Conch Republic Series LbNA #7458 (ARCHIVED)

Once upon a time (November 22, 2001), a man named Tom and a woman named Audrey planted a series of 4 letterboxes in the Florida Keys. They called them the Conch Republic series, and the four stamps in these boxes fitted together to form one image. Alas, however, as time went by, some of the boxes’ stamps disappeared, and another box was pulled by park personnel and lost to letterboxers.

Sadly, this series was consigned to the letterboxing basement, and the boxes, or what was left of them, languished, with few visitors.

One day, however, two other South Florida boxers came along and said, “This is a good series. Let’s try to revive it!” Seamaiden and DebBee looked at each other (virtually speaking, since they’d never actually laid eyes on each other) and decided to recarve the stamps and revitalize the series.

The new stamps have been placed in the three boxes which remained from the original series, and the fourth box has been replaced and planted in a new location (Seamaiden gets full credit for this hide.), so here are Tom’s original guidelines and clues for the series, updated only slightly:

We've placed four stamps down in the Florida Keys. You will need to locate all four, and place them correctly to get the final "stamp." On the back of each stamp is a diagram showing where it goes in the quadrant. The diagram shows where it goes "as it is being stamped". Inside the cover of each box is a copy of the entire image, with the section that’s in that box shaded in.

It took us two long days to locate and plant the boxes. I suppose they could be located and completed in one day, but why not make it a long weekend and enjoy the Keys? I decided to keep the directions straightforward rather than cryptic. You're going to have enough to do, as it is. There are a couple of criteria you will need to know about to pull this off successfully.

1st- The final image measures approximately 5 3/4” wide by 3 1/4” high, so be sure you have paper large enough. Bring extra paper!! Through trial and error we discovered that every application of ink to the stamp is not consistent. Normally, this never seemed to matter in our searches. For this to be successful, however, you will need to get good (consistent) at this. After applying ink to the stamp hold it up to the light to reflect off of the surface to insure that it is evenly "wet" with ink. Make a test stamp or two on that extra paper to get a good image before stamping your "final" piece. Believe me here - after traveling the length of the Keys for two days, getting three good stamps and then finding that the fourth was a little light on ink will be terribly deflating. I've NEVER been able to redo a stamp on top of itself. Probably a good idea to attempt two or more "final pieces" to insure at least one good "keeper."

2nd - The stamps are "numbered" 1 thru 4, but that only refers to their position in the quadrant and not their placement along the islands. I did place them so that no two stamps will get applied diagonally, but rather will abut each other to help keep the final piece as "square" as possible.

3rd - Please take time and read the "Leave No Trace Principles" posted on the Letterboxing website. I carry a copy of this in my letterboxing backpack. Remember to be sneaky.

Stamp #3 (confirmed MISSING) was at the John Pennecamp Coral Reef Park on Key Largo
at mile marker 102.5. Admission to the park is based on the number of people. Get a map and locate the Wild Tamarind Trail. Take the trail until you find the White Stopper tree sign. This one is also kind of out in the open so watch out for other people. The box is in a large hollow coral rock (about 2'x3') just to the left of the sign, about 2' away. I plugged the opening with another rock that "fits" pretty well and then placed another rock outside of that one. Remove the rocks but remember exactly how they came out because it only fits one way into the opening. After replacing, stand back and see if the box is visible. If it is still visible, reposition the box and/or the rock to block any prying eyes.

Stamp #1 (MISSING, or at least inaccessible due to Hurricane Wilma)- is located in the Upper Keys at the Wildbird Care Center on Key Largo at mile marker 93.6. This is on the Gulf side of the road. There’s no admission charge, but they do request a $5.00 per car donation on the honor system. Take the boardwalk to the place where the boardwalk splits and you can see the water straight ahead. There is a nice blind set up at the end of the boardwalk when you go to the left, but you have to go to the right to find the box. Go to the end of that boardwalk and continue onto the dirt trail. It'll veer to the right and then it splits into two roads. Right in the "V" formed by the split is a multi-trunked buttonwood tree . I moved a couple of limestone rocks over to the base of the tree at the rear. You'll find the box under them. Although this is a ways from the center, you are kind of out in the open here, so watch out for other people coming and going along the roads while you are removing and replacing the box.
***There’s no pen in this box, so be sure you bring your own!***

Stamp #4 (Last verified: 12-08-07) is located on Long Key at mile marker 67.7. The Layton Nature Trail is reached via the overseas highway (U.S.1) on the bay side (gulf side) of the road. No entrance fee. If you are heading southbound, keep an eye out for Layton City Hall on your left and a small marina/jetski rental on your right. About four telephone poles after the marina is a small sign obscured by foliage marking the entrance to the trail. Park on the side of the road. If you are heading northbound, keep an eye out for the sign Layton City Limits. Just north of this sign is the entrance to the Layton Trail. Park on the side of the road.
Follow the trail straight ahead and all the way down to the "peek of blue". Turn on to the path leading you towards the setting sun. This portion of the trail will guide you along the edge of the bay. Carry on southward to a bend curving east and a mound of rocks are in front of your feet. Stop and take a reading of 180 degrees. The Box can be found inside a smaller cache of coral rock set off of the main trail. After stamping in, please ensure the box is completely covered and hidden from every angle of view.

Stamp #2 (This box may be MISSING. I haven't been able to get down to the Keys to check and/or replant it.) is located at Fort Zachery Taylor State Park Get a street map of Key West (they're everywhere) and locate the park at the southern(western) end of the island. You enter the park through the entrance to the Truman Annex off of Southard Street. Although there are guard shacks, it's unrestricted. Follow signs into the Park and park in the Beach Parking area. Lots to see and do here. A great beach and the Fort itself. At the end of the parking lot walk straight out towards the ocean and you will see a huge piece of driftwood (drift tree) on the shore. Check out the boat traffic. At the tree turn right and follow a bike/walk path a little ways to where it makes a jog to the right. There are large granite blocks that on your right that are bordering the path that continue on straight after the jog in the path. Follow these blocks. You'll see that most of them are rectangular but that two of them are more like jagged rocks. At the base of the 2nd "rock" I hauled up a couple of smaller rocks and put them at the base to hide the box you're looking for. This "rock" is about the 12th block after the jog in the path. This is a good distance from the Fort, but you are still out in a wide open area so remember all of the precautions we need to take as successful letterboxers - be sneaky. After getting your stamp and replacing the box, step back 5' or 10' and see if it looks undisturbed and natural. Make corrections as necessary.