Life Lessons From the Jukebox Series

While driving the No Doz induced 24+ hours from Dallas to Buffalo, we found ourselves listening to the Sprite’s Time Life Sounds of the 70's CD collection. By the end of the trip, a long list of life lessons had been gleaned from the hours of sappy ballads, disco anthems, and country crossovers (click here to read the entire list). Contact us if you’d be willing to adopt a box to plant in your state!

#1 Wildfire (record your find)

Placed on 1/9/05 near Shelby, NY (Genesee County)
“Never go chasing after a horse in a blizzard...and if a hoot owl starts howling for more than 5 nights in a row outside your window, either make out a will or shoot that bird!”--Michael Martin Murphy

To find this song, head out to the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge off Route 63, a good 10 miles north of the NYS Thruway. A wooden sign to your right lets you know you've entered the refuge. After driving through the large expanse of flooded timber that flanks both sides of Route 63, you'll come upon a dirt road in an open space to the left where you can drive to a kiosk that overlooks some of the federal lands. Turn in and park, but make note of the first tree on the right. Under a rock near its roots is a stampable reminder of the song Mr. Murphy gave his sage advice in.

Note: There are at least 3 or 4 other boxes near this refuge, not all of which belong to us...check Atlas Quest for the closest ones!

#2 Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) (record your find)

Placed on 1/9/05 in Grand Island, NY (Erie County)
Never fall for a man whose life, love and lady is the sea (even if he gives you Spanish jewelry)!--Looking Glass

To find this song, head out to Beaver Island State Park on Grand Island in New York. Take the park roads all the way to the back of the park. Head past picnic areas 4 & 5 (might want to stop at the Niagara River Canvasback first!) and go back to picnic shelter 3B. The road curves sharply here near the waterfront. On the same side of the road as the river, look for a lone gnarled tree standing with a thick umbrella of branches, even in the winter (should still be missing one of its larger limbs). In the crotch of this tree is another musical reminder of Looking Glass’s one hit wisdom.

Note: Check below for info on how to find the Niagara River Canvasback, also in Beaver Island!

#3 Ode To Billie Joe (record your find)

Definitely MISSING--will be replaced!

Placed on 2/12/05 in Buffalo, NY (Erie County)
“The Tallahatchee Bridge is one depressing place to hang out.”—Bobbie Gentry

To find this song, you’ll need to find the Left Bank in Buffalo. Once there, park in the lot to the right and check the base of the one scraggly tree against the building, right where the wall ends.

Note: This place is our favorite Valentine’s Day haunt…plan to stay for a meal if you can!

#4 Angie Baby (record your find)

Placed on 3/9/05 in Williamsville, NY (Erie County)
“Radios or music players of ANY kind are not advisable birthday gifts for girls named Angie.”—Helen Reddy

To find this song, head south on Wehrle Drive off Transit Road in Williamsville. Turn left into the industrial parks off Earhart Road and pull into the first entrance on your right. Head between the two office buildings to the back parking lot and look of a light post whose bottom is a little bent out of place (first one you see between the rows of parking spaces). Lift the metal housing upward to find this microbox and its stamp.

#5 Timothy (record your find)

Placed on 5/1/2005 in Holland, MI (Ottawa County)
“Mining is a poor career choice if your name happens to be Timothy.”—The Buoys

Overview: This box is in Kirk Park - and Ottawa County Park. $4.00 daily...blah, blah, blah. There are a few parking spots before the pay booth. The treck is no more than 1 mile with only one small incline. Getting there: Entrance to the park is on Lakeshore Drive between Pierce Rd. and Stanton Rd. Park anywhere you like - this quest begins at the Trail Head.

Clues: Right is not right. It fells like we've been this way before... The first choice requires no barriers. Stay the course when things get vague. Pines on right...power above...going up. M.T.R. liked it here. in this case the conjoined twin has passed. From the one yet living 110. A different kind of beach.

Planted & adopted by Doglvrs

#6 Oh, What a Night (December 1963)

Placed on ??/??/???? in ???
“Apparently, there was one heck of a party back in December of 1963…”--Three Dog Night
Sent to Talking Turtle in NY for planting

#7 Joy to the World (record your find)

Placed on 3/18/05 in North Kingstown, RI (Washington County)
“Bullfrogs possess an unusually fine stock of wine.”—Three Dog Night

On Route 1A in North Kingstown, just south of the intersection of Route 1a and Gilbert Stuart Road, park your car at the GREEN gate entrance to Rome Point. Follow the main trail all the way to the end. You will be looking out over Narragansett Bay, with both the Jamestown and Newport Bridges visible to your right.

Head down the beach south, with the ocean to your left and the woodlands to your right. At 160 paces, look for a cluster of arborvitaes. Take a bearing of 230'. Walk 25 paces at 230' to a twisted old tree trunk. Look for Jeremiah at the base of its roots.

Planted and adopted for us by Warrior Woman

#8 The Devil Went Down to Georgia

Placed on 4/16/05 in Syracuse, NY
“You can bet your soul that hillbilly music beats demonic fiddle playing any day.”—The Charlie Daniels Band

Difficulty rating: Moderate, not suitable for families with very small children. There are some difficult rocky, rooty areas where the trail is not well defined - but trees are marked.
Round trip about 8/10 mile.

Clark Reservation, Jamesville, NY
605 E. Seneca Turnpike
Jamesville, NY 13078-9516
#315-492-1590
Onondaga County

This is a 300-acre state park that includes a Meromictic lake. There is a $7 - 8.00 fee to enter or use your Empire Pass. Dogs on a 6' leash are allowed. Clark reservation features 5 million year old exposed bedrock, beautiful views, picnic area's, fishing, hiking, and open all year. **

Syracuse is centrally located in New York State, at the crossroads of New York Thruway 90 (east & west) and Interstate 81 (north & south). From this intersection go south on I-81 and take exit 16A: here begins the 481 Bypass and you can only go one way. Take the first exit, which will be Rock Cut Rd., at the end of the off ramp go to the right and up the hill. The road ends at Brighton Ave. and a traffic light. Make a left. At the next traffic light go straight on Seneca Tpk./Rte. 173, this intersection has a Mobil gas station. Stay on Seneca Tpk./Rte. 173 and about 5 minutes after exiting the expressway, Clark Reservation State Park will be on your
left. You know you've gone too far if you enter the village of Jamesville.

Enter the Park and go straight, on to the ticket booth and parking lot.

**Info from the "I*NY, NEW YORK STATE, Travel Guide & Vacation Map" 2003

NOTES:
- Pick up a map at the Ticket Booth if unfamiliar with the park.
- Be warned that the rocks can be very slippery when wet, take care.
- This hunt leads you on a trail that will at times be table rock, whenever possible, please step on the rock and not the delicate mosses or other flora.
- Each step is one footfall and c. 28" long.

CLUES:

1) From the parking lot take the Mildred Faust Trail (green blaze) that leads past the comfort station. Once into the woods Mildred Faust Trail soon leads to the left, but you want to continue straight.
2) Very quickly you will be at the fence that runs along the cliff's edge, and down below will be Glacier Lake. Turn left, this is Cliff Trail (blue blaze).
3) When the fence ends, stay on the Cliff Trail and go down the rock "steps". When it goes back up, the left path (blue ribbon) is easier but both will get you to the top.
4) Once at the top of the hill (this will be Big Buck Trail) turn right, then a quick jog to the left and you're back on the rim and Cliff Trail.
5) Stay on this, keeping the edge of the cliff to your right, and it will lead you past Long Trail.
6) Before long the path will wander out beyond the trees to the rock edge of the cliff, and then lead back into the trees.
7) This area always reminds me of the Sierra Nevada's and is one of my favorite spots of the park. You will immediately notice a tree in the middle of the trail. On the left you'll see an opening of rocky ground leading away from the trail into the woods.
8) Enter and take 11 steps straight in, you should be able to step on the rock and not the moss or flora. Stop.
9) To the right at about 2:00 and roughly 4' away is a scrawny, shaggy bark deciduous tree (c. 3" dia.). About 6' straight ahead are two little deciduous trees growing close together. To your left is a very young cedar, it's trunk curving from the earth towards you and over a rock. Keep this rock in mind.
10) Walk another step or two then then turn around 180º and face the path you came from.
11) Go to the rock. This rock is squarish in shape with one corner pointing your way. On the right side of this corner, snuggled up to the rock and well hidden under a covering of leaf debris and smaller rocks you'll find your prey.
12) A nice stamping-in spot and beautiful view awaits you if you return to the Cliff Trail, turn left and go just a little way up to the big sitting rocks on the right.
13) Please secure all 4 latches on the lid, and return the box to the same hidey-hole and cover well with the rocks, and a good layer of forest debris and leaves (an extra sprinkling of leaves and forest debris under the rocks is even sneakier). ;-)
Planted & adopted by Catbead & Fly Doc

#9 Nothing From Nothing

Placed on ??/??/???? in ???
“Nothing from nothing DOES, in fact, leave nothing!”—Billy Preston from “Nothing From Nothing”

Sent to Rosie River Cat for planting in NJ

#10 YMCA/In The Navy

Placed on 3/19/05 in Allentown, PA
“The YMCA and the Navy are ALSO looking for a few good men!”—The Village People

Begin in the SE Corner of the South Parking lot of the Allentown YMCA (15th St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd). From the large pine tree, sight a sign with odd distances and dimensions SE of here. Follow this sign towards the boulevard named after the great civil rights leader and begin heading SW. Head under the bridge, as the boulevard heads west. If on foot, you may want to cross to the south side of the boulevard, where the sidewalk is black asphalt. This sidewalk will become a thin trail used by runners. You will come to a stone bridge with green railings, so turn left and cross it. You will pass a parking area on your left (you can start here is really lazy) and an iron gate on your right before the road goes uphill to a large grass triangle. From the center, go to the corner at 210° then enter the Little Lehigh Parkway trail at 165°. Time to be a Macho, Macho Man (or lady). Pass three of these Macho exercise signs, being sure to pump it up! After the 3rd Macho sign, you will come to a manhole with green spray paint on it. Just before this, spot an indistinct trail at 105° going gently uphill. A 4 ft tall stump is the trail guardian. At the top of an old cement kiln, double back, going 348° more steeply uphill. When the trail levels off, 4 more paces and sight a boomerang rock at 20°. Look under suspicious rock (and maybe a remnant pine branch that Kirby Rider put in front) to find the Village People.
First Finder gets the Zymurgy Hitchhiker, the last hitchhiker known to mankind!

Hidden near the Allentown, PA YMCA by Team Night Flyer (Kirby Rider and Lightnin’ Bug)

#11 Harper Valley PTA

Placed on 2/29/05 in Richardson, TX
“The Harper Valley PTA has no right to censor ANYbody!”—Jeannie C. Riley from “Harper Valley PTA”

We thought it only appropriate to place this box right in the middle of some very strong and active PTA country! Mimosa Park is on Mimosa in Richardson, TX at the intersection of Apache, near Mohawk Elementary, Arapaho Elementary, West Junior High School and between Richardson and Pearce High Schools.

Take the entrance into the park that leads you to the tennis courts in back. Pull that short skirt down as far as it will go to reach your knees, and face the tennis courts. On your left will be a covered picnic table area with a barbeque grill at the corner. Stand at the grill and face roughly east towards the creek and houses beyond. Take approximately 23 steps towards the creek and look for a multi-trunked (roughly 6 trunks) tree in the non-mown area. Life Lesson #11 is hidden down in the crotch of the trunks – please re-cover very well with sticks and leaves, because this dry material will blow off in a storm.

Planted and adopted for us by Celtic Lions

#12 Space Oddity

Placed on 8/15/2005 in Gales Ferry, CT
“Never go into space with ANYONE named Major Tom…on that note, planet Earth is blue and there’s nothing ANY of us can do…”—David Bowie

VERY pet friendly! Bring you dog for a swim -- or bring a tennis ball to fetch in the large field. PLEASE pick up after your pet! First, find Erickson Park. Its on Military Highway between Long Cove Road and Mullberry Drive. Park in the large gravel lot and begin a clockwise walk on the cinder walk way. Take time to stop and read the signs, the whole project was funded with LIS and Brownfield monies -- this beautiful spot is your tax dollars at work! Continue clockwise from the signboard, following the Thames River. Veer off the path to the VERY large hickory tree directly in front of you. Spy a break in the wall at 330 and a small makeshift cairn 2 steps right of the pass-through. Low in the wall awaits David Bowie!

#13 Convoy

Placed on ??/??/???? in ???
“Rubber Ducks CAN drive trucks!”—C.W. McCall
Sent to Rosie River Cat for planting in LA

#14 The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald

Placed on 4/9/05 in Ithaca, NY
“Do not go on pleasure cruises on Lake Superior when the gales of November come early.”—Gordon Lightfoot

From the upper entrance to (Five plus One) Mile Creek, just south of the intersection of Rt. 79 (East State St.) and Giles, walk past the gate labeled Wildflower Preserve. Follow the wide main path until it narrows considerably and you reach a rather non-traditional bridge (you'll know it when you see it). Just before the bridge you'll see quite a few rocks, some larger than the others, among the trees on your left.One of these larger rocks, flattish and grayish with some green moss growing on it, rests on a slope, with a square corner pointing up the slope. To the left of the corner is a smaller rectangular rock. Look behind the left side of this smaller slab. No rocks need to be moved to get what you're looking for, other than the much smaller rocks actually concealing it.Be sure to cover the box completely with these rocks as well as leaf debris when you leave, and watch for passersby. Don't forget to admire the tall waterfall in front of you while you're stamping in, either!NOTE: You may need to drive farther down Giles and park in the actual parking lot, then walk back up the road. Please be incredibly cautious if walking this road, especially with children, as drivers race through this twisty stretch with little consideration of either pedestrians or the posted speed limit.

Planted and adopted for us by TurtleMcQ

#15 Please Mister Please

Placed on 4/9/05 in Delaware, OH
“B17 is the most depressing song on the jukebox.”—Olivia Newton-John from “Please Mister Please”

The Delaware State Park is located on Highway 23 north of Delaware, Ohio. Allow 30 minutes for a round trip to find the letterbox. Follow the signs for the Marina as you drive through the park. Arriving at the Marina parking lot, pull off to the right and park in the spaces closest to the road. Find the Mink Run Trail across the road you drove in on. The trailhead is between a sign board and a cluster of picnic tables.

Continue following the trail as it wends around the lake. After an uphill rise and a slight turn to the left, look for a triangle formed by two parallel trees and a low stump in the middle of the trail. From this stump walk 25 paces forward. You should be at a small tree growing in the middle of the trail. Standing at this tree, look at 240 degrees for a fallen tree about 5 paces off the trail. The jukebox wisdom you seek so desperately can be found at the intersection of that fallen tree and a standing tree.

Planted and adopted for us by Rosmarnius

#16 Hair

“There’s all KINDS of hair.”—from “Hair”
Placed on 8/11/05 in Spokane, WA

Find Liberty Park.Go to the top of the UFO.Look through the trees and find the cave.Once there follow the tree line and go up the path.At the triangle go up nine steps.Right in front of you is your hair.Please rehide better than found.Do not do this box alone and watch children closely. NOT a night box!Please read disclaimers and such.

Planted and adopted for us by homeschoolmommy

#17 What’s Your Name?

Placed on 4/26/2005 in West Mansfield, MA (Bristol County)
“Rock stars don't even remember your name, so why the !@#$ would you sleep with them???”—Lynard Skynard from “What’s Your Name?”

You can obtain a trail mail map here: http://www.mansfieldma.com/conservation/images/Trail_map_2001.pdf

There couldn't be a more fitting location for this Jukebox Life Lesson letterbox. The Great Woods Conservation Area abuts the Tweeter Performing Arts Center, an outdoor concert venue for major musical performing acts. (Mandatory blaze orange during hunting season)
Take 495 to Exit 12 - Route 140N Mansfield, MA. Follow Route 140N, take a left onto School Street. Continue on School Street as it turns into Elm Street. Continue on Elm Street. Take a left onto Oak Street. Just as Oak Street takes a sharp right hand turn, you will see the entrance to the Great Woods Conservation Area on your left. The parking lot is open from dawn to dusk, but there is a little parking area at the trail head if the parking lot gates are closed.
You will be following the Red Trail all the way to the end. Some creative bushwhacking and log balancing will get you easily through some of the swampier areas. The Red Trail ends at an open field overlooking The Tweeter Performing Arts Center. You can gaze off into the distance for a glimpse of a rock star.At the end of the trail, facing the open field, turn around and walk 55 paces back down the trail from which you just came. At 55 paces you will notice a side trail off to the right at 330'. Walk 25 paces at 330' to an abandoned washing machine. From the washing machine, walk 10 paces at 350' to a small multitrunked tree holding a basket of - what else? - ROCKS! - at the base of the tree. Carefully move aside the rocks to find the real rock star - "What's Your Name?" - nestled in the basket formed by the multitrunks.

Planted and adopted for us by Warrior Woman

#18 My Eyes Adored You & Wichita Lineman

Placed on ??/??/???? in ???
“They aren’t STALKERS, they’re men whose eyes adored you…on that note, the Wichita Lineman is STILL on the line….”—Glenn Campbell and Frankie Valli

Sent to Ron in MO for planting

#19 Little Willie

Placed on 9/10/2005 in Deering, NH
“Regardless of the amount of coercion, Little Willie WON’T…go home.”—Sweet from “Little Willie”

What do Sweet and Tom Rush have in common? They are both singers of the 70’s that have left their mark on their music world. So, what better place for Sweet to hang out than in the Tom Rush Forest. The Forest is newly acquired by the state and has no maps or signs yet. You will find a sign down near the road, kinda hidden but no trailhead there. To find this forest you must find your way to Deering, New Hampshire. Once there, find the town hall, library, and the church. Right along the church is Gregg Lake Road. Goes up a big hill and ends at the top. No-one, not even the police in Deering, seem to know if the house on top is private or part of the state land. I have parked many times up there with no problems. If you are uncomfortable, then park somewhere at the bottom and walk up.Now for the directions to the box.On the right is a small uphillish type of parking area facing a large fieldly path. Take this path. When you reach the T go left. You will soon be at a field, follow the path to the left. At the end of the field you will pass through a small strip of trees into another field. Continue to follow the path on the left and enter the woods.At the T take a right. you will now be following alongside a stone wall. Continue down this road until you reach yet another T.There is a cellar hole in front of you. Find the steps. Go down them and 3 more steps to the floor rock by the twisted tree. Look to your right.

Planted and adopted by Uneksia