Last updates:
Sep. 22 - Posted HTML checklist, suitable for printing.
Sep. 19 - Final route posted. GPX files posted. HTML files posted. Carl's Jr. set as pre-event dinner location.
Sep. 12 - Draft 3 posted (main and supplement).
Sep. 6 - Draft 2 posted.
Aug. 21 - New page. Draft 1 posted.
Link | Description | Size | Last Updated | By |
tccm_main.pdf | Main route (you must have this file) | 1.1 MB | 9/19/04 | TravisL |
tccm_supp.pdf | Supplemental route | 360 K | 9/19/04 | TravisL |
tri-cities_final.zip | GPX file containing all route waypoints | 91 K | 9/19/04 | TravisL |
tri-cities_full.zip | GPX file containing 900 waypoints, including the nearest 500 to downtown and all route waypoints. | 1.2 MB | 9/19/04 | TravisL |
tri-cities_html.zip | The route's waypoints in HTML format (generated by GSAK). Unfortunately, not easily printable. | 225 K | 9/19/04 | TravisL |
TCCM_list.htm | HTML list of all the caches with links to the printer friendly, hint decrypted cache pages. In Internet Explorer, "File" > "Print" > "Options" > "Print All Linked Documents" will get you a printout of all caches on the route. | Small | 9/21/04 | MrGigabyte |
Three cities. Sixty caches. One crazy day of caching.
Fill up the tank, toss down some breakfast at way-too-early o'clock, and meet at the above coordinates (the Kennewick Super 8 parking lot) at sunrise on Saturday, 6:15 a.m. Once we start, we’re not stopping until the daylight does at 7:30 p.m., at which time we'll meet at the Kennewick Red Robin (where else?!) to recap the day and share horror stories of scorpions and rattlesnakes.
If you make it to the end of the main route early enough, start on the supplemental route. If you're still out on the road at dinner time, skip the rest of the route and come on in. Socializing at dinner is one of the best parts of machine events (and that's coming from me -- someone who usually hates socializing).
As before, if you find the cache, you'll be the one who has to re-hide it. Hide it as well as you found it.
If it's a micro cache, one ''Tri-Cities Cache Machine'' log entry should suffice for the group. We tend to fill up log books too quickly, and our stickers tend to make micro log books hard to re-stash. For normal-sized caches, or even large micros, everyone should sign in.
Bring FRS radios if you’ve got them. We’ll use Channel 2 to communicate among caching vehicles and to say 'Howdy' to listening locals. Suggestions and ''Count me ins'' are welcome below. If you’ve already found a couple of these caches, that’s fine - give us a chance to find the cache, and then we may turn to you for a hint.
The Tri-Cities Cache Machine FAQ:
When is it?
6:15 a.m., September 25, 2004. Latecomers can track us down en route.
Will it be one large group, will we be split into teams, or what?
We start each day as one giant group, which means we'll hopefully find each cache quickly. Then it's on to the next one. The group tends to fragment after the first few caches, though. The longer we can keep the big group together, the more fun it is!
Is anything going on before, during, or after?
- 6:30 p.m. on Friday night is the pre-CM dinner, which will be at Carl's Jr at N 46 13.090, W 119 13.375.
- Dinner on Saturday will be at the Kennewick Red Robin, N 46 13.190, W 119 13.430, at 7:30 p.m.
A cache on your map shows the wrong place to park.
Let me know on Friday, and I'll announce it at dinner on Friday.
It sounds fun, but I've already found some of them.
Then come laugh at us, or guess when we'll be at the caches you haven't hit yet. Monitor FRS channel 2.
You don't have X cache on the route. Why aren't we getting that one?
I'll be avoiding longer multicaches, complex puzzle caches, caches that appear to be overly time consuming, and caches that the owner has asked us to avoid. For the first time, though, I'm including simple short multis.
You have X cache on the route, but it's disabled/archived.
Let me know, and I'll announce it at dinner on Friday.
X cache is in an environmentally sensitive area.
By all means, let me know. I'll work with the cache owner to minimize our impact, or skip the cache altogether.
I disagree with the whole idea of cache machines. I don't want you finding my cache.
Sorry to hear that. It's too bad you've got a neat place to show us that we won't be able to see. Let me know, and I'll announce it to the group Friday night at dinner.
What's this gonna cost me?
Nothing for the caching. Or, at least, nothing more than it would cost than if you did the trip solo (e.g., paying for your own gas and hotel). I'm not collecting any money for this.
Lunch? Breaks? Bathrooms?
Lunch on Saturday is at the Prosser McDonalds (N 46 13.163, W 119 47.210).
Bathroom breaks, on the other hand, you'll have to figure out on your own.