Vista and GSAK

I splashed out on a new laptop yesterday. Once I'd got it unpacked and running, I set about getting it how I wanted it. Firstly, I removed all the trial software (works, office2007 etc.) Then I started installing some useful stuff. Anti-virus software was first and I opted for the excellent AVG Free. Next, Firefox. Anyone not aquainted with this browser is missing out. Apart from it's many other plusses, the most important for cachers is Greasemonkey. This add-in changes the way that a web page is displayed. Greasemonkey scripts that I use let me see O.S. Maps on the cache page instead of Google Maps; keep a runing total of cache finds so that I can enter the find number with a click of the mouse. Another script displays the gallery pictures much bigger (and better than standard. There are many scripts to help cachers and plenty for other, non-caching, web pages.

Memory Map was next to go on and then GSAK. This excellent program enables you to colate all the info about caches. It takes .gpx files from Geocaching.com and builds up a database which can then be filtered to show, for example, all the traditional caches which haven't been found by you (yet). The filtered results can then be exported in any number of formats, mainly, .gpx to my PDA and .csv to memory map (and then onto the PDA).

I downloaded and the installer suggested I install the files in C:\GSAK. I changed this to C:\Program Files\GSAK (that's where programs go, isn't it?). All went well and I copied my database files over from my old PC. When I came to re-start GSAK, a little later, I got messages about "Program Files" being a special area and that I'd have to run GSAK as administrator every time. This becomes a pain with Vista asking you if you really, really want to run this program. Now I know why thei installer had suggested C:\GSAK. I moved everything over and it runs properly now.
However, I then installed Lordelphs Icons. This is a series of icons for different kinds of caches. There is a little GSAK macro that adds these icons to Memory Map. I didn't work! Eventually, I discovered that the macro expects GSAK to be installed in C:\Program Files\GSAK so I had to change a few lines in the macro so that it would work. I also removed the bit that displays micros with their own icon; I prefer to see what sort of cache (traditional, multi) it is.

Now, after a few hours, and much cursing, I have my Geo-Laptop all honky-dory. I have loaded a load of caches for the Peak District, where Mr. and Mrs. Balders will be spending their second honeymoon, next week.

Update from Team Balders

Haven't had much time to write much lately. As you may know, most of Team Balders (extended) went off to Rhodes leaving yours truly home along for the week. I was hoping to do a load of caches but with home chores and work I didn't manage anywhere near as many as I'd have liked.

Day 2 of the holiday, Mrs. Balders called up to tell me that she'd had a nasty fall and had a week with her leg in plaster to look forward to. No swimming pool; no shower and it was around 45 degrees most days. I had another call on the Friday saying that she couldn't wait to get back home: poor Sue.

I'm done a few caches this week but most of the time I've been either at home or getting back home to look after the other half. She is on the mend but is still hobbling around with a stick.

We are renewing our wedding vows (after 25 years) this coming weekend before a second "honeymoon" up in the Peak District. We were hoping to do a bit of walking and, of course, a few caches, perhaps getting up to that magical 2000. However, I don't think that Sue will be up for much more than a few cache and grabs!

The Brummie Cut series is holding up well. I've had to archive "Lock Four" after going missing yet again but have placed another, new, cache just a little down the towpath. Bridge 106 has also gone walkies and I have replaced that one tonight. It's a shame that I didn't replace it earlier as two teams managed the other 25 caches in the series today and missed the final cache. I've noticed in London that where a cache keeps going missing there is often a bit in the caceh description which say something like..." if the cache is not there, please email me with the number on the adjacent lamp-post". A virtual by the back door! I'll keep this technique in mind but I'd rather have a "proper" cache.

By the way, I will be putting a caceh out to commemorate our (mostly) happy 25 years together.

Travel Bugs at Events

What a great night we had at the Brummie Meet held at The Old Joint Stock in Birmingham. Mumbo Jumbo had the foresight to reserve the upstairs area just for us. We had cachers from as far afield as Northampton, Ashby de-la-zouch and Nuneaton as well as those more local. Twenty two teams signed the logbook, equating to 28 bodies. The instigators, Purple Heather and Slappersire were present are have agreed to run the next one, which should be sometime in the first week of November.

Also in November, somewhere around the 28th, I'll be running another event at The Griffin, Shustoke, to celebrate my 50th birthday.

I've received an e-mail asking "Hi, Can you tell me what happens to the TBs that are left now that the event is over?"

Speaking of our event last night (but applies to most events) you will find that...

a) Some trackables (mainly The Allotment Gardener's in our case) are "dropped off" at the event (usually well before the event) but are kept by the owner. This allows cachers to view others collections and log them as "discovered".

b) General circulation trackables go into a collective "pot" where other cachers are free to select and move on any TBs or coins that take their fancies. Usually, the event organisers are left with a pile of TBs that they are obliged to move on themselves. Fortunately, there was only 1 geocoin left over last night and I'll soon move that to another cache.

A more general point about trackable items. How many times have you come across a TB or coin, picked it up, taken it home and looking it up on geocaching.com found that you've taken it in completely the wrong direction? With my trackables, I try to attach a small laminated tag with the item's mission so that hopefully it will only be picked up by someone who can help with that mission. Geocoins usually come in a plastic sleeve making it easy to add the mission statement. Another useful thing to put on the tag would be the tracking number - some of those coin numbers are very hard to read!

I'm hoping to be out and about on the canal either Friday evening or Saturday morning, walking the loop and maintaining any caches that need it. Lock 4 has been archived and I'm STILL waiting for it's replacement (Waterlinks) to be published.

Catching Up

As you may have noticed, I've been away a bit over the past week. I was on a course in Chesterfield, back for a day, then two days up north. Now it's time to try and catch up.

Brummie Cut - As far as I know, only one cache is missing, that being Lock 4. This is the second time that it's gone walkies so I will be archiving it and launching a new cache nearby.

Brummie Meet - I'm on another course on Wednesday, but it's in the city centre so I'll be going in on the 94 bus. The course should finish around 4 - 5 which gives me a couple of hours to grab a bite to eat and meander over to Dartford circus for a spot of cache maintenance. Perhaps, if I have time I could go a bit further and grab those caches in Aston Park (anyone know which bus goes there? I might as well make use of my Daysaver!). Mrs. Balders is making her own way into town for the event - so all those wives who've said "I'm not going out with that bunch of losers and be the only woman there!" - take note.

Local Caches - There are a few local caches that I need to find (16 within 10km of Balders Manor) including "The Lad Himself" in the city centre - I expect this will get a few hits on Wednesday!

Home Alone - Next week, most of the Balders Clan are jetting off to Rhodes (not many caches there) and I shall be home alone. Apart from feeding, not only my own menagerie, I have to look after my daughter's cats. So apart from the animal husbandry and work, I'll have loads of time to go caching - hoorah!!!

Mega Event Weekend

What a cracking couple of days. Haydn (HillHappy1) picked me up around 10 on Saturday and we headed north, picking up caches as we went. Before reaching York (where we were to spend the night) we had managed to find 22 caches.

In York, we stayed at the youth hostel and after a clean up, we walked in the city centre, where we found another four caches including this virtual.Sunday morning, with the sun shining, we had an early breakfast before venturing out to find a few more caches before arriving at the Mega Event venue. There are a number of caches within easy walking distance of the venue so we joined the queues to sign the logs. As we entered the event, my finds tally stood at 1899, making the UK's first Mega Event my 1900th cache.

The event was extremely well organisied with plenty of space for all the cachers and the many trade stands, where I spent a few bob on... well, that might spoil future caches!

After a couple of hours and having met many people, some for the first time; some for the umpteenth time, we set off on a Southerly bearing grabbing a few caches on the way. By the time we reached Balders Manor, my weekend cache finds had edged (rocketed) up to 1910; 50 finds over the two days.

All in all a great weekend with fellow cachers, not least HillHappy1 to whom I send many thanks.

Mega - Prelude

Just sat here at Balders Manor waiting for HillHappy1 to collect me for our trip "up north" to the Mega event. We're going up today, staying at York Youth Hostel (I lied about my age!), then going along the A59 to Harrowgate for the event on Sunday.

We are hoping to pick up a few caches on the way but it is not looking too good. I'm sat here at the keyboard and I can hear the rain lashing of the roof of the east wing. I'm narrowed down our list of caches to mainly "cache and dashes" or ones with a very short walk to try and keep us dry. I have a list of about 50 so we'll just have to wait and see how many we can get; and how dry we can keep.

I've been a bit quiet on the blog this week because I've been in Chesterfield on a course all week. I did manage to slip out in the evenings and bag a cache or two (or 35!). I had to wait until I got home to log my finds as the hotel, which boasted WiFi, wanted to charge - wait for it - £5 for an hour or £9 for the day! I did try sitting outside a McDonalds (which is supposed to do FREE WiFi) but I couldn't get past the log-in screen.

I daresay that I'll have lots to say when I get back on Sunday. If anyone's going up look out for me.