On Beyond Bridges Quest

This Quest is located at the South Shore Natural Science Center, off Jacobs Lane in Norwell.  The trails are open from dawn to desk; dogs are not allowed on the property.  The quest takes 20-30 minutes of­­ fairly easy walking (paths, with some stones, roots and walls to watch out for); the bridges can be slippery if it is wet.  If the Science Center is open, a trail map may be picked up inside.

Start on the front porch of the main Science Center building.
A sign next to the door gives the admission information.  The last letter on this sign goes in box # 18.

A special garden is in front of the greenhouse, with plants chosen for their textures and scents as well as their appearance.  Think about what you would use to experience the plants.  What letter begins the word that tells what those things are.  (You have five of them.)  (Box # 16)

Continue past the building and go down the hill, WATCH YOUR STEP!  The first letter of what you could trip on goes in box # 9.

Cross the small bridge and follow the green dots.  The middle letter of the first word that describes the prickly bushes on your right is box # 6.  (Meow!)

As you go through the stone wall, there is a sign on the left.  The vowel found most often on the sign goes into box # 10.

Turn right, keeping the stone wall on your right.  To the right there may be a small body of water, its size depending on the time of year.  The fourth letter of the second word which describes this body of water is clue # 14.
Question for the curious: Why is this body of water significant?

Cross the small bridge, go a bit farther and turn right as you enter the grove to go past the owl’s enclosure.  The third letter of her name goes in box # 3.

Check out the animal poster on the back of the Science Center.  The last letter of the type of toad pictured is clue # 2.

Go down the ramp, past the bird feeder and back through the stone wall into the grove.  You could pause here to picnic… the first letter of the piece of furniture you might picnic at is clue # 8.

Leave the grove and the building behind and head for the stone wall.  Keep it on your right and follow the path to the trail sign.  The fourth letter of the second word is clue # 15.
Follow the direction of the arrow and stay to the right of the long log on the ground where the trail splits.  Shortly after, there is a trail to the right going over a stone wall into the woods, with a sign.  The vowel that shows up most frequently on the sign goes into box number 13.  Question for the curious:  Who is Wilder Gaudette?

Follow the trail into the woods, noting how secluded this part of the property seems.  Try to find the small holly and berry bushes near the path.  Then, behold, yet another small bridge!  Carefully check the right hand side of this bridge for clue number 19.

Stay on the Gaudette Trail.  There will be a colored dot on a big tree to the right.  The third letter of that color is clue number 1.

Now this bridge is a beauty!  From the name of the bridge, take the second letter of the woman’s last name for clue number 4.  As you cross the bridge, take time to look into the water for signs of life.

Continue along the path, crossing another stone wall; look on one of the rocks near the path for clue number 7.

When you come to the tree with the blue and orange circles, pause to look and listen; what sounds do you hear?  Does it look as if you are near the Hanover Mall; does it sound as if you are near route 3?

As you continue along the path, there will be a post with a small blue picture on your right. The fourth letter of what is pictured goes in box number 5.

One more bridge, have you been keeping count?  The first letter of the number of bridges you have come to goes into box number 11.

Keep following the path. When you get to the rope, duck underneath to join the Tupelo Trail.  What color is the rope?  Put the second letter of the word in clue number 12.

Keep the colored rope on your left as you walk.  Something is hanging on a tree to the left of the trail.  The first letter of what the thing is (not what animal it is for) is clue number 17.

Go to the end of the Tupelo Trail, then find the box.

 
If you liked this quest, pick up one of the South Shore Quests booklets. They are only $6 and include 20 quests.

2009 Quest Season is
April 15 - November 15.

DISCLAIMER: ALL PERSONS PARTICPATING IN A QUEST DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK. As always when walking in the outdoors and in unfamiliar places, please be careful and aware of your surroundings. Children should not do Quests without an adult. South Shore Quests does not knowingly place clues or boxes in hazardous areas. However, South Shore Quests can not guarantee the conditions of the trails. Moreover, conditions may change, so Questers must consider the current conditions as well as their own abilities and limitations at all times. South Shore Quests and the Weir River Watershed Association assume no responsibility for events that may occur during a Quest.