Knoebels Kampin' 2006

A wonderful group of letterboxers got together this past weekend at Knoebels Kampin' Gatherin' 2006.

On our way to set up camp, we took some breaks to hike with our kitten and find a few letterboxes. It was a long trip for a little guy and he relished the chance to get out and stretch his legs.


One location we stopped had an exercise trail. RGBisMe suggested we might try this excerise sometime.


We set up camp in the early afternoon. It was exciting trying to find a way to make sure the kitten was happy and safe. RGBisMe took him for many walks to check out chipmunks and other critters.


The next day brought together a lot of old and new friends to pavillion T. Smiles and exchanges took place for a long time.


Some brave letterboxers took on additional challenges and table boxes.


Before we set out to find Cyclonic's night box series, Hikers and Hounds' and ClueHound took their pups on the train! I wanted to take the kitten but then rememebred how the extra noise had stressed him out.



No matter, we enjoyed visiting and then night boxing. Later, the campfire and good friend was the icing on the cake. Kittens look at sparks as though they are bugs so we kept a tight hold on him. He did a lot of sleeping during our camp out but then we had the chance to visit with folks instead of feeling compelled to try to find every letterbox in the area. Not a bad thing at all.

Tracdc & Satan

RGBisMe and I met Tracdc in Jim Thorpe on Saturday for lunch. It was pouring rain so our plans to do many things were pretty much washed up. Even touring the town was a wet experience but Tracdc made our visit special. After some penny candy and spooking around a Wiccan shop, she treated us to touring the old jail that is steepd in US history.
The jail is where a hanging of the last of the Molly McGuires took place. An odd handprint remains in one of the cell blocks where the one man was kept. The legend is that they have tried many times to remove the image, even by replacing the wall down to the brick yet the print reappears.

The Chow Hole (not where we ate lunch)

Who was in this cell?


As we dried off in their cozy home, Satan and Tracdc ordered up a great pasta meal. We watched some TV and I played Zoo Tycoon until past midnight. The next morning was much more cheery weather-wise. We helped them pick some of the last blackberries of the season and, at Tracdc's suggested, went out to try to find a couple of local letterboxes. Our first attempt, Nor-Bath-Tub, was a failure so went soothed our egos and went shopping at Michael's Crafts. After lunch, we had letterboxing success by finding General Trexler. The box was a mess, opened, soaked, and out in plain view but we gave it some TLC before hiding it. We did contact the placer to let him know we hid it where we thought it should go.

We had such a good time laughing with our family. With inteligent people like them, it kicks the humor up to a whole new level. Our trip back to Central PA was very low key but we look forward to planning an outing in October with them. It will be hard to wait but fun to look forward to.

Catching Up

The whole family at Alan Seager Natural area.

It's a rainy late August day here. My belly is full of homemade veggie soup and I am just a little fatigued from another terrific bike hike I took yesterday. RGBisMe is taking up the carving table for a stamp we can hopefully share at Knoebel's Kampin' Gatherin' so I will play a bit of catch up with my blarg.

Late July brought a new member into our family. Photographed with Toolman Luke is our new kitten. He is just learning to get along with Mooch and is an awesome hiking and biking cat! He not only doesn't mind riding in the car, he seems to like it. I think Mooch probably thinks he is crazy but she is learning to accept him. We just love him to bits and like to take him just about everywhere we go. He walks very well on his leash and even likes going to outdoor concerts.

For those of your who have been confused about the gender of our turtle, Franklin, and my explanation of her tail and length of her nails you will want to see this photo. Franklin has laid and egg.


Other than commuting by bike almost everyday, RGBisMe was able to take some time off over the past few months to visit while Ravenboy was home. We spent our time hiking, swimming, floating on inner-tubes, playing cards, sunning, playing croquet and just being silly together.
We spent one morning dedicated to trimming hedges and shrubs in MagaG's yard. We had such a line up of tools and gloves that it looked like we were going to wage war on her yard. So, if you absolutely can not find it in your heart to forgive me for keeping up to date with my blarg or all of the email I am trying to catch up with, you may choose one of the weapons in the photo and torture me with it.

Awesome August

Most sincere apologies to everyone with whom I have lost contact with over the summer. Things are good here and I am trying to catch up with things so that life might be a bit more manageable. Here are some photos from our recent trip down Penns Creek where we planted Tubin' @ Poe letterbox.

Vacation!?

This young chef has a different job for the first week of his vacation. He has been chosen to serve as one of 6 on a jury in NYC.

Peoples Choice 2006

Want to get a few exchanges while visiting the arts festivals in Central PA? We sometimes get board so you will have a captive audience at booth 106 at the Peoples Choice Festival in Boalsburg, PA.

Rotating through out the day, true indigo, Maga11, Tracdc, Toolman Luke, and RGBisMe will excitedly be waiting for a letterbox diversion. There is also the new letterboxbox, Thanks a Latte, just a block away.

Mososo Kruppe in Central PA

How lucky can we get!? We got to meet the great letterboxing team of Mososo Kruppe from Georgia today! They planted a terrific new letterbox, Be there bison set, in Clearfield County while they are visiting the area on vacation and they made time in their busy schedule to do an exchange.


Boy, do they know how to plant a letterbox. The location is sublime. Even with a local art and craft show going on, we didn't see another soul while on the trail. The hike is paced very nicely and the views are just what we look for when stretching our legs in central PA.


Granted, this will always be a special letterbox to us having met the placers the same day we found it and they left a super sweet First Finders packet, but we know everyone who visits Be there bison set. will come away with a greater appreciation for the central PA woods.


Did we mention there are snacks to be had on the trail? Thank you Mososo Kruppe for bringing a quality adventure to central PA. Now we must get it together to visit you in GA.

Eros

A nod in the Times, " ...Arron Scott was a more amusingly epicene Eros than Craig Salstein..."

Patchouli

2001 - 2006

El-ahrairah, stand by our friend.


My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today. - Richard Adams

Bushwacker

public access to a trail near Bushwacker

We had a major hike recently that I am just getting around to posting. It was to place a bonus box, Bushwacker, off of our second in the PA Women Series. Here are some photos of our day on the trail... and off.


on a lovely trail about a mile and a half away from Bushwacker


a bear paw print on the way to Bushwacker


an old iron furnace about 10 miles from Bushwacker

Father's Day

A wonderful day out in the woods with my favorite folks. We celebrated Father's Day with a picnic and a little hike to check on our Story letterbox. Although Ravenboy could not be with us, he had a great day himself, see below.


Toolman Luke modles his Grandafather shirt


taking liberties on his special day, Toolman Luke carves his initials in a pavilion... NOT


Red Spotted Purples


a frog

Meeting Alison Bechdel

Visiting Ravenboy during Met season is always tough because he only has one day off a week. Being Father's Day, we spoke to him for quite a while on the phone tonight. He was able to attend Alison Bechdel's book signing in Brooklyn and sent a photo of the 2 of them together. He said he was so nervous to meet her, more nervous than he has ever been even before performing for 4,000 people in the Metropolitan Opera House.

Our family loves her work and we are thrilled she is getting the recognition she has long deserved. Read the most recent glowing review of her new book Fun Home in the New York Times.

Bush House

Bush House drawing by Maga11, used with permission Gay ©1993

Tonight we found a local letterbox that was not planted by us! You have no idea the thrill for us of finally seeking a letterbox so close to home. No driving over an hour to see another's carving style or hiding techniques. What a treat!

Bush House letterbox is a lovely tour of Talleyrand Park. We have enjoyed this area on and off for many years, one of the first geocaches we ever found by "The Shadows" was placed there.

A great job was done by Archaeobirder and Litchick on every step along the way; clues, degrees, measurement of steps and description of the unique surroundings all blend together into a pleasant adventure. History, stamp artistry and a walk around a great area in the evening put smiles on our faces. We couldn't have asked for a better letterbox combination. A celebration at Bellefonte Wok followed stamping up. The big question is: who will log in next...?

Remember the Fallen

Keep Barbaro in your thoughts and remember the others who have died or been injured for life in the horse racing industry.


Ruffian, champion 1974 - 1975


Ron Turcotte with over 3,000 wins

Come Visit Me

What do you do when you Da Vinci Code plans fall through... blog it. I should have just stayed in Lewistown, sorry Mom.

Come see me sulking this weekend at Mifflin-Juniata County Arts Fesitval .

Ride of Silence

Last evening I participated in a Ride of Silence sponsored by Centre Region Bicycle Coalition. Nationwide, cyclists took to the roads last evening at 7pm in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

Relieved to not be the only off-road cyclist there, the group of centre region cyclists was diverse in age and cycling focus. Wearing arm bands of black (to honor bicylcists killed by motorists) and or red (to signify incurred injury by motorists while biking), 40 of us gathered at the College and Allen intersection in downtown State College. With police escort, we made our way single file through 5 miles of downtown's most congested streets. We kept the pace slow, 10 - 20 mph, as we made a silent statement of what I hope makes the public more aware consequently eliminating the need for another Ghost Bike to be erected locally or anywhere.

The ride took a little over a half of an hour in the chilly spring air. The rain graciously held off and allowed me to sometimes take in my surroundings instead of dodging puddles or blinded motorists. Some onlookers may have thought it was a protest against the price of gas or to unify biking commuters. Some cheered "Yay bikers!" or "Hold out your hand, I'll pass you a beer." Riding toward the end of the line of bicycles, it wasn't until we made a slow gentle curve along Westerly Parkway that I realized the visual impact such a long string of cyclists made. It helped me understand why the majority of the onlooker's stood in thoughtful silence as we made our way past them.


Waiting for the police escort to arrive at College & Allen

Lambert Castle

RGBisMe enjoys one of the many vistas along the trail

We agree that Warcat76's Lambert Castle letterbox has just about everything you could ask for. It has a beautiful historic landmark, a nice hike, perfectly clear clues, wildlife, and a hand-carved stamp hidden near a great place to stamp up.

We ended up walking just a few feet from a large turkey who was trying desperately to blend into the background. Although it didn't stand out like the Oriole we saw, it was one of the many birds we saw on the trail to find this letterbox. We were the second group to have found it with the first stamping in about a month ago. Very nicely done Warcat76!

Da Vinci Code

Sony is discouraging any midnight showings of this movie so we are seeking out the earliest shows available in the area. So far it is noon at the Premier Theatre's in 5/19/06. Tickets are on sale now.

I can't get in touch with anyone from the Garman Theatre to find out when their shows are ( even dropped them an e-mail). Anyone...!?

ABT's Sylvia

This past Sunday, Ravenboy performed his most featured role yet, Eros, in American Ballet Theatre's Sylvia. Cheerfully described as " a potpourri of militantly chaste huntresses, happy peasants, Hellenic gods, 19th-century Oriental fantasies, love arrows, masked folderol and kidnapping. It's all set in an Arcadian pastoral without a whiff of irony," American Ballet Theatre's Sylvia is not to be missed.

Although this specific performance was not reviewed by the local Orange County Review, his performance in Cranko's Jeu de Cartes did get a nice mention. Ravenboy said his performance of Eros went really well was warmly received. He mentioned that his shooting of Sylvia with an arrow was a different take than any of the other Eros'. He realized that his weapon was that of love and there was real irony behind punishing Sylvia to fall in love with a man that she had just killed. Instead of looking angry when he shot her, he gave a light chuckle just as he returned to statue form. Bravo on this insightful interpretation!

Ravenboy had his first solo curtain call because of the importance of his role. Clueless to that fact, he was onstage as the curtain closed and was hugging people in congratulations. About the leave and get his costume and make-up off, he heard someone yell, "Eros to the front of the curtain!" Out he darted between the slightly parted curtains onto the proscenium to receive his solo round of applause and hearty cheers for a job well done.

His make-up of god-like golden glitter refused to come off completely. When he exited the stage door he heard someone yell his name and he was, for the first time I believe, mobbed. A flight attendant who knows his grandmother (MagaG) was who had yelled but oodles of teens wanting their point shoes signed and photos taken with him ran over too. There was a young lady who had attended a summer camp with him years before who was dear enough to deliver a gift to him from his devoted parents. He also had 2 friends who came from Chicago wait patiently until the crowd cleared before whisking him away for a power sports drink.

He gave a call to us just as the company was getting to the airport for the red eye back to NYC. He mentioned that the most important Artistic Director of ABT, Kevin McKenzie, told him he did "really, really good." Ravenboy sounded exhausted but exhilarated and laughed as he told us his gold glitter would be with him as he crossed the country over the next 4+ hours. May the warm feelings that go with a sense of accomplishment stay with him much longer.


Bootleg clip thanks to Turns4Ever