Back in Albuquerque for More Letterboxes

This evening Thomas and I are going to a birthday party for a couple of friends in Albuquerque and we decided to go a little early and do some letterboxing. We left Santa Fe around 2:00pm and about half way to Albuquerque we noticed the sky was getting dark and it looked like it was raining up ahead. As we got closer to Albuquerque we did get a light drizzle but nothing major. So we made our first stop at the Marriott Pyramid North to look for C4's Out West series of two boxes. The first box is hidden in the parking area and I felt a little uncomfortable because it is right in front of the building and there is a window looking right out to the hiding spot. But I did my best not to seen and I found the box. I grabbed it and decided to take it into the hotel since that is where the second box is hidden and stamp into them at the same time. So we walked in and went straight to the elevators and made our way to the 10th floor. I easily found the second box and then I looked around for somewhere to sit and stamp in. There was no place but there was a table against the wall near the elevators so I decided to use that and just hope that no hotel personnel came by. Luckily only three people passed to get into the elevator and none of them said anything. I finished stamping in and then put the boxes back together and then replaced the one on the 10th floor before heading back down to the lobby. We left the hotel and replaced the other box and then made our way to the car. I just hope that no one saw us because there is that window and I couldn't tell if anyone was looking out. I also got two first finder certificates - I was surprised that I was the first finder on these boxes - I guess none of the Albuquerque boxers have had time to get out there.

We left the hotel and made our way to the next location - Sandia Casino. I had clues for four boxes there and to tell the truth I was a little nervous about hunting for these boxes. But Thomas and I had a plan for one person to look for the box and the other to be lookout. The first box we looked for was Farwell Road Trip by Sunny Delight. This box is hidden under the apron of a light post. We parked right at the post and looked around. This part of the parking area was empty - there was only one car anywhere near this post and that made us feel exposed. There was also a camera on the next light post over to our right. But the way we parked blocked us a little and I was able to get the box without a problem. I stamped in while in the car and the replaced the box and thankfully no security guards showed up. Next we crossed to another parking area to look for awty's 3 Girls Trippin'. We parked and I read the clues and figured out where I needed to go. I made my way to a shelter with a bench and I was able to see some rocks on top of the wall near a beam. I looked around and climbed on the bench and picked up the rock. I then felt around (unable to see on top - too high) and came up empty handed. I put the rock back and returned to the car - the hiding spot is right on the edge of the parking area and cars kept driving by so I didn't put too much effort into finding the box. At this point we decided to leave the car where it was and head inside the building to look for the next box.

We walked through the casino and back past all the conference and meeting rooms and out the back door. I read the clues for Sunny Delight's Mountain Moments and in no time I had found the box. I found a spot to sit and stamp in while enjoying the views of the Sandias. There was no one out back and I just hoped there were no cameras to see what we were doing. I replaced the box and we went back inside and then out the front entrance to look for Kaw's Wandering Eye. We quickly found the spot and the box. I stamped in and then replaced the box. We headed back to the car and Thomas thought we should check on the box I couldn't find one more time. Since I am taller I climbed onto the bench and Thomas was lookout. I moved the rock again and still didn't feel anything except something like hay or straw. So I checked with Thomas that the coast was clear and then hoisted myself up using the stones of the wall and looked in. It was still hard to tell but all I could see was the hay. We decided to call it quits and I am still not positive if the box is there or not. If the spot wasn't so out in the open I might have had Thomas climb into my hands and I would have helped him up for a better look but I think that would have been too suspicious and we wouldn't have had a lookout. So it was back to the car and on to the next  box.

From the casino we drove down Tramway to Academy and entered High Desert Park to look for Lolofifi's Oh Deer! letterbox. There were a couple of people in the park with their dogs but no one was looking at us so I followed the clues and ducked behind the metal sculpture and found a pile of rocks. I started moving them but ended up coming out empty handed. I reread the clues just to make sure this was the right spot and decided to look one more time. Besides the rocks there were quite a bit of dead leaves so I moved all the rocks and then swept through the leave with my hands and I still didn't find the box. I hope that I just missed it but I think it may be missing. Now it was time for one last box before we headed to the birthday party. the last box we looked for was another Lolofifi box and this was My Fifi and it is hidden in the parking lot of the zoo. This was a quick and easy find and I stamped in while sitting in the car. After replacing the box we made our way to the party.

We had a great afternoon and evening in Albuquerque and found some nice boxes. Today made my third day of letterboxing in Albuquerque in two weeks and I still have a few more boxes to find. Well really only one that I didn't get to look for and three that I am thinking are missing. So I guess if someone finds them or the placers note if they are missing or not then I might make another trip to find them later. Thanks to all who have placed all these wonderful boxes.

Oh, and I forgot to say that I reached another milestone today. When I found Lolofifi's My Fifi letterbox it marked my 700th letterbox found in New Mexico - WooHoo! That is a significant number when you realize that there were less than 50 boxes in the state of New Mexico when I started letterboxing back in February 2006.