Tuesday, September 26, 2017

GCHR Hidey Awards, An Announcement and other news

GCHR Hidey Awards???

What exactly are these awards???

Simply put, this is a way for geocachers to award the best
Geocaching Hides in the Hampton Roads area.

There are numerous categories and you can download the
nomination page to submit those caches you feel deserve recognition
by clicking HERE.

Here are the rules:
1. Caches must be located within 50 miles of Mile Zero in Norfolk
     (N 36° 50.847 W 076° 17.348).
2.  Must be an active cache, not archived.
3.  A cache can only be nominated for ONE category
     Exception: Cache of the Year + one other category.  
4. Caches must be Published in 2016 or 2017
     Exception: HR Hall of Fame – Cache must be placed prior to 2016
5. Cache can be a previous nominee (published in 2016-2017)
    BUT Can Not be a previous Hidey Award Winner
    Exception: Hall of Fame
6.  Recommend finding the cache before nominating it
since you must find the cache before voting for it.

Here are the different Categories
 
    Outstanding Traditional Cache (Small, Regular, Large)
Eligible caches must be a single-stage Traditional cache
and labeled as a Small, Regular, or Large on geocaching.com.
 
Outstanding Traditional Micro Cache or Not Chosen/Other
Eligible caches must be a single-stage Traditional cache and labeled
as a Micro or Not Chosen/Other on geocaching.com.
 
Outstanding Puzzle/Mystery Cache
Eligible caches must be listed as Puzzle/Mystery on geocaching.com.
These can be online or field puzzles, mysteries, or challenge caches.
 
Outstanding Multi-Cache
Eligible caches must be listed as a Multi-Cache on geocaching.com. 
 
Outstanding Other Cache
Eligible caches must be listed as a Virtual, Wherigo,
Letterbox Hybrid, or Earthcache on geocaching.com. 
 
Outstanding Historical Cache
Caches should have a Historical aspect.
All physical geocache types are eligible.
 
Outstanding Cache Journey
Caches can be a Hike, Paddle, or Scenic View. 
All physical cache types, Virtuals and Earthcaches are eligible.
 
Outstanding Cache Series/Geo-Art
Caches must be a part of a Series or Geo-Art. 
 
Most Creative/Innovative Cache
Caches should have a creative container.
All physical geocache types are eligible.
 
Cache of the Year
Caches should be the "cream of the crop" and
"best of the best" from the Hampton Roads area.
All physical cache types, Virtuals and Earthcaches are eligible.
 
HR Hall of Fame
Caches should be those "Legendary" caches that have been
known for being a "must-do" for several years
(must be active and placed prior to 2016).
These caches may have won Hidey Awards in the past,
but it's not a requirement.  All physical geocache
types, Virtuals and Earthcaches are eligible.


Here is the Timeline for all events surrounding the awards!

Nominations Accepted:   October 01 – October 15 @ 11:59 pm

Nominee List Publicized:    October 17

        Time to Find:    October 18 – November 30

Voting is Open:    December 1 – December 24 @ 11:59 pm

The winners will then be awarded at:

The 11th Annual Milestones M-n-G and 2018 Hidey Awards 
GC7BNT4
on Saturday 6 January 2018!!!

Upcoming Events
Here are the events in Hampton Roads coming up in the near future.
 Mark your calendars – hope to see you at some of these events!

OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7C9KH 
Wednesday – September 27, 2017 – Newport News, VA
Burn 'n Brew Caching Crew (BBCC #4)
in front of Tradition Brewing Company
6:45PM till ???
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC79DR4 
Saturday – September 30, 2017 – Norfolk, VA
Fall CITO
You get a souvenir for attending this event!!!
Elmwood Cemetery
9AM till 1PM
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OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7CH3J 
Tuesday – October 17, 2017 – Virginia Beach, VA
Third Tuesday Burger & Beer GCHR October
Rick’s Cafѐ
6PM till 8PM
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7CHBG 
Saturday – October 28, 2017 – Newport News, VA
9th annual Halloween meet and greet
Smoke BBQ
11AM till ???
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7BNT4 
Saturday – January 6, 2018 – Virginia Beach, VA
11th Annual Milestones M-n-G and 2018 Hidey Awards
5PM till ???

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SNAP!!!-land

Only a few more days remain to find all the caches in the SNAP!!!-land series!!!
All 100 caches in the series will be archived on 1 October.

---------------------------------------------

That's All for Now!
Till next time...
Stay Safe & Keep Caching!!!


Suffolk Nana & Papa - - - or just plain ol' - - - -  SNAP!!!  


On Twitter at: @SNAPgeocaching
On Instagram at: snap_geocaching 

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

A Thank You, Events, Hidey Awards. and other news....

A Thank You...
In my last blog, I told you the story of my search for the Woodbooger.
I had a terrific time that weekend, but I failed to mention a pair
of geocachers that were with me almost the entire weekend.  They
took care of me, made sure I drank my water and generally
just took care of me and made sure I not only didn't
fall off the mountain, but that I also stayed out of trouble!!!

So, even though it is late, a big thank you
goes out to Randy and Jo

THANKS!!!
Geospillz   

Upcoming Events
Here are the events in Hampton Roads coming up in the near future.
 Mark your calendars – hope to see you at some of these events!
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7AYB7 
Tuesday – September 19, 2017 – Portsmouth, VA
Third Tuesday Beer/Burgers Meet & Greet
MoMac
6 PM till 8PM
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7BGPP
Thursday – September 21, 2017 – Chesapeake, VA
AACC #102
Elizabeth River Boat Landing Park
4 PM till 6PM
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7C9KH 
Wednesday – September 27, 2017 – Newport News, VA
Burn 'n Brew Caching Crew (BBCC #4)
in front of Tradition Brewing Company
6:45PM till ???
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC79DR4 
Saturday – September 30, 2017 – Norfolk, VA
Fall CITO
You get a souvenir for attending this event!!!
Elmwood Cemetery
9AM till 1PM
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7CH3J 
Tuesday – October 17, 2017 – Virginia Beach, VA
Third Tuesday Burger & Beer GCHR October
Rick’s Cafѐ
6PM till 8PM
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7CHBG 
Saturday – October 28, 2017 – Newport News, VA
9th annual Halloween meet and greet
Smoke BBQ
11AM till ???
-----

Hidey Awards

It is almost that time of year again.
Time to recognize the best of the geocaches in and
around the Hampton Roads Area!!!
----
You can find out more information on the
GCHR Hidey Awards Facebook page

Nominations for the awards will be accepted between Oct 1st and 15th
so now is the time to figure out which hides you like best.

Nominees will be announced at the 3rd Tuesday
event in October at Rick's Cafe!!!

There are numerous ways to figure this out but my
suggestion is to look at which geocaches you awarded
 favorite points to and then slowly pare that list down to the best of the best.

Click on this link to download the nomination checklist.

Good luck to all!!!

SNAP!!!-land

Less than 2 weeks to find all the caches in the SNAP!!!-land series!!!
All 100 caches in the series will be archived on 1 October.

---------------------------------------------

That's All for Now!
Till next time...
Stay Safe & Keep Caching!!!


Suffolk Nana & Papa - - - or just plain ol' - - - -  SNAP!!!  


On Twitter at: @SNAPgeocaching
On Instagram at: snap_geocaching 

Friday, September 15, 2017

My Search for the Woodbooger

A few months ago I received a very nice e-mail
inviting me to a series of events surrounding the release of
both a Geo-Art and a Geocoin Trail on September 8, 2017.

The view near GC4MNBT
A very small group of geocachers consisting of BiblemanRick, SewWatt,
KickenChicken, MyManVa2, Ladybug 44 and BigGrizzlyBear
had collaborated with the City of Norton Va. and local businesses
to come up with one terrific weekend of geocaching!!!

The view near GC2Q4VR
On Friday, September 8 - a new geo-art made it's debut in and around the Norton
Virginia area.  This new geo-art consists of 50 very easy puzzle caches.
Most of the hides are very easy finds!!!


Is this a Woodbooger footprint?
In the end - this is what your map will look like!!!  

The view near GC1VWPN
That was just Friday!!!
On Saturday, Spetember  9, 
the release of a Geocoin Trail made it's debut!

Consisting of 20 geocaches hidden mostly in the Flag Rock
recreation area, up and down the mountain road (12th St SW).

Note: There is one really neat Night Cache

Passport
Once the passport is completed - you
can claim the really nice Geo-coin.

There was a huge Event just prior to the Geo-Trail release.
The City Manager of Norton, VA. spoke and thanked all the geocachers
 who came for the trail and art.

The Woodbooger Geocoin
 The hides for this trail are fairly simple but you must remember to either write
down your Code Word from each cache's log OR stamp your passport with
the stamp located in each cache.

The other side!
Once you complete your passport you turn it in, get it checked
 and receive a really nice geocoin for all of your troubles.

I met the Woodbooger!
The beautiful views you will see while getting all the smilies
is more than worth the trip to this part of the state.

So - I told you about my FANTASTIC weekend of caching!!!
Now that all the events and fanfare of the debut are over,
here is how you go about getting yourself a coin!!!

Go to GC77BGW - Woodbooger Geotrail - Woodbooger Pathfinder
Inside that cache you will find passports for you to use
on the remaining caches for the trail.

As you visit each cache - stamp your passport, or write the
code word on your passport - either is acceptable!

Once your passport is completed - call one of the phone
 numbers listed on each cache page to arrange getting your coin.
SIMPLE!!!

The Official Event Picture
I must say - this was one of the more well-planned, well-organized,
and well attended events I have ever attended.  That, plus the support this
small group of geocachers received from the City of Norton
made this one of the more enjoyable weekends of geocaching
I have experienced!


During Saturday's event. the City Manager of Norton made a suggestion
to all the geocachers in attendance to please take the time to visit one of the more
spectacular places in the area.  It is called "The Tower" and it is
located at the top of the mountain.
I took his advice and made my way to the top of the mountain
 to visit the tower.  All I can say is "WOW!!!" 


Oh, by the way..
They originally ordered 200 coins for the trail.
There are about 90 left!!!
Hurry, get to Norton and knock out both
the geo-art as well as the trail!!!

---------------------------------------------

That's All for Now!
Till next time...
Stay Safe & Keep Caching!!!


Suffolk Nana & Papa - - - or just plain ol' - - - -  SNAP!!!  


On Twitter at: @SNAPgeocaching
On Instagram at: snap_geocaching 

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

The GCHR Picnic was a BLAST!!! and some other stuff too.....

GCHR PICNIC!!!

In case you missed it... THE PICNIC WAS A BLAST!!!

Yes, the morning started out very foggy and drizzly, but by the time
the first hour was passing by, the sun was out and we were all having a great time!!!

KUDOS go out to the entire GCHR crew for planning
another greatt picnic, with games and fun for all ages.

A special thanks goes out to all those that volunteered at the picnic!!!

Can't wait till next year!!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
other picnic news!!!

One of the bigger things
to happen at the picnic was one of the last things to
happen before the event wrapped up.

SNAP!!!, yes yours truly, won the VERY LARGE
AMMO CAN that was the log for the GCHR 10th Annual Picnic!!!


The can needs some work... but be on the look out
for a really cool cache in Suffolk in a few months!!!

So, sometime in a few months, there will be a really neat cache
somewhere in Amazing Suffolk... or, as some of us call it...
SNAP!!!-land.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SNAP!!!-land
Geo-art will be archived October 1, 2017 !!!
or sometime during that month!!!

This has been scheduled and re-scheduled more than once.
Delayed time and time again when my in box fills up with
out-of-town requests so a big group can come complete the art.
Virginia's largest geo-art.
Click HERE for the SNAP!!!-land #001.


HINT:  I have began plotting out the next art!  What will it be???

Hint #2: If you are waiting this long - get some extra help by
 looking in the FILES section of the "SNAP Geocaching" Facebook Page!!!

----------------------------------
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET
THE WOODBOOGER:

Bring your GPS to Norton, Virginia and join me!!!
When: starting Sept 8

What: find out exactly what a WOODBOOGER is!!!

There will be a new Geo-Trail, a new Geo-art, and 3 events.

There will also be a 50 cache geoart published on Sept. 8th. 

There will be a big event on September 9th at Flag Rock in Norton VA
for the new Woodbooger Geotrail 2017 which includes
a custom made geocoin you can receive after
completing all 20 geocaches in the trail.

Here are the events scheduled around Norton:

GC76XPR - 9/8 from 6 till 8PM
GC723NJ - 9/8 from 9 till 10PM
GC71X25 - 9/9 from 9AM till 5PM

-------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Events

Here is the current list of upcoming Geocaching Events (and other outings)
in and around my area (Hampton Roads).
---
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC79J7X 
Thursday – September 14, 2017 – Virginia Beach, VA
TWELFTH Revolution Around the Sun
Neighborhood Park
5 PM till 6:30 PM
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7AYB7 
Tuesday – September 19, 2017 – Portsmouth, VA
Third Tuesday Beer/Burgers Meet & Greet
MoMac
6 PM till 8PM
------
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC7BGPP
Thursday – September 21, 2017 – Chesapeake, VA
AACC #102
Elizabeth River Boat Landing Park
4 PM till 6PM
-----
OFFICIAL EVENT – GC79DR4 
Saturday – September 30, 2017 – Norfolk, VA
Fall CITO
You get a souvenir for attending this event!!!
Elmwood Cemetery
9AM till 1PM
---------------------------------------------
That's All for Now!
Till next time...
Stay Safe & Keep Caching!!!


Suffolk Nana & Papa - - - or just plain ol' - - - -  SNAP!!!  


On Twitter at: @SNAPgeocaching
On Instagram at: snap_geocaching