THE PLAN

Leave NJ to head towards Red Hook, NY to box and meet up with local boxers & 4GC, who was visiting from the South, for exchanges & laughs - as we know any boxer from the South is always fun!! We were only 1 ½ hours away. We’ll leave around 10:30 – 11:00 and would call 3 Blind Mice when we arrive & hopefully meet up. Well, of course, that really wasn’t what happened at all. There was lots of traffic on the Thru Way….later we find the ever so interesting site that was slowing us down…a car jacked up with a flat tire…dang Rubber Neckers! Come on people get a life!

Anyway, we get to Rhinebeck, NY. A quaint little town. At this point, we really needed to get the boys out of the car, so we decided to do a small hike rather than a drive – by first. So to the newest Fire Tower erected in NYS we go. I figured I’d reach out to 3 Blind Mice after we got off that trail & find out the scoop. What a beauty of day we had temperature wise. Perfect for hiking. So off we go, find the first box on the trail. Ahhh shucks, 4GC has already been here…yesterday! No chance of meeting them on this trail today. Go to next box…4GC had not logged in. Well, maybe they were in hurry or weather may not have been agreeable & they just stamped the image into their logbook & moved on.

On to the Fire Tower we go. Boy, those things are mighty tall. Maple Leaf Red knew there was no way she was going to make it up & if she did how in the world would she ever make it back down? I had sweaty hands earlier that day crossing a bridge in the van over the Hudson River. Well, of course, 3 of the 4 kids wanted to go up & had to have an adult go with them. “Go a head, my friend CritterLiz, I’ll find the box down here. Have Fun.” Blonde Frogger heads back down after 3 stories high & Stewie heads down after 6. Tom Grill & CritterLiz made it all the way to the top. Later saw some mighty fine pictures that were taken from the top. I just might have to try to conquer that fear to see the view for myself! All are finally back down safe & sound.

We start to head back down to car. We are hungry! The boys are all ahead of us – they are hungry, too!

Now the magical part. There are people sitting on the ground right in front of the LB 4GC hadn’t logged into. “Maple Leaf Red?” I hear. “Yes, indeed!” I reply. It’s them! How exciting to meet people on the trail!! We introduced ourselves, chatted for a bit & I gave my special “MLR Spring Trail Gift” stamp to all. A special stamp I give only to people I meet on the trail. I am always so excited to share that stamp. It’s not the greatest carve, believe me, but it is always so neat to meet LBer’s on the trail & share something special with them.

The boys had been entertaining themselves by playing “Tarzan” on the hanging vines, (later saw pix of other LBer’s doing the same that day…LOL). After one almost “Tarzanned” into a tree, we headed back down the trail. They are running to the van to fill those bellies that are only full for about 30 minutes at a time. sheeez. Yup, CritterLiz, that’s MY car alarm going off. "Boys, can you wait 1 1/2 minutes? Holy Cow! We are right behind you.

We get to the parking lot & 2 vehicles are just pulling in. Stewie asks if they know “Which way is North?” Heck that worked just 15 minutes ago with people on the trail, why not try again? Sure enough…4 more LBer’s. One of our favorite boxers from CT was among them. So some stamps were handed out, off to the trail they went & we finally managed to tame the hunger beasts in the boys! Though, we did manage to leave a few extra special “critters” on & in the cars for our fellow LBing friends before we left the scene.

We did a few more drive – by’s. And headed on over towards Red Hook to pick up a couple of boxes before we would once again hook up for exchanges & ice cream later that evening. On the way, we saw the most curious vehicle parked in a church parking lot. Funny, there was also a box in the cemetery there as well. CritterLiz headed for the stamp while we spoke to the driver of said vehicle. Turns out he is a “Storm Chaser”! Very neat stuff in that vehicle. The boys were digging it & the weather lesson as well.

We got a few more drive-by’s & headed over for ice cream. Right away, one of the crew of 3 Blind Mice greets me & asks if I am going to have some ice cream. I said I sure hope too! Well, little did I know, there were things being dropped in my backpack during our brief conversation! After much stamping & conversation, we called it a day. I took home 5 cooties (only 1 of which I saw dropped – ohhhh…you girls are GOOD!!!), some awesome stamps carved by 3 Blind Mice, Dr’s B and other carvers in the area as well, one tick & great memories!

And Gosh, it was so nice to meet 4GC as we missed each other at BABE (imagine that!). Even more special to meet her on Memorial Day weekend & thank her in person for all she does for us!

If any one comes to area, I hope you reach out to 3 Blind Mice, you will not be disappointed! Such a nice family.

And we need to get back up there as well, because wouldn’t you know it…we, (CritterLiz & Maple Leaf Red), never did get ice cream!…Do you think they have Maple flavored ice cream? Hmmmmm…