CardinalMom, Pack Rat, Trail Buddy, and I had the opportunity to go
boxin' in NE Ohio a couple of days last week. While temperatures
were quite nice, they had torrential rain early last week which
resulted in a LOT of mud and brutal clouds of ravenous insects. The
boxers up there seem to be more into the hiking aspect of
letterboxing than we are but some weren't too long. What we found
(and didn't!) follows:

Mentor Headlands Beach - We paid for this one in blood! The
mosquitos nearly ate us alive but the box is dry and in good shape.
This is the most rugged box we have yet encountered!

Squire's Castle - What a beautiful place! The castle is really cool
and the setting is perfect. The trails are nicely maintained too.
Unfortunately, we didn't find the box. The clues say the box was
moved because of trail maintanance and I think something got garbled
in the process. We started out fine but then reached a point where
the clues just didn't make any sense. We had to give up despite
checking what seemed like every tree in the park.

Big Creek Park - These NE Ohioians must really love their parks! The
area seems to be full of really nice county or regional parks. This
is another example of them. A nice little walk on well groomed
trails that takes you a nice tribute box dedicated to a local woman
that died on 9/11/01. Probably the prettiest place we've ever had to
stamp in. Clue could be a little clearer about which road to take
from the square. Box is in good shape.

Burton's Log Cabin - The placer must have been feeling a little
malicious when he planted this one! Burton is a lovely historic town
laid out in the New England tradition and it has a great log cabin on
the town square. (We also highly recommend the home-made ice cream
on the east side of the square!) The town sits astride a ridge that
falls a loooooooong way from the square. Be prepared for quite a
hike if you do this one! Unfortunately, we did the hike and didn't
get the box. Water, weeds, and voracious mosquitos drove us out
before we found it. The area was really overgrown as well and we
couldn't follow the clues. Maybe another day with better
conditions! The ice cream helped ease our disappointment!

Punderson Park - This is in a very nice state park. The clues are
good and a moderate hike brings you to an almost unbelievable hiding
spot. It might help if you are part mountain goat or at least a
cliff rappeller! This box has had a lot of traffic and needs to have
it's (large) zip-lock bags replaced. It's in good shape for the
moment though - still dry.

West Woods Park - Another lovely, immaculately maintained metro
park. Another of those super rugged boxes and a very nice hand
carved stamp. Box is in good shape.

Peeper Hollow - Nice, short, easy walk in a most unusual spot. Cool,
hand carved stamp and a cute little bonus! Box had nearly washed
away in the recent rains. We re-hid it a little higher and hopefully
drier. Contents were damp and back had come off stamp. Owner may
want to give it a little TLC sometime soon.

Thanks to you NE Ohio boxers for adding some diversion to our annual
week at the beach!
Bigguy
P26 F53