LAST EDITED ON 09-29-05 AT 10:00 AM (EST)

Another opening sequence spoiling session, and this is probably the first opening sequence since TAR1 that we've had so much footage. So here we go!

1. TAR logo. The usual.
2. Plane.
3. Yellow lane markings. Is this common in the US only?
4. Waving American flag. Tell you much?
5. Highway and flyover. Looks American to me.
6. "10 FAMILIES OF 4"
7. Lake in front of moutains. No snow.
8. The Gaghans.
9. Desert landscape. Monument Valley in Arizona?
10. The Linzes.
11. Park City Balloon Adventures, Utah. (RBA)
12. The Paolos.
13. Horses running across plain.
14. Small plane over farmland.
15. The Bransens.
16. Monkey. (Recycled from Ethiopia, TAR6)
17. The Weavers.
18. The Aiellos.
19. New York City aerial view. (Episode 1)
20. The Schroeders.
21. The Godlewskis.
22. Brooklyn Bridge. (Episode 1)
23. Cannon. Gettysburg in Episode 2?
24. The Rogers.
25. Mark Schroeder. Actually, a grizzly bear. Here's their distribution.

26. Cowboy.
27. Woman swinging spherical object. Hawaii?
28. Cerro San Cristobal. (Recycled from Santiago, TAR7)
29. Macaw. They are found from Mexico southwards, so Panama or Belize seem likely.
30. Geyser. Old Faithful? Do all geysers look the same?
31. Guy with orange pants. (Recycled from S Africa, TAR7)
32. Betsy Ross Flag. (Episode 1)
33. Elephant. (Recycled from Jodhpur, TAR7)
34. Bearded man playnig trumpet.
35. Bara Imambara. (Recycled from Lucknow, TAR7)
36. Indians. (Recycled from Lucknow, TAR7)
37. OK, so it's not the Alamo.
38. Boy dressed in Civil War clothes.
39. Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC. (TARJunkie999)
40. Jackal-like animal.
41. Turkish fortress. (Recycled from Istanbul, TAR7)
42. The Natchez in front of the Crecent City Connection, just outside of New Orleans. (TARJunkie999)
43. Can't catch this on my VCR. Brown smoke?
44. Boy walking on bamboo pole. (Recylced from Xian, TAR6)
45. Little League team.
46. Sillouette of family running.
47. Logo with silver stripe of 'Family Edition'.

• RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,TARJUNKIE999, 02:27 AM, 09-28-05
  • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,railfan, 06:21 AM, 09-28-05
  • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,TARJUNKIE999, 10:40 AM, 09-28-05
    • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,supsandalee, 12:14 PM, 09-28-05
  • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,RBA, 12:07 PM, 09-28-05
    • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,RBA, 12:14 PM, 09-28-05
      • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,RBA, 12:24 PM, 09-28-05
  • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,dragonflies, 12:29 PM, 09-28-05
    • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,beau_30, 02:45 PM, 09-28-05
    • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,callasin, 04:36 PM, 09-28-05
  • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,chi_tar_fan, 01:18 PM, 09-28-05
    • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,RBA, 01:42 PM, 09-28-05
      • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,kaibe, 09:35 AM, 09-29-05
  • Memorial,beau_30, 03:01 PM, 09-28-05
  • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,callasin, 05:50 PM, 09-28-05
    • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,RBA, 08:31 AM, 09-29-05
• RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,RBA, 02:08 PM, 09-28-05
• RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,TARJUNKIE999, 02:01 AM, 09-29-05
  • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,RBA, 08:32 AM, 09-29-05
    • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,TARJUNKIE999, 09:50 AM, 09-29-05
      • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,RBA, 10:51 AM, 09-29-05
      • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,Noodles91370, 07:42 AM, 10-05-05
        • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,banzai, 09:18 AM, 10-05-05
          • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,TARJUNKIE999, 10:50 AM, 10-05-05
        • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,callasin, 03:52 PM, 10-05-05
• RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,banzai, 01:16 PM, 09-29-05
• RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,banzai, 08:04 PM, 10-03-05
  • RE: Opening Sequence Spoils!,Noodles91370, 04:59 PM, 10-05-05
• I FOUND IT!,TARJUNKIE999, 10:25 AM, 10-11-05
  • RE: I FOUND IT! (Teaser),TARJUNKIE999, 12:48 PM, 10-11-05
    • RE: I FOUND IT! (Teaser),weecama, 12:52 PM, 10-11-05
    • RE: I FOUND IT! (Teaser),dabo, 12:54 PM, 10-11-05
      • RE: I FOUND IT! (Teaser),weecama, 01:35 PM, 10-11-05
• MYSTERY REVEALED!,TARJUNKIE999, 02:37 AM, 10-12-05
  • RE: MYSTERY REVEALED!,dabo, 02:51 AM, 10-12-05
    • RE: MYSTERY REVEALED!,weecama, 03:30 AM, 10-12-05
  • RE: MYSTERY REVEALED!,choochoo, 12:08 PM, 10-12-05
    • RE: MYSTERY REVEALED!,Noodles91370, 01:01 AM, 10-13-05
      • RE: MYSTERY REVEALED!,TARJUNKIE999, 03:18 PM, 10-13-05

LAST EDITED ON 09-28-05 AT 02:39 AM (EST)

Here's some vidcaps to go along with the Neobie's descriptions:

>The Jazz Band could possibly be
>from St. Louis, along with
>the paddle wheel steamboat.
>The Little League team could
>be from Central America /
>Caribbean, judging by their appearences
>(the "P" on the caps
>could be "Panama" or "Puerto
>Rico" ???) Just a guess.
> The adobe mission/fort could
>be in New Mexico/Texas.
>Hot air balloon festivals are
>popular in Colorado. The rocks
>could be northern Arizona/Grand Canyon
>area. The Grizzly &
>Old Faithful are surely Yellowstone
>National Park. The statue is
>at the Lincoln Memorial in
>D.C., but the stadium tunnel
>could be in any major
>city.

Jazz is more associated with New Orleans, especially given the known route to Huntsville and central America. Sri Lanka before the tsunami, NOLA before the storm? Amazing Race, stay away from me. The paddlewheeler could be anywhere along the Mississippi, I see no signs of urban St. Louis in the pic, would support a more southerly NOLA locale. My bet on the LL team is Panama. Good call on the fort...there are missions like that throughout the Southwest, but it's definitely not the Alamo. The red rocks are prominent throughout the west, not just around the Grand Canyon, though the Painted Desert in northeast AZ would be an interesting destination. Hot air balloons are most notably associated with Albuquerque NM. Don't be so sure on Yellowstone, since the mountains in one picture are clearly the Tetons in a separate park about 50 miles south of Old Faithful. I say Huntsville, NOLA, central America, then back through the SW, the Tetons, and maybe Montana before heading back for Toronto and Niagara Falls.

And may I say I like the Americana race, though not necessarily the family aspect. There are some very grating teams---screeching blond sisters and the female Italian Jonathan---that need to be gone from my TV screen very, VERY soon.

The paddle wheel steamboat may be The Natchez, based in New Orleans.

The double span bridge(s) may be the Crecent City Connection where US90 crosses the Mississippi River. (Otherwise known as the Greater New Orleans (GNO) Bridge).

The following link has additional details.
http://www.inetours.com/New_Orleans/Steamboat_Tour.html

I'm from the New Orleans area. The jazz player and the riverboat pics are definately N.O. The bridge is called the crescent city connection or the better known local name is the twin span. The riverboat Natchez sails (prior to Katrina) daily.

LAST EDITED ON 09-28-05 AT 12:10 PM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON 09-28-05 AT 12:09 PM (EST)

The balloons look very similar to these ones in Utah...

http://www.go-utah.com/Park-City-Balloon-Adventures/

What's everyone else's opinion?

Here's another picture from the same company...

LAST EDITED ON 09-28-05 AT 12:25 PM (EST)

You can't get a closer match than this one...

That appears not to be the Alamo. I was there earlier this year, it is smaller.

here is a picture I found.

Also, stating the obvious, the Lincoln picture is most likely the Lincoln Memorial in DC. There are a lot of steps to run up to that, and there are 2 other memorials in the same location, so that would be a good place for a clue box.

LAST EDITED ON 09-28-05 AT 03:03 PM (EST)

Moved to memorial section.

LAST EDITED ON 09-28-05 AT 04:37 PM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON 09-28-05 AT 04:37 PM (EST)

That's a sagauro next to that building so it's either in Arizona or Mexico.

One of the pictures in the opening sequence shows what looks like the boys in the dugout of a baseball field. Someone noted earlier that they have a P on their hats. If you look closely on the arm, you will notice the patch for the Little League World Series. I am hypothesing that the teams may make a stop at the Little League World Series. This event is held every year in late summer in WILLIAMSPORT, PA. The dates of the tournament are late July to early August. This is a HUGE regional event. Also, regional events leading up to the World Series are held around the country in the weeks leading up to the main event.

The colors are of Puerto Rico, and if so, would a trip to St Croix be out of the question?

Caribbean St. Croix, US Virgin Islands July 24 - 30
http://www.littleleague.org/series/2005divisions/llbb/index.htm

I believe Panama is also Red and Blue. Panama was playing in Maracaibo, Venezuela in the Latin American tournament from July 10th to July 16th. This might fit in even better timewise then the end of the month.

LAST EDITED ON 09-28-05 AT 03:03 PM (EST)

I have been here a lot
LAST EDITED ON 09-28-05 AT 02:47 PM (EST)

here is a map of the d.c. layout of the memorials and such.

Outside facing the Lincoln Memorial From reflection Pool

The Steps

Top View of the Lincoln Memorial

That first picture with the rocks looks like Zion Canyon in Utah to my roomate and I.

>That first picture with the rocks
>looks like Zion Canyon in
>Utah to my roomate and
>I.
>
>

That would fit right in with the Balloon rides in Utah above.

27. Woman swinging spherical object. Hawaii?

Looks like a cowgirl with a lasso to me. Southwest?

"What am I?"

Geezz! This adobe has really got me stumped. Can't seem to find the right search keywords yet. Given the cactus type, and arid climate, I am betting it might be somewhere near the Tucson, AZ area.

It may require some local knowledge of the Tucson area. Any viewers out there who recognize this building in Arizona?

Any clues may help solve this riddle.

I was thinking Tucson, myself. I'm also thinking near Tombstone as that would be a neat area to visit.

If I remeber correctly, Episode 1 previews showed skydiving at Skydive Arizona, also located somewhere in the Tucson area (Eloy). Sort of fits in.

How about Old Tucson Studios?

You'll find Cowboys and Cowgirls riding horses and roping and Movie sets such as "Missions".

>If I remeber correctly, Episode 1
>previews showed skydiving at Skydive
>Arizona, also located somewhere in
>the Tucson area (Eloy).
>Sort of fits in.
>
>

Hi guys!!

Years and years lurker, first time poster. I live in Tucson so I thought I'd post finally as this caught my eye.

Skydive Arizona is pretty far from Tucson. Eloy is right before the I-10--I-8 turn off, about an hours drive from downtown Tucson. Longer with our freeways all tore up.

The building there though, could be a part of one of the missions out here. San Xavier, Tumacacori, Tubac. I was just out at San Xavier in June. I will check my photos of San Xavier again and see if that is in it. There are alot of little adobe style things like that all around the missions and on the reservations. It reminds me of the little church/mourning building that some of the missions have off to the sides of their buildings.

The cactus you see in front there is a Cholla (otherwise known as a "jumping cactus"). The big tall cactus you see in the background backed up to the structure is a giant Saguaro.

The thing is, these cacti here will only grow in certain elevations and areas so this might help to narrow it down. I will also zap this photo and ask hubby to circulate it around his office and see what we can come up with. Someone has to know where this is!!! I feel like an idiot for not knowing...Almost like it is in front of my face but I cant yet put the name to it.

I hope this helps a little bit. Keep up the good work!!

^^ thanks for the info. here's a flag on the building.

Here're some photos of the churches in the Sonora desert: http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/missions/San_Xavier.html

LAST EDITED ON 10-05-05 AT 12:46 PM (EST)

The flag appears to be Mexican. Avocado green, white, and a tomato red. Kinda suggests building is near the US/Mexico border, or rather belonged to Mexico before Uncle Sam took it away bought it from them. LOL

Thanks a bunch, Noodles. (You can always count on a "lurker" to keep the spoiling alive!)

Hi Noodles! I was born and lived in Tucson for 34 years. That building looks so familiar and I just can't place it either. We are both going to be kicking ourselves when they finally go there and we recognize it!

LAST EDITED ON 09-29-05 AT 01:21 PM (EST)

Sedona red rock, Arizona (thanks to Pedaler)

John Brunious, leader of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, New Orleans (thanks to Slowhatch)

10. Champlain bridge, Montreal, Canada (thanks to puddin)

LAST EDITED ON 10-05-05 AT 05:03 PM (EST)

You're welcome. I have a ball reading all of the spoilers then bribing my friends with "If you dont behave, I am going to tell you who gets booted tonight on TAR!" Haha works like a charm. ;)

The bell up on the top there is what leads me to believe it is a part of some sort of missions church. I know at San Xavier there are these "courtyard" type of areas that are where people gather after the church services/weddings/funerals/etc... You have to walk under the arch and into the courtyard. I don't think it is at San Xavier though...just doesn't look familiar for the mission.

BTW, if you go to this link http://www.sanxaviermission.org/ and go to "General Information" or "Restoration" you can see the arches and courtyard there in the pictures.

I am going to whip out my BIG map of Arizona and Sonora and see what the heck there might be along this route. It can't be THAT hard to find this!! And it's driving me nuts now too.

LAST EDITED ON 10-11-05 AT 10:31 AM (EST)

"I FOUND IT!"

FINALLY, I have found the adobe. The great hunt is over. Victory has been declared. The ultimate spoiler has been revealed.

For you home gamers, the mystery goes on, at least for a while. I will give everyone 24 hours to find this picture, before I reveal the location. Same bat time, same bat channel. To be continued.....

I dare you to find it!

Here's a little teaser for you home gamers. A higher resolution picture of the mystery building, just to prove I really did find it.

All will be revealed soon.

LAST EDITED ON 10-11-05 AT 12:58 PM (EST)

Congratulations TARJUNKIE !!!!!!!!!!!!
Pass the popcorn ..I'll be waiting !!

edited to add my guess ( cheating from the url ) badlands area ??

~puddin~

US flag, Arizona flag.

I see the Arizona flag now !!
TARJUNKIE ,you have no idea ..you have made my day !!

~puddin~

MYSTERY REVEALED!

OK, times up. Here's the 411. The structure is known as:

La Puesta del Sol

"Located on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Reservation (northeast of Phoenix/Scottsdale), this adobe style fortress is perfect for a western-cookout or a Southwestern evening. There are uninterrupted views of the Four Peaks and Matazal wilderness areas, the Superstition Wilderness area, Fountain Hills and the Continental Mountains. Covered space is available in this remote western setting with spectacular views."

Other useful links:

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Reservation, Ft. McDowell , AZ

Fort McDowell Adventures

The Wild West Experience

Google Earth .KMZ location (.zip file)

Google Earth pix of La Puesta del Sol
(notice the 3 distinctive "arches" at the entrance of the building)

There you go. Only took 14 freakin' days and nights to find it. I need a drink!

Excellent sleuthing, big congrats!

Drinks are on me TARJUNKIE !! Fantastic find !!

~puddin~

LAST EDITED ON 10-12-05 AT 12:13 PM (EST)

Good job, TJ. Now I see why it took so long to find this sucker. It's not even a "real" adobe. Just a faux facade on what amounts to a covered space. I should have known something was up from the original intro flash picture. Don't think real adobe forts have "wings" on the sides. Now I see it's the eaves of the pitched roof hanging over the edge of the sidewall. The close-up pictures show the fake peeling stucco and fake exposed bricks, and modern construction. I bet they even hauled that giant cactus there. (if it is a real cactus). Kinda like a Native American theme park.

Given it's remote location on the reservation, I would guess this is the pitstop for that leg of the race. Lots of room for camping out under the stars.

YAY TAR!!!! WOOHOO!!! **claps and sounds the trumpets & gives TAR a Tucson margarita**

I was on this thing for 8 hours last time I posted trying to find every little nook and crannie between Eloy and Sedona, but then I "forgot" we had to go out of state the next day and had to get off of here. (I didn't even get to watch TAR yesterday )AND in the meantime hubby tells me "It's in Arizona, it cant be THAT hard to find! Besides, what fun is that...spoiling it all for everyone?" (He doesnt get it). I am sooo glad you found it. I just got home tonight and came to check in before I got out the ol' map again.

Choo, they probably did haul that Saguaro there. They do that alot here...they will haul saugaros off to where they normally don't grow to give the place the "Arizona cactus" theme. Funny thing is, those cacti cost $35-$70 a FOOT and you have to have a tag for it as well.

Great spoiling again, guys!! Back to lurk-mode for me. ;)

Thanks, everyone.

Wasn't about to give up on finding that adobe, no matter what. Spoiling the TAR8 intro pix was fun, as opposed to sitting through the first few TAR8 episodes on TV. Hope it picks up soon, as we seem to have run out of intro pix to spoil.

Well, in any case, we always have the "dancing banana" to amuse us for now.