Time for another challenge, and I believe this one will be tougher. The following message also contains a secret message for those who can decode it. If you figure it out, you will know what to do to prove that you “get the message.” WARNING: This is meant to be a challenge, it may take awhile to “get it.” There is a definite message, you won’t have to wander around wondering if you got it. Once you get it (if you are up to the challenge), you will know for sure and be able to prove it for sure.

(If you’d like to see the earlier similar secret message puzzle, here’s the link:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/get-the-message-in-post-1prove-it )

I call this message “Follow the Directions”:

“First, drive north. Add five miles to the trip. Then go west ten kilometers, and north to the first exit. On the south, your eyes will see the attractions to the east listed. Those on the east number twelve. On the west, of course, there are none. After another 30 minutes of driving north, pins and needles in your legs will set in, so stop to take a break before that happens. Continuing north, then, proceed to the end of the road, where you must turn east. Subtract five miles from the trip by taking this short cut. As you continue east, the bright sun may be a problem. After five miles, notice the north number of roadside buildings, there should be three. The south, of course, is not where they are, but only on the north. Characters of ill repute abound in this area, so only look to the north. In turning south, your vehicle may struggle to get up the hill, but this is shorter than going north. Pinside is a great place to get directions, but to follow them, you must now turn west. Name any other website with such a great pinball community, I don’t think you can. Continue west, then, until you see a north post on a brick building. By driving west only at this point and not south, the road will be easier than the one to the north. Result of this trip will reveal the correct solution.”

ADDED QUALIFIER: Your Pinside privacy settings may make a difference here. Since I need to determine correct responses, please taylor your response to what I can see. Thanks.

13

But not if you start in Bossier City, LA!

I know, too bad we didn’t play pins together while you were here!

Correct, we have our first sleuth!

Sorry, incorrect. I made this one much more difficult to reverse-engineer.

Just read the secret message more carefully, there will be no ambiguity. Each word counts.

The fifth word in the secret message should remove the ambiguity. If that word wasn’t in there, I wouldn’t know who got it right. And I apologize, I can tell now you weren’t reverse-engineering.

I did, please see my reply. Thanks.

Well, there had to be at least one controversy, there was in the earlier puzzle thread! Hopefully, I have now covered that. I can now definitively say that you are absolutely 100% correct and our next sleuth! My apologies, and thanks for sticking with me on this.

Correct, good job!

You’re welcome! Thanks for the feedback!

You got it, congrats!

That’s right, good job!

Correct, good job!

You got it, good job!

Correct, congrats!

Another sleuth, good job!

Correct, good job!

You got it, congratulations!

Anyone else up for this challenge?

You got it, good job!

Correct you are, well done!

Any other sleuths?

Exactly, good job!

Sorry, incorrect.

Correct, congrats!

Now you’re right, good job!

Always happy to guide others in the right direction! Thanks.

Correct, congrats!

You got it, another sleuth!

You get the message, as well as the award for the first pun!

You got it, my friend. Way to go!

Anyone else get the message?

Sorry, incorrect, although that sounds good right now.

Smoked, glazed, and spiral-sliced sounds REALLY good right now.

The challenge still awaits...

You both got it, good job! And thank you both for the feedback!

Anyone else get the message?

Correct, congatulations!

Anyone else up for the challenge?

Any more sleuths?

Bump.

Any more sleuths?

The challenge still awaits...

Daily bump.

Any more sleuths?

Here is the solution to this message puzzle. I wanted to wait until I launched a third puzzle before this reveal.

“Follow the Directions” in this case meant to use only each word immediately following a direction, such as “north” or “south.”

The original message:

“First, drive north. Add five miles to the trip. Then go west ten kilometers, and north to the first exit. On the south, your eyes will see the attractions to the east listed. Those on the east number twelve. On the west, of course, there are none. After another 30 minutes of driving north, pins and needles in your legs will set in, so stop to take a break before that happens. Continuing north, then, proceed to the end of the road, where you must turn east. Subtract five miles from the trip by taking this short cut. As you continue east, the bright sun may be a problem. After five miles, notice the north number of roadside buildings, there should be three. The south, of course, is not where they are, but only on the north. Characters of ill repute abound in this area, so only look to the north. In turning south, your vehicle may struggle to get up the hill, but this is shorter than going north. Pinside is a great place to get directions, but to follow them, you must now turn west. Name any other website with such a great pinball community, I don’t think you can. Continue west, then, until you see a north post on a brick building. By driving west only at this point and not south, the road will be easier than the one to the north. Result of this trip will reveal the correct solution.”

The solution: “Add ten to your listed number of pins, then subtract the number of characters in your pinside name, then post only the result”

Thanks to all who participated in this. I am concurrently starting a new hidden message puzzle thread, so now there will be another one for those who want to try it.

Here is a link to the next challenge for those who would like to try:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/challenge-iii-get-the-message-in-post-1prove-it#post-6156061

Correct, but it loses something after the solution is already out there. I’m sure you both didn’t realize that when you first posted, so thanks for doing it!