Boxing with Lightnin' Bug & Indigo Vulture

Whilst we were at Hickory Run Gather, I received an invitation to go boxing with Lightnin' Bug & Indigo Vulture in a couple of days as they were going to hunt in my neck of the woods. I said I'd love to if that pesky work thing did not interfere. Lucky, (well that is still to be determined...LOL) for me, the mail was light & I took the day off to go boxing with those PA boys.
We were to meet mid morning at the Visitor Station. I called to see how they were doing. They were about 20 minutes out. I blurted out good, that'll give me plenty of time to find the right bloody park...as of course & no surprise to CritterLiz, my hubby or hers...that I could not find the entrance to the park. I can only imagine the conversation in LB's car after I hung up. A LBer lost before we even get into the woods. Oh boy.
Did get to park entrance & they pulled in not 10 minutes later. Perfect timing. Indigo Vulture went to put on hiking boots & immediately discovered a cootie...not from me, my friend...hahaha.
Off we go, we arent even 3 minutes into our hike, just starting to get to know each other a little better & BAM!!! Twigs are breaking heavily in the short distance. We spot a Bear. Not the big black mommy one, either. Nope, we were watching the big black mommy one's BABY! We watched him scrounge around & move right along. Dont think baby even noticed us. We, on the hand, were very well aware Mommy wasnt probably too far away. We couldn't spot her, but I think we all heightened our senses to the next notch for quite awhile. We get to first box & that is where I discovered IV likes fresh blueberries. I like them, too, but prefer them to be sweet. Not the case with IV as I discovered later. Stamp in & move along to next few boxes.
We ate lunch walking along the trail, being especially careful not to eat while stamping in or anywhere near the planted boxes. OK - here comes the climb. We climbed & climbed & climbed. When I know I have a GOOD, HARD climb a head of me, I look, but once for the top & if can't be seen, never look again til I am at the top. I think that was Whale Head Rock we were getting to at that time. Found box & moved on towards next one.
Now here is where we might have been able to shave a little time off our hike. We pass thru Blueberry bushes & sure enough Indigo Vulture is scrappin' for berries. Get to the other side of bushes & all of a sudden, "We may have missed a box", says IV. Back thru the berry bushes we go & yup, that Vulture is grabbin' more berries. So we back & forth we go a few more times, meanwhile each time we pass those berry bushes...well, Do I really have to say it again? Yes, IV still snacking & grabbin'. IV finally realized we had not gone far enough & did had not missed the box...but I think that was only after his stomach was full of berries. BTW, IV - if your bowel movements are a pretty blue & purplish color today...there really is no need to call the DOCTOR..it is normal for anyone who ate as many berries as you did!!! LOL. God love ya!
We finally did get all the boxes on that side of the mountain. Yup, there are more on the other side & probably more berry bushes as well for our friend IV. That will be a hike for another day, as LB as time constraints...something about a chili cook off at Scout camp. Now can I tell you, that is nowhere where Maple Leaf Red would want to be...boy scouts, dads, & chili...a deadly combination if there ever was. Ohhh... the tunes that must have heard around the campfire that evening!
The last box we go for is in the area is called The Tourne. Stupid me did not read clues & did not realize this was a heavy elevation climb. Left my walking stick in the car. We are part way up & FINALLY, Indigo Vulture says something about sweat pouring out of every single pore in his body. What the heck? LB & myself have been drenched for hours & both of us looking mighty fine...*nodding*. You knowI'm kidding, right?! Not only did I lose all the beer I drank the night before, but probably all that I had consumed over the weekend!
As far as pictures from our time together. You see the one at the top? That's the only one I had time to take. And that is not even from Pyramid Mountain. Took that at a box we got on the way to Tourne.
Honestly, we all had a great time together & so hope to do it again real soon!! But we'd better go soon or the Blueberries will be gone!!