The Membership Relations Committee is happy to showcase some ArkGeo Geocachers through the "Geocacher Profile". The committee thought Charles & Kay Shearer aka Zeke & George should be the next cachers to be in the spotlight.

What is your geocaching name?
Zeke & George

How did you choose your handle?
Kay replaced George when he retired. I dealt with the original George through my work. I did not change the address book and just kept calling and asking for "George." After all it would not seem right to be calling my wife while at work. And yes, she had a private office and was the only one to ever answer her phone. I found out her co-workers were calling her "the New George" whenever someone would come in and ask to see George. Then she started asking for Zeke when she called me on business. When we signed up with Geocaching we decided to use those as our names. We laughed that people would think that we were a gay couple. We laughed even harder when at an event in Paris a couple years later a young lady was shocked to learn we were a straight married couple.

How long have you been geocaching?
We found our first 3 caches on 1/19/2003. They were 3 of the 4 located on Hot Springs National Park at that time.

How did you find your first Geocache, and which one was it?
George read about Geocaching in the newspaper. She called a friend that had a GPS and told her we were going to go find a geocache in the Gorge and we wanted to know if she could go with us? If she couldn’t, could we just use her GPS anyway without her?” Mary, Trekkin Arkie's twin sister, was a good friend and of course she rushed over and played our silly game. The first cache was GoatDB located on the slope above Goat Rock. The next Saturday, while I was working in the shop, George informed me that there was a travel bug, named “Drib,” in the same cache and if I wanted to go with her to get it, I better get to the house quickly. And that is how our addiction started.

Who usually goes with you when you go caching?
The last couple of years we have gone caching a lot with the Likestocanoe Gang. Prior to that it was mainly family and muggle friends.

How long will you work on puzzle caches before you give up?
Zeke - Not Long! George - depends on the puzzle difficulty.

What town/areas have you most enjoyed caching in?
Retirement has allowed us the freedom to travel extensively with our RV. Geocaching and meeting cachers is fun everywhere.

Do you do paperless caching?
Absolutely! No longer have to print reams of paper before going somewhere.

What kind of geocaching rig do you use?
Delorme PN-60 and our I-Phones. Sometimes we record logs on the GPS to download to the computer. Sometimes we send the log immediately using the phone app. Recently Cell coverage has dictated which way we post logs.

Why would you recommend anyone else to take up geocaching?
Searching for caches takes you places no tour book would take you. Geocachers guide you to places that are important to them and give you history or a personal story about the location. That is what we like most, as we are not overly concerned about the numbers.

Where are you originally from?
George moved to Hot Springs with her parents from the Chicago area during her junior year of high school. Zeke has always lived in the South and moved here from Dallas in 1990.

In what states have you geocached?
Every state, the District of Columbia, 4 Canadian Providences, China, Costa Rica, France, and Turkey.

What was your first event ever attended?
Arkansas Meet Alabama! on 3/18/06 at Petit Jean State Park

How many caches have you found?
5346 effective 3/1/16

Which type of cache container do you prefer over the rest?
Big enough to have toys for the kids.

What was the most famous cache that you have found?
Mingo! The oldest cache in the world.

Do you use disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries?
rechargeable

Do you enjoy hiding or finding more as your part of the hobby?
George says hiding and Zeke says finding.

Do you have a personal goal in mind when you make a hide?
We like to take people some place special or have a Geocache that's so special for some reason that it makes the finding of it good, even in spite of a not so good location. No, we do not have the goal to only make hard to find caches.

What is your favorite type of cache hide?
Something that is made by the cache owner.

Out of all your hides, what are your personal favorites that you take pride in?Transportation Plaza & Lake Overlook. And yes, those were meant to be hard finds.

What do you think the proper hide to find ratio should be to keep the sport fresh?
Hmmmmm.....we’d have to get into a lengthy discussion to figure out what that answer might be! That discussion would take us days and days!

How did you end up getting into this wacky hobby?
See the answer to the fourth question.

What's your favorite geocache?
A favorite favorite??? We haven’t found it, yet!

If money was no object, where would you like to go geocaching?
New Zealand and Australia are at the top of our dream list. We will make it someday.

Do you like geocaching by yourself or in a group?
Zeke has done it by himself. George almost never goes by herself. It is definitely more fun with someone. We almost always do it together and will take friends and relatives if possible. It's lots of fun to take kids.

How many First to Finds do you have?
No idea. Not many!

Are you a First to Find person who is always set on go and if so, how many miles out do you have your settings on to get notifications?
Just not us. We do get notices for out to 15 miles, but very seldom rush out just to be FTF. We are retired and just do not seem to have time to drop everything to make a mad dash somewhere.

Do you have any other hobbies besides geocaching?
Kay is an active member of Master Gardeners, and has gardens with around 450 different varieties of daylilies and almost that many varieties of daffodils. We camp in our travel trailer monthly from March through November when we are home. However, we also take extended trips exploring our wonderful country, leaving a breadcrumb trail of smilies as we go.

The Membership Relations Committee is happy to showcase some ArkGeo Geocachers through the "Geocacher Profile". The committee thought Debra Burris aka Doc Firewoman should be the next cacher to be in the spotlight.

What is your geocaching name?
Doc Firewoman

How did you choose your handle?
A combo of my title and my favorite song by the band The Cult

How long have you been geocaching?
Almost six years

How did you find your first Geocache, and which one was it?
A friend who's brother mentioned it to me and I found GC10XBX Papas Cache hidden near my parent's church.

Who usually goes with you when you go caching?
Either my boyfriend Sky Forest or my good friend Pink Hitch

How long will you work on puzzle caches before you give up?
I don't give up.

What town/areas have you most enjoyed caching in?
I love the Ozark National Forest, but I also loved Louisville KY when I went to Geowoodstock tons of cool caches.

Do you do paperless caching?
Yes

What kind of geocaching rig do you use?
Rig? I use my iPhone but I plan on getting a GPS eventually so I can periscope video from my phone.

Why would you recommend anyone else to take up geocaching?
It is an awesome way to get outside and appreciate your surroundings. The community is great too!

Where are you originally from?
Atkins, AR

In what states have you geocached?
AR, OK, TX, LA, MS, FL, VA, DC, MD, KY, IL, IN MO KS, WA, OR

What was your first event ever attended?
An event at a restaurant in Choctaw hosted by AR Hick

How many caches have you found?
1289 as of today

Which type of cache container do you prefer over the rest?
I do love an ammo can.

What was the most famous cache that you have found?
The gorilla stash

Do you use disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries?
Rechargeable

Do you enjoy hiding or finding more as your part of the hobby?
Finding

Do you have a personal goal in mind when you make a hide?
For it to be worth the trip and have a good story

What is your favorite type of cache hide?
I like ammo cans.

Out of all your hides, what are your personal favorites that you take pride in?
I love The story of Old Burris Schoolhouse GC3407Y and Edge of the Earth GC34051

What do you think the proper hide to find ratio should be to keep the sport fresh?
Hmmmm I am not sure maybe 10 hides for every few hundred hides

How did you end up getting into this wacky hobby?
I have never admitted this, but initially I had a friend I was sweet on wanted to do it. He quit after 10 or so but I was hooked!

What's your favorite geocache?
Because I love volcanoes and am obsessed with Mount St Helens it is the Earthcache there GC2RM23

If money was no object, where would you like to go geocaching?
Scotland, Belize, Alaska, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and I would love to attend events in Europe.

Do you like geocaching by yourself or in a group?
I like to go with at least one other person..: I like the fellowship

How many First to Finds do you have?
Three

Are you a First to Find person who is always set on go and if so, how many miles out do you have your settings on to get notifications?
No not really, if I happen to get one great but for caching I am more about the experience of the journey and the fun ....but I do have the setting at 50 miles lol

Do you have any other hobbies besides geocaching?
Horses! Dressage and trail riding plus harness driving. I also own a farm so I like homesteading and farming things.

The Membership Relations Committee is happy to showcase some ArkGeo Geocachers through the "Geocacher Profile". The committee thought Angela Munden & family aka ABJCM should be the next cachers to be in the spotlight.

What is your geocaching name?
-ABJCM

How did you choose your handle?
-It is the first initial of our family members plus our last name. Angela, Brian, Jesse, Carolyn M (which sounds cool until you have to introduce yourself at Meet/Eats.)

How long have you been geocaching?
-1 year + 1 month (haha n00bs)

How did you find your first Geocache, and which one was it?
-We used the free app and I chose GC18K9H because it was the nearest one. I came home and signed up for a Premium Membership that afternoon. (Hooked from the beginning.)

Who usually goes with you when you go caching?
-99.5% of the time Sister and I go alone. Once in a while I'll leave her home with Daddy (GC44JJ2-Pump Station)

How long will you work on puzzle caches before you give up?
-I have a very addictive personality. Once I start in on one it will consume me till I solve it. I had to ground myself from them during the Holiday Season.

What town/areas have you most enjoyed caching in?
-We cache close to home (Usually during Naptime) but I really enjoyed caching in Paris. I can't wait till summer so we can head out to the State Parks.)

Do you do paperless caching?
-Completely.

What kind of geocaching rig do you use?
-For no-brainer skirt lifters or stopsigns I use my Samsung Note. For everything else I have a Garmin Etrex Venture HC. Love it!!

Why would you recommend anyone else to take up geocaching?
-Oh my! I am a Geocaching Missionary. I'm always chatting some poor unsuspecting muggle on the joys of caching. For me, the main joy is the fact that caching taps into my Hunter/Gatherer instincts. My life as a Stay at Home Mom is....um....unchallenging mentally. Caching gives me a way to exercise the gray matter. Plus there's something for everyone. FTF hounds, Swagpies, Outdoor Otters, City Critters, Skirt Lifting Sparrows, Puzzle Puggles. (LOL you get my point...I won't subject you to more animal names.)

Where are you originally from?
-Lincoln, Nebraska (Military, so also Colorado, Germany, Nevada, and Italy)

In what states have you geocached?
-Just Arkansas so far. It's hard to make it to the border and home before the School bus comes.

What was your first event ever attended?
-I started caching 04Nov14. My first event was GC5F8ZM A Flash Mob- The State House Convention 06Nov14. Then the Cage Mtng on the 20Nov14.

How many caches have you found?
- 675 as of today. Day 365 of 365 Streak.

Which type of cache container do you prefer over the rest?
-Well, I'm a Swagpie (Like a Magpie) so a well stocked ammocan.

What was the most famous cache that you have found?
-*Blush* I haven't ventured very far. I want to take sister up to the Gorilla Cache during Spring Break.

Do you use disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries?
-Rechargeable.

Do you enjoy hiding or finding more as your part of the hobby?
-Finding. I get too nervous about my hides. "Will the muggles get it?", "What if it's too easy and nobody likes it."

Do you have a personal goal in mind when you make a hide?
-I love a cache with a story behind it. Either a milestone or a cute story.

What is your favorite type of cache hide?
-History and Cemetery caches are tied for first place.

Out of all your hides, what are your personal favorites that you take pride in?
-I love Sister's 100by1 cache. GC5K8GZ I can't wait till she's old enough to take an interest in it.

What do you think the proper hide to find ratio should be to keep the sport fresh?
-As many as you can maintain. I don't mind replacing a log, but if it needs serious work.....*crickets chirping*

How did you end up getting into this wacky hobby?
-When we were stationed at Nellis AFB (Las Vegas, NV) I saw a program about this cool hobby where people carry a stamp and hunt up these boxes. Then you'd swap stamps images with the log book. HAHA sounds like Letterboxing. eh? Well, the program said you could only find them if someone told you about a location. I didn't know anyone who did it...so I filed it away for later.

October 2014 I was knitting with Avenging Unicorns and that story came up. "Oh, you mean Geocaching. We do that."

*Jawdrop*

YES!! I then peppered her for hours about it....went home and signed up. Found my first cache the next day.

What's your favorite geocache?
-Ooooh, Hard one. I love all of KnKinCabot's I.C. series. My favorite has to be GC485ZG I.C. - Shortwave. I found it on my birthday with my sister. Whenever family visits and wants to go find one...I take them out there and we get it. I've found it three times. *giggle*

If money was no object, where would you like to go geocaching?
-Without a doubt New Zealand. Hobbits, Woolly Sheep, and Caching!! http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...s-9963283.html

Do you like geocaching by yourself or in a group?
-a group, totally. Which sounds crazy coming from a shy introvert.

How many First to Finds do you have?
-zero. They don't rev my engine like cool swag. By the time I get Sister and myself dressed and out the door....one of my pals has already gotten it. *shrug*

Are you a First to Find person who is always set on go and if so, how many miles out do you have your settings on to get notifications?
-Oh gosh no.

Do you have any other hobbies besides geocaching?
-I have NEVER met a hobby I wouldn't dabble in. I Knit, Crochet, Spin, Felt, Soapmake, Canning food, Read, Beading, Weaving, Garden, General Craftiness, and Troll on Pinterest for more mischief. I'm sure I'm missing a few, but you get the idea. My Father in Law says I was born in the wrong century. Growing up I was obsessed with Little House on the Prarie books by Laura Ingles Wilder. Plus, being from Nebraska...WIlla Cather was on my Grandmother's required reading list (O Pioneers, and My Antonia)

Veni, Vidi, Nodavi!
(I came, I saw, I knit!)

The Membership Relations Committee is happy to showcase some ArkGeo Geocachers through the "Geocacher Profile". The committee thought Phoebe Sellers aka plsellers should be the next cacher to be in the spotlight.

What is your geocaching name? plsellers

How did you choose your handle? When I first read about geocaching and went to the site, it was way before I started caching. I just shortened my name...not even realizing what creative names and otherwise were out there. After signing so many logs, I wish I had shortened it to just pls.

How long have you been geocaching? since mid 2012

How did you find your first Geocache, and which one was it? This in combo with the question above has a story behind it all. In 2009, I retired after over 45 years with the same company and for a retirement gift, one daughter (who works for Arkansas Game & Fish Commission) gave me a weekend with “Becoming an Outdoors Woman,” a program sponsored by AGFC. Of the various seminars that weekend was Geocaching....took it (along with Shotgunning and other exciting outdoor stuff), came home...didn’t know what to do with it. In 2010, paid my own way back to the Outdoors Woman weekend...took Geocaching again, came home....didn’t know what to do with it. Then in April of 2012, I saw a notice in the local paper about a G.L.A.D. Meet & Greet (GC3FQ4B), which turned out to be my first log. I went and the rest is now history. I still didn’t really know how all worked so tantillos.com, daughter of allenearl58 took the time to take me to a nearby cache, showed me how the GPS worked (I had bought a Garmin eTrex Venture—the one I used at the AGFC seminar...and still use it) and my streak began with GC1DPCF (P.I.Lot) which happens to be one of allenearl58’s hides.



Who usually goes with you when you go caching? Bronco’s girl started me off being my mentor, going with me to many, many of the Union County ones. Since she and her husband, Bronco46 still worked at the time, I did a lot by myself and still do quite a few alone. But I consider my partners to be Bronco’s Girl (still working) and Bronco46 (now retired). Have cached just a little with gmcsac. When in Houston, my grandchildren are sitting on the edges of their seat being navigators seeing what comes next (they are 12 and 14).

How long will you work on puzzle caches before you give up? I’m not much of a puzzle worker. I like puzzles in general, like crossword, etc. but most all these crypto kind get over my head in a hurry. I will work (try to work) some by myself and also in conjunction with the Broncos especially if we need one for a souvenir or if there is nothing left to complete a physical area but even then I hedge when I can. So, I tend to give up pretty quickly. I even have a puzzle book.


What town/areas have you most enjoyed caching in? Every place has their own uniqueness. I don’t have any favorites since I don’t plan vacations or trips or even weekends around the caches. If I am going somewhere tho, I do have caches loaded and ready for the area.



Do you do paperless caching? I am not paperless. I’ve cut down just a little on paper since using GSAK and learning some of the things it does. I probably would have to upgrade my GPS in order to take advantage of being paperless. I am an accountant by education and old school at that so I am still built around paper. But I do recycle my paper by printing on both sides. Talk about an ink bill.

What kind of geocaching rig do you use? I still use the one I learned on.....Garmin eTrex Venture. I have thought many times about upgrading and (just like my phone) I hate the learning curve.

Why would you recommend anyone else to take up geocaching? I do and I have. Don’t know that I have converted anyone but I do occasionally have a muggle navigator and have explained and given the website out to many friends. I have tried to encourage & recommend..... about doing it as a single, a couple, a family (all ages of children) and even us older retired people that want to stay active in mind and body. I also extol the educational aspects of learning about geography, technology of the GPS itself, history.....just general awareness of where a road might take you....old churches, old cemeteries, beautiful views, historical areas.

Where are you originally from? Born in Pulaski County, lived in Hot Spring County then moved to El Dorado in the 5th grade....so I consider myself truly from L.A. (lower Arkansas)

In what states have you geocached? Not that many......Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri.

What was your first event ever attended? It was that G.L.A.D. Meet & Greet back in April of 2012

How many caches have you found? 2750


Which type of cache container do you prefer over the rest? I read on Facebook a lot of pluses and minuses of certain containers. I don’t “dislike” any of them. They all have their ups and downs. The problematic are those that are not maintained, the ignoring the series of DNFs, etc. My supply box is filled with things to repair, replace or just clean up and out. So many are not capable of housing trackables or swag.


What was the most famous cache that you have found? I have never found a “famous” cache. However, Bronco’s Girl and I purposely drove to Marshall, Texas to sign the log of an ammo box that was brought back from Iraq by a civilian worker to his sister that he found in a building about to undergo demolition. We signed the original log.

Do you use disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries? Mostly rechargeable but I always carry disposable along.....also extra power packs to make sure phone never is discharged.

Do you enjoy hiding or finding more as your part of the hobby? Probably finding.

Do you have a personal goal in mind when you make a hide? Not really. I just figure I need to give back to the game. Someone has to hide so we will always have something out there to find.


What is your favorite type of cache hide? Never really thought about it much, but I guess I’d rather do either recycled “something” or a gadget style. But, it’s not gonna be real complicated gadget since my mind is not like that. I have really seen some very creative ones on Facebook.

Out of all your hides, what are your personal favorites that you take pride in? I don’t know that I have any special favorites. I did a series on color...getting away from the norm of camouflage but researching what various colors have meant across time; each having their own special place in our color wheel as well as historical.

What do you think the proper hide to find ratio should be to keep the sport fresh? I know this at times is controversial. Some say not before 100, some more, some says it doesn’t matter. Personally, it just hit me that if I didn’t, who do I automatically “assume” would do it. I had probably 1500 before I did any so I was really feeling guilty. By that time, I had seen many containers, many locations, gotten many ideas, saw the pitfalls so I felt like it was time. It was right before the souvenir month of August 2013 which we were finding one each day. In my area, we were having to venture pretty far away (for us); so, several of us started hiding that among me, bronco46, bronco’s girl, arkfiremedic, gmcsac and a few others down this direction, I think we placed close to 300 new ones. I do think that a new cacher shouldn’t just jump in and start hiding; not that they are not smart enough but that they need to know what works in their specific area, general protocols, getting permissions, learn more about using phones vs. handheld GPS to place. I’ve seen a few profiles that have zero finds but have started hiding...maybe they just aren’t logging them. The newer ones in our area have actually done a pretty good job.


How did you end up getting into this wacky hobby? Pretty well explained in a question at the beginning.


What's your favorite geocache? There’s been several unusual and very creative but I guess GC30NTJ comes to mind since I don’t have much time to think on it.

If money was no object, where would you like to go geocaching? Never really given it any thought. I don’t go to exotic places..went on a cruise before I started caching or that would have been fun....no scuba stuff though. I don’t fly and I don’t camp. I would like to just get in the car pointed in whatever direction and just go. So, if anyone needs a partner.......


Do you like geocaching by yourself or in a group? Both have their place. More pairs of eyes or have bulldog stamina are certainly strong advantages but by oneself means you can spread your stuff all around. I can hardly even fit another person in my geotruck because of my supplies, swag and tools.

How many First to Finds do you have? I only have 37 true FTF, a few more of Co-Tri and Group

Are you a First to Find person who is always set on go and if so, how many miles out do you have your settings on to get notifications? I have notifications set out about 50 miles but not for FTF. I am not a FTF hound always set on ready. I do notifications just to add to my GSAK location so when I’m going in a certain direction, all I do is just one more quick review of the mapped area, download to GPS and out the door (really a little more than that but you get the idea).


Do you have any other hobbies besides geocaching? Not necessarily hobbies, but I am active in other things. I am a Master Gardener, on the Advisory Committee of the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, Trustee Board member of the local Barton Library, on the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Union County administered through our local community college, take care of my church library, Poll Captain during election time, Board of the local EHC (Extension Homemakers Clubs), an extension of U of A. and a few other things. I am an avid reader, having 4 stories going at once (audio tapes in each vehicle—I listen while caching), Kindle while watching TV, actual book when in bed)....and; yes, occasionally I have to backtrack to remind myself of the plot. Oh, I’m a wannabe crafter if that counts.

The Membership Relations Committee is happy to showcase some ArkGeo Geocachers through the "Geocacher Profile". The committee thought Eric Bond aka bondebond should be the next cacher to be in the spotlight.

What is your geocaching name?
bondebond

How did you choose your handle?
It came from trying to find a unique profile name early on when the Internet was still getting its legs under it. I've been in IT for over 20 years and on the Internet even longer. It is a play on my name and some little known British secret spy agent that's always plagued me through my childhood and adult life. The profile's bond...ebond.

How long have you been geocaching?
That all depends on how you want to start the counter. I found my first geocache on July 7, 2007 as a muggle. I stumbled upon it while inspecting a strange natural formation in the bowl of a valley in Taylor Park, CO. I found an ammo can (Pretzel's Playhouse, GCPVFF), read the log and instructions and signed the log. I muggled another the following day but was unable to find it later online to log it. Then I had a dry spell, probably the longest in AR history until 2012 when the Veatches got me back into it. It wasn't really until August of 2014 that I REALLY got back into it with vigor. So, the answer is either 8 years or 1 year.

How did you find your first Geocache, and which one was it?
Ooops. I answered that above. I have since taken several extended family members to the cache a few years after I discovered it and they all signed the log. I've yet to turn any of them into geocachers. And the last time to visit it showed that it was now archived.

Who usually goes with you when you go caching?
Wait. You mean people go along with you? I usually am by myself although I will generally let Tha_Hill know if I'm going some place remote. I'll send him a GC code or two of some of my targets so the authorities know where to start the search. My kids (ages 11 and 8 can sometimes be convinced to actually go and my wife is supportive but firmly a muggle at heart. Tha_Hill and I will make caching trips and have done a few all-nighters, especially when the Monopoly series was about to be archived. What a marathon night that was.

How long will you work on puzzle caches before you give up?
Puzzles...sigh. The bane of my geocaching experience. Since we had a puzzle-solving Meet-n-Greet in Searcy, I've been encouraged to give them more effort. I will say that I gave one of Floaten's WAY too much time this year when I was bound and determined to get FTF on one of his puzzles. I didn't but it wasn't for a lack of trying. I still haven't solved it. Once I determine to solve a particular one, I try to avoid asking for hints but a nudge or two is always welcome. On average, many days to a week on any given puzzle.

What town/areas have you most enjoyed caching in?
Obviously, Woodwalker and others set me up perfectly in Searcy with several hundred to get acquainted with the sport. I really liked seeing the variety around here. My most favorite kinds are the ones to get me out in nature, though. Making a run on cemetery caches was sort of a strange, creepy feeling at first but now I appreciate getting out in the quiet solitude found there so often as well as a chance to learn a little history of some people.

Do you do paperless caching?
Pretty quickly, I went paperless after upgrading to premium membership and could make notes in my account about each geocache. I did have a little spiral bound notebook in my vehicle used for making field puzzle notes, etc and still use it for that purpose but no more printing out sheets of info.

What kind of geocaching rig do you use?
I have a Garmin gpsmaps 64st that is good for remote areas without cellular signal but by and large, I use my Samsung Galaxy S5 with c:geo. I love pulling down the satellite imagery for that final level of detail for GZ. It's pretty accurate, at least for my taste. Of course, you have to put the device in your pocket at some point and let geosense do some work.

Why would you recommend anyone else to take up geocaching?
Because it's a great way to lose yourself for an hour or a day with very little likelihood of actually being permanently lost. That said, I still do carry a compass in my kit along with the extra batteries, just in case. I love getting out in nature and it seems like today's kids have to have some tie-in with electronics to get their attention, so this is a great fit. I'm the troopmaster of our Trail Life USA troop in Searcy and have incorporated geocaching in several of our camp-outs. Woolly Hollow State Park will never be same after we came through.

Where are you originally from?
I grew up in Oklahoma after moving from Kentucky at age 3. From there, it was 4 years of college in Arkansas, two years in Texas, 9 years in Wisconsin, 5 years in Kansas and now back to Arkansas.

In what states have you geocached?
In not so many as I would like to but that's the great part of geocaching - there's always another one just down the road a little further. I have geocached in 8 states so far: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Mississippi. We're going to Florida in January, so that will be at least one more state, if not several on the way to and from.

What was your first event ever attended?
It was the Pi Day 3.14 hosted by Mathseeker. It was a great event and showed me how much fun it can be to gather with fellow geocachers and pick their brains. Unfortunately, my Thursdays are always spoken for so I've not been able to attend the monthly meet and greets.

How many caches have you found?
I have only a paltry 653 finds. I generally geocache during my lunch period and have pretty much cleared everything out within reasonable driving distance of a lunchtime so I will probably slow way down on finding new caches.

Which type of cache container do you prefer over the rest?
Oh, of course it will always be the ammo can but really, any container that had a unique or challenging way of being found or opened.

What was the most famous cache that you have found?
It has to be Mingo. We drive a lot to Colorado to visit my wife's family. I think it was around 2:00 in the morning when I pulled off of the highway at a desolate spot. With no gas stations around, my wife groggily asked me if everything was OK. I was giddy, mostly because of the sleep deprivation but excited regardless. I could not convince the kids to ink the log so they will just have to find it on their own some time.

Do you use disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries?
I start with rechargeable, but have ultra alkalines as backups.

Do you enjoy hiding or finding more as your part of the hobby?
I've really gotten into hiding as much as finding geocaches. I had to be a copy-cat and start up a few bird house themed caches in town. One is a reasonable homage to WestVirginia Tim's, something of an amalgamation with a twist. The other is, as far as I know or can tell, a totally unique field puzzle cache that I expect to be found once or twice a year, at best. In its first three months, there is still no FTF on it. That's just me being mean/evil/warped. But I really enjoy the geocaches that take me places I would never have gone on my own. I appreciate the efforts hiders go, especially after seeing what it takes first hand to place some.

Do you have a personal goal in mind when you make a hide?
While I have some PnGs, I generally like to place something with a twist. Most all of the natural features around my area have been covered so I look for something as a hide that is out of the ordinary types or a variation on a theme, or something altogether different for this area.

What is your favorite type of cache hide?
I like things that you have to manipulated, like the I.C. series in Cabot. I really like something that takes you on a journey, either through hiking with my feet, solving something with my brain or fiddling with something with my hands.

Out of all your hides, what are your personal favorites that you take pride in?
While I really like my bird house themed geocaches, my favorite is actually Oliver's Twist, GC5KMRZ, that has only been found by two different groups of cachers since it was placed. I consider a very easy multi that is fun for kids and families. It will require something of a hike so it doesn't get very much traffic. But my dog (Oliver) still loves to go with me to check on it from time to time.

What do you think the proper hide to find ratio should be to keep the sport fresh?
For me, it's been more of a shuffling between finding and hiding. If one starts to slow down, I shift interest to the other side and that sort of fires me back up.

How did you end up getting into this wacky hobby?
Only through sheer dumb luck at Pretzel's Playhouse, and combined years later with wacky friends who still are introducing new people to the sport in our area.

What's your favorite geocache?
That's a tough one. There was a virtual in Colorado that had my family taking a picture of ourselves next to bronze donkeys in Cripple Creek but I would say that getting Batters Up GC134V5 was one tough cookie and will always rank in my top three.

If money was no object, where would you like to go geocaching?
Planet Earth...all of it.

Do you like geocaching by yourself or in a group?
I really enjoy getting away by myself and recharging. However, even this introvert enjoys a good run with a crowd.

How many First to Finds do you have?
I have 21 FTFs even though my stats say 20. The 21st was by a college student in town that really did a great job of bringing new styles into our area.

Are you a First to Find person who is always set on go and if so, how many miles out do you have your settings on to get notifications?
With angel06 soaking up most of the FTFs up that way and Little Rock being very adequately covered, I do take anything nearer to home base pretty seriously although my notification range is the 30 mile radius. I didn't realize at first that I needed to set notifications on each different geocache type until I got skunked on a few but that was quickly remedied.

Do you have any other hobbies besides geocaching?
Wait, geocaching is considered ONLY a hobby???