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Moses the Turtle LbNA #34219

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Aug 18, 2007
Location:
City:Edmonton
County:Alberta, CAN
State:Alberta, Canada
Boxes:1
Planted by:Obliterate Apron
Found by: Lilac
Last found:Oct 23, 2007
Status:FF
Last edited:Aug 18, 2007
June 2, 2008: "The Shadow" reported to me that this box was found vandalized and is, therefore, temporarily unavailable.

This letterbox is placed for my new nieces, Dominique and Faith, to find. I hope you find letterboxing to be lots of fun, girls! It also documents a story (albeit not one of the most admirable) in my family’s lore.

Once upon a time, long ago (well, not that long ago, about 35 years, I suppose), there was a family with two little girls. This family acquired a turtle named Moses. Either the turtle was too much work, or Mum suddenly became aware that turtles carried Salmonella bacteria. Moses had to go. (Keep in mind this was before the horrors of introducing a non-native species into a new environment were widely known.) Moses was released into a local park.

Dominique and Faith, here’s where you have the advantage: Heather (one of the two little girls) knows exactly where Moses was released! The rest of you will have to work a bit.

In the late 1800s, the Rev. Canon William Newton of the Church of England established a settlement in the area, and named it after the home of a hermit or a secluded dwelling. The park, and the site of this letterbox, also has this name.

Hint (and credit to): 917.12334NAM 143

From that day on, every time the family went walking in the park (this was long before letterboxing which would have made the walk a lot more interesting to the little girls), they looked for Moses. It’s said that turtles have long life spans; perhaps he is still there! The end.

Park at the northern-most parking lot. There is a trail that runs right in front of the parking lot; go left.

As you walk, you’ll pass: a Beaked Hazelnut, Prickly Rose, High-bush Cranberry, and Low-bush Cranberry. Farther along you’ll also pass a Dark-eyed Junco and a Black-capped Chickadee.

At the end of the trail, you’ll come to a service road. Turn right and continue on through a small, unpaved parking lot.

Ahead and slightly to the right, you’ll see a small building. Take the dirt path that goes north along the right side of the building. This path skirts the left edge of Moses’ pond.

Take a fork left up the hill. The path divides again, take the path straight up “Evan’s Mountain.”

At the top of the “mountain,” there is an open area*. Look for a rock pillar (as opposed to a cement pillar). There is a small thicket behind this rock pillar.

The letterbox is hidden in the heart of a tree in this small thicket. You’ll have to move a piece of wood away to find it.

Bring your own inkpad, and be sure to leave the letterbox well hidden when you’re finished.

*Note to all: this is an unleashed area, so there are lots of dogs about (and lots of poop, unfortunately). The walk up the “mountain” is steep. If you don’t like dogs or aren’t up for the climb, get out your Edmonton Transit map and find bus stop 7720. The open area is behind this bus stop.