Louie

I planted some scarlett runner beans on this arch, too, and they are eagerly racing for the top!
I got this book from the library, The Letterboxer's Companion, by Randy Hall. It is a fun little volume that describes what letterboxing is, how it started, the proper etiquette, and how to find and create your own letterboxes. We had so much fun doing that on our Retreat at Deception Pass, and I wanted to learn more about it.

To quote the introduction: "Letterboxing is an intriguing mix of hiking, puzzle solving, treasure hunting, and rubber stamp artistry, topped off with the thrill of discovery. There is something for everyone in this quaint old-world pastime. Artists and writers enjoy the opportunity to express themselves in their stamps and clues, while hikers and outdoor adventurers have found it an excellent way to share their special places with others.

"The idea is pretty simple. Letterbox clues lead you to the secret location of a box that contains a hand-carved rubber stamp and logbook. You carry with you your personal stamp and personal logbook. When you figure out the clues and find the box, you stamp the box's logbook with your personal stamp, and stamp your personal logbook with the box's stamp.

"In addition to the thrill of the hike and the solving of the clues, it's fun to read the box's logbook and see who has been there before. You might also enjoy getting together with other letterboxers and comparing personal logbooks to see who has been where and to marvel over some of the stamp images people have discovered."

Your personal stamp is your "signature" in the letterboxing world, and creating a distinctive stamp that is "you" is part of the art of letterboxing. You can, of course, use a store-bought stamp, but most letterboxers prefer hand-carved stamps. They also prefer to find artistic hand-carved stamps in the boxes, which should relate in some way to the place it is hidden or the clues. I carved a quick stamp while we were at Retreat, but I will probably make another one and take more time with it.

The author is the one who started the website, http://www.letterboxing.org/, where you can find clues for boxes all over the country.