everyone. =)
--------------------
Wheee... it was great! I didn't manage to get out till, before
hitting the road home to Seattle on Sunday afternoon, but I just
didn't want leave Portland without at least doing one box!
I had printed out several sets of clues before leaving home. So
before leaving Portland, I got a Portland map and a bottle of water.
I sat in my car pondering the boxes trying to determine which would
be the easiest/closest. I decided on "Who let the dogs out" =D....
as it seemed the shortest drive from where I was (Hadden Island?)
I had a little trouble finding the starting point, and crossed the
Freemont Bridge a couple of times more then necessary.
It was a great hike. I was wearing jeans and sneakers and a short
top with spaghetti straps... Ohhh the bugs LOVED me!
I started off, not sure what lay ahead of me, but eager to give it my
best shot.
It seems that the High Fire Danger sign is no longer there, but
the `large clearing' was easy enough to spot. I learned that I
wasn't sure what a "snag" was (but knew it when I saw it, thanks to
the description). I backtracked to the stump, but I wasn't exactly
sure where to look. I was poking around the underbrush, wishing I
had a walking stick to dig at the leaves... but then all of a sudden,
I found Skip staring right at me. =D
It was so great to find the first box! I looked over the box at my
leisure, looking at all the stamps that were already logged, and the
rest of the boxes' contence and labeling.
I replaced Skip and continued on. I found where Rover was supposed
to be... too bad I missed the little fellow.
I found that I also didn't know what a 'culvert' was (and still don't
misidentified the "reinforcing stick". But just a little ways up the
trail I spotted the *correct* stick (no doubt this was the right one
this time) and found Fido safe and sound.
The trek between Fido and Spot had me huffing a bit, but I was
determined to get the last box, and was having a fun time to boot!
The last jaunt to the tree with 6 trunks was longer then I expected
and I was concerned that I had missed it or made a wrong turn, but
again once I saw it I knew I had the right one (great landmarks!).
Spot was enjoying the view from his hiding place as he peeked over a
chunk of bark that was keeping him slightly camouflaged.
On this last box, I think the "Mosquito Flight Squad" had found me,
so I hurried thru this box so I could get on the move again and have
my hands free for swatting. =)
I had a blast! ... and a nice little workout to boot.
Everything was in good shape. The stamps were a little mucky, so I
cleaned them best I could (by stamping the excess ink goo on the last
page of my journal numerous times). The images were very nice and
stamped very well. It was great to get my first look at someone
else's carving work, and see a letterbox 'in the field'.
Already looking forward to my next box!
~ Mischief ~
P0F1