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Post by justaboutnormal on Jul 20, 2020 8:57:43 GMT -5
First off I am not putting down any ones ideas , finds or theories. 13 years 1 month and no solve. why? well first its a $10,000 prize not 2 million in the mountains .The Stockwells didnt spend years and years putting together a puzzle worth a mere 10 large. Second, the answer is so simple and we look right at it every time we open our books. its not about drawing lines from star points then when we come up short add a few letters to please ourselves or using cyphers that may work some times but not on most things. its not about polybius codes that only make sense to the person doing them. Many treasure hunt book puzzles are based around one extremely difficult master riddle, with a few confirmers and red herrings thrown in. This can be very tedious, often leading to the book being quickly deposited on the shelf. The solutions however, usually turn out to be reasonably ingenious, again leaving one with the feeling it wasn’t that difficult after all.The thing that must be realized about Treasure Hunts is that once you know the solution, it’s obvious! At the first glimpse of the hard truth, we flap around in circles for ten minutes trying to kick ourselves at the sudden realisation of our own amazing ability to overlook ’the obvious’ the actual puzzle itself, which somehow leads to a place on our planet probably only a few square inches in size. There is only one sure fire way of being able to describe the location of an item of buried treasure accurately enough to make it practical for a third party to locate at some future time. That is by burying it relative to some fixed object that is unlikely to be moved or relocated. Examples of these are:
Masquerade - Catherine’s Cross, Ampthill
Piper of Dreams -The Cook Monument, Easby Moor
Helium Dream - The Twelve Apostles, Ilkley Moor
In the end if this is not solved we will come to find every last one of us has looked at the master riddle 1000s of times and didnt even know it. Now go find out how we build the trail that will lead us to that dam key
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Post by thisjustin on Jul 20, 2020 20:28:07 GMT -5
That is by burying it relative to some fixed object that is unlikely to be moved or relocated. Like maybe a big stone lining a road. I was convinced it was tucked in the crack of a grave marker, but I was wrong. Or at least I had the wrong cemetery. Of course Pel stated that it's not buried, so there's that.
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Post by astree on Jul 21, 2020 6:39:15 GMT -5
. Thisjustin, your last line has me wondering how much ch you know but arent saying.
For the purposes of a hunt, There are several ways to identify a spot.you mentioned several, and in another, the Thrill of the Chase, geographic features, such as the blaze, were used to mark a path to the spot, so a bit more complicated than one spot.
In Fandango, I believe it will be shown that it is relatively simple until arriving in the vicinity of the treasure. The Master Riddle is simple, and its application is simple and indicated in the book. But, it seems the puzzle continues at the location... this is a bit unusual.
There are numerous coding methods in Fandango, and dozens (hundreds?) of coded messages, but I dont think most of these are necessary to solve the puzzle. As stated previously, Im not sure if they were placed as a distraction, or to help confirm the simple solution if the searcher can discover only a few. In our simple solution, most of the more complex solutions (like the polybius and accompanying image) are easily applied but dont necessarily add vital information.
astree
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Post by thisjustin on Jul 21, 2020 12:58:54 GMT -5
I wish I knew more than I do Astree! I was simply quoting what was apparently a direct response from Pel posted on tweleve where he stated "while the key is indeed hidden it is not buried." Whether one chooses to believe that post or not is of course prerogative. But then Pel has also stated that he doesn't want people going around and digging holes all over MDI either, so I'm willing to believe it is indeed hidden but not buried. So, to turn it around, how much do you know but aren't saying? I don't know of anyone other than you who has claimed to have identified the master riddle. Care to share? In the interview posted on this forum, Pel said that "when you have solved the riddle, you should know you solved the riddle." The interviewer then responds, "when you solve it, you’ll know when you solve it. It'll be very clear and concise." And Pel responds, "Yes." In my view, that means that once you have found and solved the riddle, there shouldn't be more steps to figure out as you suggest. In the postscript of the book it says "solve the master riddle, then go and get the key." Again, seems pretty straightforward. That said, I know from your other posts that you strongly believe you know the spot, have been there and seen some interesting things, but did not find the key. So who knows, maybe you're right.
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Post by whotrollsnigh on Jul 25, 2020 8:51:39 GMT -5
. ...and in another, the Thrill of the Chase, geographic features, such as the blaze, were used to mark a path to the spot, so a bit more complicated than one spot. astree Can you give reasons for your certainty?
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Post by susb8383 on Jul 25, 2020 9:15:06 GMT -5
Personally, I feel like the answer might in fact be simple. But there is so much content in the book that finding the simple path through it becomes complicated.
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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 Jul 25, 2020 22:36:56 GMT -5
A more sure fire way to describe a location of a hidden key so a third party can find it in the future is GPS coordinates.
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Post by thisjustin on Jul 27, 2020 8:58:39 GMT -5
A more sure fire way to describe a location of a hidden key so a third party can find it in the future is GPS coordinates. I agree with you; however, if all we needed was a GPS location then there would be no need for a mater riddle. There are several references to a "master riddle" in the book and Pel has mentioned it in his interview posted in the sticky on this forum. I suppose the master riddle could simply confirm GPS coordinates though.
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Post by astree on Jul 31, 2020 8:29:53 GMT -5
I wish I knew more than I do Astree! I was simply quoting what was apparently a direct response from Pel posted on tweleve where he stated "while the key is indeed hidden it is not buried." Whether one chooses to believe that post or not is of course prerogative. But then Pel has also stated that he doesn't want people going around and digging holes all over MDI either, so I'm willing to believe it is indeed hidden but not buried. So, to turn it around, how much do you know but aren't saying? I don't know of anyone other than you who has claimed to have identified the master riddle. Care to share? I came off a bit strong, so.... (in my opinion) There are a handful of Master Riddle pieces that come together to define an exact spot. The dozens/hundreds of other pieces can confirm .some are directional, some site related, some conditional... but i dont see most as being necessary. Im trying to think of an example with application without giving too much away, but cant yet. I agree with you, one shouldnt need to figure out an additional piece in situ. (Note: in Fenns The Thrill of the Chase, there was a final piece that was defined in the riddle, that did need to be applied in situ). I ll just repeat, that in Fandango, we went to the spot (that we believe) that was idenified by the Master Riddle; it was marked with a well formed manmade X, with two together hanging above arms @nd included manmade materials. Paced the 40 south and found the 30 foot Stanley tape squirreled away in a recessed area out of arms reach, it was buttressed there by a pile of placed stones. All these were done by a person(s). Maybe it was for a different treasure hunt, and just happen to be at the master riddle Fandango location... strange things can happen. I dont know. I think we understand the meaning of the tape (after retuning home)... thats the (possible) in situ information I was referring to. Id like to get up there to find out. I dont want to get bagged with a big Corona related fine. ...normsl.. i think its possible (not guaranteed) that the ptize is a kilogram of gold, based on some information in the book, this is just my interpretationsl, so not as definite as the master riddle. A kilogram of gold would be worth a bit over $10k when the puzzle wascreleased but over $50k today.
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Post by astree on Jul 31, 2020 8:42:04 GMT -5
. ...and in another, the Thrill of the Chase, geographic features, such as the blaze, were used to mark a path to the spot, so a bit more complicated than one spot. astree Can you give reasons for your certainty? Difficult without giving concrete information, but i havent seen it discussed anywhere on the internet. What i found is a self contained, self confirming solution at several layers. It is quite difficult to find, but simple to understand once found. It makes sense out of Canasta, Catcher in the Rye, My War for Me, Me in the Middle, Old Santa Fe Trading Co website design, hid the treasure before i wrote the piem, the 36 inch tub, “be sure to take your map with you”, “if you are in the right spot”... and dozens of other things forrest wrote and said (although they were not necessary). There are a few things i still dont understand, though. It was always Wyoming, and the solution guides one to where, in more and more detail. Once in the general vicinity, there are directional clues, and multiple locations (including the blaze), along the way. You would love the solution, WhoTrollsNigh. (It doesnt involve Vigenere, that and other were just for fun). All this is just so generic that it doesnt prove anything. Maybe someday.
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Post by ILLUMINATINPS on Jul 31, 2020 10:13:07 GMT -5
I will say this, in regards to coordinates being the answer. The only way that would give you the feeling of "solving it" is if the author was clear about coordinates being the answer up front. There HAS TO BE A RIDDLE. The author wrote the hunt without any hopes that people would use the internet at all. He said that in his radio interview. He also said on that interview is ALL YOU NEED IS THE BOOK. If it were me I would be doing these following things:
1) Stick to the book, entirely. Don't do research of the area, because he also said in the interview the landmarks in the book are just there for when you go to recognize them, not that they are part of the puzzle.
2) Stick to the map in the book, which is rudimentary. What it does have is an outline of Fandango from image one. So perhaps the master riddle is going to point you to a place on Fandango's body in relation to the first image, not give you place that isn't listed on the map.
3) Stick to the two concepts that are concrete: Reflection and Numbers. Put away spreadsheets and close your 5 windows you have open in Dcode. The star riddle is clearly telling us numbers are the answer to cracking the riddle. So focus on the areas of the book that have numbers. A big one is the sign posts page, which just happens to have two keys reflecting eachother. Maybe a hint that is the end point of the MASQUERADE/EDAREUQSAM hint found with the squares.
4) 3 Mountains are changed in elevation, deliberately (St Saveur, Sargeant, Penobscot), by 1 foot in the back of the book. Harley is giving you the first by pointing his plumb bob.
5) ALL is in the word cadiLLAc. So ALL is in the name CadiLLAc. Its also in the word fALLing, which the dolphin is pointing to with his nose, yet TSAE in the wave is signalling a backwards spelling (ALL/LLA)
6) Intersting enough, about 4 or 5 main components put you on Cadillac Mountain to "SEE the Sea" Ans whats in the Sea?? The reflection of the keys. To me, its telling you the battle for the Master Riddle is to be fought on the sign posts, which is loaded with numbers.
Just a simple viewpoint.. Do with it what you will.. Or trash it... God Speed
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Post by thedawailey on Jul 31, 2020 17:03:38 GMT -5
I will say this, in regards to coordinates being the answer. The only way that would give you the feeling of "solving it" is if the author was clear about coordinates being the answer up front. There HAS TO BE A RIDDLE. The author wrote the hunt without any hopes that people would use the internet at all. He said that in his radio interview. He also said on that interview is ALL YOU NEED IS THE BOOK. If it were me I would be doing these following things: 1) Stick to the book, entirely. Don't do research of the area, because he also said in the interview the landmarks in the book are just there for when you go to recognize them, not that they are part of the puzzle. 2) Stick to the map in the book, which is rudimentary. What it does have is an outline of Fandango from image one. So perhaps the master riddle is going to point you to a place on Fandango's body in relation to the first image, not give you place that isn't listed on the map. 3) Stick to the two concepts that are concrete: Reflection and Numbers. Put away spreadsheets and close your 5 windows you have open in Dcode. The star riddle is clearly telling us numbers are the answer to cracking the riddle. So focus on the areas of the book that have numbers. A big one is the sign posts page, which just happens to have two keys reflecting eachother. Maybe a hint that is the end point of the MASQUERADE/EDAREUQSAM hint found with the squares. 4) 3 Mountains are changed in elevation, deliberately (St Saveur, Sargeant, Penobscot), by 1 foot in the back of the book. Harley is giving you the first by pointing his plumb bob. 5) ALL is in the word cadiLLAc. So ALL is in the name CadiLLAc. Its also in the word fALLing, which the dolphin is pointing to with his nose, yet TSAE in the wave is signalling a backwards spelling (ALL/LLA) 6) Intersting enough, about 4 or 5 main components put you on Cadillac Mountain to "SEE the Sea" Ans whats in the Sea?? The reflection of the keys. To me, its telling you the battle for the Master Riddle is to be fought on the sign posts, which is loaded with numbers. Just a simple viewpoint.. Do with it what you will.. Or trash it... God Speed Thanks for this - I agree with most of what you have said and this is basically what I've been trying to do. I did not make the ALL/ Cadillac connection, but other things brought me there, to the summit. I've been multiple times and found a location that is 40 paces south of the summit - the highest point. I had to sit on a rock and reach behind some thick bristly scrub brush, but to my surprise, I found a relatively large painted rock tucked back out of sight. The rock is painted with a heart and a name inside the heart. This was done ahead of time - not something scribbled with a Sharpie on the spur of the moment. I thought this could be a sign that I was in the right place, so crawled in with a flashlight and looked in cracks and between rocks etc, but found no key and nothing else. I put the painted rock back where I found it. A year later, I returned and checked the spot again. The painted rock was still there, but searching again with a flashlight revealed nothing new.
Even though I check that spot every time I'm up there, I still have my doubts about Cadillac because of the laws about putting things in National Parks. There is a huge fine. When I called the National Park Service to ask what the laws were, I got an earful and she yelled at me to tell these people to get it out of the park, like yesterday. I assured her it was not in the park and that I was just asking what the rules were. She said no never no exceptions can anybody ever put anything or geocache anything in the park. I thought she was going to trace my call and have me arrested for asking! Very testy.
I do think the signs hold the master riddle somehow, and every time I reach for my laptop, I close the lid and tell myself no! OK, sometimes I peek LOL!
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Post by thisjustin on Aug 1, 2020 13:00:18 GMT -5
because of the laws about putting things in National Parks. But you found a painted rock that likely was not naturally occurring. The tough thing with the in the park/not in the park debate is that the boundaries have changed quite a bit since Fandango was published.
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Post by ILLUMINATINPS on Aug 1, 2020 13:24:50 GMT -5
....and to add to what I said above. I’m not insinuating that I feel the key is ACTUALLY on CadiLLAc Mountain, only that the Cadillac Mountain image in the book has the sign posts that are crucial to cracking the riddle. If Numbers are so important, that is the single most “number heavy” page in the entire book.
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Post by justaboutnormal on Aug 2, 2020 10:37:06 GMT -5
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