Pink Panther and I have a kind of standing arrangement that we will do a Girls Day of boxing every Saturday when her husband, Black Swan, works. Today was one of those days and we had been planning for it for many weeks. We had decided to make it a mystery box day since there seemed to be a large number of them in the Perkiomen Trail area of Montgomery County. We worked on puzzles for weeks, looking up hockey players, solving wordcross puzzles, reading win
e websites and we were finally ready for our adventure. We invited our friend, Dogs with Wings, to accompany us and the three of us started out at 6 this morning. After immediately getting lost driving to the trail, we revised our agenda for the day and started out with Lightnin' Bug's Slow Bollard. I think I can take part of the credit for his creation of this box. When we had teamed up for the 2006 Road Rally, there was a box in this area and when we passed the Slow Bollard sign, I was intrigued and Rich hammed it up. Next thing you know, there was a Slow Bollard box and we have now added it to our collection.
From Slow Bollard we made our way further up (or was it down) the trail to PA Capitol Tile 93: Apples, one of Silent Doug's series based on the Mercer tiles in the Harrisburg Capitol tile building. This box has been in place for two years along a very busy trail and is remarkably still in good shape. Of course, the steep little walk that you have to take to get to it might have something to do with it. But regardless, it is safe and sound.
Next stop was to look for Nattybumppo's Rally Runner, the first mystery box that we were going to search for. In spite of the fact that there seemed to be a bit of a glitch in the middle of the clue, we girls were able to conquer this one pretty quickly. Of course, all of the work had been done ahead of time but we were feeling pretty good with one mystery box under our belts.
We met our one and only failure of the day when we were unable to find She Turned Me into a Newt. We really didn't expect to find it since Lightnin' Bug, Indigo Vulture and Sheba, three very experienced boxers had already attempted it but we thought we would try anyway.
But we somehow had it in our heads that Girl Power would prevail. It didn't. I loved the clues for this box, it took me a while to figure it out but when I did, I was very impressed with the cleverness of it. But we WERE successful with the box which follows it, ok it kinda sorta follows it, Newty Bumppo Made Me See Red. This one had also taken me awhile to solve but not because I didn't understand it. This one needed a magic ingredient which I didn't know I possessed but when I did figure out what I had, it worked great. This picture came out a bit fuzzy but it is Dogs with Wings stamping in at this box.
We then left the Perkiomen trail for a while to go after the box that we had worked hardest on preparing, Stanley Cup. It took days and days of research to do this one and even then, we only had a vague translation of the clues. Some of the vital words in the middle of the clues didn't seem to make sense but we decided to attempt it anyway. You have no idea how ecstatic we were when we found it. It was laying out in the open, it looked as though it may have been washed out of its hiding spot by all of the rains that we had in June but because there was so much foliage around it, it was still in a very safe place. We were so happy to have this one also because the preparation had been so intense.
About this time, we had exhausted our mystery boxes and headed for one of Dogs with Wings own boxes, Matters of the Heart. I think that Sherry was a little nervous about being along with us while we found one of her boxes but it turned out great, the clues were excellent and accurate and the stamp was wonderful. While we were stamping in, she showed us some of her carved stamps for boxes not yet planted and to say that she has turned out to be a wonderful carver is an understatement. I can't wait to record those finds into my logbook. On the way back to the car from this box, we realized that another box was in the vicinity. We also stopped and found the Golden Oak.
It was now lunch time, my stomach w
as telling me this although my watch wasn't working because it seemed the battery had died. This was the second time in a row that I had boxed with Pink Panther and my batteries died. I wonder what this means? We found a nice little pizza type restaurant and shared log books and boxing stories and wedding stories and just plain old girl talk. It was great! From here we had to say goodbye to Dogs with Wings since she had some committments for the evening but Pink Panther and I headed for one more mystery box, The Appellation Trail. When we pulled into the parking lot for this box we were greeted with the sight of about fifteen kittens lounging everywhere. They were the friendliest cats an
d my friend, the Deer Whisperer, immediately had them flocking to her. It was amazing seeing them everywhere and we almost hated to tear ourselves away to go find the box, but we did. What a delightful place this was and what a gracious lady working there. We were surprised to find a little bonus in the box, a gift certificate left by the last finders of the box. After browsing and stamping in we headed back outside but all of our kitten friends were gone. At this time, we decided that we needed to be gone too and agreed that we had had a very successful day but it was time to head for home.
My boxing days have been so much more fulfilling lately with the time shared with my friends, some old, some new but all wonderful people who share the same passion for this hobby that I do. These are times I will always value and today was one of the best. To quote Pink Panther, we were on a Letterboxing high today - part of it from the boxes we found but mostly from the company we kept. Thanks, Mary and Sherry!
Even though I had been boxing on Friday and had a taste of it on Saturday, Sunday 
morning I was ready to go again. The day began in Woody's Woods in Pottstown at daybreak with a nice vigorous uphill walk to find Squirley, a box by Tirowa who seems to be a mysterious new person in the area. I am not sure what the background of the planter is here, there were some trinkets in the box along with the store bought stamp which made it appear as if it were a geocache hybrid but I can't find any other info on either the planter or the box on any letterboxing site or on the geocaching site. A mystery in Berks county.....woohoo!
From Pottstown, I headed to Ambler to my favorite box of the day - Promises, Promises, Promises, This is My Shoebox by Nudgita. 
This delightful stamp was in a very pretty little park and the box was found near this little house and bridge on the Creepy Pond. But aside from the fact that I loved this park, I also loved the stamp because it was something that I could totally identify with. Laura has a cat who has adopted a beer box as its favorite place in the house. It is not unusual to walk in and see his little black head peeking out at the world over the edge of the box, that is you can see it when Milkmonster decides to let the poor cat alone. Seems Milkmonster also thinks that the box is his and likes to drag it around. Anyway, this stamp reminded me so much of Laura's cat that I have to laugh everytime I look at it.
By this time, I was due at Cedar Hill Park where I was about to meet Mukluk, a boxer whose boxes I had found at Tyler when I first started boxing. Mukluk had withdrawn from boxing for a year or two but a recent accidental find of a box laying in the open piqued her interest again. And best of all, when she posted on AQ that she had found this mysterious box, she and I began a series of emails which led us to this meeting. I was so delighted to meet her and to see that the lady with the strange trail name was a very lovely young woman. And it was a double meet for me since her friend and soon to be niece, Beth, accompanied us. Would you believe that I forgot to take any pictures? When I got home and downloaded my camera, I was stunned to see that I had not taken any, that is so unlike me.
We started on another set of boxes by Nudgita, Baby Bear's Hiking Adventure and were happy to find the first two. However, the third one was missing, something confirmed by Nudgita a few days later. Then we moved onto Nudgita's other series in the same park, A Wink and a Smile, but unfortunately could only find the wink. Again the missing box has been confirmed by Nudgita. Disappointed that two of the five boxes were missing but happy to have made some new boxing friends, I then headed west for my next boxing adventure.
A few weeks ago, the Immobile One and I had attended a genealogical family reunion for the Immobile One. This was not your normal get together with aunts and un
cles and cousins, having a picnic and playing ball, but instead was a gathering of people who were all descendants of Ulrich Schurch who arrived in the United States in 1728 from Switzerland. All of the people who attended had an interest in genealogy and they greeted each other by telling their genealogical number for the child of Ulrich from which they were descended. It was a really good two days with educated speakers and bus trips on Friday and on Saturday we all attended the Shirktown Threshing Festival. This weekend had inspired two boxes and I planted one on my way home that day. You can see the clues for it here: Threshing Festival Day . I also planted the second box a little later in the week but have not written the clues yet. Watch for them later.
But the day wasn't over yet. Those who know me, know that I am a very early riser. Well, I had risen early on Saturday morning and was reading the Atlas Quest message boards when a new email message popped up. I looked at it and was very excited to see a new box posted in Berks county - The Kernsville Dam . I was partially excited because it WAS a new Berks county box but just as excited because I had been planning to put a box there but I couldn't find the darn dam. Now here was the box. So I quickly dashed off an email to the planter to tell them how excited I was. Keep in mind that it was a little after four in the morning. I was stunned when I received an immediate reply from the planter whose name is Gryphon and even more stunned to find out that she was here from Alaska. The emails started flying and ended in an agreement to get together for an exchange on Sunday eveningl What a wonderful thing to happen! So we had made some tentative arrangements which we firmed up on Sunday afternoon and got together at the Cracker Barrel in Hamburg. By this time Gryphon had found seven of my boxes, attempted an eighth and rescued one which had been a victim of our June floods. I was so happy to have made another new boxing friend on that day. Look at the picture below and see the word which is above our heads. I had no idea that the sign was there until I downloaded the picture. As my friend Pink Panther would say, it was Kharma. And, I did find the Kernsville Dam box on Tuesday. I can't say I was the first finder though because it had been accidentally found previously. Gryphon had actually planted this box in 2004 but had just posted the clues on Saturday.....kharma, indeed!
Last Friday afternoon I had an early out from work and since the day was sunny and warm, what else could I do with my free time but letterbox! And since I was in a good mood, I decided to visit French Creek, a park I normally shun with every ounce of my being. French Creek State Park is only about 6 miles from my house and is one of the only long walk areas in all of Berks County and although the park is a really nice one, I have a lot of trouble with the trails. They are rocks. Not trails, just rocks and then some more rocks and if that isn't enough you can always find some more rocks. And once I got to the park I made a really terrible discovery, 
I had grabbed the wrong pair of boots to bring along. I have two pairs, one is a really comfortable pair and has been wonderful on almost any tough walk that I have taken, the other was the first pair I ever bought and were only good for walking on fairly level trails. And things started out pretty well as I searched for Lightnin' Bug's new crop circle box, Nexus. The first thing I found at the beginning of this walk was this pretty little view of the spillway for the lake. I felt it was a good start to the afternoon when I saw this. I then proceded to the area where I felt the box might be, in fact, I was pretty sure that it should be there and I walked back and forth over the area at least a dozen times. No box. So I moved up the trail a bit and found an area that could fit the clues but didn't seem as close as my first site. Again, no box. So I decided to move back to my first spot and check it out again. I walked back and forth again and this time I ended up on my hands and knees as I tripped over some branches. My bad boots were beginning their job of causing my feet to ache and making my feet heavy. So I got up and saw that my knees and elbows now matched my grandson's little skinned ones. But, the good news is that I saw the box location as I was sitting there. And the even better news was that I was first finder of a mystery box in a park that I am not crazy about walking in.
From Nexus, I moved to another area of the park to look for boxes left after the Pennsylvania Invasion. Team New Hampshire had hidden a set of six very nicely carved boxes for us to find in their Remnants of the Invasion series. The only thing that I have to say about Team New Hampshire is that those little aliens sure do have some good hiking skills to get up the hill that the series is planted on. What a workout that was! Once again I was first finder but I did miss a box and have to go back and look for it again but by this time, my boots were causing me so much pain that I could hardly hobble back to my car. I pulled them off immediately and as soon as I got home, I threw them in the trash so that there would be no more chance of grabbing them by mistake.
I went home and rested my poor bruised feet until Saturday morning. We had to go to western Maryland to pick up Bill's aunt so we made a little detour to look for the new box from Brandy, our Connecticutt visitor, Jennie . This teensy, tinsy little box was in an area of this town that even interested the Immobile One. Barney, leader of Team Little Dog, was with us and, of course, he was also very, very interersted.....or maybe he was interested in the other doggie smells. Whatever the story, we all enjoyed this one and guess what - we were first finders!
I have been negligent in noting my most recent finds, partly due to the fact that I am lucky enough to have three pending letterboxing dates with other boxers to prepare for, and partly due to the fact that I have been fortunate to have had lots of time with the Milkmonster lately. But I have managed to squeeze some finds in lately - the most recent being the new Flat Tire box I-76, Chester Co, PA, Who is Peter J. Camiel which I picked up Wednesday night on my way home from the Milkmonster's house.
Last Monday night, Billy Boy and I drove down to Warwick Park to find the first plant by the Steamers, The Tree Adventure. I see that they have now temporarily pulled this box, I assume that they are waiting for the permission to plant to go through. This box is along a tree identification trail and even though the stamp is store bought, they did a nice job with the clues and the box was definitely in a secure hiding spot. But poor Bill - I had told him that the walk was potentially a mile, I figured it was better to overestimate than underestimate and for some reason, he chose to wear sandals instead of his sneakers. Fortunately, the path was a wood chip covered path so the walking was easy. About three minutes into the walk, he decided that he had already walked a mile and was complaining that I had given him bad information. Then when he saw that we had to walk up about a ten foot hill, he was ready to turn back. But he stuck with me and stayed safely on the trail as I found the box and stamped in. When we got home, he hurriedly ran into the bathroom to take a shower to wash the "ticks and poison off". I pointed out that he had been no where near any poison and ticks don't usually jump out of wood chip paths but he felt better when he was showered. What a man!
I had also been boxing last weekend, headed south to Hibernia for MizScarlet's new box, Not a Geocache . I arrived at Hibernia just as the ranger was unlocking the gates so I didn't have to open the park myself this time! I also found Black Eyed Dog's For Pride's Sake , a box which I made much harder than it was because I forgot to take my map along. And Chester County parks make you buy their maps at their park offices which are rarely staffed during the time most people visit parks. While I was in the park, I checked on my Laura's Childhood Luvs - Strawberry Shortcake. The box is in good shape although I will have to make another visit soon to replace the logbook. This will be my first box with a full log and not filled by Scout troops!
From Hibernia, I headed south to Kennett Square to a park that I had visited once before with Lightnin' Bug, Anson Nixon Park. There again, I was first finder for Shroom with a View. I have to admit that after my first trip to this park I had been less than impressed. Well, I felt as though I was in a totally different park when I found Shroom - it was really nice with a lake, an amphitheatre, great bathrooms ( a big bonus for me!). This was Psychiker and Syner's first box and I hope to see many more of them. From here I headed down the road a bit to Newtown Square for Princess and Fox Catcher. Princess was a sweet child's box with child's clues in a child's home. Fox Catcher was a nice little walk along a very busy but kind of strange little walking path beside the Dupont estate. Both boxes were good finds though and were in good condition.
From Newtown Square, I headed for MizScarlet territory, Wayne. There I first found Fair Weather Boxer . I wanted to do her Walking the Dog series while I was there but by this time, I figured I had walked at least six miles and the thought of another two mile walk was not appealing. So I took off for some of her shorter ones and was successful with A Little Walk and a WOM box in the same area.
By this time, I was ready to head home. I really wanted to check on my Paoli Massacre boxes but I was just too tired - but really happy - I had been eight for eight in finds, something which does not usually happen to me.
I think that Pennsylvania has survived the invasion by the little green men from the planet New Hampshire - but I am not totally certain since the invaders will still be here for a few more days. Sunday afternoon, which turned out to be a picture perfect afternoon weatherwise, Lil Milkmonster and I cautiously approached French Creek State Park to test our fate. A quick call to Lighnin' Bug on the way to French Creek had assured us that the aliens were indeed of the friendly variety and when we pulled in and had two little green men quickly approach us without seeming threatening, I relaxed a bit. But the Milkmonster was a bit more apprehensive than I was. We placed our belongings on the tables and settled in for an hour or two of sta
mping and exchanging. Milkmonster was still on guard though until Kirby Rider, Lightnin' Bug's son, put him at ease. That boy has a way with children, much like his father does. The littlest aliens proceeded to return to their human form and the four boys kept busy together as the rest of us did the normal frantic stamping and exchanging. This picture shows Lil Milkmonster verifying that it was safe to approach these human/alien children.
It was amazing how much stamping-in a group of people w
ho box together all the time can still do when together as a group. In addition to the Team New Hampshire stamps, Brandy had stopped in on her way from Connecticutt to York. Many of us had already met her and had her stamps from the Boyd's gathering last year but we were all thrilled that she chose to stop to see us. Lil Milkmonster was especially delighted when Lightnin' Bug brought a dish of fresh sliced strawberries out and was content to let me stamp in as much as necessary while he devoured the whole dish of them himself.
After collecting stamps from everyone, playing abduction games, exchanging hitchhikers in Lightnin' Bug's traveling HHH, taking pictures and lots of general chit chatting, it was time for me to return the Milkmonster to his parents. That child was so worn out by his Alien Experience that he did not move a muscle the whole way home. Thanks, Team New Hampshire for giving the Pennsylvania boxers another reason to get together.
Pictured above from left to right - Brandy, Janila and Lil Milkmonster of Team Little Dog, Indigo Vulture, Lightnin' Bug behind the littlest aliens - Elijah and Billy, MizScarlet, Sheba and Kirby Rider in the front row on the right, David of Team New Hampshire, Cyclonic and Death Moose in the back row.
e websites and we were finally ready for our adventure. We invited our friend, Dogs with Wings, to accompany us and the three of us started out at 6 this morning. After immediately getting lost driving to the trail, we revised our agenda for the day and started out with Lightnin' Bug's Slow Bollard. I think I can take part of the credit for his creation of this box. When we had teamed up for the 2006 Road Rally, there was a box in this area and when we passed the Slow Bollard sign, I was intrigued and Rich hammed it up. Next thing you know, there was a Slow Bollard box and we have now added it to our collection.
But we somehow had it in our heads that Girl Power would prevail. It didn't. I loved the clues for this box, it took me a while to figure it out but when I did, I was very impressed with the cleverness of it. But we WERE successful with the box which follows it, ok it kinda sorta follows it, Newty Bumppo Made Me See Red. This one had also taken me awhile to solve but not because I didn't understand it. This one needed a magic ingredient which I didn't know I possessed but when I did figure out what I had, it worked great. This picture came out a bit fuzzy but it is Dogs with Wings stamping in at this box.
as telling me this although my watch wasn't working because it seemed the battery had died. This was the second time in a row that I had boxed with Pink Panther and my batteries died. I wonder what this means? We found a nice little pizza type restaurant and shared log books and boxing stories and wedding stories and just plain old girl talk. It was great! From here we had to say goodbye to Dogs with Wings since she had some committments for the evening but Pink Panther and I headed for one more mystery box, The Appellation Trail. When we pulled into the parking lot for this box we were greeted with the sight of about fifteen kittens lounging everywhere. They were the friendliest cats an
d my friend, the Deer Whisperer, immediately had them flocking to her. It was amazing seeing them everywhere and we almost hated to tear ourselves away to go find the box, but we did. What a delightful place this was and what a gracious lady working there. We were surprised to find a little bonus in the box, a gift certificate left by the last finders of the box. After browsing and stamping in we headed back outside but all of our kitten friends were gone. At this time, we decided that we needed to be gone too and agreed that we had had a very successful day but it was time to head for home.
