This is My Pennsylvania - Ruffed Grouse

 

The landmark to look for.

 You can tell you are at the right tree with the hole close to the ground if you see this owl house in the background.

 Longer range look at the right tree.

 

Look across the trail to see this leaning two trunk tree.

 Wedged between the tree to its left and the fallen tree behind it is the Ruffed Grouse.

You're so Vane

Status of this box is currently "Unknown".  I looked for it briefly without the clues and didn't find it.  I will update when I make a return visit.

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and...


You're so vane, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vane, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? don't you?

You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive
Well you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me
I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and...

You're so vane, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vane, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? don't you? don't you?

I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and...
You're so vane, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vane, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? don't you?

Well I hear you went up to Saratoga and your horse naturally won
Then you fliw your Lear Jet up to Nova Scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Well you're where you should be all the time
And when you're not you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife of a close friend, and...

You're so vane, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vane, I'll bet you think this song is abowt you
Don't you? don't you? don't youS

Notes:  The online map for this park will probably not give you the info that you need.  It would be wise to use the maps at the park.

This is My Pennsylvania - Rocks

 Pass the furnace.

 Go to the Swamp Trail and turn left.  Look for the five trunk tree in the picture below.  Stand in the center of tree and look for the large pine tree at 140 degrees and 50-55 steps.

 Box is behind this rock.

 This was my view of the five trunk tree as I stood at the box.  The tree is beside True Indigo who has the blue coat on.

This is My Pennsylvania - Civil War History

 Visit the pretty Dance Pavilion.

 Admire the ceiling of the pavilion.

 Then take a walk on the trail behind the pavilion, crossing this bridge and one more.

 Take the time to admire the pretty stream as you are on the bridge.

 Cross the gravel road and walk up the trail about 50 steps till you see this interesting two species V tree.  Check out its back side.

This is My Pennsylvania - Apples

Find this park.

 Chambersburg Water Line from the parking area past the pool.

 

Stop about here when you see the Ramble Trail sign.

 Look to your right.

 

Look for this double trunk tree near the blue blaze.

 

 Box is behind this double tree.

BCHP

 From the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and Rt. 183, find this memorial. 

From the memorial find the intersection which is home to the next two photos.

 From this intersection, head towards the HP about 50 steps to a small clearing which is home to about half a dozen three trunk trees on the left.  On the right side of the trail, there is a tree with two yellow discs.  About 28 steps at 100 degrees you will see a five trunk tree with a foot wide rock at its base.  Look behind the rock.

If you see the sign below, you have gone too far for the box but it is easy to catch it on the way back.  You HAVE to go on.

 

The high point is about another 150 steps, do it! Come on, you know you want to! Take those extra steps to claim that you were at the High Point of Berks County.

Bred in Berks: Taylor Swift

It would be hard to imagine anyone who enjoys modern music who does not recognize the name Taylor Swift. Berks County is very proud of the fact that Taylor spent the first 14 years of her life in Wyomissing. Starting out as a very young singer/song writer in the country music field, Taylor has now transitioned to pop music but it seems that whatever she chooses to do, she works hard and has been very successful.

To find this box, look for a park close to the town she was born in. I tried to find a spot in Wyomissing but nothing felt right so I headed a little west for this box. This park borders on the south end of the Wilson High School soccer and cross country practice fields. When you arrive there, cross the bridge over the gnisoocaC keerC and turn left. Follow the trail passing the first three landmarks in the picture. After you pass the third picture, turn right and cut across the short expanse of grass to the upper path. As you reach the end of the wild area, turn left to see the tree in the fourth picture. About four feet to the right of that tree you will see a boulder. Look for the little nook in the back of the boulder.

Recommended color: purple

Florida's Timucua

From the monument above, head to the historic marker below.

When you get to the marker, look to the east and see two trailheads.  Take the one below.

    Yes, take this one.

Walk a bit till you see this bench and nature sign.

Now walk a little further till you see this nature sign on the left.

With your back to this sign, look across the trail for two palm trees, one about 15 feet into the woods and the other about 5 feet further.  Check out the back of tree 2.

When you finish, please remember to listen for the snap of each corner of the box lid.  I am convinced that is what helped this box survive four major hurricanes.

Conquer the Wall

  

Ooops, this is the clue to another nearby letterbox!

 

Do not turn left until you are past the bolt fund.

 

 

 

Enjoy the view while stamping in.

The Empty Basket Series - My Alma Mater

My Alma Mater has been added as a personal traveler in my Empty Basket series.  To get it, one just has to tell me that I went to the college with the following logo:

There's No Place Like Home - The Reading Railroad

Most people who have played Monopoly may not give much thought to the railroad properties but they, just like the street names are based on real railroads.  Next time you hop onto the space occupied by the Reading Railroad, you will know that it was based on the railroad which

ran through Reading, PA.  For a time in the 19^th century, the Reading Railroad was the largest corporation in the world, doing business hauling coal through Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.  When the coal business declined, so did the business for the Reading Railroad.  Today, most conversations around the Reading Railroad are concerned with the correct pronunciation of it.  Is it Reeding or is it Redding?  For those who don’t know, it is Redding.

When the Berks County Conservancy gave me permission to place letterboxes on its property, it sent me a packet of information.  Most of the places I had already heard of, Angelica Park, Neversink Mountain, Earle Poole Sanctuary, but one of the brochures was new to me – the Gravity Trail which follows the old tracks of the Mt. Penn Gravity Railroad.  I spent an afternoon exploring the three parks which are located side by side on the trail and began my walk after parking in the middle one.  I passed two old pavilions and tried to imagine the picnics that were held there long ago.  After crossing a lovely arched stone bridge, I headed left and began my uphill walk.  Soon, I forgot that I was actually in the city limits as pretty little waterfalls and several rock formations surrounded me.  I crossed a second little stone bridge and after walking a very short distance, I saw an unmarked trail to the right which lead by a rotting tree stump about ten feet tall.  I followed the trail about ten more feet and found a tree with an interesting base filled with nooks and crannies on the left side of the trail.  The most interesting nook was located on the side facing the road above me. 

 My walk was only about a half mile one way but it provided me with a little piece of history, a big piece of beauty and the pride of knowing a new area in the town I live in.