Eagle700

[Dyrty]

How did you find your first Geocache?

Amagrud and Roadway57 had been after me for at least a year and a half to take up geocaching. And like most muggles, I really didn’t see what it was all about at that time. Amagrud and I duck hunt together, and whenever we were out on an overnight trip he was always looking for a place to find a “cache”. So finally one evening when we were driving through the Miss. Delta, he makes me stop the car and let him out so he can grab a cache. After waiting for him for a few minutes, I figured that I better check out what was going on, and next thing I know I am helping him look. So I guess that my first cache search was in the dark! Even then, it was about another five to six months before I started caching on my own.

How did you choose your handle?

I earned my Eagle Scout rank as a Boy Scout and I am very involved currently working with the Scouting program. The 700 part is a number that has special meaning to me. I was already using Eagle700 on a duck hunting forum, so it was an easy pick for GC.com. And the eagle theme is always a good one to have.

How long will you work on puzzle caches before you give up?

Immediately! Most of the time I don’t even start. The way I view them is that I have a limited amount of time each day, and I would much rather spend it doing something outdoors (like finding real cache hides) than wasting away in front of a computer trying to solve a puzzle. But if any of my fellow cachers have gone to the trouble to solve one of them, I will most gladly volunteer to go along and search for the actual cache!

What town/areas have you most enjoyed caching in?

I don’t have any one particular favorite. What is awesome about this hobby is all the many new areas that caching has taken me to. I have lived in Mississippi since I was 5 years old, and I had not been in every county in the state until I completed the geocaching Delorme and County Challenges. I love caching the small towns and back roads and all the rural trails where caching has taken me.

How long have you been geocaching, and what was your first find?

My first find was Winterville Mounds, north of Greenville, in January 2006, but I did not actually start geocaching until five months later in May 2006 when I began to actively search them out in the Jackson Tri-County area.

Who usually goes with you when you go caching?

Anytime possible, it will be cacher Lucky52, my 10 year old son. He is at that age where everything is an adventure and he really adds a lot of fun to the caching trips. I have also made several out-of-town caching expeditions with Amagrud, Roadway57, Pushmataha, ADS1, Ronbo, Prntr1, and FollowingHim. Going long distance with any of those guys gives a whole new meaning to the term “road-trip”!

Do you use paperless caching?

Yes, I do now. I use a Garmin Colorado and greatly enjoy the electronic geocaching features that it offers. However, I found my first 400 caches using a low-end Magellan GPSR in one hand, and a fully printed out GC.com page for each and every cache in my other hand.

What kind of geocaching rig do you use?

On caching trips, I drive a Toyota 4 Runner and the GPSR I use is a Garmin Colorado. And whenever I am going on a numbers run I wear my lucky underwear. (but you probably did not want to know that)

Why would you recommend anyone else to take up geocaching?

How else would you ever get to meet the infamous Woodduck870?! You will meet a lot of very nice people geocaching and make several new friends. And you will expand your horizons greatly. It’s a fun, rewarding hobby!

Are you originally from Mississippi?

Born in Louisiana, lived in Mississippi since I was 5 years old. And despite the humidity, I think it’s a pretty good place to call home.

States you have geocached?

20 states: MS AR LA GA AL TN TX NM MO KS OK KY FL NC SC IN IL IA NE SD

What was your first event ever attended?

MSGA Summer Bash 2006

How many caches have you found?

Up to this point, I have found a little over 2,900. But I do plan on slowing down after I reach the 3K milestone.

Which type of cache container do you prefer over the rest?

I actually like them all, EXCEPT those disgusting little nano’s where you can’t fit the dang log sheet back in the container. They should be outlawed – which is why I dispose of them whenever I come across one!

What was the most famous cache that you have found?

It is probably a toss-up between Bonita Lakes in Meridian, the oldest Miss. Cache, and View Carre in New Orleans with over 1000 finds logged on it.

Do you use disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries?

Rechargeable. No telling how much money I have saved by going this route. I highly recommend it to everyone. (oops! My rechargeable cellphone battery just died – I will have to finish this interview later ……………….