The Great American Pin-Up Series: Genevieve LbNA #37917
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Feb 16, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Fox Lake |
| County: | Lake |
| State: | Illinois |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Lock, Shock & Barrel  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | shooting starz |
| Last found: | Aug 29, 2016 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Feb 16, 2008 |
Letterbox Name: The Great American Pin-up Series: Genevieve
Location: Lake County, IL
Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles (on hilly terrain)
Once upon a time, there were eight lovely sisters. They were born in Lake County, Illinois, and were raised in an old farmhouse. They grew tall and strong and, though they loved the home in which they’d been raised, each knew that there would come a time when she would need to go out and find her place in the world.
Genevieve was a stunning and delightful girl, who was able to strike that delicate balance between having her head in the clouds, and her feet on the ground. She was a dreamer, and loved to spend long afternoons wandering in the fields around the house where she and her sisters lived. But what she really wanted most of all was to be near mountains, to explore the foothills and crags, and to look down from the mountaintop at the glorious land below her. Of course, growing up in Lake County, Illinois meant that Genevieve’s experiences had been confined to her daydreams. While she loved the forests and prairies where she’d been raised, she longed for the view from the summit, and knew that one day she would find her home on top of the world.
One morning, while walking in the woods with her sister Savannah, Genevieve looked at the sky to the east, and saw clouds forming along the horizon. “There they are,” said Genevieve with a sad smile. “Those are Lake County’s only mountains.”
Savannah looked at the spot in the sky where Genevieve was looking, and could see the way that the clouds formed lines of blue, purple, and grey peaks. They did look like mountains in the distance. She stopped talking and hugged Genevieve, saying “I just love the way that you see things. I would never have thought of that.” But when she looked into Genevieve’s eyes, she saw that they were full of tears. “What is it, sweetie?”
Genevieve leaned into her sister’s embrace and let herself cry. It wasn’t the desire to see mountains, exactly. Nor was it her frustration with living in a place without stony peaks. It was her increasing understanding that pursuing her dreams would mean leaving her sisters behind.
“You know I want to see mountains. I want to feel my legs ache as I climb to the peak, and feel the wind brushing my face when I reach the top. I don’t know why it’s so important to me, but it is. I’ve gone to visit Carina at work, and those wood and steel contraptions that she works on come close to it. You can ride to the top of a man-made hill and see the mall spread out beneath you. But there are places where the mountains are real, and the world is still untouched down below. And I want to be there. I think I need to be there.”
“I know,” replied Savannah. “You do need to go, because it will make you happy. Even if leaving us is hard. You know we’ll all miss you dearly.”
Genevieve nodded, as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“But you know, Genevieve,” added Savannah. “You’ve never been one to just accept the way things are. Are you sure there isn’t a mountain in Lake County?”
Genevieve looked at her sister with disbelief, and couldn’t help but laugh. But then she thought about it for a minute. It had never occurred to her to look into it. She had just assumed that Lake County would not have more than lakes, forests and fields.
Savannah continued. “’Cause I was talking to Evelyn, and you know she is living in that bookstore now. And they have some old maps of Lake County, and I could swear that I saw something about an actual mountain up near the border.”
Genevieve was becoming more excited by the minute. “Are you sure?” she asked effervescently.
“Well, no, but it’s certainly worth a look when we get home.”
So they walked on. Well, actually Savannah walked and Genevieve skipped, thrilled at the prospect of finding a mountain-home near her sisters.
When the two arrived back at home, Genevieve began to investigate this notion of a mountain in Lake County, and found that yes, indeed, there is a mountain in the northwest corner of the county. She procured a map, knowing that road signs can be misleading, and identified the exact place she wanted to find.
The very next morning, Genevieve packed her things and, along with her sisters Ethel and Raven, made her way from the village of Gurnee in a northwesterly direction. The trio journeyed on United States Route 45 northward until they came across a forest on the west side of the road, near Route 173. Certain that they had found the place which they were destined to call home, Raven and Ethel turned off of the road, and into the parking area. Genevieve, however, decided to continue her trek westward on Route 173 because, she knew it was the quickest way to what she sought.
As she traveled, Genevieve thought momentarily that she had left Lake County, but she checked her map and realized that the McHenry County sign had been placed just a short bit east of the actual border. Shortly after this misleading sign, she turned north and soon spotted the sign for the forest preserve.
She looked east from the parking area, and was thrilled to see ski lifts in the distance. She had found the place. She began walking east toward the ski hills, up a small hill then down into a beautiful valley. At a small birdhouse, she stayed on the trail as it veered to the left, then continued out of the valley, up the mountain’s western slope.
As she left the valley, the trail led onward into a small forest. As Genevieve continued uphill, she could see an intersection ahead of her. When she reached the intersection, she turned left and walked up a slight incline. There, in the ground in front of her, was a small square of concrete that held a marker indicating the mountain’s peak. She looked out over the landscape, grinning from ear to ear. She had found what she was searching for. And she could visit her sisters whenever she wanted.
Genevieve knew, though, that she would need to find a shelter, and the top of the mountain would not offer the protection she needed. So, standing at the Geodetic Survey marker, she took a compass bearing of 225 degrees, and followed the path in that direction, down the southern slope of the mountain. The way was somewhat rocky, so she tread carefully as she walked to the bottom and turned left on the path. After about 200 yards, the path intersected a larger trail, and Genevieve turned right, following the trail around the base of the mountain. When she reached a “T” intersection, she turned westward, walking until she noticed a WARNING sign on her right. Facing the sign, Genevieve took a compass bearing of 44 degrees, and noticed a very intriguing old tree. She knew immediately that the trunk of the tree would be the perfect home for her. She found a cozy nook in the base of the tree trunk, behind a large piece of wood.
And that night, as she got ready for bed, she covered herself with bark and leaves, and dreamt of exploring Lake County’s only mountain and, just maybe, making her way over to those ski hills.
********************************************************
The Great American Pin-up series is, first and foremost, a celebration of the style, femininity, and fun of pin-up art over the years. While great care was taken to select images that would not offend, it’s worth noting that some letterboxers, including those traveling with younger children, might find the images to be “rated PG”. That said, we hope that you enjoy the images as much as we’ve enjoyed selecting and carving them.
Please note: The stamps are a bit large, and will require a 4”x 6” space for stamping. We also strongly recommend inking pens, to bring out the full detail of the stamps.
Location: Lake County, IL
Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles (on hilly terrain)
Once upon a time, there were eight lovely sisters. They were born in Lake County, Illinois, and were raised in an old farmhouse. They grew tall and strong and, though they loved the home in which they’d been raised, each knew that there would come a time when she would need to go out and find her place in the world.
Genevieve was a stunning and delightful girl, who was able to strike that delicate balance between having her head in the clouds, and her feet on the ground. She was a dreamer, and loved to spend long afternoons wandering in the fields around the house where she and her sisters lived. But what she really wanted most of all was to be near mountains, to explore the foothills and crags, and to look down from the mountaintop at the glorious land below her. Of course, growing up in Lake County, Illinois meant that Genevieve’s experiences had been confined to her daydreams. While she loved the forests and prairies where she’d been raised, she longed for the view from the summit, and knew that one day she would find her home on top of the world.
One morning, while walking in the woods with her sister Savannah, Genevieve looked at the sky to the east, and saw clouds forming along the horizon. “There they are,” said Genevieve with a sad smile. “Those are Lake County’s only mountains.”
Savannah looked at the spot in the sky where Genevieve was looking, and could see the way that the clouds formed lines of blue, purple, and grey peaks. They did look like mountains in the distance. She stopped talking and hugged Genevieve, saying “I just love the way that you see things. I would never have thought of that.” But when she looked into Genevieve’s eyes, she saw that they were full of tears. “What is it, sweetie?”
Genevieve leaned into her sister’s embrace and let herself cry. It wasn’t the desire to see mountains, exactly. Nor was it her frustration with living in a place without stony peaks. It was her increasing understanding that pursuing her dreams would mean leaving her sisters behind.
“You know I want to see mountains. I want to feel my legs ache as I climb to the peak, and feel the wind brushing my face when I reach the top. I don’t know why it’s so important to me, but it is. I’ve gone to visit Carina at work, and those wood and steel contraptions that she works on come close to it. You can ride to the top of a man-made hill and see the mall spread out beneath you. But there are places where the mountains are real, and the world is still untouched down below. And I want to be there. I think I need to be there.”
“I know,” replied Savannah. “You do need to go, because it will make you happy. Even if leaving us is hard. You know we’ll all miss you dearly.”
Genevieve nodded, as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“But you know, Genevieve,” added Savannah. “You’ve never been one to just accept the way things are. Are you sure there isn’t a mountain in Lake County?”
Genevieve looked at her sister with disbelief, and couldn’t help but laugh. But then she thought about it for a minute. It had never occurred to her to look into it. She had just assumed that Lake County would not have more than lakes, forests and fields.
Savannah continued. “’Cause I was talking to Evelyn, and you know she is living in that bookstore now. And they have some old maps of Lake County, and I could swear that I saw something about an actual mountain up near the border.”
Genevieve was becoming more excited by the minute. “Are you sure?” she asked effervescently.
“Well, no, but it’s certainly worth a look when we get home.”
So they walked on. Well, actually Savannah walked and Genevieve skipped, thrilled at the prospect of finding a mountain-home near her sisters.
When the two arrived back at home, Genevieve began to investigate this notion of a mountain in Lake County, and found that yes, indeed, there is a mountain in the northwest corner of the county. She procured a map, knowing that road signs can be misleading, and identified the exact place she wanted to find.
The very next morning, Genevieve packed her things and, along with her sisters Ethel and Raven, made her way from the village of Gurnee in a northwesterly direction. The trio journeyed on United States Route 45 northward until they came across a forest on the west side of the road, near Route 173. Certain that they had found the place which they were destined to call home, Raven and Ethel turned off of the road, and into the parking area. Genevieve, however, decided to continue her trek westward on Route 173 because, she knew it was the quickest way to what she sought.
As she traveled, Genevieve thought momentarily that she had left Lake County, but she checked her map and realized that the McHenry County sign had been placed just a short bit east of the actual border. Shortly after this misleading sign, she turned north and soon spotted the sign for the forest preserve.
She looked east from the parking area, and was thrilled to see ski lifts in the distance. She had found the place. She began walking east toward the ski hills, up a small hill then down into a beautiful valley. At a small birdhouse, she stayed on the trail as it veered to the left, then continued out of the valley, up the mountain’s western slope.
As she left the valley, the trail led onward into a small forest. As Genevieve continued uphill, she could see an intersection ahead of her. When she reached the intersection, she turned left and walked up a slight incline. There, in the ground in front of her, was a small square of concrete that held a marker indicating the mountain’s peak. She looked out over the landscape, grinning from ear to ear. She had found what she was searching for. And she could visit her sisters whenever she wanted.
Genevieve knew, though, that she would need to find a shelter, and the top of the mountain would not offer the protection she needed. So, standing at the Geodetic Survey marker, she took a compass bearing of 225 degrees, and followed the path in that direction, down the southern slope of the mountain. The way was somewhat rocky, so she tread carefully as she walked to the bottom and turned left on the path. After about 200 yards, the path intersected a larger trail, and Genevieve turned right, following the trail around the base of the mountain. When she reached a “T” intersection, she turned westward, walking until she noticed a WARNING sign on her right. Facing the sign, Genevieve took a compass bearing of 44 degrees, and noticed a very intriguing old tree. She knew immediately that the trunk of the tree would be the perfect home for her. She found a cozy nook in the base of the tree trunk, behind a large piece of wood.
And that night, as she got ready for bed, she covered herself with bark and leaves, and dreamt of exploring Lake County’s only mountain and, just maybe, making her way over to those ski hills.
********************************************************
The Great American Pin-up series is, first and foremost, a celebration of the style, femininity, and fun of pin-up art over the years. While great care was taken to select images that would not offend, it’s worth noting that some letterboxers, including those traveling with younger children, might find the images to be “rated PG”. That said, we hope that you enjoy the images as much as we’ve enjoyed selecting and carving them.
Please note: The stamps are a bit large, and will require a 4”x 6” space for stamping. We also strongly recommend inking pens, to bring out the full detail of the stamps.