Well then go ahead and use my first name. I'm Kerri. It's nice to meet you!
Well, cyber-ly. Following your example, we went up to York river park today,
and attempting the mattiponi trail boxes. First thing we did wrong was to
start at the wrong end of the trail. Not a good move!! My 4 yr old was bone
tired before we got done. We found the spot where the mattiponi box would
have been. Very cool spot to hide something in! We were fascinated by how
perfect it was. but we had no luck with either the pupa box or the fossil
box. It wasn't the boxes or the clues though. We chose not to go back for
fossil as we were obviously looking on the wrong side of trail, as we were
coming backwards. As for the Pupa box, well there were LOTS of trees that
fit the description of sister trees in that area. 2 likely trees that I
didn't check were because A tree had a huge black and yellow spider in it,
and B tree had either a snake or a lizard in it. I didn't get close enough
to check for legs!! I may sound like a sissy, but I like my creepy crawlers
on the ground not looking me in the eye! We had a fantastic time though. We
saw a bunch of tiny toads crossing our trail and stopped to root them on.
Even had bets on which would win. Not mine btw. We also had a rousing
conversation on who was smelling the worst (accompanied by a 10 yr old boy
you know) as we were accompanied by no less then four brightly colored
curious dragonflies, for a distance of 3 yards or so. Quite a ways for such
a short attention span! We also stopped to admire some very brightly hued
beetles. I never saw anything like them! They were electric blue, deep
emerald green, and candy apple red. I haven't downloaded the pics yet to see
if any came out. We also decided to go back next weekend to attempt the
Taskinas Creek boxes, and to rent a canoe and try our hand at that as they
are down right reasonable, and will allow us to bring the 4 yr old with us
in the boats. She has a bit of experience in them really, but we did
rowboats not canoes. All in all a great experience though we are now f - 2
tried 9. I'm so stuck on York County and Yorktown. Been having a love affair
with them for over a year now, lol! Have a great rest of your Sunday, Kerri
(Lone Pony)
-----Original Message-----
From: WasGross@aol.com [mailto:WasGross@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 10:05 AM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com; kerripaul@peoplepc.com
Subject: VA-Beach FFV 3 and Sparky's Friend


After much pondering over "Fat Flying Valentine" clues we were able to
find it! Actually, we have a student from France visiting us and she helped
us with the "French Mountain". We had a lot of fun with FFV. Thank you very
much Luluphi.
We also found "Sparky's Friend" the same day. Thank you, also,
LeapFrog.I think our French student was a little puzzled by what we were
doing but I think my son is finally enjoying the hunt.

We even bought some materials to try carving our own stamps in the hope
of planting some ourselves.
I have been trying to print out clues for our vacation. I am very
interested in the rest stop clues in the North East. We may hit the one in
Maryland I read about. Does anyone know if there are any on the NJ Turnpike?
Kerripaul, these were the first letterboxes we were actually able to
find in VA Beach.
I dislike nicnames
Donna


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--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "krp" wrote:
Following your example, we went up to York river park today,
> and attempting the mattiponi trail boxes. We found the spot where
the mattiponi box would
> have been. Very cool spot to hide something in!


Was there still a bunch of water in the hole? I guess that's why the
box didn't last.


but we had no luck with either the pupa box or the fossil
> box.


I didn't get the Pupa box until my second time going to the park, AND
a friend was with me to bounce ideas off of. You're right, there are a
lot of "sister tree" combos.

I'm sorry you didn't get Fossil. It was planted so recently that ya'll
probably would've been the first to stamp in! I planted that one. BTW,
it's not on the Mattaponi Trail, it's on the Woodstock Pond Trail.
Were you on the Woodstock Pond Trail when you were looking for Fossil?

That park is a great spot for wildlife and insect viewing, as you
pointed out. Wait 'til you get the two on the Taskinas Creek Trail.
You'll see tons of herons and fiddler crabs. Last time I went, a
fellow visitor warned us about a black snake sunning itself on one of
the bridges we'd have to cross. Black snakes aren't posionous, but
still, I was glad it wasn't there when we crossed that bridge!

Happy trails!

--mlg

Sorry it took me so long to reply, Im having Outlook problems, and
finally figured that I could write it in word and paste it into a message,
lol!



<
box didn't last.>>



Yes. Lots with skeeter larva swimming in it. Id imagine that probably is
why the box wasnt left there. But it was still a really neat hiding place!



<
probably would've been the first to stamp in! I planted that one. BTW,

it's not on the Mattaponi Trail, it's on the Woodstock Pond Trail.

Were you on the Woodstock Pond Trail when you were looking for Fossil?>>



Well, we are planning on going back up this weekend, and now we know where
the trails go, well, kinda. We were on Woodstock pond trail but as we came
from the tail end instead of the other way, I do believe we marched off in
the wrong direction, we hunted down a bunch of pines losing their bark so we
could dig through it to find it. Imagine how embarrassed I was to be walking
around muttering, I wont leave with out it, I wont, I just plain refuse
and I look up and there are some poor parents hustling their offspring past
the crazy lady, lol!



<< Taskinas Creek Trail.

You'll see tons of herons and fiddler crabs mlg>>

Well thats a great endorsement for my son! He loves crabs, though he
usually comes out the worst for wear in any encounter!! LOL! Have a great
day!
Kerri


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