Rocks, Docks and Locks - Day 1

It seemed to take forever but the day was finally here. I had signed up six months ago to go to Canada for the Rocks, Docks and Locks gathering. Even Bill had agreed to go along, he was especially excited when I told this ex-Navy guy that we would be staying on a ship - the Alexander Henry, a retired Coast Guard icebreaker. But as things happened, Bill wasn't able to go with me since he was still in New Mexico but I decided to go anyway, even though it meant making the 8 hour drive alone. It turned out to be one of the best decisions that I have made in a long time. I left right after work on the Thursday before the get together. My plan was to drive to Binghamton, NY, spend the night in a campground there, find a couple of easy boxes the next morning before heading to Syracuse for some more boxing and then on to Kingston. It didn't exactly work out that way. The plan stayed intact but the timing of everything went even better than planned. I actually made it to Binghamton and was close to the location of four of the seven boxes I had planned for that city before 8 o'clock. I first found Bibliochick's Angel Pets, a two box series dedicated to some long lost friends. The picture above shows the sun setting just as I reached this pet cemetery and I have to admit that although I am not the least bit squeamish about any kind of cemetery, I did jump a lot every time I heard a noise while I was here. I kept my pointy walking stick close by, ready to attack any werewolf which might decide to make an appearance that night. After Angel Pets I then moved to the location of Scout's Exterminator, a box dedicated to a horse with a fascinating Kentucky Derby story before heading for the Lourdes Hospital to find Scout's new box dedicated to the birth of her new daughter Happy Birthday at Lourdes. Scout's clues for this box mention that finding the grotto is the hardest part of the box and I have to admit that she was right. First I couldn't find the site itself which was hiding in plain sight and then I couldn't find the little grotto which contained the box. As you can see from the picture, the site itself was really pretty but it was also very dark when I got there so I felt a little conspicuous groping around the area looking for a hidey hole. Things got more complicated as I realized that this area was a popular smoke break area for the hospital employees but after hopping in and out of my car a half dozen times while the smokers did their thing, I finally conquered this one and got my reward. I am especially happy that I persevered because the stamp is really lovely. I think since the Lil Milkmonster was born, I have developed a softness for babies that I NEVER had before. Oh, the power of a grandchild! And best wishes to Scout and his family on the new little angel.

After I found this box, I made the decision that since I was still wide awake and the other boxes that I had planned for the Binghamton area couldn't be done in the dark, I would head for Syracuse that night. I moseyed up route 81 for about an hour when suddenly fatigue hit me and I had to pull into a rest stop. I fell asleep there and slept soundly through till 3 the next morning, which many of you probably know is just a little earlier than I usually get up. So after cleaning up in the deserted restroom of the stop and eating some breakfast, I began Day 2 of the Rocks, Docks and Locks adventure.