On future cache machines

(TL;DR: Upcoming CMs will be less frequent.)

I apologize for getting the Chelan Cache Machine draft route out so late, and for not yet having the event page up (or even started). I could make the same excuse I've done for the lateness of the previous four cache machines -- work's been busy, kid's off to college, family events -- but really, that's not it.

For the 17 years I've been planning cache machines, the task of creating the routes has almost been as much fun as hitting on the road. Almost everywhere was a new area for me: a town I haven't visited, part of a county I hadn't explored, parks I'd not taken us to. I'm a map nerd, so finding the right way into a large park or urban parking lot using satellite photos, street view, county construction plans, tourist photos, and chatting with locals about closures has been a way for me to explore an area before I arrive. To me, it's as much a part of the event as the caching itself. I frequently had a feeling of déja vu I when I cache machined a road that I'd previously scoped out online. This happened so often, I've come to refer to it as "Google Vu".

But as time passed, the fun has worn off. I didn't make it to the Wenatchee event I planned in March 2018, truly because I was on an unexpected trip for work, but even as my plane flew back from Philadelphia, over Wenatchee while cachers were enjoying dinner below, I looked down and had a brief thought: been there, done that, and I had more fun travelling for work.

The planning for each subsequent CM -- Vancouver WA, Colville, Shelton, Pendleton, and Monroe -- have each felt more like "work" than fun, especially the task of finding somewhere for dinner. I subtly announced last year that I'd planned on ending the run of Cache Machines in January 2023. Now, I'm not sure. For Chelan, I spent two weeks postponing my calendar reminder to start work on it. When I did finally start on it two weekends ago, I quickly found other things to do. Last week, it felt like a chore to get the route designed, and I've *barely* done any work on finding a dinner location. As I was about to post today's draft route, I realized I'd totally forgot to include anything other than favorites and traditionals, and I almost set it aside again, despite having the files ready for import. (I did add them, and modified the route accordingly.)

Quincy, October 2015

I've really had a lot of fun on recent cache machines; I've got a great team in my car and a great crew of regulars who show up, rain or shine or snow. Attendees have shown me incredible levels of appreciation and support. Of the thousands of caches we've found, and among the hundreds of attendees and cache owners, there's been less than a handful of bad moments, and none of those have been recent (so no, this feeling isn't coming from a bad experience or grumpy encounter). Without exception, people have come up to me at every cache machine dinner, thanking me profusely for organizing the event. My response, which is as true today as it was after the first CM in 2002, was first, you're welcome, and then more importantly, thanks for coming and having fun. If people weren't showing up, CMs would've ended a long time ago.

This all being said, cache machines are NOT going away, yet. However, the aggressive quarterly schedule that I've been on since 2007 is going to slow down to a crawl. Chelan will be September 21. Corvallis will likely be next February or March (not January 4), but no promises yet. After that, locations and dates aren't certain. As always, you can find my thoughts on upcoming locations on my profile page, https://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=7903f6db-0bcc-482e-8667-9fe7d77aae0a

If, for some reason, the basic functionality of GSAK, the obsolete Streets & Trips software, or pocket queries stop functioning, well, that will likely be the end. Until then, however, just expect a slower, more leisurely CM schedule.

I really am looking forward to visiting Chelan, running the route, and seeing so many of you again. I'm looking forward to Corvallis, Surrey , Anacortes, and a return to Astoria. But I'm not looking forward to the route planning, and that's, well, kinda weird to me, because for years, that was one of my favorite parts.

TravisL
August 27, 2019