Thanksgiving Break OUT?!?

Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Wednesday, we began our long journey down to Houston to visit my husband's sister and her family for Thanksgiving. Despite the cool and damp weather, we decided that the multiple letterboxes located at the Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens were impossible to resist. We desperately needed a chance to stretch our legs around 4pm that wet and chilly day.

As we drove into the gardens, we saw signs stating that the gates were locked promptly at 5pm. Assuming an hour was plenty of time, and thinking they couldn't possibly lock us in, we surged ahead. After a few attempts to figure out where the visitor's center was, we finally pulled into a parking spot near a large gated entrance. A quick glance at the map showed us that we had arrived at the visitor's center. Katiefrog and I ran in and retrieved a paper map of the park and took it back to the car to pinpoint some of the key locations.

We decided to go after "Bamboo for You" hidden by Quetzel first. We managed to find the Daylily Garden easily, but had to consult a map and make a few guesses to find the "North Garden Trailhead" mentioned in the clue. We eventually picked a path that looked promising, and after quite a long hike, we were able to locate a map that said we had passed the Bamboo Garden. We turned around, and attempted to figure out which "entrance" was the right one. We never really figured it out, but we took one of them anyhow, and tried to locate the landmarks mentioned. There were many fallen trees, and a couple of benches. After searching for quite a while, and realizing we were short on time, we decided to go after another box which was nearby.

Back on the trail, we heard what sounded like a gun shot. Reddog motioned for us to stop and went ahead a bit to make sure everything was safe. After a quick inspection further up the trail, he determined it was probably from across the creek (we found out later that it is private property and hunting does occur there). A little further down the trail, a deer came crashing out of the woods at top speed. He was quickly followed by several others. We all stopped in our tracks and watched as five or six of them followed his lead.

Continuing on, we made our way to a sign that pointed towards "Cypress Trail" which was mentioned in the clues for "Elmer" hidden by Baby Bear. We started counting at the first sign, then soon afterwards realized, we had started counting at the wrong sign. Tired of counting, I let Reddog count the next 90 steps. He tried to compensate by taking smaller steps, assuming that Baby Bear probably didn't have his stride, but soon found out we were a bit short of our destination. He was, however, easily able to see where we needed to be.

Another view from the gardens.

We retrieved the box, and removed the slightly damp log. We scrambled to stamp in, since it was getting close to the garden's closing time. After resealing the box and re-hiding it carefully, we quickly made our long hike back to the entrance. When we arrived at the gate, it was closed.

Attempting to open the gate, we quickly realized it was padlocked. Looking behind us for signs of life, we noticed the lights were off in the visitor's center. There was not a sign of life anywhere around us! Surely, they wouldn't just leave people stranded in the gardens... or would they?
We frantically looked around for a security guard, but to no avail.

Staring at the 7 foot iron bar gate that loomed before us, we decided we had no choice but to go over. Reddog quickly came up with a plan for our attempt to break out. He put his hands together and easily boosted Blue Squirrel Girl up to the top of the gate. She straddled it and managed to jump down on the other side.

With Blue Squirrel Girl safely on the other side of our obstacle, Reddog indicated that I was next. (did I mention I'm scared of falling? Not heights - just falling from heights!) So, up I went to the top of the gate. Straddling it and closing my eyes for a minute to get my confidence up, I finally managed to use the padlock as a step and land safely on the ground.

Katiefrog's eyes got big as she was unexpectantly lifted up to the top of the gate. She put her feet on top of the gate and trustingly jumped into my waiting arms.

Now we were all safely over the gate, thanks to Reddog's boosts, but how was he going to get himself out? Looking around, we noticed a little electrical box a few feet down the fence to the left. Reddog put one foot up on to the box, and somehow managed to get his foot to the top of the fence. A few moments later, he joined in our celebration of freedom.

We all piled into the car amazed at what had just occurred. What if we had been disabled, elderly, or even hadn't had Reddog there to boost us over? Would we have had to spend the night there in the garden? Of course, we had brought in our cell phones, but what if we had left them in the car?

Looking back, I realize that there was a sign that said they lock the gates at 5pm; however, we were only 5 minutes late arriving at the gate. I would think they would allow for at least a small margin of error, considering they did not provide an opportunity for us to synchronize our time with theirs!

Anyhow, the moral of the story is: if you decide to go after the letterboxes in Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, be sure to be at the gate by 5:00 pm sharp, or BYOL(bring your own ladder)!