I Am Ready For The Mania

This morning I left Santa Fe and made my way up to Parker  for the Disney Mania Colorado Style letterboxing event. Along the way I did some letterboxing in preparation for a weekend long marathon of Disney mania of letterboxes. As my usual, I was on the road early and excited to be on my way.

I drove non stop until I reached Raton. Here I took a break from the interstate to look for a couple of boxes. First I looked for Tiger and Rat by Quiet Place. This was a quick and easy find. I stamped in while sitting in the car and then replaced the box. The area was very quiet with no one around and that made retrieving and replacing the box incredibly easy. From here I moved on to the second box also by Quiet Place - Raton Brothers. this box is hidden at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Again, there was no one around and it made looking for the box easy. In no time I was done and ready to continue on my drive. Before getting back on the interstate I decided to fill the car with gas and that way I wouldn't have to stop again . . . except for letterboxes.

So I crossed into Colorado and made my next stop 30 miles into the state. I exited at Aguilar and headed to St. Anthony's Cemetery. I followed the clues and found where I needed to be. Once I was in the right area I needed to look in an evergreen in the lower branches for the box. But I encountered one huge problem - none of the evergreens had low branches, they had all been cut off. So, no box!!! {Side note: I emailed the placer and sent her pictures, I was in the right place and the box is gone.} The box I was looking for was Aguilar Blossom by Quiet Place. I did have a nice chat with an 84yo man who was born and raised in Aguilar. He was out visiting his wife's grave - she passed away only two months ago - he seemed so lost and thanked me for taking the time to talk with him. They had been married over 50 years, I can't imagine what that lost must feel like. But I enjoyed talking to him about the area. After about a 15 minute chat I headed out to continue on my drive.

Back on the interstate I drove for about 20 minutes and then exited at Walsenburg. I took US160 to CO12 and headed toward La Veta. I stopped at the first pullout on the right to look for From Texas with LOVE to the Spanish Peaks by Texas Wanderers. I found the box easily and stamped while enjoying the amazing views of the Spanish Peaks from this location. After replacing the box I retraced my drive back to Walsenburg and stopped across the road from The Bear Spot. I parked in a dirt pullout and looked for Bear Spot by Quiet Place. This was a quick and easy find and I was back on the road in no time.

I continued on my drive and this time made my way to the north end of Colorado Springs before exiting onto InterQuest Parkway and then onto CO83. Then after a short drive I turned onto Jones Road and ended up at Lincoln Mountain Open Space. I started the hike from the parking area and followed the clues for aMAZEing Trail by The Woodshed. I followed the clues and looked for the first four boxes and found zero. These boxes were found recently so I think I was having brain farts - it didn't make sense that I was unable to find none of the first four boxes. I then decided to turn around and head back to the parking lot and continue on to Parker and maybe on my way home I can try this again. And FYI - I renamed this park to Mark's Letterboxing Open Space since I was the only one there, the parking lot was empty and I didn't encounter anyone or anything on the trail. It was kind of cool having the whole place to myself and the views are amazing.

After leaving the park and getting back on CO83 I drove north to CO86 and then headed to Elizabeth. I made my way to the cemetery and quickly found Welcoming Spring by The Woodshed. After stamping in and then replacing the box I went in search of a second box in town. This one was at the Rec Center. I followed the clues and found the hiding spot but no box - the hidey hole was empty. So I left Elizabeth and drove back to CO83 and then turned north to Parker.

After about a three mile drive I turned onto Bayou Gulch Road and made my way to Pradera Golf Club to look for FORE!! by The Woodshed. I easily found the box but was also a bit confused. The clue said I was looking for a pouch but I found a square sterilite container. The logbook only had a couple of finds logged, the last one being in 2014. But I had noticed on the clue that someone logged in a find in 2015 and 2018 (but they weren't in the logbook). Not sure if there is a duplicate box out there - will have to check with the planter.

By this time I was tired. So I decided to call it a day and headed on to my hotel. Now I am settled and I need to decide what I am doing tomorrow. We will see how all this mania plays out!