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National Park Mystery Spot 48: Running The Boat Ashore

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 3:59am

Mystery Spot 48 is a named feature in one of America’s 397 national parks. See if you can identify it using the clues provided below. To answer correctly you must identify the specific physical or cultural feature and the name of the national park in which it is located.

Traveler readers answering correctly will be eligible for our monthly prize drawing and a chance to win a signed copy of Stephen R. Brown's beautiful photo book, the Jewel of the Mall: The World War II Memorial.

Here are all the clues you should need to identify this mystery spot:

Greenhead mallards waddle and quack
And look just fine on my roasting rack.

I had to run my yacht ashore to keep it from sinking.
They warned me about that storm; oh, what was I thinking?!

The answer and a list of readers submitting correct answers will be posted in tomorrow's Traveler.

No cheating!

If we catch you Googling or engaged in other sneakery, we will make you write on the whiteboard 100 times: “The total weight of all the termites on earth exceeds the weight of the human population.”

Comments

Submitted by Moonpie on August 30, 2012 - 5:58am.

Duck Harbor on Isle au Haut in Acadia National Park.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 6:24am.

Not Duck Harbor in Acadia National Park, Moonpie. Please take another shot at it.

Submitted by Caprice Kutz (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 6:42am.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Duck, NC

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 6:53am.

Sorry, Caprice; the mystery spot is not a cultural or historical feature located in Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Hint: The word "duck" is not part of the answer.

Submitted by Moonpie on August 30, 2012 - 6:59am.

Dover Hotel at Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Tennessee.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 7:12am.

Not Dover Hotel at Fort Donelson National Battlefiel, Moonpie. Not by a long shot

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 7:35am.

Well done, Moonpie. You're in. The feature you ID-ed bears a name so similar to (and situated so close to) the one I had in mind that it would be unfair to deny you entrance to the Winners Circle Club. Use the front entrance, with valet parking. The concierge is waiting with fresh-brewed coffee (extra bold, dark roast) and oven-warm chocolate chip cookies.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 8:45am.

David Crowl has nailed it. 'Way to go, David; welcome to the Winners Circle Club. Move over, Moonpie.

[See Kurt, I told you this one isn't very difficult. Everybody is getting it.]

Submitted by Caprice Kutz (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 8:55am.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 9:17am.

Sorry, it's not the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Submitted by viewmtn (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 9:32am.

How about Chapel Beach in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore? The boat owner can pray thanks for their safe return to shore.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 9:35am.

Sorry, viewmtn; it's not Chapel Beach in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I like your line of thinking, though.

Submitted by viewmtn (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 9:43am.

How about Hatches Harbor in Cape Cod National Seashore? Ducks "hatch" and that would be a good place to escape a storm in your boat.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 9:55am.

Well, viewmtn, I'll credit you with figuring out that the mystery spot is water-oriented. However, it's not Hatches Harbor in Cape Cod National Seashore. When you finally figure this one out, you'll see that a very important clue has been staring you right in the face.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 10:57am.

Absolutely correct, celbert. Why am I not surprised? Welcome back to the Winners Circle.

Submitted by Sierra Sharon (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 11:10am.

Ship Harbor, Acadia National Park, Maine

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 11:13am.

What do you mean "keep going back", celbert? We haven't slotted a Mystery Spot in that particular region since last April, and before that, one in February. Boy; you guys are a tough crowd!

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 11:20am.

Not Ship Harbor in Acadia National Park, Sharon. Hint: The word "harbor" is not part of the answer.

Submitted by celbert (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 11:35am.

You're right, my phrase "keep going back" is a bit strong for the trend I was indicating. Mea culpa.

Submitted by Eric Nelson (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 11:44am.

Quizmeister: I was thinking Duck-on-a-Rock at Chiricauhua NM. The second clue doesn't fit that answer [so] I'll go with Little Hunter Beach at Acadia National Park ...

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 11:57am.

Your mea culpa is accepted, celbert. For your penance you are to fervently pray that 9th-ranked University of South Carolina will defeat Vanderbilt in the season opener tonight (ESPN, 7:01 PM EDT) despite an injury-depleted secondary.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 12:04pm.

Neither one of those guesses works, Eric.

Submitted by Caprice Kutz (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 12:54pm.

Cape Cod National Seashore

Beach Point

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 1:05pm.

Sorry, Caprice; it's not Beach Point in Cape Cod National Seashore.

Submitted by Ranger Dave (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 1:17pm.

Mallard Lake in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?

Submitted by Ranger Dave (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 1:22pm.

Or Hurricane River Campground in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore>

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 2:41pm.

Sorry, Ranger Dave; this Mystery Spot isn't in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 2:45pm.

That's close enough, Caprice. You're in. Use the servants entrance, please.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 3:38pm.

Close enough, ed-123. You're in. Follow Caprice.

Submitted by Richard Smith (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 4:07pm.

Storm King trail, lake cresent, Olympic Nat. park

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 4:09pm.

You need to reboot, Richard.

Submitted by DakotaToni (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 4:24pm.

Barataria Preserve

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 30, 2012 - 4:39pm.

Sorry, Dakota Toni; it's not Barataria Preserve in Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.

Submitted by celbert (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 6:43pm.

I'd better get to some serious supplication, then. Tied at halftime after 10 unanswered Vandy points, and Connor Shaw out with injury -- things are looking grim for the Old Ball Coach and company.

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on August 30, 2012 - 7:13pm.

Go Commodores! And I'm not talking that '70s funk group;-)

[Alas; poor Kurt. He's obviously paid heavily for going bareheaded too often in places where prudent outdoorsmen wear a helmet.]

Submitted by celbert (not verified) on August 30, 2012 - 8:00pm.

Looks like the Gamecocks are turning it around now.

Submitted by Eric on August 30, 2012 - 9:27pm.

How about Cape Lookout Lighthouse in Cape Lookout National Seashore?

Submitted by Ilex_Opaca on August 30, 2012 - 9:38pm.

Toms Cove Hook, Assateague Island National Seashore. Only yacht I can think of is the presdential yacht that wrecked off the island.

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 31, 2012 - 4:17am.

Not Cape Lookout Lighthouse and not Tom Hooks Cove. What happened?! The ol' Quizmeister was counting on you guys to come through on this one!

Submitted by Ilex_Opaca on August 31, 2012 - 9:38am.

I have a really good excuse. I had to have emergency surgery and I'm doped up at the moment...lol. My brain will not work even with coffee. Can I still have one of those fresh baked cookies out of pity?

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 31, 2012 - 6:41pm.

Emergency surgery? Ouch! Here's hoping for a speedy and complete recovery.

Submitted by Ilex_Opaca on September 1, 2012 - 9:35am.

Thanks Bob....nothing major. I just found out that ignoring a sharp pain in my abdomen can lead to problems. Who knew? But now I have a bunch of time to catch up on NPT articles!