"Interstate Travel" - September 3, 2021

[Cosmo]

On shore! One of my favorite metas as of recent!

[SReh26]

On shore! One of my favorite metas as of recent!

So many people have said that - and I agree - that it’s under consideration for Meta of the Year, a new award someone suggested.

[Jacksull]

Ashore. 🏖

Surprised myself by solving this one.

[meekmouse]

Saw something that makes me question my mechanism, but my answer seems too good to ignore...

I think the answer is a 100% if you get it.

I was just talking through the answer with my mom, who saw a different aspect of the meta... now I'm 100% that my answer is right! I just skipped a step

[JRS51]

Ashore!
Late start this week, and I had some difficulty with the grid which took quite a bit longer to complete than usual. I was wondering if I was going to struggle with the meta for the rest of the afternoon when the AHA hit me almost immediately!
What a fun one! Brilliant construction!

[JJD]

Some grid struggles, but the meta came quicker than most (for me).
Ashore.

[LadyBird]

A fun and clever meta, PURe and simPLE. This morning, we headed out on our own interstate travel (many hours and many states) to see this reMARkable and not-so-TINy-anymore little guy (and his parents).

[HunterX]

On shore.

Got a very late start. Daughter had to skip this week. Son was busy. (Don't they know we've only got until Sunday at midnight!?!) Good thing the meta was relatively easy. Thought that grid was really tough.

Have to say, though the meta was "relatively easy," it was very clever. Not sure how many "steps" I'd say it was. (I keep track of "steps" as part of my crossword contest spreadsheet. Why? Don't ask me.) May take longer to write out the explanation for how to solve it than it took to solve it.

[WSJosh]

On shore. The grid gave me fits this week, but quickly solved the meta

[mrmd]

On shore for the first time!!!

[PHOFER]

Ashore! Very enjoyable!

[MaineMarge]

I was reading some of the anguished and humorous comments from Thursday afternoon's kerfuffle to my husband. I read @802puzzler comment asking if there was a support group for people like us. My husband asked if there was a support group for the spouses of people like us!

That question has been asked more than once by long suffering, eye rolling spouses

Early on in my meta journey during an appropriate conversation, i was telling my husband about all the other Muggles’ eye-rolling spouses. His response? “I’m beyond eye-roll—I’m eye-rate!! He’s very supportive of my meta-love, but I’ve learned to respect his wish to leave him out of it. I do have to twist the knife in his chest, however, when he launches into a recap of the latest Red Sox inning…

[CPJohnson]

Ashore! I am so slow. I woke up in the middle of the night and thought, "Oh, THAT's what those words mean." (I don't think that's a spoiler, Brian.) (But if it is, take it out.) (Thanks for the encouragement, Joe.) Still haven't read the blog. What a week.

[Colin]

Not really started,
It’s a granddaughters weekend!
Ship’s crèche Labor Day!

[Doug C]

On shore. Didn't get started on it until Sat and spent time in a deep rabbit hole. Coffee this morning and a great a-ha moment. I really liked the grid and the meta.

[Prozach]

Finally on shore with a little nudge.

[SusieG]

I know I’m overthinking this one, but I’m still with Isaac. I haven’t spent much time on it this weekend because of my eye-rolling spouse who has a list of things to do this weekend that doesn’t include puzzling.

[CPJohnson]

Houston Restaurant Week (that lasts an entire month) so had a great meal this evening.
Just got home and did the puzzle.
Solved and submitted

Similar. Nice restaurant in Northern Michigan. Terrific atmosphere. Great cocktails. BUT … blah food. Still, had a wonderful time. THEN … solved the puzzle. Nice!

On shore!

(sigh) We've quit eating out again. TN is now the worst state for new cases per 100,000. Our local hospital just surpassed its January record for in-patient Covid cases. TN is at 40% fully vaccinated. Sad, sad, sad.

[lbray53]

On the beach after a delayed start. Full house this weekend. I will have to read the thread later. That might take more time than the solve.

[Scott M]

Quick trip to shore after a very late start, and a bit of a struggle with the grid. I spent a few days hanging with friends and doing our 39th Fantasy Football draft (that's since 1983 for the math-challenged), then returning home for our first tailgate and college football game since pre-COVID days. I'll celebrate with a Marzen or three at today's music festival in the foothills of the Blue Ridge.

Maybe weekends like this are why I struggled with the grid.