Boxtoberfest 2006

Leafcutters was supposed to be in North Carolina the weekend of Boxtoberfest, so I made plans to attend the gathering with Lightnin Bug with Tony Tony Chopper & Indigo Vulture. First of all I need to say that I was a tad bit apprehensive about boxing with these two-- I've only ever boxed with Leafcutters (and the occasional cousin or Cactus) so I was nervous that somehow after finding 500 boxes, I was doing something terribly wrong and both LB and IV would notice and laugh. But after all my hesitation and anxiety, I found out that I really liked boxing with other people, especially LB & IV. The whole day was fantastic and my cheeks hurt from all the laughter!!

So we headed from Doylestown to the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The name is appropriate, the area was desolate. I had no idea where we were (still don't know), which was perfect since we were hunting mystery boxes :)

First we found "We Recycle" letterbox placed by Gerania. This box was in an interesting location, but the interesting thing was the structure located there. Can't tell, it's a mystery. But it was really neat, I have to take Leafcutters back there since he is thinking about creating a similar structure near his mountain cabin.

Next it was off to "Sssss!" by letterboxingbee. I was glad there wasn't a snake there on the day we went.


Our next stop was for "Messenger of Peace" a wonderful box by the Perfect Circle Letterboxing Guild. It really is a shame that this group stopped letterboxing. Every one of their stamps have been beautiful and their hikes take you to great interesting locations. Do you know what a sweet potato dump is? I do now!! Seems someone dropped off a large amount of sweet potatoes by the side of the trail, another aspect of weird New Jersey. They were probably food for the New Jersey Devil, because I hear he's a vegetarian now!! After searching for the box we finally found it, "Oh, you mean that red stone!"


Off again to "Oh, Be My Friend" another great box by letterboxingbee. The spot was remote but beautiful, the Autumn leaves were just changing colors. I was impressed by the Pine Barrens and look forward to returning with Leafcutters. I would like to take the canoe and just wander through the little waterways, looking for sundew and the New Jersey devil.

A lovely view near "Oh, be my friend!"

Then it was off to the Boxtoberfest gathering, a little late but what the heck. But first we had to make it through the traffic jam of Cranberry Festival attendees. It was a land of zombies or as someone said Pithead festivalites... give me cranberry crap, give me cranberry crap, arghhhh!
We made it through the congestion only to be rewarded with a YADR SALE-- I'm not making this up, someone was having a Yard Sale but spelled the sign wrong. I wish I had taken a picture, words can not explain how funny that sign was. I nearly choked because I was laughing so hard!

Now we finally make it to the Boxtoberfest gathering. Another wonderful gathering hosted by letterboxingbee!! The location was stunning... the people were so incredibly nice... and there were letterboxes. Ran into Wednesday Bowler & Celtic Cat-- I really enjoy seeing the both of them every time we meet, what awesome nice people!

Went out with Lightninbug, Indigo Vulture & Cyclonic to find the special gathering boxes and we were joined by Sheba, Geckospot, and Gerania. I had a great time listening to the chatter between boxing buddies... it made me realize that letterboxing is so much more than a hobby, so much more than something to do-- real friendships are formed through boxing. It made me also realize that Leafcutters and I have been too removed from the LBMA group, I would like to change that.
After the gathering and some more surprises (Beldin's sudden disappearance)- we headed off to find a few more driveby boxes on the way home.

We took Sheba with us and managed to find "Ong's Hat" by The Von der Insels. Ran into Wednesday Bowler & Celtic Cat, who were also searching for this box.

We then headed to "Just Passing Through" by Cyclonic. Well this box was very cool!! It used a stamping technique that I haven't seen before, really neat. Great location, but I still don't know where we were!! The next thing I know we were on the turnpike headed home, laughing about Cleen-ton. I want to thank Lightnin Bug & Indigo Vulture for the fantastic day, seriously I still laugh when I think about Cleen-ton.

A day in Delaware

Things have not been too good here on the letterboxing front~ the whole summer seemed to slip by without so much letterboxing. I felt run down, tired and aching... found out later that I had Lyme Disease. That explains a lot!! I am on the antibiotic treatment and I am beginning to feel better- so Leafcutters and I decided to try to box on Saturday. I wanted to drive, get away from our 'home turf' so we ended up in Delaware. Northern Delaware, Wilmington to be exact.

We started our letterboxing adventure at A 'Shroom with a View by Psychiker and Syner in Kennett Square, PA. Nice box, nice park. Leafcutters and I have this unwritten game we play in the fall. We try to catch falling leaves before they hit the ground, we've been playing since I was a child and I have YET to catch a leaf. I spin, I run, I grab, I run farther... no leaf, but we laugh and laugh. It really is the best fall game, you should try it. So we were out finding the 'Shroom box and leaves started swirling all around me, my secret inside my head voice said, "Today you will catch a leaf!" So I ran, I spun, I grabbed... I still haven't caught a leaf but it doesn't matter- the time I spend with my dad in the woods are the best times of my life and I look forward to falling leaves every year. Secretly I hope I never catch a leaf.




So we left Anson Nixon Park and tried to make our way to Brandywine State Park for the next box. Now we don't live in the area and I am not familiar with Delaware, so I Mapquested a route for us to follow. Well never again, Mapquest got us lost 4 times. We stopped and asked a mail carrier for direction but he didn't know where BSP was either!! Although we did find this beautiful mill, where the post office was-- I will have to plant a letterbox there, it was just so pretty.






We headed to the limited edition The Great Pumpkin letterbox by Mother Duck near the Woodlawn Preserve close to the Ramsey Farm. The farm was closed due to weather but the box was there. Very fun location and it took us a little time to figure it out.

Next we headed to Brandywine State Park to find Hikers & Hounds Le Joile Rouge -- First a little history, I am a history major (American Studies) at Temple University. I have been for 10 years, it is rather difficult to try and finish a degree when you take only 2 classes a semester. But that is besides the point... I love finding tidbits of history information, something that I don't know. So Leafcutters and I headed to Le Joile Rouge not knowing anything about it- except it had something to do with Pirates. The park was packed with people, thousands!! There was a large cross country track meeting at the park-- high school runners everywhere, but not where this box was located. We found the box in great shape and it had this intersting bit of Pirate history. Look up Le Joile Rouge online if you want to know what we learned, I am still intrigued!!!

We continued on, our next destination was the hapPINEss beaCONEd letterbox by Carters in Bear at the Delaware Art Museum. What a great little museum!! I am used to the Philadelphia Art Museum, it's very large with lots of great works-- but for a Saturday afternoon the Delaware Art Museum was just right. It was nice to see some paintings I was familiar with and to be introduced to some 'new' works. A little pearl of art in Delaware. The sculpture garden was small but great- I really enjoyed this one piece. The box was tastefully hidden and a cute little stamp.

Next we headed to Rockwood Park for Mother Ducks Rockwood Park series. There were three boxes in the series, and each was a little gem not because the carving is fantastic or the location was amazing but because they were letterboxes of love-- the stamps were carved by her children (I'm assuming?) four year old Squirt and seven year old Miss P. That is one thing I love about letterboxing, it IS a family activity- from finding boxes, to carving stamps to placing boxes... it is a family affair. Thank you! This was an intersting park and I wish we had spent more time looking at the buildings and learning the history, we were getting tired. The flower gardens were beautiful also.

We then headed to Bellevue State Park for HSC Pride's Just Passin Thru letterbox. I enjoyed this park, it reminded me of Tammenend Park in PA. Leafcutters and I got lost following the clues and an easy box turned into a hard box, but it was worth it. We enjoyed the location and each others company.

By this time, we were tired and decided to skip the last four boxes. It was a long day. We came home to bad news, I just want to encourage you to hug, love and spend time with those you cherish. Life is sometimes too tragically short.