• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Baseball ’19
  • Day Zero 3
  • Earl
  • My list
  • Photo Blogging Challenge

A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

trackables

Creating proxy trackables is becoming a big necessity

May 30, 2013

For those who don’t know about geocaching, there’s a side game of sorts to it.

Trackables.

A geocaching trackable is either a coin, travel bug (dog tag) or something along those lines. On the trackable is a code, which you can enter into the geocaching.com website to log it. You take these from geocaches and place them elsewhere, helping them move around the world freely, or to a specific goal.

Trackables come up missing, including this one.

The reality is geocaching trackables have lives of their own.

Along the way, these trackables rack up hundreds and thousands of miles, visiting far off places or staying close to home. It all depends on who picks it up and moves it along.

I have some trackables that have gone for more than 20,000 miles. Others have barely moved. You just never know.

If using a travel bug or something along those lines, there are often things attached to it, such as a small toy, a signature item, or something completely different. It’s a way to help define the goal of the item.

For example, I have one travel bug that is attached to a bottle opener. Its goal is to reach a geocacher in Washington. It made it as far as Idaho, but then it ended up becoming a hostage.

What’s a hostage you may ask?

Simply put, geocaching trackables disappear.

The reality is this — if you put one in the wild, you are putting in other people’s hands. Geocoins — because they are so nice — are more apt to disappear than others. But many others disappear for no reason.

I’ve found that the majority of mine that disappear because of newer cachers. They grab them, then after 10-12 finds, they stop caching and so goes the travelers.

I had one the other day with some more experienced cachers who had it for a while, somehow misplaced it, dropped it in one of their caches and then marked it missing.

Is that annoying? Absolutely. Does it happen? Yes.

The reality is, when you send these suckers out, you shouldn’t expect to see them again. It’s, unfortunately, part of the game.

A heap of the proxy trackables I am sending out.

So what to do when your geocaching trackable disappears?

If you have the official Groundspeak travel bug dog tags, you can send out the copy tag. But if you have other trackables, you may be out of luck.

Unless you send out a proxy.

A proxy is basically you sending something else out with the trackable number on it. It can be anything from custom dog tags, to wood coins, to laminated items. There are some companies which will create proxy coins for you. Those coins are usually thick metal and are of quality. But that costs money.

Not everyone wants to spend that sort of scratch to replace a coin or tag that will likely go missing again.

There is a persona about these proxy items, though. If a coin is listed in a geocache, people will often hope to see the actual coin. When they see a proxy, some will leave it behind and not do anything with it.

But there’s quality issues, too.

Some proxy setups are bad. I’ve picked up many a laminated proxy that has been in ruins. The lamination was bad, it’s soaked and basically mud. If it’s not attached to anything, it gets lost in the shuffle, too.

The first few times I found a proxy, I hated them. I moved them (I’m a firm believer that if a trackable is in a cache, move it along), but didn’t like them.

Then I realized why people did it.

I understand that coins are expensive. Why would you want to send those out to be stolen? Or, if you already had sent it out and it was stolen, why wouldn’t you want it to continue to move?

I have more than 100 coins in my personal collection. Only a few (ones that came with proxy coins) are out in the wilderness. I have a lot of travel bugs, too. Add in a few items such as ingots and all and I have a bunch of travelers.

Not all of them are still moving.

I recently started thinking about doing up a proxy or 12 to release. But how to do it? I didn’t want them to get lost, stuck or in bad shape. That meant I wasn’t going to put out wood coins with something written or stamped, because it could fade. Maybe some custom wood coins could be made, but even then, I’d have to put the number on there somehow.

One of the proxy tags I made. The big white spot on the right is where the trackable number goes.

A basic lamination always feels cheaply done to me.

So, I did what I thought was best.

I created a small tag in Photoshop. It’s two-sided, with one side showing the goal of the item and the other side showing the trackable number, where to log and the icon the number gives. I then put it in a heavier lamination sleeve (half of a luggage tag), attached it to a key ring and an item and then put it in a smaller Ziplock-style bag.

It’s my hope these will get out there and move around.

My plan is to do many of these for my geocoins, too. That way, people can move them along, discover or whatever else and get the icon of said coin. It’s also a nice way to have them moving, yet know I have the original and they won’t end up in somebody else’s collection or pocket.

So I’m now a fan of proxy travelers, as long as they are done decently well and with quality. It’s the ones that lack quality which are tough to deal with. Hopefully this is a way to make sure the life of these travelers continue and get many miles.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Filed Under: Geocaching, My world Tagged With: caching, caching trackables, geocaching, geocaching trackables, geocoins, trackables, travel bugs

10 Comments

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Welcome to A 'lil HooHaa!

This is a personal website covering many topics! We host a monthly photo blogging challenge, and then every January hold a fun writing challenge.

Thank you for stopping by and hope this becomes a stop for you!

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Follow

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 876 other subscribers

Instagram

hoohaa29

She was so still for this photo. Make sure you f She was so still for this photo. 

Make sure you follow her on Instagram at: @harper_dublin !

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #harper_dublin #akc #photography #photooftheday #love #mydogharper #harperdublin #instagood #happy #picoftheday #fun
Life is good. #goldenretriever #dog #bestfriend Life is good. 

#goldenretriever #dog #bestfriend #dogsofinstagram #selfie #lifeisgood #enjoylife #instagood #iphonephotography #photography
After a nice snowy walk! ❄️❄️❄️ #gold After a nice snowy walk! ❄️❄️❄️

#goldenretriever #snow #winter #dog #dogsofinstagram #photography #photooftheday #ınstagood
Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! You know, Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! 

You know, of course, Santa Paws travels with Santa Clause, making sure to find treats and toys for all the good little doggies! (We know they are all deserving, right?) So, Harper put out some milk for the big guy, carrots for Rudolph and the reindeer, and special cookies for Santa Paws! She is ready! 

#SantaPaws #Christmas2022 #HarperChristmas #MyDogHarper #GoldenRetriever #DogsofInstagram #PhotoOfTheDay #Photography #Christmas #IPhoneography
One of the best parts about having Harper as my be One of the best parts about having Harper as my best friend… ❤️
Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to sna Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to snap this shot. The colors in the sky were fantastic and the scene was nice looking (though, to be fair, I drove by what I think would have been a better scene -- the valley and hills full of snow etc.)

#Snow #Winter #Sky #Color #InstaLove #photooftheday #picoftheday #iPhoneography #nature #love #instalove #photography #happy #smile #photo
The best of times??? 🤪🤪🤪 The best of times??? 🤪🤪🤪
Just a break on our morning walk … #goldenretri Just a break on our morning walk …

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #mydogharper
Tired. Tired.
Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! 

#phillies #ringthebell #baseball #dog #goldenretriever
I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I have her. It’s been a year and four months and she makes me smile and laugh more each day. It’s amazing how much a dog changes your look on life, and how much joy they can bring. 

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #harper_dublin #akc #photography #photooftheday #love #mydogharper #harperdublin #instagood #happy #picoftheday #fun #iphoneology #retrieveroftheday #ilovemygolden #dogstagram #dailygolden #dogsofinsta
I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to post here, as well as on Harper’s (@harper_dublin) account). So, as I start to transfer photos, I’ll try and catch up. So photos coming could be from all seasons and who knows when. 🤣

This one is recent from the courthouse square in Delhi. We had some pretty good fall colors this year. 

#fall #delhiny #seasons #iphoneonly #love #photography #photooftheday #instagood #happy #picoftheday
From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper t From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper to put her paws on the bridge and looked out, but she was more content jumping on me and looking up. I do love the way she seems to be looking at me.
Instagram post 17992900117561614 Instagram post 17992900117561614
Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with t Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with the fog and frost settled in. 

Hamden Covered Bridge 

#coveredbridge #coveredbridges #bridge #fog #frost #nature #upstatenewyork
Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend! #g Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend!

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #harper_dublin #akc #photography #photooftheday #love #mydogharper #harperdublin #instagood #happy #picoftheday #fun #iphoneology #retrieveroftheday #ilovemygolden #dogstagram #dailygolden #dogsofinsta #outside #sunshine #friends
So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t have @mallons_homemade_sticky_buns.
This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this on me morning walk Friday with Harper. Likely some college kids, but also as chance at local hooligans. I had Harper so not a lot I could do, but I managed to get the cart off the chair. (See second photo) This was in a local park.
Harper is ready for #nationalfetchday on October 1 Harper is ready for #nationalfetchday on October 15! @chuckitfetchgames 

Should be fun! @discgolfdarren @harmm23
Starting to feel like fall! #fall #nature #autum Starting to feel like fall! 

#fall #nature #autumn #colors #foliage #instagood #seasonchange #leaves #leaves🍁
Load More Follow on Instagram

YouTube

P.J. Harmer

P.J. Harmer
A video looking at my first year and a half of owning a golden retriever, my first dog. It's had its ups and downs, but I've truly loved the ride and look forward to the future. 

Music: Happy before we get old by Michael Shynes via Artlist. 

► My blog: http://www.hoohaa.com
► Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoohaa29/
► Follow Harper on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harper_dublin/
► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooHaaBlog

Thank you for watching. :)
When these boxes come, there usually some excitement. But this one ... is the ultimate unboxing! 

#cielovideo52 #52weekchallenge #week5 #weeklychallenge

Music: Happy to be Happy (Dapun)

► My blog: http://www.hoohaa.com
► Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoohaa29/
► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/softball29
► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooHaaBlog
I hate being in front of the camera, but also realize sometimes it's not the worst thing in the world. So, I'm getting better with it. Week 4's theme was all about us and having us in front of the camera, so I tried to come up with a creative way to do it. 

#cielovideo52 #52weekchallenge #week4 #weeklychallenge

Music: Infinite Wonder (Ben Fox)

► My blog: http://www.hoohaa.com
► Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoohaa29/
► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/softball29
► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooHaaBlog
Load More... Subscribe

Archives

Categories

Calendar

March 2023
S M T W T F S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Feb    

Search The Site

Site Information

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

A 'lil HooHaa © 2023 · Created By Coded Creative

Copyright © 2023 · Ava Mae on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in