Louisville Twice

Cave Hill Cemetery on Presidents Day 

My boxing buddy, G-MA, and I have been talking about going to Louisville all year.  We made plans to go 3 times and each time we canceled due to rain.

I always plot the course for our trips and I realized that G-MA had been to Louisville without us.  I was looking at boxes in Cave Hill Cemetery and saw that she already had some.  I assumed that she had all the boxes there so Daddy's Favorite Princess and I went over on Presidents Day and got all the boxes at Cave Hill and a small cemetery next door. 

Cave Hill Cemetery on Easter Monday

When I got home and started logging the boxes I realized that G-MA didn't have all the boxes there.  Oops.  So, when we finally went together we had to go back to Cave Hill so we would both have all the boxes there.

Most of my kids were out of school on Monday, I took the day off, and G-MA, the princess and I went to Louisville.  We left at 8 am and traveled 2 hours. 

We started off in Cave Hill Cemetery and the small cemetery next door.  We performed maintenance on my box and went to lunch.  Then we slowly started heading south stopping at cemeteries and parks to get boxes. 

Calvary Cemetery  

After a while we decided to go downtown and look for just a few more boxes before heading home.  Downtown was very busy and we were not able to find the boxes we looked for there.  We stopped for ice cream and then looked for one more box on the riverfront.  The riverfront park was so busy we thought there was no way the box was still there.  But we were pleasantly surprised to find it.  It was a great way to end our trip.

When we were done there we headed back home.  There is a rest area box along the way that I need but the rest area is currently closed :(

We arrived home at 8pm.  Altogether G-MA found 15 while the princess and I found 23. We found and left a few hitchhikers on both trips and I planted a box on the second trip.   

Camping at Spring Mill

Kids playing stilts in the village

This weekend my family and I camped at Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Indiana.  It is hard to believe that we haven't been here in 5 years!

We came up Friday night stopping to get supper on the way.  Spring Mill is about 2 hours from home.  We set up in the dark and it was cold.  We made a small fire knowing that we needed to save the wood for meals on Saturday and Sunday.

Selfie with hubby

Saturday morning we got up, ate breakfast, and headed down to the pioneer village.  I was surprised to see that most of the buildings were open and there were a few reenactors so late in the year.  We spent a few hours exploring the village.

When we were done at the village we went back to the campground for lunch.  We were just having sandwiches because we needed to get out and look for letterboxes.

Boxing 

We have 2 boxes in the park and someone marked both of them as missing.  We checked on them this weekend and they were both right where they were supped to be.  We did update the clues and included pictures to help future finders get the boxes.

We looked for 3 boxes too.  The first one was in a pouch and the logbook was completely soaked.  We struggled to find the second one because there were so many rocks that looked the same.  But we did find it.  The last box was in a stump near a shelter house.  I believe that the stump was almost entirely rotted away and we could not find the box.  The previous boxer could not find it either. 

Stressful paddle boat ride

Don't tell, but we planted a box while we were there but I won't post the clues until next month. 

Sunday morning we got up, had breakfast, and started to tear down our camp.  It sprinkled on and off and at times there were really bad wind gusts blowing our stuff everywhere.  

We took our time breaking camp and had lunch at the campground.  When we were letterboxing on Saturday, we noticed that they now rent paddle boats, canoes, row boats, etc.  On our way out of the park we stopped and rented some boats.  Bantha Rider and Boxing Turtle took a canoe and the rest of us were in a paddle boat.  It was really hard getting around with the large gusts of wind.  

When we were done with the boat ride, we left the park and started looking for ice cream. 

For the weekend, we looked for 3 letterboxes and found 2.  Did maintenance on 2 of our boxes and planted another.  On the way home from the park I got some ideas for other boxes.  Maybe I can plant up this way for the next PAL Day. 

Happy New Year :)

First plant of the new year :)

I spent part of the first day of the new year out boxing and caching.  I planted a new box in Santa Claus, In and did maintenance on 3 boxes.  I also found 3 geocaches while I was out.  I have a feeling that I will find more geocaches than letterboxes in 2016 :(

I will be participating in Box of the Month again in 2016.  I know, I said I wouldn't do it again but I love getting the stamps.  I have already had one finder on my 2016 BOTM.  The last stop for my 2015 BOTM was St Louis.  I hope it didn't wash away in the floods.

Lumpy Cards: Peacock Plumage

I am using my 2016 BOTM stamp for an LTC swap. These are my cards for the "Lumpy Card Lovers" swap.  They are called "Peacock Plumage."  Fun name.  They have cardboard, encyclopedia & music pages, paint chip, burlap, twine, and a rind stone.  I really enjoyed making these.

The Peanuts Gang: Typical Linus

I guess 2016 will be the year of the postal.  I am already signed up for 3 (counting BOTM).  I am in "The Peanuts Gang" and "Star Wars Characters."   My Linus is ready to go and I have my Ray image transferred and ready to carve.

I have been carving a lot of Etsy stamps lately.  Last year it slowed down around the holidays but not this year.

I hope everyone has a happy & safe 2016 :)

Back to Hemlock Clifts

Swimming at SIL 

On PAL Day 2013 I was gung ho and planted 6 boxes.  One was at a library here in Evansville celebrating their 100 anniversary.  Then I planted 4 boxes on a 3 mile trail at Ferdinand State Forest.  And the last box of the day was at Hemlock Cliffs in Crawford Co.

Hemlock Cliffs

We drive past the sign for Hemlock Cliffs 4-5 times a year when we go visit my sister-in-law.  I wanted to see the area so I planted a box there.  Based on my online research I knew there was a mile trail loop and some rocky/waterfall areas.  I didn't want to stay to long and I was alone so I planted the box, viewed the main waterfall and left.

We were up at my sister-in-laws this weekend and before we left home my husband and I had talked about going on a hike.  My sister-in-law has 40 acres and we usually just walk her property but I suggested that we go to the cliffs.

Cool steps in the rocks

Saturday afternoon rolls around and some of the kids were tired of swimming and I suggest that we go to Hemlock Cliffs.  Three of the kids wanted to go and we took off.  It's about a 20 minute drive to the cliffs.

Checking out a "cave"

Two years ago I had planted the box at the parking area to make it easy to get to. I figured that it would not get many finders since folks would not want to go that far off the interstate to grab the box.

I walked up and found the box out in the open but it was in great shape.  According to AQ it only had 2 finders in 2013.  I was excited to see that it had 2 other finders this year :)  I initialed one of the corners of the logbook (which I often do when performing maintenance) and put it back where it was supposed to be.  I was very happy that it was still there, in good shape, and had a few more finders.

Selfie :)  Me, the princess & Lil Ewok.
Lego Clone trooper is to cool for selfies 

After that, the kids and I walked the 1 mile trail loop.  The kids liked the part that followed the rocks and stream but fussed when the trail started to head back to the cars.  Lil Ewok asked me to carry him right as we could start to see cars thru the trees.  The trail was pretty and I am glad that we walked it.  We didn't find any boxes/caches/Munzee but had a great weekend.

Eagle Slough Maintenance

Me & Lil Ewok soaking up some sun 

Today was a beautiful day so Lil Ewok and I went to the Eagle Slough to check on one of our boxes.  This area had just been under water and I was concerned that the box had been washed away.  I thought the area might be muddy so we wore our rubber boots.  The main trail was high and dry.

We looked for our box and it was missing :(  It was clear that someone or something had been digging at the base of the tree (and the one next to it) where the box was hidden.  So, I am not sure if it survived the flood or not.  The scratching appeared to be fresh or at least post-flood.

Very muddy wetlands 

Normally a missing box is not a huge deal.  I retire or recarve and move on.  But I got this stamp thru the GAQLBE (Great Atlas Quest LetterBox Exchange).  So I really feel bad about it being gone.  I am going to recarve a similar image a hide it in a different spot at the Eagle Slough.  There are no other boxes here and I think there should be one.

While we were there we explored the wetland area which was very muddy!  Lil Ewok was determined to follow the big red arrow and I am glad we wore our boots for that part.  We also looked for a geocache and couldn't find it but found 3 Munzee's.

Raccoon footprint?  

I really like Munzee.  Now, I know what you are thinking, "This woman can't find a geocache the size of a shoe box but she is having fun finding QR codes the size of a quarter?"  Let me explain, there are only so many places they can stick those buggers!  And I feel like my phone is the problem when geocaching but Munzee is GPS based too so maybe the problem is the caching app?  I don't know.  Munzee is additive.

Goose or crane footprint?

For more info about the Eagle Slough...
http://wchristmas6.blogspot.com/2014/06/exploring-planting-at-eagle-slough.html

Finding, Maintenance & Swimming

Lil Ewok at the walking rosary

For a few days each summer my kids that are potty trained go and stay at my sister in laws house.  They have a pool, four wheelers, cable tv, etc, and the kids love to spend a few days away from mom & dad.

Today was pick up day and Lil Ewok and I did some letterboxing on the way.  First, we stopped to get a new box in Ireland.  The box is hidden near a walking rosary.  This was really interesting.

The summer I graduated from high school (1997) I worked at a local Catholic summer camp as the cook and they walked the rosary there.  It wasn't anything fancy like this.  They would do it at night, with candles, and walk a big loop, praying the rosary.  So this spot brought back some old memories.

Overgrown Nature Preserve

Our second stop was to check on our Monster High boxes that I have blogged about in Huntingburg.  Half of the finders (2 of 4) have reported the box was not in it's hiding place when they found it but out in the open.  The last finders said that she put a rock on it but I wanted to check on it anyway.

The last finder who put the rock on it was just there 2 weeks ago but when we went today the box was out of it's hiding spot again!  So we moved it down the path a bit.  I checked the logbooks and it had no extra muggle sign ins.  I hope this helps keep it safe.

Swimming at Martys 

 I wanted to make a third stop and check on my boxes at Ferdinand State Forest but we didn't make it that far.  I told my sister in law that I would be at her house at noon and I didn't want her to worry about me.

At Ferdinand State Forest we have 4 boxes on a 3 mile trail and they have only recorded as found once.  I just wanted to make sure that all was well.  I will have to go back another day.  This fall, 3 of my 4 kids will be in school so that might be a good time to sneak off ;)

Wetland Maintenance

Stopping to look at high water

Last week we had a storm come thru and drop 6 inches of rain in a day. There was some flash flooding and the local wetlands was under water. We have 5 letterboxes there and today we went out to check on them.

Four of the boxes are a series that we planted in April 2011 and the other one was planted in March 2013. We looked for the series first and found 3 of the 4.

Geese hanging out

The one that was missing may actually still be there. In the area of the hiding spot a tree has fallen and someone cut up the limbs and whatnot and dumped them off the trail where our box was. And with the flooding the area was covered with leaves, sticks, and dirt. I dug around with a stick for a while but couldn't find anything. This box has gone missing before so I just retired it.

There were lots of turtles out sunning

Two of the others in this series were wet but in good shape. The last box is never recovered well when I check on it. I know there is a geocache in the area but I don't have a GPS so I don't know where it is. But if it is cachers not covering the box well it is nice that they leave the stamp :)

Lil Ewok loves water

For the last box the tree it is in is visible from the road and for a few days the base was under water. I was really worried about this one. It is actually part a 3 part series that is around town. One of the other boxes in the set has gone missing twice and I was hoping that this one was still there.

When we got to the tree it was clear that the box was gone. I decided to look in the direction the water would have went when it receded but I didn't see anything. I got to thinking that if it was there under the leaves, sticks, and dirt it would be pretty hard to find. After about five minutes the princess declared that she was ready to go. So, I slowly started walking back to the tree and didn't see anything.

Another view of the walkways/building

I was thinking that I should give up but when I got up next to the tree I found the box on the high side about two feet from the tree. I was very excited! I opened it to make sure it was ok and I recovered it well with sticks and leaves. I am thinking about putting a rock on it but I know if this happens again where to look for it :)

Letterboxing Staycation

This week 3 of my 4 kids are out of town.  So the baby and I have been letterboxing like it is 1999.  Well, letterboxing didn't hit my area until 2006 but you know what I mean.  On Monday we went around to several cities around Evansville; we looked for 6 boxes in 6 different cities.  We found 3 and 2 hitchhikers.

Cemetery in Patoka

The first box we looked for was in Princeton.  We had looked for this box before but come to find out we were looking in the wrong cemetery.  But we easily found it this time.

Our second box of the day was in Patoka.  It was supposed to be in a tree on the edge of a cemetery but we couldn't find it.  That was frustrating because someone had just found it in April.  I guess I will have to try again another day.

Covered bridge in Wheeling

The third box was at a covered bridge in Wheeling.  It was up high and hard to get to but I got it.  This box is part of a series of old bridges in our area.  We have looked for 3 of them and found 2 of the boxes.  I plan to try that one we couldn't find again.

For box four, we left Wheeling and got a little lost.  I missed one of our turns and it took us a little longer to get to Petersburgh.  We took the scenic route ;)  The box in Petersburgh was also in a cemetery.  This box was easy to find in a large stump at the back.  But the box was sharing the stump with a geocache and the stamp was missing from the letterbox.  The logbook for the letterbox was clearly marked but the box was not.  By looking at the logbook we could see that it was a beautiful stamp.  We sent a message to the geochachers but I doubt that we will hear back from them :(

Cemetery in Petersburgh

(Now, we were supposed to get another box in Petersburgh but my clues were jumbled and we missed it.  So we went back on Tuesday.  It was also in a cemetery on the way out of town.  It had been there for a few years but only had 2 previous finders.  I was excited to find this one even thought we went out of our way to get it.)   

10 Commandments at St Peters Church in Stendal

The fifth box on Monday was at a church in Stendal.  This box was planted in 2008 and was attempted in 2010.  I didn't plan on finding it but since we were out that way we stopped.  We couldn't find the box but the church was nice to look at.  

Box six was a brand new box planted in Birdseye.  The planter had 3 other boxes here but 2 went missing.  We were lucky and got them last year.  This one had a similar theme as the others.  It was planted inside the local general store and the guy actually knew what we wanted when we asked him for it.  That doesn't usually happen.  The last time we had to ask for a box we were at a restaurant and they looked for 15 minutes before they found it.

When we were done there we stopped at Ferdinand State Forrest.  We planted a 4 part series here for PAL Day.  The first finders sent me a message that one of the trees referenced in the clue had been cut down.  So we went to check it out and ended up moving the box and changing the clue.

Finally we came back to Evansville.  I had planned on plating 2 boxes at our county fair grounds.  We hid the first one with no issues.  This was a stamp that we has gotten thru the GAQLBE2013 (Letterbox Exchange).  Then I wanted to plant the stamp of my niece with the pig at the picnic area near the playground.  But there was guy mowing the grass there.  To pass the time we used the restroom and played for a little bit.  It goes down hill from here!  The guy cutting the grass runs out of gas and another guy brings him more.  And they sit around and talk for what feels like forever.  So we pack up and go home.  

New Harmony, In

Tuesday was a wet day but I was determined to get out and letterbox.  We searched for a box in New Harmony for the 4th time!  I can't find the blooming thing.  I give up, you can't pay me to walk back there again.

Next stop is a rest stop.  I have told you before that someone posted on AQ that they would be traveling around and wanted to plant boxes as they went.  I sent them a stamp and they planted it close to me.  I recently got a message that it was missing.  I went to check and it is really gone. 

Then we went to Petersburgh and got the box that we missed and came back home to plant our fair grounds box in the rain.  Nice thing about planting in the rain is that you don't have to worry about other people being around :)

Found after 4 long years!

I had planed on staying home today until the children started attacking each other.  We had to get out of the house or I would go crazy.  We went to check on a box that we just planted.  One of our good friends couldn't find it so we looked to make sure it was still there.  It was part of a 12 part series from the stamps we used at Girl Scout Day Camp.  The first finder told us that the stamps in boxes 2 and 3 were in the wrong order so we were going out there any way.  Also, a boxer planted a new box there but we couldn't find it.

Angel Mounds Boat Ramp 

After that we had lunch; we went looking for 2 boxes and it was an adventure :)  The road that I wanted to use was closed so we had to turn around.  Then we missed the turn for boat ramp that we were going to and had to turn around again.  The place had two parking lots and of course we went to the wrong one.  Once we finally got on the right path we had no problems.  We found the first box and went back to the car.

For the second box we drove around again.  I was trying to read the clues and drive at the same time.  The clue was talking about a path in the woods and I thought it was in a different area.  As I am reading I realize that it is talking about the exact same area that we were just in.  The first box was at the beginning of a fence and the second box was in the middle.

We park and go back in the woods where we came from.  This is at the edge of the river which floods every year.  The box was planted in 3/2009 and was last found in 8/2009.  So if we could find it we would be the first people to find it in 4 years!

Kids on the trail. 

It took a while but we did find it and it was in bad shape.  The box was an index card box and we found it laying open on it's side with dirt inside.  The bag was laying outside the box.  The logbook was triple bagged but still completely soaked.  We wiped the stamp off and replaced the fabric.  We took the wet logbook out and added a new one.  Then we replaced the plastic bags and put everything back where it went.  I contacted the planter and I will probably change out the container next month when I plant a box in that area. It was really exciting to find that box that had survived several floods and not washed away.

After that I let the kids play on a playground for a while.  Then we went to replant a box that had gone missing.  I am not sure if it was muggled or washed away.  It was near a creek that often floods but I thought it would be safe in it's hiding spot.  We found another spot where it will not be washed way.

Pretty busy boxing day :)

Mother's Day 2013

We go camping every year for Mother's Day.  I went on my first camping trip when I was a month old because I was born in April and we camping in May for Mother's Day.

 This year we were at Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Ind.  We planted a box there last June and checked on it and we planted a box there this weekend.  It was a beautiful weekend to be camping.  It rained just a little on Saturday but we had fun in the village, hiking, and the kids loved playing in the creek at the campground.

Spillway on trail 5.

There were lots of wildflowers blooming this weekend.

The mill in the pioneer village.

This water flows from a cave and is very cold!  

View of the mill from the garden.

Cemetery in the park.

Playin Hookie

Last night my oldest son, Lego Clone Trooper, got sick.  This morning his stomach still felt bad so he spent the morning laying around and reading.  When it was time to pick the princess up from preschool he came with me.  We needed to run some errands and I wasn't sure how long I would be gone.

After a little while it stopped raining and we stopped to get some freshly planted boxes.  One was a drive-by and there was a two part series down a muddy trail on the local college campus.  They were both planted by a boxer in the town next to us.  He must have cabin fever because he has planted almost 20 letterboxes this year.

While we were out we checked on one of our own boxes.  I had tried to check on it a few weeks ago but there were just to many people around.  We went back today and the outside was completely covered in mud.  I brought a box to replace it and put it in a different spot.  It was nice to have my son with me to help with the little ones :)

Boxing with the Baby

Daddy's Favorite Princess says that she doesn't like letterboxing so I try to go while she is at preschool.  Someone just planted a box in our city so Lil Ewok and I went to get it.  It was planted a few days ago but we were first finders.  The baby likes going out on my back but I take him off to stamp and that really makes him mad.  After finding the box we walked around for a while looking for a good place to plant a box.  I would like to plant a hitchhiker hostel in this park.

While we were out we did some maintenance on 3 of our boxes and replaced someone else's logbook.  I actually replaced everything but the stamp but I wanted to dry out the old logbook and put it back.  It was in bad shape so I gave it back to the owner and put a new one in the box today.

One of the boxes we did maintenance on today we planted last June for Donut Day.  It has a blue diamond but not many people have found it so we stopped to check on it.  We also checked on a 2 part series that I just worked on back in December.  I stopped then and they were both full of water.  So I replaced everything but the stamps and I moved the second one.  I wanted to check on it after a good rain to make sure it didn't wash down the hill.  They were both in good shape.

We are expecting some very nice weather this week so I will probably go out tomorrow and plant a mystery box.  I went today and took a picture to go with the clue.  I hope other boxers find and enjoy it :)

Stressful Day

Ferdinand State Forrest 

I had nothing to do today and the weather was supposed to be in the 50's and I decided to go letterboxing.  It started off to be a bad day.  I went to check on a box and as I was leaving the park I realized that I needed gas.  At the gas station I went to grab my purse and noticed that I did not get my letterboxing bag.  I had spent a lot of time printing clues and maps and totally forgot my bag.

I went home to get the bag and on the way out again I stop to do maintenance on two more boxes.  I get to the next town and I was going to look at my clues at a stop light and I realize that part of the clues were missing.  Now I have to go home again!

I finally have all the clues and my bag and head off.  We get to the first box in Troy and we had no problems finding it.  It was planted earlier this week and we were first finders.  I let the baby crawl around in the car while I did the stamping since it was a drive by.  We loaded up and headed down the road again.  The baby starts screaming so we stop for lunch and he settles down.

The next box we stopped for was actually at the Sandstones of Time event in Cannelton that we went to back in October but couldn't find it.  The event host planted it permanently and we first finders at the new location.  This place already has a box and we found it after the event.

Huffman Covered Bridge 

Then we went to the Huffman Bridge and we could not find the box.  You were supposed to rummage thru a pile of rip rap looking for a rock with a stripe on it.  I didn't see any such rocks and turned over several but found nothing.  

Next we went to Ferdinand to a local park.  There was supposed to be a box but we could not find it.  The clues were very vague, like they forgot to type something.  It was a very nice little park.

The last box we looked for was at Ferdinand State Forrest.  We found this one easily and took a potty break.  I plan on planting a series here for PAL Day.  It is a set of stamps that we used for LTCs that need to be out in the wild.

I had more clues printed off but with the late start we only got 3 of the 5 that we looked for.  I guess that means we have more to look for on another day.

UGH!

We had a frustrating LB experience yesterday.  Someone posted on AQ that they would be traveling across the country and they wanted to plant letterboxes as they went.  That sounded fun and I had a stamp idea, so I carved it up and sent it to them.  A few months later I got a message that they had planted my stamp.  The box was also listed on my list of new boxes in the area.  I guess they did that on purpose so I could do maintenance.

The box was planted 30-40 minutes from my house.  So I run up to get it on the first day and can't find it.  I send them an email and get no response.  Another local boxer goes up the same day and does eventually find it.  She emails the planters and they change the clues.  So I go up again to get it and have no problems finding it this time.  I stamped everything and was putting everything back in the pouch and the top rips off!  The planters used a sandwich bag and took the tape up to just under the zipper.

I don't carry extra pouches/boxes.  I have extra logbooks & zip bags, several sig stamps, 4 logbooks, pens, tons of ink, gloves, tongs, clipboard, compass, plastic shopping bags, and PTs.   I don't have room for boxes/pouches.  That means I have to come back again.  If this had been a month ago I would just say, "I'll get to it when I get to it."  But they were forecasting that the rain from Hurricane Isaac was supposed to reach us tonight.  They are calling for 2-4 inches.  So we went back today and replaced the pouch.  I hope I don't have to go back for quite a while.