I was the girl in red on the bike.
My experience with Journey started back in October, when, Dax told me about this amazing experience he had had in San Fransisco playing this game called Journey to the end of the night. As the story of venturing through a city late at night, hunted by mysterious people with red ribbons unfolded, my eyes widened with delight and amazement. Too bad I had missed it and it had happened on the other side of the country. Sigh!
One Grey winter Chicago afternoon, Dax told me he was putting together the Chicago version of the game! I was delighted and wanted to be involved in any way possible, as long as it involved wearing a ridiculous costume. Later it was decided that I would be on bike chasing. and video taping.
1: The Costume
Let it be known that the cape and helmet are my usual bike riding attire, but as it is sufficiently ridiculous, and it had been my intention to turn that into my SF0 character it seemed the perfect opportunity to let Beetlebomb out into the wide world of tasking.
I augmented my usual helmet and cape with a pair of black leggings a red and white cheerleading skirt, legwarmers and a red hoodie and I was ready to fly.
2: The Camera
The camera seemed best to attach to the helmet as there I would have the most control over it. I did this by attaching a ribbon to the existing hardware of the camera around the bottom edge of the helmet and gaff taping over it then placing additional gaff over the camera itself. I then taped tin foil over it to protect it from the rain that threatened that evening. The result made it look a bit like a burrito. See below

As I rode to the starting line, the tin foil paid it’s dues as it was raining pretty significantly. There were fears as the tape seemed to loosen with the moisture in the air which was tentatively solved by more and more tape which seemed to work in the same mediocre manner as its predecessors, but it was deemed as satisfactory and after meeting up at wicker park and receiving my red ribbon I rode of to await my first victim.

After waiting on a side street off of Elston I saw the first group of players run past. As they ran past I heard one say
Player 1:“We better watch out”
Player2: “Why?”
(I emerge from the shadows behind them)
Player1: “THAT’S WHY!”
They hurriedly run in all directions.
(they are in a safe zone, but they don’t know that) I narrow in on one and after a few minutes of chasing, he pulls a quick 180 and a duck behind a row of cars and I loose him. I cycle back up Elston to await more victims.

Then I see them: a group of 6 or 7 targets
I approach, there is a moment of tension, when they don’t know if I’m a chaser or not. I turn and head straight for them. They scream and scatter.
I zero in on a man with dark brown curly hair he bolts straight down Elston. He tries the same move behind the cars but this time I’m ready for it, the pursuit continues.
He continues SE on Elson to where it ends at a Verizon wireless store. I chased him around the perimeter of this store for a few minutes before trying to go the other direction to appear in front of him. This did not work out as planed and he made it down a back alley and got away from me.-At the finish line we met again ,and he admitted that this pursuit was his favorite part of the journey, (I must say it was one of mine too) he also added that after escaping my clutches, he ran as hard as he could for several minutes before realizing he was going in the wrong direction.
Upon leaving Him, I turn around to find a member of his departed group. After a brief chase she realizes the bikes disadvantage, and jumps over a short wall and continues on her way. I see that by the time I lift the bike over the wall or go around the building attached to it, she will be long gone. So I go in search of greener pastures.
There is a third group. The have just exited the safe zone. And instead of turning around and retreating a few feet, they scatter. One is two slow and I tag him as he stands a few feet from safety. He hands over his blue ribbon and we both go in search of his friends.
They have scattered but a few have gone into a little courtyard of an apartment complex
In the process of chasing them around said courtyard, I impale my more sensitive regions on the bike lock in front of the seat, which made the rest of the night a little more uncomfortable, and stopped me just long enough for them to get away.

After a bit more scattering and scaring of a few more groups I proceeded to the next checkpoint.
I got a bit turned around and overshot the next check point, but I got to chase someone over a huge bridge, and met up with my friend and fellow chaser Snore. After a brief discussion of tactics I turned around in search of tea and cupcakes.

After delicious vegan cupcakes and quick conversation at checkpoint2, I took a moment to study the map, then headed down Kinzie, towards the third check point. I chased five or six groups, one of which I ended up chasing two or three times. and at one point they almost got hit by a car in their escape efforts.

At another point I had stopped for a moment to study the map and upon looking up I saw a runner. we exchanged a knowing glance and he bolted for a parking garage. I tried to follow him in but almost got run over by an SUV and had to turn around. (I latter found out this was Calix)

Then I headed down to check point four. Upon pulling up to the check point I was re directed to in between five and six. On my way down to Roosevelt, an inebriated man walking by asked me if I was Batgirl,. I’m sure thinking himself very clever. I politely told him I was not, and continued on my way

Down on Roosevelt was the slowest part of the game for me. Despite A half hour vigil next to a drycleaners and a watchful eye I did not see a single runner. After a long while I saw some chasers across the street, who upon closer inspection was Star5 and some other familiar faces. We talked for a few minutes and Dax showed up. He told me I was not to catch any more people that evening, and as the memory of the delightful cupcakes from checkpoint 2 were making my tummy rumble, I decided to head to the finish line.

Upon finally finding the finish line, I enjoyed several cupcakes and was excited to hear that I had scared the crap out of many more people than I had realized.

All in all it was a fantabulous evening! I’m so glad to have been a part of it.

Sorry for the lack of documentation Later I found out that the footage
from the burrito-cam was decided to be unusable. The footage and few
pictures posted is from my little digital camera which was hard to
handle while
chasing and riding a bike.

Addendem: When I moved here last fall, the idea of riding my bike around the city was exciting, but the idea of riding it downtown was terrifying. Till last spring I had ridden down town on one or two occasions, and was a little traumatized. Since playing Journey, I have been riding my bike downtown quite often, and find that I enjoy the experience, though I don't appreciate the lack of bike lanes. This game allowed me the ability to see the place where I live in a different way. It pushed me past my boundaries and I find I'm happier here in this new playground of a city. It wasn't until recently that I realized what a big impact this game, and SF0 have had on my life and the way I view whats around me, and I want to thank all of you for making my world a wierder and more wonderful place.