Many may say I am getting my “geek” on, but hey … It is not just fun for me but seems to be fun as well for the others out there geocaching around us.

I cannot say how many times people have taken time to speak of their enjoyment of the adventures of both the Federation and Klingon “Ships of the Cache.”

They enjoy it as it is random and different!

To this end, we have always had specific geocoins that represent specific ships that are part of our geocaching identities.

So I decided to take it to the next level and paid a visit to “Cache Advance” to procure something that moves the traveling item of the coin onto something that really does travel … something that gets us from place to place when geocaching.

Check out what I’m talking about here.

And know that if you are out and about traveling or adventuring, you never know when you will fly down the road, look up and see one of our “ships” in front of you.

And yes … they are discoverable!

Following a quick search in the GSAK forum I sent a mail to the Panda support. First off, they are great. Very responsive, very supportive and very friendly. I wish other companies would have such a  great support.

They offered me a temporary solution:

Deactivate the TruPrevent technology. Open the settings of the Antivirus module. In the menu Unknown threads uncheck Enable behavorial analysis and restart. Everything works like a charm again.

They are working on resolving the issue. I’ll drop a note here when the behavorial analysis is fixed and can be activated again.

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From the moment I placed my first hide, I have used Lock & Lock containers, but a problem has arrisen in that it is presently harder to find the multitude of sizes I once could.

Ammo cans have always been something I wanted to try but I never had a local supplier … until now.

Today, I found “Valley Surplus” on Va. 42 in Harrisonburg and am pleased with the fact that not only do they have all shapes and sizes but have them at prices that beat Lock & Locks!

Something that might have helped is that I was first introduced to the sport by two dear friends from Germany … Kevin and Steffi who I met through the interactive fiction writing world that is Star Trek: Frontiers.

Who would have figured that this game would bring writers who live an ocean apart to a point of meeting face to face and knowing they are the best of friends?

During their visits to the States last year, both had only just begun their furay into the world of Geocaching and made sure to include both myself and my wife in their adventures while here.

I might have enjoyed it had I ever stumbled into it on my own, but the fact that these dear and special friends introduced us to this sport and shared it with us made me swallow it hook, line and sinker.

For those who don’t know what I am talking about, let me share the definition I just retrieved from Dictionary.com:

“A type of scavenger hunt for waterproof containers bearing treasure using the containers’ exact geographic coordinates and Global Positioning System devices.”

You can also learn more about the sport from its website at Geocaching.com.

Let me also note that since I began participating in this sport, I have lost weight and slowly gotten in better physical shape — something that just sort of happened as it did not feel like working out in the slightest!

When I had a heart attack back in December 2008, I could have been far, far worse and I honestly believe this activity helped make it so I could have a full recovery.

Another reason I became hooked … but I digress.

So, we have this sport that both Kevin and I (two of the original founders of STF) loved and shared … just like the stories we had once written through the Star Trek: Frontiers universe.

It only seems natural to bring the two loves together … right?

Then I stumbled across the “The Phantom Cacher!” … from “Skull Island,” he has a profession of … “Fighting lowland and river valley pygmies.”

Whoever does it has a small Phantom action figure that is used when visiting the various geocaches they find as well as posting the Phantom Cacher’s adventures through photos and log entries.

It hit me … Why can’t we do that?!?!?”

So was born the “Ships of the Cache” project.

Although still evolving and finding its legs, the concept is that we have ships roaming the landscape in search of hidden geocaches. … sharing their adventures with the world through photos, ship’s logs and written stories.

Kevin is working on his USS MANNHEIM, and I have put together Team Pathfinder in the form of the U.S.S. PATHFINDER … NCC-1774-A (not to be confused with the writing unit in STF with the same name!).

Like the one used in the Star Trek: Frontiers universe, the ship is based off the CONSTITUTION-class hull and represents the heart and soul of our adventures.

The commanding officer for the Pathfinder is none other than Capt. Jonathan Malcolm Hunter himself!

So far he seems to be a capable ship’s captain and has always treated us fairly … at least so far.

There are other ships of the cache that make an appearance and not all are geared towards the Star Trek unvierse as there are even a couple of Colonial Battlestars roaming around at present.

But for my team, the U.S.S. Pathfinder is the jewel of the fleet!

So, right now you are likely wondering just how crazy and insane I am to go tracing about the world recording the adventures of a plastic starship with an action figure Captain.

Well, all I can say is that I have loads of fun doing it and have even received some positive comments along the way.

Case in point …

Thank you very much for the photo of the autism awareness geocoin.  Seeing it in a photo is helpful to me, and especially seeing it in such good condition!  There had been little progress with my trackables lately, and a couple seem to be missing, so my hats off to the starship and the fleet for your patrols!  I am a fan of Star Trek and Stargate…I should get into Battlestar Galactica too, I hear great things about it!

So we happen to also bring a bit of joy into the world.

And you know what else I have discovered? … My handheld GPS device is about like a tricorder, the flip cell phone is the communicator and the camera has become the phaser.

Is it any wonder that I have a new shirt for those days spent adventuring?

Respectfully,

–Mike Tripp
Team Pathfinder

Earlier this morning, I stumbled across the “Allegheny GeoTrail” which is primarily concentrated in Pennsylvania.

The concept of a GeoTrail struck me as very interesting.

From their website:

What is a GeoTrail? … A geocaching trail is simply a series of geocaches tied together by a common theme. There is not necessarily an itinerary, as we would think of a traditional trail, but rather a series of points of interest in a sort of self-guided goal-oriented plan. The Allegheny GeoTrail is perhaps the largest of its kind, encompassing ten counties throughout northwestern and north-central Pennsylvania. Within each county are between 10 and 20 designated geocaches which make up the “trail”. The quest to find these caches will take participants throughout the rugged and scenic land of the Allegheny National Forest and its surrounding gateway counties.

Participants can pick and choose which participating caches they wish to seek, based on their choice of location, difficulty, and terrain levels. Typically, there is an incentive to finding a certain number of caches along the “trail”. In the case of the Allegheny GeoTrail, find six or more caches in a county, and earn that county’s unique geocoin. Find six caches in each of all ten counties, and earn a special geocoin that represents the entire trail. See the rules for how to go about finding the caches and claiming your coins!

This concept and idea seems a great way of uniting geocachers and highlighting common themes.

For me, I am considering working on one that would highlight the history of the Shenandoah Valley or Virginia in general.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ALLEGHENY GEOTRAIL

The cache is at a bridge over a creek. At both sides high earth piles corner the creek and avoid it stepping over its boundaries when it carries a lot of water. The piles are covered with long grass.

Both times we have been there we searched thoroughly. It was easy back then because the weather was bad one time and late evening the other time so that not many people came along.

At that Saturday though a lot of people used the bridge. It connects a well liked and used way to walk along for the citizens of the nearby town. The walking and biking crowds made it difficult to search the cache under stealth.

And right this was what made it adventurous.

As child I read a lot of spy stories and way fan of such TV shows. A-Team, Knight Rider, (children) spy books, all of that. So my first try at the bridge was a thrill.

When we arrived we occupied a bank from where we had a good view of the ways leading to the bridge. Shortly after settling down I started my first hike under the bridge. Though I looked thoroughly, I didn’t find the cache. Just when I wanted to step back out I heard a couple bikers closing in and passing the bridge. So I staid under the bridge and let them pass. I felt just like being Murdock of the A-Team climbing under a bridge investigating something. Steffi was Amy, covering me and giving me hints when I had to stay under cover and trying not to give away our doing.

Once they passed and Amy (Steffi) gave her okay, I climbed out.

We switched roles and now it was her turn. It was similar exciting as another couple of bikers passed the bridge. 

When Amy returned not being successful, I grabbed my gloves to search in a small pile of earth under the bridge. Just at that moment a couple rested on a bank on the other side of the river. As they were looking the other side, this was fine and I could slip back out. Not so fine was an old woman on her bike stopping to talk with them. She was looking all around while talking, seeming desperate to miss anything. Amy and I named her as the tattletale of the nearby town.

They talked and talked and she watched and watched. Virtually endless. When the man of the couple was done with the conversation it took them another 15 minutes until they were gone.

Fortunately it was late enough so that the trail was less frequent used. I took another turn in finding the cache under bridge. When Amy gave me a hint I climbed up just in time not to be discovered by two bikers passing the bridge.

Amy took another turn but we were not successful.

Though we didn’t find the cache, I enjoyed the time and the adventure a lot. This is what geocaching is about for me.

stefmaus at the start of her birthday trail

Well, I had no idea what to give my wife for her birthday and I always wanted to do something by myself. Steffi is an elementary school teacher and great at handcrafting, painting and such. It’s just not my stuff. I always kept behind her on this level. So I decided to hide some caches and add some items.

I thought it was easy to place four caches and a bonus cache, but hell, it is not. It ate up three days of my vacation plus a half day of the weekend when Steffi was around. Fortunately I was good in covering it. Searching the locations at Google Maps, visiting them to find the exact locations, prepare the caches, order and add the items, wait a day longer than expected for the delivery, place the caches, change the locations while placing them, prepare tasks for the bonus cache… you get the picture.

Today, Steffi searched and found the caches and it was a blast. I am so happy that the idea was a success and that I made it happen. Preparing the caches and placing them was fun, but today seeing how Steffi searched and found them was incredible.

You have to try it yourself.

As time is our most valuable asset and we definitely did not enjoy transferring all the logs we accepted it and began on thinking of options.

snabbitsocker, a fellow cacher of the powercaching session in Darmstadt used a PDA and a GPS unit for caching. He took notes on the PDA for the finds.

Investigating this further I found software that allows to write the log on location and logs the finds on its own when connected to the Internet. Wahooooo, that’s what I want.

Now I am up for the hard part, selecting the PDA (Windows Mobile driven, a Palm or an IPod Touch (don’t mention the IPhone)) first. I fast learned I need a GPS built in that works properly or a GPS unit. A GPS unit requires Bluetooth. WiFi would be great for connecting to the Internet and the network at home easily.

Used or new? Okay, that’s easy. Who wants to bring out his brand new, shiny device to into the dirt? Uhhhm, wrong question. Let’s delay that.

Which software to use? What CPU and RAM does the software needs to run properly? What else is needed?

How long does the battery survive? Is there a replacement battery with higher capacity?

And when I get a PDA, why can’t I use it as organizer as well? Will it sync with my Outlook?

You get the picture. Maybe I’ll find the device I desire for a price I am willing to pay. Maybe.

Fortunately I am not into the smartphones yet. There are some great looking offering all features I want, but the battery. Shockingly short running. No wonder with all the make-it-smaller-hype.

Another option would be the new Garmin devices, the Oregons. The offer a lot, but I am missing some features like connecting the spoiler pictures to the cache description or some comfort features when solving multis.

Anyway, I keep looking and maybe I will split this up into three devices: mobile phone, PDA and GPS unit for caching and PDA as organizer. Though I think two PDAs is a bit too much. So two devices. And with the PDA and the GPS in my pocket I can hunt this or that cache on my way to and from work. No, stefmaus should not read that or I will not be allowed to do this.

Oh, and on the GPS device: are there any with a built-in compass?

If you have a paperless caching solution, feel free to write a comment. You’ll be most welcome.

He had always said that he wanted to hide a cache that was hard to locate for those trying to find it and even mentioned how there are some who have even hidden caches in the form of hollowed out bolts.

Imagine my excitement when I fould a magnet bolt that was crafted by hand by those at “Crazy Caches” and fit exactly what he would love.

Another friend of mine that knows both of us later told me, “Mike, you are the man cause Pat will not stop talking about that gift.”

You had better believe that Crazy Caches was very quickly added to my personal bookmark list.

In addition to bolt caches, they also have some that are hidden in the form of sticks, nuts, gum, arrows, golf balls, rocks, outlet covers … and much, much more.

If you are looking for a good and devious hide but don’t have the time to build it yourself, check these guys out at http://www.crazycaches.com.

Carrying the “Star Trek Squirrel” with us on vacation was more than a blast — it was an experience with many rewards.

Quite simply, its goal is “To Boldly Go Where No Squirrel Has Gone Before!”

To this end, we made sure to take at least a couple of photos of the little guy, adding visual depth to his adventures.

As a person who owns several trackable items currently circulating among the wild caches of the world, I always get great enjoyment when someone moving one of my items takes the time and effort to include a photo or two.

Too often, we ask for photos but never receive them.

But when we do, it adds a whole new dimension and level of reward for those watching the items path of travel and adventures across the globe.

For us, we took the time to photograph the little guy at a couple of places, especially at South of the Border.

What I did not expect was an email from the owner of the squirrel.

This is what they had to say . . .

Thank you so much for taking ST Squirrel on such a fantastic adventure!!  Those pictures are WONDERFUL!! 
-Yohannah

It warmed my heart to receive that simple message, and it reinforces the fact that I will make sure to more and more take photos of the travelers I come across and post them where the owners can find them.

May others do the same!