Goodbye John...

So, multiple people have gone out and found my Pester Chums series I planted in August 2012. The last few to find my boxes reported that my John Egbert box was missing. I trusted what these letterboxers said since they were experienced letterboxers. The last time it was reported the John was missing, along with the last box in the series, a new letterboxer falsely reported that they were gone because they "didn't understand" the clues and didn't have a compass. Anyways, I still went out with Tyrus to check on the boxes. Surely enough, John had gone missing. We searched the stump inside and out, along with the ground in the area. Sadly the box is gone so I must recarve the stamp. I don't mind recarving it since one of the other stamps in the series is so much harder to carve and luckily isn't missing. The thing that puzzles me is that out of all the boxes that I planted there, John Egbert was probably the most secure box in the series, yet it went missing. It's likely that an animal carried it off since it was hidden so close to the woods. I don't know, but I hope to recarve and replant him soon.

There was a nice sunset while we were scurrying around to check on our boxes before it was too dark out.

 

 

Now, earlier that day (2/18/13), we had to stop by an army surplus store to get some boots for Tyrus. This was my first time going there and boy did they have some awesome stuff. Letterbixing stuff, that is. We saw these really cool boxes that could make some awesome letterboxes, but $20 for a box is a bit much.... they were still cool, though.

 

 

I also found these water proof match holders. They are quiet small but could make awesome micro boxes.

 

Then we found it....... See, I really like bags. Not like purses and stuff. I like outdoors bags, back packs, laptop bags, satchels, that sort of stuff. Well, I came across this bag that I think would make an awesome letterboxing bag. It has a ton of pockets. I mean, just look at all those pockets!



Then there's plenty of room inside the bag to put maps, clues, logbooks...

Then it has a water proof pocket that can keep your clues safe from water!!!

 

I really like this bag. Maybe I'll save up for it and buy it some time. It's like $40-$50.

 

Well, that is all for now.

 

Oh! It is official! I am hosting the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who event on July 27th. Hope to see some of you there!

 

~Catchow

 

 

 

 

 

 





Postals vs Traditionals

Winter. Oh winter. It can be quite difficult to letterbox in the snow. Luckily, you can still "letterbox" through the mail!
There's some upsides and downsides to postals. In the winter months when it's too cold or too snowy out, postals are a great thing to do. You sign up on a postal tracker and wait for it to be mailed to you.  It brings the box to you during the winter months. In the package is a stamp and a logbook just like any box, except there's no actual box.
I have done three postals so far and I enjoy them. I love going out to my mail box to discover a letterbox inside my mail box.
But with postals you loose the satisfaction of having to wade knee deep in brush in search for the box.

So which do you like? Postals or traditional letterboxes?

-Catchow

A TARDIS Sighting

I was minding my own business as I entered my home after a long day at school when a strange man (my father) appeared in front of me with a package from that days mail. I gave him a strange look as I took the package from his extended hand and watched him fall back into the shadows. I opened the package to find another inside. It was warped in clear packaging tape. It was pretty beat up and looked as though it had gone through many adventures. As old as time and space I soon discovered that this package just so happened to be bigger on the inside! The TARDIS materialized onto my table! Oh what joy! The Doctor finally came for me! Alas, a wave of sadness pored over me. There was no Doctor who was going to take me away and show me the stars. I wouldn't face weeping angels of get to chill with the Ood. It was merely a stamp....

Oh how I love postals! When it's winter and you can't get out and letterbox, participating in postals are great! Last week I got the Traveling TARDIS postal in the mail. When I saw it listed for its second trip I jump for the opportunity to take part in something Doctor Who related. The TARDIS was very well done and I even got a little inchie of the first Doctor which was good too. Tomorrow I will finally be able to get out to the post office to mail out the postal. It was my second time doing a postal and I really enjoy them.

So on the topic of Doctor Who.... For all those reading you will be the first to know that I am planning a Doctor Who event for the 50 year anniversary of the show! I don't have a set date yet but it's narrowed down to the last Saturday in July and the first two Saturdays in August. I just hope everything will fall through! I've been planning this since October! Well in my head anyways...

And with that, my friend Indiana Tim is now the new host of The Letterpod! He's going to come help with my event along with doing an episode thing on the event!

Can't wait!

Keep calm and don't blink!!

-Catchow

Finally!

Ug! I've been trying for days but my iPad just hasn't aloud me to make a new post!

So here's what been going on....


Last friday was our last day in Gatlinburg, T N somy mom and I went out to try to find some places to plant our "Tribute to Hostess" letterboxes. Our plan was to go try and plant them at Herbert Holt Park if we could find the park, which we did after a frustrating time with the GPS. When we did get to the park we found that the bridge was being redone and so there was a small one way section you cross over. We decided not to make our way over there because the bridge looked scary.
We then had to find somewhere else to hide our boxes. I looked at the list of boxes and saw a few up on Huskey Grove Road. We went up to the little cemetery on this road and found it was too small and too new to hide any boxes. It was so nice up by this cemetery, out in the mountains. The silence was almost deafening. We found a neat box in the woods by the cemetery then we made a scary descent down the hill to the towns little church where a clever little box was hidden by an Ohio letterboxer. We then found another clever box near the begging of the road in a little "cave." When we passed this area on the way to the cemetery my mom though it would be a nice spot for a box and little did we know that there was one!
Traffic coming into Gatlinburg was so backed up that we decided to take the bypass to the National park. There was a box hidden up by this point where you could look over the entire city of Gatlinburg. We didn't look for this box because everything was so wet that it was dangerous walking around the edge of the woods that had a very steep slope. On our way out of the area we were going to stop by another scenic stop area to find another box but we couldn't get to it because of the one way traffic.
We headed to Pigeon Forge, ate lunch, and shopped a bit. On our way back to Gatlinburg we stopped at the scenic pull off to find the box. It was a very pretty area, even when went. We had to go down this rather steep hill to get to the box. My mother decided to stop half way down the hill and wait for me to find the box. It was probably a good thing she did too. I was tripping over everything. I'm amazed that the entire time I was letter boxing on this trip I managed to not come home caked in mud.
We didn't find anywhere to plant our boxes or our new hitchhiker I got fro. My secret Santa. The 5 box series will be planted in Ohio vwhen I can get them planted. For the hitchhiker, it will be released into the wild sooner or later.
And for Christmas I got some large erasers that will hopefully be good for carving and some cute little containers! What sort of letterboxing gear did you get for Christmas?

Next, on New Year's Day, I got a call from Mama Huntin Dog! She, Jeeves, and another letterboxer were out at Greenlawn Cemetery searching for boxes. They were trying to find my Internet Melody series amongst the snow and called me to get some help on where the boxes are. Due to the snow they didn't find my boxes. I've never letterboxed in the snow before...

Ok, almost up to date! Yesterday Tyrus and I went to our hair dresser to get our hair cut. While there we checked up on my box we planted there. It was interesting since it had been awhile since we were there and the tree was decorated for Christmas.

Now, today..... I have fallen to the spam! If you don't know, recently there has been some spammers showing up on Atlas Quest. People who create account and spam people through AQ mail. The first spammer who showed up managed to stay away from me, but there's a new spammer who sent me messages more than once on AQ mail today. I hate spammers.

I was hoping to post some photos but I have yet to figure out how to upload pictures from my iPad.

Well, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a good New Year!

-Catchow

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

My family and I are down in Gatlinburg, Tennessee for Christmas. On the way down we stopped at Knoxville to letterbox. A 20 box series and it was pretty cool. We actually met up with Scouttrekie to do an exchange. It was really nice meeting up with a letterboxer out of state. The letterboxing adventure was about 2 miles long and cold.

Sadly, I can't figure out how to upload pics from the iPad to my blog so I'll do that when I get home.

Yesterday, my brother and I went down a park about .4 miles away from where we are staying to letterbox. We were also trying to scout some places to plant a new series but there went any that we could find. After it stops raining we will scout for new places. Hopefully we can find some places to hide these boxes.

If you ever get the chance to go to the Ripely's Haunted House, don't go, unless you like being scared. We went today and I hated every moment of it.

Anyways,

Merry Christmas everyone!

AQ Secret Santa

Today I got my AQ Secret Santa gift! I loved it! Crafty Lobster was my secret Santa. She sent some amazing stuff.

LTCs, a hitchhiker, multi-color stamp, stickers, handmade logbooks, trading card selves, a charm thing, glitter, and metal frame thingies. It was such a wonderful gift! Went I went to the mail box to get the mail I saw the box inside and thought it was for my dad, but nope! It was labeled to Catchow! I ran inside the house with a big, bright smile. My parents and I went out to the office and dad opened it up for me and I just tore away at it. I had to move to the kitchen table to open everything since it was all individually wrapped. My entire family gathered around to see what all I got. My mom and younger brother were as just as excited as I was to open the gifts. My little brother actually was getting all antsy and kept grabbing at the gifts so he could open it. Well, I did let him open a few.
It was such an awesome surprise!

Crafty Lobster sells the logbooks she sent me online. They are pretty cool (just sayin'...) and very well done!

I also sent my secret Santa I was assigned to, her gift today. I really hope she likes it... but I feel like, compared to what I got, it isn't all that good... I don't know, we'll see.

Catchow

A Birthday For a Boxer

Yes, today is my birthday. I'm 17, yes 17. For all of you who are reading my blog, yes you have been reading a blog written by an adolescent female who, by the way, is a lot more intelligent and mature than those I go to school with  :P (Most of the times anyways :P you should just see the school I go to!)

Any ways, don't let my age discourage you from stop reading my post. Is it bad to see the letterboxing world from a teens point of view? I certainly hope not. I already don't have a life and I don't want to stop sharing my stories.

Well, after you grow out of the toy stages of life what do you ask for for your birthday? I, like many others, asked for letterboxing supplies. I got some new ink pads from my awesome boyfriend, Tyrus. He also got me a #1 speedball bit! Yay! Now I can do more detailed carves! He also got me some new distressed markers, which I adore. Mother Hen also got me some stamp marker and the color selections are amazing! Amongst all the the letterboxing supplies, I have about 1500 calories worth of Cheetoz and probably another 1500 calories in chocolate. What girl doesn't want chocolate on her birthday? And that doesn't even include the cake.....

Well, thanks to all who read my blog and put up with the misspellings and chaos that is my life. I will have an exciting story about last Sunday here soon!

~Catchow