fandomhigh | Around the World in 16 Challenges, Tuesday, January 7, 2016 [2nd period]

Anakin and Obi-Wan had made sure to tell the class to meet them outside the Portalocity office. Anakin, hands stuffed into his robes to protect them from the cold (kriffing cold, ugh), still managed to look a little smug. "Hello and welcome to Around the World in 16 Challenges," he said. "Today we're going to the Netherlands, a small nation on the continent of Europe."

"Since he appears to have skipped right ahead: this is Master Anakin Skywalker. I am Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Welcome." Obi-Wan looked rather more at ease with the cold, though he generally kept his hands tucked in his sleeves regardless. (He also had a far better poker face than Anakin's.) "Your first series of challenges will take place here," he continued, "and you will handle them by yourself. Later challenges may contain a teamwork component; for that, we ask that you find a teammate today with whom you ~~share a RL availability~~ will cooperate for the rest of the semester."

Anakin nodded, smile widening. "The odd one out gets paired with one of us."

Oh, you poor things. "This course will test you both physically and mentally and help you to confront fears about heights, hitting things, and eating things that are still moving." Anakin, that is not helpful.

And as such, Obi-Wan cleared his throat very loudly midway through that statement. "It will hopefully also lead you to appreciate this particular planet and its many cultures," he said, "So please, do try to enjoy yourselves as well."

"Today's challenges will test your attention to detail, your hand-eye coordination, and your ability to navigate yourself to different places," Anakin said, nodding. "We will be waiting for you at the end of the course. May the Force be with you."

And then the bike locks and the dike jumping! Because getting people muddy was hilarious.

... and the canal tour with the light sculptures, because not everything had to be mud, Anakin. Obi-Wan gave the class a formal nod of his head. "Begin."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

In Bikes, you must travel to the central railway station in town and find the fietsflat: a parking garage just for bicycles. Thousands and thousands of bicycles. You then search through them to find a flag that matches the flag in your clue envelope. Once you match them, a service attendant will hand you the clue to how to get to the Pit Stop--you must use your bicycle to get there.

In Dikes, you travel out of town to a rural village filled with, surprise, dikes! You then participate in the completely real sport of fierljeppen by completing a single vault over a 12 feet (3.7 m) wide irrigation ditch using a pole and landing on both feet on the marshy grass at the other side. Once you ~~are covered in mud and~~ complete this task, a farmer will hand you the clue for how to get to the Pit Stop.

Nathan chose the Dikes challenge and almost changed his mind when he realize what he had to do. Again, it took him some time to comprehend the whole thing but he eventually got got it down.

The vault was a little easier but he was completely caked in mud by the time he was done.

Laura chose Dikes. Laura had never heard of fierljeppen, but since it was a thing of speed, balance and body control she knew what she had to do before someone explained to her.

For a moment, she considered getting a bit of mud on herself to make it look like she had at least struggled a bit, but ultimately decided she actually liked the shoes she was wearing. No mud for her.

Isabela's pole was faulty and she kept ending up in the dike.

If it had been a different kind she wouldn't have minded.

Cosette opted for the bikes challenge, and immediately regretted it when she saw how many bicycles there were in the garage, especially when she realized how much time she had to make up for after having too much fun taking pictures.

The Dikes task wound up being the quickest part of the challenges for April - she was small, fast and aerodynamic, and nailed the vault in only one attempt.

Too bad she was already way behind her classmates by the time she started.

Kira was glad she chose the bike option - she didn't have too much trouble finding the right flag, and the bike ride was pretty nice.

Rey didn't really know what Dikes would be when she decided on it, but hey. She actually got across the first time. Funny that.

Alex decided to try the Dikes challenge against her better judgement. It took a while for her to complete and she was quite muddy by the time she was finished.

Edited 2016-01-07 20:54 (UTC)

Blue was less than five feet tall. No way was she doing anything that required leaping great distances. Also, until recently a bike had been her primary mode of transportation. She knew and trusted bikes.

...finding the right bike was another story entirely.

Bicycles. Not bad, she just got a little behind when she knocked some of the bicycles over and they made her pick them up.

Around the World in 16 Challenges, Tuesday, January 7, 2016 [2nd period]

Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

Re: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

Re: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

Re: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

Re: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

RE: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

Re: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

RE: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

RE: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

Re: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!

Re: Road Block: Bikes or Dikes!