| Classified geocaching photos |
[17 Jan 2009|12:59pm] |
Here are some photos I took while out caching over the past few years. For obvious reasons I decided not to post them with my logs (including my TB logs). I've put them here for reference, should they be needed.
 From a cache in VA.
From a cache in AA co.
I'm not entirely sure where this one was from; I believe it to be an older cache near BWI, but I could be wrong...
 From a multi-cache in the Frederick area.
 A stage for a VA earth cache.
 Easily the most cleverly hidden nano I've ever found.
 From a virtual in DC.
 A caching friend of mine and his daughter at a cache I adopted and has proven to be VERY difficult to find for many cachers.
 An example of well done rock camo done for a cache in lower AA co. close to the final of my Literati 1.2 cache.
 One of the most intriguing forms of camo I've *ever* seen for hiding a cache.
 One of the more interesting examples of 'natural' camo (not to mention recycling) that I've seen.
 From a cache in a park in Charles co. known for its very difficult caches.
 An example of information found at the stages of a challenging multi-cache in Southern MD.
 A picture from one of the stages of a very difficult VA multi-cache. As it was the information in the picture is not what I was seeking.
 Same as above only the correct information. This turned out to be one of the hardest clues to figure out.
 From a clever cache hidden in the Frederick area for an event.
 Another cleverly hidden cache found during the same event as above. One of my favorite hiding techniques.
 The final information for a virtual in the Frederick area near a neat monument.
 Another clever example of 'natural' camo.
 One of the most devious nano's ever hidden.
 A micro in the Baltimore area that requires one to go to extra lengths to retrieve.
 The creative means used to hide a cache focused on specific coordinates as opposed to the hiding spot.
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| Planned hiatus |
[10 Sep 2008|12:13pm] |
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As September begins I'm realize I'm not going to be able to continue with my plans as I thought. I'm finding myself much too busy with school work to even think about getting out to find any caches let alone hide any. Even so, I am happy to say that Dash, Digit and Wylli are all in the field awaiting visitors and waiting for the other cats to join the party. ViVi's cache is ready to go, and Cinder's container is ready for its contents if I ever get around to writing them. Duke continues to be a problem simply due to logistics. I think I have a solution (that I don't like) but without the time to try it and the time required to get it approved I'm thinking I might just need to remake the cache from the ground up (also an idea I don't like).
In the meantime, I'm thinking of ideas for this year's Halloween party. First, I'm trying to come up with time to host it since my wife and I will still be in class at that time. Second, I've had numerous ideas for puzzles but no way to connect them, nor a way to have them be accomplished by a team (which will be necessary if we have the turnout we did last year). I'm giving myself one more week to decide then it'll be sink or swim.
More later.
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| Hiadus finale |
[14 Aug 2008|01:28pm] |
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mood |
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Work has resumed on the kitten caches. I've selected a new spot for ViVi's since the one I had picked out got hide-sniped. Cinder's is ready to hide as well, but Duke's will require a verification of coords as well as a little more work on the containers but the puzzle pieces for all of the above are (and have been) ready to go. To that end, the containers for Wylli, Dash and Digit are already in place and ready to be posted. Hopefully by the end of next week this series, which has been almost more trouble than it's worth, will be off the ground.
In the meantime, a huge slew of caches (64 to be exact) has eaten up most of the Glen Burnie area for hides. Some of the other caches I had planned for co-release with the cats may need reworking. I need to take a closer look.
Finally, while out placing Wylli's cache, I checked on Lit 4 and found it torn open and empty. I was apparently muggled in every sense a cache can be muggled (even the TB has gone missing). Needless to say, I archived it which now leaves Lit 2 and 5 the only ones from the original series remaining. I'm planning on checking on Lit 2 sometime this week since it sounds like it may be gone as well judging from the logs. If that's the case, I'll also archive 5 since there will be no point in 5 being left active if the rest of the series is already dead.
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| A sign to hurry up. |
[24 Jun 2008|11:43am] |
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mood |
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I finally put the finishing touches on "ViVi's All-in-one" this weekend only to find that someone placed a cache in the park I was going to use. Fortunately, finding another shouldn't be too hard, but it's a set back nonetheless. "Duke's Calisthenics" will be the next one to be placed and will take a while to get ready but a few days of solid work should see it to completion (Though I do need to stop by the park for that cache and get some solid waypoints for the stages).
Once the kitten caches are out I can also release the others that I've been sitting on. That'll give me time to fine tune a few more things and perhaps even put out the new Literati before beginning work on Nightmare. Time will tell.
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| Brief update - Logistics |
[18 Jun 2008|02:07pm] |
I'm adding an update for the sake of updating. It's been a month plus some since I completed CAM (I'll be adding entries on the experience where chronologically appropriate later on) and I've done very little caching since.
My current focus is getting the kitten caches out as well as wrapping up some preliminary preparations for Nightmare, not to mention some other containers for the Electromotive and VoG series as well. Unfortunately, for the time being its the lack of physical preparation on the Nightmare series that is keeping me from placing caches (currently I'm sitting on 4 containers waiting to be placed). Since I'll be using other caches to supplement the series it's necessary to start thinking ahead and I'm simply not ready yet. Fortunately, I just cleaned out the shed where I've been doing most of my work on containers and I'm ready to work a little more efficiently now that there's room to actually work. Now all that's left is to find the time. Unfortunately, that's getting shorter and shorter as my originally over-generous deadline grows closer and closer.
More later.
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| Pre-CAM Plans |
[04 Apr 2008|11:03am] |
The last two months have seen much happen in terms of caching. While the kitten caches remain unplaced, I've been able to get out an find a good deal, including a few outings far from home. Fortunately, I had enough forethought to take a camera along and the pictures cover most of what has happened (of particular interest may be the pictures I took during the Monty Python outings, which I plan to write about in a separate entry).
Mid-march there were two events back, the Marshmallow event up in northeastern Maryland and the Wishing well for robert and Commonwealthchick in Frederick the day after. Both were fun and both had their share of unique caches. More importantly, both were also a good warm up for the upcoming 2008 Cache Across Maryland which has since started (the weekend of Easter as a matter of fact).
When CAM was released I quickly realized that work and family plans would give me opportunity to grab two of the caches. On Friday, March 28th I was to be in Howard county giving school presentations which would have put me within striking distance of “Centennial Lake.” Unfortunately, someone else took the presentations for me and I was stuck in the office. The following Sunday was a family birthday party in Lusby which is just across the governor's bridge from “Myrtle Point.” Given that my wife and I went to the party before I was to go for the cache made me dubious it would actually happen. As it happened my assumptions were correct. The 'Centennial Lake' loss wasn't so much of a set back since I can 'add' that to whatever plans I make to head for the 'western' caches. However, the cache in the south is isolated from any others and will require its own trip. This is not good.
My wife and I are also currently occupied with preparations for the school play I am helping her direct. Props need to be built and other organizational tasks need to be taken care of before the production opens the weekend of April 18th. This limits the amount of time I have to spend on CAM and leaves only two weekends following to complete the 10 cache set.
This has required me to carefully plan how I intend to complete CAM during the time I know I have available. So far here's what I've drawn up.
April 4th is my annual 'hire anniversary' day off. On this day I've carefully planned a route that will allow me to hit the three CAM caches on the eastern shore as well as a couple of additional caches that will allow me to advance in the Maryland/Delaware Delorme challenge. If everything goes as planned, the route will take about 15 hours to complete. Since there are only 13.5 hours of 'sun up' time I plan on leaving at 5AM which will put me at the first cache, “Turkey Point” around sunrise. The last three hours of the route are the drive home so it is likely that I will have some extra time though I am not going to allow that to change my plans once I begin. I've screwed up other estimated times because of that and I can't let it happen tomorrow.
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| The end of a two year quest |
[11 Feb 2008|01:29pm] |
This past weekend, I finally finished a series of caches (The Scrappy Scrabble series to be precise) that I've been working on for over two years. The time wasn't due to the difficulty of the caches though they were challenging. Rather, DNF's, research and ability to make the hour and a half drive down to search for the caches stretched the amount of time it took to get all of the way through them.
Now that they're done there aren't many more (Woody) puzzles in the area leaving only "WALDOrf," "Charlie's Beagles" and "CC's All-American cache (final)" to find (in MD, I haven't even attempted "37").
In the meantime, I'm redoubling my efforts to get the kitten caches out. Efforts stalled when play practices began and to that end, placing the caches is likely going to need to happen on a weekend. While I wait for the time to finish the placing, I'm going to work on prizes for the first, second and third finders using some left over materials from another possible multi that's slowly coming together.
This means I have six caches that need to go out, but no time to do it. This weekend is occupied (tis the season of the Man in Red for anyone that reads my 'X' journal you should remember what that means), but maybe next weekend will be less busy...
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| Small update on finds |
[24 Jan 2008|01:27pm] |
I went caching over the weekend and was able to tie my personal record for most finds in a day, 24 (out of 29 attempted). This included 2 earthcaches and a healthy but modest number of puzzles.
Aside from that, I'd recommend York to anyone looking to do a numbers run NOT entirely composed of LPCs. Not one of the caches we did was an LPC and even the easier ones were placed in creative ways or had neat containers.
Unfortunately, I think that's going to be the end of my caching outings for the time being. I'm going to be helping my wife with her school's play which will take up nearly all of my spare time until CAM. What little time I do have to spare will probably (and should be) spent on hides that have been waiting to get on the ground (i.e. The new Kitten caches).
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| Set backs and forward movement |
[11 Jan 2008|03:10pm] |
Oddly enough, the day after I installed all of the necessary software required to run the whereigo player my PDA gave up the ghost and died. This was the third and final crash that seemed to have something to do with the battery inappropriately shorting out somehow. I don't believe it to be related to the installation of the software at all since it was working the night I installed it. Regardless, the fact remains I'm down one piece of equipment I use on a daily basis for work not to mention the role it played in all of the caching outings I've gone on since getting it just under 2 years ago. Needless to say, for the sake of being able to field test any whereigo cartridges, I'm stuck for the time being.
Even so, other caching work has continued. The kitten caches, as ever, merely need to be placed and the listings finalized (though there is a slight tweek that needs to be made before anything can be released). There are also three new "Electromotive" containers in their final stages of production though I have yet to find a place for them (hopefully someplace very remote given their size). VoG 1.2 is also ready to go, only needing a spot, but I think I have one for that cache... Finally, I'm starting to think of ideas for the last couple of "Anagram" caches. I have another container ready to place but I'm not sure what to call it. I was hoping to fit it into the "Anagram" series but it lacks a certain...connectivity for that.
Most of my lunch hour today was spent making lists of places I've scouted and caches I'd like to place. The next step will be connecting the lists. Once the containers are complete, everything else should fall into place quickly. That's my hope at least.
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| A new idea |
[03 Jan 2008|09:27pm] |
I finally got it today. It came like a vision; so clear it was almost painful. I see how it must be done, I understand which caches need placed. How the endings must be written. All of it.
This, along with the release of whereigo, brings the story of "Nightmare" one big step closer.
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| Formal update |
[18 Dec 2007|10:12am] |
It has been much too long since I updated. Truth be told, without looking I don't remember the last time I updated save it was somewhere around the time I placed the two caches in Quiet Waters Park and the Halloween event. NaNoWriMo is to blame mostly; I spent November writing like crazy and doing very little else and the little else I did do wasn't caching (save for one isolated and remarkable outing on the 17th that taught me to always keep a back up of data on sensitive electronic devices, but that's neither here nor there, nor come to think of it, anywhere at all).
As it sits right now I'm three finds away from 700. Not noteworthy in itself but a good way to keep track of what's going on the the moment so when I look back on this entry however long from now it'll give me a handle with which I can remind myself. Unfortunately, I don't predict much happening over the next month.
Work on the kitten caches has stalled since I've had to spend time traveling/preparing for/spending time away for the holidays (Thanksgiving through New Year's). One of my first projects, incidentally, will likely be archiving Literati 3 since it's been a very long time since anyone has found it with little interest to keep it alive. I'm currently working on a new one that will take its place but I need to find a location for it. Beyond that, there are a few electromotive containers sitting around taking up space in my shed as well as a few other undefined projects that will pan out as I continue to work on them. Hopefully that will be soon. Though I won't hold my breath.
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| Halfway through... |
[15 Oct 2007|01:36pm] |
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I've been putting more work into the Kitten caches than there needs to be. Unfortunately, there are many other things that need to be done before those go out. Fortunately, I finally got the 'cursed' cache I had been afflicted with off of my back (and deep into Quiet Waters Park; hopefully it stays there). Things should flow a little more smoothly now (hopefully). I also hope this means my updates won't be spread out so much. Even so, November is coming VERY soon and with it, my planned month-long hiatus...
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| Halloween plans |
[02 Oct 2007|08:35pm] |
October is turning out to be busier than I predicted. My wife and I decided we wanted to throw a geocaching event on Halloween. We're uncertain of the logistics but we're pretty sure we can make it work. Time will tell; in the meantime, there's much planning to be done.
As for actual caches, I'm currently working on finishing up the new kitten cache series as well as a new "cursed" cache that needs to get out before the 18th...
More later and hopefully sooner than my last update.
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| Back in the game |
[24 Aug 2007|06:52pm] |
After a longer than expected sabbatical, I'm finding myself getting back into caching slowly but surely. While on vacation last week I was even able to grab a few caches in the Niagara Falls (Canada side) area.
Regardless, my attention has turned to getting the new kitten caches. Today I placed the 'outer container' in the final location today to make sure the location isn't visited by muggles. I doubt it is but it's very close to where they are present so I feel the check is necessary. In any event, until I gain final approval and place the other parts I plan on leaving it there until I'm ready to post all five together.
Also in the works are two Sneak caches, one of which will be loosely connected to the kitten cache series.
In the meantime, I've also taken up the hobby of bookmaking and I've already made a few small books for trade items for caches. On the way home from vacation, my wife and I stopped at a craft store in York, PA where I was able to find some much needed book making supplies I was unable to yet find (oddly enough) in this area (Annapolis).
In turn, this gives me some very interesting ideas for certain stages of the Nightmare series, though that will be a long time coming given the amount of work that is required even now.
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| Out on a limb |
[07 Aug 2007|11:54am] |
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mood |
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 blah |
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I finally got out to do some caching the past two weekends. It was nice and welcome break from the monotony and disappointment that has plagued the past two months. Among the caches that I hit with a small group of friends (see my logs for details) were two of the infamous Psycho Urban Caches.
Basically, both (we did #8 and #10) involved going in very dirty places to find the coords to the next stage or the cache itself. #8 was a multi in a park that was a lot of fun to visit and find. #10 was in a park that very few people visit for more than the boat launch. Doing these have got me thinking about different ideas for the caches I am planning on placing the Annapolis area. Unfortunately, I don't think the Kitten Caches are going to be any different than what I already had planned but the Nightmare series might be needing another once over before final placements go out.
To this end, my biggest obstacle-time-is no longer an issue. Since my other weekly obligations are fading away I will (in theory) have more time to do other things. If nothing else, slowly but surely I'm getting back in the mood to place hides again.
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| CAM, failed maintenance and other issues |
[04 Jun 2007|09:58am] |
I realize it's been almost two months since my last post. Much has been going on that has demanded much of my time but if all goes well I should be finding myself with a little more 'elbow room' over the next few months, especially if some expected big changes take place, but more on those later.
Unfortunately, the only things I really have to record are a set of disappointments. First, after scrambling around the state to find all of the CAM caches I ended up being unable to attend the final event. Even so, I have to admit the caches themselves were worth it as hopefully the individual logs can attest. Second, last week I finally made a dash over to PRP to check on the three caches that have been out of commission for a very long time. After much deliberation with myself and now having seen the spots for myself I've decided to archive all three with the hopes of replacing the anagram and VOG hides somewhere a little more convenient. My original thought was that since the PRP was so close I could run over whenever I needed to and do maintenance whenever needed but as it turns out that just didn't work. Efficiency does not lead to convenience.
To that end, my plans, such as they are, will lie in getting the new Kitten caches out (which is what I've been working on here and there since early spring) while searching for side spots to stick the VOG and anagram replacement. On the side there are a few other minor surprises in store but I'm hoping that once I'm able to get the Kitten caches out those will come along quickly.
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| A new poem and some shocking ideas |
[05 Apr 2007|01:34am] |
Literati 1.2 is now up. It's the replacement for the original part one that went missing a few months ago. The puzzle for this new cache came to me while I was reading the prelude to "in memoriam A.H.H" by Lord Alfred Tennyson (one of my favorite poets). Instead of doing something number related in terms of the mechanics of a poem (syllables, lines, etc.), I decided to do something much more subjective. This puzzle is linked a basic characteristic of many poems that is often over looked but controls a large part of how the poem sounds when read aloud.
Beyond that, I've also finalized the next Electromotive cache to go out. Now I just need to find the time to hide the thing. At this point I know it's going to be in Friendship Park but I'm not sure where, but I know I'm going to try to make it as out of sight as possible since the last two caches to be placed there went missing.
CAM recently began and so that's vying for time as well. Fortunately, as far as hides go, my work is nearly done and if the time presents itself to set out what I've prepared I'll take it, but if not I have no problem waiting until May if need be.
One small point I'd also like to note was a conference I attended last week about research that has been going on in regards to curing Epilepsy. While being able to hear many amazing things related to the medical field, I was also able to pick up quite a few ideas for Nightmare, though the exact way these will be implemented is still a little ways off...
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| Puzzling thoughts |
[12 Mar 2007|03:40pm] |
I've taken a small break from working on hides to go out and find a few as can be seen when looking at my TB journal. I've been looking at puzzles trying to get some ideas for the final cache in the new Kitten series but nothing has really screamed winner yet. Fortunately, I have all of the spots for the component caches finalized and now I'm only waiting for inspiration to come along and smack me in the head so I can piece a puzzle to9ether.
Aside from that, the three caches in need of maintenance over in the PRP are hanging over me like dead weight. Fortunately, now that the time change has occured it should be (much) easier to get over to the park before dusk and get to all of the caches.
I haven't even touched the other series lately, though I have a possible location for the next cache in the Anagram series. In general my thoughts are to keep my future hides close to work, if for no other reason than the fact there are oodles of parks (albeit smallish) that have nothing in them up this way.
What else, what else? I feel like I'm forgetting something...
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| Meow! |
[01 Feb 2007|01:21pm] |
Just a short note to record some current work I'm doing towards starting up the Kitten Cache series again.
As of yet I have listings posted for each of the five caches that will compose the new KC series. Each of the caches that are named for the 'old' cats will have ".2" after their number to denote their sequel status. This is more to prevent later confusion than anything else. The names for the new ones, as with the old ones, will follow the "City" rule. The first four of the new caches will contribute something towards figuring out a fifth puzzle cache. I haven't quite figured out where or what the fifth cache will be as of yet.
The new caches (or at least the 'old three') will be different from their predecessors. However, the same theme will still apply. Basically, one will be a physical challenge, one will be easy to access but difficult to spot and the third will split the difference between being mentally and physically challenging. As for the fourth (Dash & Digit's) I haven't quite decided what it will be despite having an exact spot picked out for it. After a few emails to the local approval I've worked out a plan to possibly place a "multi hybrid" of sorts, but I haven't nailed down the purpose; more will be forth coming as the series comes together.
My plan is to release all of the caches (including the fifth and final puzzle) at the same time. This will push back the date of release but currently work is progressing smoothly so I have little doubt that it could be finished (barring unforseen delays) by late February or early March.
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| The new challenge |
[30 Jan 2007|08:58am] |
The other night Becky, my wife, and I were brainstorming ways to be more involved in each other's hobbies. The idea came from the Sunday school lesson we heard that morning about independant behavior sometimes being a wedge between married couples. Truth be told, Becky and I do tend to spend a lot of time off doing our own thing when we're at home. Usually, when we're doing what we want to do she's working on a scrapbook while I'm either playing video games or working on a cache. We usually share what we've done with the other but there's little involvement from the other in terms of contribution. After some discussion, we decided to have a 'competition' of sorts that would involve both of our hobbies.
Basically, we both agreed to participate in the other's hobby. During the rest of this school year (Becky is a teacher) we're each going to work on a scrapbook. Once the school year ends and Becky has more free time, we're each going to hide three caches; a standard, a multi and a puzzle. Afterward, we may or may not have folks pick which they like better but for now merely following through on the hides will be enough.
As far as the scrapbook goes, I got a great idea after posting on MDGPS.org. In short, someone suggested making a scrapbook out of an ammo can. I took the idea and ran with it and now I have a pretty good idea of what I plan on doing. Basically, it's going to be a mock cache with at least three or possibly four components. First, I'll have at least two small binders, one containing information for each cache I've hidden and each cache I've found. (To this end, I'm considering using the notes from my TB journal.) Second, I'll probably have something about the game in general for folks who are unfamiliar with the game to read. Finally, I'll include all of the signature items I've collected/made. In addition to this, I've also considered attaching a TB tag and logbook and taking it along to M&G's as an event TB, but that's for once/if it gets finished.
As for the hides, I haven't given them much thought yet though there is an idea for a puzzle I've been sitting on for quite some time that may be a perfect fit for this series. Fortunately, I have plenty of time to work on it, I just hope it pans out as hoped. As for the standard and multi, I'm still brain storming but I know something will come to me by summer. It's the caches I'm trying to work on now that are consuming my focus, but more on all of that later. For now, I need to find an ammo can...
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vincehayter's journal