So we go out of town this weekend, and before I'll agree to go,
I check the letterboxing.org website first to make sure there are boxes
I can go get first.

This, my dears, is the first sign of obsession.



NAME: Eliza B.
LETTERBOX: CANNON BEACH
PLACED: May 18, 2002
LOCATION: Cannon Beach, OR, USA

To get to Cannon Beach, drive west from Portland on the 26 until
you get to Hwy 1. Follow the signs South for approximately 4 miles, then
follow the signs into town. Park anywhere (there is lots of parking
available), and head West to the beach.

On the beach, locate Haystack Rock. You'll know Haystack rock
because it's the HEEEYOOOGE rock rising out of the middle of the water
with all the tourists flocked around it like the world's first wonder.
Go there.

Once there, continue south, down the beach. You're going to want
to time this so that it's either receding or low tide, as certain parts
of the beach become nearly inaccessible at other times. Walk as far as
you can. (Approximately three miles, though it doesn't seem that long
because you can see for a LONG way.) You'll know the end when you get to
a giant rectangular rock on the beach. You can climb this rock and sit
there contemplating the meaning of life while the sun goes down, in
fact, provided you've got the right tides.

Once you've got it all figured out, climb down off the rock and
head back toward town on the beach. This time, though, watch the east
side of the beach -- where the stairs are. Most of the sets are for
private homes, but roughly a quarter mile back, you'll find a set of
very narrow piled rocks that are meant to be public access -- they have
metal railings to the left (which is actually duct tape and PVC pipe).
There is one set of railings, and then a lone pole as you continue up
(about ten steps or so). On the opposite side (your right) are a bunch
of scrub grasses and scraggly bushes. DIRECTLY across from the Lone Pole
is the letterbox, hidden in the brush. You may want to have gloves with
you -- the bushes are kind of scratchy.

NAME: ELIZA B.
LETTERBOX: EAGLE CLIFFS
PLACED: MAY 19, 2002
LOCATION: EAGLE CLIFFS PARK, MT. SAINT HELENS NATIONAL PARK,
COUGAR, WA

Although the hike to the box isn't all that strenuous, finding
this amazing little park was a piece of serendipity for us -- one that
we hope you enjoy repeating.

From I-5, take the exit for Cougar (I believe it's 23, don't hold
me to that.) Head east and don't turn. The highway will take you through
Yale (where the climber's registration is, if you're interested -- get
there early, there's a lottery if conditions are good.), then Cougar,
and eventually turns into state parks road 25. You'll see a turn off for
Ape Caves -- go past it, toward Windy Ridge. Continue on 25 through the
forest and just after the work station on your left is a junction of 25
and state parks road 90. Turn right. A short way down this road, on your
left, will be a sign for Eagle Cliffs, just before a bridge.

Turn in and park. Find the greenish information sign and head
down the hill toward the water. Follow the trail under the bridge and
past the picnic area to a small clearing of sorts on your right.

In the middle of this clearing is a rock. Go to it. From there,
face the road, and you'll see a log straight in front of you that's been
charred in places. The letterbox you seek is at the near end of that
log, hidden underneath. (easiest access is from the left side as you
face the road.) It's very near a small evergreen tree, if that helps.

Once you've gotten the letterbox and have explored the Lewis River, if
you head across the road there's a general store on the left. The owners
were very nice on our trek (we were quite lost, due to the snow having
closed some roads), and we found out they rent -cabins- for -$33- a
night. Expect some letterboxes up that way soon.... :)

One other little note: After I placed this last box, my partner was
treated to the sight of the Happy Letterboxer Dance(tm), where I waved
my walking stick around over my head, hips gyrating madly, and sang,
"heh-heh-heh-HEH-heh; I am a P FOUR, he-heh=he-HEH-heh...."

I'm so lucky he understands that I'm a nutcase.

----e