May 21, 2013

Challenge Nation...


One of my dream list items is to participate in The Amazing Race.  Ever seen it?  Racing around the world with a partner and clues.  Sort of a "Where's Waldo" for the world traveller.  My chances are slim to accomplish that.  For many reasons.  One being the back stories on the contestants are getting more "unique" by the season.  At this point I think I'd have to be a mom (who use to be a dad), trying to mend a broken relationship with racing partner daughter, who as a baby was misplaced in a shopping cart while shopping in Target for Spanx, only to re-discover each other when they found themselves competing against each other playing Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook.  Not happening.  I don't play Facebook games.

The next best thing?


"I'm a Contender Contenda"
Challenge Nation
Philadelphia, PA
IPhone


Challenge Nation.  Perhaps coming to a city near you!  Part 5K.  Part scavenger hunt.  Part urban exploration.  Totally fun.  



"Morgan's Pier - Start"
Philadelphia, PA
IPhone


I want to thank my cutie pie (and always up for a challenge) niece #2 for discovering and corralling our team of four.  Which included my sister #1, niece #1, niece #2, and moi.  Our team name?  "Gramps' Gals".  Kinda apropos since Pops was a police officer and private eye...we SHOULD have those clue solving talents in our genes.  165 teams.  And we placed 42.  I call that WINNING, considering we had no freakin' idea what we were doing.  Thanks for the talents Pops.  Totally came in handy enabling us to read the clues, devise a strategy to quickly solve the clues in the best order, race thru the streets of Philly, and make it to the finish (a skill set probably reminiscent of what he employed in dealing with three daughters).  Start and finish?  Morgan's Pier along the Delaware River.



"Morgan's Pier - Finish"
Where's Waldo?
Philadelphia, PA
IPhone


Between start and finish we met a lovely couple from Texas who helped us complete one of our challenges.  We re-enacted a wedding on the steps of the Arden Theater...complete with a planter of flowers as a bouquet ("borrowed" from the shop across the street).  Took part in a Guinness World Record endeavor conducted by the Coast Guard.  And more than once....made fools of ourselves.  



"That's All Ya Get Folks"
Ben Franklin Bridge
Philadelphia, PA
IPhone


And because it was a race, and us "Gramps' Gals" come by our competitive gene honestly...I didn't take James Dean who only would have been urging me to stop and take some shots thereby diverting me from my mission.  So all ya get are a few IPhone photos at the starting point...and the finish line.  Which happen to be the same place.  So very little variety here.  But better believe I took mental note of where to go back with James on a more leisurely pace.  

Challenge Nation.  Totally an "Amazing Race"... without having to play Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook.  









19 comments:

  1. How fun!! I totally found Waldo in one of those pics (-:

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  2. Nice shots! Looks like fun.

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  3. That looks like SO much fun! I am doing a Mud Run at Camp Pendleton in 2 weeks with a team, and we signed up for one in August that includes water slides. But this one looks like loads of fun, with the scavenger hunt angle. Great start and finish line pics!

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  4. That truly does sound like a BLAST!

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  5. So fun. I'm sure it wasn't easy either!! And I'm glad you don't have to start playing fb games...

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  6. LMAO...you are so funny. I use o never miss a season of the amazing race. It would be fun but I'd be the cryer cause I don't too well with lack of sleep....I also couldn't do any challenge that called for eating bugs, or brains or anything else raw and sold on the streets! I'm not so great with a map either...

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  7. Kath - this is great! I have friends who actually were in Amazing Race several years ago. (They didn't win the money, but were some of the last finalists to survive!) Pops should be proud!

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  8. This sounds like a blast! I used to dream of being on the Amazing Race too. Don't sell yourself short, normal might be the new weird.

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  9. What fun! I watch every episode of Amazing Race. I probably wouldn't make it past the first leg of the race, but it looks so exciting. Your adventure sounds grand (and more do-able). Glad you enjoyed it!

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  10. We have watched ever episode of The Amazing Race right down to the one with the families, so my husband would be so on board with this; well except for the 5K (he is so not a runner - perhaps fast walker). I can't wait to see your re-enactment photos. Kelly's response is cracking me up - I would be the whiner and probably the most bleeped out contestant in the history of the show. Sadly, I'd be whining about the criers (and I liked Kelly so much .... sorry Kelly!).

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    1. I'm might rival you for the "bleeped out" reward, haha. And I know, it's such a shame about Kelly, haha.

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  11. Oh wow this sounds like so much fun! I use to love scavenger hunts as a kid. Don't know about the racing part though, but I'd give it a try. Can't wait to see the pics you take when you have more time to do so.

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  12. I LOVE the Amazing Race. Don't you think "we met thru blogging"....and were found in a shopping cart in Target shopping for Spanx (the hell with the missing baby)and we're over 50 and have never met in person would be enough? How good are you at rolling cheese down a hill or jumping bungee style off a gazillon foot high building? I can drive a stick AND I'm a good navigator, OK with swimming challenges and I'm currently working on upper arm strength but I can't eat raw smelly fly infested fish. We'd need to take a penalty RIGHT away on that one.
    Seriously.
    This challenge looks really cool. I've never heard of anything like it and I would totally do it. What fun. Thanks for opening up my eyes to this-I'm going to watch for it, but living in a small town I don't think will be helpful.

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    1. Hmmmm....could work! I could roll cheese down a hill BUT...I'm not so sure about the bungee jumping. I COULD jump out of a plane tho if necessary. I'm with ya on the fly infested fish...BUT, we just take the penalty pronto without even wasting any additional time :). Challenge Nation is held in 35 different cities. Google it...might be up in New England somewhere close to you.

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  13. Sounds like a blast! What will they think of next?

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  14. You are too funny. I had a big smile on my face the whole time I was reading your post.

    I could never be on the amazing race. I would be out of the race the first time they wanted me to eat something weird.

    Hugs~

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  15. This sounds like it was right up your alley -- wonderful captures, even if they were taken on the run. :)

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  16. First time here and I am loving it.

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  17. Beautiful bridge photos. They really capture the beginning of summer.

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