Sunday, May 17, 2009

Cache-A-Maniacs, GeoWoodstock 7, and Geomate Jr.

 An update to this blog is long overdue.  Thanks to anyone who happens to stop by and read it.

Today when I was checking the Cache-A-Maniacs podcast site for the new show I was surprised to see that the latest podcast (Episode #126) was featuring Arkansas' very own Ron and Mari Beth Laster aka rklmbl.  I was so excited to listen to the podcast and was not disappointed.  Anyone who has ever met and spent time with rklmbl knows that they are great people and were a perfect selection to be interviewed for the Cache-A-Maniacs show.

Two other caching teams have also been featured on Cache-A-Maniacs in the past.  golfnutz (Episode 10) and nonnipoppy (Episode 41) were also great interviews.  Visit the Cache-A-Maniacs podcast site to listen to them and all the other great interviews with geocachers from around the world.



In only a few days my family and I will be headed out to travel to GeoWoodstock VII to be at Bell Buckle, Tennessee.

This will be the first "MEGA" geocaching event we have ever attended and the whole family is excited.  We are turning the event in to a family vacation.  Geocaching is once again taking us somewhere we probably would have never visted if geocaching had not taken us there.

We plan on caching and seeing the sites.  I hope to post to the blog again after we return to tell about the trip.

Geomate Jr. - Last week on Pocacher I first heard about a new GPS product that has been introduced just for geocaching.  It is called the Geomate Jr.  

To put it as simply as I can this product has a great price (Suggested retail of $69.95) that comes pre-loaded with traditional geocaches.  The Geomate Jr. can also be updated with the purchase of an update kit.  All you have to do is turn it on and then head out to the closest cache.  No pocket queries necessary. 

I'm thinking this might also be a great addition to what ever GPSr you might already have to take along on those trips that seem to come out of nowhere.  With the Geomate Jr. already having tradtional caches pre-loaded you can cache without having to access the Geocaching.com web site.

Here is some more information about the Geomate Jr. from the Geocaching.com web site:

The Geomate.Jr. is an affordable and easy way to get in on the geocaching fun!


  • The family-friendly Geomate.jr comes preloaded with approximately 250,000 geocache locations covering all 50 U.S. states
  • Simply turn the unit on and it will navigate you to your current location's closest geocache; hit the "Next" button and Geomate.jr will direct you to the next closest cache
  • Along with cache location, Geomate.jr provides important information like size, terrain, difficulty rating and the Geocaching.com ID code for each cache
  • The Geomate.jr allows you to set a "home" waypoint to which it can guide you back
  • Displays compass heading, latitude and longitude
  • Visit log allows you to mark geocaches and review them later to keep track of which caches you've already found
  • With new caches being created all the time, an optional update kit (sold separately) allows you to add all the newest caches to the Geomate.jr database. (Available June 2009)
  • Geomate.jr is powered by 2 AAA batteries

Geomate.jr

  • Position accuracy: 3 meters
  • Routes: No
  • Waypoints (total): 1
  • Memory: No
  • PC Compatible: Yes
  • Compass: No
  • Altimeter: No
  • Color Screen: No
  • Compact antenna: Yes
  • Display size: 1.2 x 1.2 inches
  • Screen pixels: Not applicable
  • Battery type: 2 AAA
  • Battery life at 70 degrees: 12+ hours
  • Dimensions: 4.4 x 1.8 x 1 inches
  • Weight: (With batteries) 3.2 ounces
 

No comments: