Richmond Déjà vu, part 1

I made a trip to Richmond, Indiana...twice...in two days. Yep, that's right, twice, in two days.

I have been finding the Box of the Month each month here in Ohio. The Box of the Month (BOM) is part of a group effort of 12 letterboxers who each prepared a letterbox and then rotate that box each month to another participant to plant. So, each month there is a new box--new stamp and logbook from a new carver--in the same planting spot in a variety of states. Ohio is lucky enough to be one of those states, thanks to M&8X.

I missed the box while it was here in Ohio in March. I was very upset about this. I had found the 5 previous boxes, and plan on finding the last 6...so to miss one of the 12 kind of was like a punch in the gut. I'd survive, but I felt it.

Then I discovered that at the end of the month, the box which M&8X had planted in Ohio is then sent to speedsquare...in Richmond, Indiana. Oh, a smile went across my face. The box I missed here in Ohio is now in Indiana. Richmond is not that far to drive...I could get the box after all.

So I made plans to go boxing in Richmond, and called my cousin, keepin' up with the Jones' to see if she wanted to go as well. We made plans to go on Monday, when her eldest was in school, and the other two would be home safe with her husband. Of course we only had so much time to letterbox, we had to be back before her husband went into work.

I looked up clues, printed them off. I printed off detailed maps. And I even wrote out the itinerary, complete with driving directions from one locale to the next and what boxes were there, so it would be easy for Jones to navigate (I was driving after all.) We were set for the trip...and excited to!

So we left Monday morning, and 1 hour, 45 minutes later we arrived in Richmond. Our first stop was the BOM. We spent an hour there looking for this allusive box. I was so frustrated...and so was Jones. We decided to move on, go find some other boxes and then come back for this one. So, on down the road we went. I had printed of clues for a mystery box and we thought we'd try for it. I hadn't figured it out, but I thought I knew about where to start. I was wrong. We drove around for a little while...and figured we better keep moving.

I wanted to plant something in Richmond, so we took some time for me to do that before going to the next location. At the next stop we finally found what we were after! Yeah! It was a series of three boxes, however the third was confirmed missing, so we just found the first two. Along that trail there is a tree with an interesting adornment.

It looks kind of like a pierced body part...perhaps an outie belly button, or something. I am always amazed when trees grow around other objects. The curiosity in me really wants to know what the story is behind this. I mean, I get that a chain was on the tree for way too long, and the tree grew around it...but who put it there? And why? And how long ago? Ugh..I'll never know.

So we left the park and drove on to the next box. The clues took us to a pretty place, a quiet wooded area on a college campus. We began to follow the clues, made it to the trail head, and then came up empty looking for the next "landmark." We walked all over the trails, searching high and low for something like what the clue said we were to find. Nothing. I rolled my eyes at this point. This trip to Richmond was turning out to be very under productive.

Time was running out for us. We hadn't even made it half way through the list of clues we brought...and we hadn't found the box of the month--the whole reason I wanted to come to Richmond that day! The BOM would be pulled to be sent to the next state tomorrow...I needed to go look one more time for it. So we headed back to the spot.

We tried. Really we did. We just could not get a grasp on where we were suppose to be according to the clues. Time was slipping away. We had to leave. Jones had to be back home to take care of her children when her husband left for work. We admitted defeat, and hopped on the freeway home. We found two boxes that day. And one of them was NOT the box I originally went there for. We felt deflated.

During the ride home, amongst our complaining, I started to think about whether or not I could come back the following day to search again. It was only an hour and 40 minute drive...and my car is good on gas...and if I got ahold of speedsquare to see where I went wrong with the clues, then maybe I could find it before she pulled it. I'm crazy, I know. But that's what I did. I got ahold of speedquare when I got home, and a trip back to Richmond was planned for the next day.

Time for a Change

I liked the look of layout I used to have, don't get me wrong, but it was time for a change. I've seen too many other people with the same layout, and wanted something that was totally my own...so I've changed the look of my blog. I wanted it too be original...and so I chose a template where I could add one of my own photos to the title, and change the color of the page.

I like it. It has a more mellow, quiet feel to it...kind of like how I feel while out on the trail letterboxing. I had chosen a photo of a wooded trail that I planted on, but I just could not get the colors of the page to work with it...I was never happy with how it felt.

So then I tried this photo. It's one I took while driving into Eagle Nest, New Mexico. (I actually did find a letterbox at this place.)

I hope you enjoy the new look!

flashback: This is Kansas

September 4, 2007

You may think of Kansas as flat farm land. Maybe a tornado flying through...an old woman on a bike after a little girl and her dog. Not so. I was traveling to a state park to find a trail where a couple letterboxes were to be....traveling along a gravel road. A gravel road that meandered up and down hills. Yes, there were fields of grass with grazing cattle...but not one old lady on a bicycle...and no tornadoes, thank God.

My travel buddy and I eventually ended up at Wilson State Park. There was a letterbox by Der Mad Stamper that was planted in 1999 that I wanted to look for, as well as another box by rtrw planted in 2002 along the same trail. I am so glad I took the time to go for these boxes. We ended up at the Hell Creek section of the park and hiked the Dakota Nature Trail. It was a beautiful park and the trail had wonderful views of Wilson Lake, the type of views that would change your mind about what Kansas is like.

The Der Mad Stamper box really made me think. I loved the clues. And although I thought I was in the right place, I just could not find the letterbox. But I was persistent. I would most likely never be in this place again, and I had to find that box. I had to take a moment to clear my head, and rethink the clues. I was in the right area...I just had to look a little closer. And then, AHA! Oh joy! I found it. Great clues and a beautiful hike...no one could ask for more!

Scrambling to be FF

There is a WOM (word of mouth) box that my cousin, keepin up with the Jones, and I wanted to go hunt down. We contacted the owner, songwriter, and made plans to meet her and her family when we got the box and all go have pizza together afterward. Simple enough plan, right?

We pull up and park. Behind us another car pulls up and parks. It's another letterboxer, KJ11!! Now, this box had just been listed, and we thought we could be the FF (first finder) for it...so once we saw another boxer--and someone we knew, by the way--we made a mad scramble to be the first to the box!

At the shock that someone else was there, the car doors flew open, and as I grab my letterbox pack, Jones tells her girls to stay in the car. (Jones' three little girls were with us, the two year old asleep...we left them in the car, it was parked just across the street and songwriter's son was out in the yard, so we felt it was safe...they were never out of sight.)

Jones flew up the few steps that were there, I tried to short cut it by running up the small hill, which is what KJ11 was just about to do as well. I was wearing my slip on tennis shoes...and, well, they slipped off my feet. This sent me falling to my knees, clues in hand. I look up to see Jones still rushing to find a box, although she had no idea where it was--remember, I had the clues--and KJ11, having seen me fall, was now stopped in her tracks by her own laughter. I'm holding out the clues, calling to Jones, "Come get these, my shoes fell off!"

Jones continues to try to locate the letterbox using her memory of the clues...I guess coming to help me, or just take the clues from me would have wasted valuable time. I grab my shoes and stand up, putting them back on, and slowly finish my way up this little hill. KJ11 is still laughing at me, and I pass her by. Jones, is still frantically searching for the box, and I notice the spot where I think it is hidden. Jones has already gone by it. I quietly reach in, and sure enough it's there. KJ11 is still laughing at us.

It's a great stamp, with a wonderful story behind it. And there was even a bonus box...and we all got some special first finder prizes! Songwriter is so very creative, and generous.

Jones gets her girls out of the car, and we all take the time to stamp into the log, and Pug Pal (my boxing buddy,) after playing around, does his exchanges with songwriter, rifleman, Path to Eagle, and Whiz Kid...oh, yeah and that laughing KJ11.

flashback: staying centered

September 3, 2007

One of my favorite letterboxes is one I found in Kansas. Wheathead was the first letterbox placed in Kansas, and was placed there by Der Mad Stamper in 1998. If you are a letterboxer, you should know who Der Mad Stamper is. He is a legend when it comes to letterboxing and the United States. I, ironically, did NOT know who Der Mad Stamper was when I found this box. I had just started letterboxing myself, and had not learned too much letterbox history as of yet. You can read an interview with Der Mad Stamper by Mark and Sue Pepe, who also have a wonderful web site full of letterboxing information.

This particular letterbox in Kansas happens to be in the geographical center of the 48 conterminous United States. That's right, there is a marker erected for this. And a small church. It's not some big tourist trap...more of a very small park in the middle of nowhere. Though, I guess not really the middle of nowhere...it is in the middle of the U.S.! My travel buddy, John, and I had planned on visiting this unusual spot before I even knew there was a letterbox there...the box was just a wonderful bonus to my adventure.

It was a warm day when we crossed the state line from Nebraska into Kansas. We drove down some long and lonely road to reach the center of the United States. It was quiet there. No other traffic, and the only sound I could hear was a dog barking from a nearby farm. We got out of the car and explored the small park and church. It was interesting to read the guest book inside the church. It's amazing to think of how many people searched out this quirky spot like we did. This is not a place you happen upon while driving...you have to be specifically going here. I thought about the many people who visited just because the letterbox is hidden here...and about how many people had no idea a letterbox was hidden here at all.

Murphy's Law

Murphy's Law states that if something can go wrong, it will. This applies to me. The first weekend of spring, that actually feels like spring, and I'm in bed. Somehow, I end up with pneumonia. What are the chances?

I started feeling ill on Thursday. I had a fever on Friday, and was in bed all day. Saturday...not much better. Still had a fever on Sunday. Monday I was delirious...still with fever, barely awake. Tuesday I finally go to see the family doctor.

I get two shots, one on each side of my "hip," and I am put on three different medications. One of those medications is making me constantly sick to my stomach and very jittery...after a few days I have to stop taking it. But I still have plenty of days ahead to still be on the other meds. Did you know it can take two weeks to recover from pneumonia? My body feels like it's been hit by a truck and my lungs cannot expand all the way with out pain...not good when yawning. I do not have a long attention span, and just want to sleep most of the time.

So I miss the wonderful weekend to go out boxing. I was part of a few LTC (letterboxer trading cards) swaps...I had to drop out of those. There is an event I'll be missing. And most importantly, and ironically not letterboxing related...I was suppose to interview for a new job this past week. This pneumonia has really messed me up in more ways than one.

It has been 6 days that I've been on medication...10 days that I've been sick and stuck in the house. And I'm just now starting to feel better. Better means that I'm not constantly sick to my stomach...if I eat mashed potatoes and jello. It means my appetite is back, some what...I crave mashed potatoes and jello. It means I'm not sleeping 20 hours out of the day...more like only 15 hours. It means I'm going to have to start doing some things around the house again....like cleaning the cats' litter box. Hmmm. Do I really want to be getting better? The weather is getting cold again, I may not be able to go letterboxing...I may have to just crawl back in bed and think about this.

flashback: If You Plant It, They Will Come

August 31, 2007

About one week after I started letterboxing, I took a road trip out west. I had two weeks to travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico and back. I was going to be driving the entire time...since we were taking my car...and it's a stick shift...and my traveling buddy doesn't know how to drive one. So, since I have to drive the entire two weeks, I decided that I also have the last say in where we go. This means that I will be letterboxing on this trip...something my travel buddy (John) could care less about. John went on some hunts with me, and for others....well, he stayed in the car until I was finished.

This particular stop was one we both wanted to do...and actually had planned on doing even before I knew there was a letterbox there. If you build it, they will come...so true. How many of you saw the 1989 movie Field of Dreams? John and I visited the place where that movie was filmed. Yep, really. It's in Dyersville, Iowa, back some country roads. It was awesome! The house...just like in the movie. The ball field...just like in the movie. The corn field...just like in the movie...except, the old time players were not stepping out onto the ball diamond. You can however, play on the ball diamond as much as you like...just bring your own ball, bat and glove. We didn't have any, but John did run the bases! I took pictures while he ran, and I also found the letterbox that was there (if you plant it, they will come!) At lot of boxers had visited this spot. :)


The Field of Dreams Movie Site is open April through November, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission. Souvenirs are available. Please visit their website, at http://www.fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com/

Flashbacks

I have some images and stories I'd like to share from when I first started letterboxing...mostly these are from a road trip I took out west. I'm calling them flashbacks and they will be thrown into the mix whenever I get the chance.

This photo is one I took of my traveling buddy while we were in Kansas. The house was abandoned...and we couldn't help but investigate. It was eerie and beautiful at the same time.


If I could just travel for a living, I think I'd be in heaven. There is nothing more rewarding to me than exploring someplace few people go, or bother to pay attention to. Of course, seeing the common tourist traps and historic landmarks are also fun, but sometimes we forget to look for the beauty that is found in the ordinary.

more muddy, snowy trails

Out on the letterboxing trail in the Toledo area...the paths were muddy, snowy, and full of puddles...and I wouldn't let Pug splash around in it! He was ok with that though, he had a great time spending all day with keepin up with the Jones', her girls, and Bone Yard Recorder. This day was the last of our trip to Michigan and back, and Pug looks foward to getting back out on the trails again soon! :)

ending on a good note

We met up with Bone Yard Recorder near Toledo, Ohio on Saturday morning. This was the first time Jones and I have letterboxed with anybody other than each other, so we were excited. And BYR is such a great person, she is so giving and kind, and she was very patient with the kids...we couldn't have asked for a better boxing friend to be with that day. :)

We had decided to try to hunt down the boxes in the surrounding area, and Maumee was the first stop. The mini-van was parked, and we all jumped out, and started walking towards our first box. We had a great time! We ended up at a lovely tea house, Clara J's, and bought some goodies to take back home.

The searching continued over into Holland...where there were K9 boxes to be found. Unfortunately some of them were missing. And we actually stumbled upon a geocache sitting directly on top of a letterbox! The geocache was full of junk trinkets, however I did find one I could use for a cootie some day, and left something in return. We all signed in as well, since we did find it. The sad thing is, the stamp from the letterbox was missing.

We then headed over towards Berkey, and had a nice little hike in Secor Metropark. There was snow all over the trail, and the littlest Jones was in stroller, so Bone Yard Recorder, Cool K and myself went down the snowy part ourselves. The snow turned into water covering the trail near the letterbox, but we walked around it and found our prize!


The younger ones were getting a little tired at this point, and we decided one more stop was all we could do. We headed to the Fallen Timbers Battlefield. It is a very interesting place, and I would love to have spent more time there if it had not been getting late and getting cold. The little ones (and I think the big ones too) had had their fill for the day. There were plenty more boxes in the area, but they would have to wait until another (and warmer) day.

We drove BYR back to her car, and said our goodbyes. We then went to grab a bite to eat before the long drive home. It was an exhausting day, but, oh it was so fun!

meet-n-greet

Boy, did Pug have fun meeting the letterboxers from Michigan!! They were all so friendly...and I think some of them even sneaked a little Panera food to him ;)

He was able to do exchanges and take pictures with everyone...which he can hardly wait to show his owner, Pioneer Spirit! :)

play in the snow

Friday became a day to play in the snow up in Michigan! It had snowed the night before, leaving a few inches on the ground in the morning...but then the sun came out, and alot of the snow melted away. This is the area of the only traditional box we found that day...but Pug had fun none-the-less! A dog always loves to play in the snow! Watch out for those yellow spots!!

swans on ice

We woke up on Friday, March 28th in Michigan with a few inches of snow on the ground. What a way to start the day! We did not let the white stuff deter our letterboxing plans however! Today was the first day of boxing for our Aunt, who had named herself ...for now... since she couldn't decide on anything else. So, gathering up our clues, we went out the door.

There were three adults, four kids piled in the van, all ready for some letterboxing adventure.....but, it was a bust! The first set of clues stated they'd lead us to a park where there were 8 stamps to find. We could not find the trail head where these supposed boxes were! We drove up and down the road it was on so many times, and finally had to give up. Drat.

So we read the next clues which took us to a nice little town, but again, the clues did not lead us to the box. The spot where we think it was, had a tree cut down...hmmm...maybe it's missing, maybe we're having a bad day. Whatever. Drat again. Moving on.

We finally find a box! Yeah. Our aunt's first!! She was so excited! and we were glad at least one of the boxes we went looking for was there! It was an easy location, in high need of using stealthiness, and a great carve! So, now we have to head back home.

Jones and I drop off for now, and the kids, and we take off after one more box...on our own, we think we can get it without too much dilly dallying...we have to get ready for a mini meet and greet with some Michigan boxers at 6pm. We drive out to Metro Beach Metro Park and start our quest. The clues were great! They told a story and took you through some beautiful areas. We even saw a swan on the pond...it was breathtaking. We continued with the clues...only to come up empty handed. Are you kidding? Drat for a third time! [The next day, the owner of the box checked on it, and it is missing...so, it wasn't that we can't read clues!] We head back to the house, get ready, and head to Panera for a get together with other letterboxers.

The get together was great!! We met some wonderful people, exchanged stamps, and introduced the newbies ...for now... and RailRoader to the group. We have plans on trying it again the next time we are in the area...maybe in warmer weather! :)

After the meet-n-greet, we go back to the house, pack up our stuff, and settle in for a good night's sleep. We had plans to meet up with Bone Yard Recorder to do some more boxing in the Toledo area on Saturday before we go home.

poison ivy alert

The path along the West Bloomfield Nature Preserve was quite beautiful. We were lucky enough to be warned of poison ivy along they way. Pug thought it was the funniest sight! He was having such a good time playing in the woods along the 2.6 mile trail!

on frozen ground

It was cold and damp when we woke up on Thursday, March 27 in Michigan. We had plans to do some boxing in the suburbs of Detroit, and we were taking our cousin with us for his first letterboxing outing! Jones had brought some MasterCarve and her gouges, and he carved a signature stamp the night before, naming himself RailRoader.

So donning our coats and boots, and leaving the littlest one behind (don't worry, our aunt was with her,) we set out to find some Michigan letterboxes. The first place we flocked to was Robert Long Park in Walled Lake. It's a lovely little park, complete with ponds and viewing areas perfect for birdwatchers. We saw many geese and ducks. In fact, as one of the ducks was landing, he came upon ice and slid across. The ice on the trail we walked along was up to three or four inches thick in some areas. We trekked on, and found the letterbox, RailRoader's first! He was so excited. Jones and I used the opportunity to teach him about the aspects of letterboxing...be aware of what or who is around you, be stealthy, be careful, do not disturb wildlife unnecessarily, take the box away from the area to stamp in, re-seal baggies and box carefully, replace exactly where you found it, re-hide better than found. He did very well. :) We continued on our quest, which led us to West Bloomfield Nature Preserve.

The walk through the Nature Preserve was absolutely beautiful. The trail became somewhat steep at times, and with the snow and ice still on the ground, we had to be extra careful. This time of year, time of day, during the week, we seemed to have the place to ourselves. We only encountered three other people on the long trail. We found two of the three boxes, but the third one proved to be difficult. We weren't sure if it was us or the clues. We thought we were in the right area, however we just could not find that box!...and then it started to rain. It was time to head back to the house, have some supper and rest up for the next day.

Muddy Feet

After leaving Litzenberg, we took a short drive to Van Buren State Park for a couple more letterboxes. This time of year, with the chilly weather, and being that it was the middle of the week, middle of the day...there really was not a lot of people around, making stealthiness a little easier. :)

At one of the letterboxes in Van Buren, there was a man walking his dog. We got out some sandwiches and snacks and walked over to the picnic table to eat...and wait for him to leave so we could follow the clues to the letterbox. It was an easy find, and soon, with a little food in our bellies and another stamp image in our logbooks, we traveled on. We hit the freeway, and around Bowling Green, took a break at the rest area...mainly because we wanted to find a box hidden there, but the girls needed to get out and move around as well.

It is a nice large rest area...and on this particular day, it also happened to be flooded in spots. One of those spots was where we needed to go to get the letterbox! Even the ground everywhere else was soggy and muddy...the girls were having a great time! ;) Jones and I still tried for the letterbox...we saw it, the hidey-hole surrounded by water. If we had stepped close enough to reach for the box, water would engulf our feet and ankles...we were not willing to have drenched feet for this box (well, not yet...) But then a bright idea came! We'd have to have a bridge of some sort! Jones found a long fallen branch, and pulled it over to the mini pond that protected our prize...and then carefully stepping out onto it, she was able to reach the letterbox! We would not leave empty handed! We would also not leave clean. The mud had covered our shoes, and lower pants legs...and the girls had it on them too, of course. We cleaned off our shoes the best we could, and piled back in the car and drove into Michigan. Exhausted, we reached our aunt's house before the sun had set all the way.

can we go fishin'?

Pug Pal wanted to stop and do some fishing while on the trail at Oakwoods Nature Preserve in Findlay, Ohio. But, alas, we were not equipped for such a thing, and I had to tell him no. He seemed a little sad, but soon caught the sent of a squirrel, and forgot all about the fish!

ready, set, go!

A road trip is always a good thing. Even a short one. And that's just what my cousin, keepin up with the Jones' and I did. She brought along her three girls, I brought along my boxing buddy Pug Pal, and off we took on a four day trip from Ohio to Michigan and back. We left on the morning of March 26, making a stop in Kenton for a letterbox before we headed to Findlay, Ohio.

We had a little trouble with finding the Oakwoods Nature Preserve and had to get some help from the friendly people at H&R Block. They looked the park up on their computer, and even copied the city map from the phone book for me...such sweet people! We made it to the park, and wow, it's beautiful. We plan on going back in warm weather to explore more of it. We found our letterboxes, and continued on to the next stop...Litzenberg Memorial Woods.

The trails at Litzenberg were muddy and in some spots covered in water. We maneuvered our way around the soggy places determined to find our treasure. We came upon a huge tree wonderfully sculpted by mother nature. Jones and her girls stepped inside for a photo. We found our boxes and on the way out let the little ones play at the play ground. We had been driving for awhile and still had much more time to spend in the car...they deserved some fun time. :)