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Moose Series LbNA #21546

Owner:Puddle-Splasher
Plant date:Apr 19, 2006
Location:
City:Flower Mound
County:Denton
State:Texas
Boxes:5
Found by: Basketcase1 (2)
Last found:May 28, 2012
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Apr 19, 2006
Caution: This section of the trail is a bit challenging. The hike is about 30 minutes each way and has many “ups and downs” and is also shared with mountain bikers (who have the right of way), so take all the usual precautions: take plenty of water with you, mosquito repellent, good closed toe hiking shoes, watch out for poison ivy off the trail, and a high-energy snack would be helpful.

This series of five letterboxes is located on the Northshore Trail at Lake Grapevine in the Twin Coves Park area. Mapblast this address: 2000 Shoreline Drive, Flower Mound, Texas 75022 (or look it up on the map). At the very end (dead end) of Shoreline Dr. are a few spaces for parking and the entrance to the trail. Park and pass through the opening in the iron fence and follow the trail for a very short distance and you will come to a place where another trail intersects the trail you are on. Turn right at this intersection and follow the trail.

Box #1 – Moose Likely to Succeed
Marsha had been voted Moose Likely to Succeed in high school. With a 4.2 GPA and SAT scores off the chart, everyone knew that she would do something serious and important with her life. What they didn’t know is that Marsha had a passion for adventure and could care less about the trappings of a serious and important career! In fact her philosophy is: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming Whoo Hoo, What a Ride!” Marsha blew off scholarship offers to college and is presently wandering around the country, thoroughly absorbing life.

Before too long, you will come to Milepost 6. At that point, there will be a very large tree in the trail. You will notice that a large portion of that tree split and fell across the path and a portion had to be sawed out to clear the trail. Look inside the fallen portion on your right for Box #1.

Box #2 – Here She Is, Moose America!
Mollie kept entering pageants, but the best she could do was win the Moose Congeniality award. Desperate but determined to win the big title, Mollie appealed to the other contestants for help. Miss Texas advised her to use a great moisturizer. Miss Virgin Islands told her to always apply chapstick before lip gloss or lipstick. Miss South Carolina added, when applying makeup with your fingers, always use your ring finger to avoid creating future wrinkles. All very good advice, but the best advice of all came from Miss Missouri who said, “Less is more! Let your natural beauty shine through.” Miss Kentucky chimed in, “My favorite beauty tip is simple. Smile!” Armed with all this help and a new sense of confidence, Mollie finally heard the words she had been longing for… “Here she is… Moose America!”

To find this lovely queen, continue on the trail and in a few minutes it will start going up a rocky incline. At the top of the incline will be a post with a red diamond marking the trail and an arrow pointing left. Follow the trail about 16 paces (32 steps) to a large tree on the left of the trail. Facing the tree, you will notice a small cedar tree with a dead stump in front of it just off to the left about 3 paces off the trail. A fallen log lies to the left of the stump – look inside the end of log nearest the stump for the box.

Box #3 – Mooseunderstood!
Morris is obviously mooseunderstood. Due to a continuously growing human population, this wonderful creature has been forced to move further and further north over the years. But truth be known, I’m sure that Morris wishes he could be in Texas where the stars at night are big and bright. I’m certain he would be happy sitting around a campfire, toasting smores, or occasionally kicking up his hooves, scooting around the dance floor of a local bar to the music of a good Texas country swing band. Yep, this letterbox is dedicated to all those overgrown cows who would enjoy munchin’ on bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush and mesquites rather than standing in murky water and dining on willows!

To find Box 3, continue up the trail until you find a nice bench to the right of the trail. You will also see another post with an arrow and the numbers 6.2 written on the side with orange paint. As you sit on the bench and rest a few minutes, you will notice a small trail leading into the woods behind the bench. You will find the box hidden about 3 or 4 paces down this trail at the base of a tree on your left under a pile of rocks.

Box #4 – A Case of Moosetaken Identity
Your honor, this is simply a matter of moosetaken identity. The witness stated that he saw a moose partially submerged in Lake Grapevine on the morning in question. However, it has been proven that Marvin was nowhere near the lake that day. Further evidence has established that it was in fact a hippopotamus that was seen swimming in the lake that particular morning, not Marvin. Your honor, the defense rests.

Continue on the trail and before too long, you will cross a wooden footbridge. Here the trail ascends a hill and switches back and forth. Continue on the trail until you cross a second footbridge inscribed: “Bicycle Association and Other Volunteers Like You!” There the path turns right and starts to climb uphill again. You will see a wooden retaining wall on your left. Climb up the rocky area behind the retaining wall to another retaining wall. Sitting on the beam of the top wall facing the footbridge below, you will notice there are many rocks helping hold the path in place. The box is located at the left end of the beam you are sitting on under a pile of rocks.

Box #5 – The Recluse Moose
Those that know Mitchell have deemed him to be a recluse moose. Not just shy, but avoiding others at all costs. When Mitchell was young, he was the life of the party with a lampshade always dangling from his antlers. He was first on everyone’s guest list. But slowly, Mitchell began to fade from view, and now it’s hard to catch a glimpse of him in public. Mitchell has given up his high rise apartment in Downtown Dallas and now is rumored to live somewhere around Lake Grapevine.

It is about a 10 minute hike from Box 4 to Box 5. As you continue on the path, eventually, you will notice that you are passing by barbed wire on your right that is “growing out of the trees”. Just past the wire, you will start a gentle descent. You will come to a huge boulder in the middle of the path and shortly after the boulder, the path will make a sharp turn to the right. Ahead, you will have a nice view of the lake and marina below. You will come to a large tree in the middle of the path and a huge square rock slab on your right. This is a great spot to sit and rest and enjoy the birdsongs and beautiful view. While sitting on this rock, you will see a fallen log just across the path with a small tree behind it. Look at the base of the tree under some rocks and hopefully you will find the recluse moose!

Enjoy the moose hunt!
Puddle Splasher