When you are a child who grows up on a dead-end street you learn every pace of the street as if it is your own fingerprint. Every pothole and pucker becomes a whorl of identity. It is a place of comfort and familiarity, an unspoken connection; black summer heat - swirling mirages of August happiness.

Kantexan

Absolutely! :) I grew up on a dead end road, too. Not only was it a dead end, but a very steep and high hill began the road. We had to go up and over into this world that was ours just as much as any living room floor. In those days there seemed to be no property lines and we could walk along the river for miles. My parents never knew where we were. We thought everyone else had it just as fortunate. But, looking back, I don't remember the other neighborhood kids skipping through MY yard. :)

Thanks for the submission!
-Quiet Place

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and lesser-known areas like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

One of my favorite memories of family vacations is from our visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes. I was probably 8 yrs old. My dad and I decided to walk down to the shoreline, which appeared deceptively near. Maybe halfway down we gave up, then had to climb back to the car. The sand was so loose that for every step you take, you slide back half a step. Very slow, hard work that had my little legs feeling rubbery for hours! Ah, good times.

-Red

Word has it that the Secret Gardeners from Canada are relocating to Barbados! Terrific, now there will be more Caribbean letterboxes. But we will miss their contribution to the Pacific Northwest community.

-Amanda from Seattle

I regretfully must decline your kind invitation, as I am hot on the hunt of Count Olaf.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

I'll second what Amanda said. I like the color change also.

Cherokee

And don't forget the awesome whiffle ball and kickball games! You never had to pick up the bases for cars because you knew every car that came up the street!
Kantexan

It can be done. I read about it all the time. In fact, I just read an article in the Washington Trails Assoc. magazine about a family that did a 3 day trip with their toddler in the backpack carrier. One parent carried Junior and the other carried the majority of the gear. It was their first trip since having the baby and it went really well for them (good weather was key)

You might want to do a "shakedown cruise" of car camping to see how Simon does in the wild. Do some long day hikes with Simon on your back and stay in the tent overnight. If all is well, go for it!!

-Amanda from Seattle

Here is another website that lets you order sticker of lighthouses if you visited them and forgot to get your stamp image!! They show a typical passport page with the stamps from some of the lighthouses:


http://www.lighthousestickers.com/uslhs_passport.htm

-Amanda from Seattle

Finally found it! I think this is the official website for the lighthouse passport program!

http://uslhs.org/inner/passport.html

-Amanda from Seattle

Only had to time to pick up this basically drive-by box while I was in town here at the beginning of December. I hope to get some of the letterboxes peppered across the North of Tampa when I am here on another visit! (snagged a HH as well! Hurrah)

-Amanda from Seattle

Did you get any DC boxes while you were there? I know how it is when you are busy, but wish you could sneak in some letterboxing while you are on a visit or vacation. Especially when surrounded by non-letterboxers.

But the DC area has some great boxes. This is where I would come when there were no boxes in Seattle and I needed to find Something! Anything!

-Amanda from Seattle

I have friends outside of Bozeman, who are begging me to come visit. In fact, my parents are going to be there for Christmas!! Unfortunately, I have other plans for Christmas, like working. bummer, cause I know there are great letterboxes in Montana that I should be hunting for right now!

-Amanda from Seattle

I have a letterbox stamp carved and ready to plant for Old San Juan. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to get back and plant it! If anyone is headed to San Juan and would like to hide the box for me, contact me and maybe we can work something out.

-Amanda from Seattle

Is this the longest name ever for a hitchhiker??? Officially, I think it is Flutterby #1 of the Infestation Series for the Mansfield Monster Mash Hitchhiker. Whew! Reminds me of that City in Wales that is in the Guiness book of world records. :-) Such a big name for such a little stamp. Anyway, it was found alive and well at the Coffee Pot Bayou Letterbox in St. Petersburg, Florida. It will soon be winging it's way west with me.

-Amanda from Seattle

You know me too well - the first thing I thought when I saw the snowflakes was why can't Ryan give us some sunshine and surf!!

:-)

Judi

I just realized how totally absorbed we are in this stamping thing! I got that gleam in my eye that the Highlander dreads and he immediately said "We are NOT adding another stamp book to our collection until we FINISH one!" :-)

Are you aware of what kind of HAVOC you could wreak by just offering a rubber stamp to folks like us??? I can see the papers now "Local Business Closes After Stamp Stampede Destroys Building". Or "Postal Worker Attacked--Rubber Cancellation Stamp Stolen". Or "Man On Death Row Acquitted--Jury Decides Stamp Withholding Is Only Legal Reason For Murder"!

What I want to know is this.. is this invitation open to everyone? I taught something very similiar to the coptic stitch at Stamp Camp and those turn out nicely, but I'm always open to new styles!

Maiden

I can attest to the truth of that rumour! I saw the pictures of their Mansfield boxes and I am INCREDIBLY impressed! Impressed enough to make me want to travel down to Eugene and find their boxes.

Maiden

Now that I found this list, YEP I'm gonna pay attention! : )
MayEve <looking around for some clues>

Sure, the invitation's open, Maiden. Just let me know what bookbinding styles you have done so we don't repeat anything.... and when you want to do a session, so I can get some materials together.

And by the way... if you loved my MMM stamps, I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the one coming your way on the PLB Ring. ;)

Raellyn
TTF

For all you fans of postal boxes, Atlas Quest now supports them! =) There are a couple of caveats you should be aware of, however.

I've done an absolute LOUSY job of testing the feature, so if anyone wants to help, add your postal boxes and let me know if you have any trouble.

Add your box, and if you know people on Atlas Quest who've gotten it, send them a message to let them know it's on Atlas Quest and they can add it to their finds.

For new boxes or those currently in circulation, you can try out the 'signup' feature so there's a list of who all wants it. Unlike other letterbox types, if you drill down to the postal box details page, it'll list everyone who's signed up--and which ones haven't recorded finding it yet. That way, you can mail it on to someone who hasn't recorded it.

I've explicitly NOT put in a feature to add address information. For privacy reasons, I figure the ONLY person who needs to know your address is the person who's sending the box. Contact the person you want to mail it to directly to get that information. This is a good practice for other reasons:

1. Keeps your address private.
2. It makes sure the person is expecting it before it arrives.
3. It ensures you get their current, valid address.

I plan to add a couple of more features so the creator of the box can boot people who've signed up from the signup list if they become unresponsive (open it up for people who will keep the box moving) and help ensure if there are conditions attached to the box (i.e. it's only for people living in Ohio), the owner of the box can boot those that don't qualify but signed up anyhow.

That's the only semi-major thing I can think of to add. *twiddling thumbs*

Anyhow.... If you have any trouble, please let me know! =)

-- Ryan

For all you fans of postal boxes, Atlas Quest now supports them! =) There are a couple of caveats you should be aware of, however.

I've done an absolute LOUSY job of testing the feature, so if anyone wants to help, add your postal boxes and let me know if you have any trouble.

Add your box, and if you know people on Atlas Quest who've gotten it, send them a message to let them know it's on Atlas Quest and they can add it to their finds.

For new boxes or those currently in circulation, you can try out the 'signup' feature so there's a list of who all wants it. Unlike other letterbox types, if you drill down to the postal box details page, it'll list everyone who's signed up--and which ones haven't recorded finding it yet. That way, you can mail it on to someone who hasn't recorded it.

I've explicitly NOT put in a feature to add address information. For privacy reasons, I figure the ONLY person who needs to know your address is the person who's sending the box. Contact the person you want to mail it to directly to get that information. This is a good practice for other reasons:

1. Keeps your address private.
2. It makes sure the person is expecting it before it arrives.
3. It ensures you get their current, valid address.

I plan to add a couple of more features so the creator of the box can boot people who've signed up from the signup list if they become unresponsive (open it up for people who will keep the box moving) and help ensure if there are conditions attached to the box (i.e. it's only for people living in Ohio), the owner of the box can boot those that don't qualify but signed up anyhow.

That's the only semi-major thing I can think of to add. *twiddling thumbs*

Anyhow.... If you have any trouble, please let me know! =)

-- Ryan

I've made a few other modifications along the way as well, though the rest are pretty minor. However, if you do find something strange or out of place, do let me know! =)

-- Ryan

Ryan,
This is a great place! Awesome job on making things so EASY and fun here. Very user friendly and I absolutley love "my page".
Is there a way to make the database of letterboxers searchable by say "location" or keyword or something like that. (want to see how many other lbers are in concord or charlotte or nc, etc..... )

I just got in from dinner with my brother and sister in law and I've got them addicted as I am. We are planning to go out tomorrow, if i can ever get to bed tonight!

Thanks again for everything here, all your hard work is really showing and I thank you for taking all the time and your talents to put it all together.

alysonwonderland

…a treacherous slope sprouting rocks and gnarled roots,
With wet, sodden leaves slipping under my boots.
Down at the creek I felt like Billy Goat Gruff,
I looked at the hill; climbing up would be tough.

On through the woods, a nice little walk,
Alongside the creek, ’til I heard a dog talk.
From a house on the hill, three dogs did bound,
Down through the ivy to protect their ground.

I walked on with a purpose; our eyes did not meet.
The dogs kept on barking, encircling my feet.
In my chest my heart pounded. Sweat on my brow.
I kept right on walking, no going back now.

The “site” was in sight now, just up ahead!
And as I got closer, the dogs turned and fled.
I admired the structure, it was many years old.
To think of the legends and stories it must hold!

Across the road an object did beckon,
A sign made of metal—“A marker, I reckon.”
I crossed the road and stood at the sign,
A path to my left was cut through the vine.

I looked for a fence that’s antiquey old,
Made of wire and wood , left out in the cold.
In a few steps I found it, and looked for some bark,
Moved it and found—a Comet in the dark!

At the creek I stamped in, high on a cliff,
A wrong step here and I’ll be a stiff!
The Silver Comet? I re-hid it well.
Where does this trail go? My map will tell!

Alongside the creek and right up a hill,
Bring a flashlight next time! “Dummy—I will!”
I followed the path for a minute or two,
While it got darker still! “What will I do?”

I thought of the dogs and their insidious noise,
Not going back that way—“Let’s move on, boys.”
A short distance more to the trail that goes up,
I charged on ahead, climbing up, up, up, up.

I followed the path as best as I could,
The trees tried to grab me and turn me to wood!
I trudged on through leaves and limbs that fallen,
I heard my phone ring—my wife was a-callin’.

I let the phone ring—its glow pierced the night.
I searched for the trail—had it gone with the light?
What’s that over there? A streetlight, I think!
Or is it a house? A light for the sink?

I followed my senses—they’d steered me this far,
And shivered as I thought of that toasty-warm car…
Ahead was a path! And well-worn to boot!
But what was that noise? Did an owl just hoot?

On down that path, that sight for eyes,
And around the next turn, a pleasant surprise:
The SCRT! And just in time, too!
I stopped in the light to tie my left shoe.

Back to the car and started it up,
Sat in my seat and drank from my cup.
The day was not over, it was just after dark,
We were still far from home—but I’d left our mark!

And I heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight,
Happy boxing y’all!
And y’all a good night!


well, that's done!

Whew! I finally finished it...
... the Turkey Day adventure epic miniseries!

If you haven't read it, please do! If you have already, read it again, now from start to finish! There are five parts. I've linked you to the message board and not the message this time:

http://atlasquest.com/boards/boards.html?id=323

Enjoy!

Quote

Is there a way to make the database of letterboxers searchable by say "location" or keyword or something like that. (want to see how many other lbers are in concord or charlotte or nc, etc..... )

I suppose in theory it's possible, but in practice it wouldn't have much value. Many people don't fill out their profiles, or they'll include what state they're in, but not the city.

My best suggestion for figuring out who's in a certain location is to search for boxes in that location, and look at who's planting and finding them. It'll give a far better picture than what shows up in their profile.

Oh, and watch the message board for a given state. That could also give you clues, though not everyone uses the boards here.

Happy trails!

-- Ryan

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Add your box, and if you know people on Atlas Quest who've gotten it, send them a message to let them know it's on Atlas Quest and they can add it to their finds.

Is there any way for the postal box owner to add people to the box listing if it is pre-existing and the owner already has a roster of people that will be receiving the box? Is it possible for people to find and log it without having signed up for it?
For example, if you shared a PLB with a friend, and they wanted to log it, but were not signed up for it in the first place....

Thanks,

TTF

How adorable! This is a treasure to be sure. Thanks for sending it our way!
CR

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Is there any way for the postal box owner to add people to the box listing if it is pre-existing and the owner already has a roster of people that will be receiving the box?

At the moment, no, but it is a possible future enhancement I may make. =)

Quote

Is it possible for people to find and log it without having signed up for it?

Yes. Anyone can log it as a find--whether or not they're signed up. I thought of just the example you mentioned and built it into the system.

Happy trails!

-- Ryan