Enter Middle-earth: Magic Mission Special Edition! LbNA #65689
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Add Location| Owner: | Marissa Moon  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Sep 1, 2013 |
| Location: | Viewpoint Neighborhood Park |
| City: | Redmond |
| County: | King |
| State: | Washington |
| Boxes: | 3 |
| Found by: | laboom (3) |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jul 6, 2014 |
| Status: | OFFFa |
| Last edited: | Sep 1, 2013 |
Enter Middle-earth: A Special Edition Magic Mission Letterbox Set ~ CLUES
Planted by: Marissa Moon and her dad, MoonPop, on 9/1/13
Active as of: 12/26/13
This letterbox threesome is in fact a tribute to J.R.R. Tolkein's fictional world of Middle-earth and it's epic inhabitants, including the Ents of Fangorn Forest (of whom just one is particularly famous - he goes by Treebeard :D), the Hobbits of the Shire, and the dragons of old. My words are my own, and I intend no infringement on any of Tolkein's copyrighted works or their legal adaptations.
- Gloves (gardening, kitchen, etc...) are recommended for this mission, as letterboxes are concealed within trees.
If you remember your last mission to the realm of the elves, (See 'Lonely Letterbox: the Third Magic Mission' for more info) you will recall that the last remnants of their domain lies in a little-known patch of land called Keeney Park. The park to which your mission takes you today is quite possibly even less familiar to the general population, and certainly a bit more remote. It is called Viewpoint Park, and is situatiated on the fringe of the Bellevue/Redmond city lines but just on the Redmond side (NE 24th comes close to being an almost spot on city border). So yes, technically we are in a very residental part of Redmond, although it is not even as far away from Bellevue as is Marymoor.
Formal directions: [NOTE: This may be a difficult park to find - we strongly encourage you to look it up online/on a map/use a GPS - however it does have parking at the residential entrance.] From SR-520, take 148th Avenue NE south. Turn left on NE 24th Street.* Stay on NE 24th all the way to West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE. Note: You will have passed Viewpoint Park on the left, however these directions are to the main parking area and the mission start point. At West Lk. Samm. Pkway NE, take a left. Take the first left after that onto NE 27th Street. At the 'T' intersection, take a right onto 186th Ave NE. This road curves around to the left and turns into 185th Ave NE. You will find parking and the park itself at the end of 185th Ave NE.
Viewpoint Park is a perfect oasis for anyone seeking solitude and natural beauty. With manageable nature trails that can't really be classified as hikes, the kids won't get worn out exploring the park. Unless of course they head for the play area or swings! Older kids and couples can have fun playing pickleball or basketball (there is also a backboard to practice solo) and the park has a good-sized field for Frisbee or tag. The park is quite hidden in the residential neighborhood, surrounded by trees, and offers peace to relax, reflect, or play. I very much enjoyed Viewpoint, and was stunned by the beauty of the area in which we planted the boxes.
***
The Hobbits of the Shire, while not usually inclined towards exploring, have organized an expedition of Fangorn Forest. They are entranced by stories that some Hobbits may have had ancestors there, of the dragons that are rumored to still lurk amongst the trees, and of three tiny treasures long lost in the woods. They wish for you to be their honored guest! Will you accompany them?...
From the parking lot, head down the path towards the basketball courts. To the right of the courts are a bench and a garbage can. Between them is a trail head, lightly marked with a log trail border on the right. This is your entrance into Middle-earth!
Enter Middle-earth and Fangorn Forest...
Follow alongside the three lengths of wood trail borders. At their end, turn right into the forest. Head straight ahead, about sixteen paces, passing through a clearing where Hobbits might have made merry in the Elder Days. You come to a warped tree with four twining trunks. At its base is a deep hollow. The Hobbits believe a bright pink treasure is hidden here...
Also in this area make sure to note the Ent tree off to your right that looks as if it could spring alive at any second, with all it's knotted roots, and the dragon's den just over the rise straight ahead.
Make sure to sign, stamp, and conceal the pink treasure carefully. Next, facing the tree where the pink treasure hides, turn left and move through the expanse of sword ferns till you rejoin with the main trail. You should see two more wooden trail borders just to your left forming a corner, and a large tree just ahead of you. Walk straight, and pass this tree to the left.
Keep walking straight, stepping over the tree root that angles down into the ground, and you should quickly arrive at a tree with a mass of tangled roots that are grasping onto a log. Somewhere within the folds of these roots that lay draped over the log, the Hobbits say a bright aqua treasure is concealed.
Also take a moment to look straight up and appreciate the beautiful, sun-kissed canopy of the forest.
Make sure to sign, stamp, and conceal the aqua treasure carefully. Moving on, return to the main trail and follow it downhill. Perhaps ancient Hobbits once carted their farmed goods and wares down this little path.
Once you reach the tree which has been burned out by a dragon, stop. This part is a little tricky because you don't notice the scorched affects of the dragon's fire on the tree until after you have passed it - you have to turn back in order to see it.
You should now be paused in your mission between the burned out tree and a stump. Turn to your right and leave the path through another break in the trail border. Out ahead of you are two trees that look as if they are actually just one, yet their bark is different. The smaller one leans away in a curve from the larger, erect one. Go to it.
You will notice right away the distinct hollow set into its lower trunk. The Hobbit's final treasure (green) is thought to be hidden here.
As an added layer of intrigue, we challenge you to find the water! You should have noticed it's soft murmur from about the time you found the second treasure.
Make sure to sign, stamp, and conceal the final treasure carefully!
Meander back out of Fangorn Forest or better yet, explore even more! Perhaps you'll see Treebeard. The Hobbits thank you - Frodo, Sam, and the Fellowship would be proud!
***
Congratulations! You have found all of the Hobbit's treasure and explored Middle-earth besides! We hope you enjoyed this Special Edition Magic Mission Letterbox Set, and we encourage you to explore our other plantings in the Bellevue/Redmond/Issaquah area. Also, we love messages and feedback, so please don't hesitate!
Vive fantasy!
Marissa Moon and her dad, MoonPop
*Courtesy:http://parkstrails.myparksandrecreation.com/details.aspx?pid=132
Copyright 2014 - This is an original work. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied or reproduced in anyway without the author's express permission.
Planted by: Marissa Moon and her dad, MoonPop, on 9/1/13
Active as of: 12/26/13
This letterbox threesome is in fact a tribute to J.R.R. Tolkein's fictional world of Middle-earth and it's epic inhabitants, including the Ents of Fangorn Forest (of whom just one is particularly famous - he goes by Treebeard :D), the Hobbits of the Shire, and the dragons of old. My words are my own, and I intend no infringement on any of Tolkein's copyrighted works or their legal adaptations.
- Gloves (gardening, kitchen, etc...) are recommended for this mission, as letterboxes are concealed within trees.
If you remember your last mission to the realm of the elves, (See 'Lonely Letterbox: the Third Magic Mission' for more info) you will recall that the last remnants of their domain lies in a little-known patch of land called Keeney Park. The park to which your mission takes you today is quite possibly even less familiar to the general population, and certainly a bit more remote. It is called Viewpoint Park, and is situatiated on the fringe of the Bellevue/Redmond city lines but just on the Redmond side (NE 24th comes close to being an almost spot on city border). So yes, technically we are in a very residental part of Redmond, although it is not even as far away from Bellevue as is Marymoor.
Formal directions: [NOTE: This may be a difficult park to find - we strongly encourage you to look it up online/on a map/use a GPS - however it does have parking at the residential entrance.] From SR-520, take 148th Avenue NE south. Turn left on NE 24th Street.* Stay on NE 24th all the way to West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE. Note: You will have passed Viewpoint Park on the left, however these directions are to the main parking area and the mission start point. At West Lk. Samm. Pkway NE, take a left. Take the first left after that onto NE 27th Street. At the 'T' intersection, take a right onto 186th Ave NE. This road curves around to the left and turns into 185th Ave NE. You will find parking and the park itself at the end of 185th Ave NE.
Viewpoint Park is a perfect oasis for anyone seeking solitude and natural beauty. With manageable nature trails that can't really be classified as hikes, the kids won't get worn out exploring the park. Unless of course they head for the play area or swings! Older kids and couples can have fun playing pickleball or basketball (there is also a backboard to practice solo) and the park has a good-sized field for Frisbee or tag. The park is quite hidden in the residential neighborhood, surrounded by trees, and offers peace to relax, reflect, or play. I very much enjoyed Viewpoint, and was stunned by the beauty of the area in which we planted the boxes.
***
The Hobbits of the Shire, while not usually inclined towards exploring, have organized an expedition of Fangorn Forest. They are entranced by stories that some Hobbits may have had ancestors there, of the dragons that are rumored to still lurk amongst the trees, and of three tiny treasures long lost in the woods. They wish for you to be their honored guest! Will you accompany them?...
From the parking lot, head down the path towards the basketball courts. To the right of the courts are a bench and a garbage can. Between them is a trail head, lightly marked with a log trail border on the right. This is your entrance into Middle-earth!
Enter Middle-earth and Fangorn Forest...
Follow alongside the three lengths of wood trail borders. At their end, turn right into the forest. Head straight ahead, about sixteen paces, passing through a clearing where Hobbits might have made merry in the Elder Days. You come to a warped tree with four twining trunks. At its base is a deep hollow. The Hobbits believe a bright pink treasure is hidden here...
Also in this area make sure to note the Ent tree off to your right that looks as if it could spring alive at any second, with all it's knotted roots, and the dragon's den just over the rise straight ahead.
Make sure to sign, stamp, and conceal the pink treasure carefully. Next, facing the tree where the pink treasure hides, turn left and move through the expanse of sword ferns till you rejoin with the main trail. You should see two more wooden trail borders just to your left forming a corner, and a large tree just ahead of you. Walk straight, and pass this tree to the left.
Keep walking straight, stepping over the tree root that angles down into the ground, and you should quickly arrive at a tree with a mass of tangled roots that are grasping onto a log. Somewhere within the folds of these roots that lay draped over the log, the Hobbits say a bright aqua treasure is concealed.
Also take a moment to look straight up and appreciate the beautiful, sun-kissed canopy of the forest.
Make sure to sign, stamp, and conceal the aqua treasure carefully. Moving on, return to the main trail and follow it downhill. Perhaps ancient Hobbits once carted their farmed goods and wares down this little path.
Once you reach the tree which has been burned out by a dragon, stop. This part is a little tricky because you don't notice the scorched affects of the dragon's fire on the tree until after you have passed it - you have to turn back in order to see it.
You should now be paused in your mission between the burned out tree and a stump. Turn to your right and leave the path through another break in the trail border. Out ahead of you are two trees that look as if they are actually just one, yet their bark is different. The smaller one leans away in a curve from the larger, erect one. Go to it.
You will notice right away the distinct hollow set into its lower trunk. The Hobbit's final treasure (green) is thought to be hidden here.
As an added layer of intrigue, we challenge you to find the water! You should have noticed it's soft murmur from about the time you found the second treasure.
Make sure to sign, stamp, and conceal the final treasure carefully!
Meander back out of Fangorn Forest or better yet, explore even more! Perhaps you'll see Treebeard. The Hobbits thank you - Frodo, Sam, and the Fellowship would be proud!
***
Congratulations! You have found all of the Hobbit's treasure and explored Middle-earth besides! We hope you enjoyed this Special Edition Magic Mission Letterbox Set, and we encourage you to explore our other plantings in the Bellevue/Redmond/Issaquah area. Also, we love messages and feedback, so please don't hesitate!
Vive fantasy!
Marissa Moon and her dad, MoonPop
*Courtesy:http://parkstrails.myparksandrecreation.com/details.aspx?pid=132
Copyright 2014 - This is an original work. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied or reproduced in anyway without the author's express permission.