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The Viking Family Vacation Series - Part One LbNA #41137

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jun 22, 2008
Location:
City:North East
County:Cecil
State:Maryland
Boxes:2
Planted by:ghost & o.w.l.
Found by: MomofBoys
Last found:May 3, 2015
Status:FFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Jun 22, 2008
(EDIT: 9/22/08. Unfortunately, the first box in the series went missing and will need to be recarved. We will get to this as soon as possible. The second box was checked and maintained on 9/21/08 and is in good condition.)

This series of 2 boxes are hidden in the Camping area of Elk Neck State Park, North East, MD. Take Rt 272 through the town of North East and into the park. About 8 miles from I-95. Turn left into the camping/ park store area. You do not have to pay the daily use fee if you tell them you are just coming to hike the trail.

The boxes are located on the Pond Loop, which begins behind the park store. Park in the store lot and begin your hike. I recommend bug repellent and a good tick check when you get back to your vehicle. A compass might be useful but is not necessary.

The trail is rated "easy", but is slightly overgrown and can be steep. I would rate it as moderate.

The Viking Family Vacation Series, Part 1

The Viking Family – Mom, Dad, and three sons – are on holiday, a week of camping at Elk Neck State Park. Day three and nerves are frayed. Dad wants a moment to himself. He’s not sure whose idea the trip was but if he doesn’t find ice to refill the cooler soon that evening’s beer will be warm. Mom wants everyone to get along. And then let her check them for ticks. The oldest son, “S,” of indeterminate age, let’s just say surly teen, wants, well, what all surly teens want: for this vacation to be over so he can get back to his friends and his girlfriend (Unfortunately for him, someone “forgot” the charger for his ipod which means he’s got less than an hour of solace left). “B” is 7, and “J” is 9. They’re having a ball. In fact seconds after Dad steps into the Camp Store, Mom sees them racing off toward the Green Trail. She follows while Dad and “S,” ice melting, wait in the car.

BOX #1
A few yards in, “J” and his brother ignore the trail that shoots off to the left and stay straight on the green trail, quickly outpacing Mom. After some walking, she notes the slender, low-hanging trees that close in on the path. Her reverie is broken by a split in the trail but rarely is her 7 or her 9 year-old quiet for long, and sure enough she hears shouts ahead. She continues straight, glancing both left and right at paths not taken. (She sighs slightly.) Steps lead to a small wooden bridge, and here she catches sight of “B,” stopped at last, 4 Steps past the bridge. “Mom,” he says pointing to the right, “J’s gone off trail.” Sure enough, 15 Steps into a small clearing “J” stands, something clutched to his chest. “Don’t look,” he yells, before scrambling up the slope at 165 degrees. “Always looking for fallen trees,” Mom thinks to herself, “Always.” Sure enough, she sees “J” tuck something in the V between the downed tree and its upright counterpart.

BOX #2
By the time “J” has returned to the trail, “B” has taken off. Mom barely has time to take in the lake to the left, which comes into view at various breaks in the trees that line the shore. At the lake’s end the trail abruptly stops at a T, one path wrapping left toward the water, the other promising shade. And a bench. To her delight “B” chooses the latter. Mom sits down for a moment while behind her “B” clambers into the woods to examine the 4 in 1 that shades the bench more closely. He quickly gives up his search for ancient coded messages carved into the bark in favor of walking, tippy-top, on the fallen tree “J” has once again been drawn too. But “B”’s interest, unlike his brother’s, is less bug-centric, and he follows the log to a small 2-in-1 behind which he hides a secret message of his own.

As dusk falls, even “J” begins to be bothered by the mosquitoes, and the three Viking family members continue on and are soon happy to find the trail’s end. They follow the paved road to the right - always heading right, past a playground, and soon arrive back to the family car. The ipod’s battery is dead.

Remember to check out “Jessica’s Birthday Box” on the White Trail. Mom says, "that Jessica, she sounds like such a nice girl. I always wanted a daughter."