Placed April 28, 2001, at Bull Run Regional Park in Centerville, VA
www.nvrpa.org/bullrunpark.html

With an hour to wait before the start of a soccer game at Bull Run
Park, I introduced myself to the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail. This 17.5
mile trail, along the Occoquan Reservoir, rises over steep wooded
hillsides, winds through deep ravines and crosses many streams. The
first two miles in was an easy walk, with many spots to stop and
enjoy the scenery and sounds of the lively streams and the creaking
trees! A favorite book of my daughter Riana when she was little was
the Berenstain Bears Spooky Old Tree. These woods are full
of "spooky old trees," one more interesting than the one before.
Some are so tall and full of unusual growths, and unless my
imagination was playing tricks on me, do make spooky, creaking sounds.

30 minutes in, with the same amount of time to hike back out in time
for the game, did not offer many possibilities to find a good spot
for the HikeinVA Leterbox. The ground and trees, and stumps were
crawling with poison ivy. Each spot which looked good was
inaccessible due to that nasty plant! I was, however, determined to
leave the first of what I hoped to be many more along this lovely
trail. It'll have to wait until the ivy's not so prolific.

With a little caution, this box can be retrieved without fear of
breaking out in itchy bumps.

I placed it on my way back out in a tree trunk which is split in the
front forming an upside-down "V". Heading back to my starting point,
having walked over 6 wooden stepping boards set into the trail, I
spied a vine-less trunk on the left-hand side, not far off the
trail. You'll find the HikeinVA Letterbox resting in the "V" split
trunk, kept in place by two heavy limbs.

Including Bull Run Regional Park, there are four additional access
points along this 17.5 mile trail, which looks well worth additional
exploration. If there are any Northern Virginia hikers/boxers out
there willing to spot cars with me to hike the trail, drop me a note
off list.

Kathy (Ladybug)