Elmo Hayride

As mentioned in an earlier post, Scarlett's Paw and family friend Randy put together an amazing hayride for Scarlett and the kids (and heck, the adults too) at Scarlett's birthday party last weekend. We knew we were going to go on a hayride, but had no idea about the fun twist they had planned. The first clue that it was not going to be your run-of-the-mill hayride was the video we watched after we sang Happy Birthday to Scarlett. The video featured Randy reporting the late breaking news that Elmo had been kidnapped by the dastardly Prospector Pete (of Toy Story fame) and that it was up to the kids at the party to rescue Elmo using a series of clues. With our mission clear, we loaded up for our adventure: little kids in one trailer, bigger kids in the back of a truck, and adults in another trailer (with special adults-only beverages).





Our first stop was the Sheriff's office to find out more about poor Elmo's disappearance. Guess who answered the door? None other than Woody, Scarlett's favorite Toy Story character. (The role of Woody was played by Danny, Randy's son.)





Woody showed the kids Prospector Pete's wanted poster (apparently Pete already had a lengthy rap sheet before the Elmo incident). It read:

WANTED
DEAD or ALIVE
PROSPECTOR PETE
for
Stealing Woody's Hat
Selling Buzz Lightyear's Laser
Plucking Big Bird's Tailfeathers
Stealing Grouch's Trashcan
Eating the Cookie Monster's Cookies







Sheriff Woody sent us on our way and told us that our first clue would be at the fork in the road. Here's what we found.



The clue at the fork in the road read:

You are doing fine
Continue on a straight line
Look left and right and up and down
The next set of instruction must be found

In the forest where a tree is shining
There lies a box with silver lining
The box when opened, as you will see
Will contain more directions to get you to me

As we headed into the forest, this is what we spotted.



The next clue said:

Since you have made it this far
I’m beginning to think you may be a star
But not yet have you reached the end of the trail
You sure are going slow, are you a snail

Turn left when you pass through the gate
Please don’t make a mistake for goodness sake
There are three men under a tree that get no pay
But if you look they will help you find your way

The next clue was at a wood carving of three faces Bill made in a tree stump near their front gate.



That clue said:

You are getting close but the situation is getting grave
In fact this thought you had better save
For more instructions you must find
So don’t delay and use your mind

Follow the road down the hill
Where you will find some people who lay very still
A lone cowboy will have for you
What will be your very last clue

Getting the last clue from the cowboy skeleton, which said:

You have done so very well
To the cowboy you must say farewell
And continue down the road and up the hill
At my camp we will meet with much goodwill

Elmo is now so very near
You have nothing at all to fear
Freeing Elmo has been your goal
All it will take is all of your gold



When we made it to the field filled with gold nuggets (and stray golf balls from Paw's driving range), the kids got out and filled up the bucket with gold to use as ransom for Elmo.







As we continued on, we finally stumbled across Prospector Pete (played by Scarlett's Paw). Pete was pretty scary looking, complete with a long gray beard and a shotgun.



And there was poor Elmo being held prisoner!



After a botched ransom exchange (we managed to keep the gold so Prospector Pete didn't get it after all), we nabbed Elmo and took off. Sweet Scarlett comforted a very nervous Elmo and told him everything would be ok.



She even offered him a taste of a gold nugget in an effort to perk him up.



A grand time was had by all, especially Scarlett!



Thanks again to Paw and Randy for putting together a most memorable hayride!