"Scale Back" - April 29, 2022

[Cindy N]

Totally lost at sea this week.

[Lee-Ann]

Well that took longer than I expected, but a very clever meta! On shore!!

[HunterX]

Okay, I'm tired of staring at this and not seeing anything but the many shallow rabbit holes I keep tripping on.

And the MGWCC just arrived. So WSJ will have to wait.

[DennyB]

Bob, I believe I made it to shore! Good luck fellow Muggles. Jack & Ginger Ale for me.

[MarkWoychick]

Ashore, and I can’t believe it! Great puzzle and aha moment. With the slog of grading ahead of me and the Gaffney week 5 now waiting in my inbox, I was just about resigned to having to ask for a nudge when lightning struck.

For those still working on it, keep at it- you can do it.

[Dapperdan]

Ashore….call me a ‘cab’!

[Barney]

Distant solving partner and I are waving another white flag of surrender this week.

[mikeB]

Metas are so interesting. Last week, I found my car in short order - and I don't really know that much about cars. I know a lot more about this week, but I just now figured it out.

Something that I was absolutely sure was important was in fact not at all. Something I tried did not work, but I kept trying it over and over again. (It still doesn't work.) Something I thought was a hint was totally irrelevant. Something else that I thought was a hint was also not. Several things that seemed to be suggested by <I won't say what> did nothing useful. Something that seemed like a good idea, I couldn't really get to work.

Took another trip through the puzzle this evening, and thought again about that last idea, and realized there was a different way to apply it that seemed promising, and then there it all was.

These constructors are just amazing.

Yes, amazing is the right word for them. Brings to mind those certain bridges . . .

[CAe39]

Made it to shore after much wandering down rabbit holes. Great aha moment.

[Streroto]

And the long plane ride does it again. Metas seem to go better at 38,000 feet!!!

Warm in Philly but not quite beach weather. Nonetheless I am ashore. Agree with others amazing AHA moment. Well done Mr Shenk.

Tales of deep rabbit holes to follow

Stay well all!

[Ann]

On the shore!

[JoeS]

In the pool on the boat, swigging beer. So far we got nothing.

[ky-mike]

Took a while, but finally got it. Definitely on shore.

I almost hired a 17A for this one so that I could 18A
(Poetic license) the answer. Time spent on this was not 23A. After much seeking, one idea 37A another and I found 48A in the fact that the meta was no longer 53A. I can proudly wear the 55A of victory again this week.

Fun puzzle, Mike.

[CromsFury]

On the beach. The rowboat-building instructions at those Friday Zoom meeting are always so helpful.

I'll have a Chocolate Egg Cream, please!

[Jace54]

Two-week losing streak here. Last week was on the right path but could not put it all together, this week not seeing anything.

Wow, I found the way to shore! That was rough but satisfying to finally get it.

[CPJohnson]

Still aship...no time, no time. But I got a lot done in the yard!

[mrmd]

On shore after a nudge. Cool meta.

[JeanneC]

So I saw that yummy chocolate egg cream a fellow Muggle posted and ordered it from Isaac rather than my usual Aperol spritzer. With a clear head I ventured once more into the puzzle. The paper glowed. My markers gave off sparks. The winds picked up and carried me aloft. I am ashore!

But the darned egg cream is still sitting on the bar!

[RDaleHall]

Grid done. Trying to pull through on the meta between Colorado hikes this weekend. Still hanging with Isaac.

[Cindy N]

And just like that, with a helpful hand out of the rabbit holes, I am ashore. I shall defer my drink until tomorrow as it is a vanilla Pepsi nitro and I don't want caffeine at bedtime. I've had nitro beer (Guinness and others) and nitro coffee, but never soda. I went with vanilla because that certainly sounds like the best pairing for creamy goodness.