Greetings to all letterboxers. I was sorry to have to have missed the mystery
gathering, but life, packing, and moving got in the way...

After I had planned my route for X-C travel, I hopped onto the letterboxing
site to find myself some interesting diversions. I'm happy to report that I
located 4 letterboxes (out of the 6 I searched for) in 4 different states, and
planted two of my own. (Both in North Dakota. The poor state was just crying
out for more boxes. Details to come.)

I began the letterboxing at Starved Rock Lodge in Illinois, where I found
Starved Lodge Box #1. It was really neat, I enjoyed the place where it was hid
very much!

In Iowa City, I encountered the Black Angel. Spooky and cool. The letterbox
seems to be fairly well visited.

Just South of Iowa City, in Riverside, IA, I had a very unsucessful search for
the Star Trek letterbox. The site appears to have been vandalized, as the
cairn rocks were scattered and the box was nowhere to be found. :(

In Minneapolis I searched for, but did not find the Rock of Racial Harmony Box.
I did, however, enjoy my walk along the river. :)

As I drove through North Dakota, I placed one box (quite precarious location)
in Fargo, and one by the Sweet Briar Lake.

I then found the Burning Coal Vein/Columnar Cedars (1st box in N.D.) in what
has to be the most fantastical place this hobby has taken me yet, and I'm not
sure it could be topped. I highly reccomend finding the box to everyone. Yes,
it's in the middle of nowhere, but the directions are clear and concise, and
the box has had a mere three visitors in a year and a half. It's worth the
drive. Although I hear it's a bit snowy there now. :)

Finally, I located the microbox in Dinosaur Park, Rapid City, S.D. A neat
location, with a GREAT view of the city surrounding.

After that, I was sick of driving, so I just tore thru the rest of the states
in two days. I am enjoying my rest now that I have arrived in Seattle and I
suppose I will meet some of the leftcoasters quite soon!

-=ellen=-
Mountain Maple