Prep Week Blog 3

The remainder of the cast trickled in towards the end of the week, Jonathan on Thursday and the two girls, Lucy and Susan on Friday. By Friday evening the 12 of us were finally complete. Only three days to go until departure. 

Cast is as follows:
Rob Evans, 38 (USA)
Lucy Rava, 25 (Australia)
Tony Perez, 30 (USA) aka Tony P
Susan Fecher, 28 (USA)
Jonathan Lea-Howarth, 32 (UK) aka JLH or UKJ
John Lovejoy, 30 (USA) it's me writing these blogs if you haven't figured that out

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Ghetto Pimmps get started on the Suzuki

The Ghetto Pimps, our Berlin based painters,  came on Saturday during the worst rain we'd seen since being in Berlin. Despite the weather spirits were li

fted as the cars weretransformed. However, with Tony still being gone working on the grey car there were still lingering doubt as to whether we would be leaving Monday. Just as it was about to get dark he rolled in at the helm of the once defunct car to bouts of cheering and clapping from everyone at the hostel. 

By the minuscule Suzuki and slightly larger VW looked as if they have been completely reconstructed. They were things of beauty. 

That night was our departure party at CityStay, who kindly sponsored quite a bit of beer. Perhaps not the best idea. A hungover

With the Renault still unpainted, sitting in the courtyard looking like the ugly step sister, we had Marco draw names out of a hat to determine cars and drivers. Jonathan sat in the corner crossing his fingers for the VW. I closed my eyes hoping for the Suzuki. I think Rob was quietly praying not to be stuck in Jonathan after a getting lost incident on the way from the airport. 

The courtyardThe Suzuki was first. The anticipation of knowing who was going to be stuck in a car for seven weeks with who shown on the faces of everyone involved. "The first person for the little car is… Rob," Marco was obviously taking joy in his role as MC from behind the DJ booth he had constructed for himself. "Next up we have Lucy!" So it would be Lucy and Rob. I was curious if she, or her boyfriend (a good friend of mine) would ever let me live that one down.

Jonathan and Susan were called next for the Renault. Jonathan did well to mask his disappoint of having missed out on the VW and seemed genuinely excited about riding with Susan, a fellow football fan. Tony and I shook hands. Having traveled extensively together we knew what we were in for. He would have to deal with my snoring and me with his stinking feet. Honestly, there is not a worse smell in the world!

The night progressed as any good departure party should. I was out till daybreak, drunk and dreading the afternoon hangover. 

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Marco calling out the teams at CityStay Departure PartyThe final day before departure was frantic. The ugly duckling car was finally transformed. Lights and tires were mounted, though only the crew truck's rally lights functioned. Sponsor stickers were meticulously applied. In the midst of pre-packing the cast had to run out for interviews. These were done guerilla style with no permits at Berlin's most iconic locations. If the rest of the cast felt as horrific as I did we might need all new interviews. My answers were garbled gibberish nonsense at best. I really must remember not to drink so much the night before.

We returned to a mess in the CityStay courtyard. Little had been done during our three hour absence touring Berlin for interviews. Cast and Crew were quickly assembled to make the most of the few hours remaining in the night. Pizza was ordered and everyone went to work cleaning the courtyard, packing non-personal gear and generally prepping for the next morning departure. 

With everyone asleep I sat in the courtyard sipping a glass of water finally recovering from the night before amazed at what I had assembled. After months of planing it was finally going to happen. I just hoped we would make it down there before the Final Match on July 11. 

The ugly duckling in bloom