Letterboxing and a Beautiful Drive

For a while now I have been planning a trip to Heron Lake to look for a Twinville Trekker box but every time I got ready to make the drive something got in the way. I have to say that we have been very busy this past year with work, travel and chores around the house and we are leaving in a week for another trip. I am pretty much packed and only have a very short list of last minute things to do before we leave. Since things are pretty much done around the house and we are ready for the trip I decided that I needed a day to get away and do a little letterboxing. Last night I gathered up clues and mapped out a drive and got things ready for a day of driving and letterboxing.

El Santuario de Chimayo

This morning I got up early, made some coffee, loaded the car and headed out. When I left the house it was still dark and I enjoyed the early morning drive - especially since there was absolutely no traffic. My trip planning took me up NM 599 to US 285. Once on US 285 I drove through Pojoaque and turned onto NM 503. Most people in New Mexico would probably figure out that I was heading to Chimayo. There is a box there (that I tried for twice before) that I wanted to find. I parked in the lot and when I got out of the car I was ambushed by four chihuahuas. They were out for a walk with there owner. They all wanted attention so I petted them while talking to an older gentleman who lived all his life in this area. After a few minutes he and the dogs left for home and I made my way to the Santuario. This time I was determined to find the box. So I followed the clues to the letter and had no problem locating the box. I was happy that there was no one around because it made me more comfortable looking around for the box. I took El Santuario de Chimayo (originally planted by Hi Desert and now adopted by Astro D) to a picnic table and stamped in. When I was done I replaced the box and then headed back to the car.

The next stop on my map was in Espanola. So I returned to US 285 and headed north. When I got to Espanola I made my way to the Bond House. I parked and noticed that there weren't any cars around but I still felt conspicuous and wasn't sure if there was someone in the place. So I read the clues while sitting in the car but was having a hard time figuring things out. So I grabbed my camera and walked around trying to find landmarks. I stood by this railing and made some connections and eventually noticed a suspicious pile of rocks under a bush. Luckily where it was located I could grab it and be hidden from view of the house.

Rio Chama Bri

I was also able to sit on a wall (hidden from view of the house) and stamp in. When I was done I replaced the box and returned to the car without any problems.

Now it was time to get to Heron Lake to look for the box that launched this trip. So I sat back and enjoyed the drive through Abiquiu and on to Tierra Amarilla. That drive is one of the most beautiful in New Mexico and I absolutely love it. I arrived at the lake and made me way to the parking area for the Rio Chama Trail Head. I grabbed my letterboxing bag and started following the clues. I walked down some rickety old stairs and then down to the river. I then crossed the swinging bridge to the other side of the river. I found the sign in the clue and then counted off the steps. I found the rocks and the box. I sat on one of the rocks and stamped into Twinville Trekkers' Beatles Series #25 "Mother Nature's Son".

Friend 1

When I was done I replaced the box and then decided to walk a little further down the trail. This area is really beautiful and I enjoyed my time out here and I enjoyed the letterbox. Eventually I made my way back to the car. Once back at the car I looked at a map and decided to head back to Santa Fe through Tres Piedras and Taos.

Friend 2

I made this decision for a couple of reasons - one, I wanted to check on a box in Tres Piedras (even though it was marked as unavailable) and two, I wanted to check on one of my boxes out near Tres Ritos. I guess there was another reason - I really love this drive as much as the one through Abiquiu. So after a nice drive to Tres Piedras on US 64 I found the church in the clue and checked for the box - it isn't there. But I loved the church - I wanted to go inside but there was a padlock on the door so I just walked around the outside.

Friend 3

I didn't have to walk around alone because as soon as I got out of the car I was greeted by three very cute and friendly dogs. After about 15 minutes I jumped back into the car and headed to Taos. I continued through Taos and then took NM 518 towards Tres Ritos. A few months ago I received a note that someone couldn't find my Descansos box.  I brought the clues with me and followed them exactly as they were written - I found my box without any problems. The only thing that might be a problem was that the American flag painted on one of the rocks is pretty faded - but it is still noticeable - so I decided to leave the clues as is. After making sure the box was hidden well I continued my drive home. I took NM 518 to NM 76 to NM 503 which got me back to US 285 just north of Pojoaque where I was early this morning.I had a great time driving Northern New Mexico and it was a very relaxing day out. I found three great letterboxes and got to check on one of my boxes.

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.

Pigs in the Mountain

I received notice that there were pigs loose in the mountains of Santa Fe. So this morning I grabbed the reports and headed up Hyde Park Road. I have to say that driving up the mountain is one of my favorite things to do, especially this time of year. This morning was a bit on the cool side - you know that pre-autumn weather. I only saw a couple of cars during my drive and that was fine by me.

That'll Do Pig!

I first drove up to the parking area for the Borrego Trail. I then followed the clues and took the trail for about 100 yards until I arrived at an old outhouse on one side of the trail and an old stone wall on the other. These were the landmarks I needed to find the box. Standing near the stone wall I took a compass reading and the suggested steps and quickly found the box. I took it back to the stone wall so I could sit and stamp in. I took my time and enjoyed the peace and quiet of this beautiful morning - I was the first finder of the My Favorite Swine: Babe. After stamping in and replacing the box I took a little time to sit and relax and just enjoy the moment. Then I made my way back to the car and headed back down the mountain to my next stop.

Best Friends

I pulled in to the Black Canyon Campground and parked in the day hikers area. I grabbed the clues for the next box - My Favorite Swine: Piglet. It was only a short walk from the parking area to the box and the clues were easy to follow so I didn't have any problems nabbing the box. Nearby I found a large stump to sit on and stamp in. When I opened the box the first thing I saw was a clue to a bonus box. So I copied the clue and then proceeded to stamp in to the Piglet box. Again I was the first finder. After stamping in I replaced the box and then looked for the bonus box. It was literally about 10 feet from the Piglet box. I used the same stump to sit and stamp in and then replaced the box. I really enjoyed my couple of hours in the mountains and I think I will have to take another drive up there soon.

Finding a Captain

Well to tell you the truth it really wasn't about finding a Captain as much as it was driving someplace, entering and asking for it.

Captain America

This was a very quick and easy indoor box. All I had to do was drive to Big Adventure Comics on Cerrillos Road (and I hate Cerrillos Road) and then go in and ask for the box - Captain America by BirchMoon. Of course, I caught the guy off guard and I had to explain what I was looking for. Finally he realized what I was looking for and he found the box. He then asked me about letterboxing so I gave him an abbreviated lesson. I then took the box to my car to stamp in. When I was done I went back in and returned the box.

I felt like I should at least look around the store but I have never really been into comic books - so I just thanked the guy and left. I loved the carving - BirchMoon did a great job.

A Pig and An Oath

Today was errand day and I was out and about in Santa Fe. So I decided since I was going to be all over the city I might as well make a couple of stops to find two letterboxes.

My Favorite Swine

So after running three of my errands I made my first stop for a letterbox. This box is called My Favorite Swine: Lepita by ArnoldZiffel. She has planted about four boxes in this series. So I followed the clues and parked in the lot but I was having trouble finding the box. I checked all my directions again with the compass and noted that I was in the right area but it wasn't making sense. So I read my clues again and still came up empty handed and nothing was making sense. So I sat in my car and thought for a minute and then decided to drive around the parking lot (it is a very big lot). I then realized that the the building I was at is surrounded on three sides by parking. So I decided to take the clues and use them and only look in one parking lot. And that eventually led me to the box. The parking lot was full and that helped me because the cars blocked me from any muggles. I nabbed the box and took it back to the car to stamp in. I am loving this Swine series of boxes - thanks ArnoldZiffel. I put the box back in place and headed out to continue my errands.

Night's Watch Oath

After two more errands I decided to get the second box and then it would be time to head back toward home. I made my way to Fort Marcy Park. I parked and followed the clues. I had much better luck with this box and I found it on my first try. The park was very quiet and the place where the box was hidden was empty. I found Song of Ice and Fire: Night's Watch Oath. When I opened the box I was in awe. The stamp is 4" x 6" and is all cursive writing. I really loved the stamp and it gave me a challenge to try and carve a similar stamp - maybe not as big. So I sat and stamped in and then returned the box to its hiding spot. I had a great time looking for these boxes today and am looking forward to any new ones that come along.

A Quick Saturday Find

After paying some bills online this morning I decided to check my emails. I had a notification of a new box in Santa Fe and only a couple of miles from my house.

Song of Ice and Fire: House Targaryen

I also had a few errands to run as well. So I printed out the clue and gathered my letterboxing bag and headed out.I ran one errand and then made my way down Governor Miles Road and then to the Monte del Sol Charter School. The place was very quiet and I was glad it was Saturday and not a school day. That meant that I didn't have to worry about someone from the school coming out to ask what I was doing.
I parked the car next to the entrance to the school and followed the clues. It was pretty easy and a very quick find. I stamped in while sitting in the car. I was the first finder and got a nice little first finder card. After stamping in I replaced the box and went back to running my errands. It was a great little outing. But when I returned home I logged in to AQ and found that were two more new boxes in Santa Fe - well those will be for another day.

Viewing Petroglyphs and Hunting a Lorax

I have been wanting to get down to Albuquerque to do some letterboxing because I had clues for six boxes that I wanted to find. But things have been busy and every time I made plans something else came up. Today, though, I had nothing on the calendar and nothing intervened so last night I gathered all the clues and my letterboxing stuff and made a pile ready for this morning. I left the house around 9:00am and arrived in Albuquerque a little before 10:00am.

Petroglyphs at Boca Negra

My first stop was at the Petroglyph National Monument Visitors Center. This is on Unser between the Rinconada and Boca Negra Areas. Surprisingly there are no petroglyphs at this location. You can get information, the National Passport Cancellation Stamp and visit a small bookstore but you can't see any petroglyphs. Oh, and you can get a letterbox. After talking to the ranger (who was very rehearsed and very impersonal) and getting a map I headed out to find the letterbox - Plethora of Petroglyphs. The box was only a short distance from the Visitors Center and I found it quickly. I found a flat-ish rock and sat down to stamp in. I then replaced the box making sure it couldn't be seen from any direction. It was a short trip back to my car to head to the next box.

I left Petroglyphs and headed back to I40 and then to I25 so I could make my way to Belen to find Respite letterbox. After a nice little drive I arrived at the Harvey House Museum. I parked and took out my phone and camera so I could walk around the parking area and look for the box without being conspicuous.

Horses at Harvey House

There seemed to be a lot of visitors to the museum but fortunately no one seemed to pay me any attention to me. Anyway I took a few pictures and then sat on the wooden wall barrier right next to the box. The parking lot finally was empty so I leaned back and reached over the rock and grabbed the box. I then took it back to my car to stamp in. Once I finished stamping in and had the box back together again I walked back to the hiding spot and luckily no one was around so I put the box back in place and covered it with rocks and a little bit of dirt and returned back to my car. By this time it was close to noon and I was starting to get hungry. So I made my way back to the main road and found a place eat and after a quick lunch I headed to a gas station to fill the car with gas.

Ernie Pyle

With a full tank of gas I returned to I 25 and headed back to Albuquerque. I exited at Avenida Cesar Chavez and then made my way to Girard. I made my next stop at the Ernie Pyle public library to find my third Wronghat letterbox of the day called Ernie Pyle. I found the first couple of landmarks but then somehow I got a little confused about the rest of the clues and it took me a couple of minutes to realize what I was looking for and by that time a couple of people had arrived at the library and were parking their bike. So I had to wait until they entered the library. I then sat right near the hiding spot and just grabbed the box and stamped in right there. It was another quick and easy find and a fast stamp in and I was ready to move onto my next location.

The next letterbox I was going to look for is actually a series of three boxes and is in Zuzax, New Mexico. Until I read those clues I didn't even know there was a Zuzax, New Mexico. The name of the box is The Lorax in Zuzax. This box is hidden on a short little hike on the Lower Pine Trail. I followed the directions to the parking area and gathered my things and headed down the trail. It was only a short distance when I thought I noticed a landmark for the first box, but after examining the picture a little more I realize I hadn't found the right stump. I continued down the trail and when I reached the right stump it was obvious and I quickly found the box after that. I grabbed the box and found a flat rock to sit on and stamped in. The stamps from the boxes go together and make a complete picture so I made sure to stamp the first stamp in the right location so that I could put the other two in the right places as well and get the full picture. I returned the box to its hiding spot making sure that it was camouflaged well and then continued down the trail. Again the distance to the next box was short and I quickly noticed the very large boulder that the Lorax was standing on in the picture. This box was a little more challenging to find. The clue said it was hidden among the oaks near the rock the Lorax was standing on and there were quite a few of those oak trees. But with careful deduction I quickly found the box. So now I only had one more box to find. I returned to the trail and continued on.

The Lorax

At this point the clue read make your way to where the riverbed meets the dirt trail. It was at this point that I realized I had been in the riverbed all this time instead of the actual trail. When I found the dirt trail the clues told me to take that trail and head back toward the parking area. So I followed those directions and tried to find the location pictured in the clue. I thought I found it and looked around the area for the box and came up empty handed. I decided that it didn't quite look like the right spot so I continue down the trail. As I rounded a corner I instantly recognized the picture in the clue. Now that I had the right location the box was easy to find. Luckily, the rock that the box was hidden by was flat and made a great place to sit and stamp in. Now this was the only box with a logbook so it took me a little more time to stamp in. In this box was the third stamp, the logbook, a plantable pine tree and a first finder certificate. After stamping in I returned the box to its hiding spot, packed up my letterboxing stuff and headed back to the car. I really enjoyed this box and the stamps along with it and the fact that they made a nice little picture when all put together. I also enjoyed the nice walk, it was very peaceful out there and I only saw one other person the entire time I was on the trail.

Back in the car I thought about what a nice day I had and was thankful for the letterboxes that Wronghat planted – I always love Wronghat's boxes and always enjoy looking for them. So Imade my way back to I40 and headed back west to take the exit for Cedar Crest. I decided I wanted to drive the back way to Santa Fe along Hwy 14. This route back home is a lot more enjoyable than the I25 traffic and by the time I arrived home I was relaxed and ready for some dinner. So today I found 6 boxes and got some great stamps in my logbook thanks to the Albuquerque letterboxers.