Early Morning Letterboxing in Albuquerque

This coming weekend starts the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and I have some friends coming in for a visit. Today I was picking them up at the airport and since I had to make a trip to Albuquerque I decided to make an early morning of it and grab some letterboxes. I left Santa Fe around 6:00am and made my way down to Albuquerque. Leaving early allowed me to miss all the traffic and I arrived a little before 7:00am at the Erna Ferguson Library to find Wronghat's New Mexico Women #1: Erna Ferguson. When I parked in the lot I noticed two police cars parked in the far corner facing in opposite directions. I figured they were chatting but I didn't want them to check up on me looking for the box. So I grabbed my camera and took pictures of the alphabet sculpture attached to the front of the building. Then I just slowly walked around the building until I got to the box. Luckily I was out of view of the police and easily retrieved the box. I then found a bench to sit on and stamp in. After that I returned the box to its hiding spot and then pretended to take more pictures before returning to my car. The police never bothered me and I felt thankful for that.

Alphabet Soup by Pete Beeman

My next stop was the New Life Church on Eubank. I parked in the very empty parking lot and made my way to a labyrinth behind the church. I followed the clues to find Jane Booth's Labyrinth letterbox. I found the box and was happy to see I was the first finder. I stamped in sitting on a huge chunk of concrete and then replaced the box. I was really enjoying this early morning letterboxing - it was so peaceful and quiet. I decided to put my letterboxing things in to my car and I returned to the labyrinth to take a relaxing walk. When I was done with my walk I got in my car and headed to my next location.

I arrived at an Open Space area off of Camino de la Sierra and parked on the side of the road at the entrance. I started on the trail following the clues to locate the next box - Jane Booth's Dark Crystal: Jim Henson Series #2. It was a short and easy walk that brought me near to I40 and a very large Aluminum Yucca sculpture by Gordon Huether. I took a few pictures of the sculpture and walked around it - I found I really liked this piece. And the fact that it is visible from the interstate fascinated me. After enjoying the art I found the box and found a good place to sit. I stamped in and then rehid the box. I then spent a little more time enjoying this piece before retracing my steps back to the car.

Aluminum Yucca by Gordon Huether

Back in the car I drove to the Old Town area and parked at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History. The clues started me at some dinosaur sculptures near the entrance to the museum. I continued following the clues until I found trilla marion's State Fossil 2. I found a nice spot to sit and stamp in and I was still enjoying the early morning quiet. After hiding this box I was done with letterboxing in Albuquerque but I still had time before I needed to be at the airport. So I decided to head a little further south to Los Lunas for one more box.

It was a pleasant drive to Los Lunas and I easily found the next location - the Los Lunas Public Library. I was here to find Wronghat's New Mexico Women #2: Nina Otero-Warren. I followed the directions and parked then walked to a bench and took a seat. I then read the rest of the clues and found the box's hiding spot from my spot on the bench. So I retrieved the box and brought it back to the bench to sit and stamp in. I then replaced the box and headed back to the car. I looked at the clock and realized that I would get back to Albuquerque and reach the airport at the perfect time to pick up my friends. I really had a great time letterboxing this morning and thanks to the letterboxers that placed all these wonderful boxes.