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Trekkin and Birdin wrote:

Aaron, I agree, this winter has made it *really* slow, but we’ve noticed this trend well ahead of the winter. I kind of wonder if the use of phone apps has anything to do with it all? When people invested in the GPSr unit, they had money into it, so incentive to make use of their toys. Now, people have the phones anyway, so getting the app isn’t any big investment.

I am getting REALLY tired of seeing comments relating to those of us who use the phone apps. It makes it sound as though those of us who started in the cell phone era aren’t as good as those who’ve been doing it since GPSr units were the only way to play the game.

I can only speak for myself, of course, but I slowed down after getting #1000 in early November because in 2018, I found as many caches as I had found the whole 2 1/2 years before. I went through a little bit of fatigue. It’s happened with other hobbies. Won’t go into the whole story, but I also do cross stitch, and I got fatigued on a project I was working on for awhile, largely because I started on one medium, got half-way done, realized it wasn’t going to work on that medium, and then started over on another one after putting a different project on the first medium. I took some time off and went back to it after doing a couple of projects meant for other people. I imagine it’ll be the same with geocaching. I’m actually looking forward to the spring, when the weather will allow me to get back to geocaching.

And, it would be the same if I had decided at some point to invest in a GPSr unit. I’m not the type to traipse solo through a foot of snow for half a mile to find an ammo can in the woods, anyway. Sorry if you feel that makes me less of a geocacher.

 

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MTCLMBR wrote:

All packaged in a nice Love Valentines day goodie bag.

• Year of the Pig Geocoin –$10.99
• I <3 Geocaching Trackable Patch — $4.99
• I <3 Geocaching Travel Tag – Red — $4.99
• Signal the Frog and a Bouquet Travel Tag –$4.99
• I <3 Geocaching trackable Lego brick — $6.99
• Valentine with pin signed by some Lakeys and a Lindt Chocolate.

$32.95 for $24.99 Haven’t been collecting the ‘Year of…’ coins so meh on that for me but otherwise, as always been getting current full price items

 

Thanks for posting this! I’ve been a little distracted with getting my feet wet in another GPS activity, so I didn’t even notice they had them. As it is, sounds like it’ll be one I can pass up without feeling like I’m missing out. I still have to activate ones from the grab bags this fall, after all. Still, looks like you got a good deal!

 

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Signed up, not expecting to get it. Not because there are only 500 being released, but because I still don’t think they’ve forgiven me for the Halo Top debacle (and yes, I know I’ve used that joke before).

[Bennycams]

Welcome, Julie!

I’ll second Rawevil’s suggestion on going to events. I just really started going this past year, and not only has everyone been really nice – even to an introvert like me! – but I think I’m a better geocacher from the exposure to the more experienced cachers. Plus, they’re usually a lot of fun, and an easy smilie! 🙂

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Since I still had one of the tags I got last year, I did a side by side pic. Also, this is what I did with this year’s tag.

 

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Mine came today! Contents are identical to MTCLMBR’s. Only, my candy cane was broken. 🙁

I like the marble even better in person! I’ll most likely use it as others have, as a discovery at events object. I never really cared for the look of the trackable t-shirts, but this as a necklace is totally up my alley. And as luck would have it, I plan on going to three events in the next month. 🙂

While not part of the “grab stocking,” the free trackable was larger than I expected it to be. It’s twice the size of last year’s holiday tag.

Off to activate!

 

 

 

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Thanks, MT!

I did order one for myself, and should get it either Monday or Tuesday. Figured the upcoming trackable promotion will help me get motivated to get them out there!

I like that coin! Glad it has all of the “You might be a…” on it, rather than being one of the 4. If that’s the “yet-to-be-released” coin that’s in all the stockings, then I’ll be happy. I’ll admit, out of the 4 YMBA, I only think the  trackable one applies to me. Certainly not the Connoisseur one, as I actually like LPCs & power trails, and will most likely never have one with a T5!

Cool that you got the marble! I always thought that was a neat item for sale, though I never considered getting it.

But….where is the generic trackable dog tag? How can it be a Groundspeak grab bag if there’s not generic travel tag?!? 🙂

As soon as I get mine, I will, as usual, post its contents.

 

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MTCLMBR wrote:

Tip out there that I have figured out. Each year at this time of the year I always get my premium membership. I always buy the gift certificate premium membership (for myself 🙂 who says I can’t gift myself) which automatically gets me the free trackable they always have. In the past I have bought the combos with geocoins or additional items for additional value. Spend $5 more get the free shipping. But I like to get the free trackable with my membership…… granted usually spend more money and get a second trackable haha

I did that last year when I got my dad a Premium membership. He wanted to try find a few on his own to prove he could, because he normally only caches with me. He was having a hard time with his phone, but he’s getting a new one, and wanted me to renew it for him because he didn’t get to try this past year. He doesn’t want the free trackable, though, so he asked me to renew it electronically. He does have 3 TBs roaming around, but he’s barely into geocaching in general. He’s less into trackables.

And, my whole iTunes payment history is based off gift cards to myself. 🙂

 

[Bennycams]

BigJim wrote:

I haven’t activated mine from the grab bag either. With the new souvenir being trackables, I think I’ll activate them after Dec. 3.

I activated the Signal charm, because I’m going to use it as an overall mileage bug. I’m about half-way through my 1000+ caches. It’s really too small to send out, and I wanted to do this for awhile, so this seemed like the best use of it. The other 5 are still unactivated, though, like you, I plan to activate a couple after Monday. And maybe a couple of the ones I’ve had longer, like the two Steampunk coins.

Still tempted to get this new grab bag. Three guaranteed trackables, plus, since it’s $25, the holiday trackable. So, four trackables, a couple of swag items (description is unclear about how much), and maybe a (broken) candy cane.

 

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HQ is at it again –

https://shop.geocaching.com/default/stocking-grab-bag.html

I’m VERY tempted, but I still have unactivated trackables to activate. Still, that “geocoin that has not been released” is pulling me in…

 

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Answered my own query. I took note of the train’s mileage, then had it visit the first cache I ever found. Theoretically, it should not have added the mileage between it & the last cache it visited. But it did.

So, an existing TB cannot be backtracked for overall caching mileage.

This actually solves what to do with the Signal charm/nano coin I got in the latest grab bag. It’s too small to send on its own or to attach to something where it would be recognized as a TB tag, so the options are – create a proxy to send out, use the code for something completely different, or make it a personal mileage bug. And, what better to document the miles traveled since I started geocaching with than the official geocaching mascot?

[Bennycams]

Thought someone might be interested in this update to my Halo Top story.

I gave my extra Halo Top to a TB hotel owner whose advice I sought out about what to do with the extra one before I decided to contact HQ & go by their decision. I copied the tracking code so I could follow it. She activated it, and put it in a different TB hotel. It stayed in that cache’s inventory for the remainder of the promotion & beyond.

Fast forward to a few days ago, and I get a watchlist notification that someone grabbed it. They found it in a bin of items that a thrift store was about to discard! The tag was still attached to the item, too.

Makes me wonder how often TBs end up in the same situation, only without a geocacher to recognize them for what they are.

 

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Just got mine! Here’s my haul –

Standard trackable tag – because there can’t be a grab bag from HQ without one. Always handy to have if you’re into trackables.

Mermaid Lego figure – my 11 year old cousin Kaitlyn’s going to be jealous! I got her the mermaid Cachekinz, and she talked me out of a different Lego mermaid from my swag bag. Then promptly married her off to the Sharkboy Lego she also talked me out of.

Mercury Geocoin – not sure if I agree with a lot of what an astrology site says about Mercury & my sign, but since I’m not big on astrology, anyway, and I think the coin looks cool, that’s good enough for me.

Gryphon Hidden Creatures Trackable Tag – according to the accompanying souvenir (which was earned with 20 caches), a gryphon represents wisdom and strength.

Dia de Muertos Trackable Tag, Black – skull imagery isn’t really my thing, but whatever.

Signal trackable charm – HQ actually calls it a nano geocoin, but ask any girl, and she’ll tell you it belongs on a charm bracelet.

According to my calculator, that’s $37.94 in TBs for $19.99. Taking into account “real” value – that is, the cost of the items I may have purchased on their own – and I still think I got a good deal. Now to get them out there moving!

 

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Yeah, I figured $20 for 6 TBs was a pretty good deal, even though I still have a few to activate. I’m wondering which Steampunk coin I’ll get this time! 🙂

If I remember correctly, because I qualified for free shipping both times (this time, too – I found this new grab bag when I was there to buy other stuff), it took awhile to arrive. And, the grab bags last time went really fast. So, chances are pretty good they’ll be sold out before you get your first order.

Good Luck! As with last time, I’ll post what I get in mine for those interested.

 

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Guess what?

HQ is at it again! Grab bags for Halloween! https://shop.geocaching.com/default/recently-added-items/trick-or-treat-trackables-grab-bag.html

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