Delorme caches and the like - When are they "completed"?

I know I can bit a bit of a purist - ok, maybe more than a bit... But I don't really consider myself completing a cache until I have signed the logbook. No, it's not really a big deal. It's pretty much guaranteed after you find all the maps you will be signing the actual log. It's just how you want to interpret the word "completed".

I've seen it done on other Delorme Challenges and it probably has happened on other longer and tougher series or multicaches. Lee and I will soon be completing our requirements to log the Maine Delorme Challenge. I am not going to consider it completed until I get verification I have met the requirements and am given further instructions to get to and sign that logbook, and then do just that.

If someone finds all the stages but to a multi, my Battleship cache for example - I don't think many people would consider they have completed the cache until they make it to the final. Is the Delorme Challenge any different?

For those that have completed the challenge, what date do you consider you completed it, the day you logged your last map, or the day you signed the logbook?

I suppose some ultra purists would say not until it is logged online, but for me - it's when I sign the cache logbook. And my log online will be dated that same day, regardless of what day I actually log online.

It's not done until you sign the log!

But, like they say at a popular resturaunt up north, "Eat Desert First". What I mean is: celebrate everthing, especially something like the Delorme Challenge, as soon as posible and as long as posible!!!

Celebrate at the last cache,
Celebrate with your friends online,
Celebrate while you're making your bookmark list,
Celebrate with Team Teebow when you sign the log and don't forget to
Celebrate when you post the log on line!

And, why stop there!
Celebrate when they come up to you with the bingo card at the event asking if you "completed" the Delorme Challenge.

Life is too short to miss any fun.

Seems that the cache owner would be the one to determing when the challenge has been completed. It may even vary from one to another.

I think you complete it technically when you sign the log book, but it is "Completed when you do the last page. Here in Maine I finished it first even though Andy signed the log book first due to my being out of the area. The first to finish in that case was the one who completed the challenge first. Signing the "Logbook" was just the icing on the cake making it Official.

At least I think that is the way it goes. Even though Andy signed in first everyone still congratulated me as being the first done.

I was just looking at my certificate of completion and the cert says that I finished the challenge on January 6th. I choose that date becuase that was the day that I finished all the critieria and since I had already done the map that I would have singed the log in I counted the last cache that I did as finshed and the logged that the cache was complete on january 21, so mine is kinda wierd since I logged it as complete on the 21 but on my cert it says the 6th. Tomato, Tomatoe. I dont think it matters, Tom asked me which date I wanted on mine. It will be up to you I think. :) Good Job guys not an easy task.

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Originally Posted by Gob-ler

I think you complete it technically when you sign the log book, but it is "Completed when you do the last page. Here in Maine I finished it first even though Andy signed the log book first due to my being out of the area. The first to finish in that case was the one who completed the challenge first. Signing the "Logbook" was just the icing on the cake making it Official.

At least I think that is the way it goes. Even though Andy signed in first everyone still congratulated me as being the first done.

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I guess I don't see it that way, either, but if it works for you and Andy that's all that matters as far as FTF is concerned. I'm sure there is a great sense of accomplishment to just get all the maps, as well there should be. I'll know for sure when I get there.

Perhaps the Delorme Challenges are different. Maybe because the acquisition of the maps is a much greater feat than signing the final log? 3 people had the final coords for Battleship before it was found, but they were DNFs so maybe that makes the difference.

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Originally Posted by dave1976

I was just looking at my certificate of completion and the cert says that I finished the challenge on January 6th. I choose that date becuase that was the day that I finished all the critieria and since I had already done the map that I would have singed the log in I counted the last cache that I did as finshed and the logged that the cache was complete on january 21, so mine is kinda wierd since I logged it as complete on the 21 but on my cert it says the 6th. Tomato, Tomatoe. I dont think it matters, Tom asked me which date I wanted on mine. It will be up to you I think. :) Good Job guys not an easy task.

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Ya, I noticed that and it confused me too!
Mine will be the day I sign the log.
Lee will probably do the same, but she can do what she wants. :)

Not that i am anywhere near finishing, or will be for a long time but...
When I do a multi, I finish it that day. If I signed the log, its the last stage. In this case you can't always sign the final log when the rest has been completed because maybe the Teebows aren't available when you are. Let everyone know when you have done all the maps and that's great. Besides, after the FTF, isn't just an accomplishment to have it done?

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Originally Posted by FuddsGirls

Besides, after the FTF, isn't just an accomplishment to have it done?

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If the accomplishment were just to get the maps done, why bother to log the final? :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by brdad

If the accomplishment were just to get the maps done, why bother to log the final? :rolleyes:

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so the final log should be a challenge too?? like have teebow at the top of a hill with the log, and in order to sign the log you have to wrestle it away from him??? :D

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Originally Posted by brdad

If the accomplishment were just to get the maps done, why bother to log the final? :rolleyes:

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When you're there, adding your log to the book, you'll understand. It's not about the finish line, it's about the journey.

We are very lucky to have such a well thought out logging ceremony in Maine. In some states, it's just another cache, just another name and date on another line. But, there is a real cost to this personal touch: the finders must arrange a time to hold the ceremony. Schedules don't always line up and that's why Sudonim signed before Gob-ler. Gob-ler is still the first to complete the challenge.

The really interesting thing is it does not matter what we think about it. Teebow set the rules up when he listed the cache and the participants followed it. As he said, the the final was not a physical cache, but a log book and those that completed the challenge signed that log book as they worked it out with him.

Some of the DeLorme's have had differing rules, but all were clear as to what was expected.

I guess that the latest one is done pending review of the list of pages/caches completed.

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Originally Posted by Gob-ler

The really interesting thing is it does not matter what we think about it. Teebow set the rules up when he listed the cache and the participants followed it.

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My point exactly, though much more clear and concise. His cache, he gets the say :D And it sounds like he has talked with each cacher along the way who has completed it - the ideal "win-win" situation.

I viewed completing the DeLormes as getting the maps. When you have to meet the cache owner to log, you are relying on your schedule as well as theirs to complete the event. If after finishing the last page, I posted my results, and a computer spit out coords for the final, I could race there for FTF, or go later, at my convenience. Gob-ler posted that he'd finished the pages, but then had to coordinate a meeting with Team Teebow to make it "official".
The difference I see with "Battleship" is that as soon as you get the coords, you can race off to finish, or get it later, your choice. I didn't have to wait on another party to complete MY log, it's all on me. With DeLormes, if I finish, then Tom can't meet with me for two weeks, that shouldn't affect my "standings" in the completion.
I will agree with Dave, that for most caches (all that don't involve someone else's participation to finish), you claim it when you sign the log, not before. This one was a little unusual. I viewed it as clearly Gob-ler finishing the requirements before me, and having to delay his celebration due to schedule conflicts.
Either way, it was a great journey, and I'd race him again in a second ;)

Sorry - Double post.

I see the latest points - may not agree 100%, but I see those points.

If the final to battleship had washed downstream before the first finder had found it, and I had to disable it for a week, and by that time that person had to go out of town and someone else got the final first - it's almost like the first owner was waiting on the cache owner. I know I am grasping at straws... I just think coordinating with the owner is part of the challenge, just as the rules are listed.

The timing really matters a lot less if you are not going for FTF or don't care about FTF, or just completing it ahead of someone else. Let's say Frank and Charron, myself, and Lee were in a personal race to complete the Delorme Challenge (Which none of us are). I'd would still not consider the challenge complete until I had signed the log.

The timing to sign the final for me will be a little tougher as I want to make it my 1000th Maine find. Maybe that's why I am putting more weight on the signing of the log than many of you.

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Originally Posted by tat

When you're there, adding your log to the book, you'll understand. It's not about the finish line, it's about the journey.

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Yes, the cache is all about the journey - completion is all about the finish line. :p

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Originally Posted by brdad

If the accomplishment were just to get the maps done, why bother to log the final? :rolleyes:

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The final log is icing on the cake and needs to be signed. Is the final log accessable all the time or do you need to make arrangements to sign it? Can you e-mail the owner whenyou've completed it. I'm close enough. I will be able, if the time ever comes, the sign the last stage within a day of completion.

Don't sweat the small stuff and the really important things in life will be much easier to deal with . . . free advice for the day.

I'm not sweating nothing on this one; just curious. Not unlike how I wonder why some people like multis and some don't, and some like micros and some don't. But that's another thread. ;)

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Originally Posted by brdad

I'm not sweating nothing on this one; just curious. Not unlike how I wonder why some people like multis and some don't, and some like micros and some don't. But that's another thread. ;)

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My comment was a general comment and not directed solely to you . . . but in answer to your other question . . . very evil people like hiding micros and it is twisted geocachers who like finding them. :D