Mystery 418 is closed. Succesful tracker members will be notified this evening. An explanation of the clues will be posted soon.

The solution of the mystery postal was astronaut. This one proved rather difficult. Will try to do better next time. The explanation of clues follows:

1. A River in Utah. - This was a rather tricky clue based on Doctor Who. River Song in an episode is to kill the Doctor wearing a spacesuit in a lake in Utah. Lake Silencio. Ergo a river in Utah.
2. Fruit loops - This is from Big Bang Theory. Howard was an astronaut for one mission. His captain gave him the nickname Fruit Loops. Best part of this clue is the existence of a Fruit Loops trail in Utah.
3. MTV - Probably dating myself. MTV started when I was in college. One of their logo images is an astronaut planting an MTV flag on the moon.
4. Reluctant - The reluctant astronaut is a movie with Don Knotts He is a NASA janitor and is sent into space.
5. Capricorn - Involves the movie Capricorn One. Involves a faked Mars mission. Government tries to kill the astronauts to cover up the fake.
6. 1969 - Date of the first moon landing (Apollo 11)
7. Houston - The call name for Mission Control
8. The Eagle has landed. - Message sent by Apollo 11. Also considered using the message "we are all taking a space walk". This would have been about a Big Bang Episode when Howard's waste disposal system failed on a NASA mission. The astronauts decided to all take a space walk to avoid the issue.

I forgot to include the explanation for Elegy. This one one of numerous Twilight Zone episodes about space. Three astronauts go to a planet like earth with only one living person. Come to find out he is the caretaker for their afterlife. That rhis was appropriate with the annual Twight Zone marathon New Year's weekend.

This was a good one. Not a Dr Who fan so I’m still sticking with the Virgin River because of Virgin Galactic. Thanks for the fun!

I thought it had something to do with the Virgin River in UT, too. Because - well, it's a pretty unusual name. 8~P

1. A River in Utah. - This was a rather tricky clue based on Doctor Who. River Song in an episode is to kill the Doctor wearing a spacesuit in a lake in Utah. Lake Silencio. Ergo a river in Utah.

That's why I guessed Matt Smith. I went with the celebrity, when I should have gone with the prop!

A coloring puzzle is available as a postal. If you like puzzles, postals and coloring this is for you. Check out the tracker at:

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?trackerId=10082

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?trackerId=10057

All about that face... carve a face, any face. Starts Mid Feb.

This coloring puzzle is now full.

I went on youtube to look for a video showing how we tape an envelope for a postal. I couldn't find one. Does anyone know of one and have a link. I tried to explain it over the phone and a friend wasn't understanding.

Thanks,

~Aurora
still searching

It seems like I remember seeing a picture at one point, but that was almost 5 years ago.

This is how the help section has it worded:
https://www.atlasquest.com/about/wiki/question.php?wikiId=110

I know, I'm not much help. I take a picture of my envelopes later and uploaded it if you'd like. I have had a bunch come in for the swap I'm hosting.

Thanks I did see that in wiki.
I need to be able to share it with an online Book club.
I offered to do a round Robin book exchange and they are insisting on using flat rate boxes. I was trying to explain how to tape a bubble mailer for re-use, I thought a video would help. I did get an AQ main with a step by step with photos. I will share that link.

~Aurora

I have enjoyed the mystery postals by IrishRef. IrishRef said that I could do mystery postals too. Here is my first. I hope that IrishRef is also okay with me copying the rules.

For those who are new to mystery postals and for those who need a refresher the rules follow.

To get this postal you will have to guess the theme/name/subject of the stamp. Clues will be posted on the postal boards and on the tracker (See link below). I will try and post one per day. For each clue posted each person may make one guess prior to the next clue being posted.

Guesses should be sent to Oberon_Kenobi via AQMail, not posted on the boards! Guesses will only be accepted from AQ members through AQMail.

Even if you have no clue take a guess anyway. Half the enjoyment is seeing the range of incorrect answers and how people connected clues for those guesses. You will only get a response from OK if you: A. Have the correct answer, B. Are very close or I need to clarify your guess, or C. Your guess peaks my fancy.

The first 12-15 members correctly guessing will be notified by AQMail. The variable number is because if I get some correct ones on the same day where it fills up I would like to be able to include those. Tracker order will typically be determined by order correct answer receipt (Exception to this are international winners who will be at the end of the tracker). The correct answer with how each clue is related will be posted once the postal is full.

I will attempt to be as opaque and obscure as IrishRef. IrishRef has no idea about the topic of this mystery postal so is allowed to guess as well. Good luck to you all on my first mystery postal.

Clues:
1. 50

Another day, another clue.

Clue: 76

Thanks to a question by someone, here is a slight change to the rules:

Since I posted the first clue so late in the day on Thursday, I'm letting those who post on or before Saturday to make up to three guesses. In other words, since by Saturday this tracker will have been up for three days you will have a total of three guesses to have given by then. So if you gave three daily guesses by then, those are the three guesses you get. If you first see this on Saturday you may send in three guesses on Saturday. You can figure out the cases in between those two examples.

If you fail to exercise this option by Saturday then you only get one guess per clue I post. So, after Saturday you only get one guess per clue that I post.

And by Saturday I mean you have all day Saturday to get your third guess in.

Since it is Saturday now (and I'm up now) here is your clue for Saturday:

Clue: 75

And for those wondering, these numbers aren't for a combination lock.

Another day, another clue. This time it is other than a number.

Clue: Harry

This is the 4th clue?

Yes. This is the 4^th clue. I should start numbering them, starting tomorrow.

No correct answers yet. I have noticed that the answers I have received are in one or two clusters each day. I'm interested to see where today's clue leads.

Clue 5: Poland

One correct answer yesterday. There should be some more today so keep guessing.

Clue 6: New moon

IF you are interested in a Book Postal Sign up quick before it fills;
first 6 get in.

Here are the details

Another correct answer came in.

Clue 7: Tom

Clue 8: Roger

Three correct answers yesterday.

9. Dick

A three more correct answers. It is after midnight local time, so another clue.

10. Cooler

So I have joined several micro postals and have never had any problems. Until now. For the last two weeks, the post office has been holding a bunch of my envelopes. Then I would get a bundle of them at once, owing $.15 on each of them. At first I thought the postage of each envelope had gone over cost of a single stamp. But today my husband left the post office on an errand, saying a there was a very disgruntled employee there who said I needed to pay extra postage when I send these envelopes out. The employee said that because the business sized envelope was lumpy, as even though it had an appropriate stamp on it, I need to pay for an extra stamp because the envelope won't go through their machine and will jam it up. So I should pay for an extra stamp to avoid the machine.
But I don't put my outgoing mail in my box or my post office, as I take my outgoing mail to work. (I go to another post office multiple times a day for my job, and they have never said anything to me about this).
Has anyone had these problems, or have heard of this?

A correct answer.

Clue 11: Air Force

Fill out a report form from the Post Office and report this employee to the Post Master.

My counter lady has been very nice about letting me know that “lumpy” takes an extra stamp. She said the PO is cracking down. I bought a roll of “extra ounce” stamps which also work for the non-machine able, and put one on every outgoing Micro. It’s still much cheaper than parcel rate. Most still arrive here with just one forever.