dalby2020
Full Member
Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it.
Posts: 212
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Post by dalby2020 on Mar 21, 2020 7:34:13 GMT -5
Just like there are things reflected or in reverse in Fandango, I think my approach to a solution has been reversed from a typical workflow.
What I mean is that I am intimately familiar with MDI and Acadia. When I first heard of Fandango last month I knew I had to get involved. But my approach was to first think of spots that I would use if I were to hide a key.
One place I know really stood out as a good candidate so I went to Google Earth to obtain the approximate GPS coordinates.
I can't say whether I've got a solution. But I am finding a lot in the book that supports my idea, including some hidden clues never mentioned on forums. I look forward to being able to head back up there to search.
In the meantime I am trying for a full solve, or at least identification of all the red herrings.
Has anyone else approached a hunt in this manner?
Where they know the general area inside and out so instantly know where to discount and where to focus?
Or maybe Fandango is unique that it starts with such a narrow area?
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Post by thedawailey on Mar 21, 2020 9:25:03 GMT -5
Just like there are things reflected or in reverse in Fandango, I think my approach to a solution has been reversed from a typical workflow. What I mean is that I am intimately familiar with MDI and Acadia. When I first heard of Fandango last month I knew I had to get involved. But my approach was to first think of spots that I would use if I were to hide a key. One place I know really stood out as a good candidate so I went to Google Earth to obtain the approximate GPS coordinates. I can't say whether I've got a solution. But I am finding a lot in the book that supports my idea, including some hidden clues never mentioned on forums. I look forward to being able to head back up there to search. In the meantime I am trying for a full solve, or at least identification of all the red herrings. Has anyone else approached a hunt in this manner? Where they know the general area inside and out so instantly know where to discount and where to focus? Or maybe Fandango is unique that it starts with such a narrow area? dalby2020 -
I wouldn't say I have intimate knowledge of MDI, but I am certainly familiar with it. I've been visiting it and exploring for years, and since I've been working on Fandango - 10 years now (yikes!), I've done a lot of extra exploring and discovering places I never knew about along with the history of the island and the people.
And yes, I've tried a few 'reverse engineered' ideas, starting with a location and then looking for clues. I find the problem with this approach is that I always found clues in the book to support my ideas, right down to GPS points, but it requires cherry-picking clues that fit a theory and ignoring other more obvious clues. I try to see if the theory I've reverse-engineered can be reached reasonably by starting in the book. If I can't find a way, I tend to discount it. I've been through about 1,000 ideas over the past 10 years!
For example, you can get a GPS by picking the numbers that fit, yet there may be no indication in the book that those numbers are any more important than every other number in the book. So if you are starting with the book, there is no way to identify those specific numbers as relevant. Given these pitfalls, I will still continue to use every approach I can, and keep visiting MDI to explore and search and enjoy that beautiful island!
Good luck with your hunting and I look forward to hearing what you find!
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Post by astree on Mar 21, 2020 9:54:18 GMT -5
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I don’t have an extensive knowledge of MDI either. However after coming up with a location that we believe the puzzle points to, and researching that location, we believe it a very good hiding spot. Not sure if it’s the best because there may be better that we don’t know about but it’s definitely the kind of spot for a good treasure hunt.
Reverse engineering a spot by trying to evaluate all possible locations seem to be an extremely tough problem because you have to be sure you considered everywhere, but more importantly that you can get into the authors mindframe and determine which of those spots they would choose and for what reasons.
we may have the same location as you. There is some really key information that has never been mentioned in the forms that I’ve seen
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dalby2020
Full Member
Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it.
Posts: 212
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Post by dalby2020 on Mar 22, 2020 9:44:42 GMT -5
I most definitely think I'm cherry picking clues that fit my solution. I spot both GPS coordinates and multiple pictures or references to what I think might be the spot. I'm not sure if I would need to go 40 paces south from there but it would make it less likely to be discovered accidentally. Then again, I was at the site on my last visit before I knew of Fandango. Probably looked right at it if it is there.
More likely is my confirmation bias. There are many clues that I haven't deciphered or chose to ignore.
I will reveal that one of my confirmatory hints comes from additional information in the road signs that has not been discussed.
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Post by thedawailey on Mar 28, 2020 7:59:06 GMT -5
Intimate knowledge of MDI is both a blessing and a curse. We've been solving/hunting/failing since the day the book came out at Sherman's bookstore and Pel signed my copy. We've worked on many flawed technique/sequence solves and we've also gone on many many "reverse" solve hunting excursions based on too much local knowledge - at which point one of us always says "the treasure will not be found by chance," then we go home and work on technique again. Learning to instantly question the logic of a technique as to whether it could be solved from anywhere on earth has sometimes shut down otherwise promising avenues. A couple of examples: the full moon over the fairies and the text "that's when I saw the moon / just setting" can't possibly be true if you're looking from the perspective of Jordan Pond, since you'd be looking North/East. You could probably discern this by looking at the Map and considering how we perceive the "movement" of the moon. However, when I look at this page I can't help but see the scene from the viewpoint of the water station on Eagle Lake, with the mountains being Connor's Nubble and the Bubbles on the right (instead of Pemetic on the right, which you would be seeing if you were at Jordan Pond.) So I try to scour that image from my mind, because it wouldn't occur to someone who didn't live here. But the moon is never going to set where it seems to be from the illustration. Same for the sunset colors in the North beyond Sam on Cadillac. Also, the Criss-Cross page is a view of Otter Cliffs, not the bridge to the mainland, not the causeway in SWH. I try to bring logic to these discrepancies - I know Pel knows this because he really does know the Island, so is he trying to show that these pages are red herrings because it's not the truth? We've paced forty south from dozens if not hundreds of spots based on sequenced technique, some on logic, some just whimsy. One of my favorite memories of this hunt is the sight of my son upside down below the bridge over Man O'War Brook, just past Gold Digger's Glen. He nearly dropped his phone trying to see the numbers scrawled underneath and got dunked when he lost his grip on the boards. eos - thanks for the stories! It's fun to see how others have approached this over the years along with some funny moments!
I agree that even a little knowledge of the island is dangerous with this hunt. I visit MDI and Acadia often and especially now with all my 'Fandango' explorations, I've learned more about the island, its history and its hidden gems than I ever knew before. I think this has actually been a detriment because it clouds the puzzle in facts that don't jive with the story or the illustrations. Does it matter that Wingwood was where the ferry is now? Does it even matter that we know it is Wingwood? Does it matter who the Fop is? Does it matter where the fairies are or whether the moon really sets there? That the view from the Cadillac road and the sunset is all wrong? That you can't see Otter Cliffs from the Trenton causeway? Like the text, which also seems all wrong, odd and choppy, the illustrations are a jumble of reality and fiction. I think the best chance to solve this is to ignore what we know to be true about the island and stick with the fantasy that is in the book. I think reality is the misdirect and diversion from the puzzle. We all spend so much time trying to match something in the book to a map, a known site, or a bit of history, that we overlook the puzzle.
Thanks again for sharing, and good luck hunting!
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Post by astree on Mar 28, 2020 8:06:32 GMT -5
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dalby, would you mind sharing a bit more about your spot?
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Post by justaboutnormal on Mar 28, 2020 8:24:17 GMT -5
I agree 100%, if you have used other media outside the four corners of the book to solve the puzzle then you have gone down a rabbit hole that leads to a dead end.
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dalby2020
Full Member
Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it.
Posts: 212
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Post by dalby2020 on Mar 28, 2020 9:37:59 GMT -5
. dalby, would you mind sharing a bit more about your spot? I can't say too much as it would probably be instantly recognizable to locals. I will say that the site has an informal name and it is not marked on any maps that I've seen. Interestingly, a nearby landmark found on most maps is absent from the Fandango map. Again, it is highly likely I am suffering from confirmation bias. I finally found my pictures of when I last visited the site - before knowing of this hunt. In one picture I swear I see rocks of a different color, as if they were dyed or painted or carved, that show the fox, Neptune, and the wind looking up toward a key. Of course people see what they want to see if they stare long enough. |
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Post by thisjustin on Mar 28, 2020 10:27:48 GMT -5
. dalby, would you mind sharing a bit more about your spot? astree, would you mind sharing a bit more about your spot? |
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Post by astree on Mar 28, 2020 20:48:45 GMT -5
. dalby, would you mind sharing a bit more about your spot? astree, would you mind sharing a bit more about your spot? Its a fairly unique spot, and we arrived at it based on over a dozen very solid clues in the puzzle (in our opinion). There are many more hints that we think also apply, and cannot find another location where these hints could apply. These include the grids, the master riddle, the blue border letters, and many more that have been discussed. There is some information that we dont understand in the puzzle. While it doesnt contradict our location, we woukd like to better understand it to tie up loose ends. Its hard to go into more detail without giving specific location-sensitive information. |
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Post by goldhunter on Mar 28, 2020 22:33:19 GMT -5
I don't have any type of solve. But, if a road spur figures in your solve, I can show you my process of confirming it.
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Post by thisjustin on Mar 30, 2020 10:29:23 GMT -5
These include the grids, the master riddle, the blue border letters, and many more that have been discussed. Thanks. Are you suggesting you have actually derived a master riddle? |
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Post by astree on Mar 31, 2020 7:41:38 GMT -5
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We believe we been able to cross-reference the master riddle with various pieces of other information in the puzzle, as applicable to one specific spot.
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