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Had an absolute blast in the LOST Experience Glyph Hunt today.

Took the day off work and left for London with enough time that I had to wander around Canary Wharf for quite some time. Eventually the midday start time approached and I made my way down to Island Gardens on the DLR. Once I got there, paranoia set in a tad. There weren’t many people in the park at all, and few that looked like they were part of the hunt.

Around 11.45am a couple wandered into the park and instantly I knew that they had to be the organisers. After working in the media for 9 years you almost get a “spider sense” kicking in - whether it’s the way someone dresses or carries themself. Anyway, after a while they settled over at the small cafe at the back of the gardens. I rested up against a tree and continued to try and psych out who might be a “player”. Eventually this guy with a buggy came over and said “Are you here for the same reason I am? The whole LOST thing?”. We chatted and shared our suspicions on the couple at the table, waving and smiling at them now and again. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a crowd managed to develop in the space near the foot tunnel. Obviously the hunt was about to start. Another organiser appeared and started distributing free LOST magazines to all and then told us to head over to a man sitting on the bench overlooking the Thames.

He promptly gave out the lanyards to us all with the first clue. “Look outside this wooden home constructed in 1869″. So, obviously we had to head through the tunnel. Let’s face it, not much “old” still left in Docklands these days, and I’d had a sneaking suspicion we’d be bouncing around Greenwich anyway.

The only thing I could think of that was wood was the Cutty Sark. Whether it was a home was debated by some (surely it was a home to the crew?) and others said that it was older than that but I was sure it was around that time. Anyway, two Scottish guys immediately made a sprint for the other side of the Thames, whilst I just ambled down the tunnel. I don’t do running.

At the other end a group of us started to make our way around the site looking for some sign or clue. Everything was stared at - from laminated applications for drinking licences to council notes about the renovation of the area. Elpaw suggested the portholes (”look outside”) but there was nothing there. We peered inside cars, wandered around the tourist centre. Nothing, apart from a sign that did confirm the ship was from 1869. We were in the right place - just not looking properly.

On yet another circuit around the ship I bumped into the bloke with the buggy again. He said that they’d spotted a flag with text on it - apparently it was Pzy who found it. Of course… It made sense now, but for some reason none of us had thought to look up before. There it was. A small blue flag on the rigging with some text. Not easy to make out in the strong winds but I could see “Christopher Wren” and “the place that east meets west”.

Quickly grabbing the Elpaw and the other guy I'd been chatting with (I apologise profusely but your name escapes me at the moment) I’d been wandering around with I just said “it’s got to be the Royal Observatory - follow me!” and we made our way up the road. Getting the main road I remembered a shortcut way so we turned left, headed around the museum and cut across the park and towards the hill.

As we made our way across the park Elpaw spotted that some of the grass was a different colour. “What’s that?”. “Looks like a line”. “There’s more of it”. “Got to be a glyph”. We kept walking. “Where’s the letters?”. Kept going. Started walking sideways. “Hang on. That’s a Z…R….Is that a 2? Yes a 2… J… I… I think we’ve done it!”. Out came the cameras and we started shooting this enormous painted “crop circle” of a glyph in the grass.

At that point this man appeared seemingly out of nowhere. “You haven’t finished yet. There’s a smaller version around here somewhere that you need to document, and you also need to photograph it from the official point”. Looking around we found a small acetate with the glyph reproduced on it taped to the ground and quickly took photos.

Next step - the official observation point.

Well it had to be the top of the hill but where? We made the arduous climb up the hill (I am so out of shape) and looked around near the statue. Nothing. The only other area was the “no entry without a ticket” courtyard past the meridian line. Seeing our lanyards (which we’d been instructed to wear) the guard on the gate let us through with the stipulation that we could only stay in the courtyard area.

Now the man back on the ground had confused us a bit, so for a minute we pottered around looking for yet another plaque or clue - even going into the dark of the Camera Obscura. Eventually we just went over to the telescope in direct alignment of the glyph and took photos. Game over. Glyph 69 had been located. Alas I didn’t have access to a computer so can’t claim the fragment for myself on hansoexposed.com, but *I* know I found it, and in 38 minutes too - breaking the Manchester record set on the previous day.

Shortly after, the two Scots guys (Mike Mystery and Apollo Rising on the C4 boards) turned up rather out of breath after running all over the observatory. “Have you seen it yet?” “Yep, it’s been found.” “Where?”. At which point Elpaw saying “look down - remember the Question Mark”. So he did and still didn’t see it. He pointed a bit more suggesting maybe he use the telescope!

More and more of the other glyph hunters began to turn up, at which point there was a bout of photography which I presume is for the official Lost blog and maybe the Lost magazine, another handout of Apollo bars and I got to chat with one of “The Powers That Be” about the game. I could say more but I’d have to kill you.

Then it was back down to the grass for a final look at the glyph and then back into London for a bit of shopping - with a pretty interesting chat with “Apollo Rising” on the DLR back. Alas he hasn’t seen the whole of Season 2 yet so I had to be careful what we discussed but overall I think he’ll be pretty satisfied with “Live Together, Die Alone”.

Overall a great day out and a nice break from the office. It’s a shame they haven’t done more of these sort of events in the game.