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Tortoise and the Silly Hare LbNA #54808

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jul 28, 2010
Location:
City:???
County:Door
State:Wisconsin
Boxes:0
Planted by:Tiptoe & Tonto
Found by: ???
Last found:Jun 9, 2015
Status:FFFFFFF
Last edited:Aug 2, 2018
As a child, Tiptoe’s favorite book was Aesop Fables. Aesop was an ex-slave who happened to have a great knack for storytelling. So much so, that he became an ambassador for King Croesus of Lydia around 560 BC. His fables were used not only as a teaching tool, but also in cases of diplomacy. Unfortunately, on one such occasion Aesop was sent to Delphi as a political messenger, but his oratorical skill could not override a death sentence he was given, and he was thrown over a cliff to his death. But, his animal stories have survived throughout the ages...until this generation. Sadly, very few children today are inspired by the application and morals of Aesop Fables. Following is a small attempt to change that.

Make your way to the Bay named after a Continent via a road with the same name. You will come to a very small parking lot on the south side of road about 2 blocks from the beach. You will see a park sign. You can park (only 2 spots) here if you have a park pass. Across the road on the north side you will see the starting location of the clues by a stone arch (there is also a wooden black and white painted sign that reads, “Snow Plow Rt. No Parking” on a nearby tree). Otherwise, there is free parking down at the beach, but you will have to hike back up to this place. You will pass other crossing/camping site trails, but the one you want has a stone arch on the north side of road!

Hike length: Approximately 3 miles roundtrip - give yourself 2 to 3 hours to stop and enjoy the views along the way/play at the beach. (Took us 2 hours to plant) Not stroller friendly. Children should be watched closely around roots/rocks/dropoffs/cliffs to lake. We did see a few snakes while planting, consider yourself warned.

Aesop Fable: The Tortoise and the Hare
CLUES:
One day in a small parking lot a group of animals were listening to Silly Hare as he kept teasing Tortoise about how slow she was at hiking. Now Tortoise, by nature is a very patient creature, but on this particular day she had had enough and challenged him to a foot race.
“Are you kidding!” he mocked. “Snail challenged me three years ago and she is still somewhere out there on the trail, you will do no better!” he sneered.
Tortoise did not acknowledge neither his ridicule of her nor of her friend Snail, but simply pointed to the stone arch across the road and said, “Let’s get on with the race.”

Fox was appointed the official starter, and not wanting to waste any more time, he quickly lined them up at the arch and shouted, “On your marks.... Get set.... GO!”

Hare dashed off in no time leaving poor Tortoise in the dust. He ran on the straight path, not even looking back to see how Tortoise was coming along until he reached a 4-foot high lichen covered stump on his left. He then noticed about 4 steps beyond the stump a “Y-trunked” white cedar tree. He thought he saw a reflection of himself coming from behind the base of that cedar. Being so enamored with himself, he took a few minutes to check it out.

After admiring himself in the reflection, he continued on the straight path until he came to a “Y” with a trail sign. He didn’t hesitate a minute before deciding to race on to the right. Before long he came to a “T” in the path with another “You are here” sign. He thought he heard waves splashing off to his right and decided to go about 65 steps in that direction to a sandy path on his left. Seeing the beautiful beach, he followed that sandy path down to the beach and circled around a large clump of 7 and 1/2 birch trees that he saw a little off to his right. Once inside the clump, he spied a fallen birch log where he decided to rest. After all, he thought Tortoise was probably just now getting away from the arch. It would have been a "bonus" had he known the moral of the story at this point....but alas, he decided to sleep the day away thinking he had plenty of time to rest and beat Tortoise to the finish line.

In the meantime, while Hare is napping, Tortoise has caught up with him and sees him fast asleep. She, on the other hand, has the bonus of knowing the moral of the story. After enjoying the beach she decides to return up the sandy path and back to the “You are here sign”. From there she continues on the trail in a northerly direction plodding along until she comes to a small “Y” in the path to a sign at a “T” (and even though going left on the H--Z trail might be a shortcut to the finish line, she knows best, and chooses to go right.

Soon she is tempted to take a break at a beach access, but instead plods along. No time to camp at site #16. Further on, she is obedient and stays out after reading the “Not a trail sign” and continues north at her own pace. She finally comes to a trail sign and another “Y” in the path, and liking challenges, chooses the high road up the slight hill. She comes to a convenient bench where she stopped to take a water break and to look out over the water, but didn’t dally long and continued north to another bench, and shortly after, a trail sign with another gorgeous view to the right. She reminded herself to be very careful as she admires the scenery! She also noted 4 wooden square signs on the post below the map. The top square was a painted square - she noted what color( square now missing - it was white) it was thinking she might need to know that later on in the race. It dawned on her that she was halfway through her race. She took the trail in the direction that the arrow pointed.

She came upon another sign with with an arrow pointing in the direction she just came. She complied and went left. She went past a closed area on her right, as well as, another trail off to her right claimed by #14, and #15 campsites. Soon another “Y” with a sign. This time she opted to go off right.

Slow and steady she hiked on until she thought she saw water up ahead. Coming closer to a lake’s edge, the trail turned left and she was so happy to see a nice little bench immediately on her left in which to rest. While sitting there enjoying the quiet water, she thought she heard a faint voice calling from an 8 foot dead stump off to her right closer to the water’s edge. As she looked at the base under a rock there she found her long lost friend Snail. They caught up on all that had happened in the 3 years since they last saw each other, including discussing the antics of Silly Hare. As much as they were enjoying each other’s company, they both agreed that Tortoise must continue on as Hare surely was awake and back on the trail by now.

She said adieu to Snail and heads southward with the water on her right. In a while she comes to a 4-way crossing which she continues straight through following the lower arrow. She passes a bench on her right and slowly carries on.

Fox comes rushing up the trail to tell her that they have moved the finish line in order to prevent the Silly Hare from cutting over and claiming to win the race. He tells her to start looking for roots and rocks in the trail. In that area, she will see the real finish line at an unmarked trail off to the right. She will know it is the correct trail if she sees a stump on the right, but the left of the unmarked trail entry. He also tells her that if she passes 2 V's on the left and right side of the main trail, she has missed the unmarked trail! A crowd has gathered at the faint unmarked path to tell her that just 40 steps down that unmarked path lies the real “finish line”. She will recognize it as it is the same color as the painted square on the sign post at the half way mark.(white tree) behind the stump. She follows the path sighting the finish line. She slowly crosses over and goes to it’s base. There she is pronounced the winner of the race!

After signing into the official register, she makes her way back to the cheering crowd on the main trail and they continue to lead her southward past the cut-off sign and trail pointing the way to the beach where she last saw the Hare sleeping. They continue southward back to the triumphant arch singing and laughing at the Silly Hare thinking he could win the race.

In case you missed it...the moral of the story is:
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE

We would love to know if you finish the race.