TK421

TK421 - Cephas & Kelly

1. You are known as a cacher who goes for the tough physical caches that require a bit of courage, what motivates you when the going gets rough?

Well, this is really a 2 part answer. First and foremost, I don’t like going for a cache and not finding it. Actually, I hate it with a passion – If I know the cache is there, I’m going to find it, I’m very stubborn that way…. Second, I really like to find something that I feel like I worked for, anyone can find something stuck in a pine tree.

2. When did you start Geocaching?

Geocaching.com tells me that TK421 (which is my wife Kelly and myself) became a member on April 27, 2005, but really I was a geocacher at heart for much longer than that. I grew up with scavenger hunts / treasure hunts and roaming around in the bush looking for “stuff”, and I remember hearing about Geocaching when I was younger (and with no money to buy fancy toys like “GPS”) My wife just came along for the ride in the beginning, but has grown to love it as well.

3. How did you find out about Geocaching?

I believe that it was an article in the Winnipeg Free Press quite a number of years ago, but I can’t be certain about that. When I got my GPS, I had a vague recollection of a game to find things using it, so I asked google, and being the wonderful tool that it is, had me up to speed in no time

4. Have you cached in any other provinces, countries?

We have cached in Saskatchewan a lot, as well as some in North Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota. This summer will hopefully include caching in South Dakota, since that is where we are planning to head this summer.

5. Have you ever introduced someone to geocaching? If so, who?

We have introduced quite a number of people to geocaching. The one who actually has an account is gulrudable (my cousin).

6. What are other interests or hobbies that you have (please go into detail / accomplishments)?

I am a computer/technology geek, with a big dose of camper/fisherman. It’s the perfect combination for a geocacher in my opinion!

7. What are some things you don’t like about geocaching? What are your pet peeves?

Well, I guess my one pet peeve is that I can’t find every new cache in Winnipeg. I liked it when a new cache would pop up, I could go get it. Now I have to pick and choose what to find. This annoys me! Another pet peeve is caches that are really far off their coordinates (or perhaps my GPS just goes crazy sometimes). BUT, that I’m sure is everyone’s pet peeve.

8. What is the most interesting/unusual place that geocaching has taken you?

Well, devisor knows the answer to this one – everyone else can only speculate! (see Anthony Kiedis Habit for more details)

9. What is the most memorable cache that you have found (or tried to find?)?

Duck Mountain
We’ve gone as a group to find this &$*@#*$()@#*()@# cache 2 times now. Each time has been a 10+ KM hike with innumerable mosquitos, spiders, swamp and generally bad things. First time we didn’t even make it to the location (got dark with no flashlights). 2nd time we made it to the actual location, but didn’t find the cache (hadn’t written down the “extra” directions once we reach the location! (doh!!). We are out camping around the area every year, so we’ll have to try again this year (captain ahab going hunt his whale).

10. What is your most interesting item found in a cache?

Interesting? Um… I think this is a family site

11. What items if any do you carry with you when you go on a hunt?

Flashlight (unless I actually need it – then I forget to bring one). Camera (that I almost never take a picture with), Boots (but I almost always end up wearing my dress shoes anyway), jacket (that I leave in the car when it’s cold). Etc… you get the idea

12. What kind of GPSr do you use?

I am kinda weird - I actually use a Bluetooth GPS unit connected to my pocket PC (it’s an acore Bluetooth GPS, and an HP 1940 Pocket PC). I really like it, but someone who doesn’t have experience with pocket PC’s get annoyed at them easily (ie my wife). I use the mapopolis software, and I convert the gpx files to .mlp (so that they show up on my very detailed city maps) and I use GPS tuner to pinpoint the actual cache (once mapopolis gives me directions to the cache). I also use GPXsonar to read the GPX files, so I always have the information about the caches with me. When actively caching (ie in summer) I download the GPX files 3 times a week and copy them over to my PPC, so I always have an up to date record. Now, you might think that all this is very confusing and makes it hard to find caches, but in all reality, when it’s working right it’s great! (and my pocket pc/gps combo has taken an incredible beating over the years and is still running fine! I thought I killed it once, but it was actually just my charging cable that died). I tried using a “normal” gps for a while (Magellan explorist 300 I believe) but quickly tired of it and rid myself of it.

13. What methods do you use to avoid muggle detection?

I usually play the “waiting for someone” card, or else I serve as a distraction while my wife sneaks in and grabs the prize (this works very well for the most part)

14. What was the most memorable travel bug that you have found?

There have been a couple of neat ones, nothing that really sticks out in my mind though – except maybe a cork screw. What a great excuse to drink a bottle of wine.

15. Which geocachers do you respect or standout to you the most?

Definitely ertyu, as he used to constantly beat me time and time again, this got really annoying after a while and I came to dread seeing his name in the log book above mine

16. With whom do you normally go geocaching?

99% of the time TK421 goes as a team (Kelly and myself) – when out in Saskatchewan we go with gulrudable

17. Is there a challenging local cache you have in your sights right now? Which one?

Mantario Majestic without a doubt. Now I just have to find someone idiotic enough to go with me

18. Can you play a musical instrument?

Now “play” is a very subjective term. I may think that I can play the guitar, but others may disagree.

19. Do you use your GPSr for other reasons other than Geocaching?

I originally bought it to cut down on in-car arguments on which direction to go (I'm always lost). I still use it for just that purpose.

20. What is the meaning of your username?

Ever seen Star Wars? That should give you a hint. I can’t give away all my secrets!

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