2012 DJJD Horseshoe Hunt Winner and Full Explanation

The Winners Are: Around 7:20 a.m. Friday morning after the release of clue #5 (out of 6), a group of around 20 people were hovering over ground zero. I was watching from my car parked across a field in Perkins Transportation. I had my HD camera running. I could see many past winners along with hunters that have been actively looking all week long. I feel bad there has to be only 1 winner with all the hours that were put into the hunting.

Jenny Riley of Northfield was the actual finder but the whole family was hunting including Jeorge, Tessa, Ethen, Zach, Seth and Evan. They had been locating the daily location and finding the laminated tags, affixed to certain items of interest. They also scanned all 4 QR codes that simply plotted their location on a google map. Jenny had registered her DJJD button that she bought from Kwik Trip thus earning the full $900 purse. Thanks to Bursch Travel, Professional Pride Realty, KYMN Radio and Appledoorn’s Sunset Bay Resort for contributing financially to the prize.

2012 DJJD Horseshoe Hunt Explained: I really wanted more activity early on this year, engaging people to actually hunt during the early clues and give them some action from day 1. This was only possible by identifying a solvable daily clue that could lead you to a certain location that day. So, I started by pinpointing 4 specific locations, hiding a QR code to be scanned by a smartphone at each location and included wording explaining what to do if you didn't have a smartphone. I also explained in each locations secret clue that the horseshoe wasn't there and gave a subtle extra hint like search near water (the pond on the property) or search near a school (ArTech). I also indicated on the laminated cards that the location was a specific geographical reference to be used in conjunction with other clues. After 4 points were identified I started to hint at using a physical map to plot out these 4 locations. I gave a link to the city’s maps page via the DJJD Horseshoe hunt Facebook page and my Thursday KYMN Tech radio segment (also posted on the KYMN website and Facebook) was on how to use Google map features to draw out your own map. If these 4 points are connected with a straight line in a “X” manner, the intersection of the cross would show you exactly where the shoe was.

VIEW THE LIVE GOOGLE MAP HERE

VIEW HISTORICAL MAP OF ALL HUNT LOCATIONS

Some ironic twists include the fact that we’ll have a rare Blue Moon tonight, which goes hand in hand with the infrequent hunt that goes to day 5. In addition, the Google Maps Camera Car was filming the Northfield streets all yesterday. It’s a car that films a 360 degree image of “street view” to be used with Google Maps.

This was the first year that information pertaining to hunt details had to be discussed with key individuals in advance to ensure it could be pulled off effectively. Most importantly was bring in TJ Heinricy, the Northfield Streets and Park Supervisor, who is also a member of the DJJD committee. I asked permission in advance to use his Street Department Maintenance facility property to hide the shoe, and he was more willing to have people walking around his “junk piles” behind the storage garages. TJ also had his crews on alert for any QR codes attached to things around town and to instruct them to not remove them. I also let John McCarthy, Dundas City Administrator know people may be lurking around his City starting Wednesday. He gave warning to those on patrol. I also let the Northfield Post Master know that people may be lurking around the annex on Thursday. I just want to thank all the awesome hunters that were all over this, scanning the 4 QR codes just over 400 times. (See graphic at bottom) WOW! You guys are awesome.

Clue Breakdown:

2012 DJJD Horseshoe Hunt Clue ~ 1

The fleeing gang was roughed up (like a roughed up baseball) and beat (lose a game) While running in the dark of night (Northfield Knights) they had to fish and eat The brigands complained...we need them lechers (Unscramble for Sechler) to bait the jig! Then they ate, played ball, slide (Ball and Slide make up Blaisdale...Field) and tag The QR Code tag was on the flagpole on the Blaisdale field the Knights play at. It told you to remember that location and to hunt near water (the pond on the Street shop land)

2012 DJJD Horseshoe Hunt Clue ~ 2

The gang became thirsty for a sweet blessed drink (a water well across from Bethel Lutheran) Another generic reference (Like in the HH2 clue last year Generac is the back up power generator on the well pump) to filling a sink If they would have gone North (North Avenue) and hitched to a certain tree (Cedar Avenue) They could map (telling you to plot a map) the escape route then Jesse would flee The QR Code tag was on the backside of the well pump telling you to remember that location and to go look near a school. I was referring to Art Tech next to the final location.

2012 DJJD Horseshoe Hunt Clue ~ 3

After spending the night just North of the falk line (North and Falk Avenue, Falk is also considered Cedar Avenue) They needed moore (Moore Paints) help making it over the bridge (Bridge Street) climb So they rode the rails (Rail Street) south to that restful old Milltown.(Dundas) Where they could park (Mill Park) their rides and build a fire (Ref to pile of fire hydrants on the Street Dept garage facility) near downtown QR code continues to build up to a mapping that will lead to the pinpoint of the actual location. I tell hunters the shoe has a GPS device attached to it, indicated that it’s going to involve some mapping coordinates. My Tuesday Technology Trends show was on how to use QR codes and what they do. This segment posted on KYMN and Facebook TT page.

2012 DJJD Horseshoe Hunt Clue ~ 4

Sticking to the Road (Street Department), they followed the Cannon (Cannon Road) The tired horses took A gate (Agate Drive) they could easily handle (Mail handling) Jesse’s horse lost his cast iron (Cast Iron Old Fire Hydrants) shoe in the rubble (The pile of fire hydrants and other junk laying around the City of Northfield Maintenance Facility) But someone mailed (Post office Annex) it back to JJ (Ref tp TJ Heinricy) on the double (These words have double meanings.) With this 4th location, you could connect them to create an x on the map which would pinpoint the location.

2012 DJJD Horseshoe Hunt Clue ~ 5

After running about to 4 weird locations (identified in the first 4 clues), Jesse was red hot (red fire hydrant) and needed direction He yelled his ancient name (anagram for maintenance) and a City employee appeared TJ (Heinricy) told JJ (Jesse James) to map out your lines and X marks the veer (so literally drawing on a map or using Google Maps, which I referenced on the Facebook page, criss-crosses the Maintenance building.) Connect 1 to 3 and 2 to 4 then head to the garage (City garage storage) and stay to the rear

Thanks for everyone’s enthusiastic hunting. I look forward to stumping you next year! Tim Freeland DJJD Horseshoe Hunt Chairman.