Scouting

 I currently don't have any boxes prepared to plant so I decided to take a drive and check out some new locations.  This is normally a dreary time of the year and things aren't so pretty outside ...or are they?  I was about to find out.  I drove by the Tulpehocken Creek and saw this blue heron perched on the bank watching for its dinner to swim by.  That was a good start to the day.

 

I made a quick stop to take a look at the frozen Lake Antietam and was pleasantly surprised to see blazed trails there.  This is a part of my town that I am totally unfamiliar and I can see that it is time to get a whole lot more knowledgeable about the area.

 Then I headed to my original destination, a new little park that I have never visited before.  Earl Poole Sanctuary is part of the Berks County Conservancy's parks and another park that I have received permission to plant.  I am really liking this permission to plant idea, it makes the experience much more relaxed knowing that I won't be afraid of being found out and that my visitors will know that they only have to be wary of muggles.   Anyway, this little park is nothing fancy, just a nice stroll through the woods with lots and lots of places to place boxes.  I was truly inspired and went home with lots of ideas which just have to be created.

As I was walking, I saw the perfect hiding spot ahead of me so I made my way there to see what type of box would fit best.  But, I quickly discovered that it was also the perfect hiding spot for a geocache!  Maybe I didn't get any boxes this day but I did increase my mostly accidental cache finds by one.

 The snow from a few days earlier was totally melted at our house but here in the woods, it gave an added beauty to some of the landscapes.

 So  not only did I get to scout out some new hiding spots but I also found an accidental cache, discovered some new walking trails, enjoyed some beautiful scenery, got lots of ideas for new boxes, I also enjoyed  letterboxing without finding one single new box.  And I found out that you don't need warm sunshine and lots of green leaves to see beauty in nature in the winter.