Catalogue

I'm sorry if I'm repeating a previous question here

I am new to letterboxing - my siblings and I have found several boxes just by looking, but are keen to get our hands on a catalogue of clues. However, all the information I have found on the web about where to get one, what the price is, and whether we can get one before we find 100 boxes or not is conflicting. I wrote to somebody called Tony Moore, but have had no reply.

My little brother is really keen, (though a liablility with an inkpad), and keeps nagging me, so I thougt maybe somebody could help me.

Thanks

Inkyfingers welcome to the web site do not be afraid to ask questions on here loads of helpful people.

If you read the postings below in "New to letterboxing" that should point you in the right direction.

Yes you do have to find 100 boxes before you can buy the catalogue.

some of the regulars on here will point you in the right direction as to areas to box on the moor that are well populated with boxes and ideal for beginners

edit...

Also check out

http://www.letterboxingondartmoor.co.uk

for the official line

Thanks for your help!
I have two more questions

1 - is there any place that is within about 5 miles of a decent bus route where we can letterbox? At the moment we are relying on the goodwill of our dad in dumping us on dartmoor at the weekend, but as it is the holidays we could go on weekdays if we could take the bus.

2- can we count stamps from boxes which are not registered towards the 100? because some that we found were clearly put out by children and probably not official.

Happy letterboxing to you all!
Inkyfingers

1 As there is a bus route between Tavistock and Princetown and Princetown and Yelverton. Bovey Tracey to Widecombe in the Moor
then I think the answer will be yes. It depends where you are travelling from.

2 Catch 22. As you do not have the catalogue you can not check if a box you find is registered, even then some registered boxes do not have there registered numbers in them to enable you to note this down, so the obvious answer would be yes.

There may those that disagree with this but how do you start finding 100 registered boxes without the clues? It goes back to the 70s-80s when there where less boxes on the moor and they where harder to find. We have only being boxing for 7 years, so pre 2000, you will have to ask one of the older boxers on here. mentioning no names

Roughly 25% of the boxes you find are unregistered.

We tend to plan our walks around registered boxes and pick up a few unregistered ones on the way.

I will have a look through the postings on here to see who has taken over from Godfrey to see how they are working it now.

found it from end of an era....

Stephanie and Roger Paul, Lower Burrows, Shilstone Lane, Throwleigh, Okehampton. EX20 2HX. Tel. No. – 01647 231080. Please make any cheques payable for badges to S.Paul.

Give them a bell and explain your new etc

Thanks number 70.

you will have to ask one of the older boxers on here. mentioning no names

... hmmmm...

Hi Inky fingers... Welcome to the site... feel free to ask as many questions as you like someone on here will endeavour to answer them.

Your question about the catalogue - in the true spirit of the letterboxer you are supposed to get your first hundred boxes by trial and error, the idea behind this was for you to know you wanted to do this hobby and to stop box thieves! But nowadays you only need to get in contact with the required authorities to get a book - though I would recommend the collect your 100 first.

As for buses - there is a two hour service that most of the main routes on a Sunday... I know about having ones dad take you out on the moor bit - I didn't realise it until one day from Plymouth he was driving over 100 miles so we could find a couple of boxes!

In answer to your question about can we count any stamp?

Well... there used to be strict guidelines... only stamps ini the catalogue counted to the final total, this was when I had recently passed 1000 boxes and I overheard a big arguement about totals of boxes someone had collected - listed and the rest of it - and it was said "Sod it - they all count! WOM boxes and the like" That meant my total nearly doubled in a few seconds! As long as you have a record of them - and if you try to cheat - you only cheat yourself - cos no one else would care!
But I would watch and see what is going on as there might be a few changes to the etiquette for boxing - new captain at the helm - new rules etc.... Ting to do is - watch this space... as soon as we know - you will!


A brief nutshell about the history of boxing Tony Moore and Godfrey Swinscow set up the 100 club back in the 70's with so many people going out on the moor and putting out a series of WOM boxes it needed some sort of "control". The letterboxers used to meet at Hexworthy on midsummers day but due tot he the constraints of the place it was moved to the POSC Princetown twice a year (clock changing days), sadly when the prison was down graded the POSC was also closed - we recently moved to Lee Mill and this is where the meets are currently held (though there are plans to move it back to Princetown. With Godfrey and Tony officially retiring from the controls of the 100 letterboxing club this year - it will be the end of an era. Life has to move on!

Anyway - get out and enjoy your boxing, happy hunting

Cheers Nic I knew someone would fill the gaps in.

One thing we have not discussed is safety. I was concerned by Inkfingers comment about little brother and his Dad dropping him off that there was no adult in the group. It is bad (dangerous) enough for the adults on the moor but for the younger ones all I will say is dont go alone.

Dont forget Map Compas and whistle. Mobile phone batteries drain and there are dead spots without mobile coverage, try getting mobile reception at Widecombe in the moor.

There is a good compass tutorial on the site that Dizzy has done.

the safety tips are in the notices section.
However it never hurts to briefly run over them again - even if it is boring to some of the old hands!

Always let someone know where you are going - what area etc... so if you get lost /hurt they will know where to look for you - always plan your route before you go rule of thumb is 1 kilometer = 15 mins of travel time and add 2 minutes per contour line climbed.
Wear sensible footwear and 2 pairs of socks - do not put man made fibres against the skin - otherwise blisters will ensue! Carry spare clothes if you are out for a long time and spare socks anyway.
Carry something especially on a cold day where you will have means of having something hot to drink/eat. (Personally I have homemade potato and leek soup in a flask) (recipe available if you want it!)

Compass map waterproofs, and a first aid kit and of course your letterboxing gear.
If you can move after packing that lot...

Drink plenty of fluids as you go even in winter dehydration is the biggest killer after the cold - you can drink from any leat normally (though do listen out for the crytospyridium reports) but drop your ruck sack by the stream and proceed 100 yards up and down and make sure nothing dead is in the water - if you find something go upstream 200 yards.

Learn to recognise the hazards - bogs are bright green in a drought dont be afraid to retrace your steps even if your target is only a few metres ahead, a box is not worth your life!

Thank you so much everybody. Don't worry, we're quite safe and sensible on the moors. I'm 20 and my sisters are in their late teens - my little bro was just a bit of an afterthought

As for the catalogue, my writing off did eventually yield fruit (postal strike, apparently), but I'm now a bit loath to use it considering its not the done thing. Maybe I'll just look at it for ideas of letterbox rich areas... it's just so hard not to. The good thing is some of the ones we already have are definitely listed!

My boyfriend and I are going for a more serious, no children walk on thursday, so I'm hoping to both make a convert and find lots of boxes...

Anyway, it's worth letting everybody know that the postal address on the official website does still work, whoever is now running it

Inkyfingers

NUMBER 70 wrote:One thing we have not discussed is safety. I was concerned by Inkfingers comment about little brother and his Dad dropping him off that there was no adult in the group. It is bad (dangerous) enough for the adults on the moor but for the younger ones all I will say is dont go alone.

I'd say that that depends on the individual. I frequently walk alone out of choice and accept the risks. I was walking alone on the Moor from around 12 years old but my Dad insisted that I show him that I could navigate in poor conditions before he allowed me to go. I've encountered adults on the Moor who clearly don't have a clue and I know kids who are responsible and knowledgeable. Our society has become terribly risk-averse, if we all obsessed about safety we would never get out of bed.