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.

25th Anniversary by oceanwinds

Charlottesville, VA



Finally a stamp where I have thought there should be one. We came walking here about a year ago for the first time. There is a beautiful trail going up the side of the mountain, complete with wooden bridges and boardwalks. It is a relatively easy walk (due in large part to the wooden pathways), however it does have a quite steep elevation, so it does get tiring after a while.

The trail goes from the Monticello visitor center up to Monticello itself. (Probably a distance of a couple of miles.) The first time we did it, we walked up to behind Mitchie Tavern and were able to look down upon it. Again, it is a beautiful walk. Towards the beginning, still in Kemper Park, there are many trees and plants labelled - it is nice to see so many native trees. (And honestly, before moving here, I thought an oak tree was an oak tree. Not that there were 100's of varieties of oak.)

We anticipated a slightly slower walk this time. And were hoping the box was not too far up the mountain. We were rewarded, as we found it right before getting to the pond. And the bonus was the nice little bench where I could sit and log in. :)

We did then brave the hill, and made it up to the road that crosses and heads up Carter's mountain.

"Poet's Choice" by Paper Trail

Rutherford Park

Annandale, VA

Finds: 34

Attempts: 5

Back to somewhere familiar. Good old Rutherford Park, which has become a favorite for us. The boys love the playground there, and they also love going to the stream and throwing rocks in, just like I liked to do as a little girl.

I was alone this evening, on my way home from work. This was a quick dash in, log in, and get out. And there was a storm brewing. I barely got back to my car before the rain hit.

"Flying Dolphin" by Dolphin Seeker

Annandale, Virginia

Finds: 31
Attempts: 4


The side of Braddock Road in this area is very popular for letterboxes. I actually attempted this box a while back, but found only an empty box and plastic bag. I contacted the owner and I guess they replanted it, along with a 2nd box.

From experience, I knew not to walk UP the hill from Wakefield Chapel Road. Although in all fairness, it was probably more difficult because I was pushing a stroller that time.

Benjamin was finally interested in stamping in the books - maybe because they are fun stamps!

"Dr. Frankenstein's Boxes: by Rich

Falls Church, Virginia

Finds: 29
Attempts: 4

ATTEMPT!!!

Was disappointed to not find this box. The clues were very clever. Pieces taken from other clues and stuck together, just like Frankenstein's monster. I was off to a good start, but was unable to find the tree for box one. There was however, obvious evidence of a recently downed tree and I couldn't help but wonder if that was it.