Puzzle lovers, and I think you know who you are, I would like to offer for your enjoyment, a site to visit. Almost every year, Dave Barry and the Miami Herald put on an event unlike any other in the nation. It is a huge out door funfest of puzzles of a mind bending nature. I am cut and pasting the blog entry from Dave Barry's blog which will show you pictures, and explain puzzle by puzzle how it all worked. I am also pasting the site that has just the puzzles and solutions. I have long wanted to bring this experience to Jacksonville but everyone I approached from radio stations to the Times-Union just refused to consider it stating that the citizenry of Northeast Florida just is not smart enough to do it. I constantly disagree so maybe some interest can be drummed up here in ClayCounty. I hope to get more of a response than I did in suggesting a Book Reading Club.

Puzzle explanation only: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/279801.html [1]

FINAL HUNT UPDATE

Here's a longer version [2] of the Herald story, which includes this excellent quote from a British tourist:

''What are all these lunatics doing here?'' said Tony Crushan, from Manchester, England. Crushan, sitting just off Lincoln Road by the beach, didn't understand why so many people would want to watch a game of volleyball played with inflated animal balloons instead of a ball.

Here's an explanation of how the Hunt worked [3] (do not attempt to read this without first drinking coffee).

Here's a nice slideshow [4]. In picture number 18, the young man in the green shirt sitting at the back of the stage applauding is Rob Barry, who was one of the beach animal-ball players.

Here's a very entertaining video. [5]

And of course, Andy the TropicHunt.com Guy™ [6] has a terrific wrapup with photos, links and more.

Again, thanks to everybody who participated or volunteered. It was a fine Hunt and a fun day, and we were happy that the winners were South Florida guys who've been doing the Hunt since it began, in 1984. As you may have heard, there's going to be a Hunt in Washington, D.C., in May 2008, sponsored by the Washington Post. The winners will receive cabinet appointments.

p.s. I think this [7] might be my favorite Hunt photo ever.

Posted by Dave on October 22, 2007 at 09:25 AM