Once on I25 headed north from Hatch I kept my eye open for the exit for El Camino Real International Heritage Center. I took this exit and made my way up to the center. It was closed today (it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays) so there was no one around. This made it easy for me to find Wronghat's El Camino Real box. I was able to sit and stamp in and enjoy the views without any interruptions. After hiding the box I headed back toward I25 and stopped again at the sculpture along side the road leading to the center. Here I found ArnoldZiffel's Camino de Suenos box. Another quick and easy find and I also had the place to myself so it was a relaxing stamp in. I did notice that some geocachers had signed into the box but thankfully nothing was missing. I replaced the box and then continued on. Instead of getting back on I25 I just drove the frontage road and made my way to Fort Craig Road. I drove this well maintained dirt road for about five miles to Fort Craig. The visitor center was closed so I just grabbed a pamphlet and trail map from a kiosk and hit the trails. Not far down I stopped and found Wronghat's Detonation Ass letterbox. All the pieces of the box were there and in good shape but the box and baggies looked as though some kind of critter had torn them up. So I double bagged everything and took a couple of pictures so that I could let Wronghat know about it. I rehid the box and made sure it was as safe and protected as possible. I then continued on the trail to learn more about Fort Craig. I have to say that the story behind Wronghat's box is both fascinating and sad. Anyway, I enjoyed my visit here but it was time to continue on. My next stop was at the Socorro Nature Area in Lemitar. 
This was another spot I had never been to. I was here to find a box by nessancih13 - Snoopy in Nature. I only had to walk a short distance down the trail to find the box and thankfully there was a bench nearby to sit and stamp in. I then rehid the box and decided to continue the loop back to my car. I didn't see anyone else while I was there and I really enjoyed the solitude. I finally left the area and hit I25 again and not too far along I exited at San Acacia. I drove to the cemetery to find Astro D's Initial Point NM box. Again the area was void of other humans (well live humans) so I was free to hunt for the box undisturbed. I easily found the box and sat under the tree to stamp in. After I got the box back into its hiding spot I started back to my car. Just after I crossed the fence back into the cemetery a car drove up. Thankfully they didn't see where I had come from.So that concluded my search for boxes today and I was really ready to get home. Once I back on the road I didn't stop until I got home. I am glad to be back and I got a really warm welcome from the dogs. After unloading the car I called Thomas to let him know I made it back safely. I think I will wait to unpack until tomorrow. Another letterboxing trip and adventure is complete and as usual I found some wonderful boxes and visited with some extremely nice people. I look forward to the next trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment