2013 Allison Wonderland Piggy Back Hunt

The word “sky” is a clue to Skyway Drive, the only road leading to Henry Park. “Friends” indicates the organized group of people trying to save the park/preserve from being developed into a housing project (Friends of Henry Park). Also, all three men’s first names in this clue “David, Frank and Earnest” are leading you to a park that is a man’s first name.

The word “news” is guiding you to look “north, east, west, south” to find the park, indicating the four points of a “global quartet” which ultimately create the shape of a square. “mapping a bet” refers to using a map to wager this park being the fourth corner of the square of the last four years Mock Hunts, thus, Como, Harriet, Conway and Henry respectively would complete the square on an overhead map – the global quartet.

There is a little pond in the main area of Henry Park which is the “water serene” but also a stream runs down along the retaining wall and former driveway down to the pond and there are ripples or little “waves” and of course the “current flows by gently on cue.” Waves also refer to the pattern of the bark on the gingko trees planted on the former property by Henry Valiukas some of which are in that pond area. The danger of the “siren’s call” is the steep bluff that you will “surely fall” down “if you get too close to the view”.

There is a small bench that is set directly in front of the pond where you can “take a bit to stop and sit”. “There’s a tree that doesn’t look as it should” and “not an evergreen like I’ve ever seen” is the gingko tree interspersed with the other evergreens that Henry planted along with black walnut trees. The gingko tree is an evergreen of sorts – the only deciduous gymnosperm and all other members of this division are evergreen such as pine, spruce, fir and juniper. Also, “ponder some other type of wood” is a clue to Highwood Ave which is the only lead in street to Skyway Drive.

This clue is just telling you it is a park where many of the boundaries are not along streets.

“Consider largesse” is referring once again to “Friends of Henry Park” and is a direct clue to the contributions of so many people and numerous other entities to preserve this land as a park and eventually connect the nature trails that run through Battle Creek Regional Park, the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, the Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail and more. “wise men over fools” simply meaning it is far better to give than to receive. Also, “look to the mason” equates to Henry Valiukas who was a mason by trade, an artist and renowned sculptor who worked tirelessly to preserve Pigs Eye Lake and the Mississippi bluff from development. Artifacts of his work remain strewn throughout Henry Park today.

“There’s room for one spot” tells you there is only room for one parking spot in front of the sign and gate for Henry Park but there isn’t a parking lot at all. Henry’s house and yard were located beyond the driveway area which is the meaning of “play in the yard”. There is a stream running from the street up on Skyway and follows the driveway past the remnants of the retaining wall so you follow this down to the main park area. “his dream” was documented as such: “Relatives and friends say that Henry Valiukas, a gifted stone carver and passionate conservationist, dreamed of turning his property into an urban forest preserve open to the public.”

Beginning at the sign for Henry Park on Skyway Drive you would begin down the hill of where the driveway likely was. The herd of deer are sometimes walking through the park and not visible other times. Also the trail is “heating” up when you come to the chimney which was built by Henry and had been contained within his house. “In a place unfit for depravity “ is simply referring to this beautiful nature preserve “a little slice of wooded paradise” which in itself is a haven to be protected from destruction and self serving monetary endeavors.

The “alexipharmic lean” would refer again to the numerous antidotal or medicinal values of the gingko tree. Also Lithuanian Henry Valiukas had escaped atrocious horrors in WWII Nazi Germany and Russia but when he came to the United States had “earned a reputation as a man who would not let one minute of life slip away unsavored.” He decided to “love life and everything you have” and “he was never bitter about it”. “He came out of it as a guy who appreciated life and his freedom.”

The first two lines are taken from the poem “Desidarata” and simply imply a peaceful and quiet place with following remarks to protect and strictly avoid disturbing the natural habitat. This clue is telling you it is a preserve park rather than a developed city park.

“passed ten” is referring to Hwy 10 which runs past Henry Park. “leave your racquet behind” means there are no tennis courts here as there were in the original Mock Hunt park. “the warm chimney” and “marble, tiles and slate” are details confirming you’re in the right park and getting warm but no need to disturb the remnants. “begin looking swiftly” and “another of these” are both clues to the Chimney Swift Bird chimney tower which is close to the hiding spot and the combination bench/table contraption where you can “take a breather and relax”.

Just tells you the golden egg is in a sack and exactly where to find it hidden in the eye of the small tree behind the bench. Of course the “spork” reference is a description of the bench/table combination unit.