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Avalonia Series LbNA #17555

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Aug 20, 2005
Location:
City:Ledyard
County:New London
State:Connecticut
Boxes:3
Planted by:DREAMSeekers
Found by: burning feet (3)
Last found:Mar 8, 2022
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFaFFFF
Last edited:Sep 15, 2015

This series is located in the Avery Preserve - West Tract, which is on Avery Hill Road in Ledyard, 0.3 miles north of Route 214. Parking is available on the right, at the trailhead for the East Tract. Maps are available at Ledyard Libraries or at the sign on the West side. You may wish to check for other letterboxes at Avery Preserve.

The Avery Preserve is part of the Avalonia Land Conservancy holdings. The name “Avalonia” is a geological reference to a layer of bedrock 400 million years old, which was a key part in the formation of the area that is now New England. Established in 1968, the land trust was formed to accept land in the towns of Groton, Griswold, Ledyard, North Stonington, Stonington, Preston, and Voluntown, CT. For more information about the conservancy, you can visit www.geocities.com/avalonialc/

Distance: a loop about 1 ¼ miles.
Time: about an hour or so
Note: You will need a compass for these boxes. Please note that some parts of the trail may be quite boggy in wetter weather.

Clues:
Cross the road and proceed straight on the trail into the West Tract. Cross a tiny stream and go past a side trail on the right. When you come to a Y, go right (300°). The trail goes gently up and downhill and follows a stone wall on the left. You will notice a large glacial erratic off to the right. When you come to another Y, go right again (350°). A few minutes away, look on the left for a tree with the bottom of its trunk “inside out” and turn left (260°) just beyond. (If you stay on the orange-blazed trail that turns right and goes uphill, you have gone a bit too far.) Cross a boggy stream on rocks and roots. Head uphill with a stone wall on your right. Look for a strangely shaped tree which looks like a backward 4. From this tree, bear 320° through a break in the wall. The first box is on your left, in the wall. Please rehide carefully, as it just fits in this niche.

Continue on the trail, bearing left at the orange blaze and passing through a stone wall. Side trails will enter from left and right as you go downhill. When you come to the water, cross two cedar bridges. From the last plank take about 50 steps to a large rock on the left. At 285° find the second box under a “trap door” on the far side of the tumbled-down stone wall. Markers are here for you to color this lovely stamp, which was carved by our 12-year-old in memory of our dear friend “Tottie.”

Return back across the bridges and take the right-hand trail of the 3 trails (60°). Bear right (120°) at a large beech tree (which has been carved with graffiti). The next area is very boggy in wet weather. After crossing the stream, continue with the stone wall on your right. Look for another stone wall angling in on the left. At the next intersection, go straight (100°). Continue on this trail and look for a big rock on your right, about 15 feet off the trail, with a fat tree and a skinny tree “hugging” behind it. From this spot, take about 60 steps and turn right onto a small path. You will soon cross a small wooden bridge. From the far end, head at 240° to the end of a stone wall. The third box is tucked into a low crevice on the far side of the wall, about 10 or 12 feet away from where you are. After stamping in, take a look at the square stone enclosure, known as the “sheep wash.” This unique structure is believed to have been used by farmers for washing their sheep in the stream before shearing. Retrace your steps over the bridge and back to the main trail; then turn right to return to the parking area.