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Dandelion's Ducks LbNA #21203

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Apr 2, 2006
Location:
City:Oswego
County:Oswego
State:New York
Boxes:4
Planted by:Craftymouse
Found by: Mb2323
Last found:Jun 15, 2023
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Apr 2, 2006
Here a duck, there a duck, everywhere a duck, duck....


This series of letterboxes will take you on a tour of the West and East River Walks in Oswego, NY. This will also be an exercise in stealth boxing! The River Walks are located along the banks of the Oswego River, and for the most part are surrounded by businesses and apartments. Be warned! When it's salmon season, DON'T EVEN TRY to attempt these. It's shoulder to shoulder fishermen when the salmon are moving through. Watch out for the occasional fish hook that might be on the sidewalk. Only one box has a logbook. The rest are just stamps.

It all started when I purchased Dandelion a set of $14.99 binoculars. I didn't know it would lead to a serious bird addiction. Suddenly, Dandelion is 'the bird man'! The professional! And his most favorite type of bird? Ducks! Lots and lots of ducks!! Now, I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable when it comes to the wildlife in our area. But I had NO IDEA that all these different types of ducks would pass through Oswego during their migration. These aren't your every day Mallards, that's for sure!

CLUES: Coming from Syracuse area, take 481 into Oswego. Go straight at the first light (Utica St) and then you'll pass a small, fancy clock on the left, followed by an apartment building. You'll want to take the first left immediately after the apartment entrance. It should be Oneida St. It will take you right to the rivers edge, where you should veer left and follow the roadway past the parking for the apartments, and underneath the trusses of the railway trail above. There is a small parking lot next to a picnic pavilion where you can park. Now put on your sneaking shoes.

For your first duck, you'll want to walk along the road that you just drove in on. You'll be heading downriver, towards the lake. As you stroll, you'll see the guardrail on your immediate left. It's bordering the small grassy hill and the parking area for those apartments. It's got a funny little useless, rusty water pump next to it. Walk along this first guardrail, to it's end. The metal twists around on itself, and tucked inside a hollow space in the middle is a magnetic tin, housing your first duck. Please be sure to tuck him back in his hiding spot very carefully. Be stealthy!

To find your next duck, retreat upriver towards your car. Before you pass under the railway bridge, you'll see a metal staircase on your left. Head up the stairs and have a seat on the last landing before the top. Scoot over to the left side of that landing and have a peek over the side. Do you see a hollow, square-shaped pipe underneath you, within reach? Good! Carefully reach into the pipe and you'll find your next duck in a tin, magnetized to the top of the inside of the pipe. PLEASE be sure to re-hide him in exactly that manner: stuck to the top, inside the pipe. And don't push him in so far that the next boxer can't reach him. Thanks!

Now it's time for some fun! Climb the rest of the way up the stairs and cross the Harbor Rail Trail. Try not to get dizzy as you look down at the racing water! Hope you're not afraid of heights! Now you're on the west side of town! Once you've exited the Rail Trail, turn left and you'll see the staircase taking you down to the West River Walk. At the base of the stairs, head upriver. Why not take the low road? Enjoy the walk right along the rivers edge and marvel at the raging rapids! You'll pass under the Utica street bridge. Eventually, you'll go by Bridie Manor on your right. Soon thereafter is a black metal staircase ascending the hill. Go up to the top and have a seat on the top step. Lean towards your left and reach with your fingers at the base of the railing attached to the first step. Tucked underneath, snug in a tin, is a duck! Please re-hide him neatly in his place. This tin, in particular, has a tendency to wander a bit.

When you're ready, continue along the river walk, upriver, until you get to a ramp and stairs leading up to a gazebo. You'll need to go all the way to the top of the ramp (you'll be at the point where the ramp railing meets the gazebo roof). Crouch down low and look under the roof at the only support pillar that you can reach from where you are. There is a tin attached to the metal brace that's supporting the roof beams. If you don't see it right away, keep looking, you'll find it. This duck has the logbook with him. Please take care to make sure he's replaced in the same spot.

Now that you've had your fill of ducks, time to head back to your car. (Can you see your car from there? I bet you can!) The shortest way is to backtrack, and cross the Rail Trail again (c'mon, admit it, it was kinda fun!).

We hope you enjoyed your ducky day! Let us know how your quest was!