Tucson Letterboxing Adventure

Making my way to the 3rd Annual Tucson gathering.
February 1 - 5, 2007

A Gathering Day

Well the event finally arrived and I arrived at the park a little early and met Azroadie, Desert Flower, Kristal, Varkdog and AMK. Immediately we started stamping - had to get those event stamps, exchanges and personal travelers. The day stated out cold but quickly warmed up - it turned out to be great weather. As the morning progressed other boxers arrived . . . angel1551us, AZJokester, Sonoran Girl, Saoirse, Towanda, eicats, and Funhog. After getting all the exchanges I gathered up all the clues for the boxes planted in the park for the event (7) and headed out with Funhog to find them. After a couple of hours searching the park we returned to the Ramada with all 7 images. There were other boxes planted in Tucson for the event as well. Thanks to all who planned the event - I had a great time and met some wonderful people. Also, Thank You to Desert Flower for cooking us breakfast.

After visiting and exchanging stories and stamps I said my goodbyes to make my way back home to Santa Fe. There were four boxes along the way that I wanted to find, so I mapped out my plan of attack. Slowly but surely I found all four boxes and got to visit some great places - I found Arizona Mystery No. 1, Rolling Stones Remixed, Rincon Valley and To The Bat Cave! befort leaving Arizona. Once I had all the boxes - I stopped to fill the car with gas and get something to eat. I also got a large coffee to help keep me alert on the road. I made it to Deming around 6:30 pm and debated whether I should stop at a hotel and rest and finish my trip in the morning. I was feeling pretty good, so I continued on my way. Once I reached Socorro I again stopped for gas and coffee. Only a couple of hours from Santa Fe. I was awake and alert and the driving was going well. My own bed and pillow sounded even better being this close to home so I continued. I made it home at 11:30 pm. After showering I hit the bed and was out in no time - it sure is nice to travel but really nice to be home again.

This turned out to be a great trip - I met some nice people, found some great boxes and visited some beautiful areas. I will work on a photo album soon.

A Day in Tucson

Well I spent the day in Tucson today. I did a little boxing and a lot of walking. I decided to have a relaxing morning - coffee and breakfast while watching the news. Around 10:00 I got my butt in gear. I started at the closet place to my hotel with a box. Sweetwater Wetlands - I found a box planted by Funhog. I had a nice walk all over the area. There were lots of birds, unfortunately I don't really know what kind they were. I took a long relaxing walk after finding the box and then moved on to the next box.

I was having a little trouble driving around Tucson and navigating my way to the areas I needed. Eventually, I found the next box - pretty much a drive by - but a great stamp by Azroadie. After finding the second box I decided to head to Sentinel Peak. Unfortunately I couldn't even find the trailhead - but I did enjoy some incredible views of the city and I did enjoy walking around up there.

Next I drove to the Santa Cruz River Park. I had a great 2 mile walk, although by this time it was getting hot. I found another box by Azroadie and then returned to my car. By this time I was getting tired and was ready to return to my hotel . . . but I decided to try for a few more boxes. I headed to Iron Horse Park. Two more boxes by Azroadie connected by a giant snake. I couldn't get over this bridge - incredible!

Okay, now I am really tired but I realized another box was just around the corner - well if I had figured it out correctly. So I drove to the area - WooHoo!!!!! - I was right. Found the box and stamped in. I decided to fill the car up with gas and get some supplies for the drive home tomorrow and then make my way to the hotel for an early evening. I've had dinner now and I organized everything that I need for the Tucson, Arizona, Letterboxers Gathering. I am really excited about the gathering, I am looking forward to meeting some of the people whose stamps I have been finding - it should be a blast - I'll keep you posted.

A Very Long Day

Today started early and it is almost over - and it's really now tomorrow. I started my letterboxing in Papago Park. It was very quiet and peaceful, I think I only saw 3 or 4 people. I found 4 boxes and spent a great part of the morning in the park. Afterwards I headed to the ASU campus. I found two boxes very quickly but the third one that I hunted eluded me. M n M Maniac took me on a great tour of the ASU campus which started at Gammage Auditorium. Unfortunately, I did not find the box - the area where it was suppose to be was blocked off by fencing and they were relandscaping the area. Oh well, I did enjoy walking the campus - oh to be young again!!!

After all that walking I debated which boxes to look for next. I opted for The Prospector and I found Gold! Once done with that I head for my next box - I was so happy that Astro D prodded me to solve The Mystery of Black Bean the Dreaded Pirate (7). Well, I arrived at the place where I thought Black Bean was hiding. I followed the clues and everything seemed to fall into place. I found the spot and started looking for the box. Couldn't find it. Reread the clues and tried again. Still no luck. I really didn't want to leave the area without the box, so I emailed night writer and told her my dilemma. While waiting for her reply I went and filled up the car with gas and washed (it was covered in mud from looking for the Cabinet Box on Thursday. While at the car wash I got an email from night writer and she said she was planning on checking on the box anyway but she didn't have a ride. We agreed I would go and get her and head to the area and check on the box together. She confirmed it was missing and that I was in the right spot. I didn't get the box but I did get two exchanges (night writer and star writer) and two cooties (curly cootie and checker cootie.

By this time it is after 6:oo pm and I needed to get to Tucson. So I got directions and headed out. After stopping to get some dinner and a few other items I checked into the hotel. After eating and then taking a shower I logged in my finds wrote in my journal and planned for my next day of boxing in Tucson. So I am just now getting to write this blog. It was a long day - but it was a very good day. Talk to you tomorrow.

A Day on the Road

It was a dark, cold and snowy morning . . . as I left Santa Fe to make my way to Arizona. But a little cold and snow doesn't stop a letterboxer. My day turned out to be a real adventure - snow, cold, wind, rain, traffic, mud and letterboxes.

Once I got out of Santa Fe the snow stopped and the roads cleared. I thought that the day would be great. I was doing fine and I arrived in Socorro - I found the first box easy enough but by the time I got to the second box the snow was coming down hard and my hands were freezing. I got the box back into place and cranked the heater up in the car and headed for the next stop - Hatch, NM. The Chile Capital of the World! This should have been an easy find - but when the wind takes your clues it becomes harder. After a few minutes of chasing my clues, a cactus intervened and caught them. Funny, but the cactus was about two steps from the box. So much fun!

From Hatch I headed down Hwy 26 to Deming - I just had to find that Cabinet Box (a box hidden in a filing cabinet in the middle of the desert) - Hmmmmmm! It was easy enough to find - but opening the file drawers proved to be a challenge. And so much mud, and in the desert. The logbook was soaked and pretty much useless. I cleaned the stamp and box and replaced the logbook and the ziplock bags. Now my car is covered in mud and do you think I could find a car wash - NO! I also went to Spring Canyon and found the Ibex Box - an easier drive, no mud and the wind seemed to relaxed for a while - a very enjoyable time.

Now I headed to Arizona and the rain started - it rained off and on for about an hour, then stopped. I decided to go to the Willcox Playa Wildlife Viewing Area. It started out fine and I found the box, but while stamping in it started to rain. Thankfully I had a jacket with a hat and could cover my journal and the letterbox jounal. A fast walk back to the car and I was warm and dry again. I decided that it had been a long day and I wanted to get to Phoenix before it got too late so I got back on the Interstate and drove - until I got to Tucson. Wow! The traffic was terrible - it took me almost an hour to get through town.

Well I made it to Phoenix and checked in to the hotel. After a good shower and something to eat I feel great. I am looking forward to hunting boxes in the Phoenix area tomorrow. And tomorrow night I will be in Tucson. I'll keep you posted on the letterboxing adventures.