Sunday Letterboxing in the Duke City

All summer long new letterboxes have been popping up all over 'The Duke City'. So, I have been planning a day when I could go and find these boxes as well as check on some of my boxes. So this past week I mapped out the boxes I could find and intermingled those with my boxes I wanted to check on. I also had carved a new stamp and made a new box for my Koi Fish letterbox. I had all my things ready before I went to bed last night so that when I woke up this morning I could get on the road quickly. And that is just what I did. I was heading to Albuquerque by 7:00am and looking forward to a day of letterboxing.

I usually try and plan a route so that I am not backtracking but as usual things happen. It was nothing bad but I had to backtrack for one box at the end. But it wasn't too out of the way. So as I entered Albuquerque I exited I25 onto Montano. My first stop was the Pueblo Montano Trail and the Coyote del Bosque letterbox. As I drove down Montano I could see hot air balloons in the sky and as I drove into the parking lot I noticed how many cars were there already. I grabbed my things and started down the trail hoping that I would be able to grab the box. The box was only a short ways down the trail but it took me about 20 minutes to get to it. I stopped and took pictures of the balloons and there were all these dead trees that had been carved (by chainsaw) by Mark Chavez. The sculptures were incredible and I took tons of pictures. I finally arrived at the box and thankfully no one was around. So it was an easy retrieve and stamping in was no problem. The box was rehidden and I was on my way to the next box. I returned the way I had come on Montano and I stopped for the next box but the place didn't open until 10:00am so here is where I had to backtrack. I continued along Montano to my next stop. The Tree of Life. The letterbox and the mosaic art piece. This was at a very busy corner and next to a Dunkin Donuts. I parked behind the donut place and walked to the sculpture. I took a few pictures then followed the clues to the box. It was hidden in a bush off to the side of the sculpture, but the only problem is that the cars in the drive up at Dunkin Donuts are looking right at you as they order. So I had to wait for a few minutes and then I was able to get the box. I didn't actually have to search for the box because I could see it by just walking around the bush. So I reached in when the coast was clear and grabbed it. I took it to a bench and stamped in. When I rehid it I made sure it couldn't be seen and that took moving the branches of the bush and reaching in a little further. By the time I finished hiding the box I was covered with scent. The bush was rosemary and both my arms had been rubbbing the branches - so all day I smelled like rosemary - I had this horrible thought of being roasted like a chicken. But as the day went on either I got used to it or it faded because I stopped smelling it eventually. Okay, it was time to move on. I drove to my Urban Forest box to replace the logbook (I had gotten a couple of notes that it was full). I found the box and put the new logbook in it. After I put the box back in place I looked at the old logbook. It was full except that the backs of the pages could have been used - I guess it doesn't matter now that the new one is in place. Now to check on a box that had been reported missing. I went to UNM and made my way to the duck pond. I went to the area and looked for the box but just as I was getting started some people showed up and sat nearby. I checked the area the best I could with that group watching and came up empty handed. It was never hard to find the box so I decided it was missing - no problem I had made a new one. I walked around for over a half hour looking for a better place. I found a spot but I am not sure if it is better - maybe just different. Anyway, it has been replanted and I have updated the clues. I had one more of my boxes to check on - Roosevelt. I arrived at Roosevelt Park and went to the tree the box is hidden in. I couldn't look for it because there were so many people around playing disc golf and a man sitting on a bench looking right in my direction. I scanned the tree and walked around it but I was unable to see the box. I decided to leave and I'll check on it another time.

Now I headed off to find Chevy on a Stick. This box is hidden near an art piece titled "Cruising San Mateo I" on a very busy street corner. I was glad it was Sunday. I walked around and took pictures and then went to find the box. I located the rock hiding the box and I looked around - there was no one. So I kicked the rock out of the way and then pushed the pouch with my foot a little ways away before picking it up. I stamped in on a bench and enjoyed the wonderful Wronghat carving. Luckily when I was done there was still no one around so it made hiding the box easy. I put the pouch in the spot I found it and then covered it with pine needles and then put the rock over it and threw more pine needles over the rock. I think it should be safe . The next box gave me a little history lesson about a well known computer company. The box is called Micro-Soft (It's Not Ice Cream!) and it is placed near the building where Microsoft was first started. I easily found the box and took it back to my car to stamp in. I enjoyed this box and learning a little bit of trivia but I still had more to find, so I continued on. So I headed downtown for my next box - KiMo. This box is hidden off Central by the Kimo Theatre. I always enjoy walking around this area. I took my time and took some pictures before following the clues and finding the box. I found a nice spot to sit and stamp in and then rehid the box in its spot. I spent a little more time walking around before heading back to the car. The next box was at the Rio Grande Zoo. It wasn't in the zoo just in the parking lot. It was a busy day at the zoo and the parking lot was full and there were people all over. I had to wait about 10 minutes to get the box and I took it to a shady spot to stamp in. A nice little carving of a panda bear (which really isn't a bear) and I loved the name of the box - Panda and the Poo. When trying to hide the box it took me a little time again waiting for a clear window of opportunity. Once I did get it back in its home I headed out to the Aquarium. Now I was searching for another of the Twinville Trekker's Beatles Series - Octopus' Garden. Again this place was busy and there were two people parked and sitting right at the hiding spot. I went through the boxes I had found and noted the ones I needed to find and then had a little snack. Finally the area was clear and I retrieved the box - the stamp was a nice carving of a cute little octopus. I took it back to the car and stamped in. Rehiding the box was easy as no one was around. On to the next box.

I made my way to Martineztown and Longfellow Park. This park has a sculpture by Luiz Jimenez called Southwest Pieta. The park was empty and it made it easy to find the box. I followed the clues and found the box. I sat on a stone wall under a tree and stamped in. This box marks my 3ooth find in the state of New Mexico. I liked the park and found quite peaceful and relaxing. After I stamped in and rehid the box I took a few pictures and returned to the car. The next box was just a few block away at New Heart, a cardiac rehab facility. Kind of a boring spot. Just a business area - parking lot, standard building and the road right on the side of the building. I didn't waste too much time here. The stamp was simple and I am not really sure what it is and the area did nothing for me. So I quickly stamped in and put the box back in its hidey hole and I was on my way. So it was back to Montano and the Unser Racing Museum. They were open and I only saw two cars in the parking lot. I followed the clues to the back of the building and parked. I felt a little conspicuous. There were no other cars back here and really nothing to see so I couldn't fake taking pictures if someone came out and asked me what I was doing. I kind of walked around trying to follow the clues without looking weird. I found the box and looked around - no one watching me - so I took it back to the car and stamped in. I didn't waste time rehiding the box and then made my way back to the front. I parked and took pictures and then I organized all my clues and letterboxing stuff so that the car wasn't a complete mess. I was done and ready to return to Santa Fe. I had a great day in the Duke City and thanks to all the letterboxers who placed boxes for us to find.