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Franklin's Fowl LbNA #56654

Owner:Wisconsin Hiker
Plant date:Nov 25, 2010
Location:
City:Smyrna
County:Rutherford
State:Tennessee
Boxes:1
Found by: hank_goodness
Last found:Mar 30, 2014
Status:FFF
Last edited:May 15, 2016
Last found/checked: 25-NOV-10

Distance: Approximately 2 miles roundtrip.

Terrain: Varied trail surfaces through prairies & wooded areas. Portions may be flooded after heavy rains.

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin didn’t think the national bird of the USA should have been the Bald Eagle? In 1784 he wrote a letter to his daughter and said this about the eagle: “... he is a bird of bad moral character, he does not get his living honestly... Besides he is a rank coward; the little kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district.”

He thought the turkey had far more noble qualities and that the turkey would have been a better alternative: “...the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America . . . a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on.”

We planted this box on Thanksgiving Day and actually saw 15+ live turkeys on a nearby trail, so keep your eyes open!

Where do you need to go to find this heroic bird? Solve this puzzle to reveal your starting location.

www.letterboxing.homestead.com/franklins_fowl.html

Some turkeys may trot about in the picnic area, but the smart bird knew that if he wanted to escape from being a roast turkey, he should head along the marked trail that heads north. He passed a post that means nothing, but kept an eye out for some white marks. He rested on a bench then exclaimed: Gobble, Gobble I see half a milestone! He continued on, with his wattle swinging as he waddled through open meadows and a cedar forest. Along the way he stopped for a drink in the creek that passed through a culvert. He was hoping to avoid the Pilgrims as he cautiously crossed a wooden bridge and another bench. After this he passed two single pure white diamonds before he reached an open area on the right. He stopped when he reached a tree on his left that was bedecked with a pair of these jewels. He decided it was time to take cover, so he made 20 short hops on a bearing of 280° and then settled within a cluster of four trees.

If you pay him a visit, please be sure to tuck him safely and securely back in his roost.

This is not a loop trail, so you must retrace your steps to return to the parking lot.

We live quite a distance from here, so would really enjoy an email update to let us know how this box is doing. Thanks!

Hike length: 1-2 miles