Alright, here we go with the explanations. Remember, I did purposely make it harder this year figuring people would have more time to work on the clues.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
Washing your hands, and not just because you should is a reference to the medallion being disguised as a clump of dirt which may get your hands dirty. For the rest of the clue, start at the end. If you google “solo city” you will immediately see that is a nickname for a city in Indonesia. The international “code” to “call” Indonesia is 62. “Catching a ride” refers to a bus and of course Route 62. Route 62 makes a stop at bus stop 6262, a place of numeric harmony and the closest bus stop to the treasure.
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
Looking back to pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site might help set you right
And give direction to your paradigms.
“44” refers to the 44th President, Barack Obama. He graduated from Columbia, but prior to that he went to Occidental College (my alma mater!). Occidental in turn is a term meaning “western”. This is a reference to the “West Side” of St. Paul where Cherokee Park is. The endearing site is the Dearing Mansion near the park which should help confirm which “west” was meant exactly.
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
The Postal Service was a band with a hit called “Such Great Heights”, a reference to Cherokee Heights (If you google “The Postal Service” this song comes up right away). The lead singer of that group is also the person behind the band “Death Cab for Cutie”, which might make you nervous. “Lots of letters” are found in books, a reference to the “little library” found in a yard across the street from the area of the hiding spot. “Somewhere above 40” is a reference to the park being above Water St. which is County Rd. 40.
Clue #4
A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.
This is a reference to James A. Baker who was Secretary of State under the first George Bush and then became Chief of Staff, also under Bush. But he had also been Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Treasury under Ronald Reagan, so under Bush it was his second time serving as both a Secretary and a Chief of Staff. At Cherokee you will still find Baker (St.) under George (St.) on a map.
Clue #5
There’s plenty of land you’ll find near at hand
But crossing the street is quite forbidden.
Stay near to some trees and watch your step please
Or you might stumble on where it’s hidden.
Cherokee is a decent sized park, but private property, which is out of bounds, is on the other side of the street. There are trees near the hiding spot and you might actually feel the medallion by stepping on it. It was also hidden in a slight depression which could trip someone up a bit.
Clue #6
If sick, but not sure, you still want the cure.
Also keep plenty of water nearby.
Still no discovery for a recovery
But a marginal treatment gets you by.
The Cure is a band whose lead singer is Robert Smith, a reference to Smith St. The nearby water is the Mississippi. “Marginal treatment” refers to the park being on the border of St. Paul.
Clue #7
Not at work all day? Find places to play.
Although this is a game where you don’t touch.
Contact is taboo. Whatever you do,
Leaving yourself on the sidelines is clutch.
The “places to play” refers to the various places to play sports in the park, but particularly the tennis courts near the treasure as tennis courts have sidelines and the treasure is roughly in line with one of them. Tennis is also a sport without human contact. “Leaving” tells you it is hidden under some leaves. The first letter of each line forms “NACL” which is the chemical formula for salt which is in turn a reference to Morton St. near the park.
Clue #8
These times are scary, a load to carry,
Yet there is no rigging of the results.
Will you stand whining? Be a star shining?
It’s a lot better to act like adults.
“Carry” (Carrie), (the) “stand”, (the) “shining”, “It”, and (Salem’s) “lot” are all scary stories by Stephen King. Both Stevens and King streets are near the park. “Rig” is another name for a truck and “no rigging” refers to a “no trucks” sign near the treasure.
Clue #9
I bet Uncle Joe knows where you should go.
It’s a most irregular kind of park.
There’s no place to bat, where’s the parking at?
A dolt may think it’s somewhere near Bismarck.
Uncle Joe is Joe Biden who is from Delaware, another street near the park. The park has a definite irregular shape to it. The only thing resembling a baseball field has no home plate and there are no parking lots. Some geographically challenged people may think the West Side is in Dakota County just as Bismarck is in a Dakota.
Clue #10
What will you have wrought if digging for naught?
You really don’t want to be the weak link.
Try taking a stroll, going pole to pole.
You will feel groovy when you start to sink.
“Wrought” (iron), “pole”, and “link” allude to fences as there is a fence all around the tennis court by the treasure. Taking a stroll alludes to the nearby sidewalk and walking trail. The area with the treasure sinks down from both the trail and the sidewalk and the medallion is hidden in a slight groove in the ground.
Clue #11
Let me dish some dirt, and yet not quite blurt.
A street name is something that’s sure to please
And yet no name hath this critical path.
So such a hint would be just a big tease.
This is just a reference to the alley between Delaware and Cherokee, which the treasure is in line with. It also roughly aligns with a series of utility poles which look like a line of big T’s (“big tease”).
Clue #12
It’s now plain to see the park’s Cherokee,
But go far from any picnic table.
Facing the blue wall, power above all,
Find a groove in the earth if you’re able.
This tells you the park and that it is not near the picnic grounds. The blue wall is part of the tennis courts and align yourself with the power lines, then look for the groove.
The hunt is still going. Perhaps this clue will do the trick.
Clue #11
Let me dish some dirt, and yet not quite blurt.
A street name is something that's sure to please
And yet no name hath this critical path.
So such a hint would be just a big tease.
And the previous clues:
Clue #10
What will you have wrought if digging for naught?
You really don’t want to be the weak link.
Try taking a stroll, going pole to pole.
You will feel groovy when you start to sink.
Clue #9
I bet Uncle Joe knows where you should go.
It’s a most irregular kind of park.
There’s no place to bat, where’s the parking at?
A dolt may think it’s somewhere near Bismarck.
Clue #8
These times are scary, a load to carry,
Yet there is no rigging of the results.
Will you stand whining? Be a star shining?
It’s a lot better to act like adults.
Clue #7
Not at work all day? Find places to play.
Although this is a game where you don’t touch.
Contact is taboo. Whatever you do,
Leaving yourself on the sidelines is clutch.
Clue #6
If sick, but not sure, you still want the cure.
Also keep plenty of water nearby.
Still no discovery for a recovery
But a marginal treatment gets you by.
Clue #5
There’s plenty of land you’ll find near at hand
But crossing the street is quite forbidden.
Stay near to some trees and watch your step please
Or you might stumble on where it’s hidden.
Clue #4
A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
Here we are at clue 10. People are out looking now so remember to keep a distance and don't go out looking if you feel sick. If not found, the next clue will be at 8am tomorrow.
Clue #10
What will you have wrought if digging for naught?
You really don’t want to be the weak link.
Try taking a stroll, going pole to pole.
You will feel groovy when you start to sink.
And the previous clues:
Clue #9
I bet Uncle Joe knows where you should go.
It’s a most irregular kind of park.
There’s no place to bat, where’s the parking at?
A dolt may think it’s somewhere near Bismarck.
Clue #8
These times are scary, a load to carry,
Yet there is no rigging of the results.
Will you stand whining? Be a star shining?
It’s a lot better to act like adults.
Clue #7
Not at work all day? Find places to play.
Although this is a game where you don’t touch.
Contact is taboo. Whatever you do,
Leaving yourself on the sidelines is clutch.
Clue #6
If sick, but not sure, you still want the cure.
Also keep plenty of water nearby.
Still no discovery for a recovery
But a marginal treatment gets you by.
Clue #5
There’s plenty of land you’ll find near at hand
But crossing the street is quite forbidden.
Stay near to some trees and watch your step please
Or you might stumble on where it’s hidden.
Clue #4
A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
Time to wake up! In case you missed it last night, I'm moving to two clues a day for the last few clues so that we can be sure to end the hunt before Friday night.
Clue #9
I bet Uncle Joe knows where you should go.
It’s a most irregular kind of park.
There’s no place to bat, where’s the parking at?
A dolt may think it’s somewhere near Bismarck.
And the previous clues:
Clue #8
These times are scary, a load to carry,
Yet there is no rigging of the results.
Will you stand whining? Be a star shining?
It’s a lot better to act like adults.
Clue #7
Not at work all day? Find places to play.
Although this is a game where you don’t touch.
Contact is taboo. Whatever you do,
Leaving yourself on the sidelines is clutch.
Clue #6
If sick, but not sure, you still want the cure.
Also keep plenty of water nearby.
Still no discovery for a recovery
But a marginal treatment gets you by.
Clue #5
There’s plenty of land you’ll find near at hand
But crossing the street is quite forbidden.
Stay near to some trees and watch your step please
Or you might stumble on where it’s hidden.
Clue #4
A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
Today, if you haven't heard, the governor gave a "stay at home" order, though it will not take effect until late Friday night. Consequently I think the best thing to do at this point is to aim to have the hunt over before then. Consequently I am making a slight change and starting tomorrow will move to two clues a day.
This is Clue #8.
Clue #9 will be Thursday at 8am.
Clue #10 will be Thursday at 5pm.
Clue #11 will be Friday at 8am
Clue #12, if it comes to that, will be Friday at 5pm.
And then hopefully it will be found Friday before midnight. I realize the order isn't terribly different from what we've already been doing and it still allows people to be outdoors at a park. However I think we should honor the spirit of it and not exclude any hunters who plan to honor the spirit of it from finding the medallion. So this is the plan. As usual, when in the park, try to stay at least 6 feet away from other hunters, avoid touching surfaces others may be touching, and ideally wear gloves. Stay safe!
Clue #8
These times are scary, a load to carry,
Yet there is no rigging of the results.
Will you stand whining? Be a star shining?
It’s a lot better to act like adults.
And the previous clues:
Clue #7
Not at work all day? Find places to play.
Although this is a game where you don’t touch.
Contact is taboo. Whatever you do,
Leaving yourself on the sidelines is clutch.
Clue #6
If sick, but not sure, you still want the cure.
Also keep plenty of water nearby.
Still no discovery for a recovery
But a marginal treatment gets you by.
Clue #5
There’s plenty of land you’ll find near at hand
But crossing the street is quite forbidden.
Stay near to some trees and watch your step please
Or you might stumble on where it’s hidden.
Clue #4
A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
And the hunt goes on. Remember to be careful out there.
Clue #7
Not at work all day? Find places to play.
Although this is a game where you don’t touch.
Contact is taboo. Whatever you do,
Leaving yourself on the sidelines is clutch.
And the previous clues:
Clue #6
If sick, but not sure, you still want the cure.
Also keep plenty of water nearby.
Still no discovery for a recovery
But a marginal treatment gets you by.
Clue #5
There’s plenty of land you’ll find near at hand
But crossing the street is quite forbidden.
Stay near to some trees and watch your step please
Or you might stumble on where it’s hidden.
Clue #4
A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
Here is today's clue as the hunt goes on one more day. If you do go out looking, remember to keep a distance from people and you'll probably want to wear gloves.
Clue #6
If sick, but not sure, you still want the cure.
Also keep plenty of water nearby.
Still no discovery for a recovery
But a marginal treatment gets you by.
And the previous clues:
Clue #5
There’s plenty of land you’ll find near at hand
But crossing the street is quite forbidden.
Stay near to some trees and watch your step please
Or you might stumble on where it’s hidden.
Clue #4
A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
Here is today's clue as the hunt goes on one more day. If you do go out looking, remember to keep a distance from people and you'll probably want to wear gloves.
Clue #5
There’s plenty of land you’ll find near at hand
But crossing the street is quite forbidden.
Stay near to some trees and watch your step please
Or you might stumble on where it’s hidden.
And the previous clues:
Clue #4
A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
Here is today's clue.
Clue #4
A secretary most necessary,
The second time through there would be less dross.
For a time but brief he became the chief,
But you’ll still find him under the same boss.
And the previous clues:
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
The Hunt goes on for another day. If the state goes into lockdown, the hunt will be suspended and more details will follow. Until then, have fun working on the clues. If you do venture out to hunt, remember to keep a distance from people and it's probably a good idea to wear gloves. Here is today's clue:
Clue #3
The Postal Service might make you nervous
But lots of letters are a useful aid.
How many needed if unimpeded?
Somewhere above forty you’ll have it made.
And the previous clues:
Clue #2
Find this bit of lore about forty-four,
By looking at pre-Columbian times.
An endearing site will help set you right
And give direction to these little rhymes.
Clue #1
Whether snow or no, this hunt is a go.
Fresh air and sunshine will do you much good.
To dodge the virus is most desirous
So wash your hands, not just because you should.
You should break your stride, and go catch a ride
To a place of numeric harmony.
Now Saint Paul’s a Twin, but the code to win
Is to call the place a solo city.
The hunt is now less than 24 hours away. The deed has been done and the Allison Wonderland medallion sleeps outdoors tonight. Who will find it this year? It's truly anyone's game as the field is open to everyone to participate with no registration fee. The clues will be tricky, but I assume many of you will have time on your hands to try and figure them out so have at it. A new clue will be released each day at 5pm, up to 12 clues. The hunt will go until someone finds it or I come to the inescapable conclusion that something has gone horribly wrong. Two things to keep in mind:
1. To add some danger to the hunt, I licked the medallion before hiding it. 2. Outside of the clues and the rules, never trust anything I tell you.
With what seems like everything in life getting cancelled, you were probably wondering what's going to happen with the AW Mock Hunt. Is that going to get cancelled too? The answer is NO! Treasure hunting is definitely not a contact sport. A lot of it is working from home anyway, trying to figure out the clues. And even if you do go out to the park to look for it, especially during a mock hunt, you're generally not close to other hunters. So there's no reason to think that treasure hunting poses a danger to anyone or violates social distancing. On the contrary, fresh air and sunshine are time-proven methods to fight off such illnesses. So we will begin the Mock Hunt this Wednesday as scheduled. Some of you might have heard the St. Paul Parks Dept. announce a closure, but they are only closing their buildings. They're not going to kick people out of public outdoor spaces (though I wouldn't be surprised if they were extra jumpy about people in the parks after hours).
But as I said, a couple of things will be different. First off, there will not be a kickoff party. At this point, I don't even know if Joseph's or any other restaurant will even be open. And even if there was a place to go, such a gathering is the kind of thing to avoid right now. Secondly, since a lot of people tend to pay their registrations at the kickoff, I'm going to change the prize structure for this hunt. I'm going to do away with the registrations for this event and make it free for everyone to participate. But given the associated lack of a cash influx, I'm also going to make the prize just $200. But now everyone who wants to participate can, while at the same time no one should feel obligated to do so if they'd rather not because they already invested money into it. Speaking of people who have already invested, a few people did already pay me a registration fee. I believe they were generally offered in the context of a broader donation, but if anyone who did pay would like their money back, just let me know.
Otherwise expect clues to come out at 5pm daily until either we hit 12 or it is found. It will be on public property in St. Paul. It will not be indoors, up a tree, on a roof, on a steep hillside, on top of ice or in a body of water (can't make any promises about puddles), inside of anything electrical, or anywhere else that would make you question if this might be a bad idea to look there. You do need to return the medallion to claim your prize.
We all get excited each year when the Pioneer Press's medallion hunt comes along. With its big prize and thousands of competitors, it can be quite a thrill. Perhaps a little less so when it expects you to know where a past team doctor for the MN Vikings used to live. But nevertheless we tend to be sad when it is over.
In the meantime there are lots of other hunts that happen during the year all over the Twin Cities and even the state. Some are put on by various cities while others are done by some of our fellow hunters. But I have heard it said that the triple crown of treasure hunting is made up of the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt, the White Bear Lake city hunt, and the Allison Wonderland Mock Hunt. Perhaps that is because this year will be the 20th year that it has been going on. And thus I would like to go ahead and announce the 2020 Allison Wonderland Mock Hunt. This is a 12 clue hunt with one clue per day. The treasure is a medallion about 2 inches across and half an inch think that will be hidden somewhere on public property in St. Paul. Your job is to decipher the clues and get to the medallion before any other hunter (or park worker!) does.
The medallion is not going to be anywhere that is ruled out by the PP Medallion Hunt (including Indian Mounds). It will also not be indoors, on a body of frozen (or open) water, on a steep hillside, on top of a building, up a tree, inside of anything electrical, nor anywhere else that might make you question if looking there is a good idea. Beyond that, you will have to follow the clues.
The first clue will be issued on Wednesday, March 18th at 5:00pm and each subsequent clue will also be posted at 5pm on this site. There will also be a kickoff party at Joseph's Grill that night starting at 6pm for anyone that would like to go (it's pasta bar night!)
If you would like to register for the hunt, you can do so by getting $10 to me before the release of the 4th clue. Paying me at the kickoff or sending it via Paypa to AllisonWondrland@... (remember to "send to a friend") would be the easiest though other methods can be arranged. Registering will make you eligible to win the full prize of $500 (as well as supporting the hunt). But in the spirit of "no purchase required" you can also participate for free and still win $100 if you find it. Registration fees beyond $100 in that case will get donated to another hunt. The winner must return the medallion to claim the prize money.
I think that covers except for this one last, but very important rule: Outside of the clues, never trust the cluewriter! Otherwise good luck!
Unfortunately I did not make it to the rehash bash. It did look like a good time on the Facebook page. Perhaps we can set up a different way for me to collect my fame and fortune. Lol
Sorry to hear about your mother, secretrose. My condolences to you and your family and best wishes. Bob
alfabob1@...
Checked
8 minutes 38 seconds ago
The Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt is part of the St. Paul Winter Carnival every year. While the prize can only go to one winner, The Allison Wonderland is dedicated to the community spirit of treasure hunting. Here, not only will you find out about the Pre-Dig Gig, the Rehash Bash, and various other social events, but we also discuss the clues here in a team effort to decipher them (albeit not always successfully). This is a place to discuss ideas respectfully, report on what's happening "on the ground", and provide each other with useful information. This is a public group so expect that anything posted will be seen by everyone.