Introduction to Letterboxing

Since posting about the Letterboxing last week, I have been asked this several times. The day we went out, as often is the case on the Central Oregon Coast, Letterboxing with 8-12 year old boys can be a 50/50 day of joy or frustration.  If it is solely viewed as a treasure hunt, and the treasure is either not found or interest is lost before the box is uncovered, they can quickly turn on you.  Often the areas that letterboxes are hidden in have more exciting things than a rubber stamp.  Take some time looking through the Letterboxing.Org Site or the Atlas Quest Letterboxing Site.  If you are introducing the activity to someone new, look for a box that you can visualize the steps.  Possibly even pre-look for the box to determine if it is active.  Atlas Quest has the best up to date information on finds/lost books/lost stamps/last discovery/notes etc.

Why We Like It

More than a treasure quest, or a way to share hand made stamp designs, there is appreciation for the Letterbox Placer.  Letterbox Placers hand carve a stamp, find a lesser known spot or just a fun spot near their town, or on their travels, gather the supplies to hide a weather proof box, write down clues, and then post the box on the internet.  A friend noted this week that it is amazing that there are people in this world that would take time out of their lives, to enrich ours, for our enjoyment, for Free, without our asking. The opportunity is there, we just have to take them up on it! I have never been disappointed fully by a day hunting boxes.  The occasional “under the Juniper Tree” or “hidden by the log”, or “By the Pine Tree” while looking at several possibilities does make me frustrated and sad, but the other natural discoveries along the way far outweigh the missed treasure.  Last week it was, The Rock that Protrudes out of the Top of the Broken Sea Wall.  Well, there were 4-5 such places, and we didn’t find the one they meant.  Today it was the Path to the Left when you arrive on the Beach.  Well, we went to the one ON the beach, and they meant the one at the end of the road before you get to the beach. But we saw and AWESOME view from atop the first attempt, that we didn’t have on the second.

What We Find

This week we have walked the Shortest River in the World (or one of the shortest, depending to who you speak to). We have driven over it, walked by it, but not put our feet in it, or walked along its shore.  We traveled to a different part of our Devils Lake to find beautiful forest trails with many picnic tables and places to play ultimate Frisbee nearby.  We ended up fishing and finding clams.  Today we journeyed to a part of the coast that in my nearly 40 years I have never seen.  It is west of 101 and then north a bit.  I would have never had the reason to drive that way. We found over 20 wild rabbits that live in /nearby an RV park. Fed them with food purchased from a fancy Inn, and viewed Cape Kiwanda.  A first.  We traveled north to find a small beach access, with the sign almost on the beach, a  1/4 mile from the road or more.  Glorious place to have a beach fire, easy access to drive a 4 wheel drive vehicle on the hard long beach, great places to climb the dunes. Spent a day with the family, and the dog. Feels like even a touch of sun burn on my cheeks.

If we Didn’t Have It

I would not have seen trails near the Sea Lion outlook out on Cape Argo Highway. I would have just driven to the library and home today.  Not knowing what was out there.  I would not be overwhelmingly thankful for those who take the time to share their hidden private hidey spots with us. And I am so very thankful.

So what are you waiting for?  Look it up!  Find  or make a stamp!  Go! Explore! I bet you find something new about your area or enrich a travel spot!

  
Letterboxing, Homeschooling, Third Sixth Grades, Central Oregon Coast, Ocean City, Lincoln City, Otis Oregon.