The Whitetail Box

Location:
Elijah Bristow State ParkPleasant Hill, OR (United States)
Clue Last Updated:
April 21, 2007

"Elijah Bristow State Park is located on the Willamette River, and is easily to
reach via State Highway 58 southeast of the Eugene. The park was named for one
of the first pioneer settlers in Lane County and is comprised of 847 acres of
scattered meadows, woodlands and wetlands. Elijah Bristow has more than 10 miles
of trail for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Part of the trail system
includes a portion of the Eugene to Pacific Crest trail." -from State Parks
website

Driving Directions from Eugene/Springfield area:
Head south on I-5 toward Roseburg. Take exit 188A Oakridge/Klamath Falls and head for OR-58. Travel approximately 9 miles on Hwy 58 and look for the Elijah Bristow State Park sign. Turn left on Rattlesnake Rd., right on Wheeler Rd and continue about 1 mile until you see the entrance sign. Follow the road all the way back and park near the restrooms.

To the box:
This lovely little doe was first spotted near group picnic area A. From there she walked gingerly around the edge of the meadow pausing to munch on the sweet grasses. She must have been thirsty after such a snack as she headed toward the river via a trail just past three gravel mounds on the left. Follow this trail to where it converges with the river trail. Look to your right and head toward the picnic table on the river side. Here you will find a beautiful spot where she was seen at water's edge enjoying a cool drink. Then back to the trail. Head to your right on the river trail. Following the trail a ways she is no where to be found. Up ahead, look for the sign giving horses the right of way. Hearing something in the brush, you turn back the way you came and count 43 paces. On your left there should be a tree with a sapling on its hip. This little Whitetail is hiding beneath a blanket of moss slightly behind and to the right of this tree's base. You should make the time to explore the rest of the trails in the park. It is a beautiful place.

Sweet Summer Letterbox

This popular park is a beautiful spot to play in the summer. We spent lots of time here as it used to be literally out our back door. We enjoyed watching many baseball games and played our fair share of frisbee and football here. It also provided lots of room for a couple of our kiddos to practice their brand new bike riding skills, but our favorite thing to do here is grab a bucket and head for the blackberry patches on the eastern side of the park. We spent lots of warm summer evenings with berry juice dripping down our chins and sore, briar-pricked fingers...but we had blackberry pies and cobblers and berries to sprinkle on our hand cranked vanilla ice cream or over our pancakes to savor! We have long since moved from that house, but we still love to visit this little park.

To the box:

This box is hidden in Guy Lee Park in Springfield. This 8 acre gem can be found at 890 Darlene Avenue. From the Guy Lee Park sign take the paved path to the left that goes by the school playground (also a very fun place to be). Pass the visitor's bench and head around to the home team's bench. There is a water fountain near the end of here. Skipping the bushes behind the home team's bleachers (because everyone there also enjoys a blackberry or two and those bushes are usually less bountiful to choose from), follow the park boundary S.E. toward another patch. In baseball season your next destination is marked at 271 ft. but just in case it isn't, you can find it if you find the two trees that are different than the rest. From the 2nd such ree, take about 15 kid-sized steps toward the berry bushes and search in the tall grass at your feet.

*first finder will get my favorite blackberry recipe!*