"Big Blue Marble" LbNA #23506
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Add Location| Owner: | Bungalow Boxer  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jul 5, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Ellington |
| County: | Tolland |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Trailhead Tessie |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Mar 22, 2020 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Jul 5, 2006 |
"Big Blue Marble"
Ellington, CT
The story of the "Big Blue Marble" (Actually, there are 2 stories!):
Originally it referred to the title of a breathtaking photograph of Earth taken by the astronauts of the Apollo 17 mission on December 7, 1972.
"Big Blue Marble" was also the name of a critically acclaimed children's program that was in production from 1974-1983. Each episode focused on typical children living throughout the world. Viewers had the opportunity to learn about their average day and their cultures. It also offered a way to establish penpals throughout the world. During its run, "Big Blue Marble" won 13 Emmy Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award and more than 100 international festival prizes and awards!
NOTE: This is a 2.5 mile scenic hike in the vacinity of Shenipsit State Forest. It is the same starting point as the "Peace...in Greek" and "Peace...in Polish" letterboxes. The total distance for all three boxes is about 3.2 miles. Insect repellant might be a good thing. Also, wear your orange during hunting season.
From Vernon, take route 83N into Ellington. Watch for the junction of route 140. Once there, continue north on route 83. Within 0.5 miles you'll come to a fork in the road. Turn right here onto Kibbe Road. Drive for 0.5 miles, then turn right onto Porter Road. Drive up the road for 0.5 miles as it turns into dirt. NOTE: WATCH FOR THE MAILBOX AT HOUSE #153. The road ends (at least the driveable portion of the road...) about 20 feet beyond it. Park along the side, just past the creative mailbox.
For the first portion of today's adventure you will follow the undeveloped portion of Porter Road uphill. You will pass a gate on the right with several "No Trespassing" signs. After that you will pass by a rock with a painted white arrow on it. Continue straight past an old red car on the left that's been used for target practice. Eventually, you will come to a wide junction. Here, head left and almost immediately pass a rocky hill on the right. After a minute or two you will come to an open area featuring several dirt roads and trails. In the middle there appears to be an old campfire site. At this major intersection, walk straight to a flat stone in front of a two-sister oak tree. (The tree features blue blazes on its sides.)
Standing on the stone, take a reading of 90 degrees. Follow the blue blazed Shenipsit Trail. After about 100 yards you will pass a trail entering from the left. Soon you will come to a thin double blazed tree on the right. There is an arrow on it as well. At this point, follow blue to the right. Within about 5 minutes you will come to an old rusty barrel on the left. Take 28 steps. Turn left onto a narrower trail at 180 degrees. Within a short time you will climb down a few stone steps. You are very close now! A minute or so from here, watch closely for a tree in the middle of the trail. It has a white blaze on the back.You'll know you are at the right spot if there is a ledgelike rock on the right edge of the trail and an "elbow" tree about a foot beyond the tree. Continue on the trail for 6 steps. Stop. Take 12 steps at 283 degrees, passing between two large rocky areas. Stop. Now take 20 steps at 327 degrees to a small ledge. Look inside for the "Big Blue Marble" Letterbox.
NOTE: About 10 yards further along the trail and to the right is a small cave. It's nice!
Enjoy, but rehide carefully. When you are done, backtrack to the blue trail intersection. From there, follow the blue back to the flat rock in the clearing. Be sure to stay on blue. Once you return to the open area, either backtrack to your car or search for other treasures. I hope you have a super day!
"Big Blue Marble" theme song:
"The earth's a big blue marble when you see it from out there
The sun and moon declare our beauty's very rare
Folks are folks and kids are kids
We share a common aim
We speak a different name,
but work and play the same
We sing pretty much alike,
enjoy spring pretty much alike
Peace and love we all understand,
and laughter, we use the very same brand
Our differences, our problems, from out there there's not much trace
Our friendships they can place
By looking at the face of the Big Blue Marble in space."
Miles of smiles,
Josef
Ellington, CT
The story of the "Big Blue Marble" (Actually, there are 2 stories!):
Originally it referred to the title of a breathtaking photograph of Earth taken by the astronauts of the Apollo 17 mission on December 7, 1972.
"Big Blue Marble" was also the name of a critically acclaimed children's program that was in production from 1974-1983. Each episode focused on typical children living throughout the world. Viewers had the opportunity to learn about their average day and their cultures. It also offered a way to establish penpals throughout the world. During its run, "Big Blue Marble" won 13 Emmy Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award and more than 100 international festival prizes and awards!
NOTE: This is a 2.5 mile scenic hike in the vacinity of Shenipsit State Forest. It is the same starting point as the "Peace...in Greek" and "Peace...in Polish" letterboxes. The total distance for all three boxes is about 3.2 miles. Insect repellant might be a good thing. Also, wear your orange during hunting season.
From Vernon, take route 83N into Ellington. Watch for the junction of route 140. Once there, continue north on route 83. Within 0.5 miles you'll come to a fork in the road. Turn right here onto Kibbe Road. Drive for 0.5 miles, then turn right onto Porter Road. Drive up the road for 0.5 miles as it turns into dirt. NOTE: WATCH FOR THE MAILBOX AT HOUSE #153. The road ends (at least the driveable portion of the road...) about 20 feet beyond it. Park along the side, just past the creative mailbox.
For the first portion of today's adventure you will follow the undeveloped portion of Porter Road uphill. You will pass a gate on the right with several "No Trespassing" signs. After that you will pass by a rock with a painted white arrow on it. Continue straight past an old red car on the left that's been used for target practice. Eventually, you will come to a wide junction. Here, head left and almost immediately pass a rocky hill on the right. After a minute or two you will come to an open area featuring several dirt roads and trails. In the middle there appears to be an old campfire site. At this major intersection, walk straight to a flat stone in front of a two-sister oak tree. (The tree features blue blazes on its sides.)
Standing on the stone, take a reading of 90 degrees. Follow the blue blazed Shenipsit Trail. After about 100 yards you will pass a trail entering from the left. Soon you will come to a thin double blazed tree on the right. There is an arrow on it as well. At this point, follow blue to the right. Within about 5 minutes you will come to an old rusty barrel on the left. Take 28 steps. Turn left onto a narrower trail at 180 degrees. Within a short time you will climb down a few stone steps. You are very close now! A minute or so from here, watch closely for a tree in the middle of the trail. It has a white blaze on the back.You'll know you are at the right spot if there is a ledgelike rock on the right edge of the trail and an "elbow" tree about a foot beyond the tree. Continue on the trail for 6 steps. Stop. Take 12 steps at 283 degrees, passing between two large rocky areas. Stop. Now take 20 steps at 327 degrees to a small ledge. Look inside for the "Big Blue Marble" Letterbox.
NOTE: About 10 yards further along the trail and to the right is a small cave. It's nice!
Enjoy, but rehide carefully. When you are done, backtrack to the blue trail intersection. From there, follow the blue back to the flat rock in the clearing. Be sure to stay on blue. Once you return to the open area, either backtrack to your car or search for other treasures. I hope you have a super day!
"Big Blue Marble" theme song:
"The earth's a big blue marble when you see it from out there
The sun and moon declare our beauty's very rare
Folks are folks and kids are kids
We share a common aim
We speak a different name,
but work and play the same
We sing pretty much alike,
enjoy spring pretty much alike
Peace and love we all understand,
and laughter, we use the very same brand
Our differences, our problems, from out there there's not much trace
Our friendships they can place
By looking at the face of the Big Blue Marble in space."
Miles of smiles,
Josef