President's Day Alleycat
16 Check Points for the 16th President
Lincoln Themed
it has almost been a week...
all sorts of ideas still stirring in my head
maybe I can just throw down some thoughts
the manifest contained 16 check points and three bonus questions
8 Photo Check Points worth 25 points each
8 Question Check Points worth 10 points each
then the bonus questions
two 10 point questions
and
one 100 point pick up
that was the Flattened Penny
Lincoln is on the Penny
there are maybe a dozen places in DC that have these Penny Flattening Machine
to win... you would need this
some people ended up having perfect manifests except for the penny
so...
300 Points instead of 400...
bummer!
the check points were not in order
but instead clustered by category
PHOTO - QUESTION - BONUS
racers had to determine the order on their own
then on top of that...
inspired by alleycats before me
I put in aspects I learned from other promoters
just as Bruce will follow a clever theme
Bruce will sometimes create two manifests
yes... I played that play
I MADE TWO MANIFESTS AND DID NOT TELL THE RACERS
there was no effort to separate the racers
it was a matter of chance
some got one manifest
others got another
basically every other one
I felt that added to the fun and the confusion
there were two manifests
there were only a few differences
one Manifest had a photo with the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
Lincoln went to church there
there is a plaque and a hitching post
then also maybe a pew inside the church
racers just had to take the photo
but on some of the other manifests
there was Abe's Gift Shop
which was essentially across the street
then across the street from Ford's Theater
one manifest had a question at the Petersen House
"What time did Lincoln die?"
7:22am
but the alternate manifest had a question at the Lincoln Waffle Shop down the block
asking a question about the price of the morning special...
Honest Abe...
when researching the concept of the Lincoln themed Alleycat
all sorts of ideas become options
is there a Lincoln Liquor?
a Lincoln School?
and then the Rabbit Hole
Why is Honest Abe called Honest Abe?
that question was not in the Alleycat
to me...
the questions are fun
but when the answers can be shared
well... the game changes
it may be in the spirit of the game
as messenger culture had a pirate vibe
but in the spirit of the race
I feel that using the Internet to get the answers or to text your buddy
well...
where is the joy in placement?
when you cut the queue...
Lincoln Congressional Temple also had two different questions...
one about the Pilars
the other about the stained glass
Lincoln Road Apartments was a Selfie...
but in many ways...
although the Check Points were not in order
if the racers did things with logic and reason
the dots connect pretty well
there were a few check points that guide the racers right towards the finish from Lincoln Park
that is...
if you already went to the other check points
I thought everyone would go to The Lincoln Memorial first
in my mind... it was the furthers spot west
knock it out
then sweep across town like a snake
but people thought otherwise
either way
there was a ONE WHEEL group that showed up
they had a bag of stickers\swag\and some edibles for prizes
I gave that to April... April took that to the Lincoln Memorial For a PRIME for the first racer to arrive there
Thanks One Wheel People!
at Lincoln Road and Todd there is this old corner store
this two had two different questions on the manifest
by this time
I think that people had resolve the two manifest issue
and knew to answer the question that was on their manifest
of course...
what would a Lincoln themed Alleycat in Washington DC be without a trip to The Lincoln Memorial
now... there was a place called Lincoln Apartments or Lincoln Condos
no matter...
it was a block off Lincoln Park
the only NON-LINCOLN ANSWER was the house on the other side of the street
not 121 12th Street... but "take a photo of your bike with the house at 120 12th Street"
RESIST TRUMP
in the spirit of a President's Day Alleycat
had to get a little political
after all... this is DC
Who painted this mural?
I bet everyone GOOGLED this one...
why?
well.. it was hard to read
and somehow... I fear that many people could not resist the quick answers
a good deal of the race was on National Park Land
here is a National Park Police Officer at Union Station
I know at least one racer got their Flattened Lincoln Penny from Union Station
I gave the officer a manifest
also... told him about the Snowy Owl that had been perched at Union Station
April and Larry...
Long Time Messenger... Long Time Messenger Culture
April and Larry came out to hang out\work a check point
April also got me this super cool T-shirt from The Dead City Alleycat
so thoughtful
and
forever helpful
good to hang with April and Larry
we went to a few check points together
one of the three Lincoln Statues in the Alleycat
this one on the 600 block of Indiana
Veek and Dario
Veek and Dario worked as a team
I still have Dario's Prize
would like to hear the order that they attacked this course
me...
I would have started at Lincoln Memorial
head to Lincoln Theater
hit Vermont on the way
12th Street... 11th Street...
on to Abes etc... etc... etc..
down to Ford's
Wok and Roll...
The Surratt House
this is some cool history
in this boarding house people gathered to conspire to kidnap Lincoln
when discovered and found guilty
Mary Surratt became the first woman in US history to be hung
now it is a Chinese Food spot in Chinatown
and the last photo is from one of the Penny Flattening Machines
I happened to be at Ford's Theater at the same time as some of the racers
Veek LOVED this Check Point!
I kept the flattened pennies!
