We got our first Ravenchase clue the Wednesday before the race. We had to decipher it to figure out where the race started on Saturday. If super-secret spies spend as much time as we did being confused in front of computers, the job's really not all that glamorous. We needed to recognize that the clue referenced the ciphers of Sir Francis Bacon (duh!), and then we had to figure out how to use it. I have to admit, I contributed nothing to decoding this first clue.

On race day, one third of our team roared into Annapolis on motorcycle without incident. Amanda and I weren't so punctual as Dan, though, as we managed to get lost on the way. When we finally did arrive, Ravenchase Alex was already going over the rules. Good thing I was on a team of veteran chasers. He told us to look for Spam and vicious bunnies, knights and flying cows, but wouldn't give us our clues until we solved the popsicle stick riddle.

See how our team—the Metromix Knights Who Say Beer—did on that puzzle as well as the rest of the chase here.