I think that’s what the rates were last year. Hoping they’ll go down a bit when covid gets under control... See you in 2022!

Kitkat61

Hi friends of Tom, aka West Dover Quidditch Team! I hope everyone's been well and enjoying the summer!

Seeing as the pandemic prevented us from gathering for Tom’s remembrance last year, we’ll be hosting a celebration of life at our home on July 24 from 2-6 at 28 Lois Court, Attleboro, MA. This is a gathering for all our family and friends, not just my father's letterboxing friends, but I'm posting here to make sure those of you who knew him well are aware we're having this event. We will have some of Tom’s favorite craft beers (and light beers) on hand, but feel free to bring your own to share (light fare will also be served). Please drop by at any point in that timeframe and share a toast and/or remembrance. Since his letterboxing friends meant so much to my father, he would be delighted to see us reunited in his honor. We are hoping you are vaccinated but, if not, please wear a mask. We’re also asking that you please RSVP including your name to my mother at sharon@carlsononline.net.

Look forward to seeing those who can make it!
Ariadne (Sarah)

Hey Sarah,
Thanks for holding this Celebration of Life! Tom was an extraordinary man and we will always remember his wonderful Grateful smile. Unfortunately we will be away and cannot attend the event. We hope you and the rest of you family are healthy and well. Please stay in touch!
Peace and Love,
Pete and Deb

Congrats to the Merry Pranksters for Box of the Week! I remember my early days up in Andover finding the Dragon's Lair! Hope to be up there again in 2022!!

Kitkat61

Hello my Grateful friends!

After many discussions with the administrators, we have decided to NOT hold our event in 2022 once again. With Covid still raging and large gatherings frowned upon for good reason, we will set our sights for 2023 instead. That being now officially said, we still encourage you ALL to get out and enjoy the fresh air in very small private groups or solo. There are hundreds of boxes in Harold Parker and the surrounding reservations. No one has recorded finding all our creations so please feel free to come up to Andover and find some more on your own if you would like. Our typical July event would now be six months away and campsite reservations are opening. We're hoping to see you all again in the future when it's safer to congregate. Meanwhile, stay safe and healthy. FYI - I just tested positive, but my case doesn't appear to be life threatening as I've had all shots and boosters. It's just a touch of grey..... I will get by, We will survive! 💖

Peace and Love,
Pete

RESERVATIONS FOR 2022 - IMPORTANT INFO: Reservations for 2022 are not currently available. Once the 2022 camping program is finalized we will post information on the DCR webpage as well as on ReserveAmerica site. Your patience is appreciated as we work to ensure the 2022 camping season is fun & safe for everyone

Sorry to hear you are sick but glad to hear it is not too bad. I hope to make the 2023 Grateful Letterboxing event. Maybe I will take a couple of day trip this summer up to Andover and find some boxes! Just a little to far for a day trip for me. but I do have my camper van so the sky is the limit!

Pete, I hope you feel better soon! The vaxxed/boosted folks I know who've caught Omicron over the past month or so have all had mild cases, so fingers crossed that your case will be mild, too. <3

And much as I miss the event, I think you've all made a wise decision. My sister (Hopeless Optimist) currently lives very close to Harold Parker, so maybe I can convince her to do a little boxing with me there this summer! :^)

Be well, Mr. Prankster. Hope you havea mild case.
Love to the Mrs.
HMA and MOGD

O noes. Not sick. OK i'm planning on coming next year FOR SURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Squee! get to see my right coast besties

I am not able to vaccinate and I got it recently also. Whole house actually. My husband who is vaccinated/boosted included. My husband and kids were mild, I lost 20 pounds and it was BAD. I did everything in my power right and I don't even leave the house!

Maybe after all this passes I can get out that way for this event!

Here is updated info for those wishing to camp in MA this year:

Camping Season 2022
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Hello Campers,

We are pleased to inform you that reservations for the 2022 DCR camping season will be available, beginning on February 22, 2022 at 9:00AM! We have a lot of important information to share and appreciate you carefully reading everything below.

Reservations can be made up to 4 months in advance of arrival date. For example, if you want to arrive on August 12, the first date that you could possibly make a reservation is April 12;
When making reservations, additional fields will be required, which will reduce contact at check-in;
Please be sure to fill in all applicable information to minimize contact between campers and staff at check-in, as well as speed up the check in process!
Horseneck Beach reservations are on hold while the campground renovation is nearing completion. All campsites will be renumbered and there will be a new site map. We anticipate the campground to open at similar date as in past years. Communication will go out prior to the reservations going live
Boston Harbor Islands, Mt. Washington, and Waquiot Bay will remain closed to camping
Beartown, Federated Women’s, and Mt. Greylock are scheduled to re-open Mid-Summer, and will not be up for reservation at this time. Please reach out to dcr.campinginfo@mass.gov to be added to the list to be notified as soon as plans are finalized.
Yurts and group sites will be open for reservations
Walk-in camping will not be permitted; however, you may make a same day reservation up until 2 pm EST through ReserveAmerica.
Visitors will not be permitted; feel free to meetup in day use area, where available
Campers and/or camping equipment are limited to 14 cumulative days occupancy in any one park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Violators of the 14-day limit may have their reservation cancelled and be asked to leave the park.
Restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected at least once a day. Please, do not enter restrooms when staff are cleaning;
Thanks so much for taking the time to review all these details. If you still have questions, please email us at: dcr.campinginfo@mass.gov. We look forward to seeing you this season!

Make your reservations beginning February 22 at 9:00AM, from our new site!
https://massdcrcamping.reserveamerica.com

Reserve Starting Feb. 22nd!

.... now get out there and go have some Grateful fun!!!🙃

Pete

Thank you for posting Pete!!

Now I hope they remove the "30 Day" covid prices from 2020!! Non-MA camping fee jumped from $16/night to $55/night!! "For 30 days only" in May-June 2020 but still being charged at the end of 2021.

My 3-day Disney event (that I started working on in 2017) was based around the campground. But there's a huge difference between $50 for the weekend and $160 for the same site!!!

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?eventId=4881

Hope everyone had a very Jerry Christmas and a Grateful New Year.
FYI - It's "Game On" one more time! Hope to see many of you in MA this July!!! ;o)

Pete

Yeah.

Do we have any sense if out of state reservations will have a jacked up price versus reservations by Massachusetts people?

Campsite Fees at Loraine Campground at Harold Parker State Forest $17 for MA resident / $54 for non-resident / PLUS $6 for sites with electricity. THERE IS A $4.50 NON-REFUNDABLE TRANSACTION CHARGE FOR EACH RESERVATION MADE.

Daily parking fee charged May 14 weekend through October 30

MA resident $5

Non-MA resident $20

Hotel booked!! Cant wait to see everyone again.

Hello my Grateful Friends!
Its been WAY too long and we're really looking forward to seeing many of you in July!!! We have revived the "Night Box" tracker from our previous canceled event. We received three stamps long ago but we'd like nine more for the series. If you can carve a stamp before June 1st, please sign up on the tracker.

Thanks - We're most Grateful for your contributions! 🥰✌️💖🥰

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?trackerId=10472

Joined the tracker, and looking forward to the event! But not sure what to do next, this is my first tracker. Do I simply click on Add Post to announce my intended selection? Are inexperienced carvers like me welcomed? I will do my best but it won't be spectacular!

zdz - Welcome to our Grateful crew! Thanks for joining the tracker. All carvers are welcome regardless of experience.🥰
First pick an image you'd like to carve. List the box on AQ as an "Other" with "The Merry Pranksters" as Planter, then add it to this temporary tracker.

.. is back on for 2024! See you in July if you can make it!!! ;o)

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?eventId=4881

I noticed this on the web site:

No Visitors, Registered Campers Only.

We will attempt to reserve the group site for Friday and Saturday. If that works out you should be able to sign up there to gain access. Another option is to pair up with another camper who is solo.

It is with deep sadness that we let you know that our wonderful friend Old Hounder has recently passed away. He is now once again Letterboxing with his dearly beloved Dea. May they both rest in peace knowing that we're all thinking about the happy days we spent together. We were blessed to have their company. 💜🙏💜

I am very sorry to hear of his passing. I always enjoyed meeting him and Siamese out on the trails.

I loved them both....
I met Jack and Dea at my very first event back in 2009, and I just latched onto them during the event not knowing anything about them. They were legends then and during the day we picked up a couple of other people, and I got hooked on attending events.
We then spent many delightful days together, in the following years, boxing, breakfasting, being constantly amazed by Jack's mouth and dirty old man mind, and Dea's quiet eye rolling behind his back. She put up with a lot.
I wanted them to adopt me. And in a certain way they did.

I'll miss him, as I already miss her. ❤️✌️

So very sorry to hear about this.
Thank you for letting us know.
We met him and Siamese at an event in Concord, New Hampshire in 2009.
They were lovely.
So glad we got to meet them.
May they both Rest In Peace. ❤️

Thanks Pete for letting all of us who were fortunate enough to run across Old Hounder and Dea along the trail of life know.

I remember racing off many mornings to be the first finder on a box listed the night before, only to bump into Jack heading out of the woods with the biggest $h!& eating grin on his face and later finding a "hey dingus, did you sleep in today?" written in the logbook. :)

Old Hounder and Siamese are stamping into the same logbook again (providing they let that old so and so in)

It’s so strange that you had just mentioned them both.

While I never had the opportunity to meet them, they did find my Clear Lake letterbox while my folks were around. Dad had a great conversation with them. RIP Old Hounder and Siamese, and Mom and Dad.