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Whose Shoes? LbNA #5284 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Aug 17, 2003
Location:
City:Saugatuck
County:Allegan
State:Michigan
Boxes:1
Planted by:azobox
Found by: Lighthouse_Keeper
Last found:May 10, 2009
Status:FFFF
Last edited:Aug 17, 2003
“Whose Shoes?”

BOX IS NOT AVAILABLE

Placed by: azobox (contact the placer)
Original Placement date: Aug 17 2003
Replaced April 27, 2006
State: Michigan
County: Allegan
Nearest city: Saugatuck
Number of boxes: 1
Clues
“Whose Shoes?”

The letterbox is located within the Saugatuck Dunes State Park, near Saugatuck, Michigan (Allegan County). Access the park from U.S. 31, which runs parallel to the Lake Michigan shore. Exit at Saugatuck/Douglas exit 41. Then west on Blue Star Hwy. Turn right at the first corner (64th) then north for a mile to 138th Ave. Then left (west) to the park at the end of the road. There are signs when you get close.
A Michigan State Park pass is required for entry. Daily ($5) and annual passes are available.


CLUES:


Dirk was walking with his sister Emma in the dunes and the hot sand was getting in his shoes. They were not your usual sneakers.

(For your benefit, I hope that Dirk’s recollection of their travels is accurate.)

They were with their family for a picnic just north of Saugatuck, Michigan.
They often went to the popular beaches in Grand Haven, Holland or South Haven, but today the family wanted to get away from the crowds so they decided to hike through the woods to the cool Lake Michigan water at Saugatuck Dunes State Park.

The family had taken the trail at the north end of the parking lot. Eventually a marked option presented itself and the group turned left and began the climb through the hills. They then came right up on another path. Up and down through the woods they traveled. Dirk whined about having to walk so far. Finally, after yet another incline which took them to a root covered hillock, they began a long descent. They were left with another choice. Finally, after passing some pine groves, Dirk, Emma and the rest came to the shore.

They swam and played with plenty of room – the beach was nearly deserted except for some boaters who also enjoyed this uncluttered stretch. The children decided to explore the hills just to the north and east so they climbed toward a grove of silver-gray trees on the dunes. The trees were on the highest point at that part of the hill and looked dead. There were five or six uprights and Dirk wanted a closer look. It wasn’t too hard a climb – the beach grass gave them some footing. When they arrived at the top, the view was grand! Then Emma saw a lonely and gnarled evergreen tree at about 140 degrees and thought it would make a good resting place. It was only about 50 yards away or so and down the hill, so off they went. When they arrived at the tree they sat down at its base, facing the direction from which they’d just come. But the bugs were terrible that day so they decided to head for the woods just to the east, trying to get away from the biting flies. When they reached the woods, they saw a tall leaning tree, then a lazy boy just to the north. The two children settled in against that curving branch. That would be the end of the story except for happened next. Dirk complained that the sand in his shoes made it hard to walk so he took them off.

The next thing they heard was their father’s familiar whistle from a distance calling them to rejoin the family so they hurriedly gathered their things and ran back toward the beach.

It wasn’t until they returned home that evening that Dirk realized his shoes were missing. He knew his mother would be upset – after all, they’d been in the family for years. Where could they be? Can you help Dirk find his shoes?