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Several Big Hugs (Box #1 probably missing) LbNA #21715

Owner:Bell Lady
Plant date:Apr 14, 2006
Location:
City:Ivoryton
County:Middlesex
State:Connecticut
Boxes:4
Found by: SherlockMiles (4)
Last found:Mar 20, 2022
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFaFFFFUFFF
Last edited:Aug 22, 2018
Difficulty: Some climbs but not too difficult
Regulations: Walkers only, please. No bikes or horses.

Clues: (Updated 11/4/2007)

Bring your own ink. Logbook in Box 4 only.
From exit 3 off Rt. 9 in Essex, travel west on Rt. 154 to Centerbrook
center. Continue on Main Street through Ivoryton passing the gazebo
and Ivoryton Playhouse and the piano factory to the stop sign. Take
Bushy Hill Rd. to the right and watch carefully on the left for the
blue sign for Bushy Hill Nature Preserve near a large sycamore tree
with parking for 2-3 cars. Check the green mailbox for an
information brochure and map if you wish.

Begin your hike on the path straight ahead following blue blazes.
Continue straight passing a trail going off to the right. Look for a
huge tree on the right that might be the home of Winnie the Pooh’s
Owl! This must be what they call the Wolf Tree. Go to the tree and
look SW to a fallen tree with a large upended root system. Make your
way to the roots and examine the upended base. Notice the large
rocks embedded in it. Look closely about 2 o’clock for a small rock
that can be removed to reveal your first hug. Please replace box and
rock very carefully, leaving all enclosures in the box.

Return to the trail and continue in the same direction. On the right
you might notice a long rock perpendicular to the trail, then a side
path to the left. (11/2/07 - there now is a log that looks like it is blocking the trail. Just step over it.) Take this path which descends into the valley
crossing a rocky stream bed and passing a rock cairn. There is a
black, knotted rope on the ground that will help you ascend to a
large boulder and beyond. Go to the north side of the boulder and
check the crevice where a smaller rock meets it, removing the little
rock door to find hug #2.

Seal the canister and replace the door carefully.

Retrace your steps to the original trail and continue south. At the
next fork, go straight on the new red diamond blazes and at the next fork, go to the left on
red. Pass an area of cut wood continuing downhill to the
brook.
Cross 3 bridges keeping the brook on the left. Notice a large
broken tree stump about 10-11 ft. tall on the left (and leaning to the left) shortly after
the 3rd bridge. Ahead and to the right is a double beech. There is a
hollow in the back of this tree but the hug won’t fit in there. On the
ground there is a small log piece with a rock at one end. Removing
the rock should expose hug #3. Be sure box is well concealed before
leaving.

Return to the trail and continue on following the nice red blazes. After passing the trail blazed yellow on the left, look for a large stump on the left with fallen tree parts. Go around a bend and up a small incline. When you come to a tree on the left with a red diamond marker and a small hole in the base of the tree, stop. Backtrack 5 paces and take a reading of 140 degrees. Take 18 paces in that direction, up the embankment to some rocks, mostly on the right. Look for a rock with some lovely quartz embedded in it at the base of a tree. Look beyond the rock to a large fallen tree. Check under bark about 1/4 of the way down from the broken base for
hug #4. After careful replacement of the box, continue on to the
next intersection and follow the path to the left (blue blazes) back to your car, ignoring any side trails.

This letterbox is placed for my sweet and huggable grand daughter,
KittyWittyGirl. I hope you have enjoyed picking up a few hugs and will
share a few of your own with those you love.

Special thanks to SquishyFishy and her dad for helping in the
placement of these boxes.