2610 replies to this topic

[Paris in Spring]

I guess this counts a “when”. In the first leg of TAR4 I saw the time 11:15 on the wristwatch of one of David & Jeff as they started driving their SUV at Dodger Stadium. It’s a huge analog watch on his right arm. Maybe Rinaldo can include this in his big-old timeline post that covers all of TAR4. Someone may have to ring a bell to get his attention back over here; I haven’t seen him post TAR in a while.

I am so excited to get this party started for TAR5

[meknownothing]

Unless TAR4 comes out as cable repeats (or a DVD!), I think we can say this thread is done. TAR5 Timeline to start after the first show?

[The Australian]

Considering Paris in Spring's incredible ability to track down every shred of information about the upcoming TAR5 from the tiniest clues off the promos, I think it's safe to say that this thread (or its successor) will be buzzing in a few weeks!

I naturally want to help out where I can...it's only the darn delay in receiving the tapes which prevented me from hanging around here more often last time! Rest assured, I'm just as much a devotee of TAR minutiae as the rest of you!

Perhaps we ought to come up with a title for the TAR5 "notebookers"? I can see it now - Clear Eye for the TARfly, with "Fantastic Four" specialist areas of information:

TRANSPORT - The routes, timetables and schedules of planes, trains, automobiles and everything in between;
TIMING - When events took place, both within the legs and over the course of the race (a.k.a. Rinaldo's Department);
LOCATION - The mappers, who use every possible clue to go looking for clear, clickable maps of the exact location of everything;
HISTORY - Background information on the locations, tasks and whatever's fit to research.

And of course the mammoth task of trying to tie everything together!

[Mama Tiger]

I'm still working on getting old OAGs to confirm flights, so don't give up hope yet! I finally have something to trade with my "source," too -- another copy of the tape of the time he was on The Price Is Right. If I wave the tape in his face and go "neener neener neener!" till he comes up with an OAG, will that be a sufficient sacrifice for my art when he pounds me into the ground, since he outweighs me by about 100 pounds?

And do we have an official "diagrammer" to draw us a timeline, or are we going to have to rely again on verbal descriptions? I mean, if we're going to be as obsessive about it as all appearances would indicate, I think we need to get fancy with our results, too!

[TAR Neobie]

I've already been working in the Mapping department, so I can probably help a little with that...

History? We have our trusty travel guidebooks!

[Paris in Spring]

Mama Tiger, I've got an Excel spreadsheet that will make timeline diagrams. But, how to put it out to see?

The Australian, This is like high school club sign ups. All the topics look interesting but who has the time? Oh, and thanks for the line about tracking down clues. But, I don't get all the blame. I'll focus on TRANSPORT and TIMING.

[Mama Tiger]

I've got webspace not currently being used; I'm just not good at doing anything but uploading photos for linking. (eBay experience showing.) If someone else can prepare a good timeline in Excel format -- or I could, I guess, I've got every program known to man on my computer these days -- I'd be glad to donate the webspace.

[Rabrab]

Let's not overplan the planning, though. It's worked really well in the past to just keep it openly collaborative. If something gets mentioned that trips a synapse for you, run with it, rather than sticking to an "area". I've gotten some of my best finds when I was just noodling around trying to pin down something that looked familiar, that I wouldn't have been able to explain to anyone else well enough for them to know where to look, or what to look for.

[Mama Tiger]

I agree -- with all the creative synapse firing around here, I think the freeform approach will be a thing of beauty. It certainly has been so far! I mean, with bare snippets of commercials, look how much we've figured out already!

[Miss Alli]

Okay, this is SO going to Whimsy.

[Paris in Spring]

Miss Alli, I’m looking forward to building the TAR5 timeline wherever it will be. Words are not my bag and I wanted to understand the basis for going to “whimsy” so I found that its first definition is: capricious humor or disposition; extravagant, fanciful, or excessively playful expression. The part that applies here is “extravagant” which has as its first definition: Spending much more than is necessary or wise; wasteful. With that in mind I clearly understand why the timeline is here and I agree with the change. However, what makes me unhappy about it are the other associations of the word as well as the topic’s general description. Since the timeline thread is extravagant in a factual way I am hoping that you may consider a new forum for the thread such as “geeky extravagant stuff”. Just begging.

ETA: I've been looking around Whimsy for a while and I think this will be okay afterall. I also have gotten out and looked around more of TWoP and I see that my request is over-the-top because it looks like most shows only have four forums. Now if I could just get over this lonely feeling... Can't wait until July 6th.

Edited by Paris in Spring, Jun 16, 2004 @ 4:25 PM.

[Red Targetter]

Here it is, July 6th already (and at last). I have access to airline schedules (current ones, not past ones) at work. Would it be helpful for me to post a selection of flights and times tomorrow? If we have an idea of what the approximate date was when the Race started, I can at least post what the flights would be at the same date/same day of the week for the coming year, which might be helpful (but not 100% accurate, in the case of cancelled or discontinued flights). I mention day of the week because some international flights are not daily.

Of course, if we do manage to come up with old OAG guides for the correct time period, it's a moot point. And if there's any interest in coming up with an approximate fare (ie. full coach) per leg, let me know. International rates don't change that much from year to year - maybe 5% increase as a maximum.

[Mama Tiger]

I'm still working on getting old OAG guides, but my source is a bit flaky -- well, okay, seriously flaky. I'll renew the nagging today!

[Rabrab]

Based on things in the spoiler thread that look rock-solid (like filming permits,)
the Race started on Friday, January 30th



{Thanks for your patience.}

Edited by Rabrab, Jul 6, 2004 @ 11:12 PM.

[Red Targetter]

Okay, that gives me a starting point. I'm unspoiled for intermediate destinations between start point and end point, so what I'm looking at doesn't make a lot of sense (aside for the Cool Kids like mmmPhil and so on that have to stay ahead of the Racers).

I'll just say that there aren't a lot of choices for Flight of the Doomed right now. So let's hear it for intermediate stopovers!

[Rabrab]

Here's the starting basics:

Flights:

American LAX to Miami to Buenos Aires(?) Arrive EZE 1:00 pm Saturday
United LAX to Miami to Buenos Aires (?) Arrive 12:35 PM Saturday
Roughly 20-24 hours in transit
The United Flight left LAX later and had a shorter stopover in Miami.

$93.17 I think cash for leg

The Hand, Ferry to Isla Gallito, Trees on Day Two

Overnight stay at Isla Gallito (Tents)

Meat, Zips/Chips Detour both on day three of the Race (Sunday)


Let's rock and roll!

[Titus]

Didn't the planes land in Montevideo, Uruguay?

[theschnauzers]

teams depart from the Santa Monica Pier
take one of two flights from LAX via Miami to Montevideo, Uruguay.
First flight American Airlines, departs first, arrives at 1:00 p.m. the next day in Montevideo
Second flight on United Airlines, departs at some point after 2:37pm, arrives at 12:35pm the next day in Montevideo.
Teams directed to take bus to the beachfront in Montevideo to find “The Hand,” a statute of a partially buried hand in the sand.
At statute, teams travel to Gorriti Island by ferry. At Gorriti Island, teams have to find tickets for one of three ferries the next morning, one-half hour apart, at 8:00 a.m., at 8:30 a.m., and at 9:00 a.m. and directed to the docks of Punta Del Este. The teams spend night in tents on the island.
At the docks, teams are directed to take taxis to a meat market in Mondonaldo. Each team must carry a 55-pound side of beef one-half mile to butcher shop.
The Yield is along the path to the butcher shop but no team elects to use the Yield. At the butcher shop, the teams are directed to take a taxi to a route marker across from the Blue and White Hotel in Punta del Este.
This is the detour
“Zip” -- team members have to ride from the roof of one wing of the hotel to the other wing, and then take a second zip line into the hotel swimming pool. Alison and Donny Linda and Karen, Bob and Joyce, Colin and Christie, Brandon and Nicole, Dennis and Erika, and Jim and Marsha
“Chips,” teams are given 20 gambling chips to play at a roulette wheel in the hotel casino and have to win a bet at the table. Kami and Kari, Marshall and Lance, Chip and Kim, and Charla and Marna
After completing the detour, teams were directed to the first pit stop at Casa Pueblo in Punta Ballena (near Piriapolis, Uruguay. Two teams. Chip and Kim, Kami and Kari, were directed to go back to the detour route marker they missed.
Alison and Donny were first, followed by Marshall and Lance, Linda and Karen, Bob and Joyce, Charla and Marna, Brandon and Nicole, Colin and Christie, Chip and Kim, Kami and Kari, and Jim and Marsha. Dennis and Erika were the last team to arrive, and were eliminated.

[Enrico]

Episode 1 (part 1)
Phil opens the episode aboard the yacht Artana. Teams arrive at the Santa Monica Pier aboard Life Guard Transport vehicles.

Phil says "The world is waiting for you. Good Luck. Travel safe." <arches a brow>, and "Go!"
Teams leave from Santa Monica pier. Jim, Colin, and Dennis all trip.
First four teams out leave together: Colin/Christie, Kami/Karli, Lance/Marshall, and Dennis/Erika.
Last team to leave the pier was Bob/Joyce. Mirna/Charla got lost.

Clues direct them to drive to Los Angeles International Airport and take one of two flights (times for flights routed through Miami are about 19 hours) to Montevideo, Uruguay:
AA flight 248 departing at 1:50, via Miami; arriving at 1 p.m. next day (Saturday)
UA flt 288, departing at from gate 75B at 2:40, via Miami, arriving at 12:25 p.m. next day (Saturday)

Colin/Christy arrive first at the American Airlines ticket counter, but fail to find the flag. Lance/Marshall join them. Dennis/Erika arrive at the correct counter first.
Jim/Marsha take an unsanctioned Detour to the Centinela Hospital, compliments of Vincent, the Thrity shuttle driver. And make their flight.

Teams arrive in Uruguay. Here's a map of the country.
On the first departing flight (AA): Colin/Christie, Lance/Marshall, Dennis/Erika, Chip/Kim
On the second departing flight (UA): Kami/Karli, Donny/Allison, Joyce/Bob, Linda/Karen, Charla/Mirna, Brandon/Nicole, Jim/Marsha
UA flight 288 arrives in Montevideo at 12:35 p.m., they all catch a bus to Punta del Este which departs "in 10 minutes"
AA flight 248 arrives at 1:00 p.m.. They catch a bus which leaves at 1:40 p.m.

Clues direct teams to find the cluebox at the "hand in the sand" at Punta del Este. Here are photos of that site, and of the harbor area. And here is a map of the area.

They are directed to take a ferry to Isla Gorrita and find the cluebox at the end of the pier. Some teams go by taxi, some walk. They take ferries: 1st ferry: Joyce/Bob, Donny/Allison, Kami/Karli. 2nd ferry: Jim/Marsha, Charla/Mirna; 3rd ferry (those who walked): Brandon/Nicole, Linda/Karen; Last ferry: Colin/Christie, Lance/Marshall, Dennis/Erika, Chip/Kim.

The next clue directs them to search the nearly 100 marked trees on the island for return ferry tickets for the next morning, leaving at three different times. They must keep the first ticket they take. Tickets are taken:
8:00 -- Donny/Allison, Linda/Karen, Bob/Joyce
8:30 -- Kami/Karli. Charla/Mirna, Jim/Marsha
9:00 -- Brandon/Nicole, Colin/Christie, Lance/Marshall, Dennis/Erika, Chip/Kim

The next clue instructs them to go to the town of Maldonado, to the Jose Francisco Meat Warehouse, get a 55 pound side of beef and carry it to the La Rosada Carneceria, a half-mile away. (this website has a good description of the city of Maldonado on the entry for day 8).

The butcher will give them their next clue when they deliver the beef. Teams arrive at the carneceria: 1) Donny/Allison, 2) Linda/Karen, 3) Joyce/Bob, 4) Charla/Mirna, 5) Kami/Karli, 6) Jim/Marsha, 7) Colin/Christy, 8) Brandon/Nicole, 9) Dennis/Erika, 10) Lance/Marshall, 11) Chip/Kim.
<<continued in next post>>

Thanks for the catch Maddie!

Edited by Enrico, Jul 11, 2004 @ 7:59 AM.

[Enrico]

Episode 1 (part 2)
<<continued from above>>
The clue directs them to a cluebox across the street from the blue and white hotel (The Conrad Hilton) in Punta del Este, at Parado 4.

The cluebox holds a
DETOUR: Zips or Chips
Zips: make their way to the 17th floor, pull themselves across a horozontal zip line, 210 feet above the ground. Then, plummet down a second zip line, 18 floors down, landing in the pool. Teams chosing this option: Karen/Linda, Donny/Allison, Joyce/Bob, Brandon/Nicole, Colin/Christie, Jim/Marsha, Dennis/Erika

Chips: Go into the casino, and get 20 chips to play roulette. They can bet the chips (5 at a time), and if their number hits, they'll get their next clue. If they run out of chips, and don't win, they'll have to then go do Zips. Teams chosing this option: Chip/Kim, Charla/Mirna, Lance/Marshall, Kami/Karli

Teams arrive at the cluebox in the following order: 1) Karen/Linda, 2) Donny/Allison (having missed the box when they arrived first), 3) Joyce/Bob, 4) Kami/Karli (who missed the box), 5) Chip/Kim (and missed the box), 6) Lance/Marshall, 7) Brandon/Nicole, 8) Jim/Marsha, 9) Charla/Mirna, 10) Colin/Christie, 11) Dennis/Erika.

Teams must travel 10 miles by taxi to the town of Punta Ballena, and find Casa Pueblo or here, in Punta Ballena, the pit stop for this leg.

They arrive at the pit stop: Chip/Kim & Kami/Karli arrive first and second, but are sent back because they missed a routemarker. Arrival order is: 1) Donny/Allison, 2) Lance/Marshall 3) Karen/Linda, 4) Joyce/Bob, 5) Charla/Mirna, 6) Brandon/Nicole, 7) Colin/Christie, 8) Chip/Kim, 9) Kami/Karli, 10) Jim/Marsha, and 11) Dennis/Erika, who are eliminated.

Edited by Enrico, Jul 11, 2004 @ 7:42 AM.

[meknownothing]

Any thoughts on an expense report? In general for all? Although we could go specific for a team that goes a different route or uses other resources?

[MaddieG]

Great job as usual, Enrico. The only thing I can see that you missed is Bob and Joyce on the 8;00 a.m. ferry from Gorriti Island back to the mainland.

You are so thorough. I love it.

[Enrico]

Since we really don't have any hard info on the flight, perhaps they flew into Montevideo through Buenos Aires. Maps for South America don't seem to be easy to find for me .... but from other people's websites (who may or may not be wrong), it's 140 miles from Buenos Aires to Montevideo. From Montevideo to Punta del Este is listed as being 80 miles. Phil's voiceover said 75 miles. I have to believe it was from the Montevideo airport.

This website has an interesting personal story about his trip to Montevideo, and mentions the bus from the airport to Punta del Este. What I found most interesting was that he said he stayed for four days and three nights, and spent a grand total of $80, including his hotel. What a bargain. Frommer's says the bus trip to Punta del Este from the airport is $15 roundtrip.

This hotel's webpage says 81 miles from Montevideo. Also has a good photo showing the hotel, which is at Parada 11 (the Conrad Hilton was at Parada 4) - you can see the street out front of this hotel real well. For an idea of some of what they were facing with "across the street."

Edited by Enrico, Jul 8, 2004 @ 2:38 AM.

[TAR Neobie]

Miss Natalia Rodriguez Lassiy is this week's Greeter, and she is Miss Uruguay 2003. The last photo at the bottom right looks exactly like her.

http://www.santabant...icid=676&down=1

The Hand's official name is Los Dedos, and it is on Playa Brava, the side of the peninsula facing the Atlantic. Translated, it's Fierce Beach, no wonder the drowning.

The trip to Isla Gorriti takes place from the Yacht Harbour, facing North on the western side of the peninsula. From Playa Brava to the Boarding Point is about 1.4km/0.87miles as the crow flies. Not very wise to walk. The route goes through half the city and the busiest hotel areas.

My trusty Lonely Planet says that the bus trip to Punta del Este, one-way, is US$6.00. A boat trip to Isla Gorriti costs US$5.75 for adults. With all that added together for two people, that makes US$35.00. That's A LOT of money spent already, with a third of the money gone.

Casa Pueblo charges US$5.00 a person. I'm not sure if the teams had to pay that money. Interesting fact: It wasn't built with any right angles, and thus it looks like Play-Dough.

Total taxi distance calculated was 1.4km (Los Dedos to Yacht Habour) + 10km (Yacht Harbour to Maldonado) + 8km (Maldonado to Conrad Hilton) + 10km (Conrad Hilton to Casa Pueblo). This would mean anywhere from 28km/17.4miles to 49km/30.4miles. The teams taking the bus would have got a cheaper fare.

Edited by TAR Neobie, Jul 8, 2004 @ 5:36 AM.

[meknownothing]

Has anyone seen any rules or such on what the racers pay for at the pitstops? Are meals and accomodations there paid for by the producers, in the same way the airline tickets are paid for?

[theschnauzers]

Racers have no expenses in the pitstops as far as meals and sleeping accomodations. They're supposed to bring personal items with them.

I also noticed in replaying the episode last night that someone mentions that the United flight was scheduled to depart the LAX gate at 2:40pm, and since we're shown Jim and Marsha making it to the gate at 2:37pm, it seems that the flight wasn't held; they just cut it real, real close.

[Paris in Spring]

I've got some "where" info here:

Los Dedos is a statue by Mario Irarrazábal of Chile and can be seen in this photo and as just a spot in this one. It is the bit of lumps to the left of that building on the beach. You can also see the bus station with its modern triangular roof that was so luckily located near Los Dedos. Close ups of Los Dedos were posted as links back in the spoiler days here. This sculpture appears on the show too as teams run from bus station to Los Dedos. The second aerial photo shows how the location of Los Dedos fits in with the Puerto where teams took boats to and from the Isla Gorriti. And this aerial photo shows the Conrad Hotel and Los Dedos in the lower left. BTW the dock on Gorriti is called Puerto Cañon. This is a detailed map of Punta del Esta lacking a scale but from a big map of Uruguay I would guess that the distance from Punta del Esta to Maldonado is 4 miles. When the race was in Maldonado we saw the San Fernando Cathedral. So you can use that 4 miles as a scale since Maldonado is in the detailed map too. With that scale in mind I estimate the street distance from Los Dedos to the Puerto is about 1.5 miles. I just noticed from the map that the bus station is also the train station.

The pit stop at Punta Bellena is just of the left edge of the map. This link is another map (see the one at the bottom of the page) that shows the relation of the pit stop to the Conrad. The Conrad would be located just inland of where the name La Pastora appears in the detailed map. Using the map with Punta Bellena I estimate that the street distance from the Conrad to the Casa Pueblo is about 9 miles. This photo shows the pit stop from above and Punta del Esta in the background. (Here is where the mat was, and this is the view of the ocean. Possibly the nicest pit stop I can remember.

TAR Neobie, I think our distance results are consistent considering my estimates.

ETA: map corrections and

theschnauzers,

it seems that the flight wasn't held; they just cut it real, real close.

Wow, was that ever a miricle. From the camera angle (as they gave their boarding passes) I would say that the camera crew was already officially on board. They may even have helped (for once) Jim and Marsha by stringing out and moving slow until J&M got there.

Edited by Paris in Spring, Jul 8, 2004 @ 3:54 PM.

[bluedevilblue]

I need to watch again because I thought J&M zipped from the terminal lobby to the gate awfully fast given security, how far the gates are in the United terminals at LAX (not really far, but not close either), and Jim's knee.

BTW, United has terminals 6 and 7 (6 is international and 7 is domestic, but you can get to the gates for both from either terminal) and American is terminal 4. For those who aren't familiar with the airport, the terminals are set up on a U and buses drive around starting at terminal 1 and ending at terminal 7 - so teams that went directly to United went past the American terminal.

Edited by bluedevilblue, Jul 8, 2004 @ 10:35 PM.