Since it now seems that most folks prefer to either put
hitcher-related info here on-line or delete it, I think I'll take a
chance on posting this sweet little hitcher story for those
interested. Thanks again to Kiirja for organizing that super MA
Gathering, and special thanks to Elizabeth!


This past Saturday afternoon, while still trying to recover from
the flu and a few toxic attitudes, Pete and I were taking a gentle
stroll in Hurd State Park,CT, to look for Karen Thomsen's wonderful
new boxes. High above the Connecticut River we sat, communing with
nature and contemplating upon life's vagaries, when suddenly out of
nowhere, above the rock cliff in front of us appeared a lovely smiling
face seemingly surrounded by a glowing golden halo, saying, "Wanda,
how are you?" Caught off guard, I started babbling something
incoherent about not feeling so well, and then realized that the
golden haired apparition before me was none other than Elizabeth
Tripp, known to letterboxing circles as Bikerbabie (and for her
Thoreau quote "I went to the woods to live deliberately..."}
"These things take time to get over," she said, and added that she was
out doing some off-trail geocaching with a friend and had just
stumbled upon the hitcher Churchill sitting out alone in the middle of
the forest! "Here," she said, "you take it to the MA Gathering
tomorrow , and say 'hi' to Alan for me."

So, that's just what we did! Several folks were glad to share in the
fun of stamping in, including some for whom it was their very first
hitcher! And now Churchill sits secretly back in the woods with a new
host box friend, patiently awaiting his next visitors. But for us, he
will always be EXTRA special, not only for the incredible and gracious
way he appeared out of nowhere - like a gift from heaven- but also
because that just happened to be the very box that gave us PFX 1000!
Thanks again, Elizabeth, for being such an angel!

Wanda













CT