May 15, 2010

Alex and I went to Windermere Park today; a small, relatively unknown park in Cumming, Georgia. The main appeal, for me, was a letterbox of unknown status called "Remember When: 1st in Series..." a letterbox that had not been found since 2008. However, another letterbox, "Ashton" also resides there, too. Since Ashton was pretty much a sure thing, we began our hunt looking for her.

It was a little difficult to find, and the directions were not exactly what I would personally consider straight forward, but I am so glad that we took the time to really look. Not only was Ashton a cute stamp, with a bonus stamp of a little bone, but Ashton was also planted in the prettiest location to date. As I sat down to stamp in (after Alex pulled Ashton from underneath a rock beyond the fence) we were surrounded by lush, green trees, birds, squirrels, and the tranquil sounds of the river rushing over the rocks below. I don't know if it was a creek or a river, but I do know that I wouldn't trade that moment for anything.

So after finding and replacing Ashton, and enjoying the scenery around her home, Alex and I started back down the path toward the unknown letterbox. We didn't have the highest of hopes, but after some careful searching...WE FOUND IT! Okay, okay...so maybe Alex found it since he did all of the heavy lifting and digging, but I cheered him on!

So 'ol Kilroy here was hidden in a hole inside a hollow stump, positively covered in dirt and yuck. The mess was definitely worth it though, because not only did we get to confirm the stamp's continued existence, but I also got to repair some water damage and... I found my first hitch hiker!

A hitch hiker is a letterbox that moves around from place to place and is re-hidden each time by the letterboxer who finds it. My hitch hiker was carved and planted by BOXDN, and originated in Louisiana. It traveled to Georgia early on in its letterbox career, and finally came to rest alongside Kilroy in the Remember When box. Where will I plant it next...?