I am running out of sporting Goods stores. My mentor suggests I go to Walmart, with a crack about being from down south and all, I would enjoy Walmart. Even my response was not printable. I do stop in Target, and see they have a Geomate for $69.00 You know the little yellow one with the smiling face. I tell myself, to have a little more confidence in myself, and I move on. It was on my next store I see a Magellan.
Immediate flash back. Goldy had a Magellan. He must have used it when he took the paraplane up. I found it when I cleaned out some stuff in the basement. No idea really what it was. I turned it on....nothing...I changed the batteries...I turned it on. All these numbers come up. A " N ' a "W" some numbers, dots, degree signs. Hell, I don't know what it is. I carry it around for a couple of days, and every time I looked at it, the numbers were constantly changing...hmmm...must be broke...I pitched it! If I could go back in time...and if I listened real close, I probably would have heard Goldy telling me...ahh, don't throw that out, you are gonna need that some day.
I go home empty handed.
Monday, August 30, 2010
This just gets better
The next stop is a sporting goods store...a man thing. I can count on one finger how many times I have been in a store like this. It was years ago, and Goldy was looking for, who knows what, and all I remember was walking around looking at things, and being in total awe that they sell deer pee or something. Ok, moving on...Enter store, greeted with a Can I help you find something? Sure ( being female and all, I can ask for directions) I am now headed to the back left section of the store. Thank God, he didn't send me North East or something.
Sure enough there is a whole section of GPS's...all lined up and ready to play with. I did notice a high-pitch sound, kinda irritating, but I am thinking it is some kind of man toy. I am eyeing the units..I am reading the little demo thing. They actually have them categorized according to geocaching experience. I think I am in heaven. And to make things better, that noise is gone. I pick up the first GPS...and there goes that noise! Did I do that? I ask the salesman. Well, it turns out, the alarm system has gone bonkers, and the salesman doesn't have the right key to shut it off. Good grief! Oh well, I can still look. I think I narrow it down to a couple...I reach over and just touch the screen...and sure enough, there goes the alarm....Ok I am out of here!
Sure enough there is a whole section of GPS's...all lined up and ready to play with. I did notice a high-pitch sound, kinda irritating, but I am thinking it is some kind of man toy. I am eyeing the units..I am reading the little demo thing. They actually have them categorized according to geocaching experience. I think I am in heaven. And to make things better, that noise is gone. I pick up the first GPS...and there goes that noise! Did I do that? I ask the salesman. Well, it turns out, the alarm system has gone bonkers, and the salesman doesn't have the right key to shut it off. Good grief! Oh well, I can still look. I think I narrow it down to a couple...I reach over and just touch the screen...and sure enough, there goes the alarm....Ok I am out of here!
Searching for a GPS
I am being mentored on GPS 's. I have a list a mile long...I am looking at Garmins, Colorado, Oregons and a few other states! But, think about it...when someone with 1 million caches, suggests a GPS....to someone with 300 caches, ahhh there is a problem. I don't have a clue..... I decide I am the "hands on" type of person, I want to see it....I want to hold it, I want to check out all the screens. I have my own list, one of the top requirements is the compass thingy. I hate when they always point North...I want it to point, or at least tell me, what direction I am heading. I want it to be like my rear view mirror in the car.
It is a Sunday, I never have Sundays off, so I really don't know what people do on Sundays....so I decide to get me a GPS ! Ya baby! I grab my list, purse, credit card, you know the whole entourage that go with females...and as a last minute thought, I grab a TB that I need to drop off.
I now have it set up that new releases are sent to my phone, so, of course, I think I am all cool and everything. I saw a new TB Hotel was released and it is on my way, or it could be on my way...so grab the TB
First stop, drop off the bug. I get to the site...I pull it up on my I-phone, I read the logs....uh oh...the coords are off. OMG...I feel for this person...if I knew where they lived I would drop off food! I go to GZ and look in a 30 foot circle...nothing...Ok, no problem, the TB can stay with me.
I head for the GPS store. As I am looking over all the GPs's....a salesman comes over...why yes, he can help. I tell him I need a GPS for geocaching. For what? Ok, now really, even the GPS people are listing that this device is Geocaching compatible...so if you are gonna sell Gps's, I would think the salesperson would know something about Geocaching. Ok, I know nothing about GPS's and you know nothing about Geocaching, so really, cute kid, this relationship is not gonna work! Can you call someone from the Geek Squad or something? He sends over another salesperson. This dude, not so cute, says....you geocache? and he says it like, he was saying...you were in the swimsuit edition of Sports illustrated? I hold my head up, yes I geocache! ( he doesn't need to know) Do you? Ah, no, but I know people that do. I actually had a sigh of relief. You see, if he did geocache, the next thing out of his mouth would have been...what is your caching name....and I swear to God, even being a Sunday, I would have lied. Iprobably would have said I was #2 of Just Us.
The next 30 mins we discuss geocaching. All the geocachers he knows are Geologists at the college....am I a geologist he asks...ah no...do you ever read Sports Illustrated?
We move on...he tries to play with the GPS units and I try to explain Geocahing. So, he asks, you just enter the coords, and it takes you to the treasure? Ah...ya...not my caches....my caches are 30 feet off. Ok...I am done here...off to the next place!
It is a Sunday, I never have Sundays off, so I really don't know what people do on Sundays....so I decide to get me a GPS ! Ya baby! I grab my list, purse, credit card, you know the whole entourage that go with females...and as a last minute thought, I grab a TB that I need to drop off.
I now have it set up that new releases are sent to my phone, so, of course, I think I am all cool and everything. I saw a new TB Hotel was released and it is on my way, or it could be on my way...so grab the TB
First stop, drop off the bug. I get to the site...I pull it up on my I-phone, I read the logs....uh oh...the coords are off. OMG...I feel for this person...if I knew where they lived I would drop off food! I go to GZ and look in a 30 foot circle...nothing...Ok, no problem, the TB can stay with me.
I head for the GPS store. As I am looking over all the GPs's....a salesman comes over...why yes, he can help. I tell him I need a GPS for geocaching. For what? Ok, now really, even the GPS people are listing that this device is Geocaching compatible...so if you are gonna sell Gps's, I would think the salesperson would know something about Geocaching. Ok, I know nothing about GPS's and you know nothing about Geocaching, so really, cute kid, this relationship is not gonna work! Can you call someone from the Geek Squad or something? He sends over another salesperson. This dude, not so cute, says....you geocache? and he says it like, he was saying...you were in the swimsuit edition of Sports illustrated? I hold my head up, yes I geocache! ( he doesn't need to know) Do you? Ah, no, but I know people that do. I actually had a sigh of relief. You see, if he did geocache, the next thing out of his mouth would have been...what is your caching name....and I swear to God, even being a Sunday, I would have lied. Iprobably would have said I was #2 of Just Us.
The next 30 mins we discuss geocaching. All the geocachers he knows are Geologists at the college....am I a geologist he asks...ah no...do you ever read Sports Illustrated?
We move on...he tries to play with the GPS units and I try to explain Geocahing. So, he asks, you just enter the coords, and it takes you to the treasure? Ah...ya...not my caches....my caches are 30 feet off. Ok...I am done here...off to the next place!
An open letter...
To all the EXPERIENCED Geocahers out there,
I know you are good, I know you can whip through caches like nothing, I know you can probably find many of them blindfolded. You are good...I am not. I just ask a little favor...don't tell me my coords are off...I know that. I got that message on the first log. I assume you read the description of the cache, I think you may read the logs, probably don't need the hint....but you really don't need to be the 25th cacher that logs that my coords are off.
I have promised Reviewer Jones that I would not be placing any more caches until I got my real GPS. So, until that time comes ( and it is coming) just try to think of my caches as Traditional-Multi-Mystery caches.
Go to the published coords ... That is the traditional cache
From there...head to the actual cache...it will be at least 30 feet away. This is the multi-cache. Deciding in which direction this 30 feet will be...is the mystery cache.
Good luck...have fun...and try not to eat your young ( leave that to the medical field)
Sincerely,
The 30 foot women
(formerly known as GoldysGirl) :)
I know you are good, I know you can whip through caches like nothing, I know you can probably find many of them blindfolded. You are good...I am not. I just ask a little favor...don't tell me my coords are off...I know that. I got that message on the first log. I assume you read the description of the cache, I think you may read the logs, probably don't need the hint....but you really don't need to be the 25th cacher that logs that my coords are off.
I have promised Reviewer Jones that I would not be placing any more caches until I got my real GPS. So, until that time comes ( and it is coming) just try to think of my caches as Traditional-Multi-Mystery caches.
Go to the published coords ... That is the traditional cache
From there...head to the actual cache...it will be at least 30 feet away. This is the multi-cache. Deciding in which direction this 30 feet will be...is the mystery cache.
Good luck...have fun...and try not to eat your young ( leave that to the medical field)
Sincerely,
The 30 foot women
(formerly known as GoldysGirl) :)
Ahhhh....THE TUNNEL
Let me "cache" you up to speed...( haha, too funny, sometimes I can't even stand myself!) Way back when, we (peanut and me) go for a few caches, I actually believe it was an after work cache...anyways, not important, the whole story is basically we couldn't find it. The hint was really detailed...you know the turn right, 12 steps etc. And it says, you shouldn't have to go to into the tunnel. So, this is where we were totally thrown off. What tunnel? We are standing on asphalt, we turn right at the bench, we do the 12 steps ( not the 12 steps I probably need, but...) we look, we look...there is no tunnel We are obsessing about the tunnel. Are we even in the right place? We check the foliage, for the cammo small container...nope...but what is this tunnel? We go in a little deeper, and then deeper, we are definitely out of the terrain rating. We can't find a tunnel.
We go back to the beginning, we take the "other right" ( you never know) and that is a no go. We step it off....12 steps, 12 female steps, 12 men steps, 12 paces...Peanut being Military...does 12 "whatever steps". No cache. Well, it is getting late, and we have to leave. All the ride home, we are discussing the tunnel. Or really the lack of a tunnel.
Not really caring...I mean what is one more DNF ! It was the tunnel that was messing with our brains! I get home....I log the DNF...I casually mention in the log...what is your definition of a tunnel? Haha ( Hey end of story....)
The next day I check my e-mail, Peanut's sitting right next to me....hmmmm, what is this one? I click on it...all it says....a tunnel is a tunnel. Peanut and I immediately do the whole silent...mouth is shaped like an "O"
Now the thing with e-mail, is you really can't tell expressions....was this sternly...ah not really....no explanation points....no smiley...just a statement. A tunnel is a tunnel.
Ok then...we decided we would be going back...turns out to be a loooong time before we went back. And so, when we actually go do "the tunnel" we are a nervous wreck!
We go back to the beginning, we take the "other right" ( you never know) and that is a no go. We step it off....12 steps, 12 female steps, 12 men steps, 12 paces...Peanut being Military...does 12 "whatever steps". No cache. Well, it is getting late, and we have to leave. All the ride home, we are discussing the tunnel. Or really the lack of a tunnel.
Not really caring...I mean what is one more DNF ! It was the tunnel that was messing with our brains! I get home....I log the DNF...I casually mention in the log...what is your definition of a tunnel? Haha ( Hey end of story....)
The next day I check my e-mail, Peanut's sitting right next to me....hmmmm, what is this one? I click on it...all it says....a tunnel is a tunnel. Peanut and I immediately do the whole silent...mouth is shaped like an "O"
Now the thing with e-mail, is you really can't tell expressions....was this sternly...ah not really....no explanation points....no smiley...just a statement. A tunnel is a tunnel.
Ok then...we decided we would be going back...turns out to be a loooong time before we went back. And so, when we actually go do "the tunnel" we are a nervous wreck!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Pizza Dude
We head off to do a few of the caches hidden by Pizza Dude. We can call him that, seeing we just met him recently at our first geocaching Event. What fun....meeting everyone.
Anyways, we really don't know his style, although we had read in some logs, that he was being mentored....great...by who else....yep Alphabet man ! And since you already know my success with that ! Anyways....
We get to the site of the first cache....gps still down....we remember reading the hint about musical instruments or something....we head in. We decide to choose a set up with slides and etc. We first eyed the monkey bars, because we thought it said something about monkeys, but NO WAY...if it was on there, it was a nano...with a super strong magnet. So, we choose the latter.
Now remember this is made for kids, not adult geek geocachers. We climb up the plastic rock wall, and go head in...what a site for any " pass-er-by-ers" Peanut took a picture of me, attempting to get into some little 4 x 4 square. If she wants to live to raise her 3 boys....this will never be posted.
We spent quite some time on this little play set...actually probably more than the kids do. We touched, and tried to undo every screw and bolt on this 1 million part toy.
We, I am telling myself, sat so long doing this, because it turns out we were in a "room" with musical "do-higys".
Peanut heads in a new direction, as I start the e-mail to the FTF dude. I hate to do that...it is like admitting defeat. Really we just wanted a teenie-tiny hint. I think the response would have been just alphabets....like....ROFLMAO !
But, we were saved, seconds before I go to hit the send button, I hear....Got it !
Whew....geocaching without gps is a whole new level of difficulty! Good thing you weren't there to see me get down !
Anyways, we really don't know his style, although we had read in some logs, that he was being mentored....great...by who else....yep Alphabet man ! And since you already know my success with that ! Anyways....
We get to the site of the first cache....gps still down....we remember reading the hint about musical instruments or something....we head in. We decide to choose a set up with slides and etc. We first eyed the monkey bars, because we thought it said something about monkeys, but NO WAY...if it was on there, it was a nano...with a super strong magnet. So, we choose the latter.
Now remember this is made for kids, not adult geek geocachers. We climb up the plastic rock wall, and go head in...what a site for any " pass-er-by-ers" Peanut took a picture of me, attempting to get into some little 4 x 4 square. If she wants to live to raise her 3 boys....this will never be posted.
We spent quite some time on this little play set...actually probably more than the kids do. We touched, and tried to undo every screw and bolt on this 1 million part toy.
We, I am telling myself, sat so long doing this, because it turns out we were in a "room" with musical "do-higys".
Peanut heads in a new direction, as I start the e-mail to the FTF dude. I hate to do that...it is like admitting defeat. Really we just wanted a teenie-tiny hint. I think the response would have been just alphabets....like....ROFLMAO !
But, we were saved, seconds before I go to hit the send button, I hear....Got it !
Whew....geocaching without gps is a whole new level of difficulty! Good thing you weren't there to see me get down !
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