Riddle clue #2

Because so many of you have requested to see the treasure I did some door knocking and the folks at Russell and Ballards Jewelry at 5751 Byron Center Road S.W. in Wyoming across the street from Metro Hospital have been kind enough to display it in their showroom. http://www.russellandballard.com/
I have no nice place like that to display it and show it properly. A huge thank you to them.

Clue #2
"Yes, it's in Wyoming all right. 1,760 yards and what I don't know. But it's close."

That ought to give you something to hang your hat on. Good luck to you! There is more information on http://www.mlive.com/, in the Tuesday January 31st editions of the Grand Rapids Press and Advance newspapers. A really huge thank you goes out to them also. Thanks to them the riddle and clues reach tens of thousands of people by putting it right on their doorstep. Greg takes it a little further and has a site dealing specifically with the riddle that thousands frequently visit to keep up with the latest details. http://www.wyomingriddler.com/

I hope you are enjoying this year's hunt wherever you are and however you wish to participate. One couple explained to me how they take the riddle and clues with them as they visit friends who are limited in mobility. They say it brings up lively discussions. Everyone has their own way of enjoying this free, community activity. I have to admit, I have a great time too.

The weather is cooperating today so get out there any way you can. A treasure awaits!

Riddle stories

The new starting time for the Silver Treasure Hunt seems to be a hit so far. With the holidays behind us time is available to pursue the quest for the medallion in full earnest. From what I am hearing most of you are enjoying the game as it was intended. Even after less than a week since the riddle was divulged there are already several "Hot Spots". Individuals and groups sort of gather on specific ideas concerning the little metal piece's whereabouts. Streets, corners, and landmarks become popular and people can be seen milling around, trying not to be too obvious so as not to give away the prize to someone else. For most, secrecy is as much a part of the game as any other aspect. "Covert operation", makes for a bit more fun. Gleaning as much information from others without allowing them to glean anything from you. In the competition of a past game the story came to me concerning just that sort of thing. It seems that this one guy happened across a car filled to overflowing with a group of guys searching in earnest for the elusive game piece on a street corner. To him it was obvious the carload was involved in the treasure hunt so he stopped and attempted to chat and perhaps join forces to find it and share the treasure. The car load of guys wouldn't have any part of that idea at all, to the point of becoming somewhat obnoxious about it. They ended the conversation saying they were going one way and the other guy had better not follow or there would be consequences. The friendly guy, not really discouraged, after all it was only a game, went the other way. It took him only about five minutes to retrieve the medallion and he won.

Yet another year two guys were searching in separate areas so they could increase their efforts and hopefully find the medallion. They searched and searched for hours but to no avail. Nothing! Finally, as dinner time and darkness drew near they made contact by phone and decided to meet at a restaurant to decide where they would look next. One of the guys arrived first and had to wait for his buddy. He was a little tired and leaned against a telephone pole for support. He stepped on a stone as he leaned so he looked down for a smoother surface. As he looked by his feet he saw a silver flash from the nearby street light bouncing off something on the pole. Curious, he reached down to investigate and pulled the medallion from the crevice where it had been placed months before by that crafty riddler guy.

By the end of the game this year I am sure there will be more stories to be told about our exploits. I look forward to hearing them.

Annual silver treasure hunt

For 30 years I have hosted a treasure hunt throughout the Greater Grand Rapids area. It's relatively simple, lots of fun and doesn't cost anyone a penny to participate. Winners of this un-ponsered event have taken home silver coins, bullion, heirloom items and other valuable and interesting items totaling almost $100,000 over that 30 years. I am pleased to have received requests for the information from every state in the union and over a dozen other countries including South Africa, England, Ukraine, Germany, Australia and more. The most pleasing aspect of the treasure hunt has been the amount of people who have been reminded of the ever present danger of an invisible, odorless gas that can easily sicken or kill anyone: Carbon Monoxide! The treasure hunt has accomplished it's purpose many times over. In the years when we could count the participants the people playing the game numbered well over 40, 000. Because of the very welcome media coverage that number could easily be greater than that but there is no way of counting them any more. Because of it, I have developed friendships that will last a lifetime and have hundreds of interesting, wonderful and often hilarious stories to tell. Maybe I'll write a book about them, who knows? As we enter into the 31st year the changes we have encountered during that time must be taken into consideration.

This year the game will start a little later than it has in the past. Except for one year the starting date was the first Tuesday of November. This time it will begin in the first week of January. The exact date will be announced soon. The end has always been determined by when the winner found the elusive medallion, not a specific time. The 31st treasure hunt will have a specific ending date or be when the medallion is found, whichever is first. There has always been one clue announced each month until it was solved. This time the clues will come more often. This will result in a faster paced game. Most years the exact nature of the treasure remained a mystery as a surprise to the winner. This year the treasure will be disclose at the same time as the original riddle. The rules have been updated a little to keep pace with the times. Those changes will be announced well before the game begins.

The treasure hunt remains family friendly. Some families that began the adventure 30 years ago are now playing with their grand kids. It is very satisfying to hear from hundreds of people who "Grew up" with the treasure hunt and have their own stories to tell about this annual tradition.

More information will follow as the starting time nears. For related information please check www.joesstory.com Meanwhile, have a wonderful fall and enjoy the Michigan colors.............Joe