Friday, November 09, 2007

Rise of the Tortuga

My long lost signature stamp still has not resurfaced, despite rumors to the contrary. Perhaps someday it will, but until then, I needed something new. My original turtle stamp was supposed to last for 100 finds, then I was going to replace it with another signature stamp. Five years later, I was still using that stamp old turtle. Oh, it was upgraded--with boots and everything! But it was old and I wanted something new and fresh for a long time. Something with the words "Green Tortuga" already carved on it so I'd no longer have to write it in by hand anymore.

It's been weeks in the making, searching for that perfect image that captures my essence. And at long last, it is time to unveil my new signature stamp!

For those of you who often ask, is it okay to change your signature stamp once you've started using it? If I'm any example, the answer is YES! Don't feel stuck with the same stamp, find after find, month after month. Feel free to shake things up a bit and carve a new one. Perhaps a small stamp for those logbooks that don't have room for large ones. Perhaps seasonal stamps. Perhaps different signature stamps for different parts of the country. There's no reason you can't have a whole pocketful of signature stamps.

That said, I'm terribly lazy. I probably won't end up replacing this one unless it becomes lost or damaged. And when the time does come to replace it, I'm sure I'll create another completely new stamp just to shake things up again. =)

Carpe diem!

12 comments:

Lisa said...

man oh man! that's utterly charming!

Anonymous said...

GORGEOUS! Can't wait to see it in a logbook near us. :)

Team Springamajack

Anonymous said...

hey, i too would like an exchange with that stamp. i was trying to find this page.......as i can't get to the AQ tonight, morning, depending on the frame of mind...and came upon another of your pages that listed all the states that you have planted in and saw a box for springer mountain and almost cried as i was there this summer then noticed that it has been retired for a long time....not sure what is worse missing it all together or missing it because i didn't know it was there. i found my first box this summer in savannah, days before climbing to the summit of springer mountain......did log in at the box at the top.....didn't take my stamp, just a written log.

condo

Anonymous said...

LOVE IT!!!! bravo

LW

Anonymous said...

I remember the first signature stamp I saw of you in a logbook somewhere in Oregon, before you were the Green Tortuga. It was a spider hanging from a web. Was that your first sig stamp?

Ryan said...

The "Purple Spider" stamp was actually my second signature stamp, which I used for a few months. The first dozen or so boxes I found I stamped in with a rather large carving of Mount Hood. When I realized I needed something smaller for small logbooks (and more room to write in normal sized logbooks), I used the spider stamp. After my 100th find, I retired it and replaced it with that well-known turtle stamp that has been with me ever since.

Jimmy said...

I'd like to see that stamp in one of my boxes. Any plans to hike the Quachita Trail?

Shiloh

Anonymous said...

Green Tortuga hits the trails!
Very appropriate and very cool...
Your old sig stamp will have a lovely time living out it's years in Maine.
Many folks go there to retire :-)

Orion***

Anonymous said...

I'm just glad you'll have a sig stamp for the Fall Bounty Event!!
~C

Anonymous said...

Love your new stamp! Suits you to a "T". Hope the lost will still be found, always nice to keep on hand for a change now and then, and to look back on. I have carved a new one any time I find a special postal that my siggy can don a new hat to match the theme. Its fun and surprising how many times it can be used again in a clever tie in. Clever to me anyway. Okie Dog

Ryan said...

Funny you should mention the Fall Bounty Event. That's the push that finally got me to carve the new signature stamp. I knew I needed something for it! =)

Anonymous said...

You've totally captured the essence of you in the new stamp. One word that comes to mind, AWESOME!