Viva! Mozart

On January 27, 2006, W. A. Mozart would have turned 250 years old. The world is celebrating this anniversary, but no other city in the world will have the types of festivities that Salzburg, Austria will have. This is the city where Mozart was born. I have a special place in my heart for Salzburg and all it's glory as I spent a semester there at an American School.

Mozart's Geburtshaus, or Birth House, is having a special exhibit called Viva! Mozart. I have taken part of the logo to make a special letterbox in honor of this famous Salzburger. The Viva! Mozart box will be out for this year only.

Sunset

This evening after getting off work, I decided to scout out a new location for a box I recently completed. I was unsuccessful at finding the perfect place with the time I allotted myself, but I managed to catch a nice sunset on one of East Texas' water ways. Look for the clues to my newest box to be posted soon, but for now....just enjoy the sunset.

400+ Miles

Saturday was an interesting day for me. I started out with going to Frankston to pick up Blue Butterfly's Pine Hill box. After finding this one, I trotted on down to Elmwood and checked in with Elmwood Gardens. Having carefully studied my map earlier, I'd printed out clues to boxes in Corsicana and Whitney. I didn't really think I'd make it out to Whitney, but you never know....when it comes to boxing....the possibilities are endless!

Anyhow, I left the community of Elmwood and made my way through Palestine to Corsicana.

Once in Corsicana, I hunted down the right address to find Petroleum Park. This is a nice tribute to the oil industry in Corsicana. I wasn't able to linger, though, as I needed to find this "pocket park" in the downtown area where Wolf Brand is located. I had a little trouble finding the correct street (even though I'd passed right by it and missed it), but once I found the street, the address was easy to locate. I was pleasantly surprised by this little park. It is kind of like an oasis in the middle of the businesses of downtown Corsicana. This park has three or four stones with inspirational quotes on them. I spent quite a bit of time here.

After I FINALLY forced myself to leave the pocket park, it was only a little after noon. I took out my map and measured the approximate distance to Hillsboro....only about thirty miles. No problem! Whitney is only a few miles on the other side of Hillsboro...I'm guessing maybe ten. So, I headed west again. As I made my way outside of Corsicana, I saw a sign that says Hillsboro is 40 miles away. This was a little more than I anticipated. However, I did make it to Lake Whitney SP with plenty of daylight left. I found Silver Eagle's Lorax box with no problem. This box was the main reason I'd driven the extra distance....I haven't been able to resist one of SE's Dr. Seuss boxes!

After checking in with Lorax, I went back to the trail head to search out Gone Fishin'. I followed the instructions, which said to look for trail marker number 8. As I walked around, I easily found 1-6, but alas, no 7 or 8. I did however, come to a bridge and decided that this MIGHT actually be the bridge where the box is hidden. I turned over virtually every rock that fit the description, but there was no box. Continuing on the trail, I saw some great birding in the area. They were flittering and fluttering all over the place. I tried to get a good picture of a few, but I'm not quite quick enough for those little critters. As I came around the trail, I did not see markers 9 or 10 either, but did see 11. I'm not sure if I did something wrong or what, but Gone Fishin' is still a mystery to me.

I got back in my car and chose a route to come back home. There was no need to go back the way I came, so I decided to head south and go through Waco. I even found the TX Ranger Museum on my map! However, I do not have the clues for it. Blue Butterfly had found this box previously, but she was out of town. Could she possibly remember where that box was hidden? If she did remember, would I be able to follow her instructions? hmmm....I took a chance and called her when I was about 20 miles from Waco. She'd be happy to help me! AND she wanted me to go find Baby Bear's Don't Mess with TX box, too. We'd just tackle one box at a time...after all...it was starting to get dark. When I got to Waco, I found the TX Ranger Museum and gave BB a call. She easily led me to the right place, but I had a little trouble uncovering it. I was there while the employees were leaving for the evening and the box is very close to the back door. I did manage to nab it and replace it though, and I'm glad I did. This is a nice stamp and I hope to go back sometime so I can actually go into the museum.

After finishing up, I called BB again and asked her if she knew where the suspension bridge was located. She couldn't remember how to get there, but she remembered the general direction from the TX Ranger Museum. I followed the Brazos River to the West, and BINGO! I found a suspension bridge. In no time, I was on the phone again (and the sun was VERY low by now) and she led me right to this box, too.

After stamping in, I finally ate a little dinner, then made the dreaded drive back home. I made a total of seven finds and missed one box. I had a terrific time with my mini-tour and will be ready to do it again in a few weeks!

Mini-Tour

I ventured out this morning with the intent of finding two boxes, but I took a few more clues with me just in case....and made an "emergency letterboxing call" to Blue Butterfly so she could help me out with a couple of boxes. I ended up stamping into seven boxes and unable to find one. I'm too worn out at the moment to share all the details, but I'll certainly make a point of it tomorrow. Until then, Happy Trails!

Three New Boxes!

Blue Butterfly has been very busy this weekend, as she planted two new boxes and posted the clues to her Tres Cruces box that she planted last weekend.

The Tres Cruces box is planted at an historic church and cemetery in Nacogdoches. This church even has a historic tree where the congregation used to meet, but the tree was heavily damaged during Hurricane Rita that blew through last fall.

The two boxes that were planted in Anderson County this weekend were Elmwood Gardens and Pine Hill. Elmwood Gardens is located outside of a garden by the same name in Palestine. Pine Hill is planted outside of a golf course in Frankston. This box was planted in memory of Roarin' Lion and Stinky Monkey's great grandparents who used to own this golf course. I can't wait to go out, find, and stamp in to these boxes!

Friday the 13th!

Blue Butterfly planted a box in the cemetery of Old North Church in Nacogdoches last weekend. She decided she wanted to write the clues a little differently, so I hunted out the box today to help her with the clue re-writing. As I was stamping in, I realized that I was in a cemetery....on Friday the 13th....as the sun was fading into the horizon.

Check back again soon for clues to Tres Cruces!

Happy Birthday, PSGuru

PSGuru is a member of our family who sometimes goes with us on our letterbox outings. He usually doesn't hunt for the boxes, but he does hunt for photo opportunities. He also helps us out by carving stamps to plant "out in the wild". Thanks, PSGuru and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

SFA Forest: Open Again!

Today, I followed Blue Butterfly and Roarin' Lion around as they stamped into a few boxes. The boxes we visited today were some that either I had already stamped into myself, or they were boxes I'd hidden. We had a fun time traipsing through different places in Lufkin and Nacogdoches. We even visited the SFA Experimental Forest which has FINALLY re-opened after Hurricane Rita blew through the area.

BB also planted a brand new box today, so check back again soon for a link to the clues.

Close Encounter

After leaving work today (the first day back after my two week vacation), I stamped in at Number Four, which was placed within the past week or so. I was surprised to see the stamp of The Boxalots, who had been there today, too! I'm hoping they've stamped into some of my boxes while they were in the area. I can't wait to go check on them soon!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I wanted to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year. Thanks to all the letterboxers who have planted in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. I have thoroughly enjoyed finding your treasures this year. I was even able to attend a small gathering of letterboxers in the Houston area at the Terrors of Telge Gathering in October. It was great meeting all of the attendees and sharing with others who have a passion for/addiction to this great hobby. An extra-special thanks to Blue Butterfly for finding out about letterboxing and for sharing this journey with me.

I celebrated the induction of 2006 by finding a box this morning! (How else would a 'boxer celebrate?) There was a new box planted in Nacogdoches over the weekend, so I stamped into Confetti at the SFA Azalea garden this morning. I didn't expect any flowers to be blooming in January, but I did find one particular white flower. I did not find a sign indicating the name of the plant, so it will remain a mystery to me.

May your finds be plentiful!
May your carvings be delightful!
Happy Trails in 2006!