Newbie Blues

[+Malemotives]

Went out to do some late geocaching... without preparing. Spent a half hour at the first site, to no avail. I'm fairly sure the cache is there. It was dark and I was stumped, so I left it for another day. Looking at the map, I selected another target and again search to no avail. My frustration was mounting, but I settled down and again left with a DNF. Target number three was a mile away. I pulled into convenient parking, and walked toward the GZ. My iphone App is pretty good about taking me within 5 feet or so. Hearing a growl I stepped back and turned my flashlight toward the sound. Two very large Racoon were snarling at me for invading their domain. I left that spot without searching. Coons that don't back off can be trouble. It was getting late and looking like I would end this day without a find. One more try. SO I drove another mile or so and zeroed in on my next target. Again my GeoApp zeroed in on the most likely target. I searched and searched, in vain. Finally, I shut of the flashlight and headed back toward my car. As I started to enter, I changed my mind and went back to that telephone pole. Think outside the box, I told myself. There is nothing else within ten feet that could contain a cache. Be one with the pole, I told myself.... stealing a concept from a Star Trek movie. So, I started touching everything attached to that pole and suddenly the trap door opened. Twenty minutes to midnight. I had my one for the day. Clearly, I have a lot to learn. Tomorrow is another day.

[RuideAlmeida]

Even with 3 DNFs and only 1 Found, I would say that you had a good start... keep your logs like this and every owner will love to read them.

Edited January 23, 2015 by Ruidealmeida

[+Chief301]

It can get frustrating when you're just starting out and haven't learned what to look for yet. Keep a positive attitude and keep at it, it will come to you It takes practice. Even veteran cachers have bad days sometimes when it seems like you're striking out more than finding.

 

I have days like that and when I realize I'm not having fun anymore, I call it a day. Sometimes coming back to the same cache another day with a fresh set of eyes is all it takes.

[+Fugads]

Reminds me of my start to geocaching. I got 3 DNFs going after the 3 caches closest to my house. Turns out 2 were MIA, but I wouldn't learn that for another 4 months. I didn't get a find until the next day when I left the city and went on a short hike after a kid friendly cache. When you are starting off, urban caching can be really hard. Heck, I still find urban caching really difficult.

[+JL_HSTRE]

Sounds like you might have more success not caching at night.

[+TriciaG]

The only time I've ever "night cached" was when it was getting too late and the sun was going down. We gave up quickly - a micro/small in the woods is hard enough to find in full sunlight! I can't imagine doing night caching as a general rule. The flashlight beam only illuminates so much.

 

That's just me, though. Others love it.

[+humboldt flier]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,

 

Early on I was bedeviled by one particular cache; I spent 19 hours over the course of 3 months before finding the goodies.

 

Hang in there and welcome to this zany activity.

[+humboldt flier]

The only time I've ever "night cached" was when it was getting too late and the sun was going down. We gave up quickly - a micro/small in the woods is hard enough to find in full sunlight! I can't imagine doing night caching as a general rule. The flashlight beam only illuminates so much.

 

That's just me, though. Others love it.

 

Ahhhhhhhhhh ... night caching ... not my cup of tea.

 

Wandered into a bloom of poison oak.

 

Nearly stepped on a rattle snake. *** A Mojave Green Racer *** apparently one of the more aggressive and toxic varieties

 

In my book DAY TIME IS BEST TIME

[+dprovan]

If you only have fun when you find something, you're doing it wrong. Don't lose sight of the fact that you had a fabulous series of experiences that night. You'll get better with experience, but there will always be some that elude you, so learn early not to worry about them.

[+FourFunKiwis]

LOVE the log! Cache owners are going to love you for your ability to share a story <3

[+terrkan78]

Micro-sized hides can be tough. Very tough. Urban hides can be tough. A lot of times the only way I find them is to look with my hands and find something that feels slightly different than the other surfaces I'm running my hands along (hopefully it's not a bees nest). Last time I did this it was a statute, a female statute in the middle of town, and I was on my hands and knees, reaching up inside Ms. Statute's long skirt, hoping that those eyes I could feel staring at me from behind were just my imagination. I didn't have the guts to actually turn around and see if anyone was watching and wondering what WTH I was doing.

 

If you try searching for a regular-sized (or large-size) cache, it's easier. But often you have to go outside urban areas in order to find the larger sizes. And I've certainly been stumped on many a regular-sized cache, too. I tell myself surely the cache must be missing.

[+doc73]

Micro-sized hides can be tough. Very tough. Urban hides can be tough. A lot of times the only way I find them is to look with my hands and find something that feels slightly different than the other surfaces I'm running my hands along (hopefully it's not a bees nest). Last time I did this it was a statute, a female statute in the middle of town, and I was on my hands and knees, reaching up inside Ms. Statute's long skirt, hoping that those eyes I could feel staring at me from behind were just my imagination. I didn't have the guts to actually turn around and see if anyone was watching and wondering what WTH I was doing.

 

If you try searching for a regular-sized (or large-size) cache, it's easier. But often you have to go outside urban areas in order to find the larger sizes. And I've certainly been stumped on many a regular-sized cache, too. I tell myself surely the cache must be missing.

 

Yeah, what I do is drop a throw down cache then log it as found... HAHA! LOL just kidding!! They can be tough. I always found the urbans tough because I do not do them often and when I do I always seem to be thinking they are right were a muggel is sitting. I usually sit right next to them and make them feel weird for me sitting so close, then I rock back and forth while talking to myself. This really scares them and they move on. If they ask if I am OK or if they can help me I say "no I am ok, I'm looking for hidden stuff dropped here by strangers. Wanna help me look." This is usally all they need and they are GONE!!!! LOL!! :blink:

[+humboldt flier]

Micro-sized hides can be tough. Very tough. Urban hides can be tough. A lot of times the only way I find them is to look with my hands and find something that feels slightly different than the other surfaces I'm running my hands along (hopefully it's not a bees nest). Last time I did this it was a statute, a female statute in the middle of town, and I was on my hands and knees, reaching up inside Ms. Statute's long skirt, hoping that those eyes I could feel staring at me from behind were just my imagination. I didn't have the guts to actually turn around and see if anyone was watching and wondering what WTH I was doing.

 

If you try searching for a regular-sized (or large-size) cache, it's easier. But often you have to go outside urban areas in order to find the larger sizes. And I've certainly been stumped on many a regular-sized cache, too. I tell myself surely the cache must be missing.

 

If that statue was in Tonopah, Nevada we had a similar experience, thanks for the memories

[+PlantAKiss]

There have been a number of times when I have looked and looked and looked for cache, and I'm getting tired and frustrated and just about ready to throw in the towel. I start to leave and then I think… "NO…I'm NOT leaving! I'm not quitting!" And then it's like magic! All of a sudden the cache says "hey you! I'm over here!" And all of a sudden I see what was there when I walked past it a hundred 100 times. DUH! So you experienced that phenomena when you were giving up on the telephone pole and were getting ready to get in the car. You said "I'm not leaving quite yet" and then you found it! It's like magic! Lol

[+Team Dredd]

We missed lots of caches when we were starting out, especially before MrsDredd was involved and I was doing it alone. I can't tell you how many caches we went back to look for that we originally missed. The second time around we found them right off and couldn't believe we missed it the first time. Still happens sometimes.

[+MissMeridian]

Don't feel bad, Newbie. I actually burst out in tears when I couldn't find the very first geocache I was seeking just a few days ago. Now I've done some more homework and learned more about how the navigation functions on my iPhone work and I found three caches earlier this morning. We can do this! I did discover that it would be a good idea to wear some grubbier clothes and to bring along hand wipes or hand sanitizer. I'm also going to carry along some extra blank log pages, as a few of the caches I found had full or totally soggy log sheets. Good luck to both of us!! Miss Meridian -- Meridian, Idaho

[+popokiiti]

Had a caching day from heck today. We found one, just one, of the five we attempted. Only been caching 8 years with more than 1500 finds - it happens. But I am grumpy because of it!!! Oh well, we\ll see how the next outing goes...

[+narcissa]

When your phone tells you you're within five feet, put it away and look within 30 feet.

[+popokiiti]

When your phone tells you you're within five feet, put it away and look within 30 feet.

Same goes for your GPS - and let your geosenses kick in. Think "where would I hide it?" and look for trodden down areas. We are laughing today about yesterday, my having an empty tummy didn't help - that's my excuse!