Saturday, September 1, 2007
Zuni Bear
We planted "Zuni Bear" this evening, sort of as a tribute to the upcoming Santa Fe gathering. We'd really hoped to make it to the gathering, but with all our school schedules and a twelve hour drive, it doesn't look very promising!
letterboxing in hillsboro
today we visited Hillsboro, Texas. really beautiful county courthouse, small town charm with several boxes by MonarchTrailer, including "Historic Hill County Courthouse" , "MKT Choo Choo" , "Texas Heritage Museum" , "Cell Block" , and "Drive Chip Putt." Even though we've lived thirty minutes from this town for the past twenty years, i've never seen the town before (sadly only the outlet mall nearby on the interstate!), so thanks, MonarchTrailer!
hostel hiccup
ok, so recently we sent our first hitchhiker hostel out into the world without its own box stamp! for some reason i thought a hostel was just a vessel for traveling hitchhikers, but we've finally rectified that! "Just Passing Through" HHH has it's own box stamp. apologies to those of you who visited it before the stamp arrived!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
10th box planted!
as if the three boxes planted earlier today weren't enough, we planted #10, "Bearly There" tonight in the cover of darkness. we also had dinner with 4Armstrongs and had a letterboxing brainstorming extravaganza. look for some exciting new letterboxing opportunities coming soon.
Busy Boxing
Just planted our "Baylor History Walking Tour," inspired by Lionsmane's "City Different Walking Tour," in Santa Fe. We also planted "Sailor Bear" and "Just Passing Through" Hitchhiker Hostel.. As i was adding (and fixing!) the clues for the walking tour, i got an email from another letterboxer (seconds after posting!) who said they had a relative (and letterboxing partner) considering Baylor for college. who knew letterboxing could help recruit for the university? :-)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
excerpts from letterbox readings
charming and or entertaining excerpts from the book
Dartmoor Letterboxing: A Guide for Beginners:
"A word of warning though...letterboxing, as a hobby, can be very addictive and, once started, people have been known to spend every spare moment, whatever the weather, out on the moors in search of 'that elusive box'!"
"What the well-dressed letterboxer is wearing-
It is not necessary to spend a fortune on specialist clothing as it's possible to find a great number of letterboxes within easy range of your parked vehicle, but it is important to understand the potentially dangerous environment that you will be 'boxing' in....What you put on your feet is very important - flip flops will not do even on the finest summer days and, although Wellington boots are often fine for a short outing, they are not suitable for longer excursions. Any self-respecting moorland walker should have footwear that is tough but comfy and which gives a degree of protection."
"If you have no intention of going very far or staying out for very long, then you might not want to carry food and drink, but you should NEVER walk without some emergency rations, particularly those which give energy and/or nourishment. Mint cake or glucose are good examples of 'food' that can revive flagging batteries when such situations arise. There are certain items which are a must for any longer outing....If a longer expedition is planned, whistle, torch (with spare batteries) and survival bag are recommended items. And, I suppose, a sign of the times, a mobile phone can be useful in the event of a broken limb or some other emergency."
Dartmoor Letterboxing: A Guide for Beginners:
"A word of warning though...letterboxing, as a hobby, can be very addictive and, once started, people have been known to spend every spare moment, whatever the weather, out on the moors in search of 'that elusive box'!"
"What the well-dressed letterboxer is wearing-
It is not necessary to spend a fortune on specialist clothing as it's possible to find a great number of letterboxes within easy range of your parked vehicle, but it is important to understand the potentially dangerous environment that you will be 'boxing' in....What you put on your feet is very important - flip flops will not do even on the finest summer days and, although Wellington boots are often fine for a short outing, they are not suitable for longer excursions. Any self-respecting moorland walker should have footwear that is tough but comfy and which gives a degree of protection."
"If you have no intention of going very far or staying out for very long, then you might not want to carry food and drink, but you should NEVER walk without some emergency rations, particularly those which give energy and/or nourishment. Mint cake or glucose are good examples of 'food' that can revive flagging batteries when such situations arise. There are certain items which are a must for any longer outing....If a longer expedition is planned, whistle, torch (with spare batteries) and survival bag are recommended items. And, I suppose, a sign of the times, a mobile phone can be useful in the event of a broken limb or some other emergency."
8/8/07 Waco, TX
"The Real Thing- Texas Governors Series" by Boots Tex
"The Lawman- Texas Governors Series" by Boots Tex
"Parks for Texas- Texas Governors Series" by Boots Tex
These letterboxes are brand new and part of a larger series by Boots Tex. These three are found in the Oakwood Cemetery in Waco- one of the most beautiful, historic cemeteries in this part of the country. Boots Tex's amazing stamp carving shines through in these amazing recreations of early photographs of these three Texas governors. We found these three late in the evening as the sun was setting and countless fireflies drifted throughout the cemetery.
"The Lawman- Texas Governors Series" by Boots Tex
"Parks for Texas- Texas Governors Series" by Boots Tex
These letterboxes are brand new and part of a larger series by Boots Tex. These three are found in the Oakwood Cemetery in Waco- one of the most beautiful, historic cemeteries in this part of the country. Boots Tex's amazing stamp carving shines through in these amazing recreations of early photographs of these three Texas governors. We found these three late in the evening as the sun was setting and countless fireflies drifted throughout the cemetery.
8/5/07 Frisco, CO
"Are there bears out there?" by us!
today we planted our sixth box (a micro) "are there bears out there?" in the downtown area of Frisco, a quaint little village. We had our letterboxing niece follow the clues to make sure it actually worked!
"Peninsula" by The Brown Knight
This was a great box out in the woods near Frisco. Hunted this one with some of our extended family letterboxers, Becky, Josh, and Mike. Nice stamp and logbook in a scenic spot!
today we planted our sixth box (a micro) "are there bears out there?" in the downtown area of Frisco, a quaint little village. We had our letterboxing niece follow the clues to make sure it actually worked!
"Peninsula" by The Brown Knight
This was a great box out in the woods near Frisco. Hunted this one with some of our extended family letterboxers, Becky, Josh, and Mike. Nice stamp and logbook in a scenic spot!
8/04/07 Breckenridge, CO
"AXO Letterbox"
This was located in "downtown" Breckenridge. After a great pizza and a tour of a gold mine, we set out to find this LB. this was a clever hide just off the beaten path, within sight of hundreds of people. fun adventure and a great little town in which to hang out.
This was located in "downtown" Breckenridge. After a great pizza and a tour of a gold mine, we set out to find this LB. this was a clever hide just off the beaten path, within sight of hundreds of people. fun adventure and a great little town in which to hang out.
7/31/07 Frisco, CO
"March of the Penguins" by Blackvelvetrav
We spent the week in Dillon, Colorado and did a tiny bit of letterboxing (nothing as monumental as our Sante Fe leg of the trip though!). With the help of our son, niece and nephews, we set out to look for "March of the Penguins." we found the first two penguins, but the last two have been missing unfortunately. Frisco is a great little town with lots of charm, in the same little valley as Dillon and Breckenridge.
We spent the week in Dillon, Colorado and did a tiny bit of letterboxing (nothing as monumental as our Sante Fe leg of the trip though!). With the help of our son, niece and nephews, we set out to look for "March of the Penguins." we found the first two penguins, but the last two have been missing unfortunately. Frisco is a great little town with lots of charm, in the same little valley as Dillon and Breckenridge.
photo from santa fe "mini meet"
thanks to lionsmane for this photo of Travelin Ts and Astro D during our recent meet!
be sure to visit lionsmane's blog at:
http://lionsgame.blogspot.com/2007/07/meeting-travelin-ts.html
7/30/07 Santa Fe
"La Paloma" by Astro D
Another box that hinges on having a compass or at least a good understanding of how they work! this is a really cool spot and GREAT clues (those kind that don't make any sense until you get there). this one took a little digging to find the location (even with some help from Astro D!). the first time we looked for this one, we came up empty-handed. With a little more encouragement from Astro D and help from our new family recruits to letterboxing (Josh, Jeremy, and Joel of Houston), we were able to find the box on the second attempt. well worth it. beautiful stamp. nice work D!
"The Crow Knows" by lionsmane
this was our last find of our santa fe trip. Ghost Ranch of Santa Fe has a beautiful sculpture garden that's definitely worth seeing. hidden among this lovely setting is another great stamp by lionsmane. definitely worth visiting!
sad to say goodbye to santa fe, but we made some great new friends who challenged and inspired us with their letterboxes and thoroughly enjoyed our time in the city. we'll definitely be back!
Another box that hinges on having a compass or at least a good understanding of how they work! this is a really cool spot and GREAT clues (those kind that don't make any sense until you get there). this one took a little digging to find the location (even with some help from Astro D!). the first time we looked for this one, we came up empty-handed. With a little more encouragement from Astro D and help from our new family recruits to letterboxing (Josh, Jeremy, and Joel of Houston), we were able to find the box on the second attempt. well worth it. beautiful stamp. nice work D!
"The Crow Knows" by lionsmane
this was our last find of our santa fe trip. Ghost Ranch of Santa Fe has a beautiful sculpture garden that's definitely worth seeing. hidden among this lovely setting is another great stamp by lionsmane. definitely worth visiting!
sad to say goodbye to santa fe, but we made some great new friends who challenged and inspired us with their letterboxes and thoroughly enjoyed our time in the city. we'll definitely be back!
7/27-30/2007 Santa Fe
"City Different Walking Tour" by lionsmane
i wasn't even sure where to list this LB, since it took several days to complete! this adventure is NOT for the faint of heart, but it certainly was worth the time. this hunt involves lots of deciphering all over the city, but along the way, you'll learn all kinds of interesting stuff about the city and its founding. the reward is certainly worth it! some of our relatives who were passing through santa fe while we were there, were introduced to letterboxing on this one. they loved it and we worked late into the night, having to use our cellphones as flashlights to finish (about 10pm). but a LOT of fun! i even went back the next day to enjoy the final location for a second time.
i wasn't even sure where to list this LB, since it took several days to complete! this adventure is NOT for the faint of heart, but it certainly was worth the time. this hunt involves lots of deciphering all over the city, but along the way, you'll learn all kinds of interesting stuff about the city and its founding. the reward is certainly worth it! some of our relatives who were passing through santa fe while we were there, were introduced to letterboxing on this one. they loved it and we worked late into the night, having to use our cellphones as flashlights to finish (about 10pm). but a LOT of fun! i even went back the next day to enjoy the final location for a second time.
7/29/07 Santa Fe
"Lizard Goes South" by Kat
a stamp that will make you smile, and come to think of it, so will the location. Old Ft. Marcy Park is a great spot with a wonderful scenic view.
"Play Pasture Pool?" by rubberpeace
Great stamps and logbook! this one took us a while to find (i think because we were sure we'd see a rattlesnake!). we didn't though and this one took us to an area of santa fe we NEVER would have found on our own!
"Art Attack #1" by preboxed
whether your a native or a visitor to santa fe, this is a great adventure and takes you to some places you'll definitely want to see. the clues were very creative (and the kind that aren't going to make any sense until you're actually there hunting).
a stamp that will make you smile, and come to think of it, so will the location. Old Ft. Marcy Park is a great spot with a wonderful scenic view.
"Play Pasture Pool?" by rubberpeace
Great stamps and logbook! this one took us a while to find (i think because we were sure we'd see a rattlesnake!). we didn't though and this one took us to an area of santa fe we NEVER would have found on our own!
"Art Attack #1" by preboxed
whether your a native or a visitor to santa fe, this is a great adventure and takes you to some places you'll definitely want to see. the clues were very creative (and the kind that aren't going to make any sense until you're actually there hunting).
7/28/07 Santa Fe "on your mark...get set..."
Busy day letterboxing...
We started by revisiting "Calavera"... a really great and educational adventure dealing with the rich, cultural tradition of Dia de los Muertos. a great box and great stamp! this was a super busy location that required a lot of stealth.
the next LB was "Canyon Oasis"....wow...worth traveling to Santa Fe just to experience this! a beautiful stamp by Astro D in a magical location. a peaceful, restful escape from the hustle and bustle (and heat!) just steps away.
"Artful Southwest" by Artrekker
we'd looked for the first two in this series ("Catherdral Moon" and "Little Pot") the day before, but after meeting with Astro D and Lionsmane, learned that they'd been checking on these and hadn't been able to locate either. Heard a really interesting story about Lionsmane rescuing "little pot" from accidental disappearance once before!) the two spots for the missing LBs were super great, so we were sad they'd disappeared. however, the third in the series, "Santa Fe Style" was there and in a fun hiding place (that also required a lot of stealth and patience to retrieve). These Santa Fe-ers are inspiring with clever (and sometimes HARD!) clues, amazing stamps, and fun adventures!.
"Is She Mary?" by rubberpeace
this was super fun and a nice twist, requiring interacting with other people to make contact with this box. a great and unique hiding place! we'd hoped to get to meet rubberpeace during the impromptu "santa fe mini meet" earlier in the day, but it didn't work out. i guess we'll have to schedule another trip to santa fe to meet rubberpeace and find the tons of boxes we didn't have time to search for! this was our first LBing trip outside of texas, but i'm convinced this is the perfect place to plan a letterboxing trip. if you haven't hunted here before, stop what you're doing and schedule a trip to santa fe. i've always loved this town and it's vibe, but now that we're into letterboxing, it's even BETTER! gobs of wonderful LBs in a beautiful, enchanting setting. (stop reading and go plan your trip!)
"A Pressing Matter" by Astro D
wow... this is one of my all time favorite letterboxes! i don't want to give anything away on this one, but it is sooooo cool. if you haven't hunted for this one... add it to your list right now. BEAUTIFUL box, stamp, experience. thanks, Astro D!!!
"Honor Loyalty and Peace" by lionsmane
this was our first lionsmane LB to find and we LOVE his style! this was the busiest location yet, but an amazing and creative hiding place! everywhere i go, i'm looking for a place like this!
"Bear in Mind" by lionsmane
another clever hide in a very busy area! this is where i learned that i'm a compass retard! thankfully, lionsmane added enough clues that "compass impaired" people can still do this (if they ignore the compass directions!) we hunted this one late at night and it still took patience and stealth! i'd almost given up on this one (even when i knew i was in the right place) bec itause was hidden so well! in our stacks of printed out clues, i somehow missed this one, but as we passed a landmark related to the clue (and inspiration for the stamp), i said, "hey, there's a letterbox right here somewhere!" but realized i should get the clues rather than just start searching aimlessly! thanks to the magic of technology (and free wi fi in our hotel room!) we got the clues online and imported them to our iPod for instant letterboxability!
"Going in Circles" by lionsmane
another creative clue by lionsmane! i love how he hides and creates the clues. this clue had no words at all!
"Giant Rebel of Eden" by lionsmane
really great stamp and great hiding place too!
We started by revisiting "Calavera"... a really great and educational adventure dealing with the rich, cultural tradition of Dia de los Muertos. a great box and great stamp! this was a super busy location that required a lot of stealth.
the next LB was "Canyon Oasis"....wow...worth traveling to Santa Fe just to experience this! a beautiful stamp by Astro D in a magical location. a peaceful, restful escape from the hustle and bustle (and heat!) just steps away.
"Artful Southwest" by Artrekker
we'd looked for the first two in this series ("Catherdral Moon" and "Little Pot") the day before, but after meeting with Astro D and Lionsmane, learned that they'd been checking on these and hadn't been able to locate either. Heard a really interesting story about Lionsmane rescuing "little pot" from accidental disappearance once before!) the two spots for the missing LBs were super great, so we were sad they'd disappeared. however, the third in the series, "Santa Fe Style" was there and in a fun hiding place (that also required a lot of stealth and patience to retrieve). These Santa Fe-ers are inspiring with clever (and sometimes HARD!) clues, amazing stamps, and fun adventures!.
"Is She Mary?" by rubberpeace
this was super fun and a nice twist, requiring interacting with other people to make contact with this box. a great and unique hiding place! we'd hoped to get to meet rubberpeace during the impromptu "santa fe mini meet" earlier in the day, but it didn't work out. i guess we'll have to schedule another trip to santa fe to meet rubberpeace and find the tons of boxes we didn't have time to search for! this was our first LBing trip outside of texas, but i'm convinced this is the perfect place to plan a letterboxing trip. if you haven't hunted here before, stop what you're doing and schedule a trip to santa fe. i've always loved this town and it's vibe, but now that we're into letterboxing, it's even BETTER! gobs of wonderful LBs in a beautiful, enchanting setting. (stop reading and go plan your trip!)
"A Pressing Matter" by Astro D
wow... this is one of my all time favorite letterboxes! i don't want to give anything away on this one, but it is sooooo cool. if you haven't hunted for this one... add it to your list right now. BEAUTIFUL box, stamp, experience. thanks, Astro D!!!
"Honor Loyalty and Peace" by lionsmane
this was our first lionsmane LB to find and we LOVE his style! this was the busiest location yet, but an amazing and creative hiding place! everywhere i go, i'm looking for a place like this!
"Bear in Mind" by lionsmane
another clever hide in a very busy area! this is where i learned that i'm a compass retard! thankfully, lionsmane added enough clues that "compass impaired" people can still do this (if they ignore the compass directions!) we hunted this one late at night and it still took patience and stealth! i'd almost given up on this one (even when i knew i was in the right place) bec itause was hidden so well! in our stacks of printed out clues, i somehow missed this one, but as we passed a landmark related to the clue (and inspiration for the stamp), i said, "hey, there's a letterbox right here somewhere!" but realized i should get the clues rather than just start searching aimlessly! thanks to the magic of technology (and free wi fi in our hotel room!) we got the clues online and imported them to our iPod for instant letterboxability!
"Going in Circles" by lionsmane
another creative clue by lionsmane! i love how he hides and creates the clues. this clue had no words at all!
"Giant Rebel of Eden" by lionsmane
really great stamp and great hiding place too!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
7/28/07 Santa Fe
we started off the day meeting Astro D and Lionsmane, both of Santa Fe. we had a great time visiting and getting lots of good advice, stories, carving tips and recommendations, suggestions, etc. we exchanged stamps and were excited that we got to add a stamp from a recent Santa Fe mini meet too! they also helped sort out the dizzying array of boxes that we hoped to search for in Santa Fe, helping group them geographically. Then we got busy, spending the entire day and night walking all over Santa Fe on the hunt for the following LBs:
Is She Mary?
A Pressing Matter
Honor, Loyalty and Peace
Are Your Dogs Barking?
Artful Southwest (box 3: Santa Fe Style)
Calavera (attempt two!)
Going in Circles
Bear in Mind
details in the next post!
Is She Mary?
A Pressing Matter
Honor, Loyalty and Peace
Are Your Dogs Barking?
Artful Southwest (box 3: Santa Fe Style)
Calavera (attempt two!)
Going in Circles
Bear in Mind
details in the next post!
Friday, July 27, 2007
7/27/07 Santa Fe
"Red or Green?"
This was a really wonderful handcarved stamp and great clues...the kind that make sense when you get to where you're supposed to be, but not before! We're looking forward to meeting the Santa Fe planter of this box, Astro D, tomorrow morning for coffee.
This was a really wonderful handcarved stamp and great clues...the kind that make sense when you get to where you're supposed to be, but not before! We're looking forward to meeting the Santa Fe planter of this box, Astro D, tomorrow morning for coffee.
7/27/07 Santa Fe
Calavera and Artful Southwest
The Artful Southwest series seems like a really cool one, right in the heart of the historic plaza area of Santa Fe. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any of them (we haven't checked for the third one yet, but hopefully will tomorrow. The other two, we were quiet certain of the location and even expanded our search out from there, but to no avail. We were really looking forward to being super stealthy in such a busy urban area.
The Artful Southwest series seems like a really cool one, right in the heart of the historic plaza area of Santa Fe. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any of them (we haven't checked for the third one yet, but hopefully will tomorrow. The other two, we were quiet certain of the location and even expanded our search out from there, but to no avail. We were really looking forward to being super stealthy in such a busy urban area.
7/26/07 Roswell, NM
Mississippi Sweethearts Series
This was a wonderful series and tribute in a great city park. The series has three boxes, though we weren't able to located the second box and fear that it's gone missing. the backstory to this series is charming.
This was a wonderful series and tribute in a great city park. The series has three boxes, though we weren't able to located the second box and fear that it's gone missing. the backstory to this series is charming.
7/26/07 Roswell, NM
The Roswell Crash Letterbox - Random Weirdness Series #1
this is a great LB and clever stamp honoring the great mystery/controversy for which Roswell is best known. it's located in a nice park not far from downtown.
this is a great LB and clever stamp honoring the great mystery/controversy for which Roswell is best known. it's located in a nice park not far from downtown.
7/25/07 Galveston, TX - Moody Gardens
Dynamite Dad's and the Moody Penguin
These two LBs were cleverly hidden in a place where thousands of people visit each day. We enjoyed Moody Gardens and then finished up our visit by finding these two LBs. a Seagull was actually perched on top of one of them, though fortunately decided to leave as came into the area!
These two LBs were cleverly hidden in a place where thousands of people visit each day. We enjoyed Moody Gardens and then finished up our visit by finding these two LBs. a Seagull was actually perched on top of one of them, though fortunately decided to leave as came into the area!
7/25/07 Galveston, TX
Hiding from Puddy Tat
This letterbox is found on a nice little (paved) trail through dense near coastal vegetation. really pretty, tons of trees....oh and poisonous snakes! ann spotted a cottonmouth coiled up right next to the path we had to cross. this ended up being one of the scariest LBs we've hunted! it took me a good ten minutes to get up the nerve to get to the spot where the box was hidden... in a really great tree, not far from the trail, but i had to make sure there were no more surprises waiting for me!
This letterbox is found on a nice little (paved) trail through dense near coastal vegetation. really pretty, tons of trees....oh and poisonous snakes! ann spotted a cottonmouth coiled up right next to the path we had to cross. this ended up being one of the scariest LBs we've hunted! it took me a good ten minutes to get up the nerve to get to the spot where the box was hidden... in a really great tree, not far from the trail, but i had to make sure there were no more surprises waiting for me!
7/24/07 Galveston, TX
Sea Aggie
you learn all kinds of things from letterboxing...stuff you never set out to learn. on this one, i learned that Texas A&M had a Galveston campus and that i should never complain about the mosquitos in my area again! this letterbox was a health risk as i was running as fast as i could through the directions and STILL COVERED in countless and HUGE mosquitos! the rest of the family wisely decided to stay in the car for this one! i don't think i've ever stamped in this fast before! i would say this is a good letterbox for winter, but i'm not sure the mosquitos ever die out in Galveston!
you learn all kinds of things from letterboxing...stuff you never set out to learn. on this one, i learned that Texas A&M had a Galveston campus and that i should never complain about the mosquitos in my area again! this letterbox was a health risk as i was running as fast as i could through the directions and STILL COVERED in countless and HUGE mosquitos! the rest of the family wisely decided to stay in the car for this one! i don't think i've ever stamped in this fast before! i would say this is a good letterbox for winter, but i'm not sure the mosquitos ever die out in Galveston!
7/24/07 Galveston, TX
SS Selma
this is a great example of how letterboxing can take you to places you might not have otherwise visited. this box is located at Seawolf Park on Pelican Island. there's not much else out there, and i would never have even thought to go visit this park except we were hunting this letterbox. however, the park was fascinating. The SS Selma, which inspired the LB, was a ship during WW1 that was made of concrete! it ended up being somewhat of a failure. Also at the park are the USS Stewart, a retired WW2 destroyer and USS Cavalla, a retired submarine which you can tour. the whole family enjoyed it, even though none of us would have said, "let's see if there are any vessels to tour!"
this is a great example of how letterboxing can take you to places you might not have otherwise visited. this box is located at Seawolf Park on Pelican Island. there's not much else out there, and i would never have even thought to go visit this park except we were hunting this letterbox. however, the park was fascinating. The SS Selma, which inspired the LB, was a ship during WW1 that was made of concrete! it ended up being somewhat of a failure. Also at the park are the USS Stewart, a retired WW2 destroyer and USS Cavalla, a retired submarine which you can tour. the whole family enjoyed it, even though none of us would have said, "let's see if there are any vessels to tour!"
7/23/07 Galveston, TX
Long Lost Treasure of the Pirate Jean LaFitte
this was an amazing treasure chest of stamps! the originator of this letterbox has invited others to add to the treasure and at the time of our visit, there were nine wonderful stamps by four different groups! we added one to the box the next day.
this was an amazing treasure chest of stamps! the originator of this letterbox has invited others to add to the treasure and at the time of our visit, there were nine wonderful stamps by four different groups! we added one to the box the next day.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
impromptu letterbox gathering in waco
this week 4Armstrongs, Gryzzled Gryphon and The Travelin Ts met in waco to exchange stamps. we missed Thing1nThing2 in some confusion over the location. Us newbies were eager to glean letterboxing wisdom and stories from the mythical and mysterious revered veteran Gryzzled Gryphon of Coryell County. the 4Armstrongs announced their newest plant (on the way to the gathering) and the rest of us talked about upcoming plans for new boxes. GGoCC passed on to us hand delivered clues of his letterboxes, which of course were veiled in mystery and sent us on our way to decipher the clues.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
surprising find!
today we checked the boxes we've planted (first time ever) just to make sure they were doing ok and still there (it's only been a week or so). i'd known of three folks who've found them because the emailed us or notified through atlasquest, but we were totally surprised by a number of other letterboxers who'd stamped in! like five more than we expected to find!
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
lion's park duo
traveled to lions park in temple to look for a pair of letterboxes there. nice park with some pretty trails. these two stamps were a little more difficult to find (though not hard)...just took a little rereading the clues and a couple refigurings. the lion's park stamp and the micro butterfly are really great and a nice adventure.
whistle stop
today we headed to temple texas to look for two different letterboxes. the first was the whistle stop letterbox at the train station. it's a great place for kids to explore trains in the yard and there's a fabulous playground. there's also a train museum and gift shop and model railroad club's headquarters (though we didn't visit either of those). the whistle stop's an easy "drive up", but a nice stamp in a great place.
Monday, July 2, 2007
our first plant
yesterday evening, we hid three of our very own letterboxes. we emailed the friends of ours that got us hooked on letterboxing to let them know we'd hid some and that we'd be posting the clues later that night online. I finally got the clues posted around 11 or 12 last night. our friends went hunting at about 9:30 this morning and were shocked and disappointed to find that they weren't the first to sign the logbook! someone had already beat them to it, less than twelve hours after the clues went live!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
"cameron park: jacob's ladder"
this box was placed by our friends 4Armstrongs and the folks who got us hooked on letterboxing. it's at the top of a serious staircase in cameron park. you definitely have to work for this one!
Friday, June 29, 2007
unsuccessful attempts
we've had a few letterbox outings so far that have been unsuccessful. the first one is in a place that's flooded out due to all the rains in waco recently. hopefully we'll be able to hunt for it after the waters recede. the next one was "texas ranger" which had been reported missing, but then had been found after that, followed by a couple unsuccessful attempts by other letterboxers. i'd hoped that maybe they just hadn't looked hard enough, but we spent a good half hour studying the place it was supposed to be and are pretty sure it's no longer there. after that, we headed to mother neff state park, where there are a lot of letterboxes, only to find out that the entire park is under water! the county road that leads to the park just disappears into a swamp!
czech stop
this is a great and not at all difficult letterbox. it pairs nicely with a visit to the Czech Stop Bakery (for deeeeeelicious kolaches! fruit, cream cheese, and sausage and cheese kolaches plus all kinds of other great bakery delights). what i really love about this box is it pairs an easy drive up (you can actually park less than 20 yds from the box's hiding spot), but it includes one of the most amazing stamps i've seen so far!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
"immortal 10"
this is another letterbox placed by our friends 4Armstrongs- this one hasn't been published yet! look for this one to "go live" soon!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
"wild and crazy guy"
next we headed to "wild and crazy guy" at the lake waco dam. this one turned out to be a little more exciting than expected as there was a big snake in the grass (i think he was supposed to be at the FIRST letterbox!). we had fun boulder hopping on this one as well. it's a nice park with a trail across the top of the dam.
"snake in the grass"
this letterbox is set off the side of a beautiful old cemetery that's been in use since the middle of the 19th century. it took us a while to find this one because we misinterpreted a clue, but it was worth it (though the swarms of vulture sized mosquitos made us wonder!). this was the first of two letterboxing adventures with our longtime friends and new letterbox converts "the clovers". it was a lot of fun.
Friday, June 22, 2007
"oakwood cemetery"
this is a beautiful and historic cemetery rich with amazing tombstones. well worth a visit, even if you're NOT looking for a letterbox. this was our second letterbox.
"don't mess with texas"
this was our first microbox and in a really cool historic area. due to lots of rain in the area this season, the river was up out of it's banks and covering the pathway set out in the clues, but with a little crafty strategy, we came at it from the other direction and were able to find it.
"cameron park zoo #1 and #2"
this was a fun pair of boxes hidden on one of the trails in cameron park (a GREAT and huge park filled with wonderful hiking/biking trails and beautiful views of the rivers). it was so humid that it felt like we had fallen in the river, but we had a lot of fun anyway!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
"pepper, ph.d."
this was our very first letterbox to find! an easy drive up and nice stamp. we did this one after dark (we were too excited about this new adventure to wait for the sun to come up!) so it made it more mysterious!
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