Boxes planted November 22,2001 by Tom and Audrey Edwards in the Florida
Keys, Monroe County, Florida.
Well, I hope this works! It seemed like a good idea at the time. Let me know
how it goes.
We've placed four stamps down if the Florida Keys. You will need to
locate all four, and place them correctly to get the final "stamp." On the
back of each stamp is a diagram showing where it goes in the quadrant. The
diagram shows where it goes "as it is being stamped".There are two in the
Upper Keys and two in the Lower Keys.
I recommend starting with the Key West stamp as that is the only box that
has a composite picture of the final product. The other three only have the
stamp and the log. You could take the more challenging route by starting in
Key Largo and "surprise" yourself with the last stamp in the Key West
location. You're going to be driving passed the Key Largo box anyway on your
way south, but you'll be coming back that way again as you are leaving.
It took us two long days to locate and plant the boxes, but I suppose they
could be located and completed in one day, but why not make it a long weekend
and enjoy the Keys?
I decided to keep the directions straightforward rather than cryptic. You're
going to have enough to do, as it is.
There are a couple of criteria you will need to know about to pull this off
successfully.
1st- I used an eraser that measures about 1-1/2"x3" for my stamps. Since you
will be using four stamps, you will need to have paper that is at least
3"x6".Bring extra paper!! Through trial and error we discovered that every
application of ink to the stamp is not consistent. Normally, this never
seemed to matter in our searches. For this to be successful you will need to
get good (consistent) at this. I have reiterated this in each of the boxes.
Bring your own pad AND extra ink. After applying ink to the stamp hold it up
to the light to reflect off of the surface to insure that it is evenly "wet"
with ink. Make a test stamp or two on that extra paper to get a good image
before stamping your "final" piece.
Believe me here - after traveling the length of the Keys for two days and
getting three good stamps and then finding that the fourth was a little light
on ink will be terribly deflating. I've NEVER been able to redo a stamp on
top of itself. Probably a good idea to attempt two or more "final pieces" to
insure at least one good "keeper."
2nd - The stamps are "numbered" 1 thru 4, but that only refers to their
position in the quadrant and not their placing along the islands. I did place
them so that no two stamps will get applied diagonally, but rather will abut
each other to help keep the final piece as "square" as possible.
3rd - Please take time and read the "Leave No Trace Principles" posted on
the Letterboxing website. I carry a copy of this in my letterboxing backpack.
Remember to be sneaky.
Good luck! E-mail me when you get a chance and let me know how it came out.
I'm at SLOOPYTOM@AOL.COM
Stamp #2 is located at Fort Zachery Taylor State Park. Get a street map of
Key West (they're everywhere) and locate the park at the southern(western)
end of the island. You enter the park through the entrance to the Truman
Annex off of Southard Street. Although there are guard shacks, it's
unrestricted. Follow signs into the Park and park in the Beach Parking area.
Lots to see and do here. A great beach and the Fort itself. At the end of the
parking lot walk straight out towards the ocean and you will see a huge piece
of driftwood (drift tree) on the shore. Check out the boat traffic. At the
tree turn right and follow a bike/walk path a little ways to where it makes a
jog to the right. There are large granite blocks that on your right that are
bordering the path that continue on straight after the jog in the path.
Follow these blocks. You'll see that most of them are rectangular but that
two of them are more like jagged rocks. At the base of the 2nd "rock" I
hauled up a couple of smaller rocks and put them at the base to hide the box
you're looking for. This "rock" is about the 12th block after the jog in the
path.
This is a good distance from the Fort, but you are still out in a wide open
area so remember all of the precautions we need to take as successful
letterboxers - be sneaky.
After getting your stamp and replacing the box, step back 5' or 10' and see
if it looks undisturbed and natural. Make corrections as necessary.
Stamp #4 - is located in the Jack C. Watson Wildlife Trail on Big Pine Key.
After getting to Big Pine Key turn onto Key Deer Blvd. On Monday - Friday
make a right into the shopping center and go to the National Wildlife Refuge
office and get information on the Trail. Otherwise, or on Saturday or Sunday
just continue on up Key Deer Blvd. about 2-3 miles and watch for a small
parking area on the right for the Blue Hole. This is not where you are
headed, but it's a nice short stop,nonetheless.Keep your eyes peeled for the
famous Key Deer. About 1/3 mile passed there, watch for a small Wildlife
Trail sign, on the right also, and pull in and park. The trail is a 2/3 mile
loop and the box is under and behind a great looking buttonwood tree that has
a sign.
Stamp #1 - is located in the Upper Keys at the Wildbird Care Center on Key
Largo at mile marker 93.6. This is on the Gulf side of the road. Take the
boardwalk to the end. There is a nice blind set up at the end of the walk
when you go to the left, but you have to go to the right to find the box. Go
to the end of the walk and continue on the road. It'll veer to the right and
then splits into two roads. Right in the "V" formed by the road is a
multi-trunked buttonwood tree (like the one on Big Pine).I moved a couple of
limestone rocks over to the base of the tree at the rear. You'll find the box
under them. Although this is a ways from the center, you are kind of out in
the open here, so watch out for other people coming and going along the roads
while you are removing and replacing the box.
Stamp #3 - is at the John Pennecamp Coral Reef Park also on Key Largo at
mile marker 103. Admission here is $5.00 for two people. Get a map and locate
the Tamarind Trail. Take the trail and the White Stopper tree sign. This one
is also kind of out in the open so watch out for other people. The box is in
a large hollow coral rock (about 2'x3') just to the left of the sign, about
2' away. I plugged the opening with another rock that "fits" pretty good and
then placed another rock outside of that one. Remove the rocks but remember
exactly how they came out because it only fits one way into the opening.
After replacing, stand back and see if the box is visible. If it is still
visible, reposition the box and/or the rock to block any prying eyes.
Well, that should do it.