Sneaky & Tricky Containers

When placing caches, the sneakier & trickier the container the better you feel about the cache. Here are a few ideas that I've found. Yep, y'all never know what to expect, do ya?



1. Can you see this one? It's right there in plain sight! Come on...look harder...

Here's a hint:

And for even greater diversity...more of the same idea...

2. I've got my own variation of this one that I just finished up the "testing" phase with. I won't just give it away, but it's something similar. It'll be out there soon.

As it may be easy to spot here in this picture, think about trying to spot it out there in the "wild" when your field of vision encompasses quite a bit more to see.

3. Last on today's list & certainly the most noticeable is this guy! While I do think it would be the easiest to spot out of these few, I'm not sure if it would actually be the one that gets found the most. ...not real sure if many would decide to reach in & grab him as opposed to turning & skeedaddling away from him.

Caching with Crutches

Okay...so I usually opt to leave the crutches at home or in the truck. But the title: Caching while in a Leg Brace just wasn't as catchy.

Of course, I've still been out caching. One thing I've noticed is how the terrain ratings I assigned to those caches I assisted with last weekend & that I've placed since are most likely a little higher than most people (with good knees) would consider them to be. (Especially the few that "I" had to climb things in order to place.) Have you ever tried to scale a small cliff or rock embankment with your leg in a full brace? It definitely increases the difficulty & I'm pretty sure it increases the laughability as well for those that were watching!

I'm sure that having crutches while caching "can" work out to be an advantage...here's what I've came up with so far:

I have increased reach capabilities. (...of course, this sometimes requires "knocking" the cache out of it's hiding spot & then the tricky part is getting it back there.)

I have a good "poking stick" right at my fingertips.

I have a good excuse to walk slowly (while I look for the cache).

I can blame the crutches when the kids find the cache first.

I can blame the crutches when I don't find the cache at all.

The things we go through...

Inspired by GC15DZP, Lost and almost forgotten, A cache by abby220

Every once & a while I run across something that makes me laugh. This log entry did just that:

THIS IS A WILD ONE HERE, WE FOUND THE CEMETERY SIGNED THE GUEST REG, IN THE MAIL BOX JUST INSIDE THE GATE AND FOUND THE CACHE SIGNED THE LOG THEN LEFT TO GO TO THE CUSSETTA MOUNTAIN CEMETERY WHICH SHOWED VERY CLOSE TO THIS ONE IT WAS ABOUT 5:30PM AND I HAD TO HAVE JUST ONE MORE I TURNED UP THE NEXT ROAD I THOUGHT WAS A ROAD ,MRS GREAT SAID IT WASN'T A ROAD WHAT DOES SHE KNOW? AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT A MILE IN WHAT WAS NOT A ROAD BUT A LOG SKIDDERS PATH(TOLD MRS.GREAT THAT EARLIER) I TRIED TO TURN AROUND WENT OVER A BERM AND HIGH CENTERED FRONT OF FRAME ON A STUMP, ARE WE HAVING FUN YET, SO NOT TO LOOK LIKE A FOOL I JACKED UP TRUCK TRIED TO GET OFF STUMP TO NO AVAIL, NOW ITS DARK FORGOT TO PUT FLASHLIGHT IN TRUCK, FINALLY SWALLOWED MY PRIDE CALLED A FRIEND WHO LIVES IN A TOWN ABOUT 5 MILES FROM MY FUBAR,HE HAD A DEER LEASE ABOUT 3 MILES FROM MY LOCATION, TALKED TO HIM TILL HE FOUND ME THIS IS ABOUT 6:30PM HE WENT HOME GOT HIS TRACTOR I RODE A MILE IN WITH HIM ON FENDER ONLY 1000 SMALL FORD DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TRACTOR TO GET ME OFF, SO CALLED WRECKER ABOUT 8:30 RODE A MILE BACK TO ROAD ON FENDERWAITED ON WRECKER LEFT MRS.GREAT AT HOUSE WITH FRIENDS WIFE(BEST THING TO DO CAUSE IM TOAST WITH HER)WRECKER GETS THERE WE GO IN PULLS ME OFF STUMP AND GUESS WHAT?A FLAT ON RIGHT REAR SIDE I HAD BEEN SPINNING IN SAND TRING TO GET OUT FANCY THAT. WRECKER DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO PULL AROUND ME TO LIFT MEUP TO CHANGE TIRE, I HAD NOT MADE A SMART DECISION SINCE ABOUT 5:30 PM BUT I MADE ONE THENI DROVE ON FLAT TIRE VTO HARD GROUND AND CHANGED FLAT THIS IS NOW ABOUT 12:00AM THANKE3D WRECKER GUY HUGGED MY FRIEND AND DROVE HOME SO I COULD GET UP AND DRIVE TO PARIS TEX. AT 6:00AM FOR SURGERY , WAS SUPPOSE TO RELAX THIS DAY BEFORE SUGERY CAUSE MY BLOOD PRESSURE HAD BEEN SKY HIGH, GUESS WHOSES BLOOD PRESSURE GOT HIGHER THAN MINE ASK MRS.GREAT.:(

Ahh...the things we go through in the name of geocaching!

I don't know for sure, but I'm fairly certain that this WAS NOT funny at the time but reading about somebody else's geo-blunders is always more comical than living your own.

Cache Stats

There are a lot of stat compilers available. These programs generate HTML that can be pasted into your geocaching profile to display your stats. I have not tried them all. In fact, I have only tried a few of them. That being said, just because I don't mention it here, does not mean that it is any better or worse than the ones I have mentioned. Use what works for you.

At the time of this entry, I currently have 2 different sets of HTML displaying on my geocaching profile: the Geocaching Rank Stat Bar & CacheStats.


Click to view my geocaching profile.
This is generated by the geocaching.com website. (Yeah, you'll most likely have to log in.)

1. Geocaching Rank Stat Bar
   Online based, no download required
   (http://www.drunners.de/cachestats/registration_eng.php)
   
   
   
   I can display that here because it is small & simple.
   
   This little stat bar displays your current rank in a number of different configurations. All you have to do is to enter your geocaching name into a form & select the display options you want to show on the stat bar. Once you submit that information, you will get a code to insert into your profile. It costs nothing & is automatically updated twice a week.
   
   The stat bars I have displayed above demonstrate 2 different configurations. It requires 2 submissions through the online form, giving you 2 sets of HTML to insert into your profile.
   
   A cool thing about this one is that you can enter anybody's geocaching name into the form & find out their rank as well.
   
   
   
2. Cache Stats
   Stand-alone program, download required
   (http://www.logicweave.com/cachestats.html)
   
   A little more complicated & a lot more detail. Geocaching.com allows a My Finds Pocket Query to be run once every 7 days. This file is then imported to the CacheStats program & you can then generate the HTML to paste into your geocaching profile. The LogicWeave website & the CacheStats program both explain the "how's" much better than I could so I'll leave that to them.
   
   This one can be set to display a lot of different options. You can chose to display milestone achievements & customize the setp value, specify FTF caches & display a map of where you've cached - with other options as well. Once you learn the nuts and bolts, it is very easy to work with.
   
   
   
3. It's Not About the Numbers
   Online based, no download required
   (http://www.itsnotaboutthenumbers.com)
   
   This allows you to generate HTML to paste into your geocaching profile as well as a multitude of other neat things. One thing really interesting is the Cacher list that allows you to view the stats of other geocachers that have uploaded their stats & not selected the option to make them provate.
   
   
   

Yes, these are only 3 out of many, but if you don't like these you are more than welcome to find something else. I'm not stopping you & I'm not saying the other things out there aren't better...I just haven't tried them!

=)

Cemetery Cache Cover Story

Inspired by GC18175: Once was Deadly, A cache by Fire2Water

Many caches are hidden in cemeteries. Some argue as to whether this should be allowed or not, but I am in agreement with allowing caches to be hidden in a cemetery. A lot of times these places and the people who are residents thereof seem to be forgotten. Hiding caches in these places does no harm & when geocachers practice CITO, the areas are often improved.

Sometimes you get blindsided & muggles seem to come out of nowhere. What are you supposed to do when the little old blue haired lady comes up and wants to know why you're snooping around her daddy's grave? Sadly, many old cemeteries are victims of vandals. As a result of the vandalism, some people "watch" these places & come to "investigate" when visitors stop by.

It's not always easy to explain to somebody why you're snooping around. Telling them that you're looking for a hidden tupperware container just doesn't always seem like the best option. Sure, they may understand & allow you to continue your search. However, they may think you're up to no good & tell you to be on your way. And regardless of what they tell you, they may keep an eye on you & remove the cache after watching you find it.

So...you need a good cover story. And for a cemetery cache...I've got you one.

There is another "hobby" that fits nicely when you need a good cover story at a cemetery cache: cemetery transcription. If you carry a camera geocaching along with you, you've got all you need to make it work. Even if you don't carry a camera, a small notebook will work just as well for your cover story prop. Even your GPS will be easy to add into the equation.

Find-A-Grave.com (http://www.findagrave.com/) is a resource for finding the final resting place of family, friends and famous people. Many of the cemeteries list GPS coordinates as well in oprder to help others interested in visiting. It is an invaluable tool for the genealogist and family history buff.

You can easily appease most cemetery muggles by claiming to be working on such a project. They'll most likely be more than happy to let you get back to your task. Of course, you might want to actually take a few pictures or jot down a few notes to make it work.

What is this?

Have you ever wanted to tell somebody else about ideas you have while out caching or while logging your finds for the day? I have. True, some of them were most likley better off not being told, but I'm sure that at least a couple were actually good ideas.

I created this blog to jot down some of those ideas. It is all a work in progress and I don't know exactly what all will make it's way into here, but I'm excited to start working on it.

If you like my ideas, leave a comment to let me know...if you don't like my ideas, that's fine. Take what you want with you out caching & leave the rest behind. The point is to have fun with it.

If you have ideas of your own, have questions or just have something you'd like to see me work on, let me know.