Letterboxing Mimser: Boxtoberfest 2013

I just realized that I am a couple of letterboxing events behind on my posting so it is time to catch up. A few weeks ago, African Wild, Squeaks and I attended the annual Boxtoberfest. This year it was conveniently held at Green Lane park, a mere half hour drive for me. But it brought back many memories of the first letterboxing event I ever attended, Boxtoberfest 2004 was held in Palmyra, NJ and hosted by a very gracious LetterboxingBee and her husband whose trail name eludes me now. My daughter who goes by the name Outofsight attended with me and we were so lucky to have met so many people that day. I remember meeting MizScarlet, Gerania, Silent Doug, Tim from the Raindears, NattyBumppo and Warcat. I had already been boxing with Hikers and Hounds so we had a reunion at this gathering. A group of us set out on the trail, MizScarlet, Gerania, Hikers and Hounds, Outofsight and myself. I remember finding some Silent Doug boxes and I also remember a kind of scary few minutes when Outofsight, who is diabetic and blind and was also pregnant at the time, suffered a low blood sugar reaction. Hikers and Hounds came to the rescue with some supplies to help raise the blood sugar enough to get her back to the event building. Once we got back, LetterboxingBee's husband was so kind to Outofsight, making sure that she had everything that she needed and telling her what was going on around her. I was so grateful to him because since it was my first gathering, I was totally overwhelmed with the hubbub of activity but we had a wonderful time and through the years, we attended several other Boxtoberfests. Since then, LetterboxingBee, NattyBumppo and the Raindears seem to have retired from boxing, Hikers and Hounds has changed her trail name but I can't remember what it is, she is Irene to me in real life, and Outofsight has given me two precious grandchildren who are the biggest joys of my life.

For several years, I stopped attending letterboxing gatherings, preferring to just box with a few close friends or alone and forgoing the socializing part of the hobby. But lately, I have been inclined to attend some events, mostly because Squeaks and African Wild always enjoy a party, and we were happy to be able to attend the newest Boxtoberfest, now being hosted by Lotus and Leafcutter, Celtic Cat, Anne of Green Gables and Treasurehonus. As I had mentioned, this event was much closer to home for me than the original one I attended in Palmyra NJ. The weather all week long didn't look very promising, we had some torrential downpours and minor flooding locally on Friday but the day of the event was gorgeous, sunny and comfortably cool outside.

One of the unfortunate things that happens when I go places with the kids is that I must focus a lot ON the kids and miss a lot of the adult stuff going on. That is what happened this day, I don't have a whole lot of pictures to show all of the great things that the planners presented to us. I do have this one sun drenched picture of Lotus trying to enter boxes onto Atlas Quest so that the rest of us could log our finds quickly. Since the kids were busy hunting for the Children's Series, I appreciated her attempts to have us list everything before we forgot what we had found.

And another sun drenched picture of African Wild assisting Lotus with pulling winners for the raffle prizes. I thought there might be some hanky panky going on when African Wild pulled his own name three times but Lotus assured me that his was the only ticket in at least one of the bags so he HAD to win!

The team had planted over 30 boxes on the trails, using the theme of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This theme was chosen because Green Lane park had been the site of the Highland Games for many years but due to county budget cuts, they were not held recently. Above, Idlemoon and Blue Delft return from a very successful search for these boxes.

I have to admit to being totally enchanted by FishStarOne who told me about his invention. He inserted a headless screw into the top of his hiking stick and uses his stick as a tripod for his camera. I never carry my tripod with me, especially when I am letterboxing because it is so heavy but I hope to try this method. When I told FishStarOne that I was going to write about this on my blog, he was very excited about it and told me he hoped that I made him a millionaire!

Below is one of my favorite pictures of the day. Ordinary KT showed up with this very old bicycle and provided lots of history about this style of transportation. She also shared stories of boxing with her goats. I was so happy to have met her.

As we were all outside enjoying looking for the Children's boxes, we also got to enjoy this parade of Volkwagon campers. There must have been a VW camper event also going on in the campgrounds of the park.

Squeaks stopped searching for boxes to enjoy the parade.

After enjoying the VW parade, everyone returned to the business at hand....find those boxes!

We also spent time indoors. The building is absolutely wonderful with lots of room to move around, lots of electrical outlets for the many crockpots that were filled with terrific food, and a picturesque fireplace.

The event board sported the many stamps of those who attended. I had made new seasonal stamps for my two little co-attendees and myself.

Above, Idlemoon, taking a hiking break, and Anne of Green Gables, catching up on stamps. Below, MizScarlet and her husband, Buckaroo Banzai, enjoy some of the goodies while Treasurehonas stamps in. In the background is Wood Thrush with Anne of Green Gables. I was so excited to meet her after many years of exchanging emails and finding her boxes. She is originally from Berks County and has taken me to many hidden treasures in the area. My only sadness of this entire day is that I didn't get to enjoy more time with her since she headed off to the trails shortly after she got there.

Above, Chuck of the Soulmates, and my own sweet Squeaks decorating her log book in Squeaks's style. Below is Lotus and her dad, Leafcutter.

Another sun drenched picture to the left of some new letterboxers, the Blue Blood family. I was very upset when I downloaded my pictures that I had missed the opportunity to take pictures of Celtic Cat, one of the planners, and also of the table which contained all of the food donations for a local food bank, a tradition started in the earliest Boxtoberfests.

When some of the stamping frenzy died down, Squeaks and African Wild began to work on some Halloween decorations that I had found at AC Moore for $1 each. I have to say that these were some of the best $1s I have ever spent.