I was reading Mark and Sue Pepe's site this morning and I just had to
chime in on this subject. For those of you who would like to read
the post in question, please go to:
http://markandsuepepe.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_markandsuepepe_archive.h
tml#115556530918211953
I enjoy "regular (non mystery)" boxes the same as everyone else, but
I would have to say that I truly do a "HAPPY DANCE" (for those of you
who know a particular group of boxers who really do a happy dance
when they find a hard box... you know what I mean. Who said winged
ones can't dance ;-) when I go and find a mystery box.
Recently, Fish or Man, Brandy, Bluebird and I found two fairly new
mystery boxes. Boy did we do a HAPPY DANCE! It was a very
satisfying thing!
I would have to say that I agree somewhat with Mark's frustration,
though the two mysteries we found recently were very good ones and
fairly difficult ones to find. Having planted my share of mystery
boxes, I have a tendency to really cherish the mystery boxes that are
really hard to find. Those are memories that last, and that I truly
cherish. I'm attempting to figure out two mystery boxes now, that
I'm having a VERY hard time with. I haven't had a chance to
letterbox out on the West Coast, but judging by the letterboxing
characters we have out there (some of whom I've met along the way
here on the East Coast), I can just imagine what kind of mysteries
they have out there!
As for the quantity of mystery boxes here in the northeast, I've
found that a lot of the recent planting has been done by newer boxers
(we had eight boxes planted here in Manchester alone within the last
week or two by a new boxer). Furthermore, when I talk with new
boxers about mystery boxes, they say that they don't "DO" mystery
boxes. Perhaps a poll should be done on the newbie list to see why?
I personally don't want to see the "dumbing down" of letterboxing. I
really enjoy a challenge now and then. I thoroughly enjoyed planting
with Enologist when she planted the two boxes she has, and from what
she tells me, only a few people have found them. I don't think
you've found THOSE Mark ;-)
Anyway, there have been quite a few mystery boxes that I haven't been
able to find on the first try. (There have been plenty of regular
non-mystery boxes that I haven't found on the first try!) For some,
that may be just too discouraging. Once I heard about the elusive
one from Maine, I too was hooked, and have found quite a few of his
boxes (and would enjoy more clues if anyone has them ;-).
My take on it is, that we have quite a few passive, "recreational"
letterboxers here in CT. Now, I know what you're saying... isn't
letterboxing a recreational activity anyway????? I use that term to
mean those families who do it once in a while, who never strive to
finish a town, a county, or a state. We have quite a few
letterboxers who find a few, plant a few, then never to be heard from
again. I find that we don't have nearly as many active, diehard
letterboxers in CT... those who will find boxes on a regular basis,
those who carve their own stamps, and plant boxes on a semi-regular
basis, and while doing this, hone in on their skills as a
letterboxer. Once those few diehard letterboxers find the boxes
(with many of them having most of the boxes in the state already,
they go out almost immediately to hunt them down), then boxes get
very little activity.
I sincerely hope that everyone goes out and plants a mystery box.
They are really fun, and very satisfying to find!!!!! As Mark would
say.... Get out there and BOX! (mystery box that is ;-)
Music Woman
in passive and semi-recreational CT
An interesting and thoughtful post by Mark P.
8 messages in this thread |
Started on 2006-08-14
An interesting and thoughtful post by Mark P.
From: Pam (mindizney@cox.net) |
Date: 2006-08-14 16:17:42 UTC
Re: An interesting and thoughtful post by Mark P.
From: funhog1 (funhog@pacifier.com) |
Date: 2006-08-14 20:17:56 UTC
Although I'm not one who plants any mind-boggling mysteries, I do
enjoy finding them. For my favorite one to date look here:
http://home.agalis.net/bcostley/Letterbox/100bill.jpg
This one took me about eight months to solve but when I did, Yee
Haw!!! I was happy as a pig in mud. I have to say, I left the bill
behind and even added to the booty. I do hope that the newer
letterboxers discover the fun in finding these cryptic letterboxes...
and their clues! Funhog
enjoy finding them. For my favorite one to date look here:
http://home.agalis.net/bcostley/Letterbox/100bill.jpg
This one took me about eight months to solve but when I did, Yee
Haw!!! I was happy as a pig in mud. I have to say, I left the bill
behind and even added to the booty. I do hope that the newer
letterboxers discover the fun in finding these cryptic letterboxes...
and their clues! Funhog
Re: An interesting and thoughtful post by Mark P.
From: the B's (ckanaa@netscape.net) |
Date: 2006-08-14 21:26:59 UTC
I agree -- finding boxes is fun, but the mystery boxes seem to provide
the greatest sense of accomplishment. We have not done a lot of
planting yet, but the ones we are planning are going to take a least a
little bit of effort to work out the location. (Nothing along the
lines of most of the eeevil planted in the LBMA range, however --
there is quite a tradition of difficult boxes, which only adds to the
fun of the game IMHO).
We are working on the theory that boxes that require a more effort to
work out the location might be better taken care of when rehiding?
Just a thought, but we would be interested to hear if others subscribe.
As an interesting side note, we planted a mystery box in VA over a
year ago. I don't think the clues are particularly hard, but we just
received notification today of the first finders. I know that many
others have driven right past it on their way to other boxes. Oh
well, at least it is still there, safe and sound! (To the finders, we
were unable to contact you and thank you for the update because
you/LBMA didn't include your return address in the notification
message...)
-- the B's
the greatest sense of accomplishment. We have not done a lot of
planting yet, but the ones we are planning are going to take a least a
little bit of effort to work out the location. (Nothing along the
lines of most of the eeevil planted in the LBMA range, however --
there is quite a tradition of difficult boxes, which only adds to the
fun of the game IMHO).
We are working on the theory that boxes that require a more effort to
work out the location might be better taken care of when rehiding?
Just a thought, but we would be interested to hear if others subscribe.
As an interesting side note, we planted a mystery box in VA over a
year ago. I don't think the clues are particularly hard, but we just
received notification today of the first finders. I know that many
others have driven right past it on their way to other boxes. Oh
well, at least it is still there, safe and sound! (To the finders, we
were unable to contact you and thank you for the update because
you/LBMA didn't include your return address in the notification
message...)
-- the B's
Re: [LbNA] Re: An interesting and thoughtful post by Mark P.
From: Hikers_n_ Hounds (hikers_n_hounds@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2006-08-14 14:27:15 UTC-07:00
I admit to not being a fan of mystery clues, I simply do not have the mental wherewithal to puzzle my way through. But how great that so many folks DO and I am always impressed by their success.
We have a pretty strong bunch of puzzle writers and solvers in LBMA. I don't want to name names as I am too afraid of leaving anyone out. But some of the clues are simply brilliant, and I am always stunned when folks solve them.
Mystery is alive, well and growing in the Mid-Atlantic region.
funhog1 wrote:
Although I'm not one who plants any mind-boggling mysteries, I do
enjoy finding them. For my favorite one to date look here:
http://home.agalis.net/bcostley/Letterbox/100bill.jpg
This one took me about eight months to solve but when I did, Yee
Haw!!! I was happy as a pig in mud. I have to say, I left the bill
behind and even added to the booty. I do hope that the newer
letterboxers discover the fun in finding these cryptic letterboxes...
and their clues! Funhog
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
We have a pretty strong bunch of puzzle writers and solvers in LBMA. I don't want to name names as I am too afraid of leaving anyone out. But some of the clues are simply brilliant, and I am always stunned when folks solve them.
Mystery is alive, well and growing in the Mid-Atlantic region.
funhog1
Although I'm not one who plants any mind-boggling mysteries, I do
enjoy finding them. For my favorite one to date look here:
http://home.agalis.net/bcostley/Letterbox/100bill.jpg
This one took me about eight months to solve but when I did, Yee
Haw!!! I was happy as a pig in mud. I have to say, I left the bill
behind and even added to the booty. I do hope that the newer
letterboxers discover the fun in finding these cryptic letterboxes...
and their clues! Funhog
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] Re: An interesting and thoughtful post by Mark P.
From: EllBee (leronis@att.net) |
Date: 2006-08-14 17:56:22 UTC-04:00
the B's wrote:
>
>As an interesting side note, we planted a mystery box in VA over a
>year ago. I don't think the clues are particularly hard, but we just
>received notification today of the first finders. I know that many
>others have driven right past it on their way to other boxes. Oh
>well, at least it is still there, safe and sound! (To the finders, we
>were unable to contact you and thank you for the update because
>you/LBMA didn't include your return address in the notification
>message...)
>
>-- the B's
>
>
We love mystery boxes too. FWIW, we figured out the clues to this box
shortly after you planted it, but just haven't been in the area to look
for it. Glad to hear it's still there, though. Hopfully we'll get to the
area sometime...
EllBee
>
>
>
>
>
>
Re: [LbNA] Re: An interesting and thoughtful post by Mark P.
From: Barefoot Lucy (barefootlucy@gmail.com) |
Date: 2006-08-14 18:10:15 UTC-05:00
There are actually two excellent mystery boxes in one fairly small park here
in Texas. One of them is WOM, but the other, Celtic Lions' Scarlet
Pimpernel, was the bain of many of our sound minds for several months! I
finally solved it after about six months of picking it up and putting it
back down (Dewberry blinked at it and had it figured out, but then, she's
just sort of that way!), and yet I still haven't stamped in to it!
I love mystery boxes and only wish I had it in me to create really, really
good ones.! I have managed to put out a couple that call for a little
mental agility, and I've got a plan in mind for one that I think will be
tougher than average I hope. I say - Viva Mystery Boxes!
--
Barefoot Lucy
"It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
in Texas. One of them is WOM, but the other, Celtic Lions' Scarlet
Pimpernel, was the bain of many of our sound minds for several months! I
finally solved it after about six months of picking it up and putting it
back down (Dewberry blinked at it and had it figured out, but then, she's
just sort of that way!), and yet I still haven't stamped in to it!
I love mystery boxes and only wish I had it in me to create really, really
good ones.! I have managed to put out a couple that call for a little
mental agility, and I've got a plan in mind for one that I think will be
tougher than average I hope. I say - Viva Mystery Boxes!
--
Barefoot Lucy
"It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [LbNA] Re: An interesting and thoughtful post by Mark P.
From: Clueless (CluelessBoxer@gmail.com) |
Date: 2006-08-14 21:49:02 UTC-04:00
Yes, yes! I agree with this! Also, boxes that require hiking a few
miles are also generally in much better condition. Fewer people visit
them, and those that do are often very attentive. It is amazing how
many boxes we find that we spend a few hours hiking for that haven't
been visited in over a year (oh the poor hitchhiker entombed in a box
on a hike).
On 8/14/06, the B's wrote:
>
> >
> We are working on the theory that boxes that require a more effort to
> work out the location might be better taken care of when rehiding?
> Just a thought, but we would be interested to hear if others subscribe.
>
miles are also generally in much better condition. Fewer people visit
them, and those that do are often very attentive. It is amazing how
many boxes we find that we spend a few hours hiking for that haven't
been visited in over a year (oh the poor hitchhiker entombed in a box
on a hike).
On 8/14/06, the B's
>
> >
> We are working on the theory that boxes that require a more effort to
> work out the location might be better taken care of when rehiding?
> Just a thought, but we would be interested to hear if others subscribe.
>
Re: An interesting and thoughtful post by Mark P.
From: Lisa (limurme@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2006-08-15 15:53:55 UTC
I love mystery boxes or boxes with really hard clues. I am almost bored with step by step
directions especially if the box is not in an interesting location. My husband calls me a
"box snob" because I tend to go for the "quality" rather than "quantity" as in, I would rather
do research and find a hard box or I would rather find a hand-carved stamp than up my F-
count. Bring on the hard clues!
Another aspect to hard clues is that is helps to control the integrity of your box and hiding
spot. Living where I do (on Mount Desert Island Maine) we get 3 million visitors tromping
through a small space. Hard clues help to cut down on high traffic to more descreet areas.
I think it also adds immensely to the satisfaction of the finder and the planter!
Lisa
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Pam" wrote:
>
> I was reading Mark and Sue Pepe's site this morning and I just had to
> chime in on this subject. For those of you who would like to read
> the post in question, please go to:
>
> http://markandsuepepe.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_markandsuepepe_archive.h
> tml#115556530918211953
>
> I enjoy "regular (non mystery)" boxes the same as everyone else, but
> I would have to say that I truly do a "HAPPY DANCE" (for those of you
> who know a particular group of boxers who really do a happy dance
> when they find a hard box... you know what I mean. Who said winged
> ones can't dance ;-) when I go and find a mystery box.
>
> Recently, Fish or Man, Brandy, Bluebird and I found two fairly new
> mystery boxes. Boy did we do a HAPPY DANCE! It was a very
> satisfying thing!
>
> I would have to say that I agree somewhat with Mark's frustration,
> though the two mysteries we found recently were very good ones and
> fairly difficult ones to find. Having planted my share of mystery
> boxes, I have a tendency to really cherish the mystery boxes that are
> really hard to find. Those are memories that last, and that I truly
> cherish. I'm attempting to figure out two mystery boxes now, that
> I'm having a VERY hard time with. I haven't had a chance to
> letterbox out on the West Coast, but judging by the letterboxing
> characters we have out there (some of whom I've met along the way
> here on the East Coast), I can just imagine what kind of mysteries
> they have out there!
>
> As for the quantity of mystery boxes here in the northeast, I've
> found that a lot of the recent planting has been done by newer boxers
> (we had eight boxes planted here in Manchester alone within the last
> week or two by a new boxer). Furthermore, when I talk with new
> boxers about mystery boxes, they say that they don't "DO" mystery
> boxes. Perhaps a poll should be done on the newbie list to see why?
>
> I personally don't want to see the "dumbing down" of letterboxing. I
> really enjoy a challenge now and then. I thoroughly enjoyed planting
> with Enologist when she planted the two boxes she has, and from what
> she tells me, only a few people have found them. I don't think
> you've found THOSE Mark ;-)
>
> Anyway, there have been quite a few mystery boxes that I haven't been
> able to find on the first try. (There have been plenty of regular
> non-mystery boxes that I haven't found on the first try!) For some,
> that may be just too discouraging. Once I heard about the elusive
> one from Maine, I too was hooked, and have found quite a few of his
> boxes (and would enjoy more clues if anyone has them ;-).
>
> My take on it is, that we have quite a few passive, "recreational"
> letterboxers here in CT. Now, I know what you're saying... isn't
> letterboxing a recreational activity anyway????? I use that term to
> mean those families who do it once in a while, who never strive to
> finish a town, a county, or a state. We have quite a few
> letterboxers who find a few, plant a few, then never to be heard from
> again. I find that we don't have nearly as many active, diehard
> letterboxers in CT... those who will find boxes on a regular basis,
> those who carve their own stamps, and plant boxes on a semi-regular
> basis, and while doing this, hone in on their skills as a
> letterboxer. Once those few diehard letterboxers find the boxes
> (with many of them having most of the boxes in the state already,
> they go out almost immediately to hunt them down), then boxes get
> very little activity.
>
> I sincerely hope that everyone goes out and plants a mystery box.
> They are really fun, and very satisfying to find!!!!! As Mark would
> say.... Get out there and BOX! (mystery box that is ;-)
>
> Music Woman
> in passive and semi-recreational CT
>
directions especially if the box is not in an interesting location. My husband calls me a
"box snob" because I tend to go for the "quality" rather than "quantity" as in, I would rather
do research and find a hard box or I would rather find a hand-carved stamp than up my F-
count. Bring on the hard clues!
Another aspect to hard clues is that is helps to control the integrity of your box and hiding
spot. Living where I do (on Mount Desert Island Maine) we get 3 million visitors tromping
through a small space. Hard clues help to cut down on high traffic to more descreet areas.
I think it also adds immensely to the satisfaction of the finder and the planter!
Lisa
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Pam"
>
> I was reading Mark and Sue Pepe's site this morning and I just had to
> chime in on this subject. For those of you who would like to read
> the post in question, please go to:
>
> http://markandsuepepe.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_markandsuepepe_archive.h
> tml#115556530918211953
>
> I enjoy "regular (non mystery)" boxes the same as everyone else, but
> I would have to say that I truly do a "HAPPY DANCE" (for those of you
> who know a particular group of boxers who really do a happy dance
> when they find a hard box... you know what I mean. Who said winged
> ones can't dance ;-) when I go and find a mystery box.
>
> Recently, Fish or Man, Brandy, Bluebird and I found two fairly new
> mystery boxes. Boy did we do a HAPPY DANCE! It was a very
> satisfying thing!
>
> I would have to say that I agree somewhat with Mark's frustration,
> though the two mysteries we found recently were very good ones and
> fairly difficult ones to find. Having planted my share of mystery
> boxes, I have a tendency to really cherish the mystery boxes that are
> really hard to find. Those are memories that last, and that I truly
> cherish. I'm attempting to figure out two mystery boxes now, that
> I'm having a VERY hard time with. I haven't had a chance to
> letterbox out on the West Coast, but judging by the letterboxing
> characters we have out there (some of whom I've met along the way
> here on the East Coast), I can just imagine what kind of mysteries
> they have out there!
>
> As for the quantity of mystery boxes here in the northeast, I've
> found that a lot of the recent planting has been done by newer boxers
> (we had eight boxes planted here in Manchester alone within the last
> week or two by a new boxer). Furthermore, when I talk with new
> boxers about mystery boxes, they say that they don't "DO" mystery
> boxes. Perhaps a poll should be done on the newbie list to see why?
>
> I personally don't want to see the "dumbing down" of letterboxing. I
> really enjoy a challenge now and then. I thoroughly enjoyed planting
> with Enologist when she planted the two boxes she has, and from what
> she tells me, only a few people have found them. I don't think
> you've found THOSE Mark ;-)
>
> Anyway, there have been quite a few mystery boxes that I haven't been
> able to find on the first try. (There have been plenty of regular
> non-mystery boxes that I haven't found on the first try!) For some,
> that may be just too discouraging. Once I heard about the elusive
> one from Maine, I too was hooked, and have found quite a few of his
> boxes (and would enjoy more clues if anyone has them ;-).
>
> My take on it is, that we have quite a few passive, "recreational"
> letterboxers here in CT. Now, I know what you're saying... isn't
> letterboxing a recreational activity anyway????? I use that term to
> mean those families who do it once in a while, who never strive to
> finish a town, a county, or a state. We have quite a few
> letterboxers who find a few, plant a few, then never to be heard from
> again. I find that we don't have nearly as many active, diehard
> letterboxers in CT... those who will find boxes on a regular basis,
> those who carve their own stamps, and plant boxes on a semi-regular
> basis, and while doing this, hone in on their skills as a
> letterboxer. Once those few diehard letterboxers find the boxes
> (with many of them having most of the boxes in the state already,
> they go out almost immediately to hunt them down), then boxes get
> very little activity.
>
> I sincerely hope that everyone goes out and plants a mystery box.
> They are really fun, and very satisfying to find!!!!! As Mark would
> say.... Get out there and BOX! (mystery box that is ;-)
>
> Music Woman
> in passive and semi-recreational CT
>