Reply #6: There's an introduction event coming up

[CornField]

First, what led me to ask the question was knowing that you like the outdoors and your statement about keeping everything clean. CITO (cache in, trash out) is the cacher's mantra.

Now to the event...

It's being hosted by IGO (Iowa Geocachers Organization) at Kirkwood in Monticello on March 18, 9 a.m. to about noon. Cost is $15 per person.

Basic description: "IGO members will present the basics of GPS receivers and geocaching in a relaxed classroom setting. After a some explaination and Q&A, class will adjourn to the field where participants will have the opportunity to hunt several geocaches placed for the class. Experienced geocachers will be on hand to accompany new players on the hunt. 'Loaner' GPS units will be available for people without one of their own."

If you're interested you'll need to register online: http://www.kirkwood.edu/site/index.php?d=216&p=2607&t=2&&class_id=CGAC-020-JON01
or by phone: [phone]

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I guess you could say that we're involved. LOL! We've been active members on geocaching.com since the spring of 2003 & are charter members in the Iowa group.

Here's our 'team' graphic:

I made our graphic and then put it on shrinky dinks. We drop one of those in each cache we visit. (And folks don't believe I'm talented... LOL!)

Our family has had some amazing adventures since we started caching & we visited so many places that we otherwise would not have known about. There was one last summer which was a multi-cache (a starting point, stops in between with clues, final destination) and it was linked to Iowa ghost stories and spooky locations. It was an absolute hoot.

GPS -- we have a Garmin and I highly recommend them. Ours has been dropped, went with us into creeks, fallen off our bikes (only to get smushed by our tires) and just keeps on going. Some models have a difficult time getting signal through a car windshield. We've never had that problem -- it tracked us perfectly through all types of weather and environmental condidtions when we drove to Seattle (lying on the dash & hanging from the rearview). The only thing I don't like about our unit is the lack of an external antenna port.

If you are just using it for hiking and outdoors, a black and white screen is probably preferable because the color screens are difficult to read in direct sunlight.

What you might want to do is check out: http://www.gpsinformation.net/

Or you can go to the original newgroup source of all this madness: news:sci.geo.satellite-nav

Oh, if you don't mind buying used electronics, you might want to keep an eye on some of the local pawn shops. Do your homework first as to what units you'd find acceptible and then keep your eyes open.