Harvestfest – Firewood Maze

The Woodpile held its annual Harvest Festival. It had the usual attractions: bobbing for acorns and sunflower seeds, dunk a teacher, and shooting contests. We converted the dip bowl into a dunk tank. Mrs. Spot our long time teacher volunteers each year. So far no one has managed to dunk her in the water. As each contestant steps forward to throw the balls, she givens them that “don’t you even think about” teacher’s stare. They are so rattled they miss. The bird shooting contest is popular. The birds fly around and try to hit the heads of unsuspecting humans! With each direct hit and splatter, the crowd cheers loudly. I suppose you have to be a critter to enjoy this sport and see the humor in it!

The “main event” of the festival is the diabolical Firewood Maze. It was designed by Vinnie the P. Its simplicity is deceiving. I landed the “sports commentator” job for the event. Here is the “play-by-play.”

 

Here is the Firewood Maze.

Fleet-paw (last year's winner) entering the maze

Bushy's wife watches intently from the bleachers. She has a big bet on the outcome.

  She has bet the weekly grocery money on World Maze Champion Grayback

Oh no, he just hit a dead end!

Grayback climbs up for a better view (rules allow for this one time)

Fleet-Paw is faced with a big decision which way to go?

Fleet-Paw safely bypasses the dead end and found the correct passage.

The third contestant enters the maze and hits a dead end but doesn’t know it.

He turns back

He is having a bad day.... he hit dead end #2 and is now praying to get out alive!

I don't believe it, he has gone backwards in the maze. Now he jumps up for a better view.

That expression is "I think I have been here before."

The mysterious 3rd contestant has found dead end #3!

He clearly is completely lost. Yet, the crowd is cheering wildly for this bumbling fool in the maze. Grayback and Fleet-Paw have stopped to watch this contestant's antics.

Fleet-Paw (top of the photo) all of a sudden realizes the crazy 3rd contestant is only inches from the exit point!

Unbelievable! This totally unknown contestant has executed the perfect game plan and wins! He beat the two best maze runners in the world... hold on folks, I'm being handed more information on contestant #3 ... the young lady who just beat the guys is named Lily, daughter of our beloved Mrs. Spot.

Lily enjoys her reward.