Sarah and I are still having way too much fun! Boxed up Greenbrier
State Park today and are amazed that we are the first ones to do so.
Enjoy the lunacy!

Tammy

ADG #1


Search for the Golden Acorn: Ranger Toms Excellent Adventure (3)
A Trio of boxes in Greenbrier State Park
Near Hagerstown, MD in Washington County
8 October 2002
Placed by the Apple Dumpling Gang (adglbna@aol.com)

Take Route 40 towards Hagerstown and the park will be on your left.
You will need to pay a small admission to get in. ( it varies from
$2.00 per vehicle off season to $3.00 per person during the summer)
Take a left at the T intersection at the bottom of the hill and park
near the Visitors Center. If it is open, pop in and pick up a trail
map. There are over 10 miles of trails in this park but
unfortunately there are no pets allowed. The trails are well marked
but the footing is uneven and rocky so wear good shoes.

The Thorn in his Side- Box 1

Ranger Tom Cooch knew he would be in real trouble if the other
rangers ever found out what he was doing. He was supposed to be out
on the trail pulling the pesky boxes out of their leafy niches but
instead, here he was, book in hand, desperately trying to find the
Golden Acorn so he could be the first to stamp in. He half wished
that he had never met Kel, Marsha, and the Lighthouse Lady on the
trail and been lured into this twisted double life.

Tom started his journey on the green blazed trail behind the
Visitors Center. He knew these trails pretty well so he decided to
start at the end of the loop since it might be shorter. He walked up
the trail between the two piles of wood and started up the hill,
reminiscing about the beautiful Dazyes that used to blanket these
woods. He and his girlfriend Mary (from VA) used to come out here
when it was dark and watch the Fireflys dance among the flowers. He
carefully walked around the fallen trees and continued up the hill
passing the Deer Tracks sign. (#11) After Tom passed sign number 8
(black bear) he noticed a small patch of white to his left. Here,
where two trees on one trunk oozed over the white rocks, someone had
stashed a box! Tom was one excited Newbe!

The Haunted House (aka The Leapfrog Incident)- Box 2

Tom continued up the trail (still going the wrong way, which is
actually the right way, can you tell Tom was raised by a
Psychomommy?) past sign #7 and parked it on a bench. Some hippies
had obviously hiked this way and had taken a moment to
carve Healwar and Scott hugs trees into the bench. One of the
other rangers had reported some paranormal activity on the yellow
blazed trail up ahead so he decided to check it out. Supposedly,
Biki, a young Irish immigrant, had died out here while playing a
rousing game of Leapfrog. Ashamed by his tragic (and quite
ludicrous) death, Bikis ghost had been seen jumping about the trails
desperately trying to regain his Celtic Pride.

Tom slowly made his way up the boulder strewn gully following the
yellow blazes. Where the yellow blazed trail takes a hard left, Tom
noticed a new sign which reads, Trail Closed for Habitat
Regeneration. On the sign was a cute little Ladybug napping between
the H and the A.. As he gazed to the left, Tom was astounded to see
thousands more ladybugs at the base of the large hipped, gnarled
tree. Could these be related to Biki and the haunting? He just had
to know! Upon investigating this bizarre infestation, Tom found yet
another box under some leaves, sticks, and about 2384 ladybugs. (yes,
he stopped to count.)

The Golden Acorn (aka Tribute to Squirrel)- Box 3

Tom couldnt believe his luck! 2 boxes found and he hadnt even
snared the one he came forthe elusive Golden Acorn. He headed back
down the yellow blazed trail until he reached the hippy bench.
Seated on the bench were a Turtle and a Mountain Scorpia playing
canasta. Carefully avoiding the bench, Tom headed down the green
blazed trail to the left. The tribute box was supposed to be down
here somewhere near some piles of rocks that ran along the left side
of the trail. (if you reach sign #4, youve gone too far) He found
the area described and pinpointed the location of the white rock in
the middle of the grouping. From that rock, Tom took a bearing of
25 and spotted the large fallen and decaying tree. At the end of
the tree, just behind the stump, Tom finally found the Golden Acorn
under some bark. With triumphant glee, he yawped his battle cry into
the woods..Boxitup!

(note to Tom: The Maryland Chapter of Boxaholics Anonymous meets at
the 3rd tree stump on the left on alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays at
moonset. Rangers are welcome.)