Annual Winterfest Medallion Search

Remember how we always used to tromp around in the snow looking for that elusive medallion? Well...this year was no different----every day Aunt Jo would call me with the clues and we would try to decipher them. I am still the keeper of the winterfest log and area info. This year we narrowed it down to either Thornden or Marcellus Park, then around the 7th clue we knew it was definitely Marcellus. The clue that said, "you can skate to the right or skate to the left" led us to delete Thornden...and the map of Marcellus Park confirmed it with the icons for a skateboard park on one side of the road and an iceskating rink on the other. Anyways, that was the day Gabe had a class (the infamous bowling) out in Marcellus, so she took the first shift and went to the park before and after class. Then Aunt Jo went to look until she couldn't stand the dropping temperature. On Saturday Meaghan and I took our turn. Aunt Jo called with an extra long clue when I was just rolling out of bed, so after a 'short' time (okay, a little makeup had to be put on for when the reporters wanted to take our pic, but I didn't do my hair)we went out over the icy roads to find our treasure! We looked under things (like benches) since the clue said to think horizontal, and after we did that on one side of the park we got in the car to go to the other entrance to look in the thicker wooded area. Just as Meaghan was pulling a 360 in the parking lot, I spied a young woman on a cell phone near her car about 15 yds away. I said, "She must be calling in reinforcements." Then we saw her jumping up and down and we knew she found it! Of course I made Meaghan stop and I got out to check, and see the medallion in person (size of a poker chip), oh, and to congratulate them too. They were a family from Camillus---older parents with grown children, their spouses and 2 grandkids. Guess where they found it? In a fallen log 100 ft into the wooded area we were headed for!!! We were the only two groups of people in the whole park too. Arrrggghhhhh! Gabe had told us to check the large wooded area before we left the house, but we didn't know you had to go out on the main road and down about 50 yds to get to the other entrance near that woods. Soooo close. Closer than ever, and ready for the real win next year! All these years have just been training for that! Boo-yah! Love youse guys.