"Akela's Den" by Virginia Vipers

Springfield, Virginia

Finds: 119
Attempts: 14
Plants: 4

It is a gorgeous autumn morning. The air is smelling crisp, the leaves are starting to turn, but it is still warm enough to be pursuing outdoor activities. And I have FINALLY made it to this box. Hidden Pond nature center is so close by, I don't know why I haven't just stopped by there to get this box sooner. Actually I do know. Probably because I wasn't sure how deep into the woods it would be. The CYOA series by PaperTrail that used to be here took us deep, deep into the woods. Fortunately, this was very quick and easy.

This was actually a new experience for me. This box is a combination letterbox/geocache, so I was quite surprised by the size of the box that I found. I am used to smallish, tupperware-like containers. Instead,I found a big metal box (sort of like an old fashioned mailbox) and filled with stuff! I guess in geocaching, you take something from the box and leave something else in the box. Whatever. The boys would have loved it because it was filled with little toys. (If we ever do pursue geocaching a little more, at least I have an idea of what to do with all those McDonald's toys that accumulate at home.)

Very nice walk down a boardwalk that was an Eagle Scout project from someone in boy scout pack 1140. That's the brother boy scout pack to William's cub scout pack. I'll have to bring him back there to see it. I did get a little bit rushed at the end though when a children's group came traipsing down the trail with a naturalist. It was difficult to get the box hidden again because of the size. I was able to find extra sticks and barks to help conceal it a little bit better.

"Jazz Combo: Clarinet Deux" by L-way

Annandale, Virginia

Finds: 118
Attempts: 14
Plants: 4


Have gone back to retrieve two additional stamps for the "Jazz Combo" series. Clarinet Deux is a new stamp that was added with box maintenance. I love walking in this park. Especially in the fall.

"Park & Ride #19: International Harvester" by Kit Kat 61

Southbury, Connecticut

Finds: 117
Attempts: 14
Plants: 4


ATTEMPT!!!

"Castles at the Beach, Sandcastle 1" by J and J in VA

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Finds: 107
Attempts: 13
Plants: 4

Attempt.

Shells Optional by hanksfolks

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Finds: 107
Attempts: 12
Plants: 4

Attempt.

"I-684 Southbound - Riding Shotgun" by Karen N K9s

Mount Kisco, New York

Finds: 118
Attmpets: 14
Plants: 4

Found this cool stamp at a rest area on our way back to Virginia. I LOVE rest area stamps. They are quick to find, and give the boys a chance to hop out of the car and stretch their legs. Directions were a little bit off. Had to count an extra sign or two to find out where to go. But eventually found it. (I don't think Michael has much patience for my letterboxing demands.)

Fort Ward by Paper Trail

Alexandria, Virginia

Finds: 107
Plants: 4
Attempts: 11

Again, a beautifully carved stamp by Paper Trail.

Fort Ward can be found in Alexandria, Virginia. Apparently it is the best preserved of the system of Union forts and batteries built to protect Washington DC during the American Civil war. Dating from 1861, only the Northwest Bastion remains today.

The bonus part was there is an awesome playground that is now on the park lands.

Enterprise

Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum
Chantilly, Virginia

Finds: 106
Plants: 4
Attempts: 11

Fortunately, I sometimes browse through websites of local ________ in order to get an idea of some activities that may be going on. So it happened that I looked on the Smithsonian's website and found a family fun day at the Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum. Get to see planes, meet pilots, and do activities.

Well, the day started out as usual. It took about 4 times longer than it should have to get the kids out the door. We were planning to have a picnic there just to get there in time. Of course, that was a bad idea as Benjamin was starving and that just put him in a bad mood before we even left the house. We got there and half-heartedly shovelled food into our mouths in preparation for going out to see the planes. We finally got to the line with about 45 minutes left.

We did get to go outside and the biggest plane there (an C-19?) was parked right in the middle. So of course that is where everyone wants to go. And apparently so did everyone else at the museum, because there was a huge line to get to go up to the cockpit. It was about 90 degrees outside and of course there is no air inside this plane. Benjamin lasted about 5 minutes and then we took off looking at, of all things, fire trucks. We checked out some helicoptors as well, and then William was done waiting in line as well. We checked out little cessna-type planes, and gliders, and hang gliders. Then it got too hot so we headed back inside.

Once inside we ended up inside the hangar housing the Enterprise space shuttle. Aha! The letterbox must be in this room somewhere! William had quick eyes and spotted the satellites that were listed in the clue. We raced up the stairs and oriented ourselves to how the clue was written. We found the rail, and the wall, and the space where the letterbox obviously had been hidden, but was not. We looked over, under, stuck our hands and fingers into all crevices and even checked the opposite side, but to no avail. It was not there. (Attempt #11). Once home, when we went to log our attempt, we saw someone else had attempted it the same day. It is apparently gone.

Sweet Lit' Butterfly by oceanwind

Charlottesville, Virginia

Finds: 105
Plants: 4

I always thought that the trail that starts on Route 53 and leads up to Monticello would be an excellent place to plant a letterbox! There are now 3 there. We found the first one last year, another today, and attempted the third but just didn't seem to find the area where it was supposed to be hidden.

This was maybe our 3rd or 4th time on the trail. And what a nice park it is. Apparently it is a 2 mile trail, although we've only just gone just over a mile. Our first time we got the farthest - up to behind Mitchie Tavern. The trees at the beginning of the trail are all labeled so you know what they are. And they are all native trees. (Michael was quite interested in some of them for planting around the community.) The boys were quite troopers, William hoofing it the entire way.

At the pond, we got to see 11 little goslings waddling around and swimming, with mama and papa keeping a close look out. Quite a large brood.

On the way out, we attempted to find another letterbox, but there is no granite monument that we can find near the west end of the trail. Unless it is hidden up one of the side trails, but I kind of doubt it as I would think that it would be labeled as such.

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Springfield, VA
Finds: 104
Plants: 4

Another plant for us. This one was fun and I definitely got the boys involved in this one. Although I picked the location, they took over from there, deciding which way to go, which trail to take and finally where to hide the box. We read the story when we got home so that we could word the clues like the story.

"Heaven's Stairs" by X Marks The Spot

Burke, Virginia
Finds: 104
Plants: 3

Probably the most intricate, well-thought out box I've come across. It was very tricky to find and took me about 24 hours to find it. I drove up and down the street I thought it was on. Came back home and checked the computer again. Drove back again to where I thought I should be looking. Was confident that I had the right area, but there were too many people out in their yards to go snooping around. Went back today and really had my doubts about it. Honestly, looking around, there was no place to "ascend" as the clue indicated. Then I had the Aha! moment. There is indeed a place to ascend and once I realized it, it was a very easy find. Not going to say any more about it, just in case someone is reading this. I do not want to give any thing away.

Again, it was amazing. There is more to it that I need to figure out. However, Benjamin running around, fell down and scraped his knee, and then informed me that he had to go potty. I will return this weekend with William and Michael - he needs to appreciate a truly amazing letterbox.

"Zachzilla" by Zachzilla

Annandale, VA
Number: 103

Okay, this box was pretty disappointing. With the name, I was expecting a dinosaur or lizard or godzilla type creature. And then the box had a neat dinosaur-type picture on the inside of the cover. I was excited. But did not expect a store-bought stamp with hands and hearts. I was glad that the boys weren't there for this one, because they would have been disappointed too. That being said, it was a nice walk, however where the box is hidden is getting close to the construction being done on the side of the beltway. I could hear all the machinery and trucks very close by, and even caught view of some through the trees.

"April Showers Bring......" by Schizokeet

Arlington, VA
Number: 102

This wasn't the box I headed out to find. I was actually looking for Paper Trail's Spooky series, but there was construction going on at the entrance of the park where that began. I even parked my car and walked down the loooooooong driveway, but when I got there, I thought about it and wondered if I had left my car in the staging area for the construction. So I walked back up the hill and sure enough, there was a front-loader filling up with stuff. So I got back in my car and drove off. According to the signs, it should be finished this weekend, so next week I'm going to have another go at it.

Since I was in Arlington, I checked to see what else was close-by and found this one. I did pass the driveway and had to drive all the way around the block but finally got in. It was a nice walk, paralleling the W & OD trail. As I was walking, I thought some of the landmarks sounded familiar, like from the Spooky series. I went to get the clues, but of course they were back in the car. It's okay. This was a nice little walk, got a little history lesson too. And found an absolutely delightful stamp, including pencils so that I could color it in right then and there. It was so peaceful and quiet. I just sat on the hill, listened to the brook flowing past below and colored to my heart's content.

Centennial of Baseball by PostMystress

Rutherford Park, Annandale, Virginia

A mystery box! We had to actually figure out where to even look for this box from the clues given. But it was easy enough to find. And at a park we have been to and enjoyed playing on the playground too. After doing just that, William went with me to search for the box. Easy to find - what a HUGE hole in the tree in which to place it, and how innovative - covering the box with special duct tape so that it blends in! He had fun helping me stamp everything in, and then we got a bonus treat. We were right by a stream, so we got to throw rocks in the water to see them splash. What fun! He is definitely a kid after my own heart!

Superbunny! by paper trail

Along Braddock Road, Annandale, VA

Wow! This letterbox is practically in plain site of a major street! Fortunately there is some brush that separates the sidewalk from the road and the box is farther in and down a slight incline. William accompanied me on this trek, and fortunately it was very short. He actually thought that the stamp looks more like a pig than a bunny, and I tend to agree. Still, exciting to find.

"Year 2006" by Schizokeet

Yay! Our 100th letterbox. Three years into this hobby. That's averaging 33 boxes a year - not too shabby considering this is a part-time hobby for us.

Found at Lacey Woods Park in Arlington, VA. What a neat playground this place has! I drove by a couple of weeks ago, but thought that it would be better appreciated by one of the children. So today, after school pictures, I brought Benjamin - and he did not disappoint. A HUGE playground which climbed up very high off the ground. He was very cautious climbing up, but had no problems coming down the steep slide. I almost didn't get around in time to see him, and he was screaming and laughing all the way down. He played for 20 minutes easily on that thing. Checked out the sandbox, the swings and everything else there. Hard to believe my "baby" was not impressed with the "baby" playground.

We wandered around looking for the holly bush mentioned in the clue, but nothing really added up. Thought maybe the directions were not correct, and checked out a couple of possibilities, but nothing. Was pretty disappointed - after all, I was hoping to get to 100 today. We got back in the car and as we drove off, found the other entrance to the park. (In all fairness, where the playgound is, you do go in through a green gate, and there is a pavilion with picnic tables in it. I just thought maybe the sign was no longer there. It is an older box.)

We turned around and Benjamin being a good sport got out and looked with me again. Ah. Now I see what they meant by picnic pavilion. And there was the holly tree we were looking for. Very easy find.....once you're in the right place.