Event #3005

Ides of March

Comfort Inn, 1872 Edwin Miller Blvd, Martinsburg, WV

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

Starts	Sat March 15, 2014 9:00am
Ends	Sat March 15, 2014 5:00pm
Owner	IrishRef
Admins	IrishRef
Signups	49/75
Location	Comfort Inn, 1872 Edwin Miller Blvd, Martinsburg, WV View Map
Add to Calendar	Google calendar ICS file (e.g. Outlook, iCal, etc.)

Description

Going with the Ides of March theme. See new information for details on location.

The event will be held at the Martinsburg Comfort Inn 304-263-6200. This is located at 1872 Edwin Miller Blvd, Martinsburg, WV 25404. This is located at exit 16 East of I-81 and is only a few miles from downtown. I have reserved a block of 5 rooms that are being held for Friday and Saturday evenings. The room rate is $79.00 for a double or a single. Reference the event title "Ides of March" when making a reservation. The hotel is giving me a break on the room price with the prospect of some boxers staying at the hotel.

Tentative plan is registration starting around 8:30 with meet and greet available and handing out of clues. Boxers can hit the trails immediately or hang out for meet and greet, exchanges, or swapping tall tales. For those interested a brief tutorial will be available on carving IrishRef style*. Head back to the event for a pot luck dinner starting around 4:30-5:00.

I currently have about 80+ stamps sitting around waiting to be planted. Hope to have many of these planted in the eastern panhandle with clues available to all by Wednesday March 12th in case you want to come and box in the area on Friday. I will then have a few series that clues will only be given out at the event on Saturday. Most will stay in their location but some may only be available for the event. Will most likely leave the event ones planted through Sunday so anyone staying over can still get them on Sunday. Will try and indicate which are temporary in any clues.

Alternate plans will be available if snow/ice/sleet get involved.

As an added drawing attraction the beautiful and talented Principessa will be in attendance to help with the event. She has been in retirement from this hobby for several years. (See is my youngest daughter, currently in college and the one that got me involved with this hobby)

* There are quite a few new boxers in the eastern panhandle area. My intent is to give helpful advice for those who are new to carving. Information on transfer methods, current carving materials, and tools will be available. It would be great if some of the experienced carvers could let me borrow one of their earliest carves and a more recent one to show the level of skill growth. I will have an Elmo set up so I can show basic techniques with an Exacto and gouges. Others are welcome to share their knowledge and/or talents.

Jan 20, 2014: Ides of March .5 nibs
KnottyKnitterDirtMonkey has agreed to send a couple of her new 0.5 nibs for the Speedball gouges. These will be available for a test drive the day of the event. Sound like it would be similar to the Staedler mini which is no longer available.

Mar 5, 2014: Ides of March Event
March is here and we will soon be a week away from the event. Keeping one eye on the weather as we finish planting and clue details. If anyone from outside the panhandle is going to be in Martinsburg on Friday and wanting to box early send me your e-mail address by Wednesday morning (3-12-14). I have a few sets that I would be willing to e-mail you clues early. The bulk of the clues will be handed out the morning of the event.

Mar 8, 2014: March if Ides Update
Weather was great today! Have been out planting all day. As of today it is looking like there will be a total of 100 new boxes give or take a few. Plenty for everyone to stay busy. There are walking series as well as indoor, drive bys and downtown business locations.

It would be most helpful if everyone could list any food that they might be bringing for the event. Pudelhund and Principessa will be working on the food around midweek rounding things out.

FULL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: I feel the need to let you know that there is a GeoCaching Event also going on in Martinsburg on Saturday the 15th. They are opening a trail with 50 GeoCaches. I have avoided these areas with my plants so there should not be any real conflict. Just felt you should be aware.

Mar 10, 2014: Ides of March Friday Evening Exchange
For those who will be spending the night Friday night and any locals you are cordially invited to an informal meet and greet Friday evening from 7-8. I will be setting up the room and y'all are welcome to hang out/chat/exchange etc.

It is in the Opequon Room located one floor below the lobby. Elevator and stairs are on the right upon entering the hotel.

Weather was an amazing 70 degrees today!

Mar 13, 2014: You have mail. Bring an extra pair of shoes.
For those that requested the early clues for Friday boxing they have been sent to your email addresses that were provided. If you did not get them or cannot open the attachment AQ me ASAP.

Everyone else. Plan on bringing a pair of shoes you won't mind getting muddy if you plan on doing more trail boxes. Some of the trails particularly those planted in nearby Shepherdstown are very soggy/muddy with all of the snow melt. It also rained and a large windstorm yesterday. There are plenty of boxing you can do on dry ground. Just wanted to forewarn you just in case.

Weather channel is showing a high in the low 60s for both Friday and Saturday with less than 10% chance of rain. How awesome!

Principessa made it home last night from college! Drive carefully and Beware the Ides!

Mar 16, 2014: Wrapping it up for March of Ides
Hopefully everyone made it safely home. The snow finally arrived this evening but so far is only sticking to cars and grass. Hard to believe it was 60 on Saturday.

I will leave all of the event boxes active on AQ until Saturday the 22nd. At that point those being pulled will be retired, some will become unavailable and others will have clues released to the public. To make sure you can get all of your finds logged take care of them by the 22nd. All are traditional finds except the large event stamp with the celtic dagger. So all of my plants except for the event stamp count toward your finds (F-count). If you have trouble finding one feel free to check out my logbook on AQ.

If you have any photos from your day/weekend of boxing feel free to upload them to the event site.

i look forward to meeting each of you again in the future down a trail or at another event.

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