Scrapple-ers
Scrapple-ers
Interviewed April 2007
These folks holding the GPS and the cache container are Dawn and John Tomeski AKA the Scrapple-ers. Those who visit this web site frequently know that back in January we posted a review of Delaware Geocaching activities which included a listing of geocachers who placed multiple caches during 2006. The Scrapple-ers achieved 2nd place on this list. That's a good total but it become even more impressive when you realize that the Scrappler-ers have only been geocaching for just about a year. They have continued placing caches and are now at 34. While this is a good number there's even better news - the majority of their hides are in Sussex County. Through their efforts Sussex County is becoming quite well stocked.
We asked John and Dawn to be our Featured Geocachers for April several weeks back. At the time they were planning a geocaching trip. As Dawn explained, she and John were able to complete the interview as they drove back to Delaware from their North Carolina adventure. It makes for interesting reading. And, as you'll see from the pictures (all taken from the Scrapple-ers gallery) these folks really know how to have fun while geocaching.
How did you become involved with geocaching - and how long have you been doing it?
We got involved in Geocaching because of John's brother Gary, #1papabear from NC. He and his family had been caching about 4 months when they came up for a visit and said you've got to try this. He took us around here and we were really surprised that things like this were right there. Needless to say, we were hooked instantly. April will be one year that we've been caching
Tell us a bit about how you chose your geocaching user name.
We chose our name because we're from Bridgeville and if anyone knows Bridgeville, they know about scrapple (ya know, everything but the oink!) so, scrapple-ers just seemed appropriate.
Your profile on geocaching.com shows that you have caches in several states beside Delaware. How did you choose these states for additional caching?
We have been caching in states other than Delaware. We visit #1papabear and family a couple of times a year. We spend a lot of quality time together doing this. We like to venture out a lot and explore new places, caching gets us to these other places. We've never been the kind of people to sit on the porch and watch the world go by.
How many caches have you found so far?
When we started the interview, we had 260 caches, then we went on a geocation to NC and came home with 367 a few days later. By the time this gets posted, we're hoping for 400+. (Webmaster's note: As of April 2, the Scrapple-ers had chalked up 423 finds.)
Which type of cache do you prefer seeking - traditional, multi, puzzle or virtual?
We really like to find all of the caches. Puzzles are fun to do, we have to be in the right mode for multis, but virtuals really seem to be educational. If it ís hidden, we're looking.
Which find was your most challenging?
We think the most challenging caches to find have been 1, Hostanuts' Animals, animals, animals (GCZGQH) is definitely a challenge but Rehobch's BK Beach (GCY18H) had about 8 hrs of search time invested in it. We did get FTF on both of them though.
Which find was the easiest?
As far as the easiest cache to find, we can't pinpoint one. It seems that the more we find, the easier some get.
What's the most unusual thing you've found in a cache?
We think that the thing that has tickled us (Dawn) the most, is finding a roll of Charmin-to-go. It's been put to use.
Have you had any memorable experiences while seeking a cache?
We have had both good and bad experiences caching, way more good than bad though. The good is all the fun and exploring that we do. We've played in fresh water streams and went rock climbing, got stuck knee deep in mud and lost a shoe. That's all fun. The bad was one time we were in Laurel and our son came across a nest of ground wasps, he got stung and Dawn went back to check on him, and they got attacked, they ran out of the woods swatting, hitting and cussing, hurdling over downed trees and everything. Little John got 3 stings, Dawn got 10. We were very thankful that no one is allergic to bees.
What advice would you give to a beginning geocacher?
The advise for beginning cachers? well, we'd have to say, trust your GPS at first, then go with your instincts. DON'T be afraid to check everything.
Your geocaching.com profile indicates you have placed 27 caches. You been caching for not quite a year. Put these two statistics together and that makes you one of the Delaware's most prolific cache hiders. How do you find the time to place this many caches?
As far as planting caches, That's all part of the game. Hide and seek. We take a weekend off from caching and just hide. Boy have we gotten some ideas since coming home from NC! You'll see!!!!!!!!! (Webmaster's Note: The Scrappler-ers are up to 34 hides as of April 2.)
With this many cache hides, is there any problem with doing maintenance on them?
The caches pretty well maintain themselves, we find that fellow cachers are usually pretty cool about adding paper for logs and stuff. We know ourselves, that if we come across a pretty weak looking cache, We'll do some restocking, we hope others will do the same.
Have any of your cache hides proven to be more "popular" than you expected?
All of our caches seem to be pretty successful at this point.
Have geocachers found any of them more difficult to find than you expected?
Some have been more difficult than others, Just a Little Koi (GCXG9B) seems to be quite the elusive one. Yet, Wooden hawk (GCY07T) is so well camoed that it has a number of DNF's on it, but it is there.
Have any of them been muggled? If, so how did you handle this?
We have had a few of them muggled 1x each. We replace it asap to give it another chance. If it happens again, then We'll move it to a different area.
What advice would you give to someone designing a cache placement?
As far as advice for cache placement, don't just throw it anywhere, give it meaning, making it rewarding and fun and challenging at the same time. We've just started doing a few urban type parking lot caches, they're ok. We try to give them a story to make it more interesting.
What's your best caching story - the one you tell others to let them know the kind of fun and adventures one can have while geocaching?
Each cache that we find, has a story to go with it. When you talk with fellow cachers' and start talking about a certain one, then the stories come out. But when you're talking to a non-cacher, the whole adventure is the story.
Beside geocaching, what other things do you like to do?
Besides geocaching, we are totally involved with our 16 yr old twins, John (bmxer17)and Katie (band-dy). We're together most of the time, they race BMX, look for Bmx "rocks" (GCXKHC) near the track in Milford. We're also supporters of the Woodbridge HS band, members of the Bridgeville Fire company, teach fire prevention and we both work full time. We still find time to find and hide caches so I guess you can say ADHD at its best!
Which Delaware cache site would you'd like to see reviewed on the Delaware Geocachers web site and why?
As far as picking one cache to review on the site, it's too hard to choose one. So, we think that you should review the variety of caches placed at Cape Henlopen State Park. Its a beautiful place to go, wide open trails, relaxing park, makes for a terrific day.
What question did you expect us to ask but we didn't? And, what's the answer?
The only question that we thought about would be..have you gotten other people involved in caching? Our answer would be yes. The first ones were the Milford Neckers, fellow BMXers. One night we were at the car show in Harrington, met up with Mr. Necker and son. We got to talking about caching, so we took him over to Midway Micro (GCJC4E), it was dark, people hanging about, he tripped on the rocks, broke his glasses, went home and told his wife and got a GPS a few days later! There was another time we got busted at Downtown Dover, it was by the grandmother of the Natator again, fellow bmxer's, talked about it at the cracksmen got a nice Christmas present.Also, Hounddogkjc, a friend of ours and the newest one, Musicman305, the HS band director. We tell everyone about this great sport/hobby.
Our thanks to John and Dawn (Scrapple-ers) for sharing these answers with us.
