A Letterboxing Road Trip Through Central New Mexico

For the past few weeks I have been wanting to get out and spend the entire day letterboxing. Unfortunately with work and other commitments it wasn't possible . . . until today. When I realized a couple of days ago that today was free and clear I started making plans. My original plan was to go to Albuquerque and hunt for boxes there. (At present there are at least 12 boxes that I haven't found yet in Albuquerque.) But then I decided I also wanted a road trip. I didn't want to spend the night anywhere so it needed to be a road trip that I could do in a day. So I started mapping out clues. There are some boxes in the southeast portion of the state, some around Las Cruces and a bunch in the northwest corner of New Mexico - but all of those would have required me staying overnight. Then I realized that I could do a trip through Central New Mexico, find boxes and get to visit some great places - and all in a day.

So let's get the day started. And it started early. I was on the road by 5:30am. I love driving in the morning, there is less traffic and it seems so peaceful. I started my trip by heading south on US285. This first part of the trip wasn't very exciting, it was just a nice relaxing drive. I drove from Santa Fe to Clines Corners and then onto Encino. In Encino I stopped and took pictures in a small cemetery and also got some pictures of antelope (they were everywhere). At Encino I turned onto NM3 and headed to Duran. I took a few pictures and then continued my trip on US54 driving through Corona and Carrizozo to my first letterbox stop in Tularosa. I made my way to the Tularosa Public Library. I had been here before about a year or so ago - I found a box located in the library and looked for one outside the library (which turned out to be missing). The planter of that missing box eventually replaced the box and that is why I was in Tularosa - to find Tularosa Two. I had to wait a few minutes because there were three kids sitting in the area and one was on the bench I needed. That kid soon moved over to another bench and I sat on the bench with the box. I pretended to be texting on my phone and casually reached into the plant and grabbed the box. I waited a few minutes and then went to my car to stamp in. It was a nice stamp and I enjoyed the box. Rehiding the box was much easier as the kids had left by then and I didn't have to worry about them seeing me. So I had my first box of the day and was ready for more. From Tularosa I had to retrace my drive back to Carrizozo for the next box. So I drove back to Carrizozo in search of "The Book of Eli". (They filmed the movie of the same title here.) When I arrived in town I followed the clues to the Carrizozo Heritage Museum. I reread the clues in the car and then pretty much figured out the hididng spot from there. So I headed to the spot. I was looking for a concrete block and I found one but no box. I was supposed to be on the left side of a building at its north corner. I took out my compass and realized I was at the south corner so I went to the north corner - no concrete block. But I did find the box partially hidden by some weeds or a bush - I couldn't tell if they were weeds or a bush. I took the box back to the car to stamp in and I'm not really sure what the stamp had to do with "The Book of Eli" except that the movie was filmed in Carrizozo. When I rehid the box I tried to make it match the clues. But I don't think that the box will last - it just isn't a good spot. Anyway, I decided to drive down 12th Street to see where they did the filming. It was really colorful and you could tell that everything had been repainted. I can't wait to see the movie just so I can compare the area with what I saw today. Oh, and you have probably heard about and seen the painted horses and cows that were done as art projects - well Carrizoz has their version - painted mules - EVERYWHERE!

Time to continue on - I still had a little ways to go retracing my drive. I continued up US54 to the junction with NM55. Here I turned left and continued driving, this being a new part of the drive. If you look at a map or if you have ever driven NM55 you will see that the road has lots of twists and turns - you could even say it zigs and zags - right Twinville Trekkers. This road inspired the Trekkers to plant a box called Zig Zag (cute name). In her clues for the box she mentions that the road reminds her of an Etch a Sketch drawing and I agree. To find the box I had to locate a certain mile marker, which was easily done and then another sign with certain writing and then a tree with a bush at its base - Bingo! I found the box. It was a great box and a nice location. Out in the middle of nowhere and very peaceful - I saw one car drive along NM55 while I stamped in. I enjoyed sitting out and looking at the rolling hills, there were a few cows out and there were the mountains in the distance - a relaxing stop to say the least. With the box back in its hiding spot I continued on my way.

The next section of NM55 was no stranger to me. I have been to that area numerous times. This area is home to Salinas National Monument (Abo, Quarai and Gran Quivira Ruins). I only stopped by Gran Quivira this trip and enjoyed a nice walk among the ruins before heading to my next stop. (Side Note: If you are ever in New Mexico or if you are from New Mexico and haven't visited the Ruins I highly recommend it.) My drive was taking me to Tajique and more specifically the Fourth of July Campground. From NM55 I had to take Forest Road 55 for about 7 miles though the area of the Trigo Fire to get to the campground. It was a nice drive and the dirt road was okay (but I can't imagine driving it if it had been raining). Once at the campground I found the parking area for the Crimson Maple Trail and parked. With letterboxing supplies and clue in hand I started up the trail. I only had to walk for about 15 minutes to reach the letterbox. It was a very peaceful walk through oaks and maple trees. I found the box and stamped in - the box is called 1/4th of July. It was a pretty clever stamp - an 'L' shaped design of different leaves and if you stamped it four times rotating the stamp 90 degrees each time you could make a frame. The logbook suggested that you stamp or paste a leaf into your completed frame. After stamping in and then rehiding the box I found a bench and sat and listened to the birds for a little while before continuing on my way.

So far I was having a great day. I found all the boxes I was looking for, I was driving through a beautiful part of New Mexico, the weather was perfect and I was more relaxed than I have been in a while. I was now getting closer to the end of my trip but it wasn't over yet. I still had a bit of driving to do and one more box to find. So I drove back down Forest Road 55 to NM55 and shortly turned on to NM337. I reached the village of Tijeras and made my way to NM14 (The Turquoise Trail). I was headed to NM536 and Tinkertown. Twinville Trekkers hid a box here called The Fortune Teller. The clues were very specific - pay the entry fee, find the fortune teller and get your fortune told, take that to the gift shop counter and get the letterbox. I did the first two parts and then walked through the museum and enjoyed all the oddities - it was a very interesting place and I enjoyed my time there. I returned to the gift shop, showed them my fortune and got the box. I found a bench outside and stamped in - it was a nice stamp and box. - thanks Twinville. I then made my way back to NM14 and on to Santa Fe and home. I had a fantastic day of letterboxing and I loved my road trip - I love letterboxing and I love the places that it takes me!

A view looking down NM54.