Boards And Bridges LbNA #3914

BOARDS AND BRIDGES Manayunk, PA This box was adopted by the wonderful Raindears (trainear@comcast.net) in January 2004. I would still love to know how it's doing, though. :) Difficulty: Easy Time: About 1.5 hours round trip Place: Manayunk Canal towpath Bonus: Starts on spiffy Main Street, home of many fine restaurants and trendy shops Starting Directions: From 76, take exit 338 (Belmont Ave./Green Ln.). At the bottom of the ramp, turn L (if coming from 76E) or R (if coming from 76W) onto Green Lane and drive over the bridge to the stoplight at Main Street. Turn R on Main and find parking in any of the paid lots or on the street itself. The hunt starts from Canal Park, located near the Green Lane intersection at around 4416 Main Street. It is a cleared brick space with benches and a sculpture facing a mural of 2 boats across the canal. Go down the steps to the towpath that runs along the canal and turn to your right. The rest of the clue will take you from there. Happy hunting! Pico pico@writesofnight.net -------------------------------------------- They say that the river has stories to tell Of men with their boatloads of textiles to sell Who used it to get all the way to the town A full boat on up and a light one back down. I know, for I lived here, the way that it was And why the wind whispers the way that it does Across the still river and over the lands Deep into the wood where my old house still stands, So that is the place, if you’ll follow this clue, That I will describe and come visit with you. We’ll go under each bridge and over each board To the house I called home and its hush-hidden hoard. Enough. We have quite a good journey to go. Come down to the boardwalk. Start walking. And so Past the mural-tiled zoo on the wall to the right And on to the bridge at Green Lane. Keep in sight The path where the boards end, and go on from there, Past the Lev’rington sign. But watch out – take care Not to go up the side trail that leads to the street. Stay close to the river and stay on your feet. Now a boardwalk approaches. Go over. You’ll see On your right hand, a circle, where water spills free And then you will walk under bridge number two And the path will continue. To the left, mark the view Across the brown river, of Namico Soap. It once was a factory, and then there was hope When all of its commerce had shut for the night To make it apartments like those on your right. But that is no matter. Go on, and you’ll cross Another short bridge made of boardwalk and moss With a waterfall gushing just off the right side That leads to a dirt path with nothing to hide. Now follow this path for a while, and then, Where the trail seems to split, take the left fork again, And follow the boardwalk from foot-end to head Under a steel bridge they have painted bright red. To your right is a building, and then a small wall All covered in colorful scribbling scrawl. Ignore it. It is an offense to the eye. And go on instead to the boardwalk bridge nigh Past the circle spill water and back to the trail And walk for a while on the dirt. Do not fail To notice the trees, and the rocks, and the birds. When I lived here I thought them too special for words. Anyway: on we go. We are getting quite near. Cross over the next boardwalk bridge. Then, from here, Take a very few steps on the dirt and you’ll find The last bridge made of boards. Leave the trail, now, behind, And look to your right through the bushes and trees. You will see what is left of my house. If you please To come to the front door, and through the wood frame, Then welcome inside, worthy stranger. My name Was Matthew Young Kent, and I lived here alone. See the holes that were windows set high in the stone? And the gap in the back wall that once held a door? Ah, if we had time, I could show you much more… But you have been patient, and you have been kind. You’ve come with me all the way here, and you’ll find There is something to prove that you followed the track. From the front door, proceed to the wall in the back And in its right side, find a hole that is square. The box that you seek lies a-waiting in there. It is hid behind stones so that those passing through Will not find it. No, no – it was put there for you. Will you stay for a while? There is much I could tell, I’d show you, in back, the remains of my well, I dug it one summer, each stone set by hand… But you must be going? I quite understand. It is simple to do. You just retrace the way That we took coming here when we set out today. Just follow the river to back where we met. And thank you for coming to visit. I get So few traveling people to visit me here. And this was a pleasure. So, if you are near This place in the future, stop in for a spell. I hope you enjoyed it. Godspeed, and farewell!