As Team Big Blue reflects on their experience at Scotts Bluff, Paul realizes that they’ve been roughly retracing the path taken by pioneers who migrated westwards on the Oregon Trail centuries ago…
Paul: So Scotts Bluff contains preserved sections of the Oregon Trail. It’s a beautiful place to take a breather, what with all the rock formations nearby. Speaking of which… The Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium made a game about it. My parents had a copy on their home computer a long time ago. It took me a dozen attempts to complete the game without losing any adventurers to dysentery, drowning, etc. And whenever they died, I typed “In Honor Of (insert person’s name)” on their tombstones. But if the leader lost his life or got dismissed, that was it. Still, it was fun - if not as fun as our road trip adventure.
Ash: Ha! I would have typed “Lest we Forget” instead, in the spirit of those Anzacs who fought bravely a century ago. As for ourselves, stopping at Scotts Bluff has done wonders for our physical condition - much of the fatigue that has plagued us of late is now gone. And surprisingly, we’re now ahead of the Redneck Express, but not by much.
Steve: Unfortunately, a few other teams have managed to get the jump on us by driving all the way to Fort Laramie in the next state. I have to tip my hat to them for being so brave, though. But their decision was not entirely unexpected, and we tend to counter it with a more aggressive strategy from here on out.
Jez: I’m starting to hear rumors that the Corzippa lost its center diff and is reduced to running as a front-driver. That leaves us with one less set of opponents to worry about… Anyway, we’ll be back on the road soon enough. Let’s hope that we can make up the lost time.
With that, Team Big Blue completed its first scheduled rest stop. They were not far behind the new leaders, but at least they were finally ahead of the Redneck Express.
(Our brave explorers have arrived at California Hill)
Luigi: Not much light left. Can’t see too much.
Marc: This is mainly to stretch our legs.
Zach: I can’t feel my ass.
Blake: (closes hood) Nothing appears to be amiss. All fluids are where they’re supposed to be. I even checked the antifreeze with a balls floating gauge and it checks out.
Marc: Let’s get a move on then.
(The ongoing drive is uneventful with Blake dozing off in the back seat. Eventually the Enforcer arrives at Ogalalla, NE.)
Blake: yawn Did I miss anything?
Marc: Just the fuel light. Also, you’re awake in time for the committee meeting.
Blake: Meeting?
Luigi: Our night strategy.
Blake: I had some thoughts about that. I figure we could nap and drive in shifts. Rotate every four hours. Our best bet to cover lost distance is to power through the night.
Luigi: Sounds good to me.
Zach: Me too.
Marc: Okay, it’s settled then. Blake, why don’t you take the first shift, Stickfuck, you’re on deck!
Zach: Uh, me?
Marc: Who else?
Luigi: You’re gonna let him talk to your son like that?
Blake: Well, he does have the gun.
Zach: Thanks a lot dad!
Blake: Catch some shuteye in the back. That goes for you too Luigi, You’ll be driving after Zach.
Luigi: Fine with me, I’m beat.
Marc: From doing what? Sitting on your ass watching midgets do unspeakable things on your phone?
Luigi: Reading a news article thank you!
Marc: How? There’s no big pictures, you have no idea what you’re looking at!
Luigi: At least I didn’t conceive my children by pushing rope!
Marc: I’m surprised you have any children at all, I thought they don’t allow your kind to adopt!
Luigi: Heh, Maria is all the proof I need that I’m not gay!
Marc: She’s just the closet door. Besides, she only married your ugly ass because she lost a bet!
Zach: Tank’s full.
Blake: I’ve got some sandwiches made, let’s hit the road. We can eat along the way.
(Blake is now behind the wheel. Marc is riding shotgun while Zach and Luigi are in the back. Marc and Luigi fall asleep in no time, and Zach falls asleep a half hour later.)
TBDC: Time Block Distance Covered. This is the amount of mileage covered during the current 2 hour period.
ODC: Overall Distance Covered. This is the total distance that the team has covered since Noon on Friday
MRL: Morale modifier
FTG: Fatigue Level
Notes: Any notes I have for your team during this time block. Including POI results, car issues, etc.
All vehicles are on 26 West or off the road for the night
Upcoming POI (optional, let me know if you want to stop at them for rest/sightseeing): Scotts Bluff National Monument, Independence Rock State Historic Site.
Next Waypoint: Fort Laramie, South Pass.
VicVictory:
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -5 Notes: Team is asleep.
@BobLoblaw
TBDC: 13 mi OD: 636 mi MRL: +2 FTG: +2 Notes: Waypoints completed: Ash Hollow, Chimney Rock.
@Madrias
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Mr.Computah
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -8 Notes: Team is asleep.
@TR8R
TBDC: 38 mi OD: 537 mi MRL: +1 FTG: +5 Notes: Refueled in Scottsbluff, NE. Team has stopped to camp at Riverside Campground in Scottsbluff, NE. TEAM MORALE IS HIGH.
@Fayeding_Spray
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -5 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Zabhawkin
TBDC: 142 mi OD: 785 mi MRL: +1 FTG: +4 Notes: Waypoint completed: Fort Laramie. Team is feeling slightly fatigued.
@conan
TBDC: 38 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +1 FTG: +5 Notes: Waypoint completed: Fort Laramie. Team has stopped for the night at the Bunkhouse Motel in Fort Laramie, WY.
@findRED19
TBDC: 119 mi OD: 523 mi MRL: +1 FTG: +6 Notes: Waypoint completed: Chimney Rock. Team rolls in to Riverside Campground at almost exactly midnight.
@Mythrin
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -5 Notes: Team is asleep.
@JohnWaldock
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: ±5 Notes: Team is asleep.
@bastormonger
TBDC: 63 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +2 FTG: +6 Notes: Waypoint completed: Chimney Rock. Refueled in Scottsbluff, NE. Team has stopped for the night at Riverside Campground.
@abg7
TBDC: 21 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +2 FTG: +0 Notes: Waypoint completed: Fort Laramie. Team has stopped for the night at the Bunkhouse Motel in Fort Laramie, WY.
@DoctorNarfy
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@DeusExMackia
TBDC: 6 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +2 FTG: -1 Notes: Refueled in Scottsbluff, NE. Team has stopped for the night at Riverside Campground.
@Dorifto_Dorito
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@stm316
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -5 Notes: Team is asleep.
It had gone right to the knife edge, but they’d just managed to get Nancy to the petrol station, and eventually on to the campsite. It was late by the time they arrived, and they slinked in as quietly as possible.
–
“Hang on” said Seb, concerned. “We’re missing a crate of beer”.
“I heard someone rummaging around last night and told them to keep it down. I thought they were just getting out of their tent for a slash. The noise was way too close though” he explained.
“It gets worse” said Seb. “They nabbed the Amstel”
“They did WHAT?” shouted James. Amstel was his favourite.
–
“We must exact revenge” said James, altogether acting a lot more seriously than he’d ever been. The boys had been in the tent planning a response to the beer nabbing for the last 30 minutes.
“James, stop being so dramatic. We need to be empirical” said Martin.
“If I’m not going to be dramatic, then you are not going to be scientific” replied James.
“It’s simple thought” said Martin. “Tomorrow, we scout the campsite and see who has crates of Amstel, or any Amstel bottles lying around. There can’t be that many with the same beer”.
“True” said Seb. “Plus if we all split up, we’ll cover more ground more quickly. I say we make the excuse that we’re just checking in on the other teams, being friendly”.
Speaking of checking in, James was checking his phone. Lyra had already gone to sleep sadly, but he hoped to catch her tomorrow morning before they all set off.
“It’s sorted then. Tomorrow, we start our revenge” said Martin. “Also, guys, please don’t set the alarm too loudly, we don’t want a repeat of last time…”
Otis and Jake pull into the gas station to fuel up and check over the old truck, Jake finds the derogatory writings from Spanish fiesta “Dad, you knew they were up to sum thing, they tagged the back of the truck.”
Otis comes over to look at it, laughs, then uses the window washer on the tailgate to wash it off. “Well we did start it.”
They finish fueling and checking over the truck for any new leaks, and cleaning the windshield with a different washer as the other had picked up quite a bit of oxidized black paint and road grime, then head up to the top of Scotts bluff for a break and to cook dinner. There were only a few takers on the offer for dinner, so the two wrap up the leftovers for later.
Day 1 22:00
Jake has fallen asleep, Otis drives on and decides to continue on to Jeffery City, where they will refuel, and maybe sleep for the night. They will be in range of completing the drive late tomorrow if their luck holds out.
As Team Big Blue parks up at the Motel for the night, Jez recalls the day’s events:
“It’s been an uneventful day so far. We have been at or near the front of the pack since the start, and made exactly one rest stop, at Scotts Bluff, where the Oregon Trail once stood. A few rivals have fallen by the wayside, but the dreaded Redneck Express wasn’t among them. As for tomorrow, we will increase our pace, with the hope of hauling it in, while also staying ahead of a few other contenders.”
And so all four members of Team Big Blue decided to go to sleep for the night.
(No dialogue as three out of the four men are asleep. Blake is behind the wheel feeling decent. He currently has the radio on but on a low volume so as not to wake the others.)
“God I’m tired, I need to get into a bed pronto” said Damien stretching his arms and scratching the back of his head"
“Sleeping bag” replied Aaron as they pulled into the campsite.
“Great” responded Damien sarcastically with a hint of slight annoyance in his voice craning his neck forward looking around the site for other teams catching eye of Team Teal Terror who had already set up camp.
“Well I did think of stopping on the hard shoulder and just have some Pringles and Gatorade for dinner” replied Aaron with the same level of sarcasm whilst driving around the campsite.
Aaron finds a space and the three begin to unload the camping gear from the boot of the car and set up the tents with difficulty and started unloading food and alcohol after the tents had been constructed and the three sat for a little while.
–
“So what would you have taken on this trip? Any car you like money no object” asked Damien sitting in the opening of his tent.
“Porsche Carrera GT in black easy” responded Aaron who had always had a soft spot for the sound of the V10 engine in the Carrera.
“Zenshi GT I’d choose the V8 one its just clean and they’re supposed to handle great aswell” said Damien taking a swig from some Greene King IPA and leaning back into the fold out chair.
“It’d have to be a Merciel Corsaire I just like French supercars like the Venturi” replied Jordan “They are mocked for no reason.”
"Alright enough about your opinion on high performance motorcars from the French and their ‘lack of faults’ " said Aaron jokingly.
After a few more conversations the three hit the hay and got into their tents with Jordan managing to get his zip stuck and having to fiddle with it for five minutes to make it come loose.
The team travels on making a stop in Lincoln, Nebraska as 2-o-clock approaches. The group is seen sitting in a booth at a diner. They talk as they wait for their food.
N: “I think we have a good chance at completing this.”
J: “You say that now, barely into the trip? I think you might have jinxed it.”
C: “James is right, our chances of completing the trip just dropped by like 15%.”
N: “Aaagghhh, They did not. I’m just being hopeful, as this car has not shown any sings of quitting. But please, do be more careful avoiding potholes James. One of them woke me up from my nap.”
J: “That wasn’t a pothole.”
Nathan looks at him with a slow creeping realization.
J: “That was the torque bind.”
N: “Oh…” pauses “It wasn’t that bad, was it?”
James gives him a slight condescending look.
N: “…Well, you two were the ones who gave me the task of buy the car.”
C: “True, we can’t fault him too hard on that one.”
J: “But of all the cars you could have picked, you chose the teenage wet dream!”
N: “Are you saying you don’t like having 300 horses powering all the wheels?”
J: “I- Uh…” He stammers slightly. “Well it is nice.”
N: “Then it’s settled.”
Charles gives a chuckle, knowing Nathan had just closed the debate.
The team gets ready to head out, car gassed up and ready to go.
J: “Hey, Nathan, did you see where our water bottles went?”
N: “They’re right in the trunk like they should be, are they not?”
They open the trunk to find all their water bottles missing.
J: “Charles, didn’t you load up the trunk?”
C: “Yeah, and I put the waters in right here.” He points to a spot inside the trunk.
J: “Well, they’re not there anymore.”
N: “Why thanks, Sherlock.”
J: “Look, whether they were forgotten about before the event, or were stolen during the event, the water bottles are not here. We should pick up some more along the way for the evening camp.”
N: “Right. Shall we carry on then?”
The Pit Stop team moves on to the next destination on the route, Fort Kearny. They stopped for an extended amount of time for a quick photo shoot, and tourist-y stuff as well. They noticed a beat-up truck and an extremely rare to find Bonchon Masterpiece, both who were contestants in the tour. They also noted the Bonchon had no hood, and Charles remarked about how it was a turbo car just as unreliable as the Corzippa they were driving, if not more.
Also noted at Fort Kearny, they saw the remains of what was said to be an ex-LeMans Leeroy Racecar. It apparently ate a differential when entering the on ramp, was promptly smashed by a big-rig, and soon after caught aflame and burned up. This gave the team a somber chill as they left Fort Kearny.
The team refueled at Ogalalla, Nebraska. And, sometime near California Hill, the team noticed a red car on the side of the road with its hood propped up.
Thursday 8-Midnight
Down the road they traveled. The Pit Stop team decided to stop by Chimney Rock. While going around the bends on Chimney Rock Park Road, the car shuttered, on one occasion almost killing the engine.
James: “This is not good.”
Nathan, caressing the car: “Please baby don’t do this to us…”
Charles: “Damn back, this ain’t helpin none!”
They get to the filming location. Chimney Rock itself is seen in the background. They decided to do the intro sequence here, in case they don’t finish the tour.
The car coughs as Nathan lets off the throttle, and hits the brakes. He takes it around a turn, the car visibly shakes in the corner. He then takes another jab at the throttle to come back in front of the camera before making a corner… The car jeers once, makes a bang, then a rear wheel locks up as fluid violently pukes out from underneath it.
James: “Oh, now you’ve done it!”
Nathan sheepishly smiles as he realizes how bad the car just got.
James: “Well. Let’s see how bad the damage done is.”
The car doesn’t move very well, the rear wheels don’t cooperate and the front are straining to do something, but succeed in nothing.
Nathan, trying to shrug off the guilt he is feeling for braking the car: “It’s baaddd isn’t it?”
Luckily, due to James’ planning, they do have enough tools (though, not necessarily the right ones) to try to salvage the AWD. Nathan, still sheepish, is tasked with running to the nearest store for miscellaneous stuff and more fluid, while James and Charles lay on the ground trying to see if they can rig up the car to still drive, but on fewer wheels.
James starts talking to the audience as he works, “The nice thing about this Corzippa awd system is that it’s basically just a front transaxle attached to a transfer case of sorts. Though this looks bad, all we have to do is disconnect the transfer case from the transaxle internally. What makes this hard is the way American Eagle designed this. It’s a single case, so there’s a single case pan, which means dropping it will drop all the fluid, well most of it anyway. But, once that’s out of the way, access to the middle differential is super easy.”
Meanwhile, the cameras catch Nathan as he starts making his way back to the car. He is carrying a case of synthetic fluid, a long tube, and 2 tubes of ATV sealant. He stands on one side of the road waiting for quite a while until it is safe to pass. He whistles while he waits with a face of mild amusement.
Charles: “Holey shit! That thing really did explode.”
James: “Wow, yeah. Look at that damage!”
Camera gets a good look at the broken bits and the little bits of metal flake in the oil.
Nathan comes back with the supplies, and they get the pan back on the awd system using the ATV to re-seal it. They use the tube Nathan bought and the funnel they had with them to pour the new synthetic fluid in.
Nathan: “This is the correct fluid, right?”
Charles: “Well if it isn’t, then we’ll find out soon enough.”
James: “Hopefully, the seals, or what’s left of them, don’t decide to puke now, either.”
With the car sort of repaired- It’s FWD only now -the team heads to the next, and final destination of the day; Riverside Campground. They roll in just before midnight.
TBDC: Time Block Distance Covered. This is the amount of mileage covered during the current 2 hour period.
ODC: Overall Distance Covered. This is the total distance that the team has covered since Noon on Friday
MRL: Morale modifier
FTG: Fatigue Level
Notes: Any notes I have for your team during this time block. Including POI results, car issues, etc.
All vehicles are on US 287, I-25 North, 26 West or off the road for the night
Upcoming POI (optional, let me know if you want to stop at them for rest/sightseeing): Scotts Bluff National Monument, Independence Rock State Historic Site.
Next Waypoint: Fort Laramie, South Pass.
VicVictory:
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@BobLoblaw
TBDC: 133 mi OD: 769 mi MRL: -1 FTG: +4 Notes: Waypoints completed: Fort Laramie. Driver is feeling both bored and fatigued.
@Madrias
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -8 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Mr.Computah
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -9 Notes: Team is asleep.
@TR8R
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 537 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -5 Notes: Team is asleep. TEAM MORALE IS HIGH.
@Fayeding_Spray
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Zabhawkin
TBDC: 113 mi OD: 898 mi MRL: +1 FTG: +6 Notes: Team has stopped for the night at Green Mountain Motel in Jeffrey City, WY.
@conan
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep
@findRED19
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -5 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Mythrin
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@JohnWaldock
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@bastormonger
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -5 Notes: Team is asleep.
@abg7
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@DoctorNarfy
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -9 Notes: Team is asleep.
@DeusExMackia
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Dorifto_Dorito
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -9 Notes: Team is asleep.
@stm316
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
There will be no RP for this leg because Team Big Blue, like most of the other teams, is asleep right now. However, Paul has a hunch that one of his opponents brazenly decided to drive on through the night and find a rest stop further west, while another will arrive later than expected.
With the Hooligans deeply asleep (or, in Trevor’s case, passed out), the night continued just fine. In the room next door, their windshield-wiper-powered bed-slamming mechanism continued slamming the bed, though at a greatly reduced pace as the motorcycle battery powering it was starting to fade.
Some time around 2 in the morning, the motor made its last great movement, and the motel went quiet.
Also at 2 in the morning, Jake asked Marcus, in between bathroom runs, “What happens if someone drove through the night?”
“They gotta sleep sometime. It’s their choice whether to sleep in a tent, sleep in a hotel, or sleep behind the wheel. Only difference I see is you sleep better in a hotel room, nature inspires you in a campground, and a truck flattens your dumb ass behind the wheel.” Marcus said.
“I see. I suppose that’s one way to look at it.”
“Yeah, well, go get some sleep, Jake. We’ve got that gasoline smell to fix in a few hours or so.”
Aftermath:
Morale: +5 (No Change)
Fatigue: +10 (-8)
Waypoints: 5
Status: Sleeping, perhaps a bit more peacefully now than before.
TEAM BUZZBOX SIT REP: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ GRUNT ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Otis wakes Jake up as he pulls into Jeffrey City, WY “Wake up, were almost to the hotel.”
Jake, “This isn’t Evansville, where are we?”
Otis, “Its Jeffrey, another 110 miles further, Ill get us a room while you take the truck and fill it up.”
Jake looks down the vacant looking road, “Uh Where, this place is a ghost town, for that matter where the heck is the hotel”
Otis, “Their Facebook page says to turn left here, then right at the fork then follow the road to it. At least none of the other competitors will be able to find us.”
Jake, “Yeah all of the trucks here look as bad or worse than ours.”
Otis, "Yeah, but something tells me these folks still make a good living.
They pull up to a building that looks a bit run down, but the clerk/owner turns out to be friendly and the rooms surprisingly clean and comfortable. She also tells them that the cafe down the road is the only place open, and it has one fuel pump outside as well.
TBDC: Time Block Distance Covered. This is the amount of mileage covered during the current 2 hour period.
ODC: Overall Distance Covered. This is the total distance that the team has covered since Noon on Friday
MRL: Morale modifier
FTG: Fatigue Level
Notes: Any notes I have for your team during this time block. Including POI results, car issues, etc.
All vehicles are on US 287, I-25 North, 26 West or off the road for the night
Upcoming POI (optional, let me know if you want to stop at them for rest/sightseeing): Independence Rock State Historic Site, Soda Springs.
Next Waypoint: Fort Laramie, South Pass.
VicVictory:
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -9 Notes: Team is asleep.
@BobLoblaw
TBDC: 114 mi OD: 883 mi MRL: -3 FTG: +6 Notes: Driver ran out of fuel due to bad math. Used 2.5 gallon emergency can to get to Douglas, WY where the tank (and emergency can) were refilled. Driver change is occurring at this time. Team is feeling fatigued.
@Madrias
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -10 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Mr.Computah
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -11 Notes: Team is asleep.
@TR8R
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 537 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep. TEAM MORALE IS HIGH.
@Fayeding_Spray
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Zabhawkin
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 898 mi MRL: 0 FTG: -8 Notes: Team is asleep
@conan
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -9 Notes: Team is asleep
@findRED19
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Mythrin
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -4 Notes: Team is asleep.
@JohnWaldock
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -9 Notes: Team is asleep.
@bastormonger
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -7 Notes: Team is asleep.
@abg7
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -9 Notes: Team is asleep.
@DoctorNarfy
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -6 Notes: Team is asleep.
@DeusExMackia
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -6 Notes: Team is asleep.
@Dorifto_Dorito
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 675 mi MRL: +0 FTG: -11 Notes: Team is asleep.
@stm316
TBDC: 0 mi OD: 637 mi MRL: +1 FTG: -5 Notes: Team is asleep.