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Florida Celtic Series LbNA #897 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Mar 2, 2003
Location:
City:Fort Pierce
County:St. Lucie
State:Florida
Boxes:3
Found by: Tempus Fugit (3)
Last found:Dec 25, 2003
Status:FFF
Last edited:Mar 2, 2003
Box Status: Update 1/30/05: 2 boxes destroyed by hurricanes. Third box destroyed by "controlled burn". Boxes probably won't be replaced in Florida. Check Washington, D.C. area clues in spring/summer '05.

Clues: Easy
Hike: Easy

Knot Just Another Shamrock

Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
Coastal Hammock Trail
Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida

To the park: Fort Pierce Inlet State Park is located four miles east
of Fort Pierce, via North Causeway. Hours of operation are 8 am to
sundown, 365 days of the year. After paying your fee and asking for a
trail map at the guard shack, continue on to the left at the fork and
park at the very left end of the lot at the Hammock Trailhead. Here
you can pick up an informative brochure for a self guided interpretive
walk.

The legends of the shamrock are many. It was a sacred plant to the
Druids of Ireland due to its leaves forming a triad. St. Patrick used
the plant as a symbol of the miracle of the Blessed Trinity while
preaching to the Irish. The shamrock was also sacred in Iran as an
emblem of the Persian Triads. In the 19th century, the shamrock was a
symbol of rebellion against the British crown and anyone caught
wearing it was hanged. This is when the phrase "the wearin' o' the
green" was coined. Today, the shamrock is the most recognized symbol
of Ireland and her people.

To the box: Enter the trail and at the "T", take a 170 degree reading
and follow that path. As you meander down the path, you'll come upon
a "quadrapus", a distant relative of the octopus, on the right. You
will then pass under crossed trunks and the trail will soon zag. You
will then soon approach a smooth barked tri-trunked tree with it's own
vines enveloping it. Stand on the western side of the tree and take a
171 degree compass reading. Now just swing from the vines in front of
you and find Knot Just Another Shamrock in the biceps of the tree
ahead of you.



Hold Fast

Pepper Park, Riverside
Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida

To the park: Take highway A1A north from the Fort Pierce Inlet State
Park 1.5 miles to Pepper Park. Riverside will be on the left side of
the road. Park at Dock B.

The Celtic High Cross is a standing cross with a circle at it's middle
and represents any one of many ideas. Most contemporary crosses
indicate burial sites, although there are many that were erected as
meeting places, or are just wonderful pieces of art. The cross itself
has been said to symbolize the male and female aspects of life, the
cross being the male aspect and the circle being female. Another
representation is the horizontal arms signify the physical world while
the vertical arms are the spiritual. Where they meet in the center
symbolizes balance and wholeness. The circle was added as a symbol of
being complete. The runic letters on this stamp represent "Hold Fast".

To the box: Walk towards dock B and read about Manatee Basics for
Boaters. Take the path that leads to the dock. At the "Dock B" sign,
take a 148 degree reading to a multi-trunked stump. From that stump
look ESE at 118 degrees. The box is just beyond the live 15 foot palm
tree in the top of a dead palm tree stump.


Love, Loyalty, and Friendship

Savannas Preserve State Park
2541 Walton Road, Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County, FL

To the park: From Route 1, go east on Walton Rd. Take a left into
the State Park at the Educational Center entrance. Park close to the
Educational Center and take the White Trail.

Claddagh is a small fishing village in County Galway. A legend states
that one of the fishermen, Richard Joyce, was captured, and while in
captivity learned the art of goldsmithing. His betrothed back in the
village was inconsolable, but never gave up hope that he would return.
While he was away, he created the Claddagh Ring for the woman that he
loved. The heart symbolized their love, hands holding the heart to
symbolize the friendship they shared, and the crown symbolizing the
loyalty they had for each other. After years of captivity, he escaped
and returned to his village. His betrothed had never married. He
gave her the ring and they married soon afterwards. Today the
Claddagh ring is used throughout Ireland as a traditional wedding
band. The heart is worn outwards if one is single, inwards if one is
"taken". "Let love and friendship reign."

To the box: As you walk along the trail, read about Pygmy
Rattlesnakes, Gopher Tortoises, and Bobcats. At the bobcat info sign,
continue to follow the trail. Up ahead, read about the invasive
species of plants, including the Australian Pine and Brazilian Pepper.
After this sign, take the first unmarked trail 50 degrees NE. Walk
10 steps and look in the stump closest to the trail on your left.

Notes: 1) All compass bearings magnetic.
2) One step = one footfall.
3) Please be careful when poking into dark places. Wear
gloves or prod with a stick