Saddle Tor

Hi, all!
Went to Saddle Tor (near Haytor) yesterday - just wanted a walk with, hopefully, some easy finds Found quite a few boxes, mainly not in the Spring 2007 catalogue. It appears, though, that a stamp thief has found most of the boxes that we found - very angry to find stamps missing, boxes left in the open, empty boxes strewn around, parts of notepads from boxes blowing in the wind.

Two of Exeter Bog Hoppers boxes found:
1. I'm Staying Here - stamp missing, book damaged beyond recognition, box broken.
2. Baby It's Cold Outside - stamp missing, box in the open.

We cleared up where we could, hid boxes that were left out.

Why are people so callous and go out of their way to spoil others enjoyment!! We even found a threatening note in a box belonging to a 4-year old girl!

Disgustedly,
Generation Gap

That is absolutely disgusting!!!

Not wanting to sound morbid - but what did the threatening note say?


I find this sort of behavior abhorrant and if I were to meet the person responsible.... (delibrately left hanging)

I agree with Tina and Nik - that sort of thing is totally unacceptable, and on a lovely place like Dartmoor too - you don't really expect it - although perhaps you should in this day and age.

Generation Gap wrote:Went to Saddle Tor

Hi Generation Gap!

Sorry to hear of your experience yesterday, but I can quite imagine your disgust.

We went to Saddle Tor on our very first letterboxing trip, and found it exactly as you described, boxes missing, boxes damaged, stamps missing, books waterlogged, and worst of all, one letterbox that someone had obviously used as a toilet - absolutely unbelievable!


As you say, it only needs a few to spoil it for the many. Hope you have a much better experience next time!

All the best

James

I suspect this has something to do with the bunch from Torquay - the ones who destroyed Hound tor a few years back... it is a pity that this bunch are such a saddo lot - the only consolation is if their brains were dynamite they wouldn't have enough explosive between them to light a match!

Their method is systematic and there really isn't much you can do about it. Apparantly they come out at the weekends and do most of the damage under the cover of darkness. They have this pathetic idea to ruin Datmoor for all and sundry and this also means spoiling it for the normal tourist.
The really sad thing about it all is that we as the normal people dont have a thing we can do about it - they have to be caught in the act ... by the authorities... and I also suspect that they are also reading this board because we are also going on about how well covered an area is in boxes and possibly leading them to easy pickings



Nik - KOTM
That is my theory about what is happening, because I think the destruction is far too much for just one person to create

I know it's terrible what goes on. I have found many a box like the one's mentioned above where nobody cares in the slightest and does their best to destroy this fantastic hobby.

Jo, well done on achieving 100 posts!!!!

Dizzy

Nik - KOTM wrote: and I also suspect that they are also reading this board because we are also going on about how well covered an area is in boxes and possibly leading them to easy pickings

Lets stop doing it then lets PM people with the info

Good idea.

What saddens me though, is that, for example a few weeks ago over at Belstone, I found a couple of boxes that some experienced boxers had returned to holes, well hidden, but they had not put the lids on properly - just careless.

Tina

Out around Feather Tor, Heckwood and Pew Tor last weekend we found quite a few empty boxes missing stamps and that some boxes had been pinched we would have probably made our 100 if we hadn't found so many empty ones - the experienced letterboxer we met there thought the tourists had pinched them as it is quite a popular area - if only it was just a mistake - I don't think so with some of the damage described!!!

The other thing that irritates me is religious nuts who put their garbage into other people's boxes.

I have found a few of them in my time - they tend to be mush by the time I get to them - all the damp!!!

cranmere wrote:The other thing that irritates me is religious nuts who put their garbage into other people's boxes.

That seems to be more regular lately and wherever you happen to box.

i have only found the religious stuff at saddle tor??

wires wrote:i have only found the religious stuff at saddle tor??

Come to think of it I've found most of it in places like Pu Tor and Saddle Tor. Perhaps they don't like walking too far