Riddles for chocolate: adventure race begins Monday - Jul. 31, 2010
The Taylor family were the winners of the 2009 Treasure Hunt Challenge. Barb, Amy,Areille,and Steell Taylor display the prize of a 15 pound box of Ganong Chocolates.
ST. STEPHEN – It's a race to the finish on Monday afternoon.
Each year 30 to 40 teams will gather for a treasure hunt during Chocolate Fest.
"Even if it is pouring rain, I will have 17 to 20 teams," said event organizer Rob Watson of Watson's Heating and Ventilation.
Watson has been organizing the event for the past 12 years, but it dates from long before that.
"I bet it started 20 years ago. It started with somebody handing out a single clue during the parade."
Watson used to hunt in it.
"It was not very well organized. It was very hard to follow."
This year there will be a total of nine riddles for the teams to find, and they are hidden all over town so a vehicle is essential.
"The ninth one just tells you (that) you are done."
And the teams have to bring back all nine clues. This prevents people from accidentally finding a clue that would put them ahead.
While all the teams will follow pretty much the same route, they do not all start out the same. The second riddle leads to one of four different places, so that it eases congestion at the start.
"I try and stop the chaos of 40 cars all pulling into one spot."
Choas is a concern for Watson.
"I always bring a Mountie in to start it off."
The registration starts at 12:30 at the town square and will commence at 1 p.m. The teams then have four hours to work their way through the riddles and return to the square.
"I don't give the prizes out until 5 p.m. but what happens in between, who knows?"
And the prize?
"It's not that big a prize."
But 15 pounds of Ganong Chocolates is incentive enough for these adventure seekers.
Last year the winning team was the Taylor family with Barb, Amy, Areille and Steell.
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