Team MudCup's final big boxing weekend of the year had finally arrived. Shrouded in mystery and misdirection as we didn't want to let the cat out of the bag. We were heading over the border. And further than just feet over the border - we were taking the big step and heading across two borders into MA. Teacup had been planning the trip for weeks. Clue sheets perused and proof read prior to printing. Countless e-mails back and forth over which boxes we wanted to tackle the most. We were heading into the belly of the beast and wanted to make the most of it.
Like always - we had a few criteria before printing things off. We wanted to get images from as many different carvers to us as possible. We wanted some interesting looking series - planter's choices usually out weigh blue diamonds for us - but if they are both they hold the most weight. We needed to hit at least a couple of cemeteries and if we could hit a couple series when we stopped at once - that was always another plus. By the time Teacup had finished printing - she had filled a 1" binder full of clues and maps. She went and took the BIG step and purchased a MA gazetteer. This meant true commitment to the adventure. Cause frankly - once you drop $20 on a map - you really do need to use it! She even did a few cold calls to get even more information. She managed to get this HONKING huge map that we thought we were going to have to trade the car in for a bigger one just to use it. Andover was almost life sized! And then she managed to get an elusive out-of-print trail guide from a local sporting shop. We even had trip guides from AAA. We were armed with all sorts of paperwork - ready to take on the northeast area of MA in two short days.
But we had a slight quandary - Andover has hundreds of boxes to pick from - and so many diamonds they make every girls eyes spin from excitement. Somehow Teacup managed to filter through all of the clues and pick a few she thought we'd both enjoy. And to make sure we would be kept busy, she printed a few more of just in case we had a little extra time on our hands! What a lark. A few days prior to launch - I get this e-mail. Are there any boxes you want to go after in Andover? Are you kidding? I looked up Andover about a month ago and quickly left. One person plotting a trip is good - two hands in the pot make for a very murky and messy trip. So I closed that search down and headed back home to Maine, by way of NH. But that's another trip entirely! So I e-mailed Teacup back and told her she was on her own. Whatever she picked - was a good list for me. She always picks a great variety and tries to pick assorted levels of hikes/drive-bys and brain bashers to get us into enough trouble that we end up doubled over holding our stomachs laughing. I had no fears of her choices.
To make sure I would be completely satisfied with her choices - I was sent the itinerary three days before we were to leave. I quickly looked at the list - a mere 68 listing to take a gander at. Hmmm... 68 to choose from. I wonder if that will be enough? 68??!! Man, we'll have to start in the wee small hours of the morning and pray for a full moon to guide us through the night! Its besides the point that you are generally chased out of state parks by bullwhips at dusk... there's always cemeteries to crawl around, right? So I printed off the list and tucked it into my bag. Come to find out - those clues, plus directions filled and 1" binder to the point of explosion... yup - we were packed to rumble in the jungle. Or forest in our case.
Last year our Columbus weekend was a three day event. We scaled back by one day as Teacup had to work the Saturday of the weekend. So while she was toiling away the hours - I started my day with a quick morning meeting at work (gotta love a working vacation.) The fact that it started at 4:30am was nothing to crow about... yawning the whole way - by the time the meeting was over - my coffee was gone and I was just beginning to wake up! Headed home to make a quiche - or two. Packed up stuff and headed south to a stamping party for the OMG planning committee. I arrived earlier than I had intended, but gollygee was hospitable and let me in even though she was going to bed when I was waking up for my meting... Six hours later and with very inky hands, I headed back north.
Now my darling husband has but a few wishes in life. One one of them is... if I'm traveling the turnpike and happen to go by Popeyes - can I please bring him home biscuits and gravy. Only now he has upgraded to wanting shrimp - damn commercials! I attempted to procure these elusive creatures for my husband a couple weekends ago with Teacup only to find out that they shut their fryers off at 7:30pm and we were too late. So leaving gollygees house at 6pm... I should have had plenty of time to get them this time. I pulled into the parking lot and walked into the rest area. The freaks of the nation had all been dumped by alien spaceship in front of Popeyes! They had to have known I was coming - and sold EVERYTHING before I got there. By the time I had killed 15 minutes in line and was close enough to the front to hear that they were out of shrimp and rolls and that the biscuits would be another 10 minutes - I threw my hands up in the air and walked out. This was beginning to turn into Mission Impossible!
Back in my car - and once again heading north - I sped along towards Freeport so I could meet up with Ashley, Veronica and Patty. Now after my morning meeting I swung into the Hunt Fish to pick up camo duct tape. While there I enjoyed a wonderful power outage. So now, 13 hours later - what could I possibly look forward to? Well thankfully - things went smoother than my two previous shopping experiences of the day and we got what we came for and headed home so I could pack for my trip with Teacup. I quickly gathered all my stuff and piled it in the living room - because Ashley took my car to a party at a friends house. She promised she'd be home before I needed to leave at 4:30am. (Home by 4:30am???? Oh to be a college student again, not!)
Well just as promised, she walked into the house as I came out of the bathroom. Scared the daylights out of me - but she was home in time. She was going to drive me to Teacups house and then use my car over the weekend. At 4:30 - she opted out of that plan and went to bed instead. So I loaded my car with clothes, laptop, boxing supplies and my mittens. Since I had managed to miss the weather reports - I wanted to be prepared. I left my house at 4:40am and pulled into Teacup's driveway at 4:50 ready to transfer to her car. Darn - I forgot all my NH stuff. So much for picking up a couple drive-bys along the way!
I rapped lightly on her door - because I'm pretty sure everyone else in her house didn't really want to get up at the crack of dawn. Nothing. I rapped a little harder. Still nothing. Hmmm. In a brief phone call the night before I did mention that I'd arrive between 5 and 6. Teacup must have figured I'd never crawl out of bed in order to be at her house by 5. Okay - so I decided to go get a cup of coffee. Too early for Dunkin Donuts - I had to suffer with Tim Hortons. And boy are they a jovial bunch early in the morning! Coffee and donut in hand - back to Teacup's house where now she was moving about. Seems she was in the shower while I was a knocking on her window. So after fixing my coffee to something a little more palatable - we loaded up the car and headed south.
I was immediately handed the binder, atlas, tripticket, and gazetteer. Time to navigate! Luckily for us - we did know the way to the border. It was after we crossed over that things started to get sticky. We paid our exit toll in Maine and prayed they let us back in after our weekend of disloyalty to our beloved Maine. Just bout the time we paid the toll in New Hampshire, Teacup started to get a little quiet. By the time we hit the MA border - she stopped breathing. We followed the navigational markers towards our first stop in Rowley. Just stepping into a cemetery helped Teacup to start breathing once again. We inked up our first image - and Teacup was fully restored! Ready to tackle the unknown and almost ready to tackle MA. But first we needed food.
Another lesson learned from last year - food is a requirement when boxing or your brain starts to shut down. Navigational thoughts turn to jelly without food and water. Who knew? So we pulled into this charming little diner and had breakfast. It was one of the smallest diners I've ever been in. And frankly - I'm surprised its managed to maintain its name. Named after a Native American tribe and all. In Maine - everything referencing Indian tribes had to be changed a while ago - so this was a very cool surprise. Hopped up on hash and french toast - we headed off in the direction of our next location. The only clue I suggested to add was one in Salem. So we thought we would swing into Salem and beat feet out before anyone caught us there.
Now I have pretty good navigational skills. And I'm usually pretty good at multi-tasking. But we were chatting and looking at the architecture and some of the unique locations and before we knew it we were almost in Boston! By the time we saw the exit sign for the Tobin bridge - Teacup was ready to turn the car around and head north - back to Maine. There was no way she was driving in Boston. So we navigated around a bit. Literally fell into the center of Lynn and opted to skip Salem since we were already at the third location on our itinerary.
So we pulled into the location of Lynn, Lynn the City of... series by Lundy and Vickster. Pulling into the park, it was relatively quiet. But I was in need of a bathroom before attempting the series. Noticing the port-o-potties I headed off only to find that they were locked! Dang. After finding the park range - he unlocked them and gave me some interesting information. It seems we were there the same day that 1600 people were expected in the park for the Pirate's Day event! 1600 people? How the heck are you supposed to be stealthy around 1600 pirates??? Damn. But we were there 2 hours before they were supposed to arrive - so off we went. The only advice we were given was to stay clear of Dungeon Rock. Not a problem I thought - we weren't going after that box. Or so I thought!
We found our first few boxes without issue. The local cross country team was also out on the trails. In the beginning I thought this was a cool place to run cross country. Then we started to climb - and I thought all of them running were absolutely nuts! The acorns alone would have me tissle end up in a heart beat! But we navigated around for about an hour or so without to much of a problem - well other than when we did get to Dungeon Rock. We found the location of the box we were looking for - sort of. It was shifted off to the side a bit and more in the open than it was supposed to be. As soon as we started to uncover it - I knew we had the wrong box. Opening it up - I realized we had the Dungeon box that we didn't have the clues for. Dang! It seems somehow someone had managed to switch the locations.
A quick phone call home to get the clues read to us for the other box - we started to try and do a rescue. Out of nowhere a truck arrived with one pirate who started to unload all sorts of paraphernalia. Dang... the pirates were early! So we had to abandon our rescue mission and move along. We really wanted to get out of the park before it was filled with people. We continued along reaching a couple of the other boxes without too much of a problem. Almost run over by a couple of joggers. Mind you we did step off the trail to let them pass - how were we supposed to know we stepped directly into the path that they were taking? As we stamped up another image just off the trail - two truckload of pirates drove past us. Seemed sort of odd - as we thought they arrived by ship not in the back of a pickup, but what the heck?
But again I digress. So we headed off for the clue to Shoe City. And low and behold there was a pink pirate flag in the path. Stepping into the woods as quietly as we could so as not to arise the suspicions of the pirates guarding the trail ahead - we stamped up quickly behind a tree. By the time we made it back to the trail - they had moved their flag to higher ground and had laid claim to the hillside on the far side of the trail. We just continued along. The next to last box we quickly found and stamped up. It now seemed like we were hearing voices at every turn. Pirates were starting to take over. We quickly moved along to the final box. The roar of the pirates was much louder now. Oh wait! That's a DJ not a bunch of pirates! So we stepped into the rose garden with music thumping loudly below us! Truly an odd hiking/boxing experience!
We lingered just a bit to enjoy the last location which we presume is spectacular in the summer during the peak of flower season. But even in the morning of a warm fall day - it was a lovely place to enjoy a wonderful find. Box stamped up with a hiker included - we set off back to the car. Not a moment to soon as the parking lot was filling to capacity. Parking on the lawn and along the roads leading up to the park entrance. We avoided having to walk the plank and escaped the holds of the pirates! Without a moment to loose - we aimed the car towards Andover! For we still had many more boxes on the list and some of them had to be completed before daylight left us.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The impact of a four legged friend
Thay say "you're gonna miss me when I'm gone," and in out house this evening this is proving painfully truthful. We've been blessed by having a wonderful feline as a member of our family for more than nine years. And today as a family we are mourning his passing. Hummer was just that, a hummer of a cat. A cat that arrived as part of a pair for my husband one Christmas nine years ago, and today we had to bury this very important member of our family and his death has torn our hearts apart.
Many in my family tell me on a regular basis that I'm not an animal lover, but in truth - I am. I just also realize that I do not lead the kind of life that warrants owning an animal, cats being the exception. For cats are truely part human in nature and totally independant and really do not need us at all. We need them much more than they really need us. So I brought home Hummer and Cleo as Christmas presents for my husband who always has had cats in his house. Growing up with cats and dogs, I thought these two cats would be a natural addition.
Right from the start, Cleo proved to be more superior than her human minions. She would situate herself high and aloft from anyone in the family. Only coming in contact with anyone if absolutely necessary. But Hummer, now he was different. He wanted to be close, closer if at all possible. He was happiest she he was nose to nose with one of us.
Almost seven years ago, Hummer decided right off that he was going to be a constant companion to our newest member of the family. From the moment I was preganant, Hummer started sleeping on my stomach. As I would move, he would move with me. The farther along in the pregnancy - the closer he would be to me. He was a constant 'watch cat' for what was being added to our family. When Christopher arrived, Hummer would sleep on the floor next to the bassinet. If not there, he would sleep on my shoulder keeping a watchful eye on his newest human pet. If Christopher whimpered and I didn't immediately respond, Hummer was immediately under my feet getting my attention.
When Christopher moved into his crib, Hummer went with him. Sleeping next to his littlest charge, keeping him safe. When we would have Christopher nap on the couch, Hummer would keep him safely in place, washing his hair while nearby. Many photos are in our albums of Christopher and Hummer, constant companions right from the start.
As Christopher grew older - Christopher started doing things to that poor cat that little boys would do. Carrying the cat from one end of the house to the other - barely holding him by two legs, the back to dragging behind him. We'd find Hummer patiently waiting out his turn of hide-n-seek inside a closet (which Hummer knew how to get out of if we didn't catch on fast enough.) Then there were numerous baths, carrying the cat in baby blankets and driving the cat crazy with a laser light. All Hummer would allow CHristopher to do to him without even the slightest of meows.
As Hummer got older - he'd start to throw his weight around the neighborhood. He's taken on a fisher and won. Brought through the cat door as presents mice, moles, bats, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, and snakes. He's taken on more than one neighborhood rival and kept them away from our backdoor. And most recently - a raccoon kept him howling while perched high atop the spare refridgerator. But one this he couldn't beat - a passing car. We live on a busy road where most drive way to fast. Hummer is not the first cat we've buried because of a vehicle and I'm sure he will not be the last, but he certainly feels like the most impactful.
For the last 4 hours I have held my two youngest children in my arms as I've tried to explain to them why Hummer would not be coming back. Veronica understands a little better, but for Christopher - Hummer has been a constant in his life. Here from the beginning, Christopher is convinced that once Daddy covers him with dirt, Hummer will wake up and eat again. Even seeing him dead - which I could not handle, my two little ones were convinced to a point that Hummer wasn't dead. His eyes were blinking and he's still alive.
Ron was left with the horrible task of burying the cat. With two children looking on, and making Daddy move the location so that noone could run over Hummer anymore, when the rain started to fall, Ron was placing the final shovel of dirt on the tiny grave. Two small children were heart broken. Ron, usually a rock solid member of the family had to walk away since he was crying so hard. Death is never easy. I know - I've been dealing with it since I was seven. I lost my mother when I was seven. My grandfather when I was nine. My maternal grandmother had a stroke in my arms when I was 16 and died three weeks later. I've been to more funerals than most. Recently to a young niece whose life was cut short tragically too young and a friend who died from a brain tumor. Every death is hard, and every one is missed. But when they are missed by those so young its hard to try and explain the whys.
Christopher is trying so hard to figure out if Hummer is now an angel. And if Christopher himself dies - will he become an angel. And if he's an angel, can he then come back? Such cosmic questions coming from such a tiny little boy who at 5 1/2 is experiencing his first true loss. I'm hoping it will be a long time until he has to go through such a loss again. But for now, we are sad. We will be sad for a while and then we will resume the happiness that Hummer helped to share with our family. A solid memory in our photo album, rest assured Hummer - while you will no longer be sleeping next to us in bed, you will always be with us in our hearts and our memories.
Many in my family tell me on a regular basis that I'm not an animal lover, but in truth - I am. I just also realize that I do not lead the kind of life that warrants owning an animal, cats being the exception. For cats are truely part human in nature and totally independant and really do not need us at all. We need them much more than they really need us. So I brought home Hummer and Cleo as Christmas presents for my husband who always has had cats in his house. Growing up with cats and dogs, I thought these two cats would be a natural addition.
Right from the start, Cleo proved to be more superior than her human minions. She would situate herself high and aloft from anyone in the family. Only coming in contact with anyone if absolutely necessary. But Hummer, now he was different. He wanted to be close, closer if at all possible. He was happiest she he was nose to nose with one of us.
Almost seven years ago, Hummer decided right off that he was going to be a constant companion to our newest member of the family. From the moment I was preganant, Hummer started sleeping on my stomach. As I would move, he would move with me. The farther along in the pregnancy - the closer he would be to me. He was a constant 'watch cat' for what was being added to our family. When Christopher arrived, Hummer would sleep on the floor next to the bassinet. If not there, he would sleep on my shoulder keeping a watchful eye on his newest human pet. If Christopher whimpered and I didn't immediately respond, Hummer was immediately under my feet getting my attention.
When Christopher moved into his crib, Hummer went with him. Sleeping next to his littlest charge, keeping him safe. When we would have Christopher nap on the couch, Hummer would keep him safely in place, washing his hair while nearby. Many photos are in our albums of Christopher and Hummer, constant companions right from the start.
As Christopher grew older - Christopher started doing things to that poor cat that little boys would do. Carrying the cat from one end of the house to the other - barely holding him by two legs, the back to dragging behind him. We'd find Hummer patiently waiting out his turn of hide-n-seek inside a closet (which Hummer knew how to get out of if we didn't catch on fast enough.) Then there were numerous baths, carrying the cat in baby blankets and driving the cat crazy with a laser light. All Hummer would allow CHristopher to do to him without even the slightest of meows.
As Hummer got older - he'd start to throw his weight around the neighborhood. He's taken on a fisher and won. Brought through the cat door as presents mice, moles, bats, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, and snakes. He's taken on more than one neighborhood rival and kept them away from our backdoor. And most recently - a raccoon kept him howling while perched high atop the spare refridgerator. But one this he couldn't beat - a passing car. We live on a busy road where most drive way to fast. Hummer is not the first cat we've buried because of a vehicle and I'm sure he will not be the last, but he certainly feels like the most impactful.
For the last 4 hours I have held my two youngest children in my arms as I've tried to explain to them why Hummer would not be coming back. Veronica understands a little better, but for Christopher - Hummer has been a constant in his life. Here from the beginning, Christopher is convinced that once Daddy covers him with dirt, Hummer will wake up and eat again. Even seeing him dead - which I could not handle, my two little ones were convinced to a point that Hummer wasn't dead. His eyes were blinking and he's still alive.
Ron was left with the horrible task of burying the cat. With two children looking on, and making Daddy move the location so that noone could run over Hummer anymore, when the rain started to fall, Ron was placing the final shovel of dirt on the tiny grave. Two small children were heart broken. Ron, usually a rock solid member of the family had to walk away since he was crying so hard. Death is never easy. I know - I've been dealing with it since I was seven. I lost my mother when I was seven. My grandfather when I was nine. My maternal grandmother had a stroke in my arms when I was 16 and died three weeks later. I've been to more funerals than most. Recently to a young niece whose life was cut short tragically too young and a friend who died from a brain tumor. Every death is hard, and every one is missed. But when they are missed by those so young its hard to try and explain the whys.
Christopher is trying so hard to figure out if Hummer is now an angel. And if Christopher himself dies - will he become an angel. And if he's an angel, can he then come back? Such cosmic questions coming from such a tiny little boy who at 5 1/2 is experiencing his first true loss. I'm hoping it will be a long time until he has to go through such a loss again. But for now, we are sad. We will be sad for a while and then we will resume the happiness that Hummer helped to share with our family. A solid memory in our photo album, rest assured Hummer - while you will no longer be sleeping next to us in bed, you will always be with us in our hearts and our memories.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Lond Weekends...
So after a long but short work week I was looking forward to a much needed long weekend. I had made all sorts of plans, had all sorts of things to knock off my 'To Do" list. So as I sit here today doing laundry on my birthday, I'm now wondering if anything at all got accomplished? Let's see...
Thursday afternoon I sat with Ashley and frantically made pouches to plant a small lighthouse series of 25. Now mind you, I knew I was planting these - so why did I wait so long you might ask? Well procrastination IS my middle name ; ) Besides, waiting for Ashley to help me did make the task more fun! So we stamped up each image and labeled them, taping the image to keep it from smudging too much. Made camo bags, and tucked them into the pouches and numbered them as we went along. Not too much of a task, but definitely lots easier when you have an extra set of hands. Of course its even easier when sipping on tasty cocktails. We were looking through a magazine I picked up at the store earlier and started talking about cocktails. Ashley found one on the internet called a Salem Witch. Realizing we had the ingredients, I thought I'd whip one up to try. Need to test these things if I might want to serve them later at another event. Smooth and slightly tart. And it went so well with the grilled chicken Caesar salad we were having for dinner. A great way to start my long weekend!
Printed off the trail map, put all of the camo bags into my boat and tote and quickly realized that would be a bit cumbersome to drag along a trail so I set off to find my fanny pack. This same fanny pack has eluded me for the past month or so. I've needed it when I've gone out planting and boxing with Teacup a couple of different times. I knew I washed it. I knew that at one point it was hanging on the back of the coat rack. I remembered moving it. But still, it eluded me. Hmmm... so much for using it to plant these 25 boxes.
So I got all of my necessary equipment ready; boxes, notebook, pen and headed off to bed. (note my list is relatively missing some much needed things - this too is normal for me.) Friday I got up and put Christopher on the bus and discussed grand plans for the weekend with my Dad. Seems we were going to split some wood, move some stuff around and set up some square foot planters along the edge of my parents house so we could plant things like tomatoes, cukes, and peppers. This grandiose idea came to pass because my husband thought we should plant tomatoes in a five gallon bucket. Now mind you - I have the BLACKEST thumb around. I kill spider plants. So why on earth would he think I could keep tomatoes alive is beyond me. But Dad thought in lieu of the five gallon buckets we could upgrade to the square foot planters that someone gave him at the beginning of LAST summer. We are nothing without our grand ideas!
So plans set for Sunday and Monday, knowing Castine was planned for Saturday and sometime on Sunday we were having a small BBQ birthday for Ron's 50th, Ashley and I set off for a planting trip. First we had to go to her bank to get some money, then to my bank to cash a check, then to another bank to make a payment at which point my teenager announced that she was hungry. Mind you - as soon as she sits in my car she gets hungry. So off to McD's for sweet tea, a bottle of water and some nuggets. Just a little something until we could have lunch. Lunch before lunch???
Off to our location, we pulled in and grabbed our gear. We no sooner stepped foot on the trail than a jeep started to back up to the trailhead, ugh. But with a quick scan of its bumper we realized it was just the local mail delivery. Yeah! So off we started, trying to calculate how quickly to plant the boxes so they would fit on the trail. The trail itself was a little less than a mile, but its offshoot added about a half a mile. So we basically had 1.5 miles to plant 25 boxes. We planted our first couple and a family of 4 deer shot through the woods. A lovely sighting on this quiet trail. Especially since it was almost noon at this point. (Where had the morning gone???)
Trying to stay on task, I did mention to Ashley that she should be happy that I made her put on my sneakers. She thought she was going to plant these boxes in flip flops. Like her feet and ankles haven't had enough trauma this past year! Again, silly teenager! So we ambled along the trail with Ashley ducking in and out of the treeline. She had the task of planting while I scribed the clues. We continued down the middle path towards the water. When we reached the path I pointed out the bridge across the water. Listening as well as she does - she said "That's a little far off the path for the next box don't you think?" I just looked at her. Yeah right Ashley. Unless every boxer can walk on water it might just be a bit too far off the trail : ) So around the point we went and the path started to get a little narrow and sloped towards the water.
At one point I had mentioned to Ashley that we needed to try and plant some boxes on the right as I seemed to have an affinity for planting on the left. With water on our right, we were kind of stuck with left handed plants for this portion of the trail - but with some quick logistical semantics we did manage to get a right hand plant in. Getting closer to the end of the trail we quickly planted the last couple of boxes and made our way back to the car. Now this trail is usually riddled with flying bloodsuckers. But we went in without the aid of bug spray and didn't have to fight off even one! The coastal breeze was perfect, the temperature just cool enough so forgetting bottled water wasn't even an issue. I wouldn't suggest doing both of those things for those seeking this series - we just plain lucked out!
So back at the car - and back to my still icy cold sweet tea (after 2 hours on the trail) we headed back to town to find lunch. Of course on our way off the island we did have to make a quick u-turn to check out a wheeled tiger in some one's driveway. Ashley thought it would be more effective if it was motorized. But then everything usually is. Back in town we stopped at Jen's Place just before they were closing up for the day for a bit of lunch. Just enough to curb the hunger pains. With just enough time to hit Hannafords to order a birthday cake for my husband's 50th 'surprise' BBQ on Sunday.
Now one would think picking out a 50th birthday cake would be simple enough, yeah right! We had exactly 2 choices. One said "Older than Dirt," a title that was bestowed on my Dad more than a couple of years ago by Ashley. So that one was DEFINATELY not an option. The other one was a grim reeper cake. And that too seemed a bit too extreme for 50. So we opted to forgo the 'toys' on the cake and just ask for a chocolate cake with masculine colors that said happy 50th Ron in red. But the lady taking the order threw me a curve ball... did I want traditional or best creme frosting? What? Are you kidding? Damn. Half my family like one type - the other half like the other. Now the odds were not in my favor - I just knew I'd get the wrong one, so I ordered best creme and hoped for the best.
We raced back to the elementary school to pick up the wee people before heading home just long enough to drop Veronica and Ashley off. Veronica was going to a fundraiser with her grandmother (also known as a yard sale - of which give me the whillies) and Ashley had to go to work. Christopher and I had a date with Teacup to pull a series. So we shuffled bodies around - loading the right children back into the correct vehicles and headed back to Brunswick.
Quickly collecting Teacup, we headed back across town towards the needed trail - which is normally a simple task. But we decided to go to a Bowdoin College trail on the same weekend that Bowdoin College was graduating. UGH! The traffic was hideous. Parents in SUVs, and upscale cars with out-of-state plates were plugging along the roads making the locals crazy. So a quick divert down a back road and a cut across a lesser traveled road we managed to park the car. Spraying ourselves down with bug spray - since the breeze had died down a bit, and we were no longer benefiting from the coastal breeze - we headed off to find what was left of this series. Christopher chased a squirrel and said hi to anyone interested in listening to him.
Sometimes a rowdy noisy 5 year old makes it hard to be elusive. But we were pulling the boxes - so its not like anyone was going to find anything after we left. We followed our clues to location after location. Picking up boxes and what was left of boxes along the way. We knew a couple were missing. A couple more were tragically claimed by downed pines that even though Teacup tried - she could not lift and move it to get the boxes beneath! So boxes collected, off the trail we went. A quick hop down a side road Christopher picked up a box and then another quick diversion and we had Teacup getting inky. We then took a ride over a bit farther to knock a couple more off our list that had been overly elusive to us. And wouldn't you know it - it was a raccoon. Little did I know that finding these boxes would be a foretelling of my evening to come.
So once I was finally home again - and quickly getting too pooped to pop, I started carving a last minute plant while printing off clue sheets. Just ask around - I'm famous for those slightly under-the-wire carves : ) I was carving away when I heard this 'bang, bang' over the drone of the TV. A quick peek into the laundry room and our evening diner was back for his nightly chomp through the bag of catfood. I had already duct taped one corner, this pesky fellow was now working on the other corner! I shut the light off so as not to interrupt his evening's meal and calmly walked to the living room to tell my darling husband of our visitor. The next hour or so can best be summed up as raccoon's ability to defeat a big strapping man with a fireplace poker!
So here comes Ron brandishing the fireplace poker. Scaring the raccoon out of the laundry room didn't work the first time - at least to get him to stay away. Why would the critter stay away tonight? We the banging continued - because tonight seems he'd gained a couple pounds and couldn't get thru the door as easily. Bang, bang. He was caught in the screen door and kept going back and forth to try and make it through both doors. A final slam and we knew our friend was inside having dinner on us! I watched as Ron grabbed the poker and the raccoon backed his way out of the laundry room with Ron poking at him. Big man winning round one. And my big brave husband announced to me that the raccoon was gone for the night.
So about 15 minutes later I tell Ron that the raccoon is back. I tell my husband to get dad and a gun. I'd had enough. So off he goes to get dad with a gun. Another 15 minutes later, the raccoon is still enjoying dinner in our house... so off I go in search of the two men. There they were, holding and loading the gun. Good thing we weren't being robbed at gun point - because these men were not built for speed! Ron decided he was going to use the gun - which had me very leery. So he struts through the house with the gun and heads into the laundry room. I wait to hear the gun fire and nuthing. The back doors slams open and shut. And Ron walks back to my parents with the unfired gun. "What happened?" I asked. "Well I hit him with the gun." "Hit him with it? You didn't shoot it?" "No I didn't want to shoot the freezer."
Okay - so that made sense, I guess. So he was out again. Round two over. Raccoon chasing, NOT over for the night. Bang, bang. Guess who's back? Yup - so once again I get my husband and my Dad involved. This time Dad positions himself on their back porch and Ron chases him out of the laundry room with an ax! Two shots later - the coon was gone for good. The question was - did Dad hit it? No blood... but the coon has not been back since. So we're pretty happy about that.
I finished carving my stamp. Pulled together a plant and gathered my stuff for Tour the Fort and made it to bed at a reasonable time - all things considering. Can't wait for the next morning. A full day of boxing and the weather is supposed to be perfect!
Thursday afternoon I sat with Ashley and frantically made pouches to plant a small lighthouse series of 25. Now mind you, I knew I was planting these - so why did I wait so long you might ask? Well procrastination IS my middle name ; ) Besides, waiting for Ashley to help me did make the task more fun! So we stamped up each image and labeled them, taping the image to keep it from smudging too much. Made camo bags, and tucked them into the pouches and numbered them as we went along. Not too much of a task, but definitely lots easier when you have an extra set of hands. Of course its even easier when sipping on tasty cocktails. We were looking through a magazine I picked up at the store earlier and started talking about cocktails. Ashley found one on the internet called a Salem Witch. Realizing we had the ingredients, I thought I'd whip one up to try. Need to test these things if I might want to serve them later at another event. Smooth and slightly tart. And it went so well with the grilled chicken Caesar salad we were having for dinner. A great way to start my long weekend!
Printed off the trail map, put all of the camo bags into my boat and tote and quickly realized that would be a bit cumbersome to drag along a trail so I set off to find my fanny pack. This same fanny pack has eluded me for the past month or so. I've needed it when I've gone out planting and boxing with Teacup a couple of different times. I knew I washed it. I knew that at one point it was hanging on the back of the coat rack. I remembered moving it. But still, it eluded me. Hmmm... so much for using it to plant these 25 boxes.
So I got all of my necessary equipment ready; boxes, notebook, pen and headed off to bed. (note my list is relatively missing some much needed things - this too is normal for me.) Friday I got up and put Christopher on the bus and discussed grand plans for the weekend with my Dad. Seems we were going to split some wood, move some stuff around and set up some square foot planters along the edge of my parents house so we could plant things like tomatoes, cukes, and peppers. This grandiose idea came to pass because my husband thought we should plant tomatoes in a five gallon bucket. Now mind you - I have the BLACKEST thumb around. I kill spider plants. So why on earth would he think I could keep tomatoes alive is beyond me. But Dad thought in lieu of the five gallon buckets we could upgrade to the square foot planters that someone gave him at the beginning of LAST summer. We are nothing without our grand ideas!
So plans set for Sunday and Monday, knowing Castine was planned for Saturday and sometime on Sunday we were having a small BBQ birthday for Ron's 50th, Ashley and I set off for a planting trip. First we had to go to her bank to get some money, then to my bank to cash a check, then to another bank to make a payment at which point my teenager announced that she was hungry. Mind you - as soon as she sits in my car she gets hungry. So off to McD's for sweet tea, a bottle of water and some nuggets. Just a little something until we could have lunch. Lunch before lunch???
Off to our location, we pulled in and grabbed our gear. We no sooner stepped foot on the trail than a jeep started to back up to the trailhead, ugh. But with a quick scan of its bumper we realized it was just the local mail delivery. Yeah! So off we started, trying to calculate how quickly to plant the boxes so they would fit on the trail. The trail itself was a little less than a mile, but its offshoot added about a half a mile. So we basically had 1.5 miles to plant 25 boxes. We planted our first couple and a family of 4 deer shot through the woods. A lovely sighting on this quiet trail. Especially since it was almost noon at this point. (Where had the morning gone???)
Trying to stay on task, I did mention to Ashley that she should be happy that I made her put on my sneakers. She thought she was going to plant these boxes in flip flops. Like her feet and ankles haven't had enough trauma this past year! Again, silly teenager! So we ambled along the trail with Ashley ducking in and out of the treeline. She had the task of planting while I scribed the clues. We continued down the middle path towards the water. When we reached the path I pointed out the bridge across the water. Listening as well as she does - she said "That's a little far off the path for the next box don't you think?" I just looked at her. Yeah right Ashley. Unless every boxer can walk on water it might just be a bit too far off the trail : ) So around the point we went and the path started to get a little narrow and sloped towards the water.
At one point I had mentioned to Ashley that we needed to try and plant some boxes on the right as I seemed to have an affinity for planting on the left. With water on our right, we were kind of stuck with left handed plants for this portion of the trail - but with some quick logistical semantics we did manage to get a right hand plant in. Getting closer to the end of the trail we quickly planted the last couple of boxes and made our way back to the car. Now this trail is usually riddled with flying bloodsuckers. But we went in without the aid of bug spray and didn't have to fight off even one! The coastal breeze was perfect, the temperature just cool enough so forgetting bottled water wasn't even an issue. I wouldn't suggest doing both of those things for those seeking this series - we just plain lucked out!
So back at the car - and back to my still icy cold sweet tea (after 2 hours on the trail) we headed back to town to find lunch. Of course on our way off the island we did have to make a quick u-turn to check out a wheeled tiger in some one's driveway. Ashley thought it would be more effective if it was motorized. But then everything usually is. Back in town we stopped at Jen's Place just before they were closing up for the day for a bit of lunch. Just enough to curb the hunger pains. With just enough time to hit Hannafords to order a birthday cake for my husband's 50th 'surprise' BBQ on Sunday.
Now one would think picking out a 50th birthday cake would be simple enough, yeah right! We had exactly 2 choices. One said "Older than Dirt," a title that was bestowed on my Dad more than a couple of years ago by Ashley. So that one was DEFINATELY not an option. The other one was a grim reeper cake. And that too seemed a bit too extreme for 50. So we opted to forgo the 'toys' on the cake and just ask for a chocolate cake with masculine colors that said happy 50th Ron in red. But the lady taking the order threw me a curve ball... did I want traditional or best creme frosting? What? Are you kidding? Damn. Half my family like one type - the other half like the other. Now the odds were not in my favor - I just knew I'd get the wrong one, so I ordered best creme and hoped for the best.
We raced back to the elementary school to pick up the wee people before heading home just long enough to drop Veronica and Ashley off. Veronica was going to a fundraiser with her grandmother (also known as a yard sale - of which give me the whillies) and Ashley had to go to work. Christopher and I had a date with Teacup to pull a series. So we shuffled bodies around - loading the right children back into the correct vehicles and headed back to Brunswick.
Quickly collecting Teacup, we headed back across town towards the needed trail - which is normally a simple task. But we decided to go to a Bowdoin College trail on the same weekend that Bowdoin College was graduating. UGH! The traffic was hideous. Parents in SUVs, and upscale cars with out-of-state plates were plugging along the roads making the locals crazy. So a quick divert down a back road and a cut across a lesser traveled road we managed to park the car. Spraying ourselves down with bug spray - since the breeze had died down a bit, and we were no longer benefiting from the coastal breeze - we headed off to find what was left of this series. Christopher chased a squirrel and said hi to anyone interested in listening to him.
Sometimes a rowdy noisy 5 year old makes it hard to be elusive. But we were pulling the boxes - so its not like anyone was going to find anything after we left. We followed our clues to location after location. Picking up boxes and what was left of boxes along the way. We knew a couple were missing. A couple more were tragically claimed by downed pines that even though Teacup tried - she could not lift and move it to get the boxes beneath! So boxes collected, off the trail we went. A quick hop down a side road Christopher picked up a box and then another quick diversion and we had Teacup getting inky. We then took a ride over a bit farther to knock a couple more off our list that had been overly elusive to us. And wouldn't you know it - it was a raccoon. Little did I know that finding these boxes would be a foretelling of my evening to come.
So once I was finally home again - and quickly getting too pooped to pop, I started carving a last minute plant while printing off clue sheets. Just ask around - I'm famous for those slightly under-the-wire carves : ) I was carving away when I heard this 'bang, bang' over the drone of the TV. A quick peek into the laundry room and our evening diner was back for his nightly chomp through the bag of catfood. I had already duct taped one corner, this pesky fellow was now working on the other corner! I shut the light off so as not to interrupt his evening's meal and calmly walked to the living room to tell my darling husband of our visitor. The next hour or so can best be summed up as raccoon's ability to defeat a big strapping man with a fireplace poker!
So here comes Ron brandishing the fireplace poker. Scaring the raccoon out of the laundry room didn't work the first time - at least to get him to stay away. Why would the critter stay away tonight? We the banging continued - because tonight seems he'd gained a couple pounds and couldn't get thru the door as easily. Bang, bang. He was caught in the screen door and kept going back and forth to try and make it through both doors. A final slam and we knew our friend was inside having dinner on us! I watched as Ron grabbed the poker and the raccoon backed his way out of the laundry room with Ron poking at him. Big man winning round one. And my big brave husband announced to me that the raccoon was gone for the night.
So about 15 minutes later I tell Ron that the raccoon is back. I tell my husband to get dad and a gun. I'd had enough. So off he goes to get dad with a gun. Another 15 minutes later, the raccoon is still enjoying dinner in our house... so off I go in search of the two men. There they were, holding and loading the gun. Good thing we weren't being robbed at gun point - because these men were not built for speed! Ron decided he was going to use the gun - which had me very leery. So he struts through the house with the gun and heads into the laundry room. I wait to hear the gun fire and nuthing. The back doors slams open and shut. And Ron walks back to my parents with the unfired gun. "What happened?" I asked. "Well I hit him with the gun." "Hit him with it? You didn't shoot it?" "No I didn't want to shoot the freezer."
Okay - so that made sense, I guess. So he was out again. Round two over. Raccoon chasing, NOT over for the night. Bang, bang. Guess who's back? Yup - so once again I get my husband and my Dad involved. This time Dad positions himself on their back porch and Ron chases him out of the laundry room with an ax! Two shots later - the coon was gone for good. The question was - did Dad hit it? No blood... but the coon has not been back since. So we're pretty happy about that.
I finished carving my stamp. Pulled together a plant and gathered my stuff for Tour the Fort and made it to bed at a reasonable time - all things considering. Can't wait for the next morning. A full day of boxing and the weather is supposed to be perfect!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May 2010 5 year Bucket List Plan
So - maybe I should set some goals - get profound - develop a 5 year bucket list. It can quietly sit on my Blog and I can see if I can knock any of them off over the next 5 years of so. I might add things that are totally not reachable and I might even change them along the way - who knows? They are my dreams and goals. So I should be able to decide if I want to do them anymore or extend them or change them or morph them into something ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL! So here goes... let's see what I can come up with.
1. Clean out my closet - not just find it - but actually clean it OUT. Get rid of stuff I'll never ever wear again - toss those games I bought for kids who don't play them - and get that darn old computer out of there for good! (This one MIGHT be possible with enough Sweet Tea!)
2. Find a workable space for my crafts that isn't the dining room table. (This one will probably require longer since my youngest is only 5, kicking him to the curb at 10 is probably ill advised.)
3. Go 3 months with a zero balance on both credit cards. The one has been at zero for almost a year - it helped that I cut it into pieces, the other rises and lowers as my stock of carving materials goes up and down.
4. In letterboxing - hit 500 plants (232 more than today), 2500 finds (1165 more than today)and exchange with 400 (214 more than today) boxers. That means Teacup and I will HAVE to leave the state of Maine, OR we have to invite all of our postal/LTC/carving friends to Maine for one big 'ole exchange party. While I think the later is easier - Tea cracks around too many people - so look out world, we might just crack the border!
5. Attend the next Live and Breathe Event - yup, I said it. I have $3.27 saved up already. At this rate I should be ready to travel 3 years AFTER the event! Hold a program for me Camp Fire Lady - I'll make it there eventually!
6. Have one magical weekend when the laundry is all done, the dishes are all clean, the floors are all vacuumed and noone needs to visit the ER. Okay - so this one may NEVER happen. But it does a body and soul good to dream a little (BIG) dream.
7. Travel Route 66 before it completely disappears. I've been along some of the stops - but a college student never appreciates things until 20 years later. Wish I had taken just a couple more days on that 5 day trek 20 years ago!
8. Plan at least 2 weekend boxing getaways with Teacup every year for the next 5 years. If we aren't hosting an event - it looks like we'll have to go to yours. Watch out - when Team MudCup travels - noone is safe.
9. Have a 1 day window when we can say - yup, we've got them all in Maine - time to move along, before they plant more for us to find : ) Okay - so this is all part of that list thing. Its more of a Teacup bucket list idea. But since she doesn't box over the border - my list actually is all of the boxes in New Hampshire. And do you know how many MOUNTAINS are in New Hampshire? Mountains and mountains of GRANITE! (Must remember to add to Christmas wish list - one stairmaster.)
10. Actually use the stairmaster if I get it for Christmas. Okay - who am I kidding? A stairmaster on my Christmas Wish List??? Not freakin' likely! Its more like: carving material, blank index cards, camo duct tape, ziploc freezer bags, lock and locks, cardstock, bug spray, a new backpack... you know. All of the IMPORTANT stuff!
11. Take on the Zombies and win!
12. Find the lost land of Oz and make it home again - because there's no place like home, there's no place like home.
13. Go and play with the Inhabitants of the Enchanted Woods in Oregon.
14. Graduate to REAL markers...
15. Actually go on that letterboxing trip to France. You thought Teacup had problems with a state border - how am I going to convince her to jump the pond? I'd suggest taking a boat - but that would be worse!
16. Plant a tombstone for All of my friends. Honest - its an HONOR! We only memorialize the ones we love. The rest we leave on the carving table sitting under a never ending pile of postals : )
17. Convince my husband that cared images ARE an investment in our future. They continue to payback dividends the longer they are out in the wild. He just calculate dividends wrong.
18. Log the drawer of LTCs I have yet to log. I love them all - they just intimidate me to no end. Every time I look at them I feel inferior. There are so many carvers and LTC creators out there that make me look like a 3 year old with construction paper and a glue stick!
19. Plant a blue diamond series that is actually all my own stamps! I have those lovely jewels in my logbook - but not because they are my stamps... mostly its because wicked talented folks have let me plant their diamonds here in Maine. I live vicariously through others jewelry boxes... actually - I'd rather have a green emerald!
20. Publish a book. If I only knew how to write....................
1. Clean out my closet - not just find it - but actually clean it OUT. Get rid of stuff I'll never ever wear again - toss those games I bought for kids who don't play them - and get that darn old computer out of there for good! (This one MIGHT be possible with enough Sweet Tea!)
2. Find a workable space for my crafts that isn't the dining room table. (This one will probably require longer since my youngest is only 5, kicking him to the curb at 10 is probably ill advised.)
3. Go 3 months with a zero balance on both credit cards. The one has been at zero for almost a year - it helped that I cut it into pieces, the other rises and lowers as my stock of carving materials goes up and down.
4. In letterboxing - hit 500 plants (232 more than today), 2500 finds (1165 more than today)and exchange with 400 (214 more than today) boxers. That means Teacup and I will HAVE to leave the state of Maine, OR we have to invite all of our postal/LTC/carving friends to Maine for one big 'ole exchange party. While I think the later is easier - Tea cracks around too many people - so look out world, we might just crack the border!
5. Attend the next Live and Breathe Event - yup, I said it. I have $3.27 saved up already. At this rate I should be ready to travel 3 years AFTER the event! Hold a program for me Camp Fire Lady - I'll make it there eventually!
6. Have one magical weekend when the laundry is all done, the dishes are all clean, the floors are all vacuumed and noone needs to visit the ER. Okay - so this one may NEVER happen. But it does a body and soul good to dream a little (BIG) dream.
7. Travel Route 66 before it completely disappears. I've been along some of the stops - but a college student never appreciates things until 20 years later. Wish I had taken just a couple more days on that 5 day trek 20 years ago!
8. Plan at least 2 weekend boxing getaways with Teacup every year for the next 5 years. If we aren't hosting an event - it looks like we'll have to go to yours. Watch out - when Team MudCup travels - noone is safe.
9. Have a 1 day window when we can say - yup, we've got them all in Maine - time to move along, before they plant more for us to find : ) Okay - so this is all part of that list thing. Its more of a Teacup bucket list idea. But since she doesn't box over the border - my list actually is all of the boxes in New Hampshire. And do you know how many MOUNTAINS are in New Hampshire? Mountains and mountains of GRANITE! (Must remember to add to Christmas wish list - one stairmaster.)
10. Actually use the stairmaster if I get it for Christmas. Okay - who am I kidding? A stairmaster on my Christmas Wish List??? Not freakin' likely! Its more like: carving material, blank index cards, camo duct tape, ziploc freezer bags, lock and locks, cardstock, bug spray, a new backpack... you know. All of the IMPORTANT stuff!
11. Take on the Zombies and win!
12. Find the lost land of Oz and make it home again - because there's no place like home, there's no place like home.
13. Go and play with the Inhabitants of the Enchanted Woods in Oregon.
14. Graduate to REAL markers...
15. Actually go on that letterboxing trip to France. You thought Teacup had problems with a state border - how am I going to convince her to jump the pond? I'd suggest taking a boat - but that would be worse!
16. Plant a tombstone for All of my friends. Honest - its an HONOR! We only memorialize the ones we love. The rest we leave on the carving table sitting under a never ending pile of postals : )
17. Convince my husband that cared images ARE an investment in our future. They continue to payback dividends the longer they are out in the wild. He just calculate dividends wrong.
18. Log the drawer of LTCs I have yet to log. I love them all - they just intimidate me to no end. Every time I look at them I feel inferior. There are so many carvers and LTC creators out there that make me look like a 3 year old with construction paper and a glue stick!
19. Plant a blue diamond series that is actually all my own stamps! I have those lovely jewels in my logbook - but not because they are my stamps... mostly its because wicked talented folks have let me plant their diamonds here in Maine. I live vicariously through others jewelry boxes... actually - I'd rather have a green emerald!
20. Publish a book. If I only knew how to write....................
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
To the end and home again... Day Three
Sometimes you beg for just a little more time. Sometimes you just want the day to be over. In many ways, that was how we felt about day three of our weekend. We started our day later than we normally would, but had success right out of the gate. Found a Jiffy box that looked like it had some visitors that didn't log their finds, but was getting more visitors that we would have thought it might have gotten. We mosied around coastal downeast Maine through waking fishing communities. One had trucks lining the road for what seemed like forever - yet not a boat was in the harbor. They had obviously gotten up much earlier than we had!
We ambled to the end of Maine - destination West Quoddy Lighthouse. We pulled into the parking area, and with mental clues ticking through Teacups head - we headed off in the direction of the letterbox. When one is close at hand - her homing devise kicks in - and 9 times out of 10, she finds me the box - without a cluesheet to guide her. We were also off in search of a box placed by 'the one never spoken of' but there was a Warden making his morning rounds. Not being put off by a Warden - I asked him where a certain marker was - and he directed us right to it! This saved us plenty of time we would have otherwise needed to rambled around seeking what we needed.
Now these boxes are generally on Teacup's list and I go along for the ride. She only asks for a few minutes to see if she can ferret out the elusive box, before moving along to one we know we will probably have more success with. I was content - out came my camera and I started taking shots of the lighthouse, the water - Canada! Teacup was making some grumbling noises - so I thought I'd give her a few minutes and climbed back where she was searching. She was rooting around one tree while I laid down on the ground under another - moved a couple pieces of bark - and found the box. Call it dumb luck on my part, but Teacup sometimes looks at me like I have a fourth head. But we were able to get this box off Teacup's list - at long last. The amazing thing about some of these boxes is that they have been around A LONG time. So some of the names in the logbook are as much a treasure to read through as finding the letterbox itself. And this was certainly true with this box. The sun was out and there was just a slight coastal breeze, so we pulled up a piece of mossy ledge and took a proper amount of time to truly appreciate this box, especially since there wasn't a soul around for miles!
Replacing the box - we started back for the one we didn't have clues for - but decided to forgo it since tourists were beginning to invade our seclusion, and we still had more than a few miles to put on the car to get home. Our next stop was along a trail for boxes planted by someone neither of us had images from. So these were high on our must have list. We should have known we were headed for trouble right out of the gate when we couldn't even locate the trail head. We ended up knocking on some one's back door for directions. Being so far out of nowhere - they were a little shocked to have someone knocking over their morning coffee. But when we need a trailhead - someone else's coffee just had to wait. We were in Edmunds looking for a Keltic Kara series that hadn't had a recorded finder in a while.
After getting properly turned around by the locals, we headed off on the hunt for this three box series. We mosied along trying to read the clues and trying to get the woods to fit the clues. Some weather damage had clearly changed many of the markers, but we finally thought we were in the right spot for the first box. Looking where we first thought the box might be - Teacup ended up injured. So a little trail first aid we took a second look around a realized that we were off a bit and adjusted out search. But the box was nowhere in the vicinity. Dang. Time to move along. We ambled along - bummed at not finding the first box amongst the considerable damage. But we ambled around, up, down, up, up, up again, slipped, slithered, crouched, and clambered over fallen trees on what we were convinced used to be a decent trail to the location of the neighborhood of the second box. It mentioned a 'great view' but the trees had obviously grown a touch since the planted had been to visit her boxes - cause we didn't see much of anything! But we DID find the second box. Off we trampled to try and locate box number three. Now we don't usually grumble about difficult trails or boxes that have been somewhat abandoned - but frankly, we were beginning to get a bit freaked out.
Teacup and I have a horrible habit of forgetting our water in the car. And we had been traversing this destructed trail for more than an hour, only to find one out of three boxes. We think we passed the third one, thought about going back down the hill to see if we did - for about a minute - and decided we really didn't give a rat's butt if we had passed 12 boxes - we wanted OUT of the woods and off this trail from hell. We kept hearing cars, but they sounded like they were on all sides of us. So we kept getting more and more disoriented. Between that and the horrible conditions of the trail, the lack of water and the fact that both of us were beginning to get more than a little skittish - we figured just heading in one direction was the smartest of all options. After more than 1 1/2 hours we made if off the trail and back onto the road. A short walk later we were back at our car and downed the cold coffee and warm water that was waiting for us. Just happy to have Keltic Kara behind us.
Looking at our next options for boxes - we opted to forgo the other Keltic Kara series for when Hell froze over, and headed off for Eastport. Shackford Head seemed lots less intimidating to us at this point. And time was seriously slipping away from us. Teacup had been to Shackford Head before and we wanted to pick up the Anniversary Box of Jiffy's along with another box planted by the woodland gnomes. So we happily left Edmunds and headed due east. Shackford Head was hopping just a bit, but we figured most folks were serious hikers and wouldn't be bothering us too much since they took the right side of the fork and we were heading out on the left. We walked across a planked boardwalk that was riddled with tiny ants. Reaching the end, Teacup and I reread the clues and thought we misread them so headed back to the fork. Nope - we were going in the right direction. Dang - back across the ant causeway. It was creepy - so we hot-footed it across the boards as quickly as possible to get to the other side. Once there we headed up Shackford Head for the first box.
The Anniversary box was in a location that afforded us an amazing view of Cobscook Bay and Canada. While looking for that box, we realized it was also in the same vicinity as one of the woodland gnomes boxes. So Teacup searched for Jiffy's box while I sought out the other. Both with boxes in our hands we made our way back to the bench at the lookout spot and started to crack open the boxes. Just as the wind picked up about 40 knots! We quickly tucked clue sheets under us, and gathered plastic baggies to keep them from flying off the edge. We stamped up as quickly as possible and replanted the two boxes so we could head off for box two of the series.
We continued along the trail and found the 'path' downhill that would lead us to the second box. I say path because it was more of a watershed than a trail. And had it been bad weather - we wouldn't have even attempted the journey. But down we slipped, scampered, death-gripped our way from tree to tree - while a local just sort of sashayed his way uphill past us. Tipping his head slightly, 'morning Ladies. And he was gone - like a gazelle up the hideous hill and we continued downward trying not to break our necks. We followed along the trail which snaked along the water's edge as the wind continued to pick up. We finally found the box and Teacup decided to try and reach her daughter for a quick phone call from the edge of the hill. The water was capping and the wind was getting stronger on this side of Shackford Head, so after wishing her daughter a happy birthday - we started back the way we had just come. The uphill climb didn't seem as bad as the downhill slide - but we were getting tired and worn out. This hike had turned into another that was harder than we had wanted it to be.
We made it back to the beginning of the trailhead and headed across the now completely cut down field of bamboo (when your trailhead goes through the center of it and you clear-cut the area, trailheads amazingly enough - change slightly!) Thankfully, a hearty local with a boat on her back - directed us in the correct direction to get to the water's edge. Okay - so maybe she didn't have a boat on her back - but I bet she could have carried one!
We made haste to get this last box as this area had more of those nasty ants and decided we deserved a brief respite before deciding our next set of boxes to go after. Teacup allowed me some 'touristy' time. Knowing I wouldn't likely be back this far east for a while - we traversed the rest of the roads until we made it to Eastport. Took photos of the official US/Canadian border from a very safe distance, pulled into a parking spot along the water to take some shots of a VERY large fisherman protecting the wharf and took a stroll through a giftshop to pick up some proper pirate gear. Who would have thought that Eastport Maine was the eastern pirate capital of the US? Unfortunately for us - we were about a week to early for the festival - but many locals were perusing the shelves looking for the perfect pirate gear for the following weekend's festivities. And we're guessing that the whole town gets involved since there were Jolly Roger flags hanging all over town!
Teacup picked up the first of a series written by an Eastport 'local.' I couldn't resist picking up some pirate tokens - took more than a few photos of the fisherman. And more photos of the local foundry - which was one of the original ones in New England before we headed off to seek out another local box. We headed off to school to check out a local historic spot that referenced a box, but alas - some of the recent restoration work had reclaimed the landscape and the box was sadly MIA. So here we were, in Eastport Maine... about as far away from home as we possibly could be and we had two choices. Start north and inland a bit and try for 6 more boxes or start to head south and try to make it to PIE before it was completely over.
We opted to head south. We were over 200 miles from home - and that was if we took the highway and didn't divert back along the coastal route to pick up the couple of boxes we missed on our way east. Chatting about it briefly - we made a cold hard decision. There was no way we were going to make it back in time to even remotely be able to participate in PIE. So I picked up the phone and called Robin's Nest to let her know we wouldn't make it. Robyn was clearly disappointed - but there was just no physical way to accomplish it unless we grew wings on the car and flew the rest of the way home.
We were tired and hungry and getting edgy about the drive home. We knew it would be a long one - but we needed a breather. So we stopped for lunch. After started to eat - we realized we were literally FAMISHED! We hadn't had any REAL food since that incredible lunch on our first day. No wonder we were edgy, tired and worn out. We didn't have ANY fuel in our bodies. So Teacup and I had a square meal - and felt WORLD's better. Our spirits rose, our energy seemed restored and we were back in the saddle once again. We continued south again - stopped to get one box that we missed along the Schoodic Peninsula and then made the choice to head towards Bangor and pick up the highway. we needed to get some miles under us so we could make it home before midnight.
We drove past Augusta at 7pm - and fleetingly thought about heading towards PIE - even though the event only had an hour left, but we just didn't have the energy to be friendly with each other - let alone with someone else. So paying the toll - we headed on home.
Now Teacup and I love our weekend jaunts. But sometimes we just plan a little more than is even humanly possible. We always have a great time - but we are both more than willing to admit - we were more than ready to be in our own beds. Our husbands even sounded more appealing than they had when we quickly bid them a fond adieu only three days earlier. But lets just say - Team MudCup was well road worn and ready to take a brief respite before hitting the roads once again.
We ambled to the end of Maine - destination West Quoddy Lighthouse. We pulled into the parking area, and with mental clues ticking through Teacups head - we headed off in the direction of the letterbox. When one is close at hand - her homing devise kicks in - and 9 times out of 10, she finds me the box - without a cluesheet to guide her. We were also off in search of a box placed by 'the one never spoken of' but there was a Warden making his morning rounds. Not being put off by a Warden - I asked him where a certain marker was - and he directed us right to it! This saved us plenty of time we would have otherwise needed to rambled around seeking what we needed.
Now these boxes are generally on Teacup's list and I go along for the ride. She only asks for a few minutes to see if she can ferret out the elusive box, before moving along to one we know we will probably have more success with. I was content - out came my camera and I started taking shots of the lighthouse, the water - Canada! Teacup was making some grumbling noises - so I thought I'd give her a few minutes and climbed back where she was searching. She was rooting around one tree while I laid down on the ground under another - moved a couple pieces of bark - and found the box. Call it dumb luck on my part, but Teacup sometimes looks at me like I have a fourth head. But we were able to get this box off Teacup's list - at long last. The amazing thing about some of these boxes is that they have been around A LONG time. So some of the names in the logbook are as much a treasure to read through as finding the letterbox itself. And this was certainly true with this box. The sun was out and there was just a slight coastal breeze, so we pulled up a piece of mossy ledge and took a proper amount of time to truly appreciate this box, especially since there wasn't a soul around for miles!
Replacing the box - we started back for the one we didn't have clues for - but decided to forgo it since tourists were beginning to invade our seclusion, and we still had more than a few miles to put on the car to get home. Our next stop was along a trail for boxes planted by someone neither of us had images from. So these were high on our must have list. We should have known we were headed for trouble right out of the gate when we couldn't even locate the trail head. We ended up knocking on some one's back door for directions. Being so far out of nowhere - they were a little shocked to have someone knocking over their morning coffee. But when we need a trailhead - someone else's coffee just had to wait. We were in Edmunds looking for a Keltic Kara series that hadn't had a recorded finder in a while.
After getting properly turned around by the locals, we headed off on the hunt for this three box series. We mosied along trying to read the clues and trying to get the woods to fit the clues. Some weather damage had clearly changed many of the markers, but we finally thought we were in the right spot for the first box. Looking where we first thought the box might be - Teacup ended up injured. So a little trail first aid we took a second look around a realized that we were off a bit and adjusted out search. But the box was nowhere in the vicinity. Dang. Time to move along. We ambled along - bummed at not finding the first box amongst the considerable damage. But we ambled around, up, down, up, up, up again, slipped, slithered, crouched, and clambered over fallen trees on what we were convinced used to be a decent trail to the location of the neighborhood of the second box. It mentioned a 'great view' but the trees had obviously grown a touch since the planted had been to visit her boxes - cause we didn't see much of anything! But we DID find the second box. Off we trampled to try and locate box number three. Now we don't usually grumble about difficult trails or boxes that have been somewhat abandoned - but frankly, we were beginning to get a bit freaked out.
Teacup and I have a horrible habit of forgetting our water in the car. And we had been traversing this destructed trail for more than an hour, only to find one out of three boxes. We think we passed the third one, thought about going back down the hill to see if we did - for about a minute - and decided we really didn't give a rat's butt if we had passed 12 boxes - we wanted OUT of the woods and off this trail from hell. We kept hearing cars, but they sounded like they were on all sides of us. So we kept getting more and more disoriented. Between that and the horrible conditions of the trail, the lack of water and the fact that both of us were beginning to get more than a little skittish - we figured just heading in one direction was the smartest of all options. After more than 1 1/2 hours we made if off the trail and back onto the road. A short walk later we were back at our car and downed the cold coffee and warm water that was waiting for us. Just happy to have Keltic Kara behind us.
Looking at our next options for boxes - we opted to forgo the other Keltic Kara series for when Hell froze over, and headed off for Eastport. Shackford Head seemed lots less intimidating to us at this point. And time was seriously slipping away from us. Teacup had been to Shackford Head before and we wanted to pick up the Anniversary Box of Jiffy's along with another box planted by the woodland gnomes. So we happily left Edmunds and headed due east. Shackford Head was hopping just a bit, but we figured most folks were serious hikers and wouldn't be bothering us too much since they took the right side of the fork and we were heading out on the left. We walked across a planked boardwalk that was riddled with tiny ants. Reaching the end, Teacup and I reread the clues and thought we misread them so headed back to the fork. Nope - we were going in the right direction. Dang - back across the ant causeway. It was creepy - so we hot-footed it across the boards as quickly as possible to get to the other side. Once there we headed up Shackford Head for the first box.
The Anniversary box was in a location that afforded us an amazing view of Cobscook Bay and Canada. While looking for that box, we realized it was also in the same vicinity as one of the woodland gnomes boxes. So Teacup searched for Jiffy's box while I sought out the other. Both with boxes in our hands we made our way back to the bench at the lookout spot and started to crack open the boxes. Just as the wind picked up about 40 knots! We quickly tucked clue sheets under us, and gathered plastic baggies to keep them from flying off the edge. We stamped up as quickly as possible and replanted the two boxes so we could head off for box two of the series.
We continued along the trail and found the 'path' downhill that would lead us to the second box. I say path because it was more of a watershed than a trail. And had it been bad weather - we wouldn't have even attempted the journey. But down we slipped, scampered, death-gripped our way from tree to tree - while a local just sort of sashayed his way uphill past us. Tipping his head slightly, 'morning Ladies. And he was gone - like a gazelle up the hideous hill and we continued downward trying not to break our necks. We followed along the trail which snaked along the water's edge as the wind continued to pick up. We finally found the box and Teacup decided to try and reach her daughter for a quick phone call from the edge of the hill. The water was capping and the wind was getting stronger on this side of Shackford Head, so after wishing her daughter a happy birthday - we started back the way we had just come. The uphill climb didn't seem as bad as the downhill slide - but we were getting tired and worn out. This hike had turned into another that was harder than we had wanted it to be.
We made it back to the beginning of the trailhead and headed across the now completely cut down field of bamboo (when your trailhead goes through the center of it and you clear-cut the area, trailheads amazingly enough - change slightly!) Thankfully, a hearty local with a boat on her back - directed us in the correct direction to get to the water's edge. Okay - so maybe she didn't have a boat on her back - but I bet she could have carried one!
We made haste to get this last box as this area had more of those nasty ants and decided we deserved a brief respite before deciding our next set of boxes to go after. Teacup allowed me some 'touristy' time. Knowing I wouldn't likely be back this far east for a while - we traversed the rest of the roads until we made it to Eastport. Took photos of the official US/Canadian border from a very safe distance, pulled into a parking spot along the water to take some shots of a VERY large fisherman protecting the wharf and took a stroll through a giftshop to pick up some proper pirate gear. Who would have thought that Eastport Maine was the eastern pirate capital of the US? Unfortunately for us - we were about a week to early for the festival - but many locals were perusing the shelves looking for the perfect pirate gear for the following weekend's festivities. And we're guessing that the whole town gets involved since there were Jolly Roger flags hanging all over town!
Teacup picked up the first of a series written by an Eastport 'local.' I couldn't resist picking up some pirate tokens - took more than a few photos of the fisherman. And more photos of the local foundry - which was one of the original ones in New England before we headed off to seek out another local box. We headed off to school to check out a local historic spot that referenced a box, but alas - some of the recent restoration work had reclaimed the landscape and the box was sadly MIA. So here we were, in Eastport Maine... about as far away from home as we possibly could be and we had two choices. Start north and inland a bit and try for 6 more boxes or start to head south and try to make it to PIE before it was completely over.
We opted to head south. We were over 200 miles from home - and that was if we took the highway and didn't divert back along the coastal route to pick up the couple of boxes we missed on our way east. Chatting about it briefly - we made a cold hard decision. There was no way we were going to make it back in time to even remotely be able to participate in PIE. So I picked up the phone and called Robin's Nest to let her know we wouldn't make it. Robyn was clearly disappointed - but there was just no physical way to accomplish it unless we grew wings on the car and flew the rest of the way home.
We were tired and hungry and getting edgy about the drive home. We knew it would be a long one - but we needed a breather. So we stopped for lunch. After started to eat - we realized we were literally FAMISHED! We hadn't had any REAL food since that incredible lunch on our first day. No wonder we were edgy, tired and worn out. We didn't have ANY fuel in our bodies. So Teacup and I had a square meal - and felt WORLD's better. Our spirits rose, our energy seemed restored and we were back in the saddle once again. We continued south again - stopped to get one box that we missed along the Schoodic Peninsula and then made the choice to head towards Bangor and pick up the highway. we needed to get some miles under us so we could make it home before midnight.
We drove past Augusta at 7pm - and fleetingly thought about heading towards PIE - even though the event only had an hour left, but we just didn't have the energy to be friendly with each other - let alone with someone else. So paying the toll - we headed on home.
Now Teacup and I love our weekend jaunts. But sometimes we just plan a little more than is even humanly possible. We always have a great time - but we are both more than willing to admit - we were more than ready to be in our own beds. Our husbands even sounded more appealing than they had when we quickly bid them a fond adieu only three days earlier. But lets just say - Team MudCup was well road worn and ready to take a brief respite before hitting the roads once again.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Journey to the end of Maine - Day Two
Phew! What a day we already had. The box tally for me was 26. Very cool considering how much driving Teacup did to get me those! So on day two - our course was plotted. Well, to a point. We always leave room for side-trips and unplanned u-turns. Those are usually the most fun! After prying ourselves out of bed - we headed off to check out of the hotel, grab some breakfast and coffee and head to take on Bar Harbor once again.
Coffee (tea for Teacup) and donuts in hands - we head off to Acadia. The lights were in our favor, but the tides were not. So we passed once again on the Ovens. A quick side trip before Bar Harbor picked us up our first box of the day. Then we ventured into the harbor. Things were more the way we liked them. Most folks were still tucked snug as a bug in their beds. So we headed off to the gazebo to FINALLY snag a DeeBee box, The Maine Event. This box eluded us last October as it had been pushed far under the gazebo. But it had recently been recovered, so it was a must have for us. We followed the clues - bummer, not there. Teacup was not giving up that easily. It was still wet all around the gazebo - and we really didn't want to lay down to reach under the gazebo. But if we needed to - we were going to do it. Teacup was armed with her walking stick, a yard stick and duct tape! One way or another - we were getting that box. A quick scan to the opposite side of the gazebo had us dancing for joy! The Maine Event was ours! Yeah!!!
So off we went to our next stop in the harbor. We easily found the next box as it was sticking out for all to see. But we had our first sewsewbusy box. And ironically - our second lobster of the morning! We were getting our daily ration of seafood all before 8am! Our next stop was at the high school for two of Robin's Nest's boxes. We pulled into the driveway - and were instantly stopped! They were painting the parking lot! On a Sunday during Labor day weekend! What was wrong with them??? Didn't they know that they were blocking us from getting a box??? So we managed to get one of them, but not the other. Bummer.
Next we were heading off to pick some blueberries with Archimedes Screw... we had attempted last year - but missed the turn off and ended up forgoing the box. This year - it was a MUST on our list. We stopped for a refueling (for us that is.) Coffee and pastries later - we traveled on. The blueberries were another easy find - even though there were folks being walked by their herd of dogs that slowed us down a bit. So tucking the blueberries neatly away in our logbook - we journeyed off to Bass Harbor light. Now there is an elusive box there that we have tried to locate one time before. Teacup's mission was to ferret it out while I picked up a new three box series. The first box we picked up on our way towards the shore... muggles a plenty in the area, we tried to be stealthy. But really the only danger were the mosquitoes! And there were hundreds of those dang birds trying to carry us off!
At the second box Teacup headed one direction while I stamped us into box number two. It was impossible to be elusive - but the elderly gentleman I was talking to - was never going to climb over the stairs to wiggle up the ledge to where I was perched in order to get the box - so I felt I was safe. We chatted up a bit while he caught his breath and I steadily stamped up. He moved along and I returned the box to its hidey hole and climbed down just as two younger folks ran down the stairs towards me. Well - she did. Her male friend ambled much slower. She came up behind me quick footed and anxious - so I got out of her way so she could gallop across the ledges in her athletic gear. Her friend a good 200 paces behind her, and not nearly as sure-footed on the ledges edges! I scoped out the location of the next box. Could see it in front of me. The easiest thing to do would be to have Teacup venture over there - me with my camera ready for that 'perfect tourist photo' but where was Teacup? I looked out and around - nowhere to be seen. Hmm... I waited a few minutes and then thought - oh the heck with it.
Keeping the young'uns in my sights, I traversed off towards the box. Stamping up for me first, I wanted to color it all nice and pretty for Teacup - but a whole flock of senior ladies were converging on the lower steps towards the ledges. So a quick coloring of all green, I replaced the box and started teetering back towards the stairs. One of the ladies mentioned how agile I was climbing up and over the ledges. I laughed and said - "All in the name of a close up photo." And off I headed to the stair back upwards. After the first few steps I had to stop for a young family heading down. Their daughter stopped and screamed while pointing at my leg. Evidently I was being bitten by a mosquito. She was terrified! It was so cute. I swatted the bugger away and she continued down the stairs past me.
Once at the top - I ventured off the well worn path to the path less traveled in search of Teacup. I yelled once "Amber." No answer. (Because I'm sure that if I yelled Teacup in the woods - I'd get a bevy of elderly ladies looking for a spot of tea after their climb back up the stairs.) The second yell produced a face from the under side of the ledge. "You scared me half to death." Well at least she was still there. I was beginning to think she'd gone off and left me with the locals. Alas, the elusive box - remained elusive. Out of nowhere - one of the ladies from the group came up behind me. "So, what is out at the end of this path, dear?" "What? Oh nothing much, and you can't see the lighthouse from here at all." Teacup strolled up past me giving me a look like I picked up the weirdest things out on the trail. My new friend decided to point out all of the local flora along the way back to the car. I was fearing she was going to get into the backseat and go along with us... It took us a while to shake her loose... even getting in the car didn't stop her chattering away... luckily, they were heading south. They had already been to where we were headed! Woohoo.
Driving away from the lighthouse, all Teacup could say was "You pick up the oddest people. Why don't you just say hi and move on? Then they wouldn't stalk you back to the car!" Yeah - like that would ever happen : ) So along we went. Our next stop was a futile one. But without at least looking ourselves, we couldn't cross it off the list. So we found the spot - and followed the directions and started looking for a lock n lock in a pile of rocks! Okay - so they were more like a retaining wall of rocks... but there were LOTS of them! A whole hill of them. We just had to find the right one. After about 15 minutes we decided that yup - it was definitely missing. Another one off the list.
A quick look at the time and we decided we needed to get off the island and start heading east or we wouldn't get the boxes we had charted out for the rest of the day. So north we drove. Once off the island - we paid tribute to fallen heroes in Lamoine and then worked our way along the Schoodic Scenic Byway visiting some wonderful spots along the way. We found a REALLY large lobster that was home to a retired one - and our third lobster of the day. We then ambled further along route one visiting a tiny church, a prankster, and a humanitarian as we headed towards Perry Maine. The next goal for this part of the journey was to 1. reach the hotel to check in, and then to 2. get to Perry to plant a box for Kirbert. Well we made it to our motel. It was the cutest little motel in the middle of nowhere. The Blueberry Patch motel had a total of 7 rooms! We walked into a room all done in blue. With the prettiest patchwork quilts, blue towels in the bathroom and blue sheets! It was so cool. Of course - this was just sitting in the heart of blueberry country - so it made perfect sense. We still had daylight hours - so we decided to head further east. And Perry was only an hour past Jonesboro, where our hotel was, so it was very attainable. Of course the hour was traveling time without boxing your way to your destination! Who ever heard of such a thing?
So after dropping our stuff in the room we headed east. There were a few boxes along the way and we picked up a couple of them. But we really had our headings leading us to Perry. So with Maggie leading the charge - off we traveled. We were heading along when I pulled out a random clue sheet and punched in its address. In less that 10 minutes, Maggie had us heading down a road to our next box. Little did I know - but Teacup had been here previously, but it was not surprising since she has so many more boxes than I have. We pulled into the parking area and I felt like we were walking on private property. We looked at the two clue sheets and opted to go after the one Teacup didn't have first. Off we headed. Down a road to a field line with trees (no surprising since we were on a tree farm : ) We followed the clues across a bridge and started counting trails that lead off on the left. well, we thought we were counting them, but evidently we missed the one we actually needed. So across a long field we walked looking for the markers, but we couldn't find them. Since the last finder was at least two years previously - we were not surprised that some of the markers might have been overgrown. But we lingered onward. In search of lobster buoys! Out in the middle of a tree farm! Instead, we found water. With the trail continuing on the other side. No way to reach it unless we had a desire to get really wet, so we turned around. And there they were! Lobster buoys hanging from a tree! Can you say we literally fell into this box! Because ALL of the markers we were trying to follow were completely wrong. This we found out as we headed backwards on the trail! We ended up coming out a good 1000 feet closer to the parking lot than we entered. How on earth did we miss the trail?
We continued back to the parking area and were greeted by a very friendly dog. evidently he was visiting for the evening and had lost his brother. So two ladies were out in search of them. We chatted a bit and figured out that we were talking with woodland gnomes! Her and her husband were the owners of the property and had planted the boxes on their property. They were thrilled to have folks looking for their boxes. She asked if we had the labyrinth box yet. While Teacup had already found this box, I had not. So we walked over to get the box, promising to return to their house for a special stamp afterwards. We went to the location, and set up was a full sized labyrinth. Teacup went off to get the box, while I was supposed to walk the path to enlightenment. Okay - I managed to follow it to the end - in one direction. After that things got a bit muddy. Okay - so I stepped over the lines and out of the path. But I honestly didn't know you HAD to walk it backwards too! But I never have been able to follow the rules, especially since I wasn't told them all to begin with.
After stamping up - we banged the gong and left the area. Heading back to their house, we stopped in and chatted for a bit with Mrs. woodland gnomes. We managed to do half of an exchange as she gave us her leaf but proclaimed that 'the nut isn't home, so you can't get that.' It made me chuckle slightly. But she did offer us two bonus stamps for stopping by to chat with her. We stayed for about 15 minutes and decided we really needed to head to Perry to plant Kirbert's 45th parallel box. So heading back out the road - with a quick detour to a cemetery for another local box - we continued further east. We finally found the location of the actual marker and had to do a quick u-turn (during rush hour - all 4 cars!) to get to the site. Looking around it seemed rather boring. I thought there was supposed to be pomp and circumstance. I thought there was this big globe proclaiming to the world 'YOU ARE HERE!' But nope - a quiet marker with two picnic tables and a couple very short trails into the woods - which we think were used more by local scientists than anything else.
We scoped out a location, thought it over and didn't like the prospect of leaving it at this roadside pull-up. It was definitely a drive-by. And there really wasn't a great spot to hide it, unless we wanted to dig in the muck and myer. So sopping the immediate area - directly across the road mecca was calling to us! A quiet resting spot of a peaceful nature! We found a great spot and felt much more secure in leaving it behind, knowing the only maintenance it would get would be from finders and headed back south. On the way back to the motel, we stopped to find another cemetery box located next to a charming church painted in red and blue. we tried for one other box, but it was MIA. Teacup at this point was sure I had altered our destiny by stepping out of the labyrinth... but so far we had found almost every box we had tried for. I think it was just the time for a MIA box. The sun was setting quickly, and frankly we were getting tired. We mulled over options about stopping for dinner - but we decided we really just wanted to head back to the motel. And Teacup knew it was a good hour plus drive in the dark.
It had been a very long day, and we were both getting very weary. Teacup wanted to touch base with her NBS, so I dialed her house and she chatted as we drove along in the dark. We passed back through Machias and were almost back to the motel, passing through an area of empty blueberry fields when a moose crossed the road in front of us. It was a surreal experience. Amber had been driving cautiously, but the moose had seemed larger than life as it ambled back into the field. Had we hit it, it would have creamed us for sure. I think its antlers were over the roof of her car! Not really sure she had actually seen the moose, she was instantly pinged awake when a rock hit her windshield! Dang! Maybe I did screw up our cosmic destiny! Luckily, I carry a guardian angel or two around with me, just to be safe. So we made it back to the motel and collapsed on the beds. Both desperate for showers, we took those while we watched a little TV and stamped up a couple hikers we had gathered during our journey. Looking at the list of boxes we still needed to pick up - we plotted our final days path. We knew at this point that we might need to make some serious decisions, but we would try to get them all if we could. But for now, since we had forgotten to get the password to the internet access - we both read for a bit and then decided sleep was in order. For Monday was our final day and we still had lots of boxes to collect!
Coffee (tea for Teacup) and donuts in hands - we head off to Acadia. The lights were in our favor, but the tides were not. So we passed once again on the Ovens. A quick side trip before Bar Harbor picked us up our first box of the day. Then we ventured into the harbor. Things were more the way we liked them. Most folks were still tucked snug as a bug in their beds. So we headed off to the gazebo to FINALLY snag a DeeBee box, The Maine Event. This box eluded us last October as it had been pushed far under the gazebo. But it had recently been recovered, so it was a must have for us. We followed the clues - bummer, not there. Teacup was not giving up that easily. It was still wet all around the gazebo - and we really didn't want to lay down to reach under the gazebo. But if we needed to - we were going to do it. Teacup was armed with her walking stick, a yard stick and duct tape! One way or another - we were getting that box. A quick scan to the opposite side of the gazebo had us dancing for joy! The Maine Event was ours! Yeah!!!
So off we went to our next stop in the harbor. We easily found the next box as it was sticking out for all to see. But we had our first sewsewbusy box. And ironically - our second lobster of the morning! We were getting our daily ration of seafood all before 8am! Our next stop was at the high school for two of Robin's Nest's boxes. We pulled into the driveway - and were instantly stopped! They were painting the parking lot! On a Sunday during Labor day weekend! What was wrong with them??? Didn't they know that they were blocking us from getting a box??? So we managed to get one of them, but not the other. Bummer.
Next we were heading off to pick some blueberries with Archimedes Screw... we had attempted last year - but missed the turn off and ended up forgoing the box. This year - it was a MUST on our list. We stopped for a refueling (for us that is.) Coffee and pastries later - we traveled on. The blueberries were another easy find - even though there were folks being walked by their herd of dogs that slowed us down a bit. So tucking the blueberries neatly away in our logbook - we journeyed off to Bass Harbor light. Now there is an elusive box there that we have tried to locate one time before. Teacup's mission was to ferret it out while I picked up a new three box series. The first box we picked up on our way towards the shore... muggles a plenty in the area, we tried to be stealthy. But really the only danger were the mosquitoes! And there were hundreds of those dang birds trying to carry us off!
At the second box Teacup headed one direction while I stamped us into box number two. It was impossible to be elusive - but the elderly gentleman I was talking to - was never going to climb over the stairs to wiggle up the ledge to where I was perched in order to get the box - so I felt I was safe. We chatted up a bit while he caught his breath and I steadily stamped up. He moved along and I returned the box to its hidey hole and climbed down just as two younger folks ran down the stairs towards me. Well - she did. Her male friend ambled much slower. She came up behind me quick footed and anxious - so I got out of her way so she could gallop across the ledges in her athletic gear. Her friend a good 200 paces behind her, and not nearly as sure-footed on the ledges edges! I scoped out the location of the next box. Could see it in front of me. The easiest thing to do would be to have Teacup venture over there - me with my camera ready for that 'perfect tourist photo' but where was Teacup? I looked out and around - nowhere to be seen. Hmm... I waited a few minutes and then thought - oh the heck with it.
Keeping the young'uns in my sights, I traversed off towards the box. Stamping up for me first, I wanted to color it all nice and pretty for Teacup - but a whole flock of senior ladies were converging on the lower steps towards the ledges. So a quick coloring of all green, I replaced the box and started teetering back towards the stairs. One of the ladies mentioned how agile I was climbing up and over the ledges. I laughed and said - "All in the name of a close up photo." And off I headed to the stair back upwards. After the first few steps I had to stop for a young family heading down. Their daughter stopped and screamed while pointing at my leg. Evidently I was being bitten by a mosquito. She was terrified! It was so cute. I swatted the bugger away and she continued down the stairs past me.
Once at the top - I ventured off the well worn path to the path less traveled in search of Teacup. I yelled once "Amber." No answer. (Because I'm sure that if I yelled Teacup in the woods - I'd get a bevy of elderly ladies looking for a spot of tea after their climb back up the stairs.) The second yell produced a face from the under side of the ledge. "You scared me half to death." Well at least she was still there. I was beginning to think she'd gone off and left me with the locals. Alas, the elusive box - remained elusive. Out of nowhere - one of the ladies from the group came up behind me. "So, what is out at the end of this path, dear?" "What? Oh nothing much, and you can't see the lighthouse from here at all." Teacup strolled up past me giving me a look like I picked up the weirdest things out on the trail. My new friend decided to point out all of the local flora along the way back to the car. I was fearing she was going to get into the backseat and go along with us... It took us a while to shake her loose... even getting in the car didn't stop her chattering away... luckily, they were heading south. They had already been to where we were headed! Woohoo.
Driving away from the lighthouse, all Teacup could say was "You pick up the oddest people. Why don't you just say hi and move on? Then they wouldn't stalk you back to the car!" Yeah - like that would ever happen : ) So along we went. Our next stop was a futile one. But without at least looking ourselves, we couldn't cross it off the list. So we found the spot - and followed the directions and started looking for a lock n lock in a pile of rocks! Okay - so they were more like a retaining wall of rocks... but there were LOTS of them! A whole hill of them. We just had to find the right one. After about 15 minutes we decided that yup - it was definitely missing. Another one off the list.
A quick look at the time and we decided we needed to get off the island and start heading east or we wouldn't get the boxes we had charted out for the rest of the day. So north we drove. Once off the island - we paid tribute to fallen heroes in Lamoine and then worked our way along the Schoodic Scenic Byway visiting some wonderful spots along the way. We found a REALLY large lobster that was home to a retired one - and our third lobster of the day. We then ambled further along route one visiting a tiny church, a prankster, and a humanitarian as we headed towards Perry Maine. The next goal for this part of the journey was to 1. reach the hotel to check in, and then to 2. get to Perry to plant a box for Kirbert. Well we made it to our motel. It was the cutest little motel in the middle of nowhere. The Blueberry Patch motel had a total of 7 rooms! We walked into a room all done in blue. With the prettiest patchwork quilts, blue towels in the bathroom and blue sheets! It was so cool. Of course - this was just sitting in the heart of blueberry country - so it made perfect sense. We still had daylight hours - so we decided to head further east. And Perry was only an hour past Jonesboro, where our hotel was, so it was very attainable. Of course the hour was traveling time without boxing your way to your destination! Who ever heard of such a thing?
So after dropping our stuff in the room we headed east. There were a few boxes along the way and we picked up a couple of them. But we really had our headings leading us to Perry. So with Maggie leading the charge - off we traveled. We were heading along when I pulled out a random clue sheet and punched in its address. In less that 10 minutes, Maggie had us heading down a road to our next box. Little did I know - but Teacup had been here previously, but it was not surprising since she has so many more boxes than I have. We pulled into the parking area and I felt like we were walking on private property. We looked at the two clue sheets and opted to go after the one Teacup didn't have first. Off we headed. Down a road to a field line with trees (no surprising since we were on a tree farm : ) We followed the clues across a bridge and started counting trails that lead off on the left. well, we thought we were counting them, but evidently we missed the one we actually needed. So across a long field we walked looking for the markers, but we couldn't find them. Since the last finder was at least two years previously - we were not surprised that some of the markers might have been overgrown. But we lingered onward. In search of lobster buoys! Out in the middle of a tree farm! Instead, we found water. With the trail continuing on the other side. No way to reach it unless we had a desire to get really wet, so we turned around. And there they were! Lobster buoys hanging from a tree! Can you say we literally fell into this box! Because ALL of the markers we were trying to follow were completely wrong. This we found out as we headed backwards on the trail! We ended up coming out a good 1000 feet closer to the parking lot than we entered. How on earth did we miss the trail?
We continued back to the parking area and were greeted by a very friendly dog. evidently he was visiting for the evening and had lost his brother. So two ladies were out in search of them. We chatted a bit and figured out that we were talking with woodland gnomes! Her and her husband were the owners of the property and had planted the boxes on their property. They were thrilled to have folks looking for their boxes. She asked if we had the labyrinth box yet. While Teacup had already found this box, I had not. So we walked over to get the box, promising to return to their house for a special stamp afterwards. We went to the location, and set up was a full sized labyrinth. Teacup went off to get the box, while I was supposed to walk the path to enlightenment. Okay - I managed to follow it to the end - in one direction. After that things got a bit muddy. Okay - so I stepped over the lines and out of the path. But I honestly didn't know you HAD to walk it backwards too! But I never have been able to follow the rules, especially since I wasn't told them all to begin with.
After stamping up - we banged the gong and left the area. Heading back to their house, we stopped in and chatted for a bit with Mrs. woodland gnomes. We managed to do half of an exchange as she gave us her leaf but proclaimed that 'the nut isn't home, so you can't get that.' It made me chuckle slightly. But she did offer us two bonus stamps for stopping by to chat with her. We stayed for about 15 minutes and decided we really needed to head to Perry to plant Kirbert's 45th parallel box. So heading back out the road - with a quick detour to a cemetery for another local box - we continued further east. We finally found the location of the actual marker and had to do a quick u-turn (during rush hour - all 4 cars!) to get to the site. Looking around it seemed rather boring. I thought there was supposed to be pomp and circumstance. I thought there was this big globe proclaiming to the world 'YOU ARE HERE!' But nope - a quiet marker with two picnic tables and a couple very short trails into the woods - which we think were used more by local scientists than anything else.
We scoped out a location, thought it over and didn't like the prospect of leaving it at this roadside pull-up. It was definitely a drive-by. And there really wasn't a great spot to hide it, unless we wanted to dig in the muck and myer. So sopping the immediate area - directly across the road mecca was calling to us! A quiet resting spot of a peaceful nature! We found a great spot and felt much more secure in leaving it behind, knowing the only maintenance it would get would be from finders and headed back south. On the way back to the motel, we stopped to find another cemetery box located next to a charming church painted in red and blue. we tried for one other box, but it was MIA. Teacup at this point was sure I had altered our destiny by stepping out of the labyrinth... but so far we had found almost every box we had tried for. I think it was just the time for a MIA box. The sun was setting quickly, and frankly we were getting tired. We mulled over options about stopping for dinner - but we decided we really just wanted to head back to the motel. And Teacup knew it was a good hour plus drive in the dark.
It had been a very long day, and we were both getting very weary. Teacup wanted to touch base with her NBS, so I dialed her house and she chatted as we drove along in the dark. We passed back through Machias and were almost back to the motel, passing through an area of empty blueberry fields when a moose crossed the road in front of us. It was a surreal experience. Amber had been driving cautiously, but the moose had seemed larger than life as it ambled back into the field. Had we hit it, it would have creamed us for sure. I think its antlers were over the roof of her car! Not really sure she had actually seen the moose, she was instantly pinged awake when a rock hit her windshield! Dang! Maybe I did screw up our cosmic destiny! Luckily, I carry a guardian angel or two around with me, just to be safe. So we made it back to the motel and collapsed on the beds. Both desperate for showers, we took those while we watched a little TV and stamped up a couple hikers we had gathered during our journey. Looking at the list of boxes we still needed to pick up - we plotted our final days path. We knew at this point that we might need to make some serious decisions, but we would try to get them all if we could. But for now, since we had forgotten to get the password to the internet access - we both read for a bit and then decided sleep was in order. For Monday was our final day and we still had lots of boxes to collect!
Team mudcup's Journey to the end of Maine
So its been a while since I've posted a travel update. Lots have happened over the summer. And Team mudcup have been hot on the trails. We've covered lots of miles over the summer and even hosted an 'event-non-event' in August that turned out to be lots of fun with great friends! But our official weekend boxing trip was our trip over Labor Day weekend. When I showed our itinerary to folks at work - they looked at it and asked - where the heck is that? Well, that's what we were about to find out. We were packed and ready to head to the end of Maine and back in three days.
Like all our boxing excursions, we started out early. It was shortly after 6am when we left Teacup's driveway heading east. With a tank full of gas and a folder full of clue sheets, we hit the road. Our first stop was close to home. We picked up a quick box in Bath and then made our way further up route one. We stopped at Nequasset Park and saw our first wildlife of our trip. Crossing the road from the pond was a fox. So its official - we've now seen a fox. We had thought it was odd that we had not seen a fox to this point, but that is now resolved. We started off towards Damriscotta where we were going to pick up a few boxes from an event we couldn't make it to a few weeks ago, but Teacup's 'box sensory' kicked in and we did a quick side trip to a hybrid. Another one off the list... well my list at least, Teacup already had this one. One more mercy trip for mud!
We replanted one of Teacup's Pez plants (a good thing to, because evidently - this one was on someone else's list that was traveling behind us later that day!) Heading into Damriscotta, we wandered around in the early morning dew, getting our toes wet looking for the two boxes we knew we could pick up. The third in the series was inside the art store and it was not open at 7am on a Saturday. So a return trip will be in order to get the last of the series. But the sun was shining and the early morning walk through Damriscotta had us window shopping and enjoying the early morning sunshine. Two boxes later, we continued northeast along route one.
Teacup has a few boxes on her list that provide hours of headaches. One of Isosceles boxes has eluded her to the point of distraction. But since we were traveling thru the town where we are sure it should be - we took a few minutes to try and ferret this one out. Alas, this one continues to be elusive. With the development recently, it might be completely gone, but we are always willing to try for a few minutes every time we venture thru this town. Further still, we made our way into Camden. Even though it was just a bit after 9, the town was already bustling with traffic and people. The sun was glistening on the water in the harbor and the harbor was full of schooners loading up with tourists heading out off into the big blue sea's horizon.
We were in search of something less adventuresome... a series of three recently planted at the library. We thought we might have trouble parking, but we found a slot close by and slid into it and made our way across the amphitheater. Making our search difficult were the locals sitting and reading on the library lawn and a group taking part in a guided tour of the library. We didn't get close enough to hear any of the information, but tried to skirt around them to quickly and quietly grab the boxes so we could leave. It was trickier that we would have thought, as the muggles were persistent. But we finally managed to nab the last box and head on in our journey. Our next stop was at Camden Hills State Park. A state park pass is a must if you plan on hopping thru state facilities in a weekend - and mine provided us quick entry into the lower portion of the park.
And what a lovely view this part of the park had. Few folks were visiting and I was enthralled with the lovely gathering building looking thru the pines into the harbor beyond. Adirondack chairs were perfectly positioned to enjoy the view. Picture perfect for a sunset picnic! But what was I the most enthralled with? The bathrooms! They were beautiful! Okay - so the flush was a flush like most others, but the building was roomy and had beautifully honed wood ceilings and walls. It was lovely! And clean! I'll admit that it doesn't take much to make me happy... and at this point in my day - it was all it took! So after our bathroom visit we headed down the trail towards the water to pick up three more boxes. There were few mosquitoes and the temperature was perfect for hiking. The nice part was that there were few muggles to delay our quest. So we made quick time of these three boxes. Back in our car - we needed to cross the street to go up to the top of Camden Hills for the next three. It was crawling with muggles! And while we circled the area three times trying to get a feel for one of the three boxes, we didn't find any of them. We sadly gave these three up before folks decided to call the paddy wagon on us.
We needed to head off towards Hope to pick up a hostel box. The clues eluded to the local corner store. A location we needed to stop by and enjoy. But first we had to get there. To do that, we had to back-track towards Camden. The most direct route was leaving from the center of Camden, but you could get there by following a closer road and cutting across near Lake Megunticook, and while Maiden cliffs was close - the thought of traversing the edge of a cliff was not even remotely exciting for me. Besides, Teacup had already risked life and limb to get those boxes - and while they are absolutely lovely - anyone who risks their life to get them - wholeheartedly deserves them! So we ambled our way around the lake, nary a car heading towards us, but more than a few bicyclists were traversing their way around the twisting, turning up and down road! And just as we reached the end of this narrow road - we stopped just short of a guy up on a ladder fixing cable wires! The only thing protecting him from on-coming traffic? A single orange cone!
But we ventured on towards Hope, only getting slightly turned around. And we did indeed find the lovely little Hope General Store. As advised, we stopped in for a bite to eat and were charmed by the inside. They had an eclectic mixture found in a corner store. The cereal - 6 types, were arranged single boxes in a line like books on a shelf. They had organic food and a wide range of local wines and brews. They also had a deli and a listing of the most incredible sounding sandwiches! Teacup and I each had what was claimed as the local favorite - and while it took a bit longer to prepare, we sat and looked over the artwork on the walls. The sandwiches we took to go - a lovely concoction of Italian bread, smoked turkey, brie cheese and tart granny smith apples all toasted together. It was heavenly! We chomped away making our way towards the hostile - passing it once and needing to turn around to pick it up! (Mind you, u-turns are a well practiced occurrence for us! And this one ranked right up there on the 1-10 scale!)
So after the hostile - we needed to cut back towards route one. Cutting through Maine on route 52, we meandered through rolling hills and lovely picaresque landscapes. Many with views of the Camden Hills off in the distance. Rolling towards Belfast, we pulled into town knowing we needed to head further up route one for our next stop. Our next stop was a pick-up. Jiffy hosts Tour the Fort in the spring of the year. And we missed three of the boxes. When asking about them, Jiffy said they were at her parent's house. She said we could go in and pick them up. So we mosied along up the coast. While rambling through Belfast, we stopped into Perry's Nut House. After all - they had recently re-opened and had just brought back one of their lost treasures. The place is a wonderful stroll down memory lane! They have a wide variety of kitchy trinkets and toys from the past. But they also have FUDGE! We rambled around in the store - me taking photos of everything. Teacup wouldn't pose for me - so she shot a photo of me with a local bear and getting 'cracked!' I had to take photos of a local in the outhouse inside... afterall - the whole time we were shopping - he kept babbling about not having any privacy in the privy! It was a hoot! I picked up a t-shirt that turned into a life statement on my return to work Tuesday, and a couple ornaments for my two wee people at home. And of course - FUDGE! With the fudge safely tucked in the trunk for later - we journeyed up the road a piece.
Following Jiffy's directions, we tooled along, listening to Maggie chirp out that our destination was close at hand. We saw our destination, but it was on the wrong side of the road and traffic was heavy. Teacup, not being faint of heart, tooled across the road at the first break in traffic and immediately ran out of road, landing in someone else's yard! An attempt to back up was futile as she had gone down over the rise of the road. So we parked and strolled over to meet Jiffy's mom and sister. Teacup had met Jiffy's sister before, so she recognized us. We didn't stay long, just long enough to snatch up the boxes and move along with them. (We later found out that we were just supposed to stamp into them - not take them with us! I had mis-read the e-mail from Jiffy, oops!)
On our list it looked like we were heading to Fort Knox to pick up a couple boxes and some history! So we pulled in, flashed that fancy park pass and off we went in search of boxes. Jiffy had originally planted six, but the series now only has 4. We had been trying to get this series for two years - but every time we've driven past it - Fort Knox had been closed. Well it was open today and we tooled thru the park picking up the boxes easily even though there were folks everywhere! Leaving Fort Knox our next adventure was to find the ever elusive Pink Panther. We had found him twice before and knew his third location was close by. So off we went, ironically heading south once again to go inland. At first we drove past him. But we found the picture marker and turned ourselves around. He was laying out in the open, pink flashing anyone who wanted to see it! So we stamped him up and headed off again on our journey (his pink is no longer waving in the breeze, tail showing to everyone who's looking.)
Back out to route one once again, we continued into Ellsworth. Our first night's location was close by. We scooted quickly around Ellsworth and picked up a couple quick boxes, sadly found one was missing and then checked into our hotel. After settling our things in the room, and hooking up to the internet for a quick AQ fix, we decided to try and run out to Bar Harbor to pick up three boxes. From last October's visit - we had it in our heads that we could scoot into the harbor quickly, pick up the boxes and scoot out unnoticed. We couldn't have been more WRONG! Bar Harbor on a Saturday night over Labor Day weekend was a MAD HOUSE! There were people, cars, lights, and confusion everywhere! But none more so than in our car! Where was the quiet harbor we had visited last October? Where did all these people come from? Who turned on all the lights in these restaurants??? And who let all these cars onto Acadia???
After 45 minutes of trying to get out of the heart of the harbor, we reluctantly decided we needed to try this part of our trip the following morning. VERY EARLY! Before anyone woke up! So once we made it out of the melee, we stopped for dinner. Ice cream cones all around! Afterall - we were on vacation and we didn't have any kids around. So who would know besides us, right? Coming out of the harbor, the full moon was spectacular over the water. cars were pulling off the side to take photos. Teacup finally found an open spot and we attempted to take a photo. But my point-and-shot camera didn't do its beauty justice. It was a perfect ending to a perfect first day of boxing. We made our way back to the hotel, and after showers we planned the next days attack and hit the pillows, ready for an early start the next morning. Maybe a little later than 5... afterall, we had already done the majority of the driving to get to where we were and we only had a few miles more to travel the next day!
Like all our boxing excursions, we started out early. It was shortly after 6am when we left Teacup's driveway heading east. With a tank full of gas and a folder full of clue sheets, we hit the road. Our first stop was close to home. We picked up a quick box in Bath and then made our way further up route one. We stopped at Nequasset Park and saw our first wildlife of our trip. Crossing the road from the pond was a fox. So its official - we've now seen a fox. We had thought it was odd that we had not seen a fox to this point, but that is now resolved. We started off towards Damriscotta where we were going to pick up a few boxes from an event we couldn't make it to a few weeks ago, but Teacup's 'box sensory' kicked in and we did a quick side trip to a hybrid. Another one off the list... well my list at least, Teacup already had this one. One more mercy trip for mud!
We replanted one of Teacup's Pez plants (a good thing to, because evidently - this one was on someone else's list that was traveling behind us later that day!) Heading into Damriscotta, we wandered around in the early morning dew, getting our toes wet looking for the two boxes we knew we could pick up. The third in the series was inside the art store and it was not open at 7am on a Saturday. So a return trip will be in order to get the last of the series. But the sun was shining and the early morning walk through Damriscotta had us window shopping and enjoying the early morning sunshine. Two boxes later, we continued northeast along route one.
Teacup has a few boxes on her list that provide hours of headaches. One of Isosceles boxes has eluded her to the point of distraction. But since we were traveling thru the town where we are sure it should be - we took a few minutes to try and ferret this one out. Alas, this one continues to be elusive. With the development recently, it might be completely gone, but we are always willing to try for a few minutes every time we venture thru this town. Further still, we made our way into Camden. Even though it was just a bit after 9, the town was already bustling with traffic and people. The sun was glistening on the water in the harbor and the harbor was full of schooners loading up with tourists heading out off into the big blue sea's horizon.
We were in search of something less adventuresome... a series of three recently planted at the library. We thought we might have trouble parking, but we found a slot close by and slid into it and made our way across the amphitheater. Making our search difficult were the locals sitting and reading on the library lawn and a group taking part in a guided tour of the library. We didn't get close enough to hear any of the information, but tried to skirt around them to quickly and quietly grab the boxes so we could leave. It was trickier that we would have thought, as the muggles were persistent. But we finally managed to nab the last box and head on in our journey. Our next stop was at Camden Hills State Park. A state park pass is a must if you plan on hopping thru state facilities in a weekend - and mine provided us quick entry into the lower portion of the park.
And what a lovely view this part of the park had. Few folks were visiting and I was enthralled with the lovely gathering building looking thru the pines into the harbor beyond. Adirondack chairs were perfectly positioned to enjoy the view. Picture perfect for a sunset picnic! But what was I the most enthralled with? The bathrooms! They were beautiful! Okay - so the flush was a flush like most others, but the building was roomy and had beautifully honed wood ceilings and walls. It was lovely! And clean! I'll admit that it doesn't take much to make me happy... and at this point in my day - it was all it took! So after our bathroom visit we headed down the trail towards the water to pick up three more boxes. There were few mosquitoes and the temperature was perfect for hiking. The nice part was that there were few muggles to delay our quest. So we made quick time of these three boxes. Back in our car - we needed to cross the street to go up to the top of Camden Hills for the next three. It was crawling with muggles! And while we circled the area three times trying to get a feel for one of the three boxes, we didn't find any of them. We sadly gave these three up before folks decided to call the paddy wagon on us.
We needed to head off towards Hope to pick up a hostel box. The clues eluded to the local corner store. A location we needed to stop by and enjoy. But first we had to get there. To do that, we had to back-track towards Camden. The most direct route was leaving from the center of Camden, but you could get there by following a closer road and cutting across near Lake Megunticook, and while Maiden cliffs was close - the thought of traversing the edge of a cliff was not even remotely exciting for me. Besides, Teacup had already risked life and limb to get those boxes - and while they are absolutely lovely - anyone who risks their life to get them - wholeheartedly deserves them! So we ambled our way around the lake, nary a car heading towards us, but more than a few bicyclists were traversing their way around the twisting, turning up and down road! And just as we reached the end of this narrow road - we stopped just short of a guy up on a ladder fixing cable wires! The only thing protecting him from on-coming traffic? A single orange cone!
But we ventured on towards Hope, only getting slightly turned around. And we did indeed find the lovely little Hope General Store. As advised, we stopped in for a bite to eat and were charmed by the inside. They had an eclectic mixture found in a corner store. The cereal - 6 types, were arranged single boxes in a line like books on a shelf. They had organic food and a wide range of local wines and brews. They also had a deli and a listing of the most incredible sounding sandwiches! Teacup and I each had what was claimed as the local favorite - and while it took a bit longer to prepare, we sat and looked over the artwork on the walls. The sandwiches we took to go - a lovely concoction of Italian bread, smoked turkey, brie cheese and tart granny smith apples all toasted together. It was heavenly! We chomped away making our way towards the hostile - passing it once and needing to turn around to pick it up! (Mind you, u-turns are a well practiced occurrence for us! And this one ranked right up there on the 1-10 scale!)
So after the hostile - we needed to cut back towards route one. Cutting through Maine on route 52, we meandered through rolling hills and lovely picaresque landscapes. Many with views of the Camden Hills off in the distance. Rolling towards Belfast, we pulled into town knowing we needed to head further up route one for our next stop. Our next stop was a pick-up. Jiffy hosts Tour the Fort in the spring of the year. And we missed three of the boxes. When asking about them, Jiffy said they were at her parent's house. She said we could go in and pick them up. So we mosied along up the coast. While rambling through Belfast, we stopped into Perry's Nut House. After all - they had recently re-opened and had just brought back one of their lost treasures. The place is a wonderful stroll down memory lane! They have a wide variety of kitchy trinkets and toys from the past. But they also have FUDGE! We rambled around in the store - me taking photos of everything. Teacup wouldn't pose for me - so she shot a photo of me with a local bear and getting 'cracked!' I had to take photos of a local in the outhouse inside... afterall - the whole time we were shopping - he kept babbling about not having any privacy in the privy! It was a hoot! I picked up a t-shirt that turned into a life statement on my return to work Tuesday, and a couple ornaments for my two wee people at home. And of course - FUDGE! With the fudge safely tucked in the trunk for later - we journeyed up the road a piece.
Following Jiffy's directions, we tooled along, listening to Maggie chirp out that our destination was close at hand. We saw our destination, but it was on the wrong side of the road and traffic was heavy. Teacup, not being faint of heart, tooled across the road at the first break in traffic and immediately ran out of road, landing in someone else's yard! An attempt to back up was futile as she had gone down over the rise of the road. So we parked and strolled over to meet Jiffy's mom and sister. Teacup had met Jiffy's sister before, so she recognized us. We didn't stay long, just long enough to snatch up the boxes and move along with them. (We later found out that we were just supposed to stamp into them - not take them with us! I had mis-read the e-mail from Jiffy, oops!)
On our list it looked like we were heading to Fort Knox to pick up a couple boxes and some history! So we pulled in, flashed that fancy park pass and off we went in search of boxes. Jiffy had originally planted six, but the series now only has 4. We had been trying to get this series for two years - but every time we've driven past it - Fort Knox had been closed. Well it was open today and we tooled thru the park picking up the boxes easily even though there were folks everywhere! Leaving Fort Knox our next adventure was to find the ever elusive Pink Panther. We had found him twice before and knew his third location was close by. So off we went, ironically heading south once again to go inland. At first we drove past him. But we found the picture marker and turned ourselves around. He was laying out in the open, pink flashing anyone who wanted to see it! So we stamped him up and headed off again on our journey (his pink is no longer waving in the breeze, tail showing to everyone who's looking.)
Back out to route one once again, we continued into Ellsworth. Our first night's location was close by. We scooted quickly around Ellsworth and picked up a couple quick boxes, sadly found one was missing and then checked into our hotel. After settling our things in the room, and hooking up to the internet for a quick AQ fix, we decided to try and run out to Bar Harbor to pick up three boxes. From last October's visit - we had it in our heads that we could scoot into the harbor quickly, pick up the boxes and scoot out unnoticed. We couldn't have been more WRONG! Bar Harbor on a Saturday night over Labor Day weekend was a MAD HOUSE! There were people, cars, lights, and confusion everywhere! But none more so than in our car! Where was the quiet harbor we had visited last October? Where did all these people come from? Who turned on all the lights in these restaurants??? And who let all these cars onto Acadia???
After 45 minutes of trying to get out of the heart of the harbor, we reluctantly decided we needed to try this part of our trip the following morning. VERY EARLY! Before anyone woke up! So once we made it out of the melee, we stopped for dinner. Ice cream cones all around! Afterall - we were on vacation and we didn't have any kids around. So who would know besides us, right? Coming out of the harbor, the full moon was spectacular over the water. cars were pulling off the side to take photos. Teacup finally found an open spot and we attempted to take a photo. But my point-and-shot camera didn't do its beauty justice. It was a perfect ending to a perfect first day of boxing. We made our way back to the hotel, and after showers we planned the next days attack and hit the pillows, ready for an early start the next morning. Maybe a little later than 5... afterall, we had already done the majority of the driving to get to where we were and we only had a few miles more to travel the next day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
