Perfect Circle Letterboxing Guild
Boxes #22-24: Where? Oh Where?
Location: Somewhere in New Jersey
Placed: 03/10/2002
Difficulty: 3/5 stars; 1 1/2 hours of easy hiking.
Clue page: http://www.pcdx.com/pclg/clue22.htm

We always headed out on our hikes in the early mornings and my Dad told me =

stories about the place we were going to visit. My favorite story happens t=
o be
about the place we're going to today. He told me how very long ago this
beautiful high place was first bought from the Lenni-Lenape and then grante=
d
to settlers and how the Indian Princess Wetumka prevented its settlers from=

being massacred because she was in love with one of them.

Once we were out of that terrible traffic, we headed to the northern end of=
the
big water following the way that Tracy led and stopped our car there to beg=
in
our journey.

Today, our journey begins as soon as I jump out of the car. I can't wait to=
get
going, but I'll try to be patient while you read up on some Dredging and th=
en
some Watershed facts. Now I'm anxious. Please take the trail at 336 degrees=

and let's get started.

You're looking confused, so I'll give you this one. After that, you're on y=
our
own. I'll tell the story-you follow along. Cross over that bridge and we'll=

continue.

It was quite wet the last time we were here and there were horseshoe prints=

in the mud. Horses are big and big animals scare me. Lucky for me, we came =
to
a path that took us in reverse and away from the horses. Before we turned, =
Dad
stopped. He always stops at the red. Then, he made a call on his cell phone=
. Red
is my favorite color, by the way.

We walked down this path. I lost count of how many paces I took, but Dad sa=
id
it was 75 as we came to the second step. It was here, when I looked away at=

196 degrees, I saw a most horrifying sightthe Loch Ness Monster. Dad stood=

there laughing at me and told me it was just a tree trunk in the water.

I kept looking at that monster and saw that Dad was right. The trees here s=
ure
took on confusing shapes. "Then," I thought, "if that's not the Loch Ness
Monster, that other one over there to the West is not a Big Daddy holding h=
is
little baby either." Dad held me and called me his little sprout. Still lau=
ghing,
he reminded me that even the biggest, roughest, and towering man's heart
could be found whenever he held a baby in his arms, even if his heart was
hidden under a pile of rocks.

Once Dad's heart was found and I was calm and most of all, the horses had
passed; we went back up to where we turned away from the horses and
continued on our way. I guess by now I should introduce myself. My name
is...W....

Sorry, I got sidetracked. We came to a Y and had to decide which way to go.=

Being as willful as I am, I wanted to run up the hill, but Dad would not le=
t me.
It was a tug-of-war, but he won this time and we headed over the big water.=

Now, where was I? Oh yes, my name...

Another intersection. Oh boy. Decisions, decisions. The drainage ditch look=
ed
like a fun place, but Dad wouldn't let me go in it. Instead, we went over i=
t and
our decision was made.

We continued on our way and the Blazen Foxes assured us we were on the righ=
t
track. We headed south 25 paces before what was left of a split rail fence.=


We followed this winding path for a while. I jumped over logs and Dad went =

around them. We separated a few times, but we joined up again and continued=

side by side. When it seemed we could not go any further, Dad found a way t=
o
cross the creek. A good wide tree trunk was our bridge.

They say a rolling stone gathers no moss and from the looks of this group t=
hey
had not rolled in a very long time. Three towering sentinels stood vigil ov=
er
them as they slumbered. A rest seemed in order for us too. So, I settled my=
self
in a little nook and decided to tell you my name.

We continued South toward a fence that I think penned in those big, mean
horses. Dad said he would carry me, but I wanted to walk. Together we went =
up
to the fence and onto a path that led to an open field and then onto a dark=
gray
gravel road. That was much better; at least it was not wet and muddy. I hat=
e
getting my feet wet and should have let him carry me.

We could have gone in either direction and we looked to each other for
guidance. Dad flipped a coin and I called heads. Secretly, I was hoping we =

would go in any direction that would get us away from that fence and the
horses. Luckily, I won. And we headed North West.

We continued, unsure of where we were, but came upon a familiar sight. "Loo=
k"
He said. "That's where we parked." That meant nothing to me since I was on =
a
mission and had one last place to go. One road led to the car and two roads=

would have taken us back to where the horses were. So, I did the only thing=
I
could to complete my missionI headed south again and Dad tagged along.

The end of my journey was near and I could see the long day coming to an en=
d.
The road was climbing slightly and I was I very tired. My gaze was to the
ground and I saw a tree to the East obviously agreeing with me and yawning.=
I
had to investigate and it looked like a good place to curl up in. While I s=
niffed
around it, something suddenly caught my attention. Off I went at 240 degree=
s.
You'd think that with all these trees any dog would be in her glory, but li=
ke I
told you red was my favorite color.