Nature’s Canvas

The Hike…

This is a long hike in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that will require most of the day. The exact distance will depend on the route you choose to take to reach the starting point and any side trails you might decide to pursue. You should plan to set out on the trail before 10:00 a.m. to ensure enough daylight hours to complete the hike. The terrain is more difficult than average with many ups and downs on steep, narrow pathways, rocks, roots and stairs. At times the trail follows the edge of a cliff very closely and it is not recommended for children or inexperienced hikers. Once you have figured out the clues, please consult a trail guide for distance, terrain and directional information. Be sure you know what you are getting yourself into when hunting for this box; allow yourself plenty of time, bring food and water and wear proper clothing and footwear. The hike is long, the terrain is tough in places, but the sights you will see along the way are unparalleled and well worth the time and effort required (and the letterbox is a nice little extra reward). Don’t forget your camera!

The Location…

Perform the following set of instructions on the string of letters that comprise the name of this letterbox, disregarding the space and the apostrophe:

1. Move the 2nd consonant from the right to be the first letter
2. Change the 2nd ‘S’ from the right to a ‘D’
3. Switch the positions of the 2nd consonant and the first vowel from the left
4. Change each ‘N’ to a ‘C’
5. Change the middle ‘C’ to a ‘R’
6. Insert a ‘K’ to the right of the first ‘A’ from the right
7. Replace the first consonant from the left with the word for 3.14
8. Insert an ‘O’ to the left of the 2nd ‘A’ from the left
9. Remove each ‘A’

This is Location Clue #1

Now perform the following set of instructions on the string of letters that comprise location clue #1:

1. Switch the positions of the 2nd vowel from the right and the first consonant from the left
2. Change each ‘C’ to an ‘N’
3. Switch the positions of the 2nd consonant from the left and the 5th consonant from the right
4. Change each ‘S’ to an ‘I’
5. Add an ‘A’ after the 2nd vowel from the left and before the 2nd vowel from the right
6. Change the ‘K’ to a ‘L’
7. Switch the positions of the 3rd and 4th consonants from the right
8. Duplicate the center letter, placing it between the 2nd and 3rd vowels from the right
9. Move the 7th vowel two places to the left
10. Move the 3rd consonant to be the 3rd letter
11. Change the 1st vowel from the left to a ‘T’
12. Change the 7th and 8th letters to be identical to the 12th and 13th letters
13. Change the left-most ‘I’ to be a ‘G’
14. Move the last letter 4 places to the left
15. Move the first letter from the left to be the first letter from the right

This is Location Clue #2

Now perform the following set of instructions on the string of letters that comprise location clue #2:

1. Remove the second ‘R’ from the right and the letter proceeding it
2. Change the last letter to a ‘L’ and move it 13 places to the left
3. Change each ‘P’ to an ‘E’
4. Change the sixth vowel from the left to a ‘R’
5. Move the second vowel from the right 3 places to the left
6. Change the ‘D’ to a ‘K’
7. Move the 2nd consonant from the left 2 places to the right
8. Move the rightmost ‘N’ next to the leftmost ‘N’
9. Switch the positions of the 2nd consonant from the right and the 6th vowel from the left
10. Move the 2nd letter from the right 2 places to the left
11. Change the double letter pair to ‘SH’

This is Location Clue #3

The Letterbox…

Use location clues #1 and #2 as the beginning point for this letterbox hunt. Follow [location clue #3] eastward to the place where 3 short sandy paths lead to nowhere off the trail to your left within close proximity of each other, all offering excellent views of the place where you began this letterbox hunt. Pieces of a fallen tree line the right side of the trail here. Follow the pointing piece to its base and find your treasure tucked in an underside crevice.

Note… Please be very discreet when removing and replacing this letterbox; carry the box well away from the hiding spot to stamp in and be sure to cover and hide well when replacing the box!

Tuckaway

(Arts & Crafts in Indy)

This letterbox is part of the 2005 Great Lakes Letterbox Exchange “Hometown Landmarks” series. The box was created by Speedsquare, from Indianapolis; it was planted and is being maintained by SpringChick in Michigan.

Clues…

There are four parts to to the clue for the Tuckaway Letterbox.

1. Complete the crossword puzzle in Part I
2. Use the letters in the puzzle squares indicated to find your starting location and direction in Part II
3. Park at the indicated location and follow the White Lake Pathway in the appropriate direction; as you walk, gather the information in Part III
4. Use the gathered information to fill in the blank spaces in Part IV and find the letterbox

 
| Click here to open the puzzle grid in Adobe .PDF format |

Part I: The Crossword Puzzle

The following question are all related to architecture, the Arts & Crafts movement and the Tuckaway house. Place the answers in the puzzle grid beginning at the cell indicated. In a few instances two words begin at the same cell — one across and one down. You will need to figure out which word goes in which direction based on length and intersecting letters.

• The Arts & Crafts movement stressed ________________. (F20)
• Interiors of homes built in the Arts & Crafts style generally have an ___________ floor plan. (O10)
• One of the styles of the Arts & Crafts movement was known as the American ___________________. (A8)
• Arts & Crafts style homes often have _____________ chimneys. (C1)
• Two famous American Arts & Crafts architects were Charles and Henry _____________. (B22)
• Popular design details fostering privacy and contemplative thinking were window seats, recesses and ____________. (Q15)
• Gustav believed that the _____________ instinct was “the most deep-seated impulse of humankind.” (P21)
• These owners enlarged and expanded the home in 1910. (G22)
• Nellie was a __________ reader. (P10)
• George was a _____________ designer. (F11)
• It is rumored that while staying at Tuckaway, Carole _____________ was warned not to take her fatal flight to California. (B3)
• ______________ is the architect credited with the design of Tuckaway. (D16)
• Name of the street on which Tuckaway is located. (L2)
• American president who visited Tuckaway. (D27)
• George and Nellie made several trips to _____________ to collect items for Tuckaway. (A15)
• Book written by Nellie - “Lion’s ___________.” (E14)
• Tuckaway was once featured in “American Bungalow” magazine in an article titled, “The Tuckaway Time _____________.” (J2)
• Frank Lloyd _____________ was the architect most associated with Arts & Crafts style homes in the Midwest. (N25)
• This style of Arts & Crafts home was very popular in the Midwest. (K17)
• Magazine published by Gustav which featured monthly floor plans - “The ___________________.” (J13)
• Popular Arts & Crafts “catalog” homes were sold by ______________. (A24)
• Bay City, Michigan company known for offering affordable bungalow home kits. (R4)
• Arts & Crafts style homes often feature colorful ______________ glass windows. (F1)
• Furniture maker Gustav ________________ was one of the primary individuals credited with the spread of the Arts & Crafts movement in America. (O13)
• One or one-and-a-half story Craftsman style homes are often called __________________. (G7)
• Popular style of furniture associated with the Arts & Crafts movement. (K15)
• One of the leaders of the Arts & Crafts movement in England was the poet, William ___________. (G22)
• A common external feature of Craftsman style homes area exposed _____________. (A6)
• Arts & Crafts style homes frequently have a street-facing front ___________. (I20)
• _______ is a popular type of wood used in Arts & Crafts style homes. (O1)
• Arts & Crafts style homes often have overhanging __________. (F5)
• Exteriors of Arts & Crafts style homes generally feature an ___________________ design. (D18)
• Homes built in the Arts & Crafts style utilize ______________ materials like wood, tile and stone. (L5)
• Craftsman style homes often feature built-in _________________ and bookshelves. (J2)
• Posts and columns found in Arts & Crafts style homes are generally characterized by ___________-angle corners. (S21)
• ____________ or rounded architectural elements are usually minimal in Arts & Crafts style homes. (C7)
• Chicago suburb, Oak _________ features many outstanding examples of architecture from the Arts & Crafts movement. (A19)
• ________________, one of Indianapolis’ best-known bungalows, is tucked away into a heavily wooded lot in the Historic Meridian Park neighborhood. (N20)

Part II: Location / Direction

Unscramble the letters from the indicated cells of the completed crossword puzzle to find the location and the direction that will head you on your journey to the letterbox.

(location - 2 words): C3 J2 N5 C7 O10 G13 J13 O14 K19 P22 B22 C24
(direction): A9 K11 Q19 N21 I24

Part III: Gather Information

• (1-L) # of wooden rail uprights
• (2-L) In memory of _____ _______
• (3-L) # of red hydrants

• (1-R) direction of switchback benches
• (2-R) # of lighthouse views
• (3-R) “Entrance ___D”

Part IV: Find the Letterbox

Use the information gathered in Part III to fill in the missing parts of the clue below:

Shortly after passing the recreational area, watch for a trail on the [found in (2-L)]. Follow this path [(1-L)] paces. Walk [opposite (1-R)] for [((2-R) + (3-L)) * (3-R)] paces to find the box in a hollow stump.

Wine Country II: Leelanau

 
You must complete the Wine Country Word Puzzle to get the location of this letterbox. Once you know the location, follow the clues below to find the box.

| Click here to open the Wine Country Word Puzzle in Adobe .PDF format |

Clues…

Find the trail 250 degrees from the old water pump. Follow this path over a fallen birch and along the edge of the bluff. At the clearing where the path ends, you will be treated to an incredible view up and down the Lake Michigan shoreline. The multi-armed white one at 100 degrees holds the box.

| Click here for Wine Country I Letterbox |

Wine Country I: Old Mission

 
You must complete the Wine Country Word Puzzle to get the location of this letterbox. Once you know the location, follow the clues below to find the box.

| Click here to open the Wine Country Word Puzzle in Adobe .PDF format |

Clues…

If you encounter Ms. Blossom, you’ve gone the wrong away, but don’t be concerned as the trail is a loop. 70 paces down Luann’s Trail find the box in the end of a hollow log.

| Click here for Wine Country II Letterbox |

Swan Cemetery

(quite a snug little place)

Use the numbered list of puzzle clues below to find the words that fit into the puzzle. Each of the 35 words replaces an asterisk (*) in the clue; the number in parentheses following each set of asterisks indicates the total number of letters in the words in that grouping (spaces are not counted).

 
| Click here to open the puzzle grid in Adobe .PDF format |

Puzzles Clues…

1. Close
2. Extent of space
3. No longer upright
4. Strip of land along the water
5. Number of children fathered by JS Bach
6. College titles
7. To moisten or sprinkle
8. Place to prepare food
9. A sailor’s footlocker
10. Number of people in Albom’s divine social circle
11. Irving’s superstitious schoolmaster
12. (opp.) Angels
13. Trinity
14. A Benjamin
15. One located near another
16. The altar end of a church
17. Mentally or emotionally disturbed
18. To lag behind
19. Animal skins
20. Remaining firm
21. Restrict to a definite amount
22. 1996 movie starring Rupert Everett (1st word)
23. To place in a position
24. Intermediate interval
25. Shapes wood
26. Securely
27. Cold minus 100
28. Jurisdiction of a bishop
29. Shrub commonly used for hedges
30. Noisily encourages the home team
31. Subordinate
32. Secondary menu selection
33. Larger than a hamlet
34. A window projecting outward
35. Cygnus

The Clue…

Nestled **** (26) and lumbertown **, * (15) the * (4) of the **** (18),
the ** (12) lies along * (4) the * (9). In this *, *** (22) between the * (5)
and the * (5) to the * (4). Three **** (24) from the ** (12), the *** (13)
the * (5) of a ** (14).