Our Thoughts: Rings vs Singles

We're constantly learning new things about all aspects of letterboxing and we are currently focused on Letterbox Postals. The current issue is Rings vs Singles.

Let's first define the difference. Postal Rings are when you sign up with a group of other letterboxers and focus on one theme. This can be about anything. Currently we are in several...Gumby and Friends, Country Music Legends, and Your Favorite Tree. We'll carve a stamp to go with the theme and include a logbook. One also requires a CD of music (which isn't required of all). We'll be added to a "tracker list". This simply means one letterboxer will send their box to us, we'll send to the next person on the list and we'll continue until all stamps have made it around the "ring". Usually the amount of participants are smaller in rings because of having to carve a stamp and make a logbook.

The other type of postal is a "Single". This simply means what it says...the host of the tracker usually carves or has a stamp that belongs to someone else. They also have a tracker list and they sent it to the first person under their name and then the second sends to the third etc etc etc. These are easier yet, for me, require more patience. The unspoken rule is that you should "move" the box within a week. Not all people comply and that's when I loose my patience. BUT, after talking with others, I found out that some people have been waiting for almost a year to receive their "turn". This usually happens when there's a lot of participants. We signed up for one in November 2009 and we're still waiting for it to come...(we're at the bottom of the list)

As stated in an earlier post...letterboxing is not only fun, but it's also a lesson in learning patience... Have fun...get out there and explore!

Our Thoughts: Virtuals

Often, especially if you live in the Northeast or Midwest, you can't get out and go letterboxing because of the weather. There are a lot of other options for you to do...postals, LTC's and Virtuals. Today our topic is the last....Virtuals.

Virtual Letterboxing is much like the traditional except you do it in the comfort of your home. You log onto Atlasquest and search the letterboxes for "virtuals". Last time I checked, there were about 25 pages of this to search out. You choose one and go and read it's clue. If you already know the answer, you add it in and then record the find. If you don't know the answer immediately, you can go "research" the answer and then submitt it and record the find. By "recording the find" you are simply keeping track of how many, and titles of one you have completed. Virtuals do not add to your PFX (Plant, Find, Exchange) number. Many are for fun, a lot are educational and some require some serious thinking.

Next time you find yourself inside because of the weather or by not feeling 100%, try doing a few virtuals. I'll warn you....they can become addictive. Most end up with a picture of some sort. If you really wanted to go to the trouble, you could print that picture out and add it to your logbook....or better yet, start another logbook strictly for virtuals....we did.

We hope you found this information meaningful. Enjoy and Happy Letterboxing!!!

Our Thoughts: Huffing

Now, before you get too excited, we're not talking about anything illicit or illegal. We're talking about a way in which you can improve your stamping image.

Some letterboxers use ink pads. Others use colored markers (Marvy). Either way, sometimes, particularly when it's hot outside, the ink will start to dry before you're ready to stamp. Never fear...huffing is here. Go ahead and ink or color your stamp. Then, holding the stamp in your cupped hands, breathe on it like you would a window in the wintertime. There's enough moisture in your breath that it puts life back into the inked stamp and it's ready for use. We've even "huffed" a stamp when we had neither ink or markers... and it worked just fine. This is a nice tip that was passed to us by "Whiz Gee" and we're passing it on to you. Hope this helps you in the future, particularly when you don't have or have forgotten your inks.

Our Thoughts: Recording Finds

Today was kinda a drizzly day so we decided to go do some "box maintenance". We have five boxes planted not too far from our home and it had been reported to us that one was missing. We loved the stamp that we had put in and knew that it was hidden in a place not frequently visited by crowds. So we went to check.

Low and behold, the box was there. WHEW!!! But we decided to move it to a little easier location. As we checked inside, making sure the stamp was okay and that there was still room in the logbook, we noticed that many people had visited it but according to both websites...no one had recorded finding it. As we checked the other boxes, we discovered the same thing had happened. This got us to wondering if others were experiencing this same "problem". Reading that someone found our box is important to us. We have some in other states that we can't easily check on and knowing that someone found it and that it's either okay or not okay is benefical to us. This led us to thinking that perhaps "newbies" didn't know about recording their finds.

It doesn't take very long to record the information (unless, of course, you allow things to pile up). We always check (about once every couple of weeks) to see the status of our boxes. Either website easily explains how to record a find.

Bottom line...Would you please record your finds AND your attempts? And also let the owner know if the box is in need of repairs or even missing. I know two letterboxers that would greatly appreciate this small task. Thanks!!!

Our Thoughts: Quisps

We recently discovered another new aspect of Letterboxing....Quisps!!! Bet you're wondering what on earth they are. So were we when we found our first.

We recently participated in a Postal Ring. One of the few maintenance items is to take off the old address label in order to place the new one on. While doing this, we notice that our's had been taped to a plain sheet of paper and it felt a little bulky underneath. Wayne got out his Xacto knife and trimmed away... Low and behold, underneath we found the sweetest stamped puppy called "Buddy". On the back was his name, the owner's name and date. We had no idea until we emailed the owner as to what it's purpose was.

Quisps are just another little stamped treasure that you find while letterboxing. The person who finds it, logs it in as found, keeps it and can replace it with another if they so choose. This got us excited. Another "keep us busy" type of thing to do in the winter months when it's too cold, or at least for us, to go out hiking and looking for traditional boxes...

That's it... just wanted to share

"First Thing You Need..."

The first thing anyone needs when deciding to letterbox is their own personal "signature stamp". You take this with you each time you go letterboxing so that you can stamp in the logbook of the box you find.

Our first was pretty crude looking...carved from a pink eraser. After being out in the "field" for a few weeks, we decided we needed to up date it with some better carving material. We used Mastercarve. Here's a picture of our current signature stamp.

" Okie Travelers On The Move"

About two months ago, we discovered a new hobby....Letterboxing. We first learned of this through our niece, Kathy. She had taken her children out to search for a box and posted pictures on her Facebook page. After reading about this new pastime, we decided to take it up since we love to be in the outdoors...camping, fishing, hunting and hiking.

For those of you who don't know what Letterboxing is all about, we encourage you go to Letterboxing.org or Atlasquest.com to read more about this old hobby. We are dedicating this blog to our letterboxing experiences. In the near future we will be posting stories and pictures of our experience. As we learn new tips and ideas, we'll share those as well.