"Dad it's freezing! You're not really going letterboxing are you?"

Why is it that in the cold by yourself short hikes seem like
forever? It always seems longer when you're not sure where you are
going. I'm always amused when clues lead you all the way around the
park and then back, almost to where you started, for the box. I
really enjoyed the 'walk along the log' clue in Nottoway Park.
Never mind it was the 2nd time I'd been there looking for it.

The people at that Vienna recycling center must have wondered what I
was doing sitting on the quartz boulder in the cold with notepads
and stuff.

It's also fun when clues work perfectly in the wrong place. More
than one sewer manhole cover pointing in the same direction to just
the same kind of bush. But I found and said bye to Rusty after
all. Careful rereading of the clues often clears up ambiguities.

Then I decided it was time to go look for "The Mole". I'd driven
through Vienna and around it so many times while waiting for a
friend who wanted to go with me but I couldn't drive past it yet
another time and not go. Do you know the end walk on Survivor where
the last two contestants walk a long hike past memories of
their 'fallen' comrades? The walk to the Mole is long enough and
through such innocent suburban scenery of backyards, playgrounds and
creeks to play in, that you have time to reflect just what this
traitor was risking for his avarice. By the way one of the clues
has rusted, broken and been moved around: the yellow smile guy. But
you can still figure out the way. Negotiating changed conditions or
detours are part of the hunt and the fun. Nice stamp.

Too cold and dark? Not if you're searching in a library. Who would
have thought that a hunt in a library could be so much fun? The
Bull Run library letterboxes in Manassas led me on a merry chase
through different worlds of arachnids, cookery, ballet, and whatever
caught my eye and distracted me. The Rocky Horror book? All the
while seemingly being chased by the mad librarian "the
straightener". It seemed that when I found a letterbox book and sat
down suddenly "the mad straightener" would appear circling me while
I tried to be discrete stamping in. I didn't know what I feared
more: her noticing and wondering what I was doing or her discovering
the box books on the shelves before I could find them!

Did you know that an index search for spider turns up so many hits
on Spiderman it's hard to find the location of spider books? Did
you know the pet section, between the aquarium fish and the cats,
has a book on tarantulas? And just how many rows of books can you
scan before you realize you should read the clues more carefully and
use your brain to look instead of your hurried assumptions? Hmmm,
but this cookbook by medical examiner mystery novelist Patricia
Cornwell looks interesting. "The library will be closing in 30
minutes." Scramble.

Scarab of the Doubtful Guests
F42 P14 X14 HH1
Wishing I could do 100 in a month.