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Maybe it's just me. . .
When I first started caching I was really interested in finding some locations to hide my own caches. However, I remember reading a post in the Geocaching Forums that advised waiting until you had found 14 caches before hiding one. Being new to the sport I decided to take the advice and waited until I had more experience finding the cache before I decided I knew how to hide one that other cachers would enjoy.
Of course, there are no hard and fast rules, but this still seems like good advice to me. Beyond simply gaining useful experience, I've seen too many caches that were placed when the person hiding them was hot and heavy into the sport and then — within a couple months — never went caching again. Everyone is different but I think I would encourage anyone who wants to hide a cache to get a dozen or so under his belt first.
Caches I've Hidden
Hippie Memorial Cache
 Hidden on: 5/28/2002
Waypoint: GC5DE8
I originally set this up as a virtual cache just to see what kind of response I would get from it. After several visits I decided I'd try to place a micro here. It's been pretty well received and the comments that are logged are always interesting to read.
Witch's Grave Cache
 Hidden on: 5/29/2002
Waypoint: GC5E3B
I've lived in this town for about 8 years now and have always been told that there's a witch buried south of town. When I was thinking about doing some virtual caches I immediately thought of doing one at the witch's grave--unfortunately I didn't know where it was!
After leaving this as a virtual for about a year and 20 or so really good visits, I decided to try setting it up as a traditional micro cache . . . with a bit of a twist. It's actually an offset cache. The coordinates themselves would lead you to the cache—you've got to do a little compass work after that!
I have to be honest, I was a little disappointed when I first saw the gravestone--it wasn't nearly as cool as everyone made it out to be. Still, it's a neat site and if someone's got the time I'd encourage them to do the cache. To claim the cache you have to gather some information from the site, answer a question on my website and get a cool "Certificate of Achievement."
Hammond-Bean Cache
Hidden on: 5/29/2002
Waypoint: GC5E39
Does anyone get the little pun in the name of this cache? Boy, I hope so!
It might be kind of odd to plant a cache on the edge of a family cemetery, but this has always been a pretty important place to me. When I was in college, I used to bring my friend out here to show them the stones. Practically every member of my family that's passed on is buried out here--all the way from relatives I didn't even know I had to my brother. I guess I've always had the desire to share this place with others, so as a geocacher this was a natural place to put a cache.
Boy, I did learn a lesson here, though. I scoped out a spot to place the cache a few months earlier and it was absolutely perfect. When I finally got ready to place the cache there I found the spot was completely overgrown with poison ivy!
Witch's Grave II Cache
Hidden on: 7/15/2002
Waypoint: GC7198
I'm sure someone out there is asking, "So, has this guy got a thing about grave yards or witches?!?!?" Well, neither really . . . no . . . serious . . I'm normal!
When I was planning the original Witch's Grave cache, I did some research on the net to see if anyone had written anything about it. I ended up finding that there was another "witch's grave" just down the road a few miles. This one had several websites devoted to it and had even been written up in a book.
Well, I obviously couldn't resist making a cache out of it too! However, I had to find it first! After about three trips to the area, I finally noticed that what I thought was a dead end was really the road I needed. My daughter, Megan, and I found the grave on her birthday and set it up as our third virtual.
A few months later, after surveying the site a little more I realized there was a great location for a micro here. I've stumped at least one cacher with it but he later came back to claim the find.
Amazing Arcola Multi-Cache
 Hidden on: 8/26/2002
Waypoint: GC853E
Shortly after setting up the Hippie Memorial cache as a virtual, I contacted the Arcola Tourism Bureau about hiding an actual physical cache at the location. Somewhere along the road my email was sent to the Chamber of Commerce who saw Geocaching as a great way to get tourists into the area. After a couple meetings and a LOT of playing with the numbers, I was able to set up this little multi-cache.
The cache takes you on a quick tour of some of the touristy spots in Arcola. None of them require you to spend money, but that's actually kind of the charm of touring this little town.
Moonshine Micro
Hidden on: 8/30/2002
Waypoint: GC86DE
You know those places that you go to and you really want to share them with other people? Moonshine is like that. There's nothing here but a crossroads and a store that sells hamburgers until 12:30. But somehow word has spread and thousands of people visit this place every year.
Cachers seem to like this one, although few of them have hit the cache at the right time to have a burger.
I feel like I should mention, this cache was originally rejected for being too commercial. However, after pleading the case that this location was unusual enough that it deserved SOME recognition it was accepted. Thanks, Jeremy! The burgers are on me!
1872 Convenience
Hidden on: 9/24/2002
Waypoint: GC92F9
I don't want to talk about this one. It scares me.
I had always heard that this site was located in the little town of Gays, IL, but hadn't seen it for myself until I purposefully looked for it. Once I located it I knew there HAD to be a cache placed here.
If nothing else it's a nice excuse to stop and take a picture.
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My Hides
