At the bus stop were three other teams. We shared laughs over the prior checkpoints. After crossing the river, two teams leaped off at 3rd Ave. But the clue definitely pointed to the Portland Center for the Performing Arts up on the Park Blocks, yet to a fountain with waterfalls. The bus driver pointed out that Pioneer Square next to PCPA also had a waterfall with a room behind - as it happens, the Visitors Info kiosk. The waterfall wasn't flowing, but we needed info on upcoming checkpoints and went inside.
The helpful clerks had heard the questions before. We talked for a few minutes and decided that the Keller Fountains down at the Keller Auditorium were what the clue referred to, although that was NOT PCPA. We got an exact location for tiny Mill End Park for the following clue. Then we would need help to figure out the final checkpoint, a fountain with a poem that sounded to me like Walt Whitman or Robert Frost, neither of whom had a fountain. We trotted the 10 or so blocks down to the Keller Fountain.
We were pretty tired by now. We jaunted up Front Street to Mill End Park. We had 90 minutes left, plenty of time. The Visitors Info people had suggested calling the research libarian at the Portland Library. So I did, and she said they had conferred and decided it referred to the Shakespeare Fountain that happened to be on the library. Voila!
We took Max up the 10 blocks to the library and sure enough, the exact verse was on the fountain. We snapped a photo right behind another team. We went across the street to await the streetcar which would take us directly back to Patagonia and the finish.
It felt great to sit. We could have walked those final 15 blocks, but riding was wonderful. We lept off the streetcar and to the finish line - 4 hours and 10 minutes, the 33rd team to finish. That meant that 14 teams were behind us. Not bad for walkers without a lifeline!
We trudged upstairs to see if our checkpoints were correct and whether we had earned the medal. Yes! They reviewed the camera and all was in order. We got t-shirt, medal, and goodie bag. And we even finished about 10 minutes ahead of Caution Yellow.
It had been a really strenuous day - over four hours of constant motion, very little of it on transportation. I didn't wear my pedometer, but I am sure we put in at least 10 miles. But we made it, in pretty good humor and strategizing for next year.
Winners Rewards
The top 10 teams in each city get invited to the Nationals, with the top prize of $50,000. But each finishing team are definitely winners and get the t-shirt and medal.Lessons Learned
1. Line up your lifelines. Have friends available via cell phone to research your clues, you will need them.2. 411 and other info numbers: have them handy, they weigh less than the phone book.
3. Maps: the Thomas Bros. guide and the transit maps came in very handy.
4. Don't even try it without a cell phone!
