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Year of the Ox LbNA #45407

Owner:Wisconsin Hiker
Plant date:Jan 24, 2009
Location:
City:Monches
County:Waukesha
State:Wisconsin
Boxes:1
Found by: Guinea Pigs
Last found:May 31, 2021
Status:FFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:May 16, 2016
Last found/checked: 21-DEC-14 (Clues updated)

Location: A county park on Hwy E, approximately 1/2 mile south of the intersections of Hwy Q, E & K.

Time: Approximately 30 minutes roundtrip, depending on season & trail conditions.

Terrain: Snowy w/small hill (in other seasons, I’m guessing grassy & dirt trail)

Around the globe, the Chinese New Year celebrations will take place based on January 26th 2009, which is the start of the Lunar New Year. Preparations for the New Year often begin during the last month of the lunar year. It is an auspicious occasion, and great detail is taken in its readiness. The home must be cleaned thoroughly. The past year's dirt is swept away, and clutter is straightened out. This is done so that negative aspects of the past year are not brought forward to the New Year. On New Year’s Eve, family members must return to the parent's home for a special meal together. Various foods are prepared and eaten because of their symbolic significances. The food must be abundant, and there must be some left over at the end of the meal. The New Year will therefore start with plenty. It is hoped that there then will be abundance throughout the year.

In Chinese Astrology there are five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) and twelve animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig) forming a complete cycle of sixty. This means there are five different types of Ox years: wood ox, fire ox, earth ox, metal ox and water ox. 2009 is an Earth Ox year.

People born under the sign of the Ox are generally calm, dependable, patient and unflagging. The Ox is symbolic of prosperity that is achieved through hard work. Although obstinate they do have logical minds and will not be easily frightened. They appreciate that in order to achieve success things must be done in a certain methodical and correct way. Ox people are seldom deprived and tend to be both reliable and conventional. They are patient, but once angry and incensed it will be difficult to reason with them, they also have a propensity to hold grudges. Ruled more by their heads than hearts they are full of pride and uncompromising and in order to be happier they should nurture their sense of humor.

General Ox characteristics: Gentle, peace loving, possesses great physical strength that makes it dangerous if angered. Conservative, independent, trusting and accepts others for what they are. They may be unromantic, but there is no lack of affection for a few select friends. In business, they often bring prosperity - not through entrepreneurial imagination and risk, but as a result of logical thought, resolute practicality and honest endurance. Interesting note: Barack Obama is an Ox.

Traits for specific Ox years:

FIRE - Feb 11, 1937 to Jan 30, 1938 and Feb 8, 1997 to Jan 27, 1998 Traits: powerful, money-oriented, motivated by combat, but is also objective.

WOOD - Jan 25, 1925 to Feb 12, 1926 and Feb 20, 1985 to Feb 8, 1986 Traits: traditional, accommodating, ethical, fair-minded and motivated by honesty.

EARTH - 1949 Jan 29, 1949 to Feb 16, 1950 and Jan 26, 2009 to Feb 13, 2010 Traits: resolute, enduring, motivated by patience, is focused and genuine.

METAL - Feb 15, 1961 to Feb 4, 1962 Traits: confrontational, conceited, bright, intense and motivated by conviction. [Barack Obama's sign]

WATER - Feb 3, 1973 to Jan 22, 1974 Traits: systematic, motivated by strength of mind, is patient, practicable and levelheaded.

CLUES:
The patient Ox plodded from the parking lot and headed toward a blue sign with an arrow. Instead of following it, he knew the more logical choice would be to head across the field at 260 degrees. He then calmly chose the path at 200 degrees and unflaggingly made his way up the hill. At the crest he came to an intersection. By this point he had become concerned with meeting another sort of beast on the main trail – a noisy motorized type. He did not wish to become angry about their intrusion, so chose to take the lesser-traveled side trail to the right. He then enjoyed the evergreens on his left and patiently trudged along as the trail continued on, and then turned left. He fearlessly passed by the open area on his right, stayed left along the treeline and trudged forward south into the woods. He resolutely continued on over some fallen trees until he reached a massive fallen one on the left side of the trail. He was pleased that his hard work had paid off and that he had found a practical resting spot. He made his way to the arm furthest in the back and snuggled in between the tree limb and ground, near the spot where a broken branch also rested 10'-15' from the stump. Here he made his plans for a practical start for his special year.

In honor of the Ox, you may want to start (or end) your search with a meal at the nearby Ox & Cats Sports Bar & Grill (on Hwy E a bit south of the intersection of Q, E & K). It’s reputed to have some good burgers and sweet potato fries. However if you’re in the mood for Chinese food, you can head 6-7 miles further south on Hwy E to the Kings Wok in Hartland. Shortly after crossing Hwy 16 you’ll reach the intersection of Hwy E (North Ave), Capitol Drive and Hill St. Continue straight through the intersection, then stay left at a “Y”, turning onto Cottonwood. Address of Kings Wok is 521 Cottonwood Avenue. It's located in a small strip mall with Cousins, dry cleaner, and the Piggly Wiggly. It is mainly a carryout place, but also has a few tables so you can eat in and you won’t have to worry about being in your hiking clothes. It has received good recommendations from the locals and the menu can be found here: http://www.allmenus.com/wi/hartland/220609-kings-wok/menu/

"Kung Hei Fat Choi!" (Cantonese for "Congratulations and be prosperous!")

Status updates on this box would be appreciated!


Hike length: 1 mile