I have wondered for about a month, and tried to find out from
several other sources, a very rough figure for the number of active
letterboxers in Texas. From what I can 'see' there aren't very many.
Although I realize that not all letterboxers post on here, or even
join the group, or make themselves known, I can only 'count' about
18! Now there are bound to be more than that, I would hope... And as
for letterboxes hidden, there are approximately 137 according to the
listings. That may sound like a pretty good number, but those boxes
are scattered over a very large area.
Currently, I have placed 11 letterboxes around my area, but I don't
think there are any letterboxers near enough to even come find them!
I know of a few who are thinking of making plans to come to the area
in the months ahead, but it really seems futile to make and place
more boxes if there aren't people who are going to search for them.
The boxes, placed by others, that I have found, in South Texas, have
few signatures in them, and they have been placed for 8 and 9 months.
If you live in Texas, please post and let the rest of us Texans know
you are out there... or email me. I would really like to eventually
have more letterboxes to find, or even to have gatherings and events
like the northern letterboxers do.
Busy Bee (Wanda)
TX: How many letterboxers are there???
8 messages in this thread |
Started on 2003-08-29
TX: How many letterboxers are there???
From: Wanda (wsthm@hotmail.com) |
Date: 2003-08-29 01:18:53 UTC
Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
From: gwendontoo (foxsecurity@earthlink.net) |
Date: 2003-08-29 01:35:44 UTC
Hey Busy Bee,
We aren't in Texas, but don't get discouraged. When Gwen & I started
playing there were only 14 letterboxes in California. Now I realize
that Texas is really big, but we to had to travel a long way to get a
stamp. Some very wise Letterboxer said"Plant them and they will
come".Indeed they will. Don
We aren't in Texas, but don't get discouraged. When Gwen & I started
playing there were only 14 letterboxes in California. Now I realize
that Texas is really big, but we to had to travel a long way to get a
stamp. Some very wise Letterboxer said"Plant them and they will
come".Indeed they will. Don
Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
From: sileagle1 (sileagle@alltel.net) |
Date: 2003-08-29 01:46:19 UTC
> Although I realize that not all letterboxers post on here, or even
> join the group, or make themselves known, I can only 'count' about
> 18! Now there are bound to be more than that, I would hope...
When I started a year ago there were less than 5, so it is slowly
catching on. Baby Bear and I have struggled with this all year
and can't think of a good way to "recruit" new boxers. Very few
have embraced letterboxing after we explain it and word of mouth
is very slow. Recent magazine articles have helped.
> for letterboxes hidden, there are approximately 137 according to
the
> listings. That may sound like a pretty good number, but those boxes
> are scattered over a very large area.
I purposely place my letterboxes over as wide an area of Texas
as I can so potential letterboxers in other parts of the state
will have a chance to go after at least one and get "hooked".
>
> Currently, I have placed 11 letterboxes around my area, but I don't
> think there are any letterboxers near enough to even come find
them!
> I know of a few who are thinking of making plans to come to the
area
> in the months ahead, but it really seems futile to make and place
> more boxes if there aren't people who are going to search for them.
> The boxes, placed by others, that I have found, in South Texas,
have few signatures in them, and they have been placed for 8 and 9
months.
That is great you have placed 11 boxes in your area, but maybe
you could start placing some further away so others (like me)
can go after them easier. You can even start placing and finding
boxes in other states as part of a regular vacation. On recent
trips, I have incorporated letterboxing with vacation plans
when I could and it took us to some great places I had never
heard of before. We are blessed with a big state
so traveling long distances is a fact of life for us. I look
at it as an opportunity to see parts of our state that I have
never been to or as a chance to revisit places I have been before.
Plus, if others ever do start participating, Texas has more space
for letterboxes than almost any other state! Even though
we may not have trails as scenic as other states, we have
great parks and historical places. I have used this as a
way to get Texans out to experience their heritage while
having fun letterboxing. All we can do is set the table
and hope our "guests" come to dinner soon.
>
> If you live in Texas, please post and let the rest of us Texans
know
> you are out there... or email me. I would really like to eventually
> have more letterboxes to find, or even to have gatherings and
events
> like the northern letterboxers do.
>
> Busy Bee (Wanda)
Baby Bear and I have toyed with the idea of having a First
Texas Letterboxing Event, maybe this winter. It would be
great to see how many Texas letterboxers there are and if
they would be interested in such an event.
Silver Eagle
> join the group, or make themselves known, I can only 'count' about
> 18! Now there are bound to be more than that, I would hope...
When I started a year ago there were less than 5, so it is slowly
catching on. Baby Bear and I have struggled with this all year
and can't think of a good way to "recruit" new boxers. Very few
have embraced letterboxing after we explain it and word of mouth
is very slow. Recent magazine articles have helped.
> for letterboxes hidden, there are approximately 137 according to
the
> listings. That may sound like a pretty good number, but those boxes
> are scattered over a very large area.
I purposely place my letterboxes over as wide an area of Texas
as I can so potential letterboxers in other parts of the state
will have a chance to go after at least one and get "hooked".
>
> Currently, I have placed 11 letterboxes around my area, but I don't
> think there are any letterboxers near enough to even come find
them!
> I know of a few who are thinking of making plans to come to the
area
> in the months ahead, but it really seems futile to make and place
> more boxes if there aren't people who are going to search for them.
> The boxes, placed by others, that I have found, in South Texas,
have few signatures in them, and they have been placed for 8 and 9
months.
That is great you have placed 11 boxes in your area, but maybe
you could start placing some further away so others (like me)
can go after them easier. You can even start placing and finding
boxes in other states as part of a regular vacation. On recent
trips, I have incorporated letterboxing with vacation plans
when I could and it took us to some great places I had never
heard of before. We are blessed with a big state
so traveling long distances is a fact of life for us. I look
at it as an opportunity to see parts of our state that I have
never been to or as a chance to revisit places I have been before.
Plus, if others ever do start participating, Texas has more space
for letterboxes than almost any other state! Even though
we may not have trails as scenic as other states, we have
great parks and historical places. I have used this as a
way to get Texans out to experience their heritage while
having fun letterboxing. All we can do is set the table
and hope our "guests" come to dinner soon.
>
> If you live in Texas, please post and let the rest of us Texans
know
> you are out there... or email me. I would really like to eventually
> have more letterboxes to find, or even to have gatherings and
events
> like the northern letterboxers do.
>
> Busy Bee (Wanda)
Baby Bear and I have toyed with the idea of having a First
Texas Letterboxing Event, maybe this winter. It would be
great to see how many Texas letterboxers there are and if
they would be interested in such an event.
Silver Eagle
Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
From: dvn2rckr (dvn2rckr@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2003-08-29 02:05:39 UTC
Please know that a handful of extremely motivated TX letterboxers
will be unavailable for a few more months--I know that they would
LOVE to participate in any TX LB event that you plan--perhaps
something in Austin would work out well? At least the rattlers will
be hibernating by then (at least we hope so) if you plan on
something in the Winter. When I lived in that area way back when
(93-96, 98-00), I came across those things WAY more often than I
cared to. I can certainly imagine that letterboxing is a big
adventure in them thar parts of the country with those slithering
additional obstacles. ;) Keep up the great work! When I tell
people about letterboxing, I get 2 responses:
1. "That's so cool, how can I start?"
2. "You must be INSANE, now why would you ever waste your time like
that?"
I just assume the folks with the first response are cool people!
dvn2r ckr
will be unavailable for a few more months--I know that they would
LOVE to participate in any TX LB event that you plan--perhaps
something in Austin would work out well? At least the rattlers will
be hibernating by then (at least we hope so) if you plan on
something in the Winter. When I lived in that area way back when
(93-96, 98-00), I came across those things WAY more often than I
cared to. I can certainly imagine that letterboxing is a big
adventure in them thar parts of the country with those slithering
additional obstacles. ;) Keep up the great work! When I tell
people about letterboxing, I get 2 responses:
1. "That's so cool, how can I start?"
2. "You must be INSANE, now why would you ever waste your time like
that?"
I just assume the folks with the first response are cool people!
dvn2r ckr
Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
From: funhog1 (funhog@pacifier.com) |
Date: 2003-08-29 02:17:50 UTC
There were fewer than a dozen boxers in OR when I started in this
hobby. Our last gathering had around fifty visitors and there were
several other folks that we knew wanted to come but had other
obligations. Keep placing those boxes, talking to friends and be
patient. I found a box in KS last year that had been in place for over
two years. Alphadance and I were the first to stamp in. Funhog
hobby. Our last gathering had around fifty visitors and there were
several other folks that we knew wanted to come but had other
obligations. Keep placing those boxes, talking to friends and be
patient. I found a box in KS last year that had been in place for over
two years. Alphadance and I were the first to stamp in. Funhog
Re: [LbNA] Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
From: Barefoot Lucy (barefootlucy@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2003-08-28 19:49:37 UTC-07:00
Hi Wanda,
My family are new letterboxers, and there are four of
us. The kids and I (15 yo girl and 7 yo boy) have
been out a couple of times, and slowly but surely,
we've sucked my husband in too! I knew it was only a
matter of time - he loves hiking and wilderness - how
could he NOT like letterboxing?
We are in Northeast Texas and we are planning on
making a day of it Monday. We want to hit Silver
Eagle and Baby Bear's boxes in the Rusk/Alto/Palestine
areas, and maybe even down to Crockett. We have spent
tons of time tramping around Mission Tejas, the Texas
State Railroad, most of the woods around here - and to
think that they've been sneaking around placing boxes
right in our stomping ground!
We also have several really good ideas of places to
hide some boxes, but we need to get the stamp carving
process down pretty good before we try to place too
many.
So count us on your list, Wanda!
BarefootLucy
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
My family are new letterboxers, and there are four of
us. The kids and I (15 yo girl and 7 yo boy) have
been out a couple of times, and slowly but surely,
we've sucked my husband in too! I knew it was only a
matter of time - he loves hiking and wilderness - how
could he NOT like letterboxing?
We are in Northeast Texas and we are planning on
making a day of it Monday. We want to hit Silver
Eagle and Baby Bear's boxes in the Rusk/Alto/Palestine
areas, and maybe even down to Crockett. We have spent
tons of time tramping around Mission Tejas, the Texas
State Railroad, most of the woods around here - and to
think that they've been sneaking around placing boxes
right in our stomping ground!
We also have several really good ideas of places to
hide some boxes, but we need to get the stamp carving
process down pretty good before we try to place too
many.
So count us on your list, Wanda!
BarefootLucy
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
Re: [LbNA] Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
From: California Bear (californiabear@comcast.net) |
Date: 2003-08-28 21:33:31 UTC-07:00
I mostly get response #2 in varying forms, usually a little more toned down. It's something like "Oh! That sound interesting" when you can see in their eyes that it is the stupidest thing they've ever heard of.
I have got a couple of #1 responses but they never actually followed through. I guess I am going to have to drag them along some time to get them REALLY hooked.
----- Original Message -----
From: dvn2rckr
Subject: [LbNA] Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
When I tell
people about letterboxing, I get 2 responses:
1. "That's so cool, how can I start?"
2. "You must be INSANE, now why would you ever waste your time like
that?"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I have got a couple of #1 responses but they never actually followed through. I guess I am going to have to drag them along some time to get them REALLY hooked.
----- Original Message -----
From: dvn2rckr
Subject: [LbNA] Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
When I tell
people about letterboxing, I get 2 responses:
1. "That's so cool, how can I start?"
2. "You must be INSANE, now why would you ever waste your time like
that?"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[LbNA] Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
From: dvn2rckr (dvn2rckr@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2003-08-29 15:15:47 UTC
I've found that it helps A LOT if you carve a signature stamp for
them--at least a temporary stamp for them to use until they come up
with a topic/idea/image that better suits them. This certainly has
worked for me about half a dozen times so far. Hope it helps
encourage others out there--I really think the 'signature stamp'
brain freeze seems to discourage newbies from ever starting--this is
one way around the obstacle! ;) dvn2r ckr
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "California Bear"
wrote:
> I mostly get response #2 in varying forms, usually a little more
toned down. It's something like "Oh! That sound interesting" when
you can see in their eyes that it is the stupidest thing they've
ever heard of.
>
> I have got a couple of #1 responses but they never actually
followed through. I guess I am going to have to drag them along
some time to get them REALLY hooked.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: dvn2rckr
> Subject: [LbNA] Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
> When I tell
> people about letterboxing, I get 2 responses:
> 1. "That's so cool, how can I start?"
> 2. "You must be INSANE, now why would you ever waste your time
like
> that?"
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
them--at least a temporary stamp for them to use until they come up
with a topic/idea/image that better suits them. This certainly has
worked for me about half a dozen times so far. Hope it helps
encourage others out there--I really think the 'signature stamp'
brain freeze seems to discourage newbies from ever starting--this is
one way around the obstacle! ;) dvn2r ckr
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "California Bear"
> I mostly get response #2 in varying forms, usually a little more
toned down. It's something like "Oh! That sound interesting" when
you can see in their eyes that it is the stupidest thing they've
ever heard of.
>
> I have got a couple of #1 responses but they never actually
followed through. I guess I am going to have to drag them along
some time to get them REALLY hooked.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: dvn2rckr
> Subject: [LbNA] Re: TX: How many letterboxers are there???
> When I tell
> people about letterboxing, I get 2 responses:
> 1. "That's so cool, how can I start?"
> 2. "You must be INSANE, now why would you ever waste your time
like
> that?"
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]