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Pencil Pusher LbNA #6260 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:HLRG Wood Thrush
Plant date:Oct 30, 2003
Location:
City:College Park
County:Prince George's
State:Maryland
Boxes:1
Found by: HLRG Wood Thrush
Last found:Mar 14, 2014
Status:aFFFFFFFFFFFFFFOr
Last edited:Oct 30, 2003
The original placement of this box was done by LaChola in 2003. Wood Thrush and Whisper Foot, members of the Historic Letterbox Restoration Group, have kindly adopted and restored this box. Because the original box had gone missing, this is a replacement box with new stamp recarved from the original image. The hiding spot is essentially the same but slightly improved. Clues are essentially the same, just updated where landmarks have changed. Now on with the clues!

All roads lead to Rome, and all University of Maryland letterbox clues lead from the statue of Testudo in front of McKeldin library. If you box after 4 pm on weekdays or on the weekend you can park in many of the restricted lots. Just read each parking lot sign carefully for the restrictions. Click here to link to campus and parking maps.

(All distances and cardinal directions are approximate)

Joe Student needed help! His engineering lab partner had been assigned to build a better mousetrap, but he got stuck with the task of building a better mouse! He had searched McKeldin Library in vain for a book to help him with this project, but to no avail. He needed the advice of a live expert. He didn't have much time to complete the project either. How much time? He strolled about a hundred yards east of the library to check the clock. He only had a few hours LEFT!

He walked briskly that way, between two very tall statues, until he came to the main road. Off in the distance, he saw a building that seemed to mock him. But no--he was not going crazy! He was still in his RIGHT mind.

As he turned down the street, he passed another library, but he knew books would not help him. Then, he came to a huge turning point in his journey. He did not want to just go around and around in circles now! He did the only thing that was LEFT to do. He passed a rocky spot, then a place where they engineered plants, but no place where they engineered animals. Then he passed a lot of cars, and felt he was really on the RIGHT track now!

He passed the four columns of the JMP, thought he heard the sound of engines revving, and turned LEFT on an impulse. At first he thought he was mistaken. This was all garbage! But he kept moving, and soon saw where the race cars were being built.

The path he was on crossed a small street and then went no further. A small voice told him he was near. He looked around for signs he was in the right place... and then he saw it! He was indeed somewhere where he might find an expert to help him build a better mouse. Hmmm. He wasn't about to go dumpster diving, and he certainly didn't want to get towed away. So he LEFT that place, thinking the main entrance had to be just around the corner of the building up ahead. As he walked, he searched his pockets for a pencil, knowing he'd want to take notes. But he came up empty! Where could he find a pencil? There! A nice, tall holly tree. Curious, he checked to make sure there was no one else around and walked beneath it. Looking just above his head, curled around a branch, he found what he was seeking.

If you've followed this rambling clue this far, congratulations! Please be sure to close the lid of the film canister tightly when you are through and make sure it is securely fastened. Then place this tree ornament exactly as you found it. Be very stealthy as this is a busy campus.

Hike Length: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 50 feet