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Read Thread: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective

Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Oct 15, 2017 4:34pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Because newly planted boxes are seldom and far between in my hood I'm reluctant to moan & groan about a newbie planter and am not going to start now, so this is not a complaint.

BUT a couple of months ago I (by myself) went after a new box that was planted maybe 10 feet tops from the waters edge of, you know it, an alligator pond.

Well of course I did take a picture of the gator swimming mere feet away and contemplated sending that picture to 2 dear (non-Floridian) friends who shall not be named publicly. Boxing with gators would be their worst nightmare come to life.

Hey man I live here, gators are in the drinking water! Trust me though, both me and that gator never took our eyes off each other the whole time I was stamping in...
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952630 by Three FLAmigo's
Oct 16, 2017 12:53pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I've planted one of those. It's a hike of a couple of miles on a trail that's almost never used, you'll be the only one out there. And what you find is a spring with crystal clear water and these beautiful little blue fish. And a cute little alligator, perhaps 3 feet long, lurking just far enough away that it'll probably be a minute or two before you notice him. But hey, I did our northern friends a favor and planted the box well away from the water.
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952688 by Kirbert
Oct 16, 2017 3:45pm
Thread (disabled) Board
But hey, I did our northern friends a favor and planted the box well away from the water.

Wait, southern letterboxers don't mind getting chomped on by alligators??!!
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952630 by Three FLAmigo's
Oct 16, 2017 3:53pm
Thread (disabled) Board
...snowflakes! lol
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952707 by Rocklun
Oct 17, 2017 5:27am
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<fieldset class="quote">Wait, southern letterboxers don't mind getting chomped on by alligators??!!</fieldset>
Why yes we mind, it's just that the probability is not a deterrent. And we carry sticks...
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952723 by Three FLAmigo's
Oct 17, 2017 6:15am
Thread (disabled) Board
Why yes we mind, it's just that the pobability is not a deterrent. And we carry sticks...

Can I use my "pounding on a block of ice encased box, stick" or do I need a special alligator stick?
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952725 by Grrly Girl
Oct 17, 2017 10:00am
Thread (disabled) Board
Just box with a slower, chubbier person. You can give them the stick, if you want to be nice.
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952728 by Wry Me
Oct 17, 2017 10:25am
Thread (disabled) Board
Just box with a slower, chubbier person.

Anyone know why my "inbox" has been flooded with requests from Floridians for me to go boxing with them?
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952725 by Grrly Girl
Oct 17, 2017 11:51am
Thread (disabled) Board
OK so here's my favorite boxing in Florida story: First box of the day, I'd been warned to always use a stick since the snakes don't hibernate, cover my hands because the have fire ants, and to steer clear of all water due to gators.

I'm at the first box, I use my stick, I reach towards the box and the snake jumps out a bites the tip of my gloved finger. I scream, drop the box and jump back. Ranger comes tearing over and asks if I'm ok or if I'm sick or nauseous. I say neither and he tells me he's going to wait with me because if I get sick or nauseous the snake could have been venomous.......as we're waiting he asks if I mind him asking a question to which I respond, "you're holding my hand, I think we qualify as close friends". So he asks if I'm a letterboxer to which I reply yes.

He says, "you do know you're supposed to use a stick before you grab?" My response was, "I used a stick!! It woke the (damned) thing up angry!!"

It only got better from there!!
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952723 by Three FLAmigo's
Oct 17, 2017 1:52pm
Thread (disabled) Board
And we carry sticks...

And don't step in murky water! I think I heard that somewhere.....
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952733 by Janila
Oct 17, 2017 2:32pm
Thread (disabled) Board
And don't step in murky water! I think I heard that somewhere.....

Oh grasshopper, you were paying attention!

Now comes the part where some know-it-all do-gooder is tempted to raise consciousness with a link to a picture of a crocodilian gliding along in one of our picturesque crystal clear Florida springs. Is photoshopped, so don't you worry that pretty little head about it....
Re: Newbies and hiding boxes...is all about perspective
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #952733 by Janila
Oct 17, 2017 10:17pm
Thread (disabled) Board
You guys will like this story. Many years ago, SWMBO and I were constructing a small footbridge over a creek on our property -- which, yes, is in Florida. Basically, dig 4 post holes, drop in 4 posts, hang some structure onto the posts, add ramps to the ground at both ends. So I'm using a post hole digger a few feet from this creek, and as soon as I dig deep enough the bottom of the hole starts to fill in with water. Then the water is moving! It turns out there are little baby snakes swimming around in it. We just dropped in the post and filled in the hole and carried on. We nicknamed that bridge "Baby Snake Bridge", though.