Trippin' / Hints

These clues, listed alphabetically, elude to answers which begin with a two-letter US state abbreviation. The states used in the four answers will form a continuous chain of bordering states. Your mission, should you accept it, is to figure out these elusive clues and take a trip through the US.

-1. cloud of stellar dust and gas, Othello villain, tidbit, work of Homer
-2. Central American native (5) [a----], name with Earp or Judd (7) [w------], saying (5) [i----], useful (11) [u---i--r---]
-3. art supply or search (6), business end of an ICBM (7), colorful bird in Maryland? (6), name (8)
-4. channel (7) [c---u--], cut (8) [l---r---], library (7) [a---i--], passable (4) [o---]
-5. fill with holes (6), spoof (6), sprite (5), Toyota model or movie (6)
-6. former Japanese capital (5), letter (7), measure of electrical resistance (3), shade of blue (6)
-7. advanced math (7), Dimwit of Zork fame (8), malicious gossip or TV show (7), wander (9)
-8. Alaskan antlered animal, implement, shade of blue, shade of blue
-9. a wizard can make you see one, first name of Gandalf portrayer, Gandalf sent the ring here, what Gandalf is
-10. impartial (7), maximum 6), metal or public servant? (6), quirk (12)

Thanks for the map, Cue - would have been Mission (even more) Impossible without it

1. NEbula, IAgo, MOrsel, ILiad

6. KYoto, lINe, OHm, oPAl

7. ALgebra, FLathead, sLAnder, roaMS

9. ILlusion, IAn, MOrder, WIzard

Nice puzzle Cue! Pretty tough too.

8. CAribou, UTensil, AZure, CObalt

Rog, I felt in the giving mood.

CCB, Bob and Sondi. Right on the mark!

Michele 1 and 3 look good. Manxman, 1 and 2 make the grade. So you guys are in the right area of the country. The answers all start with the state abbreviations.

Bob, glad you like the puzzle. I have complete faith in our Boomers to get through this.

Yes! (punches air) - I think ...

5. RIddle, PArody, NYmph, MAtrix

Perfect, Rog.

6. KYoto, maIL, OHm, INdigo

10. NEutral, UTmost, COpper, IDiosyncrasy

You nailed it Joan!

You have 3 out of 4, Michele. The second word needs some work. It starts with the right letter but it should be 7 letters.

7. ALgebra, FLathead, SCandal, GAd

3. CAnvas, WArhead, ORiole, IDabelle

I found several 8 letter names that start with ID or AZ but none are common to me. Idabelle seemed to me to be the likeliest.

6. KYoto, MIssive, OHm, INdigo

Bob, for #3...name...IDentify...maybe

That sounds about right...or possibly IDentity.

Looks good, manxman. I had gallivant but gad works for me too.
Nice teamwork, Bob and Joan. I like either identity or identify.
That's the one michele. Great solves everyone!

I left hints for the last two.

4. COnduit, LAcerate, ARchive, OKay

2. AZtec, WYnonna, IDiom, UTilitarian

Excellent finish to a tough puzzle ladies!