The Guida Farm Conservation Area

Middletown, Connecticut

Two letterboxes were placed by the Gal Pals on April 12, 2002 at the Guida Farm Conservation Area in Middletown, Connecticut. It is a lovely property that reminds us of the importance that agriculture and farming have played in the State. The open pastures and small contained fields will take many of you back to the day when you were young and ran freely through lands such as these. Thanks to the Guida Family and the City of Middletown, you may do so once again.

Directions: From Middletown travel south on RT 17 toward Durham.

(where there are other wonderful letterboxes hidden) Go past the hub of city life (MacDonalds and Dennys) and continue south past Monte Green Restaurant on your left and then Dooley Pond below you on your left. Take the next road on your left, which is Round Hill Road. Go past the Convent on your right and less than a mile on your right is parking for Guida Farm preserve.

The Hike: EASY- 1 mile in and out.

As you enter the area, take the south trail (right side) into the woods. Walk past the Duck Pond (remember the pond for future reference) off on your right. Stay to the right on the main wider trail. The trail goes past open fields on the right and a brushy median on the left side. Come up to a small rectangular field with a large cedar tree in the upper corner at 150 degrees. Take the small trail across from you at 120 degrees. (It is a cut through to the orange trail) Follow the orange trail

through the brush (great birding in there) and into more wooded area. Sometimes the blazes are faded so have a keen eye. Stay on the orange trail to where it forks around a loop. One trail goes off at 210 degrees and the other end of the loop is at 150 degrees. STOP! TURN AROUND! Go back 10 paces (20 steps) to the twin tree on your left. There you will find the Butterfly Letterbox under a trap door. It is out in the open so please be careful when stamping in. (Here is a great opportunity to sharpen up your acting skills if a non-boxer does come by. Become an instant birder by merely looking upit fools em everytime) This is a terrific area for woodpeckers. We have seen Piliated, Downy, Red-bellied, and Hairy.

But I digress Watson

You may wish to actually hike the loop, which is more wonderful exercise, or retrace your tracks along the orange trail. Do not, however, take the

small cut through back but rather stay on the orange trail until you come to the white triangle trail which bears off to the right. Follow up the white trail past a stone wall on your right. At the red dot and white blaze, bear left at 270 degrees and downhill to the open field. It is not blazed so stay on the right side horse path. You will recognize this field as you came in this wayBut dont leave yet.

When you get back at the Duck Pond (we sure hope it doesnt dry up in the summer but you can still figure where it should have beenwe hope :) Take the small trail on your right up through a cedar and birch grove. The trail winds around and out past a rock outcroping on your right. At the fork in the trail, bear left at 330 degrees and go 30 paces ( 60 steps) up the left trail . The Guida Farm Letterbox is hidden at the base of the old oak tree in the stonewall. This is also out in an exposed area so please be careful when stamping in. When finished, you must try to find your own way back to the carIll bet the farm you can !!!!! Hope you enjoyed the hike.

Ps. Oma grew up on a farm such as this during the 1920s in West Simsbury, Connecticut. Look for her Messengers in the form of hawks and Turkey Vultures. Her smaller feathered Friends are Chickadees, Bluebirds, and Cardinals. She loved all birds. They have never failed to come to us bringing good news. Blessings!