"Following Directions" - May 14, 2021

[seahawks_seashanty]

Needed a lot of help from a fellow muggle to find my way to shore this week. Pretty fun puzzle overall, I think. Off to read some 17A!

[M and M]

The right answer felt like a rabbit hole for a while, and yet... no rabbit. Only a happy answer.

Pleased to be sending in from the Galapagos! If it's on your bucket list, they'd love to see some vaccinated travelers about now...

[JeanneC]

So I have submitted an answer to the powers that be. It is definitely lacking that “aha” element. But there was something that just kept tugging at my sleeve so I went with it.

At midnight, that loud “whack” sound you hear will doubtless be the application of the palm of my hand to my forehead!

[Bonnibel]

Appreciate the kindness of those who reached out with a gentle nudge, which was all I needed. I don't think I would have made it ashore otherwise. Will now sit by the fire just built by my very dear non-crossword puzzler (but wonderful) husband - with a lovely glass of wine instead of my traditional MaiTai. Baby it's cold outside. Cheers to all!

[michpuzzler]

Hey All!

The inspiration hasn’t hit for me on this one. Any last minute nudges would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Update: Thanks to the kindness and clever nudges of some awesome puzzlers on this forum I’m ashore! Thanks!!

[BreeZynCO]

We finally made it ashore.

[Jeremy Smith]

I am on shore but only thanks to my https://www.seatow.com/ membership. Will not be submitting.

I called my tow company, Boat US, but they said they can’t help me.

[Mord]

Hmm I am firmly and desperately lost at sea. Found plenty of what seem like rabbit holes but keep coming up short or gibberish-y.

Anyone available to offer a little nudge in the direction of land? Would be greatly appreciated!!

[mbryant]

I have found too many rabbit holes and interesting coincidences but LAS. A nudge would be appreciated.

Update. Finally found the shore but needed too many nudges to submit. Thanks for the help and very clever. Frustrating one for me because I had found the mechanism but missed one step and just couldn't get there. Thanks for the nudges!

[sf592000]

Count me still on the ship.. I feel like I know what the mechanism is, just can’t put the pieces together to come up with anything coherent.

[Kas]

That was a fun one...and On Shore!!! Also, predicting this is my mug week. (Ahem...ATTENTION GAFFNEY! I AM PREDICTING THIS IS MY MUG WEEK!! NUDGE NUDGE POKE POKE...)

[hcbirker]

That was a fun one...and On Shore!!! Also, predicting this is my mug week. (Ahem...ATTENTION GAFFNEY! I AM PREDICTING THIS IS MY MUG WEEK!! NUDGE NUDGE POKE POKE...)

Um, this is a Mike Shenk puzzle. Poke all you want, this puzzle was a bear!

[meekmouse]

Still struggling sunday night... would love a nudge!!

[wordsmith]

I too, would love a nudge! I see something...but can't make sense of it. Fascinating to see the difficulty rating creep up as the weekend has progressed!

[EVJ]

After a collab with EVJ, I've made it to shore!

And yet I am still LOST AT SEA.

I just sent you a PM. Sorry! I thought you had it.

I tried following directions but I either have the wrong map or wrong starting point. Or both! LOL

[Cap'n Rick]

Needed a lot of Muggle help with this one but finally figured it out. All I can say is "Wow!"

[Ann]

Very late star. Submitting something that seems to fit.

[Ann]

*start

[TeaJenny]

Ashore. (I think.) It never did click for me, so I'm going with my gut. I feel like I found the mechanism, but just couldn't figure out how to apply it, despite literal hours of brain racking and hair pulling. We'll find out in an hour if my educated guess is correct.

[WSJosh]

Still at sea, alas…