HLo & I were all set for the GUR. We had done our research which included making 10stops to find a Bloomington IL bus schedule. It cost $.25. We had our outfits: neon & black knee high socks, black tights, bright pink short-shorts, SPM t's with a neon blue long sleeved shirt under, and our last minute addition: a bubble gum pink YOUTH poncho. Top that off with braided pigtails, a hot pink 80s headband, purple eye shadow and Team Super Party Mode was set.
We were able to bang out the first challenge immediately: Bingo Board where you had to complete 3 tasks (across or diagonally). "Shake" with a dog - Done. Propose to stranger - Done. Find stranger in scarf/gloves - Done. Then we headed to the bus stop. Next stop Bloomington.
The bus probably took the most time - IF we were really ambitious we could have physically run to Bloomington. But we're not that ambitious. Or as we later found out, not even that athletic. We completed a square dance at a bar, ran to a bead shop to string 2 feet of beads, fed each other cupcakes, found a misspelled word at the sport dome, heaved pumpkins and piggy backed. At this point things were going well. We weren't first but we weren't last - we were right in the middle with people. Then "THE FATAL ERROR" occurred. Party due to my idea of taking a short cut, partly due to the HAIL storm, and partly due to generalized stupidity.
After the piggy back, we only had 4 tasks left and were sticking pretty much to our planned course. Or so we thought. We trucked from the piggy back location to the next spot, completed a word problem. Then moved closer to the end where we had to complete origami. 2 more spots left! We were 1/2 way there, then it was realized. We forgot to get the temporary tattoo from the tattoo shop by the piggy back location. A good MILE away from where we were. There was nothing left to do but trek back out there. In the rain. With depleted spirits.
The error probably cost us an hour. We got the tattoos, waited for the storm to pass then plugged along to the far location to take pictures with our tattoos & Reggie, then completed a board walking task. THEN we had 1/2 mile back to the finish line.
2:55pm: Finish line. Our legs are jello. We starving and have a 2mile walk back to the car. We ended up finishing 79th. So depressing....
That evening we were very slow moving to say the least. But we pulled it together for a night out college style. Needless to say the night was fun, long, and ended with $40 in Steak 'n Shake and a diabolical game of catch phrase*
Saturday was a day of tailgating. We were up early enough and got ready. Then we laid down - a fatal error. After a nap or two and some food it was 1pm. Intentions were there, but HLo was incapacitated. Literally. She needed a wheel chair. She could not walk. She hobbled a little, walked like Frankenstein. I was still napping through my hangover and by the time we were ready to do something, it merely included delivered Chinese. HLo had to sleep on the downstairs couch because she couldn't make it up the stairs to the bedroom.
Top the weekend off with a $75 speeding ticket back to the city. It was worth it - we made such good time even with the inconvenience of being pulled over!
All in all, a great weekend. Disappointing results for the GUR - I wanted top 25 to qualify for New Orleans. But GUR was worth it. I recommend it and plan to try it again next year.
*If you had it on the buzzer, your team did a shot of whiskey. Let's just say that I wasn't on a winning team. My liver thanks me.
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