Team Balders' Geo-Blog

GPSr

2009-05-13T18:22:00.007+01:00

A friend of mine, recently suffered a broken GPS (whilst out caching) and is looking for a replacement. Misguidedly, she asked for my advice, which started me thinking.

There are a number of methods of finding caches, which I will try to summarise.

Naked Caching
The title is a bit of a cheat (similar to the Naked Chef - who kept his kit on). Using geocaching.com the target cache is looked up and it's position noted on streetmap. The cache printout and a print of the OS map is then taken to ground zero. Usually, especially for the easier hides, this method along with the hint, should locate the cache after a short search.

E-trex
The stand alone GPSr. This was how it used to be done (in the good ol' days, when I started). The co-ordinates are loaded into the GPSr (Global Positioning System Receiver) either manually (lots of room for error), directly from geocaching.com or from GSAK (geocaching swiss army knife.) The basic GPSr devices do not allow for cache descriptions so the paper printout is still needed.

PDA
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have many uses in geocaching. At a basic level, a program such as Cachemate can be used to store the cache details, removing the need for the paper printout. A fairly basic, cheap, Palm handheld can be used for this.
If the PDA has a built in GPS (or can use an external bluetooth GPSr), we can move another rung up the ladder and use Memory Map (or strictly speaking Pocket Navigator) to display one's position on an Ordnance Survey map. When correctly configured, a click on the cache symbol will bring up the relevant details in Cachemate. This applies only to Windows Mobile devices.
Certain mobile phones (running Symbian software - e.g. Nokia N95) can perform a similar feat using ViewRanger software.

Mobile Phones
As mentioned above, certain mobile phones can be used to help locate geocaches. The iPhone has an app. and for most platforms, I believe, Geocache Navigator can be used. These approaches utilise the inbuilt GPS and download the cache information, directly, from geocaching.com so may cost unless you have an unlimited data package for you phone. This approach is great if you find yourself with some spare time but you don't have your regular kit with you. The accuracy of the GPS may not be a good as a dedicated unit. Usually, the record of your find, or otherwise, can be uploaded straight into geocaching.com.

Mapping GPSr
Many, newer and more expensive GPRs units, have either built in maps or have the facility to load maps onto them. More information can be added to the waypoints providing cache descriptions and hints. The top-end devices, such a the Garmin Oregon, can even have OS maps (but they are prohibitively expensive). With an Oregon, you can load upto 1,000 caches (enough for even an all dayer) complete with descriptions, past logs and hints. On the map, you can navigate to the trail head (with turn by turn instructions) then switch to Geocaching mode to home in on the cache. When approaching GZ, you can switch to the compass and go for the kill. Once found (or not, as the case may be), a push on the touch screen will record your attempt along with any notes you wish to attach.
Back home, all the day's field notes can be uploaded to geocaching.com which make the whole logging process so much easier.

Conclusion
As you can see, there are many methods to be employed to locate those elusive caches. As is so often the case, it's very much horses for courses.
Personally, I use my N95 with ViewMaster to get an overview of the area and to locate footpaths etc. and my Oregon to actually locate and log the caches.
I would be very interested to hear how you do it.

Team Butter Fingers

2009-05-13T18:06:00.003+01:00

Oh the embarrasment!

Last Sunday, I did the excellent "Follow the Arrow" series of caches between Coughton and Alcester, which I really enjoyed. However, the fist cache I visited, well, here's my log entry...

2912. What a start to a morning's caching. Found the cache easily enough but as I went to retriev it, it fell from my (butter) fingers and hit the ground - bounced and disappeared from view accompanied by a splash!

I crossed over and followed the path down to the river to see the cache bobbing past. I followed it downstream and was going to head it off at the wier but luckily, it got stuck in some tree roots and I was able to rescue it.

On the good side, I can confirm that the container is waterproof.

I signed the log and very carefully put it back.

Thanks for the cache and the riverside walk!

... which was bad enough; although I did manage to rescue that one. A while back, some may recall, I dropped half a magnetic nano in my van and it was never seen again (the nano not my trusty stead.)

Today, in deepest Earlsdon, I was fumbling around for another magnetic cache - a key box this time (does anyone know a cheap source for these?) when I...

reached in, felt the cache, then felt it fall ! And of all the places where it could have fallen, it landed in the one place which is inaccessable. I'm really sorry.

What am I to do? I'm tryng to avoid ICTs as it is. If I add magnetic caches to my "don't touch these caches with a barge-pole" list I'm going to severly limit my choices. Perhaps, I could add a small net to my caching kit and position it under any magnetic caches I find. Maybe an elaborate electro-magnet affair so that I could suspend the cache in mid air (it would have to have that buzzing werr-werr sound.) Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Now how do I apply a GSAK filter for caches that are already at ground level?

Up North

2009-05-06T19:48:00.006+01:00

After our 72 cache-fest back in March, during the debrief, we agreed that it hadn't been to bad and that one hundred caches in a day, on foot, was do-able.

The UK Mega series was chosen in March ahead of the Blackburn Letterboxes which was our next objective. Our researcher (Stokesy) got to work and found us a route which would give us that elusive ton. Word went out of the impending expedition and, with a week to go, we had nine members (and one in support!)

05.15hrs (yes, that's in the a.m.) I received a call informing me that Stokesy was on his way. I was picked up, bleary eyed, and we were away heading north. One good thing about being up so, so early is that the M6 is almost empty and we made good time arriving at our rendezvous just before seven thirty. Obviously, Graham was already there!

We said our welcomes and kitted up, before setting off for them thar hills. The weather looked very promising, so much so that many elected to leave heavy waterproofs behind (a decision we did NOT regret.) The terrain was gentle and we soon started bumping up our tally. We did waste a little time on a couple of DNFs, but were on target. We were having such a good time that wwe hardly noticed as the terrain changed and were acsended onto the moors for some cracking views.

As the day wore on, and the numbers increased, it became apparent that we may have bitten off too much and with aching limbs we decided to call it a day at eighty four. Some were a little disappointed at not reaching our goal but, hey, 84 caches in a day is not bad going.

Although, we did not achieve the hundred (this time) we all had a great day out in great company. All achived new PBs (I know it's not about the numbers) and at least one member is chomping at the bit for another attempt at the ton.

2009-04-17T18:08:00.009+01:00

Arran Industries

As the week on Arran draws to a close, Team Balders has dealt a devestating blow to the island's tourist industry. Today, I found the last cache of the series so there is no need for anyone to come to Arran (actually there are lots of other, less important reasons to come.)

The Arran Industries series by Jango & Bobba Fett, is a series of twelve caches dotted around the island at sites of past or present industries. The full list includes, Whisky, Fishing, Coal, Slate, Bobbins, Barytes, Limestone, Sand, Iron, Cloth and Cheese. Those who can do adding up may be saying "Eh, that's only 11!" and how right they would be. In each cache is a number and in two, special instructions for calculating the co-ordinates of the missing "Quarry".

Of the eleven, there is one cache inside a cave, one in a very long hedge (not quite an ICT) and one which involves a three hour walk (which I had to do twice). Just to add to the fun, two of the caches are not listed on Geocaching.com (apparently, there are two other listing sites, Terracaching and Navicache.)

The series was placed in 2007 and I have been picking at it on our regular breaks to the island. This time around, I was determined to finish the series and through Geocaching.com, I made the aquaintance of JackieC who also likes to visit Arran and had the same plan but arriving a week later. We compared notes and although, I think, she was a little niffed, wished me well and was also myArranach PAF.

Earlier in the week I tried the Terracache listed Coal . This cache is a multi but I couldn't find two of the numbers (although one was easy to guess) so resigned myself to not finishing the series this time around. I then decided to mop up a few of the island's other hides including an FTF on Blue Lagoon.

Although not actively trying to finish the series, I found the rest leaving just coal and the final. After talking to Jackie, I was persuaded to give coal another go, which I did this morning. This time I spotted the missing number and made my way to the cache which was soon found. Inside, I found the last piece of the jigsaw, in this case, a big formula to plug in all the numbers so far collected.

Just in case the bonus, Quarry, was placed nearby because I'd hate to have to do this walk yet again, I sat down on the beach and plugged in the numbers. Horror of horrors, the numbers didn't add up. In my notes, from an earlier trip, I had put a question mark by one of the numbers; I substituted other values and came up with three possible solutions.

Back at the car, an hour and a bit later, I set off for the three possibles (all within a few hundred metres of each other). I had to bushwhack my way up to the first but after a search I couldn't find anything that matched the clue so battled my way through a gale to option two. After a short hunt, I came up with the goods. I opened the ammo box to find a blank logbook (now wouldn't that be a bummer if someone had beaten me to it?), and a bottle of Arran Milestone beer. On the label it states that it's bottle conditioned. It is also now ammo-can conditioned - it must have been frozen up there over two winters. I have yet to open it but I shall keep you all posted.

The descent was marred by sinking up to my nether regions in a peat bog but, hey, I'd completed the series!

So as the holiday draws to it's conclusion, I am a very happy bunny and what a great way to end. I've had a week of caching (well, mainly, caching early and then family stuff later) in some brilliant terrain. I've had a variety of cache types and two FTFs. Best of all, not a single 35mm film pot in an ivy covered tree.

Arran

2009-04-15T19:56:00.006+01:00

Tales from a Scottish Isle

As followers of this Blog will know, I am up in Bonnie Scotland just off the Ayrshire coast on the beautiful Isle of Arran. Know as Scotland in miniture, Arran has just about something to offer everybody, from Golfing (waste of a good walk) to rock climbing calling in on canoeing, cycling and walking on the way. There are also nearly 50 caches on the isle which measures only about 30km by 15 and rising up to 874m (Goat Fell). We are staying in a lovely house on the shore of Lamlash Bay overlooking Holy Isle.

Team Balders has been to Arran a few times in the past and we have managed to find a few of these caches including an FTF after 9 months (wouldn't last nine minutes back home - eh, Graham?)

There is a series of caches on the island called "Arran Industries" with caches place need sites of past and present industries on the isle. For such a small place, it's had a lot of stuff happening, including the obvious Whisky, cheese and fishing to Barytes (?), sand, coal and satellite technology (I may have made one of those up.) Each cache has a number which somehow give the co-ordinates of the bonus cache (quarry). Anyway, I've been slowly picking away at these but totally failed to find Coal (listed on Terracaching) so am unable to complete the series. I have e-mailed the cache owner (CO) a number of times but he is yet to reply.

I have also been trying for an FTF this week but with little success. King Hakon, on the nearby Holy Isle, is a puzzle cache which I was sure I had cracked but on the ground it just wasn't right. Again, I've contatcted the CO but it's the same guy as already mentioned so that's that one scrubbed.

Another puzzle, Teddy's Picnic also looked promising with no logs on Geocaching.com. I solved the puzzle and drove into the hills to look for this one. There was the cache just where it should be so I opened the log - to find that someone had logged it five days earlier! Perhaps they're still on holiday and haven't got the luxury of mobile internet so that one's on the watchlist.

Looking further down the GSAK list I spotted Ard Bheinn - Into the Volcano. No logs but on the top of a 512m extinct volcano. There are no paths on this hill so it was going to be hard going, then on the day, the clouds and rain came down. I was going to make the ascent today but a new friend, JackieC, told me of a new Arranach cache, Blue Lagoon, so I went for the easier option and finally bagged my long deserved FTF. How sad am I? I changed my Facebook profile to ... at 350m signing a log as FTF while at GZ! (and I took a photo.)

JackieC, also enjoys caching on Arran and was a little worried that I was going to beat her to the Arran Industries series, but with my earlier DNF, it's her's for the taking next week when she is on Arran - good luck girl.

The geo-mutt and I have walked many kilometres this week over terrain including sandy beaches,
grassy glens, muddy swamps and boulder fields (and that is hard going). The dog is totally knackered so we're having an easy day tomorrow. All this walking should be good practice for the upcoming Blackburn Letterbox trail - if it doesn't kill me first!

Well that's enough for now - I dare say I'll have more to add when I get back to Brum.

I.C.T.

2009-03-31T17:17:00.004+01:00

I was in Milton Keynes today so had to try a few caches at lunch time. Is it something in the water down there, but why are there so many "camo 35mm in ivy covered tree" caches in MK?

Is it a lack of imagination or do the locals really like rummaging around in the green stuff? Surely (don't call me Shirley) with all the parks and other green areas, there must be plenty of places to hide a slightly larger box or if it has to be a micro, some other location - in a tree, base of tree, under stone etc. etc.

It makes my blood boil !!!

Rant over - well that one at least! Next rant is STAMPS and not the one from the Post Office. I mean those useful ones that let you put your personal mark in the log. Now mine's not huge (stop tittering at the back) but if I'm doing a micro (having extracted it from the ICT) my stamp usually takes up 2 lines; which some may think extravagant. But what about this one I spotted today...
Count them with me;
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8 and a bit lines !!!

I popped out last night with Sue and the geo-mutt to bag some of HillHappy's latest batch and ran into Taff Hunter - nice couple, so we did a few together. Of course, we had to do a maintenance visit on KissKiss while we were out.

Apart from my ravings, I've had a couple of good caching days and am looking forward to the event in Knowle, hoping to meet lots of people.

That's all for now - cheers.

My Oregon got lost

2009-03-29T20:03:00.003+01:00

Out this evening, enjoying the longer evenings (well one at least), doing the Hidden Gems series in Perry Bar when my Oregon tells me that the cache is a further 180m away which happens to be the other side of a tall steel fence. I checked on my Nokia N95 and that told me that I was 20m away. I used the Nokia to home in on the cache as the terrain suited the clue and there is was. However, the Oregon was still indicating nearly 200m to go!

I switched off and back on and moved on to the next cache. The N95 was spot on but the Oregon, again, 200m off.

The battery was showing 1 bar but I'd had no warnings of low battery. I shall try new batteries tomorrow and I hope that is the cause of the problem.

By the way, the Hidden Gems series is a true hidden gem and well worth as visit.

It's not about the numbers

2009-03-16T18:27:00.004Z

Seventy Two Caches

Stokesy was Home Alone last weekend and had decided that he was going to do a spot of caching (as you do) and fancied a bit of a binge on Sunday. "Where are WE going?" I asked, inviting myself along. After rejecting an inviting series of letterbox hybrids near Blackburn, we decided on the North section of the UK Mega Series, between Fleet and Basingstoke in Hamshire. The whole series comprises of 126 caches, mostly regular sizes and nearly all with clues.

Word must had gotten out because I was informed that Steve-e-b would be joining us. The final seat was reserved for Stokesy's hound, Sophie.

Stokeys picked my up from Balders Hall just before 6am. and we had Steve in the car before half six, heading towards the M40. The M25 was fairly quiet (probably the best time to do it) and we arrived at the day's parking space, boots on and away by 8.30.

The first few went by easily and we made good time pausing for refreshments after our 20th find of the day. We passed close to Odiham airfield (which reminded me of my time at Birmingham airport) and we strolled along the picturesque and very clean Bassingstoke canal. I should also add that the canal is very popular with dog walkers, so much so that Sophie just had to pick a fight - they do say dogs resemble their owners!

As the afternoon wore on, and the relentless sun beat down, the legs where starting to protest but we pushed on, completing our trek in just under 9 hours. We all know that it's not about the numbers but the stats. are...

72 caches along 18 miles in 9 hours...

8 caches an hour or 4 caches per mile.

Arriving back at the car, somewhat fatigued, we all agreed that it had been a cracking day out. Doing 70+ in 9 hours makes 100 in 24 hours seem very do-able but where? We shall also have to return to Hampshire to do the other half.

Nokia N95

2009-03-10T16:25:00.006Z

As some of you may be aware, I've got me a new phone. It's the Nokia N95-8GB. This smartphone has a built in GPS (I'm not sure if it's just mine but the GPS isn't very good), 8GB of user RAM, internet access plus lots of other goodies. The N95 runs the Symbian operating system meaning that there are lots of nice add on programs for this smartphone.

One of the first things that I managed to do was install TomTom using an external Bluetooth GPS which works very well. I've got a GSAK macro which exports to TomTom .OV2 format with different icons for the different cache types. TomTom also (annoyingly, according to Sue) beeps when in the vicinity of a cache.

Last week, I splashed out on View Ranger (VR). This excellent piece of software is very similar to the Windows Mobile version of Memory Map (MM). The 1:50,000 scale Ordnance Survey maps are (c) 2008 and are more up to date than my old version of MM, for example the "new" A5 from Lichfield is shown on ViewRanger but not MM.

I've missed not having the OS maps with me (after the card reader part of my HP WinMobile device packed up) and it was nice to welcome an old friend back. The Oregon is very nice but I do miss my OS maps and I'm not forking out £100+ for each national park !

The installation of the software was simple and quick but copying the maps to the N95 took a while with the whole of Great Britain taking up about 2.5GB. The software reads .gpx files and I found a GSAK macro which exports the cache details with a bit more finesse than reading the native .gpx files. I changed the default icon from a rather ugly ammo box to a green ball which makes homing in a lot better.

However, all the caches are displayed as the same icon. After using Lordelph's Lovely Icons on MM, I decided to modify the GSAK macro to display different icons for each cache type. I also changed the way the caches are listed from GC numbers to the cache name which I find a lot more useful.

I now have the whole of the UK at 1:50,000, a load of unfound caches with their own symbols and desciptions; all on my phone!

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T21:09:00.004Z

Firstly, let me wish all my readers a Happy New Year. 2008 went rapidly downhill and personally I've got to be interviewed for my own job or face redundancy.

On the caching front, my stats. dropped like a stone towards the end of 2008, with November being my worst month of the year with only 34 finds during 4 days of caching. This just happens to coincide with my bout of Man-Flu but hopefully, I'm just about over it as we enter the new year.

2008 ended with a frantic dash out on the 30th to bring my year end total to a nice round 2300. Then Stokesy spoils it all by putting out two new caches yesterday which I just had to go for. In my haste in getting the co-ordinates for the first one and getting out of the door, I missed the other until I returned, elated after an FTF.

I had to wait for Mrs. Balders to get home from work before I could get out again but was rewarded with another FTF - what a way to end the year!

New Year's Day found me dropping Mrs. Balders at work for 8am then heading off towards Redditch for a spot of you know what. I picked up a few of The Stranglers caches on the way and started the year with 19 caches found.

With a bit of luck, I should reach 3000 by the end of the year, needing, on average, about 2 caches per day.

I mentioned a few days ago that I'd upgraded my Oregon software to version 2.7. An extra benefit I've discovered is that waypoint co-ordinates are a LOT easier to enter, so much so that it is now usable!

Also, the problems I had before with the unit locking up when plugging into the PC have totally gone - it hasn't played up once since the upgrade.

Well, that 's about it for now. Up-coming this month we have a meet at The Barn, Hockley Heath on the 28th ( link ) and the next Brummie Meet sometime in February.

Kev goes caching

2008-12-27T17:16:00.005Z

Dropped Sue at work then I was off up the A38 heading towards a bunch of caches near Derby (Black Widow country). I totally failed to find "Sidetracked Willington" (again) and have now officially given up on it!

I managed to pick up a few drive-bys then parked up and took a stroll along a chilly canal finding a few more on the way. A short drive brought me to another stretch of cache strewn canal. Not all the finds were straight froward but at least with an out and back course, you can have another stab on the return.

After these "mini-series" or power trails, I cut across country heading roughly back home. One cache I had to visit was Heron's Wood. At my Birthday Bash, I was given a LARGE travel bug which I was challenged to hide. This container swallowed the TB easily. I was on my way to this cache when a passing mountain biker asked if I was geocaching - is it THAT obvious?

I was very cold so I wound up my caching activities around one and made my way home, finally picking up Stokesy's Collector 4 cache, which is only 120m from home on the way.

Oregon Update

2008-12-26T19:12:00.003Z

Browsing the Garmin website, I noticed that software version 2.70 was available. I plugging in and upgraded from 2.50.

No great difference it's mainly little bug fixes but no mention of my problem (with the Oregon - not the other problem!!!). However, I've turned tracking back on and so far (touch wood) it connects to the PC without any of the difficulties I used to encounter. Let's hope the firmware updat has fixed the problem.

Birthday Bash

2008-12-26T18:47:00.005Z

It was two days before my actual 50th Birthday but it definitely felt like a real birthday party. We had loads of cachers turn up, luckily not all together or the conservatory would have burst at the seams!

Graham1875 came in telling me of a new cache which I had to go and find immediately. He handed me a printout but when I protested about a lack of GPS he told me that he had one all set up in the car. We traipsed into the carpark and with GPS in hand I followed the arrow to find a black bag propped up next to my Kiss Kiss cache. With some trepidation I opened the bag to find a bottle of whisky - luckily it didn't have a TB around the neck so I logged it as took - whisky, left - thanks.

This was not the only pressie, and please forgive me if I've forgotten any. I got another bottle of whisky, a geocoin from Stokesy and not one, but two cakes including a gorgeous Parsnip Cake from Jackie of Shank's Pony.

Someone passed around a showerhead to much amusement (I still don't get it).

The beer, as to be expected at The Griffin", was excellent and I was lucky to have one of those magic glasses that never seemed to empty - thanks to all who contributed to my subsequent hangover.

All in all a cracking night. I would like to thank all again for turning up and making it a night to remember.

On the road again

2008-12-26T18:27:00.004Z

After my near-death experience with the, often fatal, man flu and the general yuletide malaise, I finally got out today and into the caching mindset.

There has been a bunch (not quite a series) of caches in Sheldon which I've been meaning to do for a while now so after dropping Mrs. Balders at work, I made my way to The Raddleys. The caches where all found without any problems although I had to be careful with one of them for fear of it falling down and being lost forever!

Then it was up the Cov. Road to Corley to check on one of my caches (Motorway Mayhem - Deja Vu). I'd had a couple of reports of series foliage clearance so went to check it out. The cache was hidden in the hedgerow and the hint used to read "behind the split tree". As you can see from today's photo, the tree has been split to ground level and it is out in the open. Amazingly, the cache was still there!

I've now moved it 20m away to what I hope will remain a move secluded spot.

From Corley, I nipped into nearby Nuneaton to bag "Don't Get Muggled" which was easily found. Of interest was the last signee, a certain HillHappy1. I gave him a call and had a quick chat and it appears that he's had more important things than looking for plastic boxes to concern him. It's nice to see Haydn back on the scene, his presence has been sorely missed.

Whilst in Nuneaton, I dropped in on my mate Birder1951 for a cuppa and a natter before picking up "Grandpa goes for a pint", in the dark, on my way home.

I've got the next two days with nowt to do - any ideas?

Nearly There

2008-11-25T17:35:00.003Z

I saw this excellent picture whilst idly browsing and thought "this time tomorrow, I'll be getting ready to go to The Griffin". A quick glance at the web page hints at around 30 attendees so it should be nice and cosy!

Hopefully, I should get there just before seven to meet and greet before moving (squeezing?) into the conservatory for, hopefully, a night of jollity and general geo-chatter.

I have knocked up a bit of a quiz so if there's room I may roll that out. No big prize, in fact, so far, no prize - I'll have to have a rummage and see what I've got that would make an appropriate trophy.

I'm not sure what beers they've got on, I've been rather busy with the panot the last week or so, but I've never been disappointed with the selction at The Griffin.

Well, that's all for now - I've curtain call at 7.30 - hope to see many faces tomorrow night.

Clavedon

2008-11-21T17:51:00.005Z

Feeling a lot better after my near-death experience with the man-flu, I decided on a bit of caching to blow out the cobwebs. A new series of 14 caches appeared last night so they had to be done.

After breakfast at the Gay Cafe, I drove out to Claverdon, near Henley-in-Arden, picking up a Tutti-Fruitti cache on the way. I parked the car and walked back to the first cache of the Langton Lane Loop series.

As I approached the cache I spied a couple acting suspiciously in the trees. A gps hanging around a neck and a handful of paper confirmed them as geocachers. After introductions we decided to do the rest of the series together, signing the logs Lorri-Ann and Kev and Kev (well almost). We then spent the next couple of hours or so slipping, sliding and sloshing in the mud around this excellent series.

Abbey, the lab, really enjoyed all the water even when mixed with soil !

After the series, we went our seperate ways but I think that I spied my new friends turning into Bearley railway station as I was pulling out.

I was going to do the Webbie Womble series on the way back but the weather was looking a bit iffy so I wimped out but still managed a few more easy caches on the way home.

The more observant may have noticed 15 smilies on the map; "Edstone Adventure" was caught up in the middle of the series, so did that one as well!

Caching Up

2008-11-20T21:03:00.005Z

I'm been a bit quiet on the Geo front lately due to a number of things including, grandkids waking (everybody) at 6am every day, man flu and work.

I'm on annual leave this week but was literally dying from man flu earlier in the week but finally got out for a spot of tubbyware hunting yesterday. I'm going through a bit of a retro-HiFi phase at the moment, buying (slightly) older HiFi gear on eBay! The current set up is mainly Denon including receiver, CD player and a (soon to arrive) MiniDisc recorder. I've also got a ProJect turntable for the old vinyl which can be picked up for a song at charity shops!

What's all this to do with geocaching? Well the receiver needed picking up from Worcester so Sue and I made a day of it. After a lazy start, we picked up a few easy caches on the way down ending up at Upton-upon-Severn for lunch. Following some gorgeous cauliflower & brocolli soup, we made our way to Malvern for a few more caches and the Oxfam shop (where I picked up Elton John's "Goodbye Yellowbrick Road" on YELLOW VINYL).

After a very nice veggie curry we picked up the audio gear before driving home. A nice relaxing day.

I've still got two caches with a kilometre of Balders Hall which I really should do (sorry Stokesy).

The Birthday Bash is less than a week away and I'm really looking forward to spending the evening with my geo-buddies.

Sorry

2008-11-16T23:19:00.000Z

Sorry Guys but I have been busy with other "projects" lately and have, sadly, neglected this blog.

I have, belatedly, discovered Facebook (kev@byke5.co.uk) and have found that very time consuming especially winding up a certain Strangler without even trying, apparently!

Cachingwise, I have been rather quiet over the past week or so but am off work for a week so may have to nip out and bag a few!

That's it for now; I'm still getting over a cold (man-flu) so fortified with medicinal alcohol I'm off to my sick bed.

Watch this space.

Oregon - Gone?

2008-10-04T23:22:00.002+01:00

I think that I may have mentioned a little problem with my Oregon where it freezes when I try to synchronise it with my PC (or any PC, as it happens).

I've had a few problems when I connect the Oregon to my PC. I've tried everything, and finally I called Garmin, on Friday, and explained the situation to them. They have decided that my unit needs to be returned for repair, so on Monday, I'm going to have to package it up and send it away (sob, sob). Garmin assure me that we will be parted for no more than 10 days!!!

I've had to dig out my iPAQ PDA and re-install Cachemate and Pocket Navigator to use for the next couple of weeks.

The last outing with my Oregon before we are seperated, will be tomorrow (Sunday) when we're off to Bromsgrove for a caching-fest with around 30 caches within walking distance (blisters allowing).

That There London

2008-10-04T23:06:00.004+01:00

Thursday 2nd October

I'd got another cheap coach ticket down to London for a spot of Urban Caching. I had to get up early to get into Brum for the 06:45 coach to London Victoria. I arrived outside Argos at 06:10 and as there were few people around, I managed to grab "The Strangler's" "The Lad Himself" on the way to Digbeth.

I arrived at Victoria just before 10 and made my way to the first cache just of Picadilly - an old, disused, underground station. I, then worked my way roughly east crossing the river at London Bridge to bag a total of 20 caches in the capital and one in the second city. I even managed a Sidetracked cache (Waterloo) near to one of my favourites "Banksy Was Here" near a 200 metre long, grafitti covered subway. The photo shows what was probably my favourite "art-work" of a Scalectric track on the pavement.

A few observations...

GPS coverage in central London is crap - even with my, supposedly super-duper Oregon, the map showed me upto 40m away from the road I was obviously walking along.

Make sure that the insoles in your walking boots haven't slipped down. As souveniers of London I brought back two stonking blisters!

Not a vast number of caches but it was a day out, seeing a few of the sights and getting a few ideas for future caches!?!

FTFs / Birthday / London

2008-09-28T19:15:00.003+01:00

I got up for work this morning (I know, money grabbing so and so) and, as usual, I checked the inbox. There was a block of caches so I clicked on the first one and discovered that it was only 2.9km away. I had to bide my time as I'd promised to drop Sue off on my way out so it was 07:45 when I got my sweaty palms on the box. Would Stokesy have beaten me? With some trepedation, I opened the book and found that it was blank. I checked the other end (I've fallen for THAT one before) but it was still virginal. The Team Balders stamp was brought into action.
Chancing my luck, I went for "MotorwayMayhem M6 Toll - Toll View 2". Success again - two FTFs before breakfast. I also managed to pick up "Heavens Above - Holy Trinity" near Hatton on the way to work in Leamington Spa.

Some may have noticed that, I have submitted a listing for my 50th birthday in November (link). It will be at The Griffin, near Shustoke, where we held the successful "Almost Valentines Day Cache" back in February. I hope that eveyone doesn't go out and buy me a Garmin Oregon 400!

Talking of Cache meets, I'm expecting to see a new listing for the Brummie Meet 2, which should only ba about a month away. Who was it who said that they would do the next one?

I'm off to that there London on Thursday, taking advantage of another cheapo coach ticket. Looking at the Google cache map around Victoria, I think that I may venture to the east, mainly along the river. With a bit of luck I could break the 2,100 barrier! As of today (28/9/08) I'm on 2076.

A bucket of Fun / Free Maps

2008-09-18T00:07:00.004+01:00

On our way back from work in Bedford, today, The Strangler and I stopped off in our lunch break to do a cache near Towcester (Where's Roger). I'd picked up a large TB and needed a large cache to put it in; this one fitted the bill.

However, on reaching the cache we found the large container full of water. This was a shame as the cache contained a lot of good stuff including a computer mouse, a CD-ROM drive, Video tapes etc. etc. all of which were ruined. Dave and I dried the bucket as best as we could but most of the stuff we had to CITO.

An interesting website, which I came across, tonight, is Open Street Map. To quote the project, "OpenStreetMap creates and provides free geographic data such as street maps to anyone who wants them. The project was started because most maps you think of as free actually have legal or technical restrictions on their use, holding back people from using them in creative, productive, or unexpected ways."

The project relies on Joe Public going out with a GPS and collecting data which can be uploaded to the site and used to edit the world-wide map. I downloaded the UK section and stuck it on my Oregon. Some areas that haven't yet been mapped are, obviously, blank but some areas are more detailed than the £150 Garmin topo-maps. Generally there is a lot more footpath detail and a lot of pubs! I'll need to look into this project and upload some local data (my street isn't on there - YET!)

On the Brummie Cut series, I need to get out before the weekend and replace YELLOW - possibly with a magnetic. I'm also planning on doing some of those busy busy caches on Sunday. I've also got another London excursion planned for October.

Oregon - in the mode

2008-09-12T21:16:00.003+01:00

I'm still finding my way around the Oregon. I've been getting a bit frustrated especially when the compass needle refuses to point anywhere but straight up. I've tried changing all sorts of setings but still the same. Then in a flash of inspiration I went to the Profiles page and selected GEOCACHING. (I had previously just customised the recreation profile). The needle behaved properly - nice.

After my evening's caching around Sutton I selected home and asked the unit to plot a course. It calculated a route STRAIGHT home, totally ignoring the roads. I then switched to the AUTOMOTIVE profile and I got a proper road-based route on a 3D road map. I tried the compass and the old straight ahead pointer was back.

So, tonight, I've discovered what the profile page does and the unit is back on my good gear list.

Back home, I plugged the Garmin into the PC and went to GC.com. I chose Access My Field Notes and uploaded my list of found caches to GC.com. I was then able to select each in turn and was taken to the logging page with the notes taken on the trail automatically entered. It makes logging post-caching a lot easier than before my lovely wife bought my new toy.

We're off to Preston on Sunday so, hopefully, we'll grab a few caches en-route. I must get a lead for the Oregon to power it from the car which will keep the backlight on all the time instead of dimming after a few seconds.

Peak District - Aug / Sep 2008

2008-09-07T17:33:00.004+01:00

Got back yesterday from our romantic interlude in the Peak District. It was our 25th wedding anniversary on Wednesday and we also reached 2000 caches.

After our celebrations on the 30th we drove up to Glossop on the Sunday, picking up a couple of caches or so on the way. We stayed at a lovely little cottage on the outskirts of Glossop within walking distance of the Snake Pass.

Most mornings, I let Sue have a lie in whilst I nipped out and bagged a few local caches before returning to our love nest for breakfast. We'd probably pick up a few more caches while out and about in the day. We didn't go cacheing mad but managed 58 finds during the week.

Sue, bless her, bought me an anniversary present - a Garmin Oregon 200. The geocaching features are very good so I've been having a little play with my new toy. Still early days but I've splashed out and got some topo maps for the unit which look very snazzy. The maps are better than Memory Map in one way and that is that the Oregon can navigate to any waymark, geocache or POI (of which there are thousands). It's not just a point on top of a graphic, like MM, but the unit "knows" what all the bits of the map are.

I'll post a blog about it when I've had a bit more time using it.

I spent an hour or so, last night, logging all the finds. I had logged around 20 caches before I realised that I'd got the wrong dates!!!

Finally, talking of technology, I've ditched Vista (it is crap, after all) and upgraded to XP Pro. Luckily the new laptop came with a driver disk and everything works - and SO MUCH faster.

Vista and GSAK

2008-08-30T01:52:00.006+01:00

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

2008-08-23T21:10:00.002+01:00

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

2008-08-07T18:34:00.002+01:00

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

2008-08-04T19:47:00.002+01:00

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

2008-08-03T23:34:00.004+01:00

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

2008-08-02T08:57:00.002+01:00

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.

Paperless Caching

2008-07-27T11:24:00.011+01:00

I had an e-mail in the week from someone asking about paperless caching. This is how I do it...

GSAK - I have Geocaching Swiss Army Knife (GSAK) on my PC and also CACHEMATE running on my iPAQ pocket PC. As you probably know, I travel around a bit with work so have numerous POCKET QUERIES set up centred on the places I visit. I have them set to only show caches that are available and not yet found by me. When these queries arrive via e-mail I open them with GASK and add them to the database.

Before exporting my caches to the iPaq or Memory Map, I run a filter with the following options...

The first page ensures that I only export caches that I haven't yet found and are available. The second page removes any caches that haven't been updated in the last week. This should remove any caches that are no longer available but are still in the GSAK database.

Once the filter has run, I can now export this list to the Pocket PC and Memory Map.

Pocket PC - From GSAK I select file | export | GPX/LOC and use the default settings. I export the file into ...My Documents/iPAQ My Documents. This is a special folder which synchronises with the Pocket PC when it is connected. The actual folder name will vary but should be the name you gave your PPC + My Documents (I called mine iPAQ). Once this has synchronised, on the pocket PC I can start CACHEMATE and select import (arrow pointing to files).

...select Start, then select the file which was synchronised with your PC. That should get your caches into Cachemate.

Memory Map - From GSAK, the easiest way is just to use the defaults after running the filter. However, there is so much that can be tweeked to make it a whole lot more useful.

Select File | Export | Memory Map and change the entries that I've circled.

This has the following effects...

Waypoint Name - Short waypoint name and doesn't swamp the map.
Name on GPS - Leave as it is
Waypoint Comment - This adds the clue to the comments which can be read from MM by selcting properties for a cache.
Link - When using Pocket Navigator (Memory Map on the PPC) , double tapping on a cache will open up the correct page in Cachemate.

To really snazz up your maps, you can download Lordelph's Icons and get some nice icons for the different sorts of caches. It's a bit involved installing the macro for this so maybe another blog, another day (when I remember how I did it).

A few words on Memory Map / Pocket Navigator

To get caches from Memory Map on the PC into Pocket Navigator on the PPC you need to need to select Mobile Device (or similar) on the PC and then Export Data to Device. The standard version of Pocket Navigator cannot read .GPX files.

To get maps onto the PPC, zoom the map right out and scroll until you get the area you want to transfer. Select Mobile Device (or similar) and then select Send Visible Map Portion... When the next window pops up, give your map a useful and memorable name otherwise all your maps will be called "From OS 1:50k Great Britain".

There's quite a bit more that can be done, but I've waffled on enough for today. Any queries, you can try contacting me.

Chesterfield

2008-07-27T11:10:00.003+01:00

Monday to Thursday, this coming week, I'm being posted to foreign climes (Chesterfield) for a course. I'm not sure whether I'll be staying out as the company hasn't paid the hotel yet and I'm not going to pay then have to wait months to get it back!

Anyway, whether I'm stopping or not, I'm hoping to do a few caches while I'm up there. I've loaded GSAK and Memory Map on to my laptop and with a few Pocket Queries around Chesterfield and the route(s) loaded I've got a database of nearly 600 caches waiting to be found. There's even a cache within 100m of the hotel.

The hotel boasts WiFi so I should be able to log my finds and answer any e-mails but if I am a bit quiet for the next few days you know why.

FRIDAY, I had a bash at Stokesy's MIDDLE ENGLAND series in and around Meriden. On my 7+ mile hunt I bumped into GRAHAM1875 at last. I now know how he can grab caches at all hours!
I was also following Shank's Pony around but never caught up with them. However, when I got back to my vehicle, there was a note under the wiper blade from Shank's Pony - thanks.

I've got to pop out later today for a touch of Brummie Cut maintenance - Only 1 missing this week. A few of the logs are full or nearly so (especially the nanos) so they'll need replacing.

1800

2008-07-23T20:21:00.002+01:00

Working with "The Strangler" today and it was my turn to drive. Arrived a bit early so had time to do Ye Old Saracens Head and Grammar School , which just happened to be my 1800th cache!!!!

On the way back from work, we managed to pick up another cache or two (which was nice).

I notice that "Stoksey" has just published HIS Middle Earth series around Meriden. I wonder if Stokesy waited until Graham was on holiday (he'll never go away again!). Normally, I would rush out but Mrs Balders and I are having a french themed evening - Garlic mushrooms, mussels, smelly cheese on a crispy baton, Champagne and Corbiers (tres bon, n'est pas?).

I'm on a course at Chesterfield next week, I wonder if there are any "Must-Do" caches there or on the way?

Best Mate (Brummie Meet)

2008-07-22T19:22:00.001+01:00

July 22 by The Strangler (356 found)
Well as I am co-conspirator, I will be there, sober to start with and I may bring a friend from Avenue Road

1 8 0 0 - nearly

2008-07-22T16:39:00.000+01:00

I'm sitting on 1799 caches found - where shall I go for my 1800th?

Brummie Meet 1

2008-07-22T16:28:00.008+01:00

The Strangler and I ( in consultation with others) have made an executive decision to hold the inaugural Brummie Meet event at The Old Joint Stock, Temple Row, Birmingham from 7pm on Wednesday 6th August. It will be very informal - just a beer and a natter. There will be no new caches (hold hard Dave), no guided walks, CITO or the like.

It is hoped to hold a similar event in the first week of every third month (August, November, February and May) with different cachers hosting the event each time.

We have decided to make it a proper event so that some people can bump up their numbers (not that I go in for that sort of thing!)

Guardian of the Cache

2008-07-21T20:06:00.006+01:00

The mystery of Avenue Road continues. It would appear that our friendly Asian gentleman is taking the small cache with him as he strolls along the highways and byways. I have decided to leave the 35mm film pot in place (when it's there) so that he take it walkies and hopefully leave the new, bigger cache alone.

I loved the logs that talk about the "Guardian of the Cache" and I envisioned a holy man sitting cross legged near the cache giving enlightenment to weary travellers. This inspired me to fire up Photoshop and knock this up...

ALSO - I'm only 10 caches away from 1800 so I must get my finger out and grab a few caches this week!

Strange Happenings at Avenue Road

2008-07-20T15:54:00.004+01:00

I have a cache (one of many) hidden near Avenue Road in Birmingham. A few days ago, a few cachers logged DNFs. I popped out on Friday to replace the cache and, lo and behold, the 35mm film pot was there.

Yesterday, "The Strangler" was having a go at the series and this is his log...

On arrival at GZ I stopped and was greeted by an inebriated gentleman. The gentleman was quite drunkenly helpful insofar as he kept telling me where the cache is and that I was playing some sort of game as he regularly watches people looking for it. This got me into a situation where I thought on my two left feet and decided to explain to him that I had just stopped to take a drink and a rest and I did not know what he was talking about. Well he was having none of this so I decided to leave it and log it as a DNF. Anyway the heavens opened so I took shelter under the next bridge. After bagging most of the rest of this series I returned and the gentleman had gone and so had the cache! Seems he did know where it was after all.

So, I checked again this morning, and the cache was indeed missing. I placed a new cache, a little way away, and in case anyone was attempting this cache today, I put a coded message in the original hole saying where the new cache was hidden.

Reports coming in today indicate that the original 35mm cache is back in it's hole (with the clue). People have been signing BOTH caches!

I shall remove the 35mm film pot, probably tonight.

On my way home from work today, I did "Mathew Boulton Woz Ere" in Birmingham city centre and bumped into Andy (of AndyandElaine) who was just leaving the scene of the crime - nice to meet you (shame he wasn't wearing the Brummie Cut T-shirt!).

ALSO - "The Strangler" mentioned that he had met "The Bolas Heathens". Dave has this thing about the "Issac with..." photos that adorn the BH's logs - so I just had to fire up Photoshop...

Issac with... The Strangler

I've noticed that no-one has visited "Kiss Kiss" for a while so I may have to perform a Maintenance Visit this evening!

That's all for now.....

Hidden Train Line

2008-07-16T20:26:00.003+01:00

I was working in Bedford today and on my way home (avoiding the M1 - I HATE motorways) I had to pass a couple of caches - pass? I don't think so!

The first was "Salem Tower" a straighfroward traditional cache in a small wooded area. The clue mentioned an old tree stump which turned out to be a manky piece of wood - very old, in fact, it was falling apart with the rot.

The other cache was "Train Arriving?" . Set on a disused railway line. Apparently a local railway club has installed some narrow gauge track but it doesn't look as though they've done much of late.

The cache itself was one of my favourites (mag nano). The whole experience was quite strange - a little surreal.

Containers

2008-07-14T20:30:00.002+01:00

I've run out of 35mm film pots so I popped into a chemist near where I was working and asked for some. The kind lady said that they usually throw them away but will keep them for me from now on. She then said that she had some other containers to which I was welcome. These range from little ones about half the size of a film pot up to some pots about 150mm long by 50mm diameter. Result. I've used one of my new containers to replace Bridge 107.

I've noticed that one or two people are claiming finds on Brummie Cut without actually signing the log. They cite muggles for preventing them from retrieving the cache. Well, it's their conscience but surely overcoming muggles is part of the game? Each to their own.

With the very slow response of Geocaching.com yesterday, Monki and Stevo185 logged yesterday's finds today. The towpaths must have been awash with cachers yesterday!

The list of local caches is steadily growing - I'll have to have a session one day but there's overtime available and THAT pays the bills.

Drumfest

2008-07-13T18:47:00.005+01:00

No caching today for Team Balders; we've been to Drumfest at the NEC. I've just got back and a quick look at my inbox tells me that 2 teams have done the Brummie Cut series today. I also received an excellent photo of Andy (of andyandelaine) sporting a most magnificent T-shirt.

I had a bit of a chat with "The Strangler" yesterday concerning the Brummie Meet - nothing concrete yet but we're on the case.

Any ideas for a venue?

I've also been out this evening doing a spot of Brummie Cut maintenance.

Brummie Meet

2008-07-11T15:11:00.002+01:00

Those who look at the forums may have noticed a posting, about a week ago, suggesting a regular (every 2 - 3 months?) get together in Birmingham.

Judging from the responses, this is a good idea but although people are interested no-one wants to bite the bullet and actually organise it.

My good friend The Strangler and I are willing to bite the aforementioned bullet. We are looking for a pub close to the city centre which is fairly quiet (until we get there) mid-week (ie. Tue, Wed or Thu). It will be very informal and we'll probably make it an official geo-meet (although it's not about the numbers!!!)

ANY help, ideas or comments are welcome.

Where's it gone

2008-07-10T21:24:00.002+01:00

I was working with "The Strangler" today and, although I'd already done it, he wanted to have another go at Llamas' Retreat. We made our way to GZ but couldn't find it. It was nearly 2 years ago when I found it and couldn't quite remember where it should be but I thought that I had a good idea. (Back home, I notice that the last two logs were DNFs so maybe it has gone!)

However, this episode raises a couple of questions....

a) Have I done too many caches that they tend to blur together and I can't remember the details of any one cache.

b) Am I loosing my touch

c) Is my memory going

d) What was the other question !

Done the series - Got the T-shirt

2008-07-10T00:26:00.008+01:00

I've had a request for a T-shirt design so I've knocked one up. It looks a bit like this ...
... and can be downloaded from HERE

Geocaching Series

2008-07-08T20:16:00.002+01:00

I know that I wasn't first to put out a power trail , but has anyone else noticed that the current trend is for people to put out a series of caches?

I think that caching goes in cycles. A while ago, it was all puzzle caches with setters trying to outwit each other. Then it was Motorway Mayhem and more recently Sidetracked.

What could be the next trend?

Brummie Cut - GREEN

2008-07-05T22:28:00.001+01:00

Those who have done this one - should I change it for something with a stronger magnet?

Balders Birthday Bash

2008-07-05T21:05:00.001+01:00

Following the success of the "Almost Valentines Day Cache" in February, I'll be organising another in late November to coincide with my *0th birthday.

Mega

2008-07-05T21:01:00.002+01:00

I'm off to the Mega in August with HillHappy1. We're going up on the Saturday, staying at York youth hostel on Saturday and after the event, coming back Sunday afternoon. I must meet HH1 to discuss arrangements (note to self).

I was wondering if there are any caches (or a cluster of caches) either on the way up or around Harrogate / York.

I'll load the Wherigo app. onto my PDA and have a go at the one near the venue.

Brummie Cut - missing cache

2008-07-05T20:01:00.003+01:00

Curzon Street

I had a cache hidden near Curzon Street, at the bottom of some steps, tucked away under some vegetation. The cache went missing and I replaced it. A day later, I went out to check all the caches in the Brummie Cut series and couldn't find this one cache. I looked a couple of times but just couldn't see it.

I took the step of archiving the cache and placed a new cache about 100m away.

AJIGEO managed to find the missing (and now archived) cache today about 1m from where it should have been. Oh well, too late now!

I wish that finders would, before picking up the cache, take a good look at where the cache is and how it is placed. Then when they have signed the log etc. they should be able to replace it as the owner intended. I was about to replace another of my (micro) caches yesterday before I spotted it in the wrong place! That's today's moan over with.

Welcome

2008-07-05T19:53:00.002+01:00

Hi and welcome to the geo-world of team balders.

I have recently hidden a series of 26 caches around some of the canals of Birmingham. I included a link to a webpage specifically for this series (LINK).

I also thought that it would be an idea to jot down a few thoughts concerning geocaching which don't really fit on a cache listing. I chose Blogger as (I hope) an easy way to jot down my thoughts and ideas and share them with fellow cachers.

Please feel free to comment and add your tuppence worth.

Kev