Neys Frenzy Report

[shroomAzoom]

So, everyone, how was it? Those of us who couldn't make it want to know!

[ragbag]

WET!!!  But it was a fantastic event.  Unfortunately, I had to leave Sunday morning, but Saturday was great.  I went out with Ruth, one half of the rs x 2 team from Marathon, and it was very nice to have someone with local knowledge to guide me along.
The event was set up so that there were 4 'games' that we were playing.  There were 52 caches for a poker run, 30 caches for Bingo, and 24 caches with stamps in them for a stamping game.  We also had a 'Closest to the Pin' test, where we had to place a popsicle stick as close as we could to a pre-determined location.   
Ruth and I managed to locate 14 or 15 of the 106 caches that were out there, most being FTF's.  The hides were quite challenging, as most of the containers were wrapped in camo, small in size, and hidden in out-of-the-way places, often quite far back into the bush.  (A little too difficult, in my mind, for an event with so many caches) Once we twigged onto the style of hiding that Tammy had used, they were a little easier to spot.  We did manage to get into several locations that I had no idea were there, and had a ball doing it.
I would like to extend my personal thanks to Tammy and John for doing such a fantastic job in setting up the event, placing all those caches, and for their warm hospitality.  I am looking forward to the next event, and I will definitely spend the whole time at it!
For those of you who were unable to attend, you missed a whole lot of fun and camaraderie.

[Neys Lunch]

Well it's Monday and the sun is shinning..... there is just no justice!!!  Since we can't control the weather, the geocachers made the best of the situation.  It was a great weekend despite the weather and we learned a few tips for next year.......hints on each cache will be added next year.

The winners for the weekend are:

For Bingo we counted how many stickers were placed on their bingo cards.
1. jleecollings won a lawn chair for most stickers (9)
2. Peanutbeagle won a picnic blanket and a hat for second place (
3. Peaches and Bear won a water bottle and hat for third place (6)

For Poker Peaches and Bear won the lawn chair with a 4 of a kind.


For Stamping Fools Peaches and Bear wond a picnic blanket a nd a hat. with a 280 points


Peanutbeagle won closest tot he pin and took home a water bottle and a hat for her efforts

Ragbag took home a picnic blanket for the ftf

Thanks to everyone for attending the event we look forward to next year!!

[Mechman]

First of all I'd like to say thanks to the fine folks at Neys Lunch for putting out all those caches and organizing the weekend.  Unfortunately the combination of wet weather, mechtoddlers, a family visit in Marathon and my astronomy commitments at the provincial park did not allow us to fully participate in the event as much as I would have liked to.  My record was not that great for those that we did attempt.  On Saturday, I was 0/2 in the morning, before my PVC rain pants ripped and became PVC rain shorts.  In the afternoon were 2/8 on the event caches  (as we made our way up the tower road with the minivan) and 2/2 on regular caches (Neys Lunch Cache and Tower Cache).  Supper on Saturday was a treat. Sunday was a trip into Marathon to visit with family there, and then on the way back we stopped at Mink Falls.  Mechtoddler #1 and I made the journey to the falls where 10 minutes later csooley and family showed up too.  It was a nice view once we got there.  On the way I was not going to even look for event caches but since we were so close I thought we'd try....as I anticipated, we were 0/5 for the event caches along the way.  Finally we stopped back in at Neys Lunch to place the popsicle stick and attempt 2 more located at the campground.  We found 1/2 (and only because someone told us where is was...the actual coords were 20m out).  So the record for the weekend was a dismal 3/17.  Now I know that we are not really that bad of cachers normally....it really got a bit frustrating after a while.  Suggestions for next time - don't make the placements so hard and double check their placement coords on a couple of different days. Also providing argos or 4 wheelers for everyone would be great!! (hehe) :-)  There was no way we were even going to attempt to get to 1/2 of the caches with a minivan.  We were lucky to get to the top of the tower hill!  Anyway, great idea, thanks for the fun, sorry we couldn't participate all that much, but had fun at bonfires and supper!!  Good to meet everyone from the area.  See you all next year if all works out!

[csooley]

 
We were both happy and puzzled during the Neys Geocaching Challenge but enjoyed the week-end immensely. 
Neys Lunch (Tammy & John) had many, many caches hidden, and games planned, and opportunities to meet other geocachers and swap stories.
We arose Saturday morning full of energy and eager to geocache.  The weather was quite uncooperative and we experienced many difficulties - least of which were poor GPS signals and feet soaked within the first 10 minutes.  Met up with others who were experiencing the same stresses.  Popped back into Neys Lunch to warm up and ask for a few hints and started out refreshed.  Along the way, we managed to log the permanent geocaches in the area and "ohh and ahh" over the sites we saw.
During the potluck supper, the skies began to clear so we quickly headed out with jleecollins & pnutbeagle to search for more geocaches and returned in time for the bonfire.  Nice to have lots of sets of eyes to help in the search for the well hidden caches.  There really is nothing better than gathering around a bonfire on a cool Northern Ontario evening, enjoying 'smores and smokies and camaraderie.
Sunday had us riding along with Tammy to find caches and explore the area around Neys Lunch including a ride in her Bobcat that will stay with us forever (thanks again Tammy).
By the afternoon, we felt confident enough to head down the Coldwater Road in a quest for more caches.  And what timing!  jleecollins and H-K had travelled that area earlier and set out the best geo-trails I've been on in a long time.  All the way down to the sheltered bay that was once the town of Coldwell, passing the old cemetery that is marked by a huge obelisk in honour of the founder of the now deserted town, we found most of the ones they had staked out.  It was an area we never would have explored if it weren't for the caching challenge.
On to Mink Falls where we ran into Mechman and his family.  Another lovely view of Northern Ontario at its best with flowing water and rocks and trees and random pathways through the woods.
Back to Neys Lunch for bonfire and awards - congrats to all the winners (and thanks for the prizes!).  And discussions of how to "do it again" - more hints? less camouflage on the caches? a ranking of the caches? 
Not sure how many caches we found  - in the end, being "away for the weekend" and exploring new areas was what mattered most.
Thanks to Tammy and John. 
csooley (&Don), bear&peaches

[Neys Lunch]

You spoke we listened!!!  Changes for next year.........  (thanks to everyone for their patience as this was a first for us and a learning experience!!)

First with so much happening the August Long weekend it has been suggested we look at the September long weekend.........Please send your thoughts and comments on this.

Second the Caches....
1. rank the difficulty of each cache (althought I didn't think any of them were hard....
2. indicate the size of each cache
3. give a hint for each cache

anything else?? let us know we are taking notes.

[ragbag]

 I would suggest that, if you are planning on 100 + caches again, omit the camo so the caches are a little easier to spot.  Also, not quite so far into the bush off the beaten track, please.  I also like the idea of an indication of where the cache might be found  -  in a tree, under a rock, in a cave, etc.

Bob

[hunter-killer]

Although we did not arrive until late Saturday afternoon, and just missed the pot luck supper, the rest of the event for us was great. The work involved was staggering, and you always feel comfortable at Neys Lunch. Good folks who will go out of their way for you. Campfires, stories, and getting together with others that share our favorite pastime is what it is all about. The caches were a bonus. Lots of fun games, and we took the time to do a few caches in town as well, and one hell of an adventure with Jlee and pnutbeagle doing "The Crack". As far as events go, you learn from doing it, see what works and what does not, and always improve the next year. We were happy to see the younger kids do so well, and congratulations to Emma, man did she find a lot of caches. Thanks Tammy, John and your parents. You all worked your butts off for a great event. Can't wait for the next one.

[Neys Lunch]

Sheesh Bob..... you still want me to hide them don't you??    lol

I promise I will make it easier next year!!!

[ragbag]

OK  -  I'll admit it  -  I'm a wimp when it comes to slogging through the bush for 300 metres just to come up empty-handed.  In an event such as this, is it really necessary to have us go far into the bush to find a camoed pill bottle hidden in a clump of spruce?  I appreciate that you were trying to give us a challenge, and you certainly did just that!  I just think that it would have been more enjoyable if the caches were a little easier to find.  I DID enjoy myself, though.  These were just suggestions......

Bob

[Neys Lunch]

hahaha I'm just teasing Bob................ your suggestion has been heard.  I have been taking notes so I remember for next year.

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself....it's possible that people would not have minded so much the hunt if it were in a dryer bush and since my crystal ball isn't working you never know when it's going to rain we will make sure the finds are easier next year.

[Neys Lunch]

okay folks, I only post this because I know revenge is sweet!!!  I can now say I understand the difficulty of hides now as I was out picking some caches up at the mink yesterday and found an embarrassing 3 out of 8.  shheeesh!!! 
I vow to you........ no more camo tape for the event, man does that stuff really work!!!!!
When I hid the caches I really didn't think they were going to be hard to find but now I'm having trouble finding my own caches.

And another thing the hides have to be easier to find next year because this event set up and clean up has taken up my whole summer of caching...we patiently await the fall when we can start racking up our numbers again.... oh yeah it's about the caches right, not the numbers....lol