Solving Houston

[xmarksdspot]

This is my first time looking at the Houston puzzle but just ran through it and followed the clues. I started looking at it yesterday. I'm sure there are some things that may not be legitimate because they may not have been there in the 80's. I'm focusing on Hermann Park because of the 982 train that seems like a good candidate for the 982 clue. I will start at the beginning "Fortress north, Cold as glass", I'm thinking this is The Glassell School of Art at 5101 Montrose Blvd. The school is due north of Hermann Park. Also, notice the black sphere in front, it may be the ball on top of the large column in the image. Friendship south I thought may have been the Mcdonald House but it wasn't there long enough so I am just thinking the hospitals in general that are south of Herman Park. "Take your task, To the number, Nine eight two". We all know or think that is the 982 train so i'm sticking with that. "Through the wood, No lion fears". I think Priess is referring to the Pinewood Cafe just up around the bend from the train. The reason i think that is that the very next clue, "In the sky the water veers" is to your left when you pass the cafe. The water from the Fountain in McGovern Lake certainly veers as it goes up and back down. "Small of scale, Step across". This has to be The Tiffany & Company Foundation Bridge because it is dead ahead of you. I'll follow up with the rest later.

 
 

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[xmarksdspot]

Tiffany & Company Foundation Bridge.

[TxTH]

Pinewood Cafe didn't open until October 2011 and The Tiffany Bridge was built in 2008.

[xmarksdspot]

Feb 26, 2020 23:50:16 GMT -5 TxTH said:

Pinewood Cafe didn't open until October 2011 and The Tiffany Bridge was built in 2008.

Hey TxTH, thanks for the info. Like I said I'm brand new to this puzzle, I'll try to catch up but it should be fun trying to work it out in the forum. You guys keep me straight. Does anyonr know how long these benches have been used at Herman Park? They could fit the "Small, split,Three winged and slight" clue.

[xmarksdspot]

I decided to attack this puzzle like I have done all the others. I isolated the micro map in lower left corner of the image and compared it to the real world. I'm making the assumption that the jewel in this case may be a marker for the casque location in the micro map. This is what I came up with, see attached images.

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[xmarksdspot]

I think I have this puzzle pretty well worked out but again will depend on if everything i'm using was there when Priess was there. Let me go back to the very first clue. I think Priess used the word glass for the Glassell School of Arts for a reason. I think he was setting a precedent That he wanted us to follow in a later clue. In the clue,"Trough the wood, No lion fears", I think we are supposed to follow his example so that lion becomes Lionel. This would reference the small scaled train that runs through the park (Also through the wood). From older photos I have seen the only real wooded area was east of McGovern Lake. This also sets up the 6th clue,"Small of scale, Step across". I believe here the use of the word scale refers to the small scale train but specifically to the train track. passing through the woods east of the lake you would cross over one of the tracks and have to step across it. I have attached a couple photos of a Lionel train, various scales trains come in, and the track you would cross. It may not have been a concrete walk in the 80's.


    

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[xmarksdspot]

This is the hard part, "Perspective should not be lost". Perspective has several definitions, One definition says that objects can be shown in their correct or incorrect positions compared to other objects. If my idea is correct, then that may be what is going on in the image, some objects may be shown out of place as compared to others. The four poles in the far background could be fence posts or they could represent picnic tables, both are located in the area that i circled in red earlier.The picnic tables are sitting on concrete slabs and the poles in the image seem to be sitting on concrete slabs, except for the one on the far left which is the furthest away. The four poles are shown behind the larger columns in the image but they may actually be in the same area.


   

[xmarksdspot]

I'd like to offer another interpretation of the micro image. If we cut off the pillar slightly there could be room for the Jewel/casque location to be just below the pillar. In this scenario I'm considering the four fountains as the four pillars in the image. The view from the train would orient them similar to the image. The obelisk is not shown but I believe is mentioned as the strongest tower of delight. In this scenario the obelisk Falls gently, In December night. I have mentioned the month being used as direction compared to the corresponding number on a clock face, december being 12 o'clock and north. So if the obelisk is gently(may mean slightly)to the north, then the casque is slightly to the south of it. See attached images. the image of the short wall is a possible casque location. Priess seems to like walls and trees.


  

[xmarksdspot]

I have a new theory/solution for the Houston Puzzle. It starts with the Scottish Terrier in the tree. I'm interpreting it to mean Dogwood. I will follow up on the solution as soon as I can get it laid out.

[xmarksdspot]

Okay you guys take it easy on me. If these trees aren't Dogwoods or if they weren't there in the early eighties this theory blows up in my face. If you are standing near the old 982 train and look across the water at the pioneer memorial obelisk and fountains, you'll be looking through 4 small trees along the lake's edge. The answer to the clue "Through the wood, No lion fears" could simply be Dogwood. You are not traveling through the wood but merely looking through it. There are what I think are 4 tree trunks in image 8 that are a clue to the Dogwoods. The 3rd tree from the left is leaning and the image seems to slightly show that. There are a few more reasons I find these trees interesting but will get to that later. If anyone knows whether or not they are Dogwood trees, please let me know.

[choice]

How old is that picture? Trees look maybe 10 yrs old max?

[canuck]

Agree with Choice, no way those trees are 40 years old. Have you considered that Hermann Park might not be correct?

[xmarksdspot]

Amazing how you guys were able to point out the very problem I mentioned above. Yes the tree's may not have been there in the eighties, even though Dogwoods can live up to 80 years. They may not even be Dogwoods at all. I was trying to follow the dog in the tree possibly meaning Dogwood. Is the image of the dog real? What about the 4 tree trunks, possibly real? I was also thinking that the clues "small of scale, Step across, Perspective should not be lost", may mean you are still looking for something small. I also thought most people are probably picturing "in the middle of four alike" being 4 items in a grid pattern (influenced by the image). I was thinking they may very well be four items in a straight line. The trees are small, split(or branched), predominantly 3 main branches(3 winged), the branches are at slight angles to one another.

I try to consider every idea that comes to mind, but I don't just move on because it's difficult. If I think i'm on the right track, I try to run down all leads. Have you considered that image 3 may not be in North Carolina?

[canuck]

Jun 24, 2020 15:22:02 GMT -5 xmarksdspot said:

Amazing how you guys were able to point out the very problem I mentioned above. Yes the tree's may not have been there in the eighties, even though Dogwoods can live up to 80 years. They may not even be Dogwoods at all. I was trying to follow the dog in the tree possibly meaning Dogwood. Is the image of the dog real? What about the 4 tree trunks, possibly real? I was also thinking that the clues "small of scale, Step across, Perspective should not be lost", may mean you are still looking for something small. I also thought most people are probably picturing "in the middle of four alike" being 4 items in a grid pattern (influenced by the image). I was thinking they may very well be four items in a straight line. The trees are small, split(or branched), predominantly 3 main branches(3 winged), the branches are at slight angles to one another.

I try to consider every idea that comes to mind, but I don't just move on because it's difficult. If I think i'm on the right track, I try to run down all leads. Have you considered that image 3 may not be in North Carolina?

No, primarily because the lat/long coordinates tell us it’s in North Carolina. Now if you want to have a difference of opinion on exactly where in North Carolina that’s a different matter.

This holds true for the majority of the casques left to be found. The only reason I’m asking if you have considered other sites in Houston is because of said difference of opinion on the specific area. In other words I agree on Houston, but disagree on Hermann Park. 

[xmarksdspot]

I'm pretty sure I eliminated North Carolina as an option with the 41 - 43 latitudes. What latitude are you using from the image? are you reversing the 43 to 34?