2004 Redbear Mock Hunt

Is it 6:30 already?

I've changed my plans to check back here at 6:30.  Who changed the time again?

I planned to hitchhike from Texas and hop a space shuttle just to make it here by 6:30.  Now it's going to be changed again and I'm gonna miss the clue?  What gives anyway?  Who has this kind of power?   ;-)

I bet if it was a plain brown M&M it would still be 6:30

 

[Edited by on Dec 6, 2004 at 01:07pm.]

me2 ;) hahahahaha

I'm back online!  My computer crashed on me and my son-in-law got me a new hard drive and I'm back in business!  It's probably a little late for me to join in this hunt at the 11th hour though.  But I'm just glad to be back!  It's amazing how much work one can get done when one's computer is on the blink.  :)

Clue 12

The last clue in my little game

I seem to have used up 12 minutes of fame

But now it's time for the crew to follow

 

 

The item to find

the target inside,

is solid in the hollow

 

Start at the top, you won't have to frump

It's the way to do it, sez Donald Trump

 

Four and twenty blackbirds, give you the cadence

The score from before? A Lincoln ref-rence

 

the three next to three starts to make sense

 

Cound down and walk down 3 score and 3 steps, try as you might

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
<o:p>A red state refernece, believe what you might
</o:p>

<o:p>the way to look is not left, but go right
</o:p>

<o:p>
</o:p> 

<o:p>

</o:p>

<o:p>Mind the gap, they say in england, don't flail
</o:p>

<o:p>
</o:p>

<o:p>
</o:p>Watch your step, and pick up the item, now be hailed 

<o:p>
</o:p> 

<o:p>

</o:p>

AND FOR FUCK”S SAKE BE CAREFUL!

 

[Edited 4 times. Most recently by on Dec 6, 2004 at 01:26pm.]

 

ya...not as sexy.

Where did everybody go?

To find it I assume.  Sucks that we're at work huh Kitch?

 

Clue 12

The last clue in my little game

I seem to have used up 12 minutes of fame

But now it's time for the crew to follow

The item to find

the target inside,

is solid in the hollow

Start at the top, you won't have to frump

It's the way to do it, sez Donald Trump

Four and twenty blackbirds, give you the cadence

The score from before? A Lincoln ref-rence

the three next to three starts to make sense

Cound down and walk down 3 score and 3 steps, try as you might

the way to look is not left, but go right

Mind the gap, they say in england, don't flail

Watch your step, and pick up the item, now be hailed 

[Edited 6 times. Most recently by on Dec 6, 2004 at 01:42pm.]

So CM, what'd you think?  Too hard?

Maybe a bit but I didn't get out to SH when I said I was going to early on.  Kinda wish I had now.  So I can't really say if they would have been more obvious or not.  It's still good to be on our toes.  I liked the clues when it's said and done.  Good job and thanks for writing them.  I'm just not a fan of final pinpointing clues like the press does.  It's always nice to narrow it down but to a small area instead of an exact spot.  I'm just wondering how many of the people rushing out there know how long a score really is.  They might be counting the wrong number of steps.  ;-)

[Edited 3 times. Most recently by on Dec 6, 2004 at 01:49pm.]

Game over, man, Game over!

Kitch apparently faked everyone out and booked out of work to find it, beating mukluk by a step.

Will post explanations now...commence bitching, crew!

Kitch, you bastard!!!!

Oh, and
Congratulations
bud!  I would have done the same thing if I was working in St. Paul again.  Damn Minneapolis.  Way to go

Thanks again Redbear!

[Edited 3 times. Most recently by on Dec 6, 2004 at 01:53pm.]

Some of this I re-wrote on the fly but you get the general idea.

 

A note before the explanations:  I designed and wrote these clues to be difficult, obtuse, and generally unfair.  I expect most of you to complain, howl, and gripe – just as you complained, howled and griped after the last PP hunt.  Since there really wasn’t a big cash prize involved I took this seriously as to dump my style of writing and mimmick the last year’s clues to help everyone prepare for this upcoming hunt.  I’m happy to report that my goal of prepping the Crew for the big hunt was successful in how I designed the clues and the hunt, but I’m a little disappointed that as many people didn’t hunt.  Oh well, as long as most had fun.  Anyway, onto it.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
<o:p>
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 1

Time and tide, froth and fide,

Two lines from a famous book

Maybe it’s meaningful, maybe a lark

But for this to be sure: one saint paul park.

<o:p> 
</o:p>

This is where I start to throw people off.  Time and Tide is from a previous hunt; two lines from a famous book is completely meaningless.  I added it in there to break the Cooler of the idea that if you work the first clue hard enough, you’ll be able to find the park.  The only substantive idea here is “
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />
<st1:City>
<st1:place>saint paul
</st1:place>
</st1:City>park.”
<o:p>
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 2

Here’s one for Chesty, the bear’s big fan

I didn’t get a gift for her and the New man

The keys to the kingdom, the shape of her heart,

3 plane truths, that’s a good start

<o:p> 
</o:p>

But here’s where it starts to get interesting, but with much more misdirection.  Chesty has double meaning.  First, It refers to Treasure Chest, my logic being that if she actually appeared in a clue here it would totally throw her mind for a loop.  Second, it’s meant to lead people to
<st1:place>
<st1:PlaceName>Mounds
</st1:PlaceName>

<st1:PlaceType>Park
</st1:PlaceType>
</st1:place>.  Clean Laundry, the shape of her heart, well, Treasure Chest thinks I’m a romantic and I didn’t want to disappoint, but from the clue perspective it’s meaningless.  What isn’t meaningless is the misspelling of “plane.”   In Physics, a Plane refers to an incline of some kind.  Since there aren’t any flat entrances into Swede Hollow (large stairs, the  ramp, and walk up the trail – the 3 plane truths refer to the three main entrances into the park – a good place to start.  The nice thing is that it’s a pretty obscure reference and it made everyone think of where you can see planes from.

<o:p> 
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 3

It’s right, it’s left – all over asunder

To look wrong a colossal blunder

Something to see – if you look ‘round

Annas and grams they all abound

The sights you can’t see astound

<o:p> 
</o:p>

I wrote this clue in the spirit of the big hunt cluewriter, as it’s really interpretative as to what it means.  The actual hiding place can be found about 10 feet off of the stairs – and your choices are either to look right or to look left, but if you choose wrong, (to the left) you’re down the hill.  This clue also has a fun double meaning (and joke for me) since I said
<st1:City>
<st1:place>Como
</st1:place>
</st1:City>was in play – if you look at the first letter of each clue, it says “ITS AT”.

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 4

Carriages cross

Once as was old,

Mustn’t you ride for the roses,

Only for old foes?

<o:p> 
</o:p>

I continue the joke here, although I think everyone called my bluff nicely that I really wouldn’t hide something in
<st1:City>
<st1:place>Como
</st1:place>
</st1:City>.  The idea behind the joke is to break the old habit of looking at the first letter of every line as meaningful, which I think is tired.  Of course, if you look down the side, you’ll read “
<st1:City>
<st1:place>COMO
</st1:place>
</st1:City>.”  The actual meaningful phrase here is “Carriages Cross, once as was old” – the south entrance to the park, where there’s the old bridge and W. 7^thstreet, still in use today.
<o:p>
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 5

Ha ha,

Ah  ho, 3 3 -

Georgeous George,

Old man was he

The multi-skilled grappler

Cosmopolitan Epitome

Hankering for clues? Search, aspire, rally!

A peek down the side isn’t an ally

<o:p> 
</o:p>

To complete the end of my joke, reading down the side reads “HA GOTCHA” but no one really thought it was in
<st1:City>
<st1:place>Como
</st1:place>
</st1:City>anyway.  The key here is I actually tell you where in the park to look, and how.  Key line: Hankering for clues?  I tell you how (and ultimately where) to look:  Search A spireally.  The stairs into Swede hollow twist around, and while they’re not a typical spiral, they are kind of windey.  I throw in Georgeous George because his name starts with a G, so it fit the joke, but he’s also blonde, like a Swede.  Whoever came up with the 1933 thing is a freakin’ genius; I used 3 3 because I couldn’t think of another rhyme for “he” other than “Pee”.  I made good use of the “3 3”  in clue11.

<o:p> 
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 6

It’s been a bad run, fer this big bear

No missus, new car, no rhymen’ for bare

Life’s taken the toll on him – most  have turned

Better look hard – or else you’ll get burned

<o:p> 
</o:p>

This doesn’t actually refer to me.   The bear in question is the Hamms Bear, because of the old site of the
<st1:City>
<st1:place>Hamm
</st1:place>
</st1:City>’s brewery.  Most have turned refers to all but one stone of the mansion being left out.  But for the record, who the hell is GoFish and how the hell did they figure this out so quickly?
<o:p>
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 7

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Sticks and stones, they'll break your bones
and anagramming, that'll hurt you
the question to ponder, as you sip from a flask over yonder,
Is Cluemaster Brad? Nope...It's me2.

<o:p> 
</o:p>

I actually wrote this clue well ahead of the actual hunt.  I know that CM and me2 post a lot, and I figured that CM would figure something interesting out and me2 would have such a glut of ideas that everyone would frantically be re-reading everything she ever said, which is a lot, which, is why I was trying to increase the workload. 
  More importantly, I’m telling you that the sticks and the stones on the slanted woods are where you need to look.  The flask over yonder?  Try waiting for a bulldog edition of the paper with ClueMaster.  Those who know understand.
<o:p>
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 8

A list, a list, that's what you will need
<o:p>
</o:p>

some clues to break down- your mind needs a feed
<o:p>
</o:p>

There's two sides to this trail, don't let your ears bleed
<o:p>
</o:p>

 - I'm willing to help, as long as you're looking
<o:p>
</o:p>

from park to park you'll be booking.
<o:p>
</o:p>

A key, a chair, to move in slo-mo
<o:p>
</o:p>

is it three mounds or two? it might be just fo.
<o:p>
</o:p>

Hollow or not? think before you go
<o:p>
</o:p>

"Did he do it?" maybe yes, maybe no
<o:p>
</o:p>

The clues do fit, but could it be
<st1:City>
<st1:place>como
</st1:place>
</st1:City>?
<o:p>
</o:p>

And what about west? is it truly the best?
<o:p>
</o:p>

Perhaps challenge: upped - now that's a test
<o:p>
</o:p>

All have been searching, but none have been finding
<o:p>
</o:p>

A. wonderland of parks - a bridge to be bold
<o:p>
</o:p>

You know what 3 means - no need to be told
<o:p>
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Wow, is most of this meaningless.  This is where I attempt to really make things hard, by putting clever and easily solveable rhymes and analogies to just about every park in the book, which I figured would make a giant list and make everyone throw away everything they’ve done and completely start over.  Creative use of punctuation gets Allison Wonderland into the fray here, which, in addition to all the crap I feed you in this clue AND previously mentioning me2 and CM - brings his past hunts, virtual and not – into play, adding to the confusion.  In my defense, I did mention Swede Hollow.  The key line here is “There’s two sides to this trail.”  Swede Hollow’s main trail has two different sides.  Also, this is where I try to get helpful – “A List, A list, is what you will need” is working off the back cover of the THG  - a list of all the parks.  The next clue tells you what park on the list exactly.

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 9

<o:p> 
</o:p>

If it’s history yer searchin’

And more clues you’re a’ urgin

Just follow this rhythmic flight

Don’t go out late at night

Or else you just might

Fall into a complicated vex,

When all that’s important is next

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Trying to get easier here – I tell you to go look back into history, and I’ve previously clued you into the list that you need to be looking at.  If you look on the list, My very first Mock Hunt ended up at South St. Anthony.  What’s next on the list?  Swede Hollow. “Flight” puts you back on the stairs theme. 
 Also, hoping that people don’t go hunting there at night, because, well, let’s be honest: It’s a little creepy there after dark.

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 10

Oh Clues, clues, a brain heady fruit

<o:p> 
</o:p>

The more I write, the more you hoot

<o:p> 
</o:p>

A mind bending pain? You had better to bother

<o:p> 
</o:p>

A hero returns,  sky blue fodder

<o:p> 
</o:p>

“Land of Sky Blue Water” was from the
<st1:City>
<st1:place>Hamm
</st1:place>
</st1:City>’s jingle – I’m trying to tell you the park, “A mind bendy pain” (
<st1:Street>
<st1:address>Payne Avenue
</st1:address>
</st1:Street>bends around the West side of the park) and again, a second
<st1:City>
<st1:place>Hamm
</st1:place>
</st1:City>’s reference, and I do love that bear.  Fodder sort of rhymes with Bother.
<o:p>
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Clue 11

Ole and
<st1:place>Lena
</st1:place>, they would have parked here

“Oh what a sight, my beautiful dear”

<st1:City>
<st1:place>St. John
</st1:place>
</st1:City> and Abe Lincoln, together at last

The score from before, you better find fast

<o:p> 
</o:p>

<st1:City>
<st1:place>St. John’s
</st1:place>
</st1:City>Lutheran church is at the top of the hill about a block away, so that’s the best place to start to search.  Once you get to the stairs, pause to admire the view.  Then – Abe Lincoln’s famous “score” ( 1 score is 20 years) makes you look back for the 3 and the 3 together from the earlier clue.  “master fast” is a reference to the stairs – if you’re on a “stair master” and you’re going fast – you’ll make it down 3 score and 3 steps to where the item is hidden.

<o:p> 
</o:p>

The last clue in my little game

I seem to have used up 12 minutes of fame

But now it’s time for the group to follow

<o:p> 
</o:p>

The item to find,

The Target inside,

Is Solid in Hollow.

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Start at the top, you won’t have to frump

It’s the way you should, sez Donald Trump

Four and twenty blackbirds, give you the cadence

<o:p> 
</o:p>

<o:p> 
</o:p>

The score from before? A
<st1:City>
<st1:place>Lincoln
</st1:place>
</st1:City> ref-rence

The three next to three starts to make sense

<o:p> 
</o:p>

To count and walk down 3 score and 3 steps, try as you might

A Red state reference, believe what you might

The way to look is not left but go right

<o:p> 
</o:p>

Mind the gap, as they say in
<st1:country-region>
<st1:place>England
</st1:place>
</st1:country-region>, don’t be flailing

Watch your step as you pick up the item you’re hailing

<o:p> 
</o:p>

AND FOR FUCK”S SAKE BE CAREFUL!

<o:p> 
</o:p>

This is pretty self explanatory, I think, although I would like props for the “red reference” with the advent of red states and blue states, red being a right voting state – the way to the hiding spot is to the right.
<o:p>
</o:p>

 

Does everybody get the gist of this or should I re-type it?

Once again a 12th clue race. Hehe, seems since I've gotten into medallion hunting I have yet to see a hunt that hasn't gone to the spell it out clue. I'm not sure if that's a cut on us hunters, or a compliment to the clue writers.

Hey Bear,

Some of your clues are rather different from the ones posted for the hunt.. keys to the kingdom?  Once was old - ride for the roses?

que paso Osito Rojo?

I changed some stuff on the fly - the substantive stuff is the same.

and it's Oso, not Osito

Osito is little bear... or in reference to someone as a knick name - to be fond of them.

 

 

But for the record, who the hell is GoFish and how the hell did they figure this out so quickly?

 

I am a Northern Mn resident who grew up in Saint Paul. Both sets of my grandparents at some point lived in or near Swede Hollow, and as a child I listened to stories about how grand the mansion was and the story of its burning.  The cosmo line in the previous clue cemented the park for me because different cultures once lived in Swede Hollow.  The burn just reinforced it. I figured all along you were talking about the Hamms' Bear, rather than being egotistical and referring to yourself in the clues. 

 

 

Sucks that we're at work huh Kitch?

I couldn't help it.... As fast as I read that clue I called mucluck....

I told her that I was really bummed because I looked right about there this morning. Then I said I'm leaving work to go find it. Knowing full well that it would be a car race against mucluck and me2 to get my butt out there. (well mucluck was being a little nice 2 me).

After counting down the stairs...I thought about the "upper" flight...and readjusted my count. As I was looking I spotted it...but was working my way up the hill. (mucluck pointed it out...but in my defense I had alrdy seen it...but since she was on the steps and behind the railing I was taking my own sweet time to work up the hell).

 

Thanks RED---sorry about the name calling----I had fun!!!

Heck as always I found more things that fit the location but thats part of deep nooodling.

Well you're right, but you obviously don't know me that well.  I really am that egotistical.

 

[Edited by on Dec 6, 2004 at 02:57pm.]

I had a fun during this hunt....

But Its going to be hard to top the me2 hunt of this past summer....

I got to see a wet t-shirt contest, talked to me2 when she was in the shower, got to see mucluck fall backwards finding the "medallion", etc...doesn't get better then that.

The item to find

the target inside,

is solid in the hollow.

 

 

was inside of a target bag...looked like a poop bag...

give yourself some more credit on this clue....

 

 

 

I liked the Red State thing myself.

What was it that made a porno reference anyway?

lines from a famous book is completely meaningless

Beautiful - At least I sharpened my internet search skills anyway

The flask over yonder?  Try waiting for a bulldog edition of the paper with ClueMaster.  Those who know understand

Wha chu talkin bout Willis?  burp.

Wow, is most of this meaningless

That's nice, so were my noodles.  So there.

I would like props for the “red reference” with the advent of red states and blue states, red being a right voting state – the way to the hiding spot is to the right

YAK - So it wasn't hidden in Minnesota?

I really am that egotistical

Great job on the clues Bear if you do say so yourself

 

;-)

[Edited 4 times. Most recently by on Dec 6, 2004 at 04:11pm.]

I wonder how many empty "flasks" I coud find in swede if I looked.

None of them would be mine.  I'm a neat drunk.

Good job Kitch, sorry I was so busy with school. I love S.H. almost as much as Mounds.

bear...do you want this puck back?

 

I'm going to have such a chocolate high...I've been eating a ton. 2 shades of green in the christmas bag.

 

[Edited by on Dec 6, 2004 at 06:20pm.]

http://www.ecolab.com/ w00t

 

Great job Kitch!

BTW- Thanks for not letting me pull Me2 over at the bar, she was the only thing to grab on to :) It really was only my 1st drink, I swear :)

Glad everyone enjoyed it.  I put a lot of time into it.

ya...writing clues is not easy...

I have "half" a set somewhere.

Thanks for the hunt Bear... I had a great time. 

I'm still not sure how Kitch beat me to Swede Hollow.  Does he have magical flying powers or what?

I have "half" a set somewhere.

I have the backup copy in case you can't find them :)

I'm still considering starting all over...so you can hunt.

2 geocachers 'score' in the past two hunts ....

hmmmm

Congrats Kitch

good job on the noodle Go Fish!

Thanks Red Bear.

[Edited by on Dec 7, 2004 at 09:27am.]

Sure! I'm glad everyone had fun, or, at least, had a grudging mumbling respect for what I was trying to do.

 

Red

mrmnmikey

Thanks for the compliment.

Great prarie dog.

[Edited by on Dec 7, 2004 at 02:40pm.]

They should hide the thing in the third row of the theater that's screening Cold Feet

Just a reminder for anyone who is interested (although I don't think it would technically qualify as a rehash sort of event since my singles club will be there too)...

This Friday I'm having a Scavenger Hunt at the Mall of America.  We''ll start by having dinner at Players on the 4th floor at 6pm.  Then at 7:30 we'll hand out the clues for the hunt.  There are 20 some clues which each lead to one letter of a phrase.  The first team to figure out the phrase wins.  We'll have people compete in pairs and the cost of the event is $5 per person.  I believe we'll have enough people there to do a $25 gift certificate for each member of the winning team.  If no has found all the clues, the team that reports back with the most correct answers by 9:45 will be the winner.  Afterwards it's been suggested we could then head over to Lil Ditty's to hang out and have fun.  It should be a pretty fun event so let me know if you're interested.

Hey all -

I was just reading my Lost Twin Cities book (by Larry Millett - the guy who used to write the architecture pieces for the PP)

On one of the first pages - there is a really clear photo of the box car chapel in swede hollow - taken in the early 1950's.  Wow.  It literally looks like a single wide trailer - with two odd wood doors that don't fit well in the center of one of the long sides - and a small wood cross above the doors.

Anywho - the whole thing got me wondering if maybe Larry Millett is the clue writer - with all his St. Paul history, and skill with words...

 

 

I was just reading my Lost Twin Cities book

I have those videos.  I should watch them again. Pretty cooler stuff.

the whole thing got me wondering if maybe Larry Millett is the clue writer - with all his St. Paul history, and skill with words...

Actually, yes, he is, or was, at least in part.  He was Don Boxmeyer's parter in cluewriting from 94 (or was it 95?) until 2001.

After studying and researching all the clues from past treasure hunts, I personally think that the team of Boxmeyer and Millett were the best clue writers that the treasure hunt ever had. Those were the good old days!

I think it's obvious that the cluewriter has changed in this past year - the clues are so different than in past years...the question is, who?  Soucheray?

This Friday I'm having a Scavenger Hunt at the Mall of America.  We''ll start by having dinner at Players on the 4th floor at 6pm.  Then at 7:30 we'll hand out the clues for the hunt.  There are 20 some clues which each lead to one letter of a phrase.  The first team to figure out the phrase wins.  We'll have people compete in pairs and the cost of the event is $5 per person.  I believe we'll have enough people there to do a $25 gift certificate for each member of the winning team.  If no has found all the clues, the team that reports back with the most correct answers by 9:45 will be the winner.  Afterwards it's been suggested we could then head over to Lil Ditty's to hang out and have fun.  It should be a pretty fun event so let me know if you're interested.

 

I can't make the start of the hunt...but I might be able to make the "hang out and have fun" part.

I used to love the Father Dowling mysteries - the ones where the dad from happy days was a mystery solvin' priest.  My favorite one was where the murderer came to confession and told him everything - and because of the priest's vow, he couldn't do anything to solve the murder.

To that end, I was thinking how interesting it would be if Ma press asked US to write a couple of clues - they'd have to tell us where it is, but we'd all be duty bound and obligation bound not to reveal the clue - sort of lopping off the Yankees for the title hunt kind of a thing.