Regular K

I’m tired, but I must blog. A few hours ago, Jen and I completed the 2005 annual Navigate The Streets competition in downtown Vancouver. With the boundaries set as downtown (excluding Stanley Park), Main Street, Broadway and Arbutus, we had a lot of ground to cover within our four-hour time limit. Thanks to awesome phone and IM support from Alicia, we finished in about 3 hours and 25 minutes! Not bad, considering that it was actually quite difficult running around with a laptop in my bag.

The über map, pieced together using printouts from Google Maps. I used TransLink for bus routes and WiFi sites to find hotspots.

We got our clue sheets at the Plaza of Nations at 10am. I discovered a wireless signal there, so we went online and began searching for the answers to the clues. We took off after about fifteen minutes to the Reckless Bike Store on Davie, where we received the Wildcard clue.

Checkpoint 7 (10:29am): Of Brad Pitt, Bill Clinton and Curtis Martin, Brad Pitt is the only one of the three not to rank on Esquire’s 2005 “Best Dressed Men in the World”.

If TRUE, go to Reckless Bike Store on Davie Street.
If FALSE, go to Reckless Bike Store on Fir Street.

Then, we took the bus across the Cambie Street bridge and found the Expo Rocket.

Checkpoint 5 (10:42am): Combine A and B to solve the clue. Near the Cambie Bridge.

A — Vancouver celebrated this in 1986. (Expo)
B — The nickname of hockey legend Maurice Richard. (Rocket)

Then, we endured an agonizingly long wait for the 99 B-line, making our way to the awesome Spy Store on Broadway.

Checkpoint 1 (11:04am): Dan Akyroyd and Chevy Chase would most likely go to this place together to shop. So would the CIA and Veronica Mars. On Broadway west of Granville Street.

We doubled back along Broadway to find this elusive porn shop on Main Street.

Checkpoint 3 (11:21am): The only place in the city where you can watch adult 35mm movies. South of Science World.

Luckily, we were able to catch the 3 Main bus just as we finished getting our picture taken at Fox Cinema. We got off at the Main Street SkyTrain station and headed to Waterfront, in order to get to Gastown.

Checkpoint 4 (11:44am): Get your photo taken with BOTH the old phone booth and a clock that was made by Meakin Clockworks. Find us within the Gaolers Mews.

After this checkpoint, we head back to Waterfront to take the SkyTrain to Granville, then found the Starwalk. We’re not sure if this really was the correct person. We couldn’t find Harry David Mulligan, who Alicia said was the correct response. However, a guy who had been watching other teams take their photos with this star pointed us to Red Robinson.

Checkpoint 8 (12:07pm): He hosted CBC’s Good Rockin’ Tonight in the 80’s. Find his star on the Starwalk. Downtown.

We head down Robson to this next checkpoint on Haro Street.

Checkpoint 2 (12:29pm): Find this restaurant that was once home to Delilah’s and Zev’s in the West End.

Next, we made our way by foot to English Bay and found the Ilanaaq monument.

Checkpoint 6 (12:37pm): I’m made of granite. I hang out at the beach all day. If you’re ever lost, I will help guide you. Find me in English Bay.

We continued on foot to the Burrard Street bridge, where we found Amelia working at Marmalade. Unfortunately, she knew nothing about the giant table that we were supposed to find. We’re not sure if this checkpoint is right either; however, this was the only table we could find 100m east of Marmalade.

Checkpoint 10 (12:51pm): The Brady Bunch, Partridge Family and the entire cast of Gilligan’s Island could eat at this really long table. 100m east of Marmalade Restaurant. You can see it from the Burrard Street bridge.

We took the 22 Macdonald up Burrard to Robson, then we ran to our last checkpoint, the Wildcard. This one was easy and close to Headquarters, so we saved it for last.

Wildcard (1:21pm): He won Gold in the ‘28 Olympics in 100/200m sprint. You’ll find him as a statue one block from Georgia St. near Sandman Inn.

And finally, we ran back to the Plaza of Nations, where we checked in.

Headquarters (1:25pm): And, we’re done.

Although I wasn’t fit enough to complete this race quickly, it was still a great experience. Thanks Jen for being patient with my inability to run fast and my lack of endurance. However, this is definitely one of my favourite moments of the summer, along with the Victoria trip. Can’t wait to compete next year.

UPDATE: The final results are in! Jen and I placed 32nd out of 62 teams, with a time of 3:24:50.