2023 Hugo Good Neighbor Days Search for Spike

Hello good neighbors, friends and lovers of Golden Spike 
St. Valentine, Urho, Patty’s gone, and Easter/Lent 
Winter lest spring are over, time to walk and hunt and bike 
To readers’ Best Festival and Outdoor Event!

Follow law and rule, stay left of the great Hay Lake School 
Our neighborhood is far south of a very Big Wood 
Veer north of Oakies’ cakes, and right at the chain o’ lakes 
Hugo Lions – this brood is again up to some good! 

On your Golden Ticket you must get all of the brands 
Remember when Hugo was just Plain ol’ gravel Sand? 
We don’t! But it’s true and please don’t dig where it’s unplanned 
Will you find the treasure lonely or need you more hands?

No damage be done, stop the raging Chicago fire 
Stop before you get to Milwaukee water desire 
Below Summit Avenue is where St. Paul stagecoaches stopped 
This railroad went overland and here a stop plopped

What have Lions and clue writer got up their sleeves? 
May a sweet Union for you, at a great park – stoppeth you! 
Same rules, great prizes, good fun, and some teases 
Credit the Heartland for all of these clues

Every time the clues get longer 
Every day you’ll get a bit closer 
Best wishes for Cousins, Culpepper & Ponder 
One big winner no one is a loser

On the table is every park in town 
You won’t need your evening gown 
For this clue, bring pickles for a picnic 
Sandwiches and an ant parade, so 
Set your watermelon on the ground

Find your oak, elm, maple – big and strong 
McCollar Park was others’ swan song 
Pines for last year, that’s not where it’s at 
Pick a different park, move on from that 
Maybe we will bring it to light again 
Maybe they won’t know where to begin

Just any park will not do 
Now you’re on to the seventh clue 
You’ve searched in the sea, with eggs, on the shore 
I know that this hunt is not a bore 
Tell your brother, mother and friend 
We have three ciphers 'til fateful end 
Like Wolves, Wild, Lynx and Twins, NEVER BEND!

You are a tribesman, a hunter, bound 
And determined to use a hound 
And maybe said puppy has a Fresh Take 
If not at least she will scare away snakes 
Skip past the nonsense and focus on words 
If you can’t find it, retire! Watching birds! 
Horseshoe, Oneka, Rice and Bald Eagle 
Won’t satisfy the senses of your beagle

We’ve come from a long way since tornado destruction 
Hugo Historical Commission – three cheers and three rules! 
Lately, this history crew got it quite right 
And they posted on Facebook all through the night 
So to change the subject... ride on your llama, dad’s back or Mutton 
And remember all the really cool Good Neighbors Days buttons 
My favorite is the one that says “You Can’t Keep Spike From Me!” 
But also the one that says just plain “Unity For The Community” 
Sorry you haven't seen my best poetry. I’m a writer, man, not a notary

That’s a lot of clues to digest 
Look at this clue but also ALL the rest 
You should be out hunting not just parking 
Did you pay attention to a tale of 3’s? 
Spelled it out for you within the trees! 
The third word of each clue plus 
The last word of the third line of each clue 
Say distinctly (says the cluewriter winking): 
“Ponder the picnic table at Oak Shore Park.” 
And: “Take a right from parking lot.”