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Day 2 - The EARS of Ruth
 

Everybody slept in but Dan . . .up and stirring at dawn -- just listen to him expounding on the race. "Wow what a busy night - this judge is well rested after having breakfast aboard that beautiful yacht...Holli - no doubt about it you are superb at making special arrangements - - just finished breakfast - had the place all to my self too- everyone else must be asleep from all that partying! Dispatch #1 12:29 ZULU. WE HAVE A NEW LEADER - NPS regained the lead overnight and Allyn made a big jump two with her Day 1 Trivia win. Dale, yesterday's one time leader, has slipped to 7th - looks like the ladies ganged up on him...Rosann, Barney and Bev joined us in Boston and now there are 20 racers ready to make the run for the next destination. All scores at the moment are up to date through midnight"...Dale's blithe comments on his fall in the standings, "Oh they found a way to keep me busy (NPS was showing off with a Sensual Exotic Dance) ) while slipping into the log books to change the scores. That's ok when we get to the reallllllly hard going they will fall by the wayside." . . .He's such a happy fellow! . . "Dispatch #3 13:38 ZULU. This just in - Esme finds secret stash overnight - earns 10 TP moves up in the rankings!... Dispatch #4 14:16 ZULU. City Sue finds secret stash slides into 4th position!...Dispatch #5 14:21 ZULU. WCDonna - finds the loot what a hoot - hits the points and gives a toot! - Way to go WC Donna!" . . .Oh, my! Such poetic talent! . . .Dispatch #6 14:46 ZULU - First installment of the EARS of Ruth (Epic Adventures Ruth's Sojourn) . . . Dan's sympathetic reply to Bev's wail, "Where is the loot,, are there any hints ??" was "Maybe someone will give you a clue - I haven't given any, other than to say they are equally available to all racers."...Dispatch #8 15:26 ZULU - Game On! The Judgemobile has been set on autopilot - I have a few things I have to get done. Hopefully the clues will launch at 17:00 ZULU - good time to find out if they do as they're told in the early stages of the race. Scoring will get caught up on my return - Holli if she's available will keep Dale out of trouble ---- er I mean settle any disputes, -- er I mean keep Dale out of trouble" . . .(We KNOW, already!) . . .Dale responded, "She is not doing a very good job. I see I keep falling in point standing." . . ."Dispatch #7 15:23 ZULU - Donna find's second stash! Donna has jumped back into the lead - earning the first points of the day by finding today's Secret Stash - looks like the Easter Bunny will have to become a little more creative in where he hides things. Way to go Donna!" . . .E-Gad! More stash? . . .and I'm just reminded that WC Donna got herself a perm yesterday -- right at the start of the race! Nerves of steel, that one -- with this staggeringly exciting race going on! . . ."Dispatch #6 16:38 ZULU. Moments before the start of today's leg of the race - WC Donna vaults from 17th to 4th it was a sight to behold! Donna was the second to find the second stash - worth 11 points today!...Dispatch #7 16:48 ZULU Sitting at idle, patiently at the starting line, Esme discovered the Secret Stash of the day SS #2 and leaps into a tie with WC Donna for 4th place - Leaping Esme's, and I thought I had missed all the fun at the party!" . . .Esme couldn't resist a reply. "leaping is much more fun than Dale's FALLING." . . .Then suddenly this message from Dan, "17:06 Zulu -they are off -- Day two start of the VSRR - Esme races to Massapequa - finds no one there - loses 11 TP's" . . .Woof -- heartless fellow -- really means business -- didn't even offer a loaner gas can! Mind your p's and q's, everybody!! . . .Came Esme's indignant reply, "Did you have to tell EVERYBODY????" . . ."17:06 Zulu -Seconds later! PattiK - is correct and the first to finish for the day - 1st leader of the day at the new destination!" . . .Donna's sympathetic reply to Esme, "Just feel that it is your contribution to the other racers figuring out what Dan wants... without the hassle of doing laundry." . . .17:07 Zulu - Ruth finds her way too. Less than a minute later the good old reliable D56 van comes putting into town with Ruth now in command of second place!...17:10 Zulu - a much more caustic crew of racers. In an obvious observation that this years racers are a lot more cautious - Kay finds her way to the finish line 10 minutes after the start - this cautious move places her 2nd -- only one point out of first place. Way to go Kay!...17:08 Zulu - Esme finds her bearings --(they were left on the bar last night), and resumed course to today's destination - the wrong turn costing her 1st place but currently only one point out of second!" . . .Donna getting impatient, "waiting for confirmation of all my answers.. should be done for the day, need to go back to weeding..sigh." . . ."17:16 Zulu - Real tight battle In what is shaping up as a real tight race for the day - Rita arrives at the new city and claims 3rd - just 2 points behind the leader." ...If this is true, then I dare not look at the standings. What once was a glorious 2nd is probably now in the manure pile! . . .HOLD THE PRESSES! Recount demand!! Donna left the weeds and collared the Judge. "Excuse me DJ (darling Judge) But at this moment I have 144 points- but am not in 1st place- and that person only has 133. What is with that"? . . .Totally unruffled came the reply, "17:19 Zulu - WC Donna - nips PattiK for 2nd. By just one point WC Donna flies into the big city and claims 2nd place!... 7/2/6 17:18 Zulu - Rita find SS#2. Rita - already in the city went on a treasure hunt found the secret stash #2 and has jumped way out in front it - 9 points in front - but is it enough to hold off the other racers?" Not to be unkind, Rita, but let's hope not! . . ."7/2/6 17:21 Zulu - See-Saw battle continues. PattiK reclaims lead by two points - first to solve the AA of the day - way to go!...17:33 Zulu - SAW-SEE - continues battle -- Rita back on top after solving AA for the day!...7/2/6 17:20 Zulu - One minute later --Just one minute later Helen flies into the city determined to make up last ground - way to go Helen!...17:33 Zulu - See-Saw group joined by another IL triber. Donna jump into the fight for first - leading two other member in a 1, 2, 3 sweep for Illinois!...17:55 Zulu - True to form ILL swap again. This time PattiK jumps into second after solving SS#2 - IL tribe still 1,2,3!' . . ."And another racer looks at the score!" . . . 'Scuse me Mr. Judge' writes Snoopy! "I'm confused. Did Esme sneak in between Ruth and me? These threads (see below) don't seem to indicate that, but the placings on the Scores page do. Just wondering." . . .To keep racers apprised, the following 6 threads of ZULU timed messages are recorded: "[17:06 Zulu -they are off; 17:06 Zulu -Seconds later!; 17:07 Zulu - Ruth finds her way too; 17:10 Zulu - a much more caustic crew of racers; 17:16 Zulu - Real tight battle; 17:18 Zulu - Rita find SS#2]" . Snoopy continues, "How can that be? I just checked for AA and it's not there for day 2 yet. And yes, I refreshed!" . . .Judge Dan sent this thoughtful reply, "Hi Kay - I always catch what I catch and miss what I miss - I pride myself on my consistency - did I miss something?"..."18:24 Zulu - Bev arrived in town. After making a side trip to Amsterdam Bev has arrived, joking the racers in Day 2 destination!-- Way to hang in there Bev!...18:07 Zulu - BREAKING NEWS - New Leader. In a flash of a dash there is a pass - PattiK moves into sole position of 1st place with the discovery of the SS#1 - leads the 1,2,3 IL Tribe and all other racers. Way to go!" . . .(I'm not terribly thrilled! Where's MY number!!)...Bated breath waiting for the judge's ruling, and it came!! Dan opined, " because the universe travels in a plane based around the theory of a continuous space time continuum - it is possible that you read your scores at a time when they were not relevant to the reality of the situation which existed in a parallel universe - I believe that the planets are aligned and Jupiter has merged with Mars - this is the dawning of the Age of Gregarious! Please feel free to ask for any further clarifications." . . .Hmmmm? . . .It was signed by "Harry Head of Hollidan Better Scoring Associates - H-BSA" -- I believe this is a sub-contractor . . .18:33 Zulu - Kay solves AA. and moves back into the position she held yesterday 4th place - hey okay - Kay!" . . .Esme offered, "Bev, we've got a special party going for those of us who took side trips. We're serving Apple Cider, Apple Pie and Apple Martinis." . . .since I can't afford side trips but do go dead in the water, I asked for a sip of Apple Cider . . .Allyn, battling communication problems with the Judge, wrote, "Billy wants me to send Dan some pictures of his 4th of July yard but I'm afraid they won't make it to Dan until Labor Day. I don't know what's going on. One thing I do know, I'll keep a copy of every sent answer in the future"... then added, "Point me at 'em and I'll punch 'em out! Messages to the board are arriving reasonably enough but neither Dan nor Holli seem to be receiving my messages." . . .Bummer! . . .Penny popped in with a " Hey, what happened! How come Day #2 isn't on the website link Dan/Holli set-up?" . . .19:07 ZULU Kay SS#2. Kay has found the SS#2 and broken up the 1,2,3 of the IL tribe - while sliding into 3rd place....19:31 ZULU City Sue moves up to 3rd.-- finds and solves SS#2 and moves into 3rd place...19:12 ZULU Allyn Lands in the Big City...Allyn and co-pilot Kiri have landed at the finish line -- move into 5th place with more point possibilities today." ...19:21 ZULU City Sue arrives and solves AA. CitySue - takes two steps in the same stride - quite a talented lady -and moves into sole possession of 5th place" ... Dan continued... "9:31 ZULU Sly Granny joins the crowd, moves up to 3rd. In an attempt to get caught up (only behind 235 messages at the moment)," Dan said, " I'll be sending a lot fewer updates - but this one is a big jump as Slygranny makes it a sweep of all the games and moves into third place for the day. Even if I don't post updates here - I will respond to individual answers and update the score sheet on the web page - so check that often"... sounds like bedtime coming up for Dan..."23:39 ZULU Allyn makes big jump. With the racing activities of the day winding down Allyn makes a big leap into 2nd place after discovering and deciphering the SS #2 - way to go Allyn!" ...Rosanne is planning to drop from the race -- "I want to play in the race (I love answering all the
questions, the trivia, bingo, etc...it's takes my mind off of all the chaos around me & IT'S FUN!!, but...all the moving and Business -- I'm just a bit overwhelmed at this time" . . .PattiK made an oops -- just sailed her private message to the whole world as some of us have done more than once. Thinking it was private she clicked "Circle" and told everybody exactly how to find Secret Stash -- no problem -- laundry detail doesn't last long and the soap is scented . . .really quite nice! At least the laundry won't be dried on bramble bushes as some of us had to do it. . . Vera carefully described details on making streaks of Rum! "This is easy Ruth....we will teach you tonight! Just bring yourself to the bar.....1 bottle of Captain Morgan, 1 pour spout, 1 clear section of bar! Pour a line of rum on the cleared bar....light at end and watch the flame streak to the end!" . . .That really got Rita's attention!! . . .Undeterred, Vera continued, "I know a great little drink called a poison apple.....Apple cider, rum, cherry brandy, and you won't care if you hit the glass or not! Just like biting into a crisp delicious apple....forgot all about them! Esme - see if that bartender knows that one.....maybe I will make it there?" . . . Note that quite a pile of laundry was tied up and labled PattiK . . .and "Do Not Disturb" signs on a lot of doors. Too much, too fast . . .where did everybody go?... no party tonight! . . .