 | eCachecommentary from down jersey |
The following list is not complete, rather it is a work in progress. The hope is to chronicle those geocachers I have met in my travels.
This is a question I am asked frequently. I used to answer it this way. Then I answered it another way. Neither answer is satisfactory now.
First off, it is not accurate that I do not log my finds online. Every cache I have found listed at Navicache.com is logged online. Many caches that I have found listed on Terracaching.com have been logged online. And even some caches I have found listed on Geocaching.com have been logged. On top of that, this site is replete with online logs.
The question stems, however, from the fact that I do not post Found it logs on Geocaching.com. The few logs that I have posted there are Notes and they do not document all the geocaches I find. The question is Why?
The links above provide some of the initial reasons for how that came to be, but frankly, here in early 2008, much of that is no longer at the forefront. I suppose time does heal old wounds, as it were.
The reality of the situation is that it’s been four years since I logged finds there. Time builds habits. Heck, I still do not to sign logbooks at least as often as I do. Even if I were disposed to logging finds again, I would not go back and catch up on what is now more than six years of caching history. It would be difficult, with certainty anyhow, to know on which geocaches I actually signed the logbook. That would be far too much trouble for me.
There are too many caches for too many years to go back and catch up. I have accepted that any cache I desire to post a log on will be done so here on my site. Some day I suspect all my logs will be here. As for now, it’ll be hit or miss.
In the end, I just have no desire to claim that I have found any cache on Groundspeak’s servers. When I post here, I am documenting what I have done for me. Readers are free to accept it or not, but it is posted to my site on my terms.
Ever since I received the iPod, I have been listening to far more podcasts. I had listened to some of the Cache-A-Maniacs podcasts previously, but I am not comfortable listening to them on the laptop. Nevertheless, the last month or so my iPod has been filled.
Today while I was out and about it dawned on me I should answer the questions that DarrylW4 and Firefly03 ask their guests each week. Hey, why not?
How did you choose your screen name?
Batona
How long ago did you start geocaching and how did you find out about it?
Webfoot is responsible!
Rapid Response Questions
Micro or ammo can?
Ammo can
Traditional or unknown?
Normally traditional, but there are unknowns that top my favorites list (which doesn’t really exist)
Virtual or Earthcache?
Having never completed an Earthcache that has particularly interested me, I guess virtuals. Frankly, virtuals pale compared to shutterspots.
Placing or finding?
I find more than I place, so finding, I suppose. But when I am in placing mode, I will eschew finding as I am so focused on the hide. So really, whatever it is I am doing is what I prefer. Otherwise, I would be doing the other. 
Urban or woods?
Woods, without hesitation.
Number runs or challenging caches?
Errrr . . . challenging caches. I was surprised that this week’s guest actually answered number runs.
Geocoins ot Travel Bugs?
Neither.
Paper or paperless?
Paperless
Favorite GPSr?
Well, I use a Magellan Meridian Gold. It is my favorite as that is the only one I use. Until recently, I had been contemplating updating to a Garmin 60CSx. I am now holding off on that. The new Colorado intrigues me. Yet, it seems riddled with issues right now from the geocaching POV, so presently, I am not looking to purchase anything unless I can find an inexpensive PPC with a GPS.
Caching alone or part of a group?
Almost all of my caching is completed solo. My son or daughter occasionally join me. I explore with others and sometimes divert the exploration to include a nearby cache.
Any signature items or trademarks?
Not yet. I figure there’s no hurry. 
For years I have pondered this to no avail. I was this || close before the geocoin craze hit to minting a coin. I decided not to and have been very happy that I did not. I have sought a unique item that isn’t going to break the bank. I recently came up with such a thing and will begin working on the prototype here within the next month or two.
Any learning experiences that you would like to share with others?
I do not know how to answer this concisely. Um . . . read this blog.
Anything you would like to see improved in geocaching?
Wow! An opportunity to do it my way. The only thing I can think of is to remove find counts. This one thing appears to be the root of most angst that occurs.
Of the many slogans and taglines for geocaching, what is your favorite?
I used to use hiking with a purpose. I always liked that. Recently, I have heard of G.U.I.L.T (grown up idiots looking for Tupperware). That’s cute. I describe it as hide-and-seek for adults to my students. That conveys the activity somewhat.
How do you classify geocaching: sport, hobby, or game?
I don’t. Well, I refer to it as a game, but when inspected, game doesn’t really hold up to scrutiny. I do not like sport. I do not think it holds up in today’s environment of park-and-grabs. Hobby makes me think of models, baseball cards, etc. While there are similarities I have noted, I do not think it really fits well there either. Maybe it’s a recreation.
What other hobbies besides geocaching do you do?
Keep reading this site.
Do you have a favorite movie, television show, or musical group you would like to share?
I have been claiming my favorite movie is The Deer Hunter for decades now. But there are others I like too. Other than a couple reality shows I watch with Gert, I do not watch much television other than the news and sports (primarily baseball). Older shows I like(d) are All In The Family, Seinfeld, and early Law & Order. Musically, I like what is called classic rock, with an emphasis on Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Derek Trucks, and Roger Waters.
I purchased a Magellan 315 on 16 November 2001. The first waypoint I set was for my lounger in the apartment I lived in at the time. I found my first geocache the following day.
On a trip to Florida a few weeks later, I dropped the GPSr on my parents’ floor. The unit seemed fine until I tried to find a cache. I could not lock in on any satellites. Upon my return to New Jersey, I returned the unit while it was still under warranty.
It was then that I got a Magellan Meridian Gold. I have used that unit ever since. It is well worn. I enjoy looking at the newer models, but am not disappointed at all with my MeriGold.
Update
In February 2008 I purchased a Garmin Colorado 400 T. While there was nothing inherently wrong with the MeriGold, I was itching for a new unit. It seemed like the Colorado had features that would be good for me and since I tend to be an early-adopter, it was a nexus of a few things for me.
The unit has had some glitches early on, but the more I use it, the more I love this unit. The most significant improvement for me is that bringing a PDA on a geocaching trip is superfluous at this point. I have all the information on hand.
The Garmin, unfortunately, is tied to the Groundspeak namespace for GPX files. That means loading terracaching, navicaching, or homebrew caches is a chore. I am working on a workaround, but there shouldn’t need to be one. This influence of Groundspeak’s is far beyond a listing site.
Given that there is a discussion about DNF (did not find) practices currently going on, I thought I would lay out my approach.
As I have established already, I do not usually log anything on Groundspeak and have taken to doing the same on the other sites more recently. So, my DNF logging practice is pretty much nonexistent.
I do, however, account for my DNFs in my databases.
A DNF, for me, is to be in the vicinity of the cache, to be actively seeking it, and not find it. I do not agree with those who state once the coordinates are activated in the GPS if the cache is not found, it is a DNF. BrianSnat states it this way:
If I put the coordinates into my GPS, hit go to and end up without signing the logbook, its a DNF in my book.
This does not work for me as far too many times as soon as I use a Go To, I realize there is another cache that is closer and makes more sense to seek. That may take me away from the area of the other cache so I do not seek it. For me, I hadn’t sought the first cache, I just hit a button on the GPS.
DNFs used to indicate that the cache may be missing. While a new type of log has since been introduced that outdates it, that log type came about after I ceased logging on Groundspeak. I still hold onto the older use of DNF.
With that in mind, there are times when I have been at ground zero and searched but came up empty, but still do not consider it a DNF. Sometimes I know I have not exhausted my search in an area but need to get going. For instance, I see a cache recently published and I go out and look for it immediately and then the sun sets before I really exhausted my search. I am not under the impression that the cache is missing, but rather I need more time to find it.
Unlike many other issues in this game, my DNF practices do not have clear criteria; it is far more of a feel.
When I have exhausted a search for a cache and feel it is missing or that I cannot locate it based on the information available to me, I log a DNF in my database. At that point, depending on whose cache it is, I will either contact the cache owner or wait patiently until more logs come through. This is definitely one instance that online logs can be helpful.
I still enjoy clearing DNFs. Recently I had the pleasure of clearing a DNF from five years ago. That felt very good to do.
In my database I flag the log as to the reason for the DNF. Many times my DNFs are because the cache was MIA. Yet, I have plenty that are described as being blind. Hey, it’s a fact of the game.
It is interesting as I look at my DNF logs, there seem to be far fewer of them in the last few years despite the increase in caching activity. There are a couple explanations for that phenomenon. My last DNF was with Ski in March. It sure looks the DNF can be attributed to the cache being MIA, eh? After all, “seasoned cachers” couldn’t find it.