30 Oaks Ranch Box #4 The Cornfield

Yes we even picked corn for my Uncle Ivor when he had the ranch. One wonderful thing about picking corn is that it waa cooler time of year and at least there was always shade. Theodd thing that stands outin my mind is the fact that we would always eat a raw ear of corn with our lunch. If you have never tasted raw corn then you have no idea how sweet, tasty and satisfying it can be.

Clues

1. Drive up Hobble Creek Canyon and stop near this sign at the catch Basin. Go through the gate in photo and follow the road on the right to theeast (Not the road that goes over the catch basin dam)

2. Begin looking to your left when you reach the clump of trees and shrubs that are between the two roads. as seen in photo to the left.

3. Look for a sign that tells about "Wildlife in Hobble Creek Canyon". You will see a dirt path through through brush that leads to the main road.

4. Take 9 steps on that path then look back over your right shoulder.

5. The box is underneath the lone rock.

30 Oaks Ranch Box #3 The Barn

While you cannot actually visit the barn, and quite frankly, it is in such disrepair and is so dangerous that you wouldn't even want to, still I can tell you about how much fun is to have access to a place like that as a child. Lying in the straw and day-dreaming is a great way to wile away a hot summer afternoon, particularly after a hard day's work in the fields. It is also a fun place to play even though it is dangerous, and forbidden and you spend most of your time playing look-out fin case adults come around.

Next time you see an old barn, just imagine all the memories and secrets its history could reveal.

Clue.

1. Go to 30 Oaks & Canyon Road in Springville, Utah

2. Follow the sidewalk up the hill to where the sidewalk ends.

From there you can look down and see the two green fields where the cornfield was on the right and the bean field on the left. (A reference for future boxes).

2. On the south side of the 9th big rock to the west, you should find the box under a cairn of smaller stones. If you get to the rock shown below, you have gone too far.

Warning: There has been an arsonist in the area who has started at least 4 brushfires. I hope the box is okay. Be on the lookout for anyone who may look suspicious. (other than yourself)

Happy Boxing.

30 Oaks Ranch Box # 2 Contest at the Canal

So often the canal was our salvation on those hot summer noons when we were able to take a break from our work in the bean patch, or cornfield or just helping out with other varied chores. The water was always cold and clear and it was refreshing to wade, doggie-paddle or splash in. Yes, there were many water fights. We went back to work with wet clothes drying on our bodies and it was so cooling and relaxing.

(Later, as a Nursing student, I let our

Psychiatric Nursing Instructor wrap me in wet sheets and then put a blanket over me and let the sheets dry. That procedure was at one time used to tranquilize agitated patients and she wanted to demonstrate how effective it was. I already knew. It really does work!)

One lunchtime in particular stands out in my mind, the day my cousin, Margaret, along with my sister and I had a contest at the canal. To find out more, find this box. It is not a contest that would immediately come to mind.

Clue

1. Start at the junction of Canyon Road & 2900 East . There is room enough to park near the sign. Once again, look all around you. This land was once all part of 30 Oaks Ranch. Time changes all, nothing remains the same.

Walk down the bike path to the beginning of the fence. To your south-east you should be able to see a pretty hammered Mountain Bell sign next to a barbed-wire fence. Go there. From near that vantage point you will be able to see where the old bean field was, and perhaps you can hear the canal, but at present there are just too many trees and greenery to actually see it. Just a little to the north along the edge of the drop-off, you may be able to get a glimpse of But Pond.

Stand facing the sign and look down and to your right. You will see a rock under which is the box.

Enjoy the box and the contest. Too bad there are not enough such things around anymore for anot

her contest like that.

Happy Boxing.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Picking Strawberries Letter Box

(Memories of my sister & I)

We would get up at 4AM and be in the patch before sunrise. Sometimes the patch would be muddy from rain or irrigation and mornings were always very cold that time of year. We would start our day all bundled up, shivering and determined to out-pick one another only earn a few cents a basket, maybe 5 cents,like 20 cents a crate, it wasn't very much. It was very hard work for what you got. I can see why they have to hire migrant labor to do such work now days.

In the grey light before dawn, it was hard to see if the berries were red or not. It was easy to pick unripe berries then; had to be real careful or you'd get a chewing out from the grown-up "Patch Bosses" one of whom was Mama. I can still see the dark damp earth between the rows of plants; see the earthworms wriggling in the early morning light; see the dew heavy on the strawberries leaves, leaves that hid clusters of berries of varying size and ripeness; see the shadowy figures of kids working their way up the rows. Everyone started together, but like runners in a race, soon the faster pickers took the lead and the slow pickers straggled behind.

I can still feel the chill in the air; feel the mooshy earthy wetness on my knees as I knelt; feel the weight of dried mud on my Levis as the day progressed; feel the dampness in my clothes; I can feel the cold that slowly gave way to comfort and then to sweaty, stifling heat as the sun moved higher in the sky. Sunrise over the mountains was always spectacular and very welcome. Being close to the mountains meant the sun would wash across the valley first. I'd often stand to see where the shadows ended, watching anxiously as the light and warmth crept slowly upon the strawberry patch. The sun never felt better to me than when it finally bathed me with its rays on those mornings, a wonderful feeling!

I can still smell the musty odors of the patch in early morning and the almost rancid fruity odors brought out by noontime sun. I can smell the mold, the sweat, the manure and other odors from the farm. I can still smell the stinkbugs. I can feel the bugs and grasshoppers, all the little creatures both real and imagined, crawling on me, making me shudder. I can feel the dirt clods and the strawberries that were thrown at me. I can feel the thrust of my arm as I threw them back. I can also feel the cringe in my spine when I got caught and was scolded for that same mischief. I can still feel all the body aches from stooping, bending and squatting. Ouch.! I can feel how good it was to stand to stretch. Awe!!

I can still taste the strawberries, ripe and cool and juicy, with a flavor that cannot be duplicated today. Is it just my imagination? Maybe. Perhaps they tasted so very good to me because they were eaten in a setting that made them , as Emerson Essay's, a part of the"Perfect Whole".

I never could pick as fast as my younger sister could. When Mama was a girl, she'd had a reputation for being a fast picker and my sister worked at doing the same. Even when I was keeping up with her which, by the way, took a maximum of effort on my part, I still never managed to beat her. One reason was that she would go back out into the patch and glean if necessary, in order to get at least a half-cup more than me. She just couldn't stand to let me win, not even once. I can't say that I blame her, but I sure didn't like it. Mom was constantly on my back about how "Good a worker" sister was and would ask me"What is wrong with you, ? You are just too darned slow and lazy!".

Lunch time was welcome too, sitting by the creek eating sack lunches with a dessert of strawberries if we hadn't already had our fill; splashing water to cool off and then ending up in free-for-all water fights, teasing and being teased, wading in the creek, " Crik", and catching water snakes; climbing trees; running around and playing games. Lunchtime was by far the best part of the day.

We rarely worked much past 2pm because of the heat and the fact that we were bored, tired, and more than anxious to quit. Work slowed and horsing around escalated in the afternoons. I think the adults just gave up by then. They were probably tired too and had many other things they had to do.

Coming here today, July, 2010 to plant this box, brings back a flood of memories, and what an appropriate day, too. After all, we usually managed to spend at least $2 of our hard earned money on the 4th of July. Wow!

Looking back now, I'm grateful for the entire experience and I do cherish all of it; the sleepy awakenings; the cold and chilly-damp; the stink bugs, flies and assorted beetles; the moldy or water-soaked or just plain juicy and delicious berries; Mama working along side us and pushing us on with her jabs and grating voice; the race, the chase, the determination and the futility: all of the aching muscles and sunburn; the scrapes, cuts and bruises, all of it. It is a package that cannot be put together in today's world. Too bad! I do know quite a few who could benefit from a package like that. I know I did.

The creek is still here along with a few out buildings and the old house is too, but all has changed so much. The strawberry patch which took up acres, was on the north of the old house and is now broken up into homes and yards. I stand and look out over the scene and I know that ---no matter the changes ----I will always see Strawberry Fields FOREVER!

CLUES

Go to The Springville High school. (Map shown on Atlas Quest)You can park at the High school and walk the short distance to the box. Turn south on 12oo East and walk to the bridge over Hobble Creek. 1.Find the placeinthe photo and cross the street east. 2. Find the place in the 2nd photo. You will see a large tree to your left if you are facing photo #2. The box is hidden under the rock on the south side of the base of the 2nd post to the east of that tree. (Photo #3) ENJOY!

Mulberries

Picking Mulberries Letter Box

Unfortunately they cut down the tree, so this box is temporarily unavailable. It will have to be moved.

One of my favorite memories of my Grandmother Bramall was that of walking with her along the road on the edge of the farm to a Mulberry tree one summer morning. There the two of us stood in the waist-high weeds, picked mulberries and put them in a honey-pail, at least the ones we didn't eat. If you have never tasted fresh mulberries right off the tree you have missed a wonderful treat, they are so juicy, sweet and bursting with the flavor of quiet summer days, definitely something to savor. some mulberries are white when ripe and others, like the ones we ate, are a deep burgundy color. YUMM!

Most of the mulberry trees around are actually the fruitless kind. It is rare find one that bears fruit because they are very messy trees, the fruit leaving dark stains on sidewalks, cars and fingers. I am always delighted when I do find one that bears fruit.

As an adult I remember taking our children to the Springville Art building where there was a Mulberry tree in the back. We always enjoyed sampling them. I also recall a big mulberry tree that was on the grounds of the McCurdy Doll Museum in Provo. I introduced our grandchildren to them there. Unfortunately the Doll Museum is now a thing of the past. We do miss both the Museum and the tree.

Clue

Go to the Springville Art Museum at 100 East 7th South in Springville. Stand in the arch pictured above under the SMA and face the direction of the Family History Center.

Take 25 steps east. The tree in front of you will be a fruit-bearing Mulberry tree. If there are any dark ripe berries, give one a try.

Follow the curbing around to your left passing over 7 lines. stop were you see the faded yellow line and turn facing the SMA. The box is buried right at the west base of the metal object with vertical holes in it. Enjoy!

Advice to Nevada Letterboxers

The Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley is at 14 Veterans Way. (This is on the North side of Highway I 80 Off Truck Inn Way. We walked around this cemetery just a day before Memorial day and found it a most interesting place, particularly beautiful with all the flags flying.

Stand in front of the Cemetery and face south. You should be able to see a much smaller cemetery to your right in the south-east. Go there. It is Fernley Desert Memorial Garden.

Find the covered arbor -like chapel in the center of the cemetery on the south side. There should be a huge 3 branched tree in back of it. All the interesting stones in the photos below are found between that row and the west fence-line.

Now find 3 bunnies with a Knome standing near them. You will also see 3 wooden crosses with a rock cross conecetd to the center cross, sort of like its shadow. Start counting from the first tree behind the knome. After the 31st tree, you should see a space with a small headstone in it. Continue north on the tree-line until you can go no further. Find the stone that says, "Donated by Charles & Pearl Waller."

The box is hidden in the 2nd tree on the on the left if you are facing this stone.

Believe me this is very good advice. Enjoy. ---- PhotoGram