Event #1927

Bed & Boxing #4 - Meet Me & the Mrs. at Monadnock!!!

Rindge, NH

Registered Boxes: All Traditional HH/Cootie/Flea Postal LTC Event Box Traveler Other

Starts	Fri October 14, 2011 6:00pm
Ends	Sun October 16, 2011 12:00pm
Owner	markandsuepepe
Admins	markandsuepepe
Signups	79/∞
Location	Rindge, NH View Map
Add to Calendar	Google calendar ICS file (e.g. Outlook, iCal, etc.)

Description

This is the 4th installment of our annual weekend fall gathering.
Bed & Boxing is always a fun way to get to know your boxing friends - both old & new - a bit better while spending the weekend with them.
This is a great event for both new and veteran letterboxers.
Hope to see you all there - details to come as planning gets underway.
We will all stay at one facility for 2 nights and enjoy our Saturday night buffet together as well as the included breakfast both mornings. Those are all negotiated in our pricing so stay tuned for details!

Our location for this annual, fun-filled weekend is the Woodbound Inn, in Rindge, NH - about 12 miles from Mt. Monadnock. This place was chosen as Yankee Magazine's Editor's Choice for the best New Old Inn in New Hampshire! The facilities and grounds are ideal for letterboxers: 3 types of accommodations (inn style rooms, motel style rooms, cabins), private beach area on the lake, horseshoe pit, shuffle board, 9 hole golf course and - the best - over 10 miles of hiking/nature trails on the property!

Check out their website: http://www.woodbound.com/

A Pinecone Adventure in the shadow of Mount Monadnock!!!

Feb 4, 2011: Bed & Boxing #4 - Monadnock - Date Change
Hi folks,

Wanted to let you know that I've met with some problems trying to get a nice location for this weekend event close enough to Monadnock but at a decent price because our original dates - Oct. 7 to 9 - fall on Columbus Day weekend.

So - I've changed the dates to the next weekend - October 14 to 16. Doing that enables us to stay at a terrific place that I'll be posting about soon. A lake, 2 cabins, a main lodge. a second lodge and beautiful grounds. All with a variety of room configurations.

Sound good?

If these dates don't work for you (I hope they do) please remove your name from the list so we can keep a proper head count.

Thanks!

Mark

Feb 10, 2011: Important News for Bed & Boxing #4!!! (LONG)
Hi gang,

As promised, here is the scoop about our location for B & B 4 at the Woodbound Inn, Rindge, NH. Check out their website! (www.woodboundinn.com)

You may call the inn at any time to reserve your rooms. Toll free @ 1-800-688-7770. Be sure to mention that you want the "Letterboxing Group" special rates for October 14 to 16. All prices below are subject to the additional 9% NH Sales Tax.

You will be asked for your credit card info, the type of room you want, the number of nights (just the weekend or additional nights) and the number of Saturday night buffet guests. Your credit card will not be charged until August 1st and it will be for one night (half of the weekend rate listed below.) I couldn't see them using our money until August 1! If you prefer to have your card charged immediately, please let them know.

The rates below include 2 breakfasts each morning. Breakfast is held at the Main Dining Room from 7:30 to 9am. It includes the following: Pastries, Cereal, Fruit, Juices, Coffee, Tea and various hot items (Eggs, Pancakes/Waffles/French Toast, Meats and made-to-order omelettes!)

ROOM RATES (All for 1 or 2 people per room - inquire for additional 3rd or 4th person in room for those rooms that accommodate such. Don't forget 9% Sales Tax. Additional nights are available for half of the weekend rate per additional night. Some cabins are approved for pets for an additional charge of $30 per night. See the website and the pet waiver contained there.)

Main Inn Room @ $250 total for 2 nights for 2 people
Main Inn Suite @ $350 total for 2 night for 2 people
Edgewood King Room @ $230 total for 2 nights for 2 people
Edgewood Double Room (2 double beds) @ $230 total for 2 nights for 2 people (inquire for rate for more than 2 guests)
One Bedroom Cabins (1 Queen) @ $250 total for 2 nights for 2 people
Two Bedroom Cabins (1 Queen + 2 Twins in 2nd BR) @ $350 total for 2 nights for 2 people (inquire for rate for more than 2 guests)

SATURDAY NIGHT BUFFET @ $20 per person + gratuity + 9% sales tax.

Includes: Four Season Salad (Exotic greens with oven-dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, and walnuts with orange walnut vinaigrette. NOTE: cheese served on the side!), 3 Entrees - Veggie Stir Fry with Rice, Grilled Tamari Salmon (Grilled fillet of salmon with an Asian vegetable slaw and an apricot glaze,) and Rosemary Chicken (Rosemary seasoned, crusted boneless breast of chicken in a velvety artichoke heart and spinach cream sauce,) chef's choice veggie (no cheese sauce), assorted rolls & butter, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and dessert (Warm Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream. Ice cream served on the side.)

The above buffet will be served in the Play Barn - which is completely ours for the entire weekend. It's a rustic space that has a nice fireplace (we can use it) and a few couches and over-stuffed chairs. I've asked for more couches and stuffed chairs to be brought in to accommodate our group so there should be enough seating including the tables & chairs that will also be there. The Play Barn will be our private place to meet, exchange and just hang out evenings or when ever you'd like.

I've also asked that coffee and tea be available all weekend long in the Play Barn along with plates & silverware for those birthday cakes that seem to show up every year!

I am very excited about this facility. We have permission to plant letterboxes on the property as long as they will be removed by the end of the weekend. Use of the over 10 miles of hiking trails on property should allow for some great series and placements. We also have permission to plant during the summer if you'd like but we ask that you not publish clues until a few days before the event (or bring them photocopied with you for distribution.) If things go well (they've been extremely flexible with my requests), I can see next year's B & B here as well. The place is just perfect!!!

If you are a single, we suggest you contact another single so you can save money. Room rates are for 1 or 2 people so if you find a buddy) your charges will be cut in half! And if you have 3 or 4 buddies, savings are probably even greater.

That's it for now. I'll be putting this all on a web page on our blog very soon but wanted to get the info out since we've been contacted by a few eager boxers who wanted to reserve soon! (We love eager!)

Let me know if you have questions that I can answer. Details for the hike to Monadnock on Saturday are still in the works. Now that we've gotten this planned and reserved, we're concentrating on our Alaska Letterboxing Cruise this July - still room available! :-)

Mark

May 18, 2011: Bed & Boxing News!
Hi Gang,

Miss me? Hope everyone is doing well. I have some news for the October B & B event.

Thanks to the tremendous response, we have only 4 rooms left at the Woodbound Inn, the location of the weekend gathering, in our original block of rooms that were saved. If you haven't booked your room yet - don't delay!!!

Only 2 of the 4 rooms are cabin rooms! If we exceed these 4 left in the original block of rooms, I've been told we can add more if needed if there are more available.

Thanks,

Mark

May 19, 2011: Me again!
Hi there,

2 of the 4 available rooms are gone already! We have completely sold out the cabins. I've asked our contact at the inn to add another 5 rooms to our block so there are now 7 rooms available - none are cabins (2 leftover from the first block and the additional 5 rooms.)

To another point - regarding bringing your own liquor. The inn is fine with our own beer/wine, etc in our rooms and on our porches (cabins) but the Play Barn - our HQ for the weekend - is classified as a "function space" and under NH Liquor laws we cannot consume our own liquor there - only alcohol purchased on premises.

There will be a cash bar set up during our buffet in the Play Barn for your convenience. Any other time, you will have to purchase drinks from the bar at the main in and consume there or drink your own in your room/cabin.

I hope this clears up any questions and prevents any issues at the inn during our weekend. Thanks to all for complying with these rules - we want to go back next year!!!
:-)
Mark

Jul 22, 2011: Deposits will be charged on August 1
Hi gang,

Just a heads up that those of you who put down a credit card for 1 night's stay as a deposit will see the charge going through to your card as of August 1.

The list of attendees keeps growing which probably means more boxes to find!

Because of the size of the group, a group hike up Monadnock may not be practical. You may want to form smaller groups among yourselves. Don't forget to bring the clues to some historic boxes located there.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Mark

Jul 27, 2011: Room Availability Update
Hi Gang,

If you haven't made your reservations yet for Bed & Boxing, this is the last call. Adding the balance of all of the available rooms in the whole resort, we have the following left after anyone who has placed their reservations yesterday:

1 Twin Room at the Main Inn and 3 Double Rooms at the Edgewood facility.

After these are gone (between our group) and other reservations, the Inn is totally sold out except for a few Friday night only rooms.

Some of you have experienced a problem making reservations and getting the special, discounted rates. This problem has been resolved and will be fine going forward. If not, see me when you check in or Erin the day of your check in and it will be changed.

Looking forward to seeing everyone. This looks like our biggest (and best) Bed & Boxing event yet!!!

Mark

Jul 31, 2011: Update 7/31/11
Hi all,

A bunch of stuff to discuss. Sue & I met with the event coordinator yesterday at Woodbound Inn. The place is perfect for this event. They encourage everyone to use the lake, hiking trails, golf course, etc.

We brought a picnic lunch to eat down at the beach area after meeting with Erin and before we hid a series for the event. The views of the lake and Mount Monadnock in the distance were amazing, as was the cool breeze (Sue had goose bumps) coming off of the water while we ate at the picnic table in the shade.

There was some initial concern about the inn and their TripAdvisor rating. We toured 1 of each of the style rooms available for the weekend. While the cabins are rustic, all room types are great and I would venture to say they are nicer than the location of last years Bed & Breakfast in Killington. Only 3 rooms remain available and the inn will then be sold out!

Day trippers are allowed and there is plenty of parking. If you plan on joining us for dinner for Saturday night's buffet, please call the inn and book your buffet reservation so there is enough food for all since the inn is planning on only those registered as letterboxing guests for the meal. The Play Barn holds 75 people so we are nearing the maximum. Reserve your space soon to ensure you can eat with us! Contact the inn if you are a day tripper and want to eat with us Saturday night. You will pay for the meal at the front desk that day before you join us. Every paid person will receive a voucher to turn into the server so they know who has paid for their meals.

On your way to or from the inn, please consider Eva's for a breakfast sandwich, luncheon item or, better yet, her wonderful baked goods! Eva's bakery made the cake for our youngest son's wedding and it was terrific!! Eva's is located at the corner of Route 12 and Central Square in Troy, NH.

All boxes planted for the event can remain permanently if you'd like. Management is very excited about letterboxing and our group coming. We have almost the entire inn booked except for 6 rooms!!! We OWN the place for the weekend!

The cabins are rustic but very clean. No TV or AC in cabins so be prepared. WiFi is available all over the property but works best up at the main inn area. The cabins are located lake front on a nice beach and tree-canopied area. Our group has all of the cabins for the weekend.

We suggest you bring a flashlight and bug spray whether you are staying at the main inn or the cabins. People may decide to plant night boxes plus the 5 minute walk from the main inn/Play Barn to the cabins is unlit as is the cabin area. Another good idea is to bring lawn/sand chairs for impromptu get togethers outside etc. We realize this might be difficult for those of you coming from MI, WI, VA, etc. and there are picnic tables scattered around the property that can be used as well.

Although discussed before, I want to mention again (and the management is very strict about this since their liquor license is at stake) that your own alcohol is allowed in your cabin or room ONLY but not allowed in public areas like the Play Barn (our gathering spot for the weekend) or restaurant, etc. There is a bar in the main inn and there will be a cash bar set up in the Play Barn for our Saturday night buffet.

Full breakfast every morning after your paid night's stay is at the main inn and included in your nightly rate.

Golfing fee for the 9 hole course is $7 each but you must bring your own clubs.

We are encouraged to bring our kayaks or canoes if you feel so inclined to make use of the beautiful lake. Entry to the lake can be via the Cabin area beach and your equipment can remain there nearby for the weekend since only letterboxers are in the cabin area. Again, management encourages use of all of the imenities like the lake, horse shoes, badminton, golf, etc.

That's it for now. All of this info is available on the event page so if you forget something, it's easy to access it there.

Thanks,

Mark

Aug 3, 2011: How much do you trust me???
Hi gang,

Again - I had a brainstorm for an activity on Friday night. It's a great idea Sue & I agree, but it will cost us an additional amount over and above our room rates.

Dividing the cost equally between all of those staying overnight at the inn, it would be an additional $5 per person. Do you trust me? I would have the inn charge your room and they will use that to pay for this little "extra" surprise.

I really think it's worth it. Please reply back and let me know if you agree. It's gonna be a blast!!!
:-)

Mark

Sep 8, 2011: Bed & Boxing Only 35 Days Away!!!
Hi gang,

We're down to the wire now. Here's an update:

* Our order for sunny weather the entire weekend has been placed and confirmed. So no worries there!

* Since we'll be in New England, bring sweatshirts and warmer clothes as well as cooler ones. You just never know!

* You will be receiving a packet once you check in at the Inn. If not, ask for it please. Also, if you are a day tripper, pick up your packet when you check in at the desk. All day trippers should check in and pay for your Saturday night buffet at the front desk. ALL DAY TRIPPERS MUST CHECK IN WITH FRONT DESK SO THEY KNOW HOW MANY AND WHO IS ON THEIR GROUNDS FOR SECURITY REASONS.

* Everyone as voted for the additional $5 per person charge that will be placed on your bill at the Inn. I guarantee that you will be happy with the surprise.

* Bring your own clues - your packet will only contain the new boxes Sue & I have planted specifically for this weekend. If you plant a new box(es), the front desk at the Inn will photocopy them for you. Place your stack of new clues (throughout the weekend) at a specially marked table in the Play Barn which is our headquarters for the weekend.

* As discussed earlier, there will be a $10 (max) Grab Bag for those of you interested in participating. If you bring a gift, you get a gift. Please wrap gift so we cannot see what it is and place in the appropriately marked area.

* Remember we discussed bringing an item to share with the group over the weekend - snack, dessert, water? Please check the number next to your name on the AQ signup page: http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?gEventId=1927
If the number to the left of your name is; please bring:

#1 - 18: Some sort of snack. Individually packed snacks will work best for those taking a snack, granola bar, etc on the trail. Some larger sized bags for those snacking after dark in the Play Barn. If you bring a larger sized bag, please bring a small box of baggies so we can make individual servings to take with us on the trail if wanted

#19 - 36: Some sort of baked good, dessert. Home made is better but store bought works as well.

#37 to 54+: A case of bottled water

There will be a table for these items in the Play Barn. If the table top is filled, especially in the case of the water, please place the item under the table in the appropriate section.

* Flashlights/head lamps for walking the grounds at night for your safety.

I think that's it. Contact me if you have any questions.
Thanks,

Mark

Oct 10, 2011: It's meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Hi gang,

This is the last email you'll receive from me unless there's an emergency between now and Wednesday night when Sue & I head to VT and then, Thursday AM, make the trip to New Hampshire and the event location.We'll be without internet access after Wednesday night.

If you need to contact me for any reason, call the inn after 2pm on Thursday and they'll either take a message or get me on the phone.

Here are a checklist for you:

1) Warm clothes - weather looks like the chance for a shower on Friday and great right now for Saturday and Sunday. Temps in the low 60's and nights in upper 40's to lower 50's.
2) Flashlights and headlamps for walking around the extensive grounds at night.
3) Folding chairs - you know, the chairs in a bag or even traditional folding chairs. These will be great to visit those of us in the cabins with decks, sitting out at the beach and gazing at the lake, sitting outside of the Play Barn if the fireplace throws too much heat, etc.
4) Bring clues to area boxes. I did a 10 mile search on AQ from Rindge, NH and came up with 133 boxes plus a handful more that were just on LBNA. Lots of boxes!!!
5) Don't forget your food item - snack, dessert or water based on your signup number on the event page on AQ. The details are on the event page. Please bring the item that is associated to your signup number.
6) For those of you that want to participate, bring a $10 grab bag gift WRAPPED in newspaper even and WITH YOUR NAME ON IT PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED. This is how I can determine that you get to grab a gift. Not everyone will participate and we want all of those who brought gifts to be sure to get gifts.
7) The Play Barn will have tables set up with signs so you'll know where to place your grab bag, your snack/dessert/water and even clues for boxes you might hide on the grounds or nearby.
8) If you are traveling from 91 North to Rindge, please be sure to stop for a great lunch or snack or even a fantastic baked goody at Eva's, on the green in Troy, NH. Eva made a wedding cake for our youngest son, Steve, last year and she does a great job. We've been back there several times in the past 15 month.
9) When you check in, you will receive a packet. READ IT! It contains a letter with important info, event schedule, times, venues and items for your inclusive breakfast buffet and for Saturday's buffet. It also contains clues for the 3 new series that we have placed for this weekend - 1 of which will remain at the inn permanently.
10) If you haven't fully paid for your room/cabin, upon check-in, you will pay the balance (most likely the remaining half) plus $20 per person+tax+tip for Saturday night's buffet and the $5 per person that is going towards our "surprise" which you all agreed on and that you'll learn about at Friday night's Play Barn meeting at 7pm. If you are arriving after 7pm on Friday night, you will still benefit from the "surprise" and the staff will inform you about it at check-in.

I think that's it. We wish you all a safe journey until we meet on Friday. Rest up now that you can because these B & B events are not known for sleep!!!

Mark

Oct 19, 2011: Follow up
Hi everyone,

From the sounds of those that emailed us, looks like everyone enjoyed themselves. That's what we wanted! But we're not ones to rest on our laurels - we're already planning for next year's Bed & Boxing.

We will be at the Woodbound for sure - just trying to find dates that will work. Looks like September next year as we hope to have a new Italy Pinecone Adventure to entice you with next October!

Just a few things:

1) Please write a review on Trip Advisor for the Woodbound if you liked the facility, staff, food, etc.

2) All of the boxes Sue & I planted for the event and the event box are now listed on AQ for your logging pleasure except bonuses which you will have to log on your own. We like bonuses to be a surprise for those that find our boxes.

3) If you're wondering where the leftover food/water went, we took what would keep home to bring to VT this coming weekend to donate to the local Wilmington, VT food pantry for those victims still struggling there from the damage left in Hurricane Irene's wake. Thought you would all be fine with that.

4) There was a blue and tan plaid flannel shirt left in the play barn that we turned in to the front desk. If it's yours, contact the inn.

5) Who made those great pumpkin muffins? Please email us with the recipe!!!

That's it for now. Once we have the date set for B & B 5, I'll contact you again with the specifics. We are negotiating for the inn to hold their prices but will include the $5 per person in the rate for the fire permit. So if you paid $125 per night this year - it would be $130 next year per night. Again - still pending their decision.

Also working on some new ideas and some fixes for a few glitches to make next years event bigger and better.

Take care and thanks for your part in making this another fun event!

Mark & Sue

Feb 20, 2012: Bed & Boxing #5 Update
Hi gang,

I just wanted to keep you informed of the progress (or lack thereof) with B & B #5 since so many of you expressed an interest to return again this year.

As some of you may know, Sue & I are organizing a trip to Italy that should take place at the end of October and go through early November which would have been our normal B & B time. When I contacted the Woodbound Inn, we could not come up with any weekend in August, September or early October for a group the size of last year's gathering due to different groups/weddings that were previously scheduled.

So - that means we'll have to move our venue, as much as I hate to do it. I will reserve a weekend for October 2013 for B & B 6 at Woodbound so we can return there next year.

That leaves us with a new place to find for this year. I'm thinking late September/early October and have been looking at Cape Cod for a possible event location. As many of you know, there are some terrific boxes at the Cape. I'll be working at that over the next few weeks and hope to have a more definitive answer for you some time in mid March.

I'll keep in touch.
Thanks,

Mark

Oct 12, 2017: New Pinecone Adventure
Hi there,

Since you joined us in the past, thought you might want to know about our latest adventure - a Hawaiian Letterboxing Cruise.

Link is https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?gEventId=3906

Sorry if you receive this multiple times.

Mark

Signups

Total signups:79