I learned something new about letterboxes.

I found a letterbox a little bit before winter. It was hidden in a hole dug in dirt (no-no) with a big rock on top of the whole hole. The box was in good condition, thought the logbook was slightly damp. During winter, my mom went out and found the same letterbox. She told me I was the last finder before her. She found the box in a dry hole, with a cracked lid, filled with water! Thankfully, I had zipped up the baggies tight, so nothing was ruined. Whew.

Here's our theory:
Water runs off the big rock and FILLS the hole. The water freezes into ice around the box, causing pressure on the lid. The lid cracks. As the ice thaws into water, cracked lid allows water to fill up box. As hole fills with other water, crack allows more water to continually fill up box. As water refreezes inside the box, more pressure, making crack in lid bigger...repeat.

So, don't dig a hole to put your box in, especially in freezy places. Or perhaps if you line the bottom of the whole with drainage rocks? I dunno. Best to not dig holes for boxes (it's kind of an unofficial rule anyway).

LG.

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Here's our theory:
Water runs off the big rock and FILLS the hole. The water freezes into ice around the box, causing pressure on the lid. The lid cracks. As the ice thaws into water, cracked lid allows water to fill up box. As hole fills with other water, crack allows more water to continually fill up box. As water refreezes inside the box, more pressure, making crack in lid bigger...repeat.

I can assure you that the problem is simpler than that. I have found a great many boxes in holes -- usually naturally-occurring holes, not dug by the planter -- and they are nearly always waterlogged. Seems many of the containers we have come to trust in outdoor above-ground hides don't really fare all that well when hidden in a spot that gets completely flooded. I recommend one and all avoid hiding boxes in such spots, period.

Perhaps the most stellar example was a series of ten boxes at the Tannehill Ironworks in Alabama. Of the ten, only one was hidden in a hole -- and that one was completely waterlogged, the others were in much better shape despite exactly the same containers used for each.

I found a box in Maine on the top of a mountain but in a depression. Although it hadn't rained recently, the box was slap full of water, dunno if there was any air in it. I spent considerable time and spare materials rebuilding the box, then I rehid it a few feet away in a much more suitable spot. The owner apparently took umbrage and rather than adjusting the clues as I suggested just listed the whole box as unavailable until she could get back up there and put it back in the hole.

I think this very same process causes potholes.

Additional lesson: Don't put letterboxes in potholes either!

;-p
pre

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Additional lesson: Don't put letterboxes in potholes either

Or at least label them as extreme.

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Additional lesson: Don't put letterboxes in potholes either

Or at least label them as extreme.

Ok. That's very funny. :)

LG.

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I can assure you that the problem is simpler than that.

So how did the lid crack? Were the lids cracked on your filled up boxes? Or does it just seep in through the seal because it's immersed in water? I should have payed closer attention in physics class...

LG.

There may be something else at work here, though it's even more strenuous than your original.

When I was a boy scout, there was this girlscout, and I took her cookie...

Oh wait, that's a different story.

When I was a boyscout, we would dig holes and place plastic over them, angled in with a hole in the middle. Beneath the hole was a can. Water would condense on the plastic, run down through the hole and into the can. In this way, we learned to capture abouta quart of water per day per hole, which we promtly through on each other before sitting down to some eazy-cheez.

Could this be sort of the process at work?

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QuoteAdditional lesson: Don't put letterboxes in potholes either

Or at least label them as extreme

Well, you'd get a run for your money!

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Additional lesson: Don't put letterboxes in potholes either

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Or at least label them as extreme.

Or would that be a drive-by?

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Additional lesson: Don't put letterboxes in potholes either

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Or at least label them as extreme.

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Or would that be a drive-by?

No that would be the cars speeding past you as you try to get the box, if you get hit by the car and end up in the hospital do you get the boo boo box???

Mystic Dreamer

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Additional lesson: Don't put letterboxes in potholes either

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Or at least label them as extreme.

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Or would that be a drive-by?

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No that would be the cars speeding past you as you try to get the box, if you get hit by the car and end up in the hospital do you get the boo boo box???

A couple of other thoughts...
Do you think that box would be prone to HitchHikers?
And would it be an invasion of privacy for the doctor to plant a cootie! After all, he did have permission to open you up for surgery. And anything left open is fair game. (Sorry...I know that was bad!)

ROFLAO

thanks I needed that laugh.

Mystic Dreamer

And use Lock N Locks, they hold up GREAT to freezing. Been using them here in the NE with great results.

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"

I've been looking for the little Lock N Locks with no luck. I can only find medium and larger sizes. Can you share where you've been able to find them? Store, mail order?

I have found the little ones at walmart, they come in a set of 3, a round one (small), small square, and what is probably for a sandwich. You can get them at Heritage.com in sets of 10. Usually a great deal there.

LtW

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I've been looking for the little Lock N Locks with no luck. I can only find medium and larger sizes. Can you share where you've been able to find them? Store, mail order?

http://www.heritagemint.com/

If you can't find them locally.

Shiloh

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I've been looking for the little Lock N Locks with no luck. I can only find medium and larger sizes. Can you share where you've been able to find them? Store, mail order?
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The Wal-mart near me carries a 3 pack with the largest being about 5" square. The set comes with 2 smaller boxes also. When I was in there last week, they also had 4X6 blank index cards. 100 for 92 cents.

Woodsong

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I've been looking for the little Lock N Locks with no luck. I can only find medium and larger sizes. Can you share where you've been able to find them? Store, mail order?

http://www.heritagemint.com/

If you can't find them locally.

Shiloh

We have been able to find the small 2-1/2-cup containers measuring 4.3" x 5.9"x2.7" for $2.49 at Meijer here in Columbus.

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We have been able to find the small 2-1/2-cup containers measuring 4.3" x 5.9"x2.7" for $2.49 at Meijer here in Columbus.

I have also gotten the small ones at Meijer here in NW Indiana.

TG

I have found Lock n Lock (small) at target but it is hit and miss , they don't carry a zillion but there has been a few and they carry the brand here on the west coast.
The other place I found was Sav-on....or thanks to corporate mergers I guess CVS , not sure if now they have them because of the change in not only merchandise but quality employees at our store here in town...YIKES!! I hate it when they make a change to a place in town that is a fixture and it is totally NOT anything like the place before it! Our Sav-on was the store you ran to for everything in a pinch and now it is a totally weird place , they don't even carry ice cream by the cone....what will summer be without a cone from sav-on at the end of a hot day?

Oh well soory for the ramble....maybe Albertson's has then now because of the switch....don't know. Can you tell I hate change? ; )

happy hunting, enjoy the journey,
teekasue

Hey - your ranting made me laugh, so rant on! I will most likely get the boxes at the Heritage Mint website. They have 10 little boxes for $10 - can't beat that.