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Big Oak LbNA #63721

Owner:Walkabout
Plant date:Dec 14, 2012
Location:
City:Live Oak
County:Suwannee
State:Florida
Boxes:1
Found by: Team JSABAIL
Last found:Jun 24, 2016
Status:FFFF
Last edited:Feb 19, 2017
See Atlasquest link above for the pix associated with this letterbox clue


NOTE EFFECTIVE 2/8/2016:
The Big Oak Trail and Florida Trail have changed radically since this box was first hidden in 2012. Kirbert alerted us of these changes; here is an edited excerpt of his findings/thoughts...

"The following map shows the trails the way I [Kirbert] found them:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1fmFnw3zYZy2Zg5ngXo5GnF2Rf94&hl=en&ll=30.38613923050581%2C-83.17600361907961&z=16
-- except that it's rather inaccurate, the blue-blazed trail from the parking area meets the Florida Trail at the sharp bend in the Florida Trail, not farther south as shown. And this map doesn't show the maroon-blazed trail at all, the trail where your box is evidently hiding.

"When driving into the parking area, the blue-blazed trail goes straight ahead off the end of the parking area. A few yards into the woods it turns right and parallels the railroad for a while, then bends left as it meets the Florida Trail. The blue-blazed trail follows the Florida Trail to the left. No #1 sign.

"There is another trail leaving the parking area, to the left as you drive into the parking lot. This trail has maroon blazes -- but it's going in the direction indicated on your map! And, also according to your map, you'd eventually hit the Florida Trail, and you'd have to turn right on it to continue on the Big Oak Trail. Evidently not only has the Big Oak Trail been rerouted, so has the Florida Trail!

"Tell finders to take the trail with the maroon blazes. There are no trail names evident from the parking area anyway. The #1 sign is probably gone, as is the sawn log. The box is probably under bricks against the trail side of a large tree on the S side of the trail, somewhere between the parking area and the first intersection with another trail."
_______
Original Clue:
This letterbox is not located in a state park, but it is quite close to one. It is less than 100 yards from a parking lot, 1 mile from the state park border, and less than 200 yards south of the intersection of the blue-blazed Big Oak Trail with the orange-blazed Florida Trail. (The arrow on the image shows the approximate box location.)

The Big Oak trail is an 11.2 mile loop of the Florida Trail thru-trail. It’s very scenic and we recommend you hike it, but you do not need to do so to fetch this box.

Here’s how to find the closest parking lot to this letterbox. Travelling west on US 90 northwest of the town of Live Oak FL, pass the Suwannee River State Park entrance and the Florida agricultural inspection station. Cross the Suwannee River on US 90. Make the first right onto NE Drew Way. The trailhead is on the left, before the road ends, at the picnic grounds.

Park in the parking lot and take the Big Oak Trail [but according to Kirbert in 2/2017, take the maroon-blazed trail]. When you get to sign number “1” (see photo; presumably a mile marker), take 22 steps south (back the way you came). You will see a sawn log which crosses the trail, with a large tree on the right. Look in the base of the tree, trail side, to find the box. Be sure to replace the bricks on top of the box after stamping in, and obscure the box from views.

If while hiking you come to where the blue blazes of the Big Oak Trail meet the orange blazes of the Florida Trail, you’ve gone past the letterbox! If however you are at trails’ intersection and you would like to continue hiking, be sure to turn right (north) to continue on the Big Oak Trail/Florida Trail. The park office and several kiosks around the park have a map of the trail.
NOTE: Before you set out you must read and agree to the Waiver of Responsibility and Disclaimer.