We placed our first letterbox today. The Mountain Laurel was in bloom and
it was like walking through a beautiful enchanted fairy forest. Be sure to
bring the bug spray those are not fairies buzzing around you.

The clues are listed below and can also be located at
http://members.telocity.com/~wzuidema/rednewt.html.

Enjoy!

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Red Newt Letterbox
Paxton, Massachusetts
Planted June 28th 2002
clue difficulty: easy
terrain: well marked path, muddy in places
distance: .45 miles from trailhead

The letterbox is located at Southwick Pond which straddles the
Paxton/Leicesster town line. From Worcester take Pleasant Street (Rte. 122)
west to Wallbridge Road in Paxton. Turn left onto Walbridge and drive to the
end of the road where you will find a small parking area.


Southwick Pond is part of the Greater Worcester Land Trust Tetasset Hills
Trail system. The parcel is 112 acres of beautiful woodlands with a loop
trail that is approximately 1 - 1 1/2 miles long. The trail leads to two
farming ponds connected by a dike. The area is home to migrating swallows,
whitetail deer, beaver, turtles, woodpeckers and lots of bright orange
newts. Watch your step! We have seen lots of newts on the trail. At the end
of June the Mountain Laurel is in bloom and you find yourself in an
enchanted forest surrounded by white blossoms.


Enter the trail at the sign. Follow the trail blazed with white markers and
blue triangles southward until you come to a log and plank boardwalk over a
small stream. Continue along the trail for another 1/10 of a mile noticing
the rock walls to your left. When you come to the corner intersection of two
rock walls there will be a break in the wall 30 paces ahead and another
trail heading east. Head through the break in the wall and follow this trail
east. There will be a rock wall on your left. As you walk watch for breaks
in the rock wall. At the second break leave the path and walk 12 steps on
the unmarked path to the break. Do not pass through the break. Turn to your
right (east) and walk 12 steps along the wall. You should end up behind a
large Mountain Laurel. The box you seek is under some flat stones next to
the wall. Look for three small stones on top of a larger flat one.


After you find the box if you continue along the blue blazed trail you will
reach Southwick Pond. The trail is a loop that will bring you back to the
corner intersection of the two rock walls. A trail map can be found at
http://www.regionalenvironmentalcouncil.org/southwick.htm.
Enjoy your visit to this beautiful area.