"Starting Positions" - August 20, 2021

[woozy]

Sigh....

I need a nudge....

[Schmeel]

Ashore!
It took me a long long time to see it.
I finally got it on the bus ride to work - a few minutes of looking at the puzzle without interruptions (or falling asleep on it) can do wonders! I think I see the two possible solutions that were mentioned, but there seems to be more of an indication toward one of them.

[BethA]

Joining the party on the ship with Isaac. It’s been awhile!

As I always say, I get a lot more mental exercise from the ones I struggle with, so will definitely keep at it, off and on, til the deadline.

[PeterLeea1a]

Lost at sea, with no ideas on even how to start.

[minimuggle]

Still on the boat weathering the storm. Have a lot of ideas but no path to shore yet.

[LadyBird]

I am onshore with a delicate, and beautiful, nudge. In my personal records I am counting this as a solve (with an asterisk!) since the nudge was tiny, but I won't be submitting. I'll have a Bloody Mary at this early hour.

The board is awfully quiet this weekend. Is it because all of the East coast Muggles are battening down the hatches (stay safe!) or is it because everyone is so lost in rabbit holes that they aren't coming up for air?

[TheCatt]

Alright, we've looked, we've gone down a few rabbit holes, but feel we are completely missing what we are supposed to see here.

- nudge received, thanks! -

[cbarbee002]

Ok, finally found the launch - - "Isaac, close out the tab!!". Nice one in a couple of respects. Something about this puzzle was tugging on my mind from the beginning, and it became the toe hold. Thx to boharr for closing down a verrryyyy deep rabbit hole.

[whimsy]

Riding out the storm ON THE SHIP.

Whoa! So, so much to see in here! -- except of course the light at the end of the tunnel --

[WSJosh]

Still at sea and haven’t even been able to find any rabbit holes to go down…

[Deb F]

Good morning, Captain Bob--count me ashore. Wow! Sunday morning and we're still in single digits on the pages. Must be the impending arrival of Henri, as suggested. I have spent the weekend certain I am on the right track, just not getting to the solution. I am absolutely convinced, however, that I know the answer. So, despite the lack of a totally clear path, I have submitted my answer. Hope I'm not facing eviction!

Good luck, Muggles. And for those in the Northeast, stay safe.

[Richard]

I too need a nudge.

Thanks

[Bob cruise director]

I am onshore with a delicate, and beautiful, nudge. In my personal records I am counting this as a solve (with an asterisk!) since the nudge was tiny, but I won't be submitting. I'll have a Bloody Mary at this early hour.

The board is awfully quiet this weekend. Is it because all of the East coast Muggles are battening down the hatches (stay safe!) or is it because everyone is so lost in rabbit holes that they aren't coming up for air?

My ladybird

My observation is that the quietness is a result of the challenge is finding the first step. And there are a lot of rabbit holes that everyone is looking into.

On the birding front, I almost got impaled by a Northern Mockingbird yesterday while I was walking. A flash of white and grey about a foot from my head as one chased the other.

[Orsys]

All done. Wondered through some rabbit holes for a while, then remembered...

[Levi12]

Would love a nudge to know where to begin. Too many rabbit holes for me. :/

[mntlblok]

We have a good solid classic meta path to an answer that fits the title, but are just as unhappy as everyone else about the fact that there is another good solid classic meta path... Can't wait for Monday to see if we are all being pageanted or if there is really something odd in this puzzle.

Now I'm all sadful that we've only found one path.

[Joe Ross]

I am onshore with a delicate, and beautiful, nudge. In my personal records I am counting this as a solve (with an asterisk!) since the nudge was tiny, but I won't be submitting. I'll have a Bloody Mary at this early hour.

The board is awfully quiet this weekend. Is it because all of the East coast Muggles are battening down the hatches (stay safe!) or is it because everyone is so lost in rabbit holes that they aren't coming up for air?

My ladybird

My observation is that the quietness is a result of the challenge is finding the first step. And there are a lot of rabbit holes that everyone is looking into.

On the birding front, I almost got impaled by a Northern Mockingbird yesterday while I was walking. A flash of white and grey about a foot from my head as one chased the other.

More likely: you got too close to the mockingbirds' nest. Both parents "dive-bombed" you to warn you off.

[Bob cruise director]

Good Sunday morning muggles

I hope everyone in Henri's way are staying safe.

And we have a new muggle - Laurab - welcome to the group

For new muggles, we have some guidance for asking for nudges at Come Aboard/FAQ - Community/Solving Resources - viewtopic.php?f=18&t=390 and under the Acapulco Lounge/Nudge Culture viewtopic.php?f=13&t=610

In general, don't just broadcast that you need a nudge. Find someone who is on the shore and PM them with what you have done and where you are stuck.

Mike has definitely thrown us a toughie as we have 53 on the ship and 69 on the shore.

New to the ship's bar since yesterday are
pjc
otlaolap
seahawks seashanty
mbryant
MikeM000
Thurman8er
woozy
Colin
Beth A
escapeartist
whimsy
Peter L
minimuggle
MamaE
WSJosh
NDStegs
JRS51
Levi12

While getting private tender trips to shore or being assisted by the life guards are

JaneGummy
Laurab
Cuse
Schmeel
cbarbee
ladybird
Orsys

Good luck to all and stay safe

[mntlblok]

We have a good solid classic meta path to an answer that fits the title, but are just as unhappy as everyone else about the fact that there is another good solid classic meta path... Can't wait for Monday to see if we are all being pageanted or if there is really something odd in this puzzle.

Now I'm all sadful that we've only found one path.

Hmmm. *Maybe* now see a second possibility, but *neither* have elegant paths - that *we* can discern. Looks like we'll end up submitting the more likely one that is more "directly" related to the title.

A bit surprised to run across a few grammatical errors this weekend in the forum.

[JeanneC]

Firstly, hope all muggles to the north and their families stay safe.

Next, I always do my best meta thinking with the paper and IPad safely on the kitchen counter while I am comfortably snuggled in bed. The only problem is that the head thwacking keeps waking up my husband.

I’m not on shore yet, but I think I may have a way to get there. Maybe…