The mission: "Take a picture in front of the police car showing what you got pulled over for." The result: Team Goth is awarded the "Worst Photo Prize"

Oops! Was that last picture too shocking?

Bronwen and the cute auto mechanic that fixed out tire.

The pit stop-- after the tire blew, we were driving on a donut-- so when we drove into the next town and saw this tire shop we knew all was not lost. The plan-- get a new tire, continue the race, and come in 1st! ?

I could only imagine what the tire shop guys thought of us. 4 Freaks all painted and dressed up, with an overloaded car, driving on a donut from Tsuruga. I think we made their day-- they definantly had something to talk about for the rest of the day. Whatever they thought, they were really friendly and cool and they saved us from having to quit the race. Thank you Japanese tire shop that I don't know the name of down in Reinan someplace!

James working on what-looks-like-a-flat tire.

As we were leaving the park in Tsuruga after passing the natto eating challenge, we had a blow out! Luckly it was on a side street. Without panic, we pulled over, got out, and changed the tire together. Go team Goth!

Despite the blown tire, we managed to get back in the race. We turned in our camera, answer sheet, and hanako (flour-bag-teammate- who had to be with us all day) around 5pm- coming in 13th (very goth) place. After the pictures were developed, answers were checked, and hanako was weighed in-- we actually finished 10th! and we beat Fong's team!!!!!!! <> So we couldn't come in 1st Place , but we had an awesome team and dispite the obsticles-- a stomach virus, busted up knee, and a tire blow out-- I think we did damn good. Plus, we did get one award, even if it was for the worst picture.