What a way to start the weekend! This was the
first of a big 1-2 punch weekend. On Sunday I had the
very familiar Urban Dare, but first I had to contend with
the new-to-Philly High Trek Adventure. It seemed similar
to the Dare, but I knew there would be differences. I met
with Nick - my partner today - inside the Triumph
brewpub. Nothing like inside starts! Luckily the weather
seemed to be holding, but it was a bit chilly. It got a
bit chillier when I found out we didn't get our HTA
shirts until the end of the race... I had really counted
on that extra layer! There were teams all over the bar...
and some were drinking already (hmm...). We were herded
upstairs for the start and given 10 random trivia
questions to answer - each correct answer took 3 minutes
off our time. The catch was that we would not know our
score, so it could (and did) become a wildcard in
determining the winners.
After the quick two-minute trivia challenge, we were
herded out onto Chestnut Street for the big start. Rather
than stagger start us, it became a mass start. Imagine 80
contestants rushing one person who held the starter
envelopes... well, that was what happened! After that
great collision of humanity, we were off!
Nick and I opened the envelope to find the first 5
locations and a small photo of the word "Cafe"
surrounded by a heart. One of our bonus questions was to
find this location for 30 minutes off our score. Nick did
at some point lose it before we needed it - but I got him
back (unfortunately). We figured it had to be somewhere
near one of our locations. Since we only had five
locations to find, the mapping was much easier. The
closest location was a palindrome-titled location
somewhere near the Betsy Ross House. We called our phone
support - I had Joe and Mary - to work on that location.
While they worked in vain (try searching on palindrome
business!) we ran to the corner and quickly found
"Okooko." Bingo! After that it was quick run to
St. George's, which I had the honor to run a treasure
hunt at, so I knew just where to go. On the way we found
the first contestant for our 2nd Bonus question - find
someone wearing a Philly team jersey and we would get
half of that number off our time. The guy was wearing 20
- and in the race - so that working for us for now. We
then sprinted up to North Bowl at 2nd and Poplar while
finding out the Heart Cafe (Bonus 1) was right next to
St. Georges! Catch that one on the way back.
The bowling was pretty easy - Nick got a spare and I
got really a spare (that is, I guttered the first one,
then hit all 10 on the second, so they said I got a
strike and gave me free admission to the party tonight!),
so we tore out of the there, picked up the Heart Cafe and
headed for the game pieces next to City Hall. On the way,
Nick had an epiphany - we headed into Modells to find a
higher number jersey, then get someone to wear it. We
found Jerome Brown's jersey - 88 -and talked the security
guard into wearing it... victory! Only later did we find
out that some teams found 93 in the Sports Authority.
After exiting the store we found the correct game piece -
I 17 - Bingo!
Leaving the game piece, we headed to Rittenhouse
Square for Set 2 of instructions. We kept bumping into
teams now and then, but I thought we were doing very
well. The second set had the same two Bonus questions, so
we were done with them. We got the first location by
finding a student in the Square with a Temple ID
(actually several teams descended upon him). The next two
locations were close - 2020 Chestnut (Koresh Dance
Studio, just like the Waco folks) and 2107 Walnut Street
(a simple math question). Two to go!
We ran along Walnut Street and caught a bus just
after crossing the Schuylkill. As we traveled towards
34th Street I fished for the Set 1, which had the
signature from the bowling alley (showing that we did
indeed bowl). It was gone! Crap! It must have fallen out
while we were leaving Rittenhouse Square. Well, Nick and
I were even. I did have the free party I-bowled-a-strike
card to prove we were there, but just in case we decided
to do all 10 locations (teams were allowed to skip one -
oh well).
Exiting near 34th Street (and the Penn Relay traffic
jam) we ran up Locust Walk and found the LOVE statue
(well, the other one!). The clue was John Lennon and
Buddha, which we thought was peace, but hey, love works.
Just as we took Love, I spotted the Peace sign just
across the lawn. Well, one of them has to be right!
It was a couple blocks to the last location, the
White Dog Cafe, and off to subway for the long trip home.
And what a trip! As we waiting for the train, several
teams showed up... we were first! About six teams boarded
the train and as it traveled towards our stop at 2nd
street, we stretched or snacked. I emptied my Powerade
bottle and told Nick to just run like mad. I would catch
up since I figured time stopped when the second person
checked in.
Well, the subway stopped and off Nick flew. I was in
the pack as we raced along the street, but gradually
moved away and safely entered Triumph ahead of everyone
else. The finish was in the back and though we all got
the same time, Nick and I had the tie-breaker! Three
teams were about 10 minutes ahead of us (must have caught
the train just before us), but I remember texting someone
that we did good and should move up in the standings. We
celebrated with some micro-brews!
Teams poured steadily in as Jason recorded their
times and checked the photos. I thought the 88 jersey
sealed a good finish until another team - with the same
time as us - announced they had a 93. Drat! Now it might
come down to the trivia questions. It took a while, but
they finally herded us upstairs for the awards.
Jason announced that they would only have the top two
teams, with the full results online soon. The first award
went to the best finishing family (and only?). Then, much
to my surprise, the AARP award went to team 129 - our
team! Nick and I screamed - I explained to no one in
particular that I don't qualify for AARP yet - and we
accepted our Tria gift certificates. Hey, it was Jason's
call! The last special award went to the couple who ran
in Oktoberfest outfits (yow!) and just beat out the women
with big dots on their breasts. Onto 2nd place!
Jason announced that this team had finished in the
first wave - bummer! - then corrected himself to say that
was not true... and once again announced team 129!!!!!!!
We got to run up again and accept Karma gift cards
(obviously good) and a nifty travel bag. Some couple won
first - beat us by the Javon Kearse 93 jersey - but we
didn't care! After a beer or two later we departed in
triumph - day 1 was over!!
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