My first stop of the day was Jerome. I had clues for letterboxes and I wanted to just walk around the town and explore. I was a little confused when I first arrived and I wasn't sure where I needed to be to find the boxes. So I pulled over and reread the clues.
It just so happened that one of the boxes was hidden at this pullout but was now retired but since I was here I decided to look around the area. I didn't find the box but I enjoyed reading about all the mining equipment and I loved the view. Back in the car I continued into town and decided to just park and start walking and I figured I would find the areas for the boxes eventually. At the end of the parking area were three picnic tables and I remembered one of the clues mentioning that so I pulled that paper out and read the clues. I was in the right place so I searched and found Biggest Ghost Town by Pet Lover. I took it to one of the picnic tables and stamped in. 
Then I had to wait a bit to replace it because all of a sudden the place was busy. Finally I got the box back in place and was ready to move on. I noticed a small little visitors center across the road so I walked over there and picked up a map of the town and then found a spot to sit and mark out the rest of the boxes. One of the boxes was hidden just around the corner from the visitors center so I walked there and easily found Raina's Raven by Raven's Song. I found a nice place to sit and stamp in and then I rehid the box. Then there were two other boxes in the near vicinity but I was having a little trouble finding the landmarks so I decided to walk up to the Jerome Grand Hotel to find Cleopatra Hill by Old2AK. I found the box without a problem and stamped in while enjoying the views - it was wonderful sitting up so high and being able to see for miles. I replaced the box and then headed back into town. For the next 45 minutes I just walked around and went into a few shops and just enjoyed the area. There were two other boxes that I never saw the landmarks for so I decided to move on with my day and maybe come back tomorrow and look again - I really enjoyed my visit to Jerome and I do want to go back and visit again.From Jerome I drove to Clarkdale and tried to find a box called Heat and Steam but I had some trouble (I reallly didn't try very hard, I just wasn't feeling it) and decided to just move on.
Net I went to Tuzigoot National Monument. This is a ruin of a Sinagua pueblo sitting on a hilltop overlooking the Verde Valley. I first went to the visitors center and got my passport stamps and then I walked around the small museum they have there and looked around the gift shop. Then I headed out to the trail to the ruins. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed walking around the ruins and reading about the history of the pueblo. I also went to the top of the pueblo where you can see for miles and I just stood there for a little while enjoying the views. After about an hour there I decided to go back to Cottonwood and look for a couple of boxes. First I stopped in Old Town Cottonwood and walked the Jail Trail to find Jail Trail by Verde Birdy. I loved the trail and area but I didn't find the box - I even went back to the beginning and tried a second time but still no luck. Then I moved on to Riverfront Park to look for Verde Valley Relay for Life by Jim & Marcy. I ended up not looking for the box because the park was packed - there were people everywhere and I decided that I didn't want to chance looking for a box with that many people around. So I decided to go back to the hotel and just take a break for a little bit.A little before 3:00pm I left the hotel and made my way to Dead Horse Ranch State Park. After paying my fee and getting a map I drove to a parking area on Flycatcher Road and parked, then I walked back about a quarter mile to an old cemetery. Here I looked for Dead Horse by The Happy Campers. At first I had a little trouble - the place is just like the natural landscape with some graves thrown in. I needed a sign and it took me a while to find it. After about five minutes I found the box. It was under a SPOR and I kicked the rocks with my foot at first to make sure nothing jumped out at me. I didn't see anything but when I lifted the box I saw something move and I dropped the box and jumped back. At first I couldn't see anything but then it moved again and there was a one inch long scorpion just sitting there. I left the little bugger alone and went to find a place to sit and stamp in. I found a rock in the middle of some bushes so that I was hidden from a trail that was just on the outside of the fence. After stamping in I went back to replace the box. The scorpion was still there, so I grabbed a stick and coaxed him on his way. I then put the box back and got it covered with rocks again. I then walked back to the car to drive to the next box. The next stop was at the end of Kingfisher Road. I parked and walked the Verde River Greenway Trail to find Azroadie's Lucky Horse box. This was a short walk and an easy find. I stamped in, replaced the box and then returned to the car. Now that I had all the boxes in the park I made my way to the Quail Loop camping area to meet up with other letterboxers for a visit. Azroadie and Desert Flower were camping here and they had set up a little visit for a couple of hours. It turned out to only be Jolly Mon and his wife, Azroadie and Desert Flower, FamilyTreeShaker and myself. There was one box hidden at the campsite that I found and I also got clues to a couple of other boxes that I would get in the morning. I also did an exchange with Jolly Mon and then just visited. About 5:45pm it was getting chilly so I decided to leave and get something for dinner. I went into Old Town Cottonwood and had a bite to eat at Nic's Italian Steak and Crab House. I had a delicious meal and just relaxed. After eating I returned to the hotel to take a shower and get things ready for tomorrow. I now have everything I need for the event tomorrow and it is still early so I think I will get a good night's sleep so that I can enjoy the event tomorrow.
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