First Kiss, First Stamp LbNA #22799 (ARCHIVED)

Bring your own inkpad & compass!

David & I planted this box on our last day in CT, two days after we graduated from University of New Haven. We shared many great experiences at this college, and will never forget it. The box is a very short distance from the parking lot. Please be aware that from September to May students are living in Bethel Hall. Please be discrete and rehide the box well. (Hint: College students sleep in late on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!)

Park in the lot of an old IHOP (hint: you can tell by the blue roof)*We have been informed the IHOP building was torn down but the parking lot and pizzeria are still there* that sits in the “V” of Boston Post Road & Campbell Avenue in West Haven, CT. The lot is behind the Bethel Hall Dorm of University of New Haven where David & I first met. It is where we both lived our freshman year of college (2002-2003). The lot is across from Bella Villa Pizzeria & Restaurant (where we used to get our Foxon Park soda!). From the parking lot stand facing the pizzeria and exit to the sidewalk. Go right towards Bethel Hall and UNH for several yards until you see a short set of stairs to your right. They lead to a paved walkway that goes along Bethel Hall. The walkway’s metal handrail has a gap in it on its right side a little way up the hill. If you look to your left, the 2nd window on the lowest floor is the window to Dave’s old dorm room where we first fell head over heels and shared our first kiss. After staring at “our” window turn and walk through the gap. Walk 20 steps on 310° and stop at the base of a tree with a zig-zag trunk. Cross a stream (sometimes a dry bed) and look for a boulder that is being “kissed” by the base of a young tree (possibly a beech?) Stand on that boulder and see a maple at 280° that makes a cave with its roots. In the depths of this cave lies our first stamp, in our first letterbox, outside the window of the room where we shared our first kiss. Enjoy, and please please please write to us to tell us how our box is doing, and if our clues were accurate! Please log your find on Atlasquest and LBNA!

UPDATE: HoundDog5 has updated us on our clues and let us know some of our landmarks no longer exist. We will be up soon to rewrite the clues, but until then.. here is HoundDog5's suggestion for finding our box:

"There is no longer a gap in the railing. So....it should read: At the end of the railing turn right and walk 22 steps down paved trail. When you see 3 large stones set in the dirt on the right, go 20 steps to the left, across dry stream bed to a large rock. Stop here and look to the right at the bolder kissing a tree. Then look left at 2 trees making a "V". Walk 6 steps to the tree and find the cave at the bottom of the tree. The box is set in the cave and covered with a rock."

Thank you HoundDog!


*update: David & Sara exchanged vows on September 14th 2008.. so we have gone from First Kiss to happily married :)*