2025 Jimmy John's Marigold Medallion Clues Explained
Medallion Hunt Clues and Explanations:
The medallion was found just off the McNaughton Park’s
Potowatamie Trail Sheridan Road access.
Every year my writing approach is the same: once a hiding spot is selected, start writing
clues that progressively reveal it. As a
tool for hunters, I’ll often find concepts, themes or other references to add
to the mental exercise this treasured event partly is. With the advent of AI, caution in crafting
them became important. This year I was struck by two main ideas to use. The first was the Marigold Festival’s
excellent choice of Maureen Naughtin as Grand Marshal. Add “Mc” before her
last name and you’re in the neighborhood.
The second occurred when listening to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to
Heaven”. Check out the lyrics. For example “in a tree by a brook”; “the
forests will echo with laughter” “those who stand tall” (trees); “there are two
paths you can go by”; “words have two meanings”; “bird” (the Registered Reserve
sign right off Sheridan Rd and a trailhead that has a cardinal on it)
“whispering wind”; “our shadows stand taller (trees) than our soul”; “there’s a
feeling I get when I look to the west” (from the main south entrance point to
McNaughton Park) “there’s still time to change the road your on” denoting the
two roads- McNaughton Rd and Sheridan Rd, by which you can access the park
trail, and “as we wind on down the road” refers to the Sheridan Trail head
access as Sheridan Road winds down toward its Lick Creek bottom. All refer to the medallion’s hiding
place. Finally, dealing with parts of a song,
you’ll often come to its “bridge”-or “middle eight.”
With these two concepts and that fact in mind….here goes:
Clue # 1
Here we go again my friends
Another year of engagement
Time to play with words and places
Working around with various arrangements
Concepts will again be part of this
And some different history I’ll employ
No flower beds but there’s a sweet sound That for so long
we have enjoyed
Explanation:
As I typically do with the first clue is beginning the
“set up” for the themes or concepts that creates the framework for the entire
hunt. So to introduce the approach of
using a song or music, you’ll see the words “play”, “engagement” and
“arrangements” in the first verse. The
second verse reminds the hunter of the use of “concepts” and the reference to
“history” (in this case music history).
“Sweet sound” refers to music “that for so long we have enjoyed” as in
an older, well known and popular song.
Clue #2
Remember that dismissive;
That sees everything the same?
Endorse it at your own peril.
No one but yourself to blame.
There’ll be plenty for armchair quarterbacks Many verses
will be somewhat lyrical But remember it always takes an effort Your pursuit
well beyond purely physical”
Explanation:
In the first verse “everything the same” refers to all
the trail entrances- especially the two off of Sheridan Road. While most enter the park through the
prominent one at the bottom of the valley on that part of the road, the one
uphill to the west was the closest to the hiding spot. The small entrance that stands alone is
different and is one that could be easily dismissed.
The second verse points to the intellectual-true
detective- part of the hunt. My hope is
to always provide content that allows those at home to make their contribution
to the effort via their interpretive skills.
Again there’s the reference to music through “verses” and
“lyrical”. If you look closely you might
notice that “purely physical” is part of a verse from Rod Stewart’s “Your in My
Heart”- a song- from the 70’s.
Clue # 3
There’s colour in every hunt,
Defined in its own way.
Clues can certainly be cryptic
It’s not always in the way I say.
Maybe mercurial in my construction,
Sometimes going this way or that.
The study of history in this application, Take note of
just over 50 years past.
Explanation:
In the first line “colour” stands alone- rather than the
plural reference. This year’s hiding spot is predominantly green. Also “colour” is a British way of
spelling. Led Zeppelin was a British
band.
Here its spelling stands out “Defined in its own way” refers to all the
yellow reflective arrows at the creek bottom that point either east or
west. There also are arrows that point
you uphill on Sheridan Rd heading west.
You can either define them as
leading you uphill on the road or leading to the closest access point to
the hiding spot. “Not always in the way
I say” refers to the fact that some of the references are found in “song” not
in how they’re said.
In the second verse, “mercurial” shows I might be
changing my mood from being poetic or lyrical to more directly factual. “Going
this way or that” relates to the two rectangular arrow signs at the bottom of
Sheridan Road- one pointing left, the other right.
It also refers to the way the trees along the trail lean
and have fallen.
“History in application” refers to the use of musical
history“take note from 50 years past” the time, when in this case, Led Zeppelin
and Stairway to Heaven were written and released.
History also applies to the first two lines of the next
clue. Finally, “note” refers to a
“musical note”.
Clue #4
Examine how Germans in World War 2
First interpreted the D-Day invasion.
The main way you might approach this
Is to remember that on this occasion.
Growing from the beginning,
Will you go four for four?
A great song revered by we boomers,
Gives a natural high you can’t ignore.
Explanation:The first two lines refer to the fact that
many German military leaders first saw the DDay Normandy invasion as a
diversion. Since other parks can fit as
a possible location, hunters should see them as a possible diversion and see if
other locations fit. As for McNaughton
Park many hunters will likely choose the McNaughton Rd entrance off of Rt
98. If it’s a diversion, you should
consider another entrance..The closest approach was that off of Sheridan
Rd. Finally, given the fact that earlier
clues might take hunters to public property near churches, this reference lets
them know that it might not apply. It
was important that hunters “remember that on this occasion”.
The second verse, “growing from the beginning” relates to
the fact the medallion was hidden at the base of a tree. “Four for Four” is a
prelude to upcoming references.
Eventually figuring out Led Zeppelin, song four on album four is
“Stairway to Heaven”. The last two lines
introduces you to the song with “high” relates to a Zeppelin, which if one is
above you, you can’t ignore it. “Natural” relates to nature; the outdoors, walking
trails and the approach to the park and its popular Potowatamie Trail. The rest of the verse has more musical
references including “can’t afford” as in the last line in Stairway to Heaven:
“she’s buying the stairway to Heaven”.
Clue # 5
Facticity in proper alignment,
Always music to my ears
A divine effort in what I told you to study Because the
lyrics could get you near.
What’s out is in, or is it what’s in is out?
It’s all in how the record is played.
But this song in mind is so classic
It’s heavy and you can’t afford the price paid.
Explanation:
Note the music references. The functional word is “divine”- as in
heaven. This clue begins to drill down on the fact that a song will be a
reference which more clearly defines the hiding location. Note again the reference to “lyrics” meaning
a clue could reside within a song.
In verse two. “What’s out is in or what’s in is out”
refers to the back entrance of McNaughton Park.
Since it’s near part of the Potowatamie trail- you can either enter or
exit it there. The last three lines
relates to the song with “heavy” relating to “Lead” (Led Zeppelin spelled it
“Led” so an American audience would find the preferred pronunciation.)
Clue #6
Are you humming the song that directs you Which way you
have to go.
Left may be right and right may be wrong, A criss-cross
as I send you to and fro.
You know what gathers no moss,
A perennial leader who gets next Saturday going, Hard to
get much growing tall.
Will there be more steps that I’m bestowing?
Explanation:
The first line refers to a line in Stairway to Heaven:
“your head is humming and it won’t go in case you don’t know”. In this case it’s another reference to the
arrow on Sheridan, one pointing eastward and the other west. One approach on
the trail branches in two directions. In
this case you wanted to go left.
“Criss-cross refers to the way branches and dead trees are noticeable
along the trail. “Cross” refers to the
footbridge hunters will likely cross.
The second verse is a different theme. The first line-“a famous stone that gathers
no moss” is a Rolling Stone. Perhaps the
most famous is Mick Jagger. The second
line refers to the Marigold Festival’s Grand Marshal. Again, this year it is Maureen Naughtin. Putting those two together gives you
“Mick-Naughtin”. The last two lines refer to trees and the different entrances
to the park.
AND IF WE CONTINUED….
Clue #7
For Heaven’s sake do you quiver and shake?’
Like a great fighter, it’s how you bob and weave This
seventies group was so popular In 95 an award in Cleveland they received
Our Grand Marshal with that Rolling Stone and Step closer
to clues that lie within the song.
Let yourself really branch out.
Past the fallen that once was strong.
Explanation:
“Quiver” relates to arrows, which are the reflective ones
on Sheridan Rd. and are plentiful on trail signs. “Bob and weave” refers to traveling along the
trail. The “seventies group” who were
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 is Led Zeppelin.
The second verse starts by directly pointing to our Grand
Marshal (Naughtin) and a Rolling Stone (Mick Jagger) giving you McNaughton
Park. The second line tells you to
examine the lyrics in Stairway to Heaven.
“Branch out” describes the tree where the medallion was hidden, which
splayed out from its base. And “the
fallen that once was strong relates to a tree that has fallen upon the trail
and partially blocks your path.
Clue #8
This pipers calling you to join me.
Music reserved didn’t register before
In general, hunters should reman civil.
8 years ago is a number to explore
Now you’re past the middle eight
If you know this you’re getting near.
Or recall a Cornelius Ryan book
Runners and hikers bringing up the rear.
Explanation:
This starts again with a line from the song, “The piper’s
calling you to join him” “Register”
refers to the Registered “Reserve” sign.
“Middle of Eight” refers to the “middle eight” in a song
which is also known as a Bridge.
Cornelius Ryan wrote “A Bridge
Too Far” and “rear” is for the south back entrance to the park.
Conclusion:
So there it is.
Over the years I’ve been asked, “Are you worried about being
predictable?”
That’s really not for me to decide. It’s for the hunters who try to get into my
hard head to figure out. Yet this year I
knew that using musical lyrics would be something pretty unpredictable. It also spoke to interpretive skills rather
than guesses or hunches. I’ve always
strived to give hunters “something to work on from home” and the song references
was part of that.
I finish with a question I always ask when people share
their experience with hunt but still came up
short: “Well…but did you have fun!”
I hope you did.
As always, a big THANK YOU to Jimmy Johns- A Fantastic
Sponsor and Enthusiastic Supporter.
Gary Gillis
Cluemeister
(Since 1988)
