So your Cache Needs Maintenance

So you have a few (or more) hides and everything is going along nicely.  And then, you get an email stating that someone has posted a "Needs Maintenance" log on your cache.  Hopefully you will read it and see what they have to say and if necessary go out and fix the problem ASAP.
Or are you one of those owners that ignore the note and hope that someone else will fix the problem?
One of the things about being a cache owner is the constant maintenance of what you hide.  It is not the responsibility of other cachers to constantly maintain your caches.  If they are prepared or asked in advance then they may do the maintenance for you.  However, you are still responsible. 
When another cacher places a needs maintenance note on your cache then you will receive notification of such.  From that point forward there will be a "Red Wrench"  beside your cache listing for all to see.  Now I have seen that and sometimes gone prepared and replaced logs, dried out caches, removed some pretty ugly stuff, and in some instances replaced the cache container. 
But, even when this has happened and I have posted a note saying the maintenance has been done or the CO has done it, the "Red Wrench" is still there.  Why? Well the CO has to actually post an "Owner Maintenance" log on the cache.  Just enabling it or ignoring it will not do the trick. 

Statistics

I try to keep my geocaching stats accurate so that my milestones are where they belong.  I generally use GSAK and run the "Check Multiple Finds" Macro.  Whenever I find a discrepancy I go looking for it and correct it.
Recently I was emailed and informed that one of my caches had a duplicate log on it.  Now I want my own caches to correctly reflect their finds as well  so I went ahead and deleted the double log and informed the cacher what I had done and why.
Apparently this was the wrong way to go about it.  I get accused of a hatred so deep I delved into the bowels of the cache logs until I came up with someway to screw up their stats. Said cacher hides his stats so there was no way of even knowing what I had done.  Yes, at some point I realized that it was a possibility but by then it was too late.  Said cacher decided to try to roast me in the forums once again.  Once again said cacher did not receive the support that he felt he deserved.  
On that note I did download and run the "Duplicate Found Logs" Macro.  I discovered a few more and proceeded to delete them as well.  Now I have discovered that there is another online program called Project-gc.com  Wow even GSAK has missed some of my duplicates.  Something to work with over the next few days to make corrections and inform the cachers.

A New Year

So much has happened in the past year. Some cachers took exception to my views on geocaching guidelines and how they should be approached.  Well everyone is entitled to their opinion. I believe we must strive to be the best we can every day. It's hard and sometimes petty thoughts and deeds come to mind but I do try to squelch them as much as possible. 

So here is my caching to do list for the next year:

1. I will smile and greet all those I meet on the trails 
2. I will ignore being ignored, the stares, the whispers, and the glares
3. I will not make any comment I feel is inappropriate on your cache page
4. I will answer any email I get regarding my caches, it is up to you to take me off your ignore/block list and answer in a mature and calm manner
5. If I have a concern about your cache I will email you first,  it is up to you to take me off your ignore/block list and answer in a mature and calm manner

This is pretty basic stuff and I am hoping all that I meet and know will do the same


  

Dumping in the bush...

There is just one word to describe those that take their garbage and dump it in woods.  PIG!!!

Just how cheap and lazy are you?  What gives you the right to destroy the environment and the beauty of what belongs to all of us?  
Would you dump this in your back yard?  Well you are dumping in mine!!
I would like to see everyone out there report these pigs. Take a camera and catch them in the act. Post the pictures online. Send them to the newspaper.  Do you recognize what is being dumped?  Did it belong to someone you know? Take them to task for it....
Dumping affects all of us.  Those of us who are outdoor enthusiasts find gates locked because of dumping.  It limits our access to the great outdoors.  For those of you who are content to stay in your urban setting you need to think about where your water comes from.  This dumping affects your water source.
And this is not limited to household garbage or industrial waste.  Your lawn clippings and weeds are also dumping and contributes to introducing invasive species that choke out the natural flora. 
I have a Facebook group where I post pictures from the Campbell River and surrounding areas.Logging road Dumping I have talked to people and informed them that what they are doing is illegal and there are repercussions and fines.  Some are open to my speech and some are not.
It is up to us to be proactive and stop this practice.  
  
 
 

Premium Memberbership

Joining Geocaching.com is free.  You never have to pay anything to enjoy the hobby.  You can even log Premium Member caches without being a Premium Member.  You didn't know that?  As long as a premium member sends you the link to the log page for the premium member cache you can log it.  You just cannot see it on the cache listing.  
So why be a premium member?  I  like it because I don't have advertisements on my listing page or elsewhere and I absolutely love pocket queries. 
Premium membership does allow us to get instant notifications for new caches but a lot of the time I see them on the cache listing page first.  That's because cellular service is the pits where I live and I have them sent to my iPhone instead of email.
So, really it is not important to have Premium Membership to get a FTF!! 

So that brings us to the Premium Member caches.  Why limit who can find your cache?  Some would argue that it is to keep the newbies from finding your cache and then not placing it back properly or allowing a non-cacher to see it, etc.  Some like the fact that you can see who has been looking at your cache page and how many times.  This can be fun!! But really, who cares? I personally don't see the point in hiding a micro in the back of wherever and then making it a premium member cache. 

A weekend in Sooke

I needed a good few days of geocaching in order to reach a major milestone.  Since I have always wanted to do the Pacific Marine Circle Route and I have never been to Sooke, BC, the weekend of Sept 29th 2012, with all the awesome fall weather we have been having the decision was made.  
Wanting to keep it financially feasible but get the most out of the weekend with an eye on the weather I booked us into a "Rustic" cabin at Sooke River Campground. 

We set out Saturday morning and meandered our way down island.  Didn't really start caching until we made the turn at Duncan and headed for Lake Cowichan where we started to pick up the odd Island spirit cache on the Cowichan Trail.  Once we made the turn at Mesachie Lake onto the Pacific Marine Road we were enchanted by the meandering valleys and steep hill. This route has been discovered by motorbikes and I confess I itched to go home and get mine.  The route is narrow so you have to be aware of traffic.  Some caches were placed in awkward areas so it is best to have someone stay with the car and keep an eye out. 
 We found some interesting spots including a very large Spruce Tree.  We have found other large trees and this one actually had a fence around it to help preserve it.  Hopefully the pic will give you some idea of how large it actually is. Harris Creek Spruce

We continued on from here to Port Renfrew where we detoured to Juan de Fuca Provincial Park were we  met up with a cacher who we had been following all day. After a short walk to another cache we decided that we did not have time to do the Earthcache at this time.  It just means we have to come back to explore this area.  Like we need a reason to!! Too bad it was too foggy to get some pics here.
The road from Port Renfrew to Jordan River was under highway construction and after driving it we could see why.  We did manage to grab a few caches along the way though. 
We arrived in Sooke and at our campground sometime around 6 pm and elected to set up and have a bite to eat and call it quits for the day. 
The next morning we headed out and found a few local caches before hitting the Galloping Goose Trail.  Wow were there ever some awesome caches along this way. And yes, they were screwed to the trees.  Almost every one of them. One had a note in them asking what they were and who was he?   We suggested that the CO put them on posts but sadly he elected to archive them.  We hope he fixes them and puts them back as a lot of trouble went into these series.
Along with some other great spots like the bay and the boardwalk we really got a good idea of the area.

The legs and the JR's got a good workout and so far we managed to nab 40 + caches on both days. The cabin was looking pretty good.

The next morning we finished off a couple of local caches before hitting the road.  We wanted to grab some  of the TEAM caches on our list so we took some side trips and  worked our way across the Esquimalt Lagoon and onto Royal Roads University.

Finally we called it quits late in the day and headed home working our way north.  
All in all it was a fun filled weekend that just never stopped.

Reporting caches in violation of Groudspeak guidelines and/or Terms of Use

This is a grey area. Why report a cache?  Reviewers that I have talked to and in informal meetings and/or Meet & Greet's have said that we are their eyes.  That as cacher's we know more about the cache than they do.  When they get a cache for review they cannot see it, cannot see how it is hidden, if it meets the guidelines. Hence, they have to take us cache owners at our word.  They have to trust us.

I have been in the position of reporting a cache and therefore I have been ostracized because of it. Why?  
1.Apparently because I didn't do it right.
2. Everyone liked the cache.
3. It is not my business
4. All of the above

Well let's deal with this one at a time.

1. Apparently because I didn't do it right
1. Email the owner
1. CO ignores you
2. CO tells you to get lost in unpleasant language
1. Make a comment on the cache page
1. CO ignores it
2. CO asks you to change it but refuses to fix the cache 
2.  Everyone liked the cache
1. I liked the cache too but it violates the guidelines and perpetuates copycat hides
3. It is not my business
1. Yes it is
1. If it affects the game and where hides can be placed 
2. If it is damaging to the environment
3. If it violates Groundspeak Guidelines
4. If it violates any Park, Municipal, Regional, Provincial, Federal, etc Geocaching Policy
1. Therefore affecting the game

Now that brings us to the issue of  Cache logs and the Groudspeak Terms of Use.  The TOU's are pretty explicit about what can be expressed on a cache page and what both the cache finder and the cache owner can put on the cache page.  One must remember that these caches and logs can be seen by the world.  Anything explicit not only is a violation but IMO makes the poster look bad.  

I honestly try to be fairly subtle about anything negative I may put on a cache page.  Generally it is about the cache itself and not a person.  Others feel that this is the place to air their personal differences.  By naming a person or organization or even alluding to them in any way that there is no doubt about who they are is a violation of the TOU's.  Hence reporting to Groundspeak to have the issue resolved if the poster or CO refuses to resolve it.