All packed and ready to go!!!

Well I had so many good intentions of being really really organised for going away this time, but as always it ends up as lastminute.com.

Now it really is my fault. I had spent a couple of evenings getting my laptop upto scratch and had loaded all my favourite geocaching programs onto it. There were only 2 problems with it.

1. Knackered battery - But this I managed to over come by use of an inverter in the car. Problem solved

2. No internet access -

So this resulted in a trip to carphone warehouse with all good intentions of buying myself a pay as you go mobile internet dongle but if you're anything like me, you can't resist something new.

So to cut a long story short, I ended up coming out of the store with not only a dongle, but a new netbook which was free with the contract, which actually is only about a tenner more than I would have been paying for PAYG. So you tell me....just how could I resist.

Next was get it home, after completing a local cache of course...oh with my new netbook still in its box, which was suprisingly good to lean on to sign a log sheet. I then had to start the process of uploading all of my stuff to it.

Mmmmmm 7 hours later I can gladly but very frustratedly report that it is now complete. Silly old me wanted this very small little gadget that would go in my rucksack and didn't even think about how I was going to get the software onto the damn thing. All I can say is thank you Dad...we certainly got there in the end after a lot of words unrepeatable for this blog. We ended up doing it by using our external hard drive and if those companies are going to try to stop us copying from one laptop to another...then think again....We did it!!!!

We even learnt tonight how to create a route on GC.com and now have them all uploaded to our trusy GPSr's and Nuvi.

So am I excited.....OOOOOOOO YES I AM!!!!

MEGA HERE WE COME!!!!! YEEHAH!!!!

Mega Event....or just a Mega Caching Weekend?????

Well the Mega Event in Weston Super Mare is nearly upon us but sitting here thinking, its not just the journey down there that I have to prepare for. My to do list just seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

I sat down for the first time today to plan which caches we are going to complete on our 3 days away. Then the enormity of the situation hit me....how many caches are there around and which ones do we choose. We have opted out of completing any unknown or multi caches as they are just too time consuming to complete many in a day so it will be down to earth caches, traditionals and virtual caches.

But where do I start. I ran pocket queries through GC.com for a number of areas and rather than use my normal prefered method of database with GSAK, I opted for a more simplified EasyGPS to upload the caches to my GPS. I find it easier this way to upload all the caches then to memory map to have a look at for easy drive-bys along the route that we'll be taking. I've still not mastered GSAK fully yet but thats a job for another day. I'm sure its easy when you know how.

Next is choosing the caches...I havent got that far yet apart from some on the journey down the M5 taking quick detours off to go to Cheltenham and Gloucester, areas which I have never cached in before. Then there's South Wales where were staying and the Mega in Weston Super Mare.

So best I get my skates on and actually do some planning......but I'm still pondering over...do I take my laptop with me to run via an inverter in the car so we can run memory map, or do we do it the old fashioned way and print off maps with the caches on. Now theres a thought for me!!!!!!

So is mega number caching easy....no its not as its just so time consuming planning the routes and caches. But for me, thats just as enjoyable as the caching itself.