Greg wrote ...

> Ginny and I will visit this fall and collect your stamps hopefully and leave
> one up there.
>

Dear Greg & Ginny,

Thanks for the comments on the new Adirondack letterboxes, and for
your recommendations on good hikes/letterbox sites in those parts.

Your writing that you will be coming east in the fall comes just at
the time when I wanted to let list members know that there is a
gathering of letterboxers being planned here on the east coast for
late fall.

There is a wonderful inn in southern Vermont called the Inn at Long
Trail. My son and I used it as a food cache when we hiked the Long
Trail last sumer, and our family went to stay there for a week-end
last November. I began by thinking that it would be a good
rendez-vous for us and Erik and Susan Davis this fall, then thought
maybe some other New Englanders might be able to come, then thought,
well, maybe even Randy or Marty or Ed or John might be able to make
it up.

So now I'm thinking maybe there might even be some people from
the mid-west or the far west who could make it, given enough warning!

I put out the suggestion a few weeks ago off-list to about 8 east
coast letterboxers. The response has been very positive. Based on
these responses, it looks as though the dates will be Nov. 6-8. This
week-end works for the inn - they can give us a discount on their
already-low off-season rates. Just how much I will be negotiating
sometime this week.

Here is the gist of what I wrote to our east coast contingent:

The inn is cozy and rustic: it has a great common room with a big
fireplace, a smaller room with board games and TV, a hot tub. and an
absolutely fantastic Irish pub, with live music each week-end.

The rates are quite reasonable: $68/night for two, which includes
breakfast. This is the off-season rate - the innkeeper said he could
give us a discount on this as a group. You can also get two-room
suites, with fireplaces, if you want to bring kids. My wife and I
stayed there last November with our 3 kids for about $105.

It is also located right on the Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail,
so there is great hiking right outside the door. There will be at
least two letterboxes there on-site by November, and a dozen or so
more within an hour's drive.

They have a nice dining room, but I don't believe it's open for
dinner in off-season. The pub, however, has a nice selection of food
(e.g. Guinness Stew!), which is much less expensive than the dining
room would be anyway.

It would be possible to come for either one or two nights, by
yourself, with or without spouse, with or without kids. For people who
can come Friday night, we could have a number of letterboxing
expeditions planned for the day on Saturday. Saturday afternoon and
evening would be a time when we were all together, beside the fire,
in the tub, or at the pub. Sunday morning some local letterboxing or
hiking before people have to take off.

You can check out the inn at its website

http://www.innatlongtrail.com/

So ...

It looks as though there will be six to ten
individuals/pairs/families from the east coast at this point. It
would be wonderful, Greg and Ginnie, if you were able to time an
east coast trip to coincide with this. And if we could entice any of
our other occidentals, that would be splendid!!

I will be getting more info out in a week or so on the rates Murray
and Patty can give us, and on how to go about signing up. Meanwhile,
please sned me an e-mail, either on or off-list, if you think you
might be able to come.

Best,

Tom Cooch

I talked with Patty McGrath at the Inn at Long Trail this morning.
She is looking forward to our gathering in November, and can give us
a discount on the rooms.

The normal off-season rate for a room is $68; our group can get the
rooms for $58. This is for two people with breakfast.

If there are people coming by themselves, they may want to arrange
to share a room. Or not.

Various types of rooms are available: 1 queen, 2 twins, double &
single, three twins, etc. Bathrooms are shared. Additional charge of
$10 for a child under 12, $17 if 12 or over.

There are also the 2-room fireplace suites. They are $88/night (no
discounts available), and have the requirement that you stay for both
nights. The surcharge for more than 2 people is the same as above.
These rates do include breakfast.

We thought it was best to have each of you make your own
reservations. Just say you are with the letterboxing group.

I think most people will plan to arrive on Saturday, but I know a few
(including myself) who plan to be there both Friday and Saturday
nights.

I will be checking in periodically with the Inn to see how
reservations are going, but it would be helpful if you would let me
know when you have made reservations, and for which nights. You might
also give me an indication, particularly if you are arriving Friday
night, what sort of activities you might like for Saturday:
letterboxing hunts at the inn, away from the inn, long trail hiking,
sightseeing around Vermont, etc. Bonnie suggested a mini-course in
Orienteering skills. Maybe Randy would be willing to do that?

The dates are Nov 5 , 6, & 7, and the website for the Inn is

http://www.innatlongtrail.com/

The intitial response was very good. I really hope we can have a
large turn-out here; it should be great fun. Bonnie and I agreed the
other day that it was really nice to be able to attach a face to
someone you have been corresponding with for a while.

Cheers,

Tom

Greetings to all.

Our east coast letterboxing week-end is only one month away, and it
seemed timely to put out another general invitation on our list.

The gathering will take place at The Inn at Long Trail in Killington,
Vermont. This inn is a beautiful old spot, located at a height of
land (Sherburne Pass) on the Appalachian and Long Trails. There are
great hikes all around (but do bring bright clothing, as it will be
hunting season!) Inside there are big fireplaces, old pictures and
posters, game/TV room for kids, a hot tub, and a wonderful Irish pub.

http://www.innatlongtrail.com/

The dates are Friday Nov. 5 to Sunday Nov 7. At this time, six
parties have made reservations: Tom Cooch (VT), John De Wolf (PA),
Rae Record (MA), and Royce Cratic (NJ) are coming for both Friday and
Saturday nights; Erik & Susan Davis (VT) and Bonnie McGloughlin (MA)
are coming for Saturday night. The Davis's and I will have our
families there as well.

Those of us who arrive Friday night will most likely be out
letterboxing during the day Saturday. There are over 60 boxes within
an hour's drive. I have promised that there will be at least three
boxes on site, so I need to get busy. Saturday night there will be
live Irish music in McGrath's Pub.

The innkeepers, Murray and Patty McGrath, have given us $10 off the
regular off-season rate. Rooms are $58 a night for two people, with
breakfast included. Additional charges for more than two people. There
are a variety of room configurations. You should phone the inn to
make your own reservations, but please do drop me a line if you plan
to come.

Best of all, IMO, will be the chance for us to talk and get to know
one another. I'm hoping that some of the old timers on the list who
have not yet made reservations will find that their schedules are
free after all. And that some newcomers to the list, who may not have
heard about this gathering, may also be able to come.

Tom Cooch

Thanks, Becky. We will certainly report back in a month on how it
goes.

Tom (the one without an h)

> Thom,
> The east coast letterboxing gathering sounds like fun. Maybe us in the
> Southern region will plan one. Let us know how it goes!! Have fun all!
> Becky
>

Thom,
The east coast letterboxing gathering sounds like fun. Maybe us in the
Southern region will plan one. Let us know how it goes!! Have fun all!
Becky