Paperless Caching

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

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

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)

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

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

Brummie Meet 1

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

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!