjoyed geocaching, with Ray this year, I'll be looking for an affordable gps for him, we need the exercise, wait a min. wasn,t there
some other thread looking for exercise motivation?:yippee:

[popowich]

4 for 4 this morning including 2 TB's and a key to unlock a cache by my house.

Thank you to Eric for allowing me to phone a friend for one of them. :D

[popowich]

and Theresa , of course, I got my new GPS today, now all I have to do is learn how to use it. I went for the Delorme PN-40. I think its a good deal because it comes with all the maps Im gonna need for awhile. Hope to talk to you soon.....
John

I hope to do some geocaching near the airport on Saturday. Want to go?

[johnferran]

Thanks for the invite Ray, but this weekend is all holiday stuff...doing the relative shuffle tring to keep everyone happy. I hope we can get together sometime though....we'll have to see how it goes
John