Pete-
We'll be taking you up on that firewood offer. Here in NY you're not allowed to bring firewood into the state campgrounds from more than 50 miles away due to the invasive species of bugs that can kill the trees. Is it the same deal there in MA?
-Amy (who'd be grateful for some firewood)

We'll be taking you up on that firewood offer. Here in NY you're not allowed to bring firewood into the state campgrounds from more than 50 miles away due to the invasive species of bugs that can kill the trees. Is it the same deal there in MA?

Interesting! Makes sense. Not sure what the regulations are here in MA, but we have you covered. They can clock the mileage to our house and back from the campground on one hand. Pretty sure that's close enough!!!! ;o)

Pete - TMP

At issue is the infestation of the Asian Longhorn Beetle. There are several areas near us with watches issued, most significantly Monson Village in Milford, NH. They cause the death of sugar maples, a huge concern here in "syrup" country!
Here is a link about them in MA...
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/alb/
I saw a news story somewhere recently about the restrictions on bringing your own firewood while camping. Folks often bring their own from home, no matter how far they are traveling. The wood can be infested with bugs native to "home" that are then introduced somewhere else as the firewood sits in a campsite waiting to be burned...

Wonderful! We're really looking forward to seeing you both again.
~Muddy Paws

So we are all signed-up and registered. We will be at site #210.

We are very much looking forward to our first gathering in over 2 years!!

See you all in Andover! :)

I absolutely can not wait for this gathering. I've been out of the letterboxing game for a little while now. To be honest, I was getting really tired of all the craziness. Now I can't wait to sit around a camp fire and catch up with all of you. This certainly is a wonderful group of people we have here and I have missed all of you.

~Oceanwytch~

I just found out today that I may have to miss outon the event! :( Sadly my Grandfather passed away this week. He was 90 and live a good life, didn't suffer long and we had a chance to say good-bye. We will have his memorial service on the 20th (have a brother flying in then already from out west) and found out my dad scheduled the burial in CT for the day of the event. I reserved my campsite months ago and have been sooooooo looking forward to this. I feel like it was bound to have a conflict. Anytime I plan something that is mostly for me something else falls on the same date and I have to make an ickky choice. Going to figure out just how far it is and see if we can still do the other camping stuff and just miss the actual event. Will keep you all posted! Karen/"Hands"

Hey Hands!
Sorry to hear your Grandfather passed away. We'd love to see you for even a short time. People will be around on Sunday and few even on Monday. The boxes will remain in place. Whatever works for you. Keep us posted about your plans.

Pete - TMP

Looked on map - Burial is in Madison, southern coast. Looong drive for kids. :( Trying to decide what to do.... Perhaps just come Fri, meet some folks, camp then head down and spend time in that area boxing and hitting the Mystic aquarium, doesn't look too far. Trying hard to make lemonade from lemons...... I was sooo looking forward to meeting you all! 2nd event I have signed up for and 2nd one family obligation is pulling me from. (I do have a choice about going to the burial, but really want to do that too- that's the tough part!) I am getting a little frustrated..........!!!!!...........

Burial is in Madison, southern coast. Looong drive for kids. :( Trying to decide what to do.... Perhaps just come Fri, meet some folks, camp then head down and spend time in that area boxing and hitting the Mystic aquarium, doesn't look too far.

So sorry about your loss. And sorry it looks like you'll be missing most of the gathering. I'm from southern Conn and I would guess that Madison would be a 2.5 to 3hr drive one way from the gather.

Re: making lemonade -- Madison is a charming quintessential New England town and has a beautiful shoreline. The downtown is lovely with little shops (one with a letterbox) and an outdoor sculpture exhibit mixed in with a mile long walk. It also has Hammonasett Beach State Park. Guilford, another charming quintessential New England town next to Madison, has some great hiking areas and has lots of letterboxes. Mystic is great for kids. And, yes, Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport (19th Century Seaport) are not too far away.

Wishing you peace of mind and less frustration during this time of loss,

Leilani's Aunt

Thanks for the message. Perhaps we'll will stay and explore that area more. Maybe we could honor my grandfather and his life with planting another box in Madison.... now to decide - fishing or WWII military service..... two huge parts of his life (other than the people he loved)

Thanks for the message. Perhaps we'll will stay and explore that area more.

Before making your decision, you might want to post to the Conn board for kid-friendly things to do in the area. I don't have children and am not a teacher, so those who have children +/or are teachers, who know that area, may have even better ideas of what to do with children there. And there are lots of great parks too. After I posted the last msg, I realized there's Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, closer to Madison than Mystic, that has hiking, swimming and letterboxes. Also, Conn has wonderful festivals in the summer, some are very child friendly. And again, posting to the Conn board would get you a better idea of if there's something going on that weekend for you and your children.

my thoughts are with you and your family,
Leilani's Aunt

I too am so sorry for your loss. It's nice that you want to honor your grandfather by planting a box. But why decide between the two choices? Do both of them and make one a bonus box to the first, or do a 2 box series.

Sahalie

thanks! I will check out the CT board if we decide to do that!

We will be staying at site 201.

Hello All,
I just booked site 222. We'll be there from 6-25 --- 6-28. Hope to see you all there. :-)
We haven't done much this year at all, and are looking forward to getting back into our LB adventures. We have missed hiking, and our LB friends. Sorry we have been out of the loop. :(
See you there!! :o)
Team safari-- Dan and Mary (and Sparky)

anyone else bringing the kidlets along? Ours our 11, 9, and 7. We would love to pal around with some like others.

anyone else bringing the kidlets along?

Mine are 6 (boy) and 8 (girl). :-)

~zess~

We have a 6-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy! :) Looking forward to meeting you!

We have a 3 yr-old and 6(almost 7) yr-old who has asked numerous times if there will be other kids there.
He will be thrilled.
:)

anyone else bringing the kidlets along? Ours our 11, 9, and 7. We would love to pal around with some like others.

Plenty of kids will be around. I see you've had some responses already. Travelers 4 will bring along a fun pack of youngsters on Saturday........ and a couple of Muddy Paws will be camping for the weekend!
22 of the 71 groups signed up have 3-6 people - that should mean a good pack of kidlets!!! ;o)

Pete - TMP

I have 5 yr old boy and 8 year old girl. And we are definately coming! Just found out for sure (had possible conflict, Dad eliminated for me!) Sooo Excited! Praying for sun!
Karen - "Hands"

I Will be there with 8 y/o girl, 11 y/o boy and 15 y/o teenager boy! It'll be fun! Bring some bug spray and look forward to tirering out the kids!

♥ littlmoon

Our youngest paws are 9 and 13. Fear not....there will be plenty of kids! They always have a great time running around together.

~MP

We won't get there until after noon (b-day party at Chuck E Cheese to attend--gag)--but I will be there with my 5-yr-old.
NEknitter

And we are definitely coming!

YEA!!!! Most excellent news, Hands! :-)

~zess~

Just cross-posting this to make sure everyone gets the message!

Have a look here to see what's new for the event:
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=118153
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=118156
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=118154
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=118158
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=118160
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=118161
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=118163
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=118164

... and don't forget these recently planted Tune and Toon series that are close by:
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=111611
http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=116749

All these boxes are ready to be found and will remain permanent plants. Hopefully they haven't all floated away!!! Come and get them anytime you can and have a blast! ;o)

Pete - TMP

PS - Stay "tuned" for more updates........... and maybe just a few more boxes! LOL!!!!

Is anyone staying longer than the event? Kitten without mittens and I will be boxing at least on Monday if not Tuesday too. We were wondering if someone would like to join up with us and maybe share the camp sight.

I had the best time camping with all of you! It was totally just what I needed, too. You guys all made Chris' first camping experience a memorable one. He had a really good time. Thanks!

~Oceanwytch~

For me, the camping experience was just magical. It was just SOOOO COOOOL to have so many old and new friends wandering around, hanging out, imbibing, not imbibing, singing, not singing, stamping, stamping, playing, chatting, and so on...free to meander in and out and off to bed with ease. So cool. Quite an amazing community for such a short time.

It was so great to have so much time with you, Oceanwytch, to get to know you. Welcome back to letterboxing, where you belong. :-)

~zess~