I think some of your hopes and dreams will be realized here (though it's for TAR 28 for reasons which will become apparent
). My kiiiiiiind of serious take on WRP's budget route planning.
Leg 1 - Washington, DC, USA to Port Elizabeth, South Africa - like 300 races have already been here. I would prefer original tasks but if they have a Switchback to HMLM 1 where someone has to break a hand mirror to cut a rope they poorly tied onto their truck I won't be mad.
Leg 2 - South Africa to Malolotja Nature Reserve, Swaziland - just about every race there's a leg where people get to see poor people live their lives as usual. This is that leg.
Leg 3 - Swaziland to Petra National Park, Jordan - I'm still surprised TAR hasn't eliminated someone on 'The High Place of Sacrifice'.
Leg 4 - Jordan to Aswan, Egypt - As it turns out most of the issues in Aswan are typical of most cities (pickpocketing, the joy of being a female traveler in a Muslim country, etc.) and not so much due to the events of the past few years as is more true in Cairo. Camels, the Nubian people, and a TBC because why not.
Leg 5 - Egypt to Inle Lake, Myanmar - Imagine that leg in Angkor Wat from TAR 13...but better. And an NEL because consecutive NELs are fun and good.
Leg 6 - Myanmar to Yangon, Myanmar - When was the last time we had a double leg in a new country (depending on your interpretation, it'd be either 6 seasons or 9 :O.)
Leg 7 - Myanmar to Hong Kong, China -
overused I don't care, I just want a leg in Hong Kong that doesn't suck.
(Also in my dream India is visited in 27 rather than China even though the opposite is likely true)
Leg 8 - China to Rotorua, New Zealand - see above. Also I kind of needed a leg in New Zealand so as to facilitate
Leg 9 - New Zealand to Easter Island - mmmhmm. SURE it might just be your standard bathing suit leg but EASTER ISLAND.
Leg 10 - Easter Island to Santiago, Chile - I mean there's really only one logical destination from Easter Island plus this route has a dearth of big cities in it to begin with so hopefully it sucks less then every other leg in Chile?
Leg 11 - Chile to Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina - If they insist upon this whole 'nonelimination at the end of leg 11' thing then I'd really like to see the racers suffer as a result. Difficult tasks, altitude weariness, and several hours of driving only to be told to get lost.
Leg 12 - Argentina (to Chile) to Miami, FL, US - how is it both legs in Miami suck? I don't get it *shrugs*.
Incidentally most of this could occur in real TAR - the first leg is consistent with having two flight options kind of reasonably close together, and the last third would likely be what the route is built around (there's an actual sequence of Auckland - Papeete - Easter Island - Santiago - Aconcagua via car - Santiago - Miami that exists) so the only hiccup is getting to and from Hong Kong but that's part of the challenge.
