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The Jane Austen Series: Jane Austen LbNA #4590

Owner:Clueless
Plant date:Jun 16, 2003
Location:
City:???
County:Bucks
State:Pennsylvania
Boxes:1
Found by: ???
Last found:Nov 28, 2009
Status:FFFFF
Last edited:Jun 16, 2003
The Jane Austen Series: Jane Austen

In honor of the many hours of pleasure the books of Jane Austen have given me, I present the Jane Austen Letterbox Series – one box for each completed novel and one for Jane herself (well, that's the final plan, anyway). While I would love to make you read each and every Jane Austen book to solve the “mystery locations”, you can rest assured that that is not the case. However, do not let that deter you from reading her wonderful novels (again and again!).

Jane Austen never left England; as such, all of her stories take place within the confines of the country she knew and loved. I have transported her treasures to Bucks County (which is only fitting – Bucks is named after Buckinghamshire in England!), although not nearly so cleverly as she herself would have done. In some of the clues in this series I have lifted lines right from Jane’s books; wherever the wording seems exemplary, you may credit Jane; where it is not you may credit myself.

Allow 30 minutes for this box.
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BRING GLOVES TO REACH FOR THE BOX

First you must learn these things about Jane’s life:
(A) Jane went to school in 1783 in the town of _________________. She fell seriously ill of typhoid fever and almost died. She returned to live here again in the fall of 1806.
(B) Jane was born December 16, _____
(C) The unfinished manuscript of Sanditon was first published by R.W. Chapman in the year _____
(D) The Prince Regent “invited” Jane to dedicate her next book to him in the year 18___
(E) Jane was engaged for one night to Harris Bigg-Wither in the year ____
(F) Jane died on July 18, 18___

Find the park in the township of (A). The land for this park was purchased for nearly $1 million exactly 200 years after the year of Jane’s birth (B). Coincidence? I think not!

From the park office, take the TRAIL to the right.

At your first junction, head South.

At your next option, head left to a tree you can't miss. 25 steps beyond along the brush to your right - right to a bench. From there, head [(C) give or take 1700 years] degrees, then again at the next junction.

At the next set of choices, you should head straight downhill (hopefully you aren’t already feeling like that’s the way things are going). At the bottom, you should find two blue triangles on a single tree that point you down a trail - go for it.

As you approach a downed tree, note the next blue arrow, which would lead you astray. It’s an uphill battle from here. You came for the exercise, right?

Stay straight and focused at the top – don’t let the openness and other trails distract you. Cross the open space and hop on a quick trail.

Not many steps and you’re at a dirt road and face to face with a skinny tree – hey, those blue triangles are everywhere!

Trails are every which way in this crazy park. Choose the one at (D) degrees.

When you come to an open space, go stand by the lone tree to the right end. At [(E) less 1447 years] degrees take (F) paces and look in the twigs [NOTE: the brush has grown some over the hiding place, beware the thorns!].

Admire Jane and promise to read her books. Or just stamp in.

Back to the lone tree – find the arrow telling you which way to go (east). Another open (somewhat) area – cross it and take the Southeast trail. Head towards a familiar bench – at 30 degrees is your trail home (in case you don't remember, make a right at the option on this trail).