The Three B's LbNA #37416 (ARCHIVED)

Heading north on 377, immediately after you pass the green highway sign that says "Flower Mound", there is a gravel parking lot to your right. It doesn't look like much, and the entrance to it off of the highway is a little steep and full of potholes, but this is where you can park to get to the Knob Hills Trail trailhead.

"B Number One"

This “B” had 20 kids by two different wives, never travelled further than about 200 miles from his birthplace, and although his accomplishments were far-reaching and influential he was known in his lifetime primarily for being an outstanding organist.

Once you get to the trailhead marker, you will see one main path leading to the left and one leading downhill to the right. Take the downhill path, towards the river. After a short while you will see an electric pole on your left and a small trail leading off to the right. Follow this trail. If you see an old railroad tie on your right, you took the correct path. Right after this railroad tie, the path will split again - stay on the main path to the left and ignore the less-traveled one to the right. This will take you south, to the bank of the river.

Once you get to the riverbank, and especially if you have kids with you, please be careful! The banks are steep. You will see a small trail that follows the edge of the river - walk west along this trail a short way (or further inland if you want to keep your kids further away from the water) until you see an old hollow log right on the edge of the riverbank. Not inside the log, but tucked under some bark on the west side of it, waits B Number One. There's no logbook here, but you can stamp your first B before you head off looking for Number Two.

"B Number Two"

This “B” helped the world transition from the classical period to the romantic period, his grandfather was a chef, and out of seven children he is one of only three who survived infancy. It is suspected that lead poisoning was the cause of his death at the age of 56.

After you've carefully rehidden B Number One, continue following the path as it loops north and follows the eastern side of the highway. As you walk up the path, if you look up by the road you'll see that green highway sign that says "Flower Mound" on your left and a huge metal structure that is holding up a gadzillion electric lines to your right. Over on the concrete, right between the green sign and the electric tower, is a large arching log. On the back side of this log, right in the middle, is a hole that is hiding B Number Two.

"B Number Three"

This “B” was fond of nature and often carried penny candy around to give to children. He was also known for his daily habit of visiting the Red Hedgehog tavern in Vienna.

After rehiding B Number Two, continue on the path. Notice the old bullet-hole-riddled sign that apparently used to say something about rifles being prohibited. Continue on the path back up towards the trailhead.

Now that you're at the top of the hill, head east on the fork of the trail that you didn't go on before. The trail curves and heads downhill past a cedar on the left. Watch out for bikes! Keep following the trail as it heads uphill again, but at the bottom of the hill look for a cedar that is growing right up next to the right-hand edge of the trail. About 32 steps uphill from this cedar you'll see a tree with 5 trunks on your left. This tree is about 10 feet back from the trail. In the middle of this trunkfest you will find B Number Three, hiding under a rock. Watch out for cactus and brambles - you have to circle around to the back of the tree to get in there easily! The logbook is in this box.

Please reseal well and make sure that the rock is covering the box from the trail-side so that hikers won't notice anything odd over there.