Tonight begins the last leg of The Amazing Race! Will one of the all-female teams make history or will Thomas & Jill (and his superior Notre Dame intellect) pull it off? Let’s find out!!!!
The teams begin in Seoul, South Korea at the Temple of Heaven. Thomas & Jill leave at 3:57 a.m. The clue tells them to fly to their final destination, Los Angeles, California, go to the Port of Long Beach and find Pier J. Thomas says he doesn’t care about history and wants to keep a female team from winning. Brook & Claire say they deal with pressure all the time, and if they can communicate well, they can win. Brook says “we have to be more hungry than Thomas. And I’m starving.” Nat & Kat leave at 4:57 a.m. and know they can work together well when they’re stressed.
At the airport, the teams meet up at the ticket counter to wait for it to open. Brook & Claire are wearing cheetah-print pants, saying they saved the outfits for the last leg. All the females tease Thomas about being the last guy standing, making cracks about “being one of the girls” and going for pedicures later. Thomas didn’t look like he was going along with the jokes - lighten up, man!
All the teams are on the same flight. Nat & Kat get out of the airport first and as they get to the port, Nat notices all the cranes and platforms high above the water, and is getting tense thinking she’ll have to deal with her fear of heights once again. The clue tells them “Welcome to the drop zone.” Teams will ride an elevator to the top of the crane, get their clue, and then bungee off the side of the crane together (one wrong jump and they can crash into each other!) Once they get back to the pier and climb to dry land they can open their clue. Nat tells Kat that she doesn’t even want to think about it, to just get going. Getting into the gear, though, gives Nat time to think and she looks like she’s losing it already.
Thomas & Jill and Brook & Claire see the cranes and Jill looks like she’s not overly find of heights either, and Brook isn’t thrilled about the bungee jump, saying “I’ll just have to deal with it.” Kat gets strapped in and Nat stands with her eyes closed and tears dripping off her face. She’s a real trooper, even as she’s crying. They get dropped and as they swing slowly, Nat says “that’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done and I’m never doing it again.” Brook sees them drop and says “I’m feeling petrified.” Nat & Kat are lowered to a small raft in the water and Nat is proud that “I didn’t even pee my pants!” Their clue tells them they will ride a helicopter to a surprise destination. After Brook & Claire drop they spend their time swinging and screaming. Brook sounds like she’s going to hyperventilate.
I guess fear of heights doesn’t mean helicopters, because Nat seems just fine as they take off, with Thomas & Jill and the shopping hosts right behind. All the teams remark that it’s the best way to travel through LA, and not having to sit in traffic. They land at the Rose Bowl and the clue is a Roadblock. The teams will have to work on a float that takes 10,000 man hours to complete by decorating three sections of the float. If they do it correctly, they’ll get their clue from the Rose Queen. Nat dashes off to glue mums to the first section, hoping she’s doing it as well as the woman who is demonstrating. Thomas & Jill tell us that they’ve been working the Roadblocks so Thomas would do the last one, and when they saw what it was they realized Jill would have been better at it. Thomas says he’s never decorated anything before (what???!!!! Your Notre Dame education didn’t include interior decorating?) Brook is going to do this task, and is really excited about being able to decorate something. She says she’s been on a couple floats and “these are my people.” (She really is strange sometimes!)
Nat asks for a check of her work and finds out that she didn’t put water in her little rose tubes so she has to redo them, but still manages to finish first. Their clue is a mystery - they have to answer three questions:
1. I am Sancho Panza’s master.
2. I am the place to hear The Symphony in the Glen.
3. Monroe’s Year of the Itch.
They’ll have to go to that location for their next clue. They run off and ask the cab drivers if they have any ideas or an iPhone, and with all of the waiting taxis it doesn’t seem that any of them will be of any help. They grab a cab and use the driver’s phone, but the woman on the other end tells them she has a line of people and can’t help - but eventually tells Nat if she makes it fast, she’ll try to help. Thomas & Jill ask their cabbie to call dispatch and let them talk to them - and Jill grabs the phone but Thomas insists on talking. The other person on the end of the line doesn’t have Google and they can’t get their cabbie to understand that they need someone with an internet connection. Nat & Kat are told that Sancho Panza is a character in Don Quixote. She asks if there is such a place as Quixote Studios and is told yes. In the meantime, Thomas asks his cabbie if he knows what the internet is, and is told no.
Brook & Claire ask the cab driver to take them to a hotel that has internet, and Thomas begs his cabbie to use the phone while the cabbie talks on it. By the way, they’re driving right now. Somewhere. Racking up a fare. Smart? Not.
Nat, still on the phone, asks where to hear the Symphony in the Park and is told Griffith Park, and realizes they’re going the right way. Thomas’ cabbie keeps telling them that he has GPS and they keep trying to get him to understand that they need a computer. Why they haven’t dumped him for another cab is beyond me! Nat & Kat get to Quixote Studios and tell us that they figured out clue #3, that it was in reference to Marilyn Monroe’s movie, “The Seven Year Itch.” They pull up at Studio 7 and grab their next clue. Phil tells us that Hollywood game shows have tested people’s trivia knowledge, and now it’s time to find out if the teams have been paying attention to everything around them. They see a wall of 48 flashing pictures of people wearing hats. 11 of the people are the greeters from every Pit Stop. They’ll have to use a control pad to select the greeters in the proper order, and Bob Eubanks will give them their next clue.
Nat & Kat being picking people as Brook & Claire use the internet and figure out their destination. Thomas & Jill finally get out of the cab and go to a shop asking to use their internet. Nat & Kat had written down all their destinations and referred to their notes as they picked through the pictures. Thomas yells to some people asking about the internet and gets nowhere, so they jump back in the cab. Brook & Claire are on their way to the studio as Nat & Kat finish the task correctly and get their clue from Bob Eubanks, which tells them to go to the Finish Line. It’s the Graystone Mansion, where Phil waits on the giant mat with all the eliminated teams.
Brook & Claire get to the studio and the girls squeal to meet Bob Eubanks. They don’t have notes to refer to but still seem to be doing okay. Nat & Kat are hoping that the lousy traffic they’re in doesn’t last, and we’re shown shots of them sitting in the cab and Brook & Claire picking the photos - are we getting the sense of drama here? Don’t think so, looks like the doctors might have this all sewn up! (Or should I say “sutured up?” Haha, what a pun!)
Thomas & Jill are thinking they should have gotten another cab, with Thomas remarking that they have more of a language barrier in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world so far. Brook & Claire seem to be moving pretty well, and Nat & Kat finally get moving themselves. We see the back & forth shots of the cabs, and then Nat & Kat running to the final Mat, making history as the first female team to win The Amazing Race!!! Nat is happy that she finished the Race to show diabetics that they can do anything. Kat says they’ve bonded like no one can understand, except the other Racers. Brook & Claire show up and Claire says they literally “laughed their way around the world” and Phil says “I know.” Thomas & Jill, of course, are third, and Phil mentions that their Race has been pretty much mistake free, except for today. Jill gets teary talking about it and Thomas says “It’s been fantastic is what she’s trying to say.”
Phil tells us about the next Amazing Race - that former “favorite” teams will be back for another shot. We see glimpses of Brook & Claire, Gary & Mallory, Michael & Kevin and Connor & Jonathan from this season, plus quite a few from past seasons that sorry, I just can’t remember their names - but I know they’ll be liked! It will premiere on February 20, 2011. Until then, have a great Christmas and wonderful New Year!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Final Three Teams Are Determined - Will an All-Female Team Finally Win the Race?
With major apologies for missing my recap last week because of my Thanksgiving trip to New York, we’re getting down to the wire with this installment of The Amazing Race. Last leg, the four remaining teams went from Bangladesh to Hong Kong where Nick & Vicki (well, just Nick) seemed to implode. He’s been snippy here and there, but he proved himself to be a real ass on this leg. They took a penalty instead of doing a task and ended up in last place but were ?lucky? to find out it was a non-elimination leg. They have a 6-hour penalty and a Speed Bump to deal with on the upcoming leg, and I hope that they end up going home because of Nick’s attitude (although I feel bad for Vicki). I sure hope he’s embarrassed as hell when he’s sitting home watching himself be a total jerk!
Leaving the Pit Stop first, Nat & Kat open their clue to find out they are flying to Seoul, South Korea and then must drive themselves to the North Korean border - the Demilitarized Zone - and search for the Seungil Bridge for their next clue. Nat & Kat interview that they think they have what it takes to win the Race, but they’re pretty freaked about having to get close to the border of North Korea. Reading the clue we hear “do not cross the border.” (Duh! I admit I’m a little surprised that The Race is sending teams close to that border, especially with North Korea being stupid about nuclear weapons and such.)
Thomas & Jill leave second, and Thomas interviews that they’re the top contenders but there are hungry, smart and athletic women teams that are “forces to be reckoned with.” You betcha, buddy! This just might be the year that an all-female team wins The Amazing Race! Brook & Claire open their clue and don’t even try to pronounce the bridge or river names and head off to a hotel to try and get tickets for their flight, thinking that the hotel would have better connections. Claire interviews that she has a good feeling that they’re going to rock it and make history standing on the Mat first at the end. (Uh oh, are the producers giving us a peek at “say one thing and the total opposite happens?”) The woman at the desk finds them a flight leaving at 12:25 a.m. and will fax copies of their passports to the airport.
Nat & Kat meet up with Thomas & Jill at the airport and joke about getting close to the North Korean border. They get the same flight as Brook & Claire. Brook & Claire are sitting in the restaurant at the hotel sipping coffee and laughing at the way they’re dressed for the place - cute matching pink tank tops, black shorts and white and red striped kneesox. Back at the airport, Nat & Kat find a guy and tell him that they’re traveling but they don’t have any money and talk the guy into buying them a travel book - and he even autographs the cover with a good luck wish.
Nick & Vicki leave in the dark and Nick interviews that the Race has shown them some major flaws in their relationship. (No, just YOUR relationship. Butthead.) He says he feels like scum (he should) and promised Vicki he’s never going to blow up like that again. We’ll see. They get to the airport as the flight is boarding and are told that the flight left as they were at the ticket counter. The next flight leaves at 9:30 a.m. They realize it will take a miracle for them to stay in the Race.
The teams hop in the cars and everyone seems really tense trying to get out of the airport. Thomas is his usual snarky self and even Brook is telling Claire “don’t yell at me.” (For the record, she wasn’t.) Brook & Claire laugh about going to the border and getting the two leaders together and making peace. Kat notes that the signs are totally devoid of any English characters and hopes they are in the right direction. Thomas & Jill get to the bridge and get the clue as Brook & Claire pull up, and we see Nat & Kat having navigation problems yet again. The clue tells the teams to select a rafting guide and raft down the Hantangang River, grab a Humvee and drive to the U.S. Army Base Camp Casey. It’s pouring rain, so at least getting wet in the river won’t matter. Nat & Kat get there and Kat asks Nat “got the keys?” and Nat says yes - meaning, I bet, that they will NOT have the keys when they get back to the car. (The show is over, and it didn't mean a thing).
Everyone has to change into wetsuit-looking outfits to raft, and they’re two of the five people in the raft that paddle. Nat laughs that “we’re rafting down the DMZ” in Korea. Brook & Claire seem to be having the most fun but Nat & Kat are enjoying themselves too.
Once at the shore, Thomas & Jill have to put on helmets and climb in the back of the Humvee. I would definitely be freaked out having to wear a helmet! Everyone at the base is wearing orange vests as are the teams. At the base, the clue is a Roadblock. Phil explains that the soldiers at the base learn various martial arts. We see a field of soldiers throwing punches and are told that the teams must select a headband and then find the soldier wearing a matching headband walking through the soldiers and avoiding getting clobbered. Once they find the correct soldier, he will break a board and their next clue will fall out of the broken board.
Thomas runs up the steps of the stadium they’re practicing in to get his headband, and Brook & Claire show up and Brook runs through the soldiers apologizing “for being all up in your grill” as she compares headbands. Thomas finds the correct soldier and gets their clue, which tells them to go to the subway station on foot and travel to the Seoul World Cup Stadium and find the clue box.
Brook runs back up into the stands for another headband as Nat & Kat show up, and Kat runs off to attempt the task. Brook finds her soldier and has to kick the board herself before opening the clue. (She doesn’t break the board).
Thomas & Jill find the subway and keep a lookout for Brook & Claire but don’t see them running up. Kat finds her soldier and off she and Nat run to the subway. Thomas & Jill get on the subway train as Brook is having problems getting through the turnstile and they end up missing the subway. Nat & Kat show up and end up on the same train with Brook & Claire.
Thomas & Jill get to the stadium and the clue is a Detour: Full Throttle or Full Bottle. Phil tells us that South Koreans are major players in the world sports scene, and it’s time the teams find out why. For Full Throttle, teams go by foot or subway to the Mokdong Ice Rink and get into a speed skating suit, then run a two-person relay for 24 laps. Once completed, the coach will give them their clue. In Full Bottle, teams go to Dogdaemun Market on foot or by subway, put on delivery uniforms and carry 6 giant ginseng roots to a holistic wellness center. Once there, they have to drink a small bottle of ginseng tonic and then they will get their clue. I think that some team is gonna mess up and take a cab to their destination, because of the emphasis on the “by foot or by subway” in the clues. Jill asks right away if they can take a cab but Thomas has read the clue correctly. Thomas & Jill decide to try speed skating. Claire says she hasn’t skated since she was 7 but Brook tries to talk her into it, saying she’ll go extra fast to make up for it. Nat & Kat will skate also. After some bantering back and forth, Claire says she’ll do the ice skating but Brook can’t yell at her.
Right about now, Nick & Vicki are landing and find a local that offers to take them to the bridge. Brook & Claire seem to be arguing now about the ice skating task, and stupidly are calling for a taxi - maybe the break that Nick & Vicki need. Nat & Kat jump run to the subway but just miss a train. Brook & Claire get to the ice rink before Thomas & Jill and complain about the speed skating suit, saying it’s not their “flair.” Thomas & Jill can’t figure out how the shopping hosts beat them there. Nick & Vicki’s local ends up stopping at a market to ask for directions, and ends up buying some food and tells Vicki to take it, “for beautiful woman.” Nick tells Vicki that the guy wants her and “I knew you were good for something.” (Creep.)
At the ice rink, Brook & Claire are funny, but not more than Thomas, who looks like he’s walking on his skates and Brook & Claire interview later and get a good laugh out of it. Jill falls down and Thomas actually tells her it’s okay, that “we’re all going to fall a lot.” There are two speed skaters skating around the rink too, and it looks as if there’s a good chance someone’s gonna get run over!
Nick & Vicki’s local is now stopping near some military guys and asking them if they know where they’re going and the military doesn’t either. Looks like Brook & Claire’s mistake may not matter....
Jill keeps falling and Thomas tells her “stay on your feet.” (Duh once more). They manage to catch up and lap Brook & Claire, getting their clue and the lead once again. The clue tells them to go to Han Riverside Park (also known as Yeouido Hangang Park) and search for a statue that looks like an airplane, where the clue box is located. As Thomas & Jill and Brook & Claire leave the ice rink, Nat & Kat show up and start skating (very slowly).
In the taxi, Thomas & Jill are still wondering how Brook & Claire managed to catch up, while Brook & Claire’s taxi driver is asking Claire if she’s “solo.” She tells him she’s getting married and he then tells them he’s a comedian. Back at the rink, Kat says “I’m channeling my inner Apolo Anton Ohno.” Brook & Claire get to the park right after Thomas & Jill, who are asking a local about the statue and getting nowhere. Claire gives the cab driver a kiss (which Brook states is number 9 - slackers) and they find the statue pretty quickly. The clue tells them to go to the next Pit Stop, which the “Temple of Heaven” and is across town. It was built in 1897 for the first emperor.
Nat & Kat finish their laps and tell the coach “we’re available for the next Olympics.” They knew they were slow but they decided to have fun doing it.
Brook & Claire race to the Mat and Phil tells them that they’re the first team to arrive - BUT they took a taxi which was against the rule and will get a 30-minute penalty. Which, when you think about it, really isn’t that big a deal ... they won’t get first but they’ll be int the top three for sure. Thomas & Jill’s taxi driver doesn’t know where the Temple is and calls to find out but Thomas & Jill have no patience and find another cab. They get to the Mat and Phil tells them that while they are the second team to arrive, they get first place because of Brook & Claire’s mistake, and a trip to Argentina. They tell Phil they’ve worked hard and think they deserve to be in the final leg.
Nat & Kat get to the clue box and find a cab to get them to the Temple, but Brook & Claire’s penalty expires and are officially team number two and in the finals to race for a million. Nat & Kat get to the Mat shortly after and become one of three teams to race in the finals - and make the odds of an all-female team winning that much greater.
Nick & Vicki get to the bridge and raft, ride the Humvee, and their Speed Bump has them washing a tank. It’s dark now, and they interview that they’ve learned a lot about each other, and Nick says the hardest part is acknowledging the flaws (you got plenty, now be nice). They’re the last team to the Mat and Phil eliminates them. Nick says getting angry about things and being rude to people doesn’t get him anywhere, and Vicki says they got through the Race without her killing him, so that’s a good thing. Yeah, it is!
So here's how our teams finished:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Nat & Kat
4 - Nick & Vicki (eliminated)
The three remaining teams all interview about winning the million, and it will be a good last leg of The Amazing Race!!! Any of the teams can win this thing - it all comes down to who makes the least number of mistakes.
So next week promises to be exciting! Will Race history be made? Tune in and find out!
Leaving the Pit Stop first, Nat & Kat open their clue to find out they are flying to Seoul, South Korea and then must drive themselves to the North Korean border - the Demilitarized Zone - and search for the Seungil Bridge for their next clue. Nat & Kat interview that they think they have what it takes to win the Race, but they’re pretty freaked about having to get close to the border of North Korea. Reading the clue we hear “do not cross the border.” (Duh! I admit I’m a little surprised that The Race is sending teams close to that border, especially with North Korea being stupid about nuclear weapons and such.)
Thomas & Jill leave second, and Thomas interviews that they’re the top contenders but there are hungry, smart and athletic women teams that are “forces to be reckoned with.” You betcha, buddy! This just might be the year that an all-female team wins The Amazing Race! Brook & Claire open their clue and don’t even try to pronounce the bridge or river names and head off to a hotel to try and get tickets for their flight, thinking that the hotel would have better connections. Claire interviews that she has a good feeling that they’re going to rock it and make history standing on the Mat first at the end. (Uh oh, are the producers giving us a peek at “say one thing and the total opposite happens?”) The woman at the desk finds them a flight leaving at 12:25 a.m. and will fax copies of their passports to the airport.
Nat & Kat meet up with Thomas & Jill at the airport and joke about getting close to the North Korean border. They get the same flight as Brook & Claire. Brook & Claire are sitting in the restaurant at the hotel sipping coffee and laughing at the way they’re dressed for the place - cute matching pink tank tops, black shorts and white and red striped kneesox. Back at the airport, Nat & Kat find a guy and tell him that they’re traveling but they don’t have any money and talk the guy into buying them a travel book - and he even autographs the cover with a good luck wish.
Nick & Vicki leave in the dark and Nick interviews that the Race has shown them some major flaws in their relationship. (No, just YOUR relationship. Butthead.) He says he feels like scum (he should) and promised Vicki he’s never going to blow up like that again. We’ll see. They get to the airport as the flight is boarding and are told that the flight left as they were at the ticket counter. The next flight leaves at 9:30 a.m. They realize it will take a miracle for them to stay in the Race.
The teams hop in the cars and everyone seems really tense trying to get out of the airport. Thomas is his usual snarky self and even Brook is telling Claire “don’t yell at me.” (For the record, she wasn’t.) Brook & Claire laugh about going to the border and getting the two leaders together and making peace. Kat notes that the signs are totally devoid of any English characters and hopes they are in the right direction. Thomas & Jill get to the bridge and get the clue as Brook & Claire pull up, and we see Nat & Kat having navigation problems yet again. The clue tells the teams to select a rafting guide and raft down the Hantangang River, grab a Humvee and drive to the U.S. Army Base Camp Casey. It’s pouring rain, so at least getting wet in the river won’t matter. Nat & Kat get there and Kat asks Nat “got the keys?” and Nat says yes - meaning, I bet, that they will NOT have the keys when they get back to the car. (The show is over, and it didn't mean a thing).
Everyone has to change into wetsuit-looking outfits to raft, and they’re two of the five people in the raft that paddle. Nat laughs that “we’re rafting down the DMZ” in Korea. Brook & Claire seem to be having the most fun but Nat & Kat are enjoying themselves too.
Once at the shore, Thomas & Jill have to put on helmets and climb in the back of the Humvee. I would definitely be freaked out having to wear a helmet! Everyone at the base is wearing orange vests as are the teams. At the base, the clue is a Roadblock. Phil explains that the soldiers at the base learn various martial arts. We see a field of soldiers throwing punches and are told that the teams must select a headband and then find the soldier wearing a matching headband walking through the soldiers and avoiding getting clobbered. Once they find the correct soldier, he will break a board and their next clue will fall out of the broken board.
Thomas runs up the steps of the stadium they’re practicing in to get his headband, and Brook & Claire show up and Brook runs through the soldiers apologizing “for being all up in your grill” as she compares headbands. Thomas finds the correct soldier and gets their clue, which tells them to go to the subway station on foot and travel to the Seoul World Cup Stadium and find the clue box.
Brook runs back up into the stands for another headband as Nat & Kat show up, and Kat runs off to attempt the task. Brook finds her soldier and has to kick the board herself before opening the clue. (She doesn’t break the board).
Thomas & Jill find the subway and keep a lookout for Brook & Claire but don’t see them running up. Kat finds her soldier and off she and Nat run to the subway. Thomas & Jill get on the subway train as Brook is having problems getting through the turnstile and they end up missing the subway. Nat & Kat show up and end up on the same train with Brook & Claire.
Thomas & Jill get to the stadium and the clue is a Detour: Full Throttle or Full Bottle. Phil tells us that South Koreans are major players in the world sports scene, and it’s time the teams find out why. For Full Throttle, teams go by foot or subway to the Mokdong Ice Rink and get into a speed skating suit, then run a two-person relay for 24 laps. Once completed, the coach will give them their clue. In Full Bottle, teams go to Dogdaemun Market on foot or by subway, put on delivery uniforms and carry 6 giant ginseng roots to a holistic wellness center. Once there, they have to drink a small bottle of ginseng tonic and then they will get their clue. I think that some team is gonna mess up and take a cab to their destination, because of the emphasis on the “by foot or by subway” in the clues. Jill asks right away if they can take a cab but Thomas has read the clue correctly. Thomas & Jill decide to try speed skating. Claire says she hasn’t skated since she was 7 but Brook tries to talk her into it, saying she’ll go extra fast to make up for it. Nat & Kat will skate also. After some bantering back and forth, Claire says she’ll do the ice skating but Brook can’t yell at her.
Right about now, Nick & Vicki are landing and find a local that offers to take them to the bridge. Brook & Claire seem to be arguing now about the ice skating task, and stupidly are calling for a taxi - maybe the break that Nick & Vicki need. Nat & Kat jump run to the subway but just miss a train. Brook & Claire get to the ice rink before Thomas & Jill and complain about the speed skating suit, saying it’s not their “flair.” Thomas & Jill can’t figure out how the shopping hosts beat them there. Nick & Vicki’s local ends up stopping at a market to ask for directions, and ends up buying some food and tells Vicki to take it, “for beautiful woman.” Nick tells Vicki that the guy wants her and “I knew you were good for something.” (Creep.)
At the ice rink, Brook & Claire are funny, but not more than Thomas, who looks like he’s walking on his skates and Brook & Claire interview later and get a good laugh out of it. Jill falls down and Thomas actually tells her it’s okay, that “we’re all going to fall a lot.” There are two speed skaters skating around the rink too, and it looks as if there’s a good chance someone’s gonna get run over!
Nick & Vicki’s local is now stopping near some military guys and asking them if they know where they’re going and the military doesn’t either. Looks like Brook & Claire’s mistake may not matter....
Jill keeps falling and Thomas tells her “stay on your feet.” (Duh once more). They manage to catch up and lap Brook & Claire, getting their clue and the lead once again. The clue tells them to go to Han Riverside Park (also known as Yeouido Hangang Park) and search for a statue that looks like an airplane, where the clue box is located. As Thomas & Jill and Brook & Claire leave the ice rink, Nat & Kat show up and start skating (very slowly).
In the taxi, Thomas & Jill are still wondering how Brook & Claire managed to catch up, while Brook & Claire’s taxi driver is asking Claire if she’s “solo.” She tells him she’s getting married and he then tells them he’s a comedian. Back at the rink, Kat says “I’m channeling my inner Apolo Anton Ohno.” Brook & Claire get to the park right after Thomas & Jill, who are asking a local about the statue and getting nowhere. Claire gives the cab driver a kiss (which Brook states is number 9 - slackers) and they find the statue pretty quickly. The clue tells them to go to the next Pit Stop, which the “Temple of Heaven” and is across town. It was built in 1897 for the first emperor.
Nat & Kat finish their laps and tell the coach “we’re available for the next Olympics.” They knew they were slow but they decided to have fun doing it.
Brook & Claire race to the Mat and Phil tells them that they’re the first team to arrive - BUT they took a taxi which was against the rule and will get a 30-minute penalty. Which, when you think about it, really isn’t that big a deal ... they won’t get first but they’ll be int the top three for sure. Thomas & Jill’s taxi driver doesn’t know where the Temple is and calls to find out but Thomas & Jill have no patience and find another cab. They get to the Mat and Phil tells them that while they are the second team to arrive, they get first place because of Brook & Claire’s mistake, and a trip to Argentina. They tell Phil they’ve worked hard and think they deserve to be in the final leg.
Nat & Kat get to the clue box and find a cab to get them to the Temple, but Brook & Claire’s penalty expires and are officially team number two and in the finals to race for a million. Nat & Kat get to the Mat shortly after and become one of three teams to race in the finals - and make the odds of an all-female team winning that much greater.
Nick & Vicki get to the bridge and raft, ride the Humvee, and their Speed Bump has them washing a tank. It’s dark now, and they interview that they’ve learned a lot about each other, and Nick says the hardest part is acknowledging the flaws (you got plenty, now be nice). They’re the last team to the Mat and Phil eliminates them. Nick says getting angry about things and being rude to people doesn’t get him anywhere, and Vicki says they got through the Race without her killing him, so that’s a good thing. Yeah, it is!
So here's how our teams finished:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Nat & Kat
4 - Nick & Vicki (eliminated)
The three remaining teams all interview about winning the million, and it will be a good last leg of The Amazing Race!!! Any of the teams can win this thing - it all comes down to who makes the least number of mistakes.
So next week promises to be exciting! Will Race history be made? Tune in and find out!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Racing Through Smelly, People-Packed Bangladesh
Five teams left! Who will get ever closer to the million dollar prize? Can an all-female team finally win this thing?
Muscat, Oman is the beginning point for this Leg of the Race. Chad & Stephanie will be leaving first (and they’re not oversleeping today, they leave at 11:10 a.m.). They must fly to Dhaka, Bangladesh (the world’s most densely populated city) and find the Sundarban Square Supermarket. They have to find a sugar cane press, fill a glass with sugar cane juice, and one team member has to drink the glass before getting their next clue. (I’m feeling queasy just thinking about drinking pure sugar right now! Ick!) The clue tells them that somewhere on the Leg there will be a Double U-Turn. Chad & Stephanie say that if given a chance, they’ll U-Turn Nat & Kat because they are big threats. Chad doesn’t want to lose “to a pair of girls.” Thomas & Jill mention that they might be a team that’s U-Turned by other teams. Nick & Vicki leave next, followed by Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat bring up the rear (obviously a big threat, eh?)
Chad & Stephanie find a flight landing tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. as Thomas & Jill show up at the travel agency and get the same tickets. Nick & Vicki get seats on that flight also, as do Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat go to Oman Air for their tickets. Chad decides that he wants a cheeseburger and Blizzard so he and Stephanie wander off as Thomas & Jill hang around hoping they can get an earlier-landing flight.
Nat & Kat decide to fly to Dubai and take their chances on getting a ticket to Bangladesh because they didn’t have time to get other connections before their flight left. This could either be a big mistake or big reward - we’ll wait and see! Thomas and Jill may be getting tickets that land at 5:00 a.m. and Brooke & Claire see them and decide to find out what they were doing. The agent booked Thomas & Jill on Qatar Airlines but Brook & Claire find out the flight is full. The shopping hosts tell Nick & Vicki, who wonder if Chad & Stephanie got the same flight - but they’re off eating. Nick & Vicki find out from another ticket agent that there is a flight that lands at 8:40 a.m. - but there’s only one seat. Somehow a seat frees up and they get the tickets - and Brook & Claire find out in the travel agency they’re at that the one seat is gone and realize that Nick & Vicki got it.
Brook & Claire run into Chad & Stephanie sitting and waiting for the flight and feel better that they’re not alone. Nat & Kat are in Dubai and find a flight that lands at noon in Bangladesh.
Thomas & Jill land and are amazed at the number of people in the city at 6:00 a.m. as well as the heat. Jill remarks that it’s a normal rush hour amount of people and traffic. They’re grinding away on the sugar cane, and Thomas downs the full glass and as they read their clue, Jill grabs a swig to taste it. The clue is a Detour concerning some time-tested traditions in Bangladesh: Balanced Meal or Balanced Brick. They must pick up a snack call a “tiffin” (which after a perfunctory search online, couldn’t find out what it was, exactly - and it looks like mush) which is held in interlocking containers (I did find some places where I could buy the containers). They must take them to a ship and load 30 containers, and bring back ten empties for their clue. For Balanced Brick, they must put a loaded basket on their heads and take it from a supply barge to a shop. They have to deliver 100 unbroken bricks for their next clue. (I can imagine the headaches now!)
Jill loses her first load of bricks off her head, and gets laughs from the locals. Thomas remarks at how the locals are taking twice as many bricks and barely breaking a sweat.
Nat & Kat get to their next connecting airport and see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie sleeping in some seats. They feel better that there are two other teams with them.
Thomas & Jill get their 100 bricks delivered and their clue tells them to go to Dhaka River Port. Back at the airport, the teams wake up and see Nat & Kat. Thomas & Jill find the U-Turn and talk about Brook & Claire. The Double U-Turn means that two teams can be U-Turned to do both Detour tasks. Thomas & Jill decide to U-Turn the shopping hosts. The next clue tells them to take a bicycle rickshaw to Nazira Bazaar. On the plane, Brook & Claire have some ESP because they say “If they U-Turn us they’re the biggest idiots in the world.” (Creeps, maybe, but not idiots. You two are a team to be reckoned with!)
At the Bazaar, the clue is a Roadblock. They must go to a bicycle shop and assemble a rickshaw. When the rickshaw maker is happy, they will get their next clue. Obviously they didn’t teach building/mechanics/how to use tools at Notre Dame so Jill takes this task on. She mentions there are a “lot of nuts and bullets.”
Nick & Vicki land and Vicki loves the “little buggies” and hopes that they have to rent one. (You’ll have to build one, honey!) They interview that it smells bad in Bangladesh - “everyone has nasty body odor.” Vicki mentions that the sugar cane juice looks good but when Nick asks “do you want to drink it?” Vicki says no. Jill is still working - and sweating - on her rickshaw and making pretty good progress. Nick & Vicki are taking off for the Detour Balanced Meal and she remarks that she feels bad for their rickshaw driver, because their “bags weigh almost as much as we do.”
Jill thinks she is done with the rickshaw, but she’s forgotten the chain and gets a thumbs-down from the shop owner. Nick & Vicki have their tiffin containers loaded and are off in the boat. Chad & Stephanie are the first to leave the airport, followed by Nat & Kat, while Brook & Claire are still hanging around looking for a taxi. Brook mentions that the people are staring at them a lot, and Claire says “you stick out like a sore thumb.” Jill finally realizes that she’s missing the chain, puts it on and gets their clue. They must go to Lalbagh Fort, a 300-year-old castle, which is the Pit Stop for this Leg of the Race.
Nick & Vicki get to the ship to deliver the tiffin, and are hoisting ten canisters at a time and feeling that they’re “on their game” today. They do hate the smell of it, getting it all over them. Kat, Brook & Chad are the drinkers of the sugar juice and they all decide to do Balanced Meal. Chad & Stepanie take off in the opposite direction as the female teams, after asking their driver if he’s sure he knows where to go. Somebody is gonna be wrong!
Thomas & Jill get to the Fort and are greeted by a horrible military-style band. Phil tells them they are team number one, and have won a $15,000 gift card.
Vicki sees kids swimming in the water and mentions that she wouldn’t do it - “the water is brown.” They make short work of the task and are off to get their clue. They see that Brook & Claire were U-Turned, and say that they’re surprised considering that everyone was so far behind from Thomas & Jill. Nick wants to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie, but Vicki talks him out of it saying it’s pointless because they were behind them - and Nick says she’s too nice.
Chad & Stephanie have to stop to figure out where they’re going, as do Nat & Kat, and the local the doctors ask says he’ll help them and leads them on foot. They get their boat loaded and are off as Brook & Claire get to the shop, and Chad & Stephanie can’t find anyone who knows where to go. They finally find someone and off they go.
Nick decides to build the rickshaw (he built bikes as a kid) and Vicki thinks that Nick listening to her about not U-Turning anyone is a big deal. Nat & Kat packed some extra stuff, and used straps they brought to hoist the containers to the ship. Chad & Stephanie finally show up to the shop as Brook & Claire start hoisting their tiffin containers to the ship. Nick thinks he’s done with the rickshaw but he also forgot the chain, and is told he’s not done. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie show up and remark that they can U-Turn them.
Nick is having problems trying to figure out what he missed. Vicki tells him to stay calm - good advice, because he finds the chain and they get their next clue.
Nat & Kat finish their task and get to the U-Turn, and decide to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie. (Ooh, Chad’s gonna bitch something fierce!) They’re happy that they’re not on the U-Turn station. Brook & Claire get to the clue box and find out that Thomas & Jill U-Turned them, and see that Chad & Stephanie are in the same boat, and get moving to finish the Balancing Bricks before Chad & Stephanie can catch up. Brook is the eternal cheerleader, yelling at Claire to keep moving, “no complaining.”
Nick & Vicki make it to the Mat in second place, getting their best finish, and Vicki tells Nick that him being nice pays off.
Brook & Claire are shuffling bricks and Brook keeps yelling “c’mon Claire!” She’s been a little more toned down but I can see how Claire would want to stuff Brook’s mouth with a sock right about now. She’s getting really tired and Brook tells her that she’ll take more bricks the next time. Nat & Kat get to the rickshaw building, and Nat will be doing this Roadblock. Nat mentions that she buys things from Ikea so she feels that she can put this together. (?)
Brook mentions to Claire that she’s surprised that they haven’t seen Chad & Stephanie yet. That’s because they’re wandering around looking for the clue box. Their rickshaw driver offered to drive them, but the clue told them to go on foot - you’d figure they’d at least find out where they had to go from him! Chad is pretty ticked and they find someone who speaks English, and find out they’re in the right direction. They finally find the clue box, and Chad sees Brook & Claire have been U-Turned, but then notices that they are also. As they take off for the bricks, Brook & Claire finish the task and Claire pleads with Brook to just “speed walk” instead of running. “I’m not going to be a very good teammate if I’m passed out.”
Chad & Stephanie are lugging bricks and Chad is being positive again (not!) and yelling at Stephanie to keep moving. She finally tells him to “shut the hell up.” Brook & Claire get to the clue box and take off to the Roadblock, bickering a bit as they go. Claire tells Brook “I don’t run marathons like you. If you wanted a partner like that you should have picked someone different.” Brook interviews later that in the moment, it’s hard to be empathetic but later realizes that it’s really hard. They get to the clue box and see that Nat & Kat are still there building their rickshaw. Chad is being better and telling Stephanie to keep pushing, and not take so many bricks the next time.
Brook will build the rickshaw, and she’s pretty happy that after doing both Detours, they’ve caught up with Nat & Kat. Chad & Stephanie finish and walk off holding hands, with Stephanie apologizing and Chad telling her “don’t be sorry. You busted your ass.” (Good boy.)
Kat interviews that it took her forever to put the rickshaw together, and she gets a “no” from the shop owner because she forgot something on the wheels. As she goes back to check, Chad & Stephanie show up and Stephanie will do the task. (Two of our remaining three guys neglected to do this one. I’m a bit surprised). Chad gets snarky with the doctors after being U-Turned, yelling that Nat should be better with her PhD, and “big, smart doctor can’t put a bicycle together.” She tells Chad that it wasn’t personal, they were the only team behind them. Chad figures he’s trying to help by getting in someone else’s head. He yells to Stephanie that she’s doing great and they can pass Nat & Kat. Nat tells Chad “I love you” which doesn’t impress Chad. Brook is kicking butt and Claire says she’s proud of Brook. Nat finishes, and they take off telling the other teams good luck, and especially mentioning Chad, saying “no hard feelings.” Stephanie is having problems with the back seat and Brook is getting nowhere putting the bell on.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love TiVo and being able to blast through the commercials?
Brook manages to get the bell on the handlebars and gets her clue. She hugs the guy (what, no kiss?) Stephanie finishes shortly after and they ask where the Fort is. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie right behind them and decide to run faster.
Nat & Kat get to the Mat (sounds like a Dr. Seuss book) and they tell Phil they have no regrets about using the U-Turn. It’s now dark as we see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie running around looking for the Fort, and Brook & Claire make it to the Mat in fourth. Brook tells Phil she can’t believe that “two little girls” got U-Turned and Phil laughs. “Don’t tell me that you’re not a threat!” Chad & Stephanie finally show up, and Phil tells them they are eliminated from the Race. Chad says he wasn’t really surprised that they were U-Turned, being the last team there. He says he still feels rich because he has Stephanie. Awwwww!
Here are our standings:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Nick & Vicki
3 - Nat & Kat
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Chad & Stephanie (eliminated)
So two out of the four remaining teams are female. And our rocket scientists are still in this! After such a nice working-together week, the previews show Nick being a butthead and making Vicki cry so maybe this will be their undoing. When will teams learn, that the better they get along and work together, the better they finish? Tsk!
Muscat, Oman is the beginning point for this Leg of the Race. Chad & Stephanie will be leaving first (and they’re not oversleeping today, they leave at 11:10 a.m.). They must fly to Dhaka, Bangladesh (the world’s most densely populated city) and find the Sundarban Square Supermarket. They have to find a sugar cane press, fill a glass with sugar cane juice, and one team member has to drink the glass before getting their next clue. (I’m feeling queasy just thinking about drinking pure sugar right now! Ick!) The clue tells them that somewhere on the Leg there will be a Double U-Turn. Chad & Stephanie say that if given a chance, they’ll U-Turn Nat & Kat because they are big threats. Chad doesn’t want to lose “to a pair of girls.” Thomas & Jill mention that they might be a team that’s U-Turned by other teams. Nick & Vicki leave next, followed by Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat bring up the rear (obviously a big threat, eh?)
Chad & Stephanie find a flight landing tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. as Thomas & Jill show up at the travel agency and get the same tickets. Nick & Vicki get seats on that flight also, as do Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat go to Oman Air for their tickets. Chad decides that he wants a cheeseburger and Blizzard so he and Stephanie wander off as Thomas & Jill hang around hoping they can get an earlier-landing flight.
Nat & Kat decide to fly to Dubai and take their chances on getting a ticket to Bangladesh because they didn’t have time to get other connections before their flight left. This could either be a big mistake or big reward - we’ll wait and see! Thomas and Jill may be getting tickets that land at 5:00 a.m. and Brooke & Claire see them and decide to find out what they were doing. The agent booked Thomas & Jill on Qatar Airlines but Brook & Claire find out the flight is full. The shopping hosts tell Nick & Vicki, who wonder if Chad & Stephanie got the same flight - but they’re off eating. Nick & Vicki find out from another ticket agent that there is a flight that lands at 8:40 a.m. - but there’s only one seat. Somehow a seat frees up and they get the tickets - and Brook & Claire find out in the travel agency they’re at that the one seat is gone and realize that Nick & Vicki got it.
Brook & Claire run into Chad & Stephanie sitting and waiting for the flight and feel better that they’re not alone. Nat & Kat are in Dubai and find a flight that lands at noon in Bangladesh.
Thomas & Jill land and are amazed at the number of people in the city at 6:00 a.m. as well as the heat. Jill remarks that it’s a normal rush hour amount of people and traffic. They’re grinding away on the sugar cane, and Thomas downs the full glass and as they read their clue, Jill grabs a swig to taste it. The clue is a Detour concerning some time-tested traditions in Bangladesh: Balanced Meal or Balanced Brick. They must pick up a snack call a “tiffin” (which after a perfunctory search online, couldn’t find out what it was, exactly - and it looks like mush) which is held in interlocking containers (I did find some places where I could buy the containers). They must take them to a ship and load 30 containers, and bring back ten empties for their clue. For Balanced Brick, they must put a loaded basket on their heads and take it from a supply barge to a shop. They have to deliver 100 unbroken bricks for their next clue. (I can imagine the headaches now!)
Jill loses her first load of bricks off her head, and gets laughs from the locals. Thomas remarks at how the locals are taking twice as many bricks and barely breaking a sweat.
Nat & Kat get to their next connecting airport and see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie sleeping in some seats. They feel better that there are two other teams with them.
Thomas & Jill get their 100 bricks delivered and their clue tells them to go to Dhaka River Port. Back at the airport, the teams wake up and see Nat & Kat. Thomas & Jill find the U-Turn and talk about Brook & Claire. The Double U-Turn means that two teams can be U-Turned to do both Detour tasks. Thomas & Jill decide to U-Turn the shopping hosts. The next clue tells them to take a bicycle rickshaw to Nazira Bazaar. On the plane, Brook & Claire have some ESP because they say “If they U-Turn us they’re the biggest idiots in the world.” (Creeps, maybe, but not idiots. You two are a team to be reckoned with!)
At the Bazaar, the clue is a Roadblock. They must go to a bicycle shop and assemble a rickshaw. When the rickshaw maker is happy, they will get their next clue. Obviously they didn’t teach building/mechanics/how to use tools at Notre Dame so Jill takes this task on. She mentions there are a “lot of nuts and bullets.”
Nick & Vicki land and Vicki loves the “little buggies” and hopes that they have to rent one. (You’ll have to build one, honey!) They interview that it smells bad in Bangladesh - “everyone has nasty body odor.” Vicki mentions that the sugar cane juice looks good but when Nick asks “do you want to drink it?” Vicki says no. Jill is still working - and sweating - on her rickshaw and making pretty good progress. Nick & Vicki are taking off for the Detour Balanced Meal and she remarks that she feels bad for their rickshaw driver, because their “bags weigh almost as much as we do.”
Jill thinks she is done with the rickshaw, but she’s forgotten the chain and gets a thumbs-down from the shop owner. Nick & Vicki have their tiffin containers loaded and are off in the boat. Chad & Stephanie are the first to leave the airport, followed by Nat & Kat, while Brook & Claire are still hanging around looking for a taxi. Brook mentions that the people are staring at them a lot, and Claire says “you stick out like a sore thumb.” Jill finally realizes that she’s missing the chain, puts it on and gets their clue. They must go to Lalbagh Fort, a 300-year-old castle, which is the Pit Stop for this Leg of the Race.
Nick & Vicki get to the ship to deliver the tiffin, and are hoisting ten canisters at a time and feeling that they’re “on their game” today. They do hate the smell of it, getting it all over them. Kat, Brook & Chad are the drinkers of the sugar juice and they all decide to do Balanced Meal. Chad & Stepanie take off in the opposite direction as the female teams, after asking their driver if he’s sure he knows where to go. Somebody is gonna be wrong!
Thomas & Jill get to the Fort and are greeted by a horrible military-style band. Phil tells them they are team number one, and have won a $15,000 gift card.
Vicki sees kids swimming in the water and mentions that she wouldn’t do it - “the water is brown.” They make short work of the task and are off to get their clue. They see that Brook & Claire were U-Turned, and say that they’re surprised considering that everyone was so far behind from Thomas & Jill. Nick wants to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie, but Vicki talks him out of it saying it’s pointless because they were behind them - and Nick says she’s too nice.
Chad & Stephanie have to stop to figure out where they’re going, as do Nat & Kat, and the local the doctors ask says he’ll help them and leads them on foot. They get their boat loaded and are off as Brook & Claire get to the shop, and Chad & Stephanie can’t find anyone who knows where to go. They finally find someone and off they go.
Nick decides to build the rickshaw (he built bikes as a kid) and Vicki thinks that Nick listening to her about not U-Turning anyone is a big deal. Nat & Kat packed some extra stuff, and used straps they brought to hoist the containers to the ship. Chad & Stephanie finally show up to the shop as Brook & Claire start hoisting their tiffin containers to the ship. Nick thinks he’s done with the rickshaw but he also forgot the chain, and is told he’s not done. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie show up and remark that they can U-Turn them.
Nick is having problems trying to figure out what he missed. Vicki tells him to stay calm - good advice, because he finds the chain and they get their next clue.
Nat & Kat finish their task and get to the U-Turn, and decide to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie. (Ooh, Chad’s gonna bitch something fierce!) They’re happy that they’re not on the U-Turn station. Brook & Claire get to the clue box and find out that Thomas & Jill U-Turned them, and see that Chad & Stephanie are in the same boat, and get moving to finish the Balancing Bricks before Chad & Stephanie can catch up. Brook is the eternal cheerleader, yelling at Claire to keep moving, “no complaining.”
Nick & Vicki make it to the Mat in second place, getting their best finish, and Vicki tells Nick that him being nice pays off.
Brook & Claire are shuffling bricks and Brook keeps yelling “c’mon Claire!” She’s been a little more toned down but I can see how Claire would want to stuff Brook’s mouth with a sock right about now. She’s getting really tired and Brook tells her that she’ll take more bricks the next time. Nat & Kat get to the rickshaw building, and Nat will be doing this Roadblock. Nat mentions that she buys things from Ikea so she feels that she can put this together. (?)
Brook mentions to Claire that she’s surprised that they haven’t seen Chad & Stephanie yet. That’s because they’re wandering around looking for the clue box. Their rickshaw driver offered to drive them, but the clue told them to go on foot - you’d figure they’d at least find out where they had to go from him! Chad is pretty ticked and they find someone who speaks English, and find out they’re in the right direction. They finally find the clue box, and Chad sees Brook & Claire have been U-Turned, but then notices that they are also. As they take off for the bricks, Brook & Claire finish the task and Claire pleads with Brook to just “speed walk” instead of running. “I’m not going to be a very good teammate if I’m passed out.”
Chad & Stephanie are lugging bricks and Chad is being positive again (not!) and yelling at Stephanie to keep moving. She finally tells him to “shut the hell up.” Brook & Claire get to the clue box and take off to the Roadblock, bickering a bit as they go. Claire tells Brook “I don’t run marathons like you. If you wanted a partner like that you should have picked someone different.” Brook interviews later that in the moment, it’s hard to be empathetic but later realizes that it’s really hard. They get to the clue box and see that Nat & Kat are still there building their rickshaw. Chad is being better and telling Stephanie to keep pushing, and not take so many bricks the next time.
Brook will build the rickshaw, and she’s pretty happy that after doing both Detours, they’ve caught up with Nat & Kat. Chad & Stephanie finish and walk off holding hands, with Stephanie apologizing and Chad telling her “don’t be sorry. You busted your ass.” (Good boy.)
Kat interviews that it took her forever to put the rickshaw together, and she gets a “no” from the shop owner because she forgot something on the wheels. As she goes back to check, Chad & Stephanie show up and Stephanie will do the task. (Two of our remaining three guys neglected to do this one. I’m a bit surprised). Chad gets snarky with the doctors after being U-Turned, yelling that Nat should be better with her PhD, and “big, smart doctor can’t put a bicycle together.” She tells Chad that it wasn’t personal, they were the only team behind them. Chad figures he’s trying to help by getting in someone else’s head. He yells to Stephanie that she’s doing great and they can pass Nat & Kat. Nat tells Chad “I love you” which doesn’t impress Chad. Brook is kicking butt and Claire says she’s proud of Brook. Nat finishes, and they take off telling the other teams good luck, and especially mentioning Chad, saying “no hard feelings.” Stephanie is having problems with the back seat and Brook is getting nowhere putting the bell on.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love TiVo and being able to blast through the commercials?
Brook manages to get the bell on the handlebars and gets her clue. She hugs the guy (what, no kiss?) Stephanie finishes shortly after and they ask where the Fort is. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie right behind them and decide to run faster.
Nat & Kat get to the Mat (sounds like a Dr. Seuss book) and they tell Phil they have no regrets about using the U-Turn. It’s now dark as we see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie running around looking for the Fort, and Brook & Claire make it to the Mat in fourth. Brook tells Phil she can’t believe that “two little girls” got U-Turned and Phil laughs. “Don’t tell me that you’re not a threat!” Chad & Stephanie finally show up, and Phil tells them they are eliminated from the Race. Chad says he wasn’t really surprised that they were U-Turned, being the last team there. He says he still feels rich because he has Stephanie. Awwwww!
Here are our standings:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Nick & Vicki
3 - Nat & Kat
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Chad & Stephanie (eliminated)
So two out of the four remaining teams are female. And our rocket scientists are still in this! After such a nice working-together week, the previews show Nick being a butthead and making Vicki cry so maybe this will be their undoing. When will teams learn, that the better they get along and work together, the better they finish? Tsk!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The Final Six Teams Race Around Mountains and Markets in Oman
It's another Leg of The Amazing Race - let's get moving!
Nat & Kat leave first from St. Petersburg Russia, at the Peter and Paul Fortress. The clue tells them to fly to Muscat, Oman, and go to Burj Al Mubkharah. Once there, a man will give them an ingot with a time on it, which is when they can climb a multitude of stairs in a fortress to get their next clue. The Doctors will stop at a travel agency for tickets before going to the airport, and so will Brook & Claire, who leave second. Nick & Vicki leave third and Nick tells us that he’s always stressed out of his mind. (I’ll go along with the out of his mind part, anyway). We get to hear Mallory scream once again as she and Gary open their clue - she screams a LOT!
Brook & Claire and Nick & Vicki show up at the travel agency as Nat & Kat are booking their flight. The earliest arrival time is 8:55 p.m. on a flight through Amsterdam. Gary & Mallory are soon at the travel agent followed by Thomas & Jill. Chad & Stephanie are supposed to leave the Pit Stop at 2:45 a.m., but all we see is a hotel room door and hear major snoring (which I hope is Chad!) Brook & Claire get the same flight at the Docs, but as Nick & Vicki sit down to book the flight, they’re told it’s full. The remaining teams won’t make it to Oman until 10:35 p.m. Again we hear snoring and see that they’re 1 hour and 52 minutes late to the starting Mat. They wake up in a panic and finally get their clue open at 4:45 a.m. We see “highlights” of their various arguments and Stephanie tells us that the Race is taking a toll on their relationship. When they get to the travel agent, they find out there are no seats on the second flight. Chad tells us that they haven’t been beaten in a Leg so far, but they’ve beaten themselves. They manage to find a flight that lands at 10:45 p.m., only ten minutes behind the second flight.
Landing in Oman, the first two teams get a weather shock - it’s nighttime and Kat tells us “it’s 90 degrees and very humid. Just think of what it will be like during the daytime.” The other teams land and feel the heat too - and Chad & Stephanie find luck of the Race gods and their flight lands early, catching them up with the other teams from the second flight.
The Docs and the Shopping Hosts get to the guy with the ingots, and he gives them both one that says 7:30 - so they get to spend the night outside in Oman! Thomas & Jill get 7:45 as to Chad & Stephanie. Gary & Mallory and Nick & Vicki’s time is 8:00.
We see the teams in the morning - the Docs are stretching, Nick looks like ten miles of bad road, and Brook & Claire are doing their beauty routine with hair and makeup. Chad tells Stephanie to take a walk with him, and at 6:00 a.m. they wander off. Chad tells us that his mom passed away while he was in college and his stepfather gave him his mother’s ring, which he’s been dragging around this whole Race. He’s very sweet, telling her how he can’t spend his life with anyone but Stephanie, and gets down on one knee and asks Stephanie to marry him. The other teams see what’s going on and cheer them as they come back and congrats abound. I’ll admit, I got a little snuffly myself, it was very nice. Especially remembering what an ass Chad can be at times!!!!
The next clue tells the teams to drive to Jebel Shams, which is the tallest mountain in Oman. A safety driver will take them to the top because of the treacherous drive, and the clue box will be waiting. Chad & Stephanie stop and ask directions, and after sniping at each other, so do Thomas & Jill. They both seem to get the same directions. Thomas comments how nice the people are even though “we’re up in their face.” Nick makes one of his few-and-far-between smart comments that “it takes just as long to look at a map and try and figure it out as it does to ask a local who for sure knows where it is.” They stop at a gas station and Brook & Claire pull in behind to ask directions, and Vicki tells the Shopping Hosts that “it’s this way, we’re going in the right direction.” Nick then proceeds to tell her to shut up and that she has no common sense in her whole body.
Chad & Stephanie find the mountain first and the driver climbs in the car to take them up the road. Gary & Mallory are driving around and Gary is thinking they’re lost, and Mallory insists it’s right. The clue asks “Who wants to add a little magic to their life?” They’re 10,000 feet above the ocean floor, and the Roadblock has a team member rappel down the side 500 feet onto a narrow ledge, and search among hundreds of lamps to find one with Aladdin’s magic ring. Once they deliver it they will get their next clue. Stephanie tells Chad she wants no part of this one, and he walks off to do it. He tells us he has no problem with heights, but they’re “in the freaking Grand Canyon of Oman.” Thomas & Jill show up and Jill will attempt this task. Chad’s loving the scenery and Jill is almost hyperventilating as she goes down.
Nat & Kat are thinking they’re lost, as do Gary & Mallory. As Jill shows up to look through the lamps, Chad finds his and gets their next clue, which tells them to go to Nizwa and find a giant Stack of Books, which is a monument in the middle of a roundabout. Jill finds the ring shortly after, and they take off as Nick & Vicki show up. As they read their clue, a goat comes by and rips part of their clue folder off and eats it. Nick is petrified of heights (add that to the list with clowns) and Vicki tells us she’s not scared of anything but bugs, so off she goes. Brook & Claire read the clue and Brook is amazed that Claire wants to do it.
Nat & Kat stop for directions, and we see Gary asking locals while Mallory prays in the car. We see Vicki making short work of the rappelling, saying she feels like Spiderman - “or Spider woman, whatever.”
At the Stack of Books, Chad & Stephanie run for the clue with Thomas & Jill right behind. It’s a Detour - Water Table or Wedding Table. For Water Table, they’ll have to pump water from an ancient well. When their truck is full they’ll drive through Muscat to find the house to deliver it to and once delivered, they’ll get their next clue. In Wedding Table, they’ll go to a market to purchase 25 frozen chickens and other ingredients for a traditional wedding soup which symbolizes health and virility. Once they’ve made the soup and presented it to the wedding couple, they get their next clue. (Sorry, after a little internet searching, couldn’t find the name of it, which Phil pronounced as “maklouf.”) Chad & Stephanie will try Water Table, and Thomas & Jill will try and follow them.
Vicki has found the ring, and Claire is right behind her. Nick realizes that they have a leaking tire which really ticks him off, having to change it. Chad & Stephanie and Jill & Thomas get to the water trucks and Chad & Stephanie are just ahead of Thomas & Jill, filling their truck and taking off. They have a driver, and Chad asks if he’s going to help them but he says no. Thomas & Jill overfill their truck (way to waste water in a desert, folks!)
Brook & Claire get to the clue and decide cooking isn’t their thing either. Nat & Kat get to the Roadblock and Kat takes off to rappel down the side of the mountain, because they had a deal that Nat wouldn’t be involved in any heights-challenges. Gary & Mallory are still really lost.
Thomas & Jill stop to ask a local for directions and he offers to let them follow him to the location. Nick & Vicki find the Stack of Books and decide to try Water Table as well. Kat rappels down the mountain and says “I’m trying not to look down” as she looks down. Chad & Stephanie drive through a neighborhood and stop to ask a local, asking him to lead them to the location. The local that is helping Thomas & Jill tells them that their delivery house is that of his cousin. They hook up to the house and get their clue as Chad & Stephanie drive by and see them. The clue tells them to drive to Muttrah Souq, which is a large market, and search for a vendor who gives them Frankincense. They must take it to “the famed” Ali Baba and exchange it for their next clue.
Nick & Vicki get to the water pumping station and get their truck full as Brook & Claire start filling theirs. Gary & Mallory finally get to the base of the mountain and tell their driver they’ve been driving for almost 9 hours! As Thomas & Jill are driving away from the water pumping station, Chad & Stephanie show up and Thomas is amazed that they got done so quickly. Kat is having major problems finding the ring in the lamp as Gary & Mallory get up the mountain. Gary mentions he’d like to see just one team having problems with the challenge, and it looks like he’ll get his wish as Kat looks through the hundreds of lamps. She finds the ring, though and they pass Gary & Mallory on their way down, giving Gary some hope that they’re still in the Race.
Thomas & Jill get to the market with Chad & Stephanie right behind, and manage to find the correct vendor and then Ali Baba pretty quickly. We see Mallory start looking in lamps and Brook & Claire asking a local for directions to deliver their water. Nick & Vicki also get a local’s help as Nat & Kat get to the Stack of Books and decide to do Water Table. Mallory finds her ring as we see Thomas & Jill getting their clue from Ali Baba, which tells them to drive to the next Pit Stop. It’s the Al Alam Palace. Thomas & Jill tell a cabbie that he’ll pay to follow him and it seems Chad & Stephanie are not far behind - alas, they won’t get to the Mat first. But they may still make it in first place, as Phil tells Thomas & Jill they’ve incurred a 30-minute penalty. They broke a rule by paying a taxi driver to lead them to a location (I guess it must be a fairly new rule, because teams in Races past have done it without problem). And they do check in first, and hop around screaming when Phil tells them they’re first. They’ve won a trip to Belize - sounds like a good honeymoon!
Brook & Claire are driving around looking for Muttrah Souq market when they turn the wrong way down a one-way street. As they try and turn around a cop hits the lights and siren to pull them over. Nick & Vicki use this mistake to get ahead of them to the market, and get their Frankincense and go looking for “Ali Baba in a suit.” Somehow they find the correct shop and Brook & Claire are right behind. It’s a race to the Mat, and Nick & Vicki make it to the Mat in third place.
Gary & Mallory fill their truck with water as we see Nat & Kat get their clue after delivering theirs. Kat is soaked and says “that’s the best shower I’ve had in a couple of days.” Gary & Mallory see Nat a& Kat driving back and Gary is pretty happy that they’re not far behind. The Docs get their Frankincense and deliver it to Ali Baba as Gary & Mallory get theirs. It seems like the teams are really close together, but it could all be the magic of editing.....Nat & Kat are having problems finding the Palace and Gary & Mallory see it and drive right by the Docs. Nat & Kat make it to the Mat in fifth place, and Gary & Mallory are eliminated. Mallory says it’s been a very special experience because she did it with her dad. Hey, 6th place isn’t much to sneeze at (although it’s not a million bucks!)
1 - Chad & Stephanie
2 - Thomas & Jill
3 - Nick & Vicki
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Nat & Kat
6 - Gary & Mallory - eliminated
With the teams all taking turns making the Mat first, they all seem pretty able to win this thing. Nick & Vicki may just stumble their way at least into the final three and have a great shot at the money. The previews show a “Double U-Turn” in the next Leg, and that should be interesting!
Nat & Kat leave first from St. Petersburg Russia, at the Peter and Paul Fortress. The clue tells them to fly to Muscat, Oman, and go to Burj Al Mubkharah. Once there, a man will give them an ingot with a time on it, which is when they can climb a multitude of stairs in a fortress to get their next clue. The Doctors will stop at a travel agency for tickets before going to the airport, and so will Brook & Claire, who leave second. Nick & Vicki leave third and Nick tells us that he’s always stressed out of his mind. (I’ll go along with the out of his mind part, anyway). We get to hear Mallory scream once again as she and Gary open their clue - she screams a LOT!
Brook & Claire and Nick & Vicki show up at the travel agency as Nat & Kat are booking their flight. The earliest arrival time is 8:55 p.m. on a flight through Amsterdam. Gary & Mallory are soon at the travel agent followed by Thomas & Jill. Chad & Stephanie are supposed to leave the Pit Stop at 2:45 a.m., but all we see is a hotel room door and hear major snoring (which I hope is Chad!) Brook & Claire get the same flight at the Docs, but as Nick & Vicki sit down to book the flight, they’re told it’s full. The remaining teams won’t make it to Oman until 10:35 p.m. Again we hear snoring and see that they’re 1 hour and 52 minutes late to the starting Mat. They wake up in a panic and finally get their clue open at 4:45 a.m. We see “highlights” of their various arguments and Stephanie tells us that the Race is taking a toll on their relationship. When they get to the travel agent, they find out there are no seats on the second flight. Chad tells us that they haven’t been beaten in a Leg so far, but they’ve beaten themselves. They manage to find a flight that lands at 10:45 p.m., only ten minutes behind the second flight.
Landing in Oman, the first two teams get a weather shock - it’s nighttime and Kat tells us “it’s 90 degrees and very humid. Just think of what it will be like during the daytime.” The other teams land and feel the heat too - and Chad & Stephanie find luck of the Race gods and their flight lands early, catching them up with the other teams from the second flight.
The Docs and the Shopping Hosts get to the guy with the ingots, and he gives them both one that says 7:30 - so they get to spend the night outside in Oman! Thomas & Jill get 7:45 as to Chad & Stephanie. Gary & Mallory and Nick & Vicki’s time is 8:00.
We see the teams in the morning - the Docs are stretching, Nick looks like ten miles of bad road, and Brook & Claire are doing their beauty routine with hair and makeup. Chad tells Stephanie to take a walk with him, and at 6:00 a.m. they wander off. Chad tells us that his mom passed away while he was in college and his stepfather gave him his mother’s ring, which he’s been dragging around this whole Race. He’s very sweet, telling her how he can’t spend his life with anyone but Stephanie, and gets down on one knee and asks Stephanie to marry him. The other teams see what’s going on and cheer them as they come back and congrats abound. I’ll admit, I got a little snuffly myself, it was very nice. Especially remembering what an ass Chad can be at times!!!!
The next clue tells the teams to drive to Jebel Shams, which is the tallest mountain in Oman. A safety driver will take them to the top because of the treacherous drive, and the clue box will be waiting. Chad & Stephanie stop and ask directions, and after sniping at each other, so do Thomas & Jill. They both seem to get the same directions. Thomas comments how nice the people are even though “we’re up in their face.” Nick makes one of his few-and-far-between smart comments that “it takes just as long to look at a map and try and figure it out as it does to ask a local who for sure knows where it is.” They stop at a gas station and Brook & Claire pull in behind to ask directions, and Vicki tells the Shopping Hosts that “it’s this way, we’re going in the right direction.” Nick then proceeds to tell her to shut up and that she has no common sense in her whole body.
Chad & Stephanie find the mountain first and the driver climbs in the car to take them up the road. Gary & Mallory are driving around and Gary is thinking they’re lost, and Mallory insists it’s right. The clue asks “Who wants to add a little magic to their life?” They’re 10,000 feet above the ocean floor, and the Roadblock has a team member rappel down the side 500 feet onto a narrow ledge, and search among hundreds of lamps to find one with Aladdin’s magic ring. Once they deliver it they will get their next clue. Stephanie tells Chad she wants no part of this one, and he walks off to do it. He tells us he has no problem with heights, but they’re “in the freaking Grand Canyon of Oman.” Thomas & Jill show up and Jill will attempt this task. Chad’s loving the scenery and Jill is almost hyperventilating as she goes down.
Nat & Kat are thinking they’re lost, as do Gary & Mallory. As Jill shows up to look through the lamps, Chad finds his and gets their next clue, which tells them to go to Nizwa and find a giant Stack of Books, which is a monument in the middle of a roundabout. Jill finds the ring shortly after, and they take off as Nick & Vicki show up. As they read their clue, a goat comes by and rips part of their clue folder off and eats it. Nick is petrified of heights (add that to the list with clowns) and Vicki tells us she’s not scared of anything but bugs, so off she goes. Brook & Claire read the clue and Brook is amazed that Claire wants to do it.
Nat & Kat stop for directions, and we see Gary asking locals while Mallory prays in the car. We see Vicki making short work of the rappelling, saying she feels like Spiderman - “or Spider woman, whatever.”
At the Stack of Books, Chad & Stephanie run for the clue with Thomas & Jill right behind. It’s a Detour - Water Table or Wedding Table. For Water Table, they’ll have to pump water from an ancient well. When their truck is full they’ll drive through Muscat to find the house to deliver it to and once delivered, they’ll get their next clue. In Wedding Table, they’ll go to a market to purchase 25 frozen chickens and other ingredients for a traditional wedding soup which symbolizes health and virility. Once they’ve made the soup and presented it to the wedding couple, they get their next clue. (Sorry, after a little internet searching, couldn’t find the name of it, which Phil pronounced as “maklouf.”) Chad & Stephanie will try Water Table, and Thomas & Jill will try and follow them.
Vicki has found the ring, and Claire is right behind her. Nick realizes that they have a leaking tire which really ticks him off, having to change it. Chad & Stephanie and Jill & Thomas get to the water trucks and Chad & Stephanie are just ahead of Thomas & Jill, filling their truck and taking off. They have a driver, and Chad asks if he’s going to help them but he says no. Thomas & Jill overfill their truck (way to waste water in a desert, folks!)
Brook & Claire get to the clue and decide cooking isn’t their thing either. Nat & Kat get to the Roadblock and Kat takes off to rappel down the side of the mountain, because they had a deal that Nat wouldn’t be involved in any heights-challenges. Gary & Mallory are still really lost.
Thomas & Jill stop to ask a local for directions and he offers to let them follow him to the location. Nick & Vicki find the Stack of Books and decide to try Water Table as well. Kat rappels down the mountain and says “I’m trying not to look down” as she looks down. Chad & Stephanie drive through a neighborhood and stop to ask a local, asking him to lead them to the location. The local that is helping Thomas & Jill tells them that their delivery house is that of his cousin. They hook up to the house and get their clue as Chad & Stephanie drive by and see them. The clue tells them to drive to Muttrah Souq, which is a large market, and search for a vendor who gives them Frankincense. They must take it to “the famed” Ali Baba and exchange it for their next clue.
Nick & Vicki get to the water pumping station and get their truck full as Brook & Claire start filling theirs. Gary & Mallory finally get to the base of the mountain and tell their driver they’ve been driving for almost 9 hours! As Thomas & Jill are driving away from the water pumping station, Chad & Stephanie show up and Thomas is amazed that they got done so quickly. Kat is having major problems finding the ring in the lamp as Gary & Mallory get up the mountain. Gary mentions he’d like to see just one team having problems with the challenge, and it looks like he’ll get his wish as Kat looks through the hundreds of lamps. She finds the ring, though and they pass Gary & Mallory on their way down, giving Gary some hope that they’re still in the Race.
Thomas & Jill get to the market with Chad & Stephanie right behind, and manage to find the correct vendor and then Ali Baba pretty quickly. We see Mallory start looking in lamps and Brook & Claire asking a local for directions to deliver their water. Nick & Vicki also get a local’s help as Nat & Kat get to the Stack of Books and decide to do Water Table. Mallory finds her ring as we see Thomas & Jill getting their clue from Ali Baba, which tells them to drive to the next Pit Stop. It’s the Al Alam Palace. Thomas & Jill tell a cabbie that he’ll pay to follow him and it seems Chad & Stephanie are not far behind - alas, they won’t get to the Mat first. But they may still make it in first place, as Phil tells Thomas & Jill they’ve incurred a 30-minute penalty. They broke a rule by paying a taxi driver to lead them to a location (I guess it must be a fairly new rule, because teams in Races past have done it without problem). And they do check in first, and hop around screaming when Phil tells them they’re first. They’ve won a trip to Belize - sounds like a good honeymoon!
Brook & Claire are driving around looking for Muttrah Souq market when they turn the wrong way down a one-way street. As they try and turn around a cop hits the lights and siren to pull them over. Nick & Vicki use this mistake to get ahead of them to the market, and get their Frankincense and go looking for “Ali Baba in a suit.” Somehow they find the correct shop and Brook & Claire are right behind. It’s a race to the Mat, and Nick & Vicki make it to the Mat in third place.
Gary & Mallory fill their truck with water as we see Nat & Kat get their clue after delivering theirs. Kat is soaked and says “that’s the best shower I’ve had in a couple of days.” Gary & Mallory see Nat a& Kat driving back and Gary is pretty happy that they’re not far behind. The Docs get their Frankincense and deliver it to Ali Baba as Gary & Mallory get theirs. It seems like the teams are really close together, but it could all be the magic of editing.....Nat & Kat are having problems finding the Palace and Gary & Mallory see it and drive right by the Docs. Nat & Kat make it to the Mat in fifth place, and Gary & Mallory are eliminated. Mallory says it’s been a very special experience because she did it with her dad. Hey, 6th place isn’t much to sneeze at (although it’s not a million bucks!)
1 - Chad & Stephanie
2 - Thomas & Jill
3 - Nick & Vicki
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Nat & Kat
6 - Gary & Mallory - eliminated
With the teams all taking turns making the Mat first, they all seem pretty able to win this thing. Nick & Vicki may just stumble their way at least into the final three and have a great shot at the money. The previews show a “Double U-Turn” in the next Leg, and that should be interesting!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Running Through Russia, Clowning Around, and Mistakes Abound - our Internet Wonders Get Eliminated
All our teams are leaving from Saint Petersburg, Russia and the St. Isaac’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, which Phil tells us was forced to become a museum of Atheism during the Communist regime. Jill & Thomas leave first, and the clue tells them to go join the circus - they must taxi to Avtovo Circus. Brook remarks that she hopes she has to wear a leotard! All the teams catch up, however, because the circus doesn’t open that early. Once inside the clue is a Detour: Circus Band or Circus Clown. For Circus Band, they choose an accordion player to teach them a tune, and once both team members complete it correctly, they’ll get their next clue. For Circus Clown, the teams will have to learn how to keep 10 plates spinning on sticks for 10 seconds to get their next clue. All the participants have to wear big red noses during their tasks, and the Russians putting them on are very serious about it! Mallory practically gets accosted by a guy putting hers on. Thomas & Jill, Brook & Claire, Michael & Kevin, Chad & Stephanie and Nick & Vicki go for the Clown and try to spin plates. Thomas is ever so encouraging, yelling at Jill to spin her plates faster. Kevin is trying to get his going amid all the noise and clowns dancing around. Chad isn’t doing much better in the encouragement department (he and Thomas aren’t the best at that so far anyway!) Nick tells us that his grandmother had a clown room that he and his brothers slept in as kids and when they woke up at night time, they saw clowns staring at them and so they don’t like clowns. He tells a clown hanging over his shoulder “don’t touch me.”
Nat & Kat are over at the Band task and having problems figuring out the melody - until they come up with the idea to write numbers on their fingers and remember the tune by which fingers play next. They wrote down every note the guy played - sheer genius, if you ask me! Gary & Mallory and their big red noses are also learning to play accordion. They get through the first part of the song and find out that there are three parts to it and they have to learn all of them. Thomas & Jill decide to abandon the plates and go after the accordions, especially since the Band challenge was right next door. Brook & Claire take their time and focus and get all their plates spinning, and get their next clue - “Time to solve a Russian mystery.” They have to figure out that they’re looking for Bank Bridge, which is “guarded” by four creatures with golden wings.
Kat is laughing because her nose keeps falling off - and unintentionally insults her teammate saying “my nose is too small.” (I guess Nat’s is pretty big?) They get through their whole recital and are off with their clue. Gary says he can’t see the keys with his big red clown nose. Chad is complaining again that he can’t get the plates so they switch tasks. Nick & Vicki get theirs spinning correctly and leave the task with their clue. Thomas is having fits that they have to learn a second, and then a third song. Gary & Mallory finish their song and off they go, followed soon by Michael & Kevin.
At the bridge, Brook & Claire grab the clue, which tells them to travel on foot across the canal bridge to a historic building, Vladimirskiy Prospekt. They can ask locals to help them but can’t pay a taxi to lead them there. Once they find the building, only two team members at a time can climb the stairs to the top where there will be a figurine on the ledge - a clue to go to the Church on Spilled Blood. They will have to walk to that church for their next clue.
Brook & Claire, Nat & Kat, and Nick & Vicki get their clues and take off walking. Michael & Kevin get to the clue box and Michael tells Kevin to “Read the clue careful, okay? Don’t miss a word.” Of course we know this means they’re gonna screw up something - and they do it right off the bat, by following their cab driver.
Stephanie is proving herself to be the brains of that team yet again, telling Chad to use numbers for their fingers for the accordion playing. Thomas & Jill are having major problems playing their accordions - if they quit complaining so much and tried playing them, they might actually get somewhere. They quit that task again and run back to the plates. Chad & Stephanie finish playing and off they run to the taxi.
Brook & Claire get a local to help them find the building and give him kisses for his trouble - then run off saying “look at every doorway, it’s gonna be marked.” Of course, they run right by the marked door. Nick & Vicki see Nat & Kat walking down the street and join them.
Back at the circus, Thomas & Jill manage to finish spinning their plates and take off, knowing they’re in last place. Nick & Vicki interview that Nat & Kat are “very smart and athletic.” (Sounds like the team they should glom onto - Nick & Vicki need all the help with smarts they can get!) They find the building and Nat and Nick climb the stairs and use binoculars to look over the city. The little figurine is sitting on the ledge and Nick says the smartest thing he’s said this whole Race: “maybe we’re overlooking it - maybe we’re over thinking this.” Down the street, Brook & Claire see Nick and Kat up on the roof and run in that direction. Michael & Kevin show up and Kevin remarks that they carried their bags - and Nat tells him “you’re supposed to leave your cab and walk.” (Clue #1 to major screw-up). Up on the roof, Nick tells Kat that “you usually know what the clue is when you see it - they’re really obvious.” At that point he spots the figurine and laughs to Kat “look how dumb we are.” They find where they need to go and decide to purposely mislead the other teams by telling them they’re not sure but they saw something that said “DS 13" on it. Kevin says that Nick wouldn’t lie to him “because he’s awesome” but he and Claire can’t see what they’re looking for and talk about just going to DS 13. By chance, Claire spots the figurine and luckily they see where they’re supposed to go. Kevin says Nick lied to him and the two teams decide to go together. Thomas and Mallory are the next up the stairs and at least Thomas looks around the inside and sees the figurine. That leaves poor Chad & Stephanie on their own!
Kat & Nat and Nick & Vicki find the next clue box. They have to figure out where Peter the Great is buried, which is the Peter and Paul Fortress, and search the grounds for the clue box. Michael & Kevin and Brook & Claire have jumped in their taxis and as the first two teams leave the clue box at the church, they see the taxis pull up with the other two teams. Nick mentions it and Vicki says “it’s okay, they’ll get penalized.” Kevin yaps at Nick about lying to him and Brook shouts a little righteous indignation too. Kevin goes to ask his taxi driver about their destination, and Nat & Kat find a local to tell them it’s the Peter and Paul Fortress. Nick says there’s nothing in the clue that tells them they can’t take a taxi, so Nat & Kat run back to their original cab with their backpacks still in it and Nick & Vicki try to grab a cab. As they take off in their cab, Kevin says he wants to beat Nick & Vicki so he can tell them that lying doesn’t do him any good.
Stephanie goes up to look for their next clue, and Chad tells us that he’s trying more to let her make decisions - maybe because she’s much better at it than you are? Nick & Vicki are having mega problems finding a taxi, and Nat & Kat get back to their original cab. Nick starts complaining that Vicki runs down a side road to look for a cab as they walk next to a canal and calls her a moron. (Thought you were supposed to be nice from now on, buddy!) In their cab, Claire reads the clue, saying “you must walk to your next destination.” They tell their driver to go back to the tower, knowing (at least from past seasons of The Amazing Race) that Michael & Kevin will get penalized, so Brook & Claire will be able to make up the time.
Stephanie sends Chad up to see if he can manage to see the clue - and he does, telling her “it was right in front of your freaking face.” Make you feel better, macho man? He makes the decision to jump in the taxi, so there goes his smarts! Nat & Kat get to the Fortress first, and the clue is a Roadblock - “Who’s the real player?” Kat will do it by trying to mastering a centuries-old game. It’s a Russian version of bowling called Gorodki. A demonstration shows Phil on a small platform up on pegs, with a Russian tossing a 3-foot stick at the pegs and almost knocking Phil on his ass - he does catch himself and is able to tell us that the teams will have to clear pegs of three different formations with their sticks before they get their next clue. They have two shots at getting all the pegs cleared. Kat gets the first one in two shots.
We see Brook & Claire getting back to thetower on foot, then jumping in a cab. Thomas & Jill and Gary & Mallory find a local to tell them where they need to go, and neither team has their backpacks and Gary & Mallory run tack to get their original cab. Kat gets her next shot at the pegs on her first stick as Michael & Kevin show up, and Michael will do this task. As Michael starts slinging sticks, Brook & Claire show up and Brook will attempt it. Kat gets her third bunch of pegs and their clue tells them to “enter the Fortress and make your way to the next Pit Stop.” Inside the Fortress they must find the bastion where Phil and the Mat will be waiting.
Chad & Stephanie find a local to tell them where to go. Nat & Kat show up at the Mat and are happy to find out they are first - and get $5000 each for their trouble. Michael is still having major problems getting his pegs off the board, while Brook gets her first one. Michael’s sticks are bouncing everywhere but at the pegs, and Brook gets her next two and their clue. Kevin is getting discouraged watching them leave. Nick & Vicki show up - and Nick will do the task, with Vicki telling us “he can take out his aggression on this.” Chad & Stephanie are close behind, with Stephanie deciding to do the task. Nick clears the board with his first toss. After lousy tosses from Stephanie and Michael, Nick clears his second set of pegs. Thomas & Jill show up and Thomas insists this one is his. Nick clears the third set of pegs on two tries and off they go. Thomas gets his first set.
Brook & Claire make their way to Phil with Nick & Vicki right behind. Gary & Mallory show up to the challenge and Gary gets his pegs on the first try - and Michael finally gets his first set of pegs, followed by Stephanie. Gary is killing this task and gets set #2, and Thomas finishes and gets their clue. Gary then blasts his pegs with Mallory telling him what a champion he is, and they make their way to Phil in fourth place. Kevin sees everyone except Chad & Stephanie leave and worries that after getting there in first place, they’ll end up in last - although it doesn’t matter in the long run, they’d get a time penalty anyway so they’re SOL no matter what. Michael gets his pegs done and they run off, with Chad worrying that they’re in last place - but we see Thomas & Jill arguing with their taxi driver about money as they run back for their backpacks, and the driver trying to grab Jill’s backpack off of her. Michael & Kevin run back for their backpacks and find out they’re short of money too, and the cabbie closes the trunk and won’t let them take their one backpack out.
Thomas & Jill find some American money and give their cabbie $60 and he lets them go. They get to the Mat in fifth. Michael manages to find $40 in American money and the cab driver lets them leave as Stephanie gets her third set of pegs. They decide to leave their backpacks in the cab and just run for the Mat. Will they beat Michael & Kevin? Chad & Stephanie see Michael & Kevin running through the Fortress and hope to beat them - and they do, but at the Mat, Phil tells them they have to go back and pay their cab driver before they can check in. Michael & Kevin get to the Mat but Phil tells them they broke a couple of rules - they had a taxi lead them to the tower, and they took a taxi from the tower to the Church, which incurs a 30-minute penalty for each infraction and they can’t get checked in for an hour. They go and sit on the steps as we see Chad & Stephanie running back to their cab. They get back to Phil and he tells them that they also broke a rule by taking a taxi from the tower to the Church. They’ll also get a 30-minute penalty, but since Michael & Kevin were waiting out an hour penalty, that puts them in sixth place. Stephanie interviews later that the Race is moving them forward as a couple and Chad is getting more supportive. (Huh?) Phil then calls Michael & Kevin to the Mat and tells them they’ve been eliminated from the Race. They both say that they’ve come to know each other better because of the Race.
So here’s the order of finish:
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Nick & Vicki
4 - Gary & Mallory
5 - Thomas & Jill
6 - Chad & Stephanie
7 - Michael & Kevin - eliminated
There are two female teams left in the Race, and they both seem pretty together. Will an all-female team finally win? Or will one of our male/female teams keep the women out of the winnings? We’ll find out next week!
Nat & Kat are over at the Band task and having problems figuring out the melody - until they come up with the idea to write numbers on their fingers and remember the tune by which fingers play next. They wrote down every note the guy played - sheer genius, if you ask me! Gary & Mallory and their big red noses are also learning to play accordion. They get through the first part of the song and find out that there are three parts to it and they have to learn all of them. Thomas & Jill decide to abandon the plates and go after the accordions, especially since the Band challenge was right next door. Brook & Claire take their time and focus and get all their plates spinning, and get their next clue - “Time to solve a Russian mystery.” They have to figure out that they’re looking for Bank Bridge, which is “guarded” by four creatures with golden wings.
Kat is laughing because her nose keeps falling off - and unintentionally insults her teammate saying “my nose is too small.” (I guess Nat’s is pretty big?) They get through their whole recital and are off with their clue. Gary says he can’t see the keys with his big red clown nose. Chad is complaining again that he can’t get the plates so they switch tasks. Nick & Vicki get theirs spinning correctly and leave the task with their clue. Thomas is having fits that they have to learn a second, and then a third song. Gary & Mallory finish their song and off they go, followed soon by Michael & Kevin.
At the bridge, Brook & Claire grab the clue, which tells them to travel on foot across the canal bridge to a historic building, Vladimirskiy Prospekt. They can ask locals to help them but can’t pay a taxi to lead them there. Once they find the building, only two team members at a time can climb the stairs to the top where there will be a figurine on the ledge - a clue to go to the Church on Spilled Blood. They will have to walk to that church for their next clue.
Brook & Claire, Nat & Kat, and Nick & Vicki get their clues and take off walking. Michael & Kevin get to the clue box and Michael tells Kevin to “Read the clue careful, okay? Don’t miss a word.” Of course we know this means they’re gonna screw up something - and they do it right off the bat, by following their cab driver.
Stephanie is proving herself to be the brains of that team yet again, telling Chad to use numbers for their fingers for the accordion playing. Thomas & Jill are having major problems playing their accordions - if they quit complaining so much and tried playing them, they might actually get somewhere. They quit that task again and run back to the plates. Chad & Stephanie finish playing and off they run to the taxi.
Brook & Claire get a local to help them find the building and give him kisses for his trouble - then run off saying “look at every doorway, it’s gonna be marked.” Of course, they run right by the marked door. Nick & Vicki see Nat & Kat walking down the street and join them.
Back at the circus, Thomas & Jill manage to finish spinning their plates and take off, knowing they’re in last place. Nick & Vicki interview that Nat & Kat are “very smart and athletic.” (Sounds like the team they should glom onto - Nick & Vicki need all the help with smarts they can get!) They find the building and Nat and Nick climb the stairs and use binoculars to look over the city. The little figurine is sitting on the ledge and Nick says the smartest thing he’s said this whole Race: “maybe we’re overlooking it - maybe we’re over thinking this.” Down the street, Brook & Claire see Nick and Kat up on the roof and run in that direction. Michael & Kevin show up and Kevin remarks that they carried their bags - and Nat tells him “you’re supposed to leave your cab and walk.” (Clue #1 to major screw-up). Up on the roof, Nick tells Kat that “you usually know what the clue is when you see it - they’re really obvious.” At that point he spots the figurine and laughs to Kat “look how dumb we are.” They find where they need to go and decide to purposely mislead the other teams by telling them they’re not sure but they saw something that said “DS 13" on it. Kevin says that Nick wouldn’t lie to him “because he’s awesome” but he and Claire can’t see what they’re looking for and talk about just going to DS 13. By chance, Claire spots the figurine and luckily they see where they’re supposed to go. Kevin says Nick lied to him and the two teams decide to go together. Thomas and Mallory are the next up the stairs and at least Thomas looks around the inside and sees the figurine. That leaves poor Chad & Stephanie on their own!
Kat & Nat and Nick & Vicki find the next clue box. They have to figure out where Peter the Great is buried, which is the Peter and Paul Fortress, and search the grounds for the clue box. Michael & Kevin and Brook & Claire have jumped in their taxis and as the first two teams leave the clue box at the church, they see the taxis pull up with the other two teams. Nick mentions it and Vicki says “it’s okay, they’ll get penalized.” Kevin yaps at Nick about lying to him and Brook shouts a little righteous indignation too. Kevin goes to ask his taxi driver about their destination, and Nat & Kat find a local to tell them it’s the Peter and Paul Fortress. Nick says there’s nothing in the clue that tells them they can’t take a taxi, so Nat & Kat run back to their original cab with their backpacks still in it and Nick & Vicki try to grab a cab. As they take off in their cab, Kevin says he wants to beat Nick & Vicki so he can tell them that lying doesn’t do him any good.
Stephanie goes up to look for their next clue, and Chad tells us that he’s trying more to let her make decisions - maybe because she’s much better at it than you are? Nick & Vicki are having mega problems finding a taxi, and Nat & Kat get back to their original cab. Nick starts complaining that Vicki runs down a side road to look for a cab as they walk next to a canal and calls her a moron. (Thought you were supposed to be nice from now on, buddy!) In their cab, Claire reads the clue, saying “you must walk to your next destination.” They tell their driver to go back to the tower, knowing (at least from past seasons of The Amazing Race) that Michael & Kevin will get penalized, so Brook & Claire will be able to make up the time.
Stephanie sends Chad up to see if he can manage to see the clue - and he does, telling her “it was right in front of your freaking face.” Make you feel better, macho man? He makes the decision to jump in the taxi, so there goes his smarts! Nat & Kat get to the Fortress first, and the clue is a Roadblock - “Who’s the real player?” Kat will do it by trying to mastering a centuries-old game. It’s a Russian version of bowling called Gorodki. A demonstration shows Phil on a small platform up on pegs, with a Russian tossing a 3-foot stick at the pegs and almost knocking Phil on his ass - he does catch himself and is able to tell us that the teams will have to clear pegs of three different formations with their sticks before they get their next clue. They have two shots at getting all the pegs cleared. Kat gets the first one in two shots.
We see Brook & Claire getting back to thetower on foot, then jumping in a cab. Thomas & Jill and Gary & Mallory find a local to tell them where they need to go, and neither team has their backpacks and Gary & Mallory run tack to get their original cab. Kat gets her next shot at the pegs on her first stick as Michael & Kevin show up, and Michael will do this task. As Michael starts slinging sticks, Brook & Claire show up and Brook will attempt it. Kat gets her third bunch of pegs and their clue tells them to “enter the Fortress and make your way to the next Pit Stop.” Inside the Fortress they must find the bastion where Phil and the Mat will be waiting.
Chad & Stephanie find a local to tell them where to go. Nat & Kat show up at the Mat and are happy to find out they are first - and get $5000 each for their trouble. Michael is still having major problems getting his pegs off the board, while Brook gets her first one. Michael’s sticks are bouncing everywhere but at the pegs, and Brook gets her next two and their clue. Kevin is getting discouraged watching them leave. Nick & Vicki show up - and Nick will do the task, with Vicki telling us “he can take out his aggression on this.” Chad & Stephanie are close behind, with Stephanie deciding to do the task. Nick clears the board with his first toss. After lousy tosses from Stephanie and Michael, Nick clears his second set of pegs. Thomas & Jill show up and Thomas insists this one is his. Nick clears the third set of pegs on two tries and off they go. Thomas gets his first set.
Brook & Claire make their way to Phil with Nick & Vicki right behind. Gary & Mallory show up to the challenge and Gary gets his pegs on the first try - and Michael finally gets his first set of pegs, followed by Stephanie. Gary is killing this task and gets set #2, and Thomas finishes and gets their clue. Gary then blasts his pegs with Mallory telling him what a champion he is, and they make their way to Phil in fourth place. Kevin sees everyone except Chad & Stephanie leave and worries that after getting there in first place, they’ll end up in last - although it doesn’t matter in the long run, they’d get a time penalty anyway so they’re SOL no matter what. Michael gets his pegs done and they run off, with Chad worrying that they’re in last place - but we see Thomas & Jill arguing with their taxi driver about money as they run back for their backpacks, and the driver trying to grab Jill’s backpack off of her. Michael & Kevin run back for their backpacks and find out they’re short of money too, and the cabbie closes the trunk and won’t let them take their one backpack out.
Thomas & Jill find some American money and give their cabbie $60 and he lets them go. They get to the Mat in fifth. Michael manages to find $40 in American money and the cab driver lets them leave as Stephanie gets her third set of pegs. They decide to leave their backpacks in the cab and just run for the Mat. Will they beat Michael & Kevin? Chad & Stephanie see Michael & Kevin running through the Fortress and hope to beat them - and they do, but at the Mat, Phil tells them they have to go back and pay their cab driver before they can check in. Michael & Kevin get to the Mat but Phil tells them they broke a couple of rules - they had a taxi lead them to the tower, and they took a taxi from the tower to the Church, which incurs a 30-minute penalty for each infraction and they can’t get checked in for an hour. They go and sit on the steps as we see Chad & Stephanie running back to their cab. They get back to Phil and he tells them that they also broke a rule by taking a taxi from the tower to the Church. They’ll also get a 30-minute penalty, but since Michael & Kevin were waiting out an hour penalty, that puts them in sixth place. Stephanie interviews later that the Race is moving them forward as a couple and Chad is getting more supportive. (Huh?) Phil then calls Michael & Kevin to the Mat and tells them they’ve been eliminated from the Race. They both say that they’ve come to know each other better because of the Race.
So here’s the order of finish:
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Nick & Vicki
4 - Gary & Mallory
5 - Thomas & Jill
6 - Chad & Stephanie
7 - Michael & Kevin - eliminated
There are two female teams left in the Race, and they both seem pretty together. Will an all-female team finally win? Or will one of our male/female teams keep the women out of the winnings? We’ll find out next week!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
A Non-Elimination Leg Saves the Rocket Scientists - Music and Cinema in Russia Give the Teams Fits
Narvik, Norway is the beginning point for this leg of the Race. Staying in the cold part of the world, the teams must go by car (to the train station), train (to Stockholm, Sweden) and plane to Saint Petersburg, Russia. Once there, they must find Vasilesvsky Ostrov Island and on the island, the Rostral Columns, and there they will find the clue box. Nat & Kat leave first, and it turns out that leaving first or last won’t be a big deal, because the train they need won’t leave until 10:26 the next morning. Time to even the playing field! We don’t get any pre-leg interviews with the teams, but we see them all boarding the train. Jill asks Thomas “have you ever slept on a train before?” and he answers “of course.” After all, the great Notre Dame University not only has gondolas but trains the students can sleep on as they travel about campus! This guy is really starting to get on my nerves with his pompous attitude. Nat & Kat share a train car with Brook & Claire, and for some reason they all start smelling each other’s dirty socks and shoes. They’s some sick puppies! Blech!
Once in Stockholm (which is absolutely beautiful from the few shots of the city we got) everyone jumps in a cab except Gary & Mallory and Chad & Stephanie, who for some reason can’t find one. Maybe it’s because they’re screaming at each other - Chad says Stephanie wasn’t ready to go when Chad said they should and all the cabs disappeared. Stephanie isn’t going to take it and yells right back. All that yelling means nothing, because all the teams are on the same flight.
In Saint Petersburg, all the teams remark on the beautiful architecture in the city. Nick & Vicki talk about how the Russians keep all their old buildings instead of “blowing them up” like they do in Las Vegas. Brook & Claire are first to the clue box, which is a Detour: Classical Music or Classic Cinema. For Classical Music, teams must go to a historic palace, find a maestro with three gramaphones and listen to three different compositions being played. They must then go into a ballroom where there are multiple people playing piano, and figure out which three are playing the same music as they heard on the gramaphones. Taking the sheet music from the top of the piano, they have to put it in a proper folder to match the gramaphone and they’ll get their clue from the Maestro. For Classic Cinema, the teams go to a film studio and the first place a movie was screened in Russia. They will have to go through mounds of film strips to find one that matches the movie playing on the screen - Sergei Eisenstein’s silent montage, “October.” If their choice matches, they will get their next clue from the director.
Brook & Claire and Michael & Kevin decide to try the Cinema, and Chad & Stephanie and Gary & Mallory will attempt Music. Thomas & Jill will go to Cinema, and Nick & Vicki and Nat & Kat (who are now in last place) will try Music. Brook & Claire’s cabbie has no idea where the studio is, and Michael & Kevin beat them there followed soon by Thomas & Jill. The teams are thinking it will be tough looking through all the film strips. Chad & Stephanie get to the Music palace and are a bit overwhelmed by all the pianos in one room and trying to pick out the music of just one. All the Music teams soon get there and rush around the room trying to find the music they need.
Brook & Claire are still in the cab, with their driver asking directions. Chad & Stephanie take their music and find out they’re wrong. Thomas manages to find some large Russian writing on a film strip and they get their clue, which is a large film reel container. There is a photo on it, which is the Palace Square (the Music teams get a record with the photo on it), and that’s where the next clue box is.
Vicki tells us that the Music task was mentally challenging (although I think putting on her socks would be mentally challenging to her!) All the teams take their music to the maestro and are told “nyet” over and over again. Brook & Claire find a piece of film strip with the Russian writing on it also, and Michael & Kevin watch yet another team leave before them. They finally find the Russian writing and are off.
Thomas & Jill get to the clue box at the Palace Square which tells them to go to the town of Alexandrovskaya. They will follow a marked road to a neighborhood store for their next clue. Gary & Mallory are the first Music team to give up and go to the Cinema, followed soon by Nick & Vicki and Nat & Kat. Chad sees everyone leaving and asks Stephanie what she wants to do, and she wants to stay and finish this task. Gary & Mallory get to the film studio and Mallory tells her dad to say a prayer (because of course, God has nothing better to do than worry about some Amazing Race teams). Nat & Kat laugh at the studio that this could be the faster task as they sift through the mounds of film strips. Chad is getting frustrated and Stephanie isn’t putting up with it, saying “I’m trying to be positive.” Thomas & Jill are stopping at what they think might be a store, and end up playing charades while asking some locals where some marked signs might be to drive to. Brook & Claire catch the red and yellow arrows and get to the store to see some little old ladies and get a Roadblock: “Who’s ready for a Russian drag race?” Phil tells us that Russian women known as Babushkas do the farmwork. One team member will have to work in the field. They’ll have to dress as a Babushka and plant a row of 50 potatoes - but! They’ll have to fertilize with a “generous helping” of cow manure.
Brook takes off after putting on her dress and scarf and following the directions, finding her potatoes and wheelbarrow to fill with manure. Kevin decides to do the Roadblock since they “needed to catch up” until he found out he had to wear a dress, and then wished his dad would have done it. He looks really cute in his dress and Babushka! He manages to find the field before Brook and the ladies speak to him in Russian as they show him what to do: first dig a hole, shovel in some manure, drop in a potato, and cover it up. Kevin is repeating the words and learning Russian as he plants, although he’s stepping on his dress as he moves. Back at the Cinema, Nick hopes that Chad & Stephanie are still having problems with the pianos - and he’s right as they once again hear “nyet” from the maestro. Chad then decides that “we’re done. We’re screwed.” when Stephanie asks if he wants to switch. Sure, why not give up, that’s the best idea! Stephanie asks if that’s what he’s doing, is quitting, and Chad says “Yeah, we’re done.” Stephanie doesn’t want to (of course) and they run off to listen to another piano. Getting it wrong once again, Stephanie asks if he wants her to just do it herself, that she wants to stay and work it out together. Chad is having problems letting Stephanie take the lead and interviews later that he had to let her direct them, and whaddaya know? With her lead they get it right! Stephanie interviews that she will teach him to let her lead now and again.
Nat finds the correct film strip and she and Kat are off. Nick complains that they got there last and they’re the first to leave - “those girls have the best luck.” Thomas & Jill finally get to the store and Jill will don the babushka and farm. The Russian ladies are remarking what a good worker Kevin is and Brook finally finds the farm to start planting. We see Kevin planting away as a Babushka shouts encouragement to him, telling Kevin “come on, come on! I love you!” in Russian and Kevin is laughing and really moving - and interviews later that “I think I fell in love a little bit.” Brook is yelling that “I stepped in poo!” and wiping her hands on the ground while the Russian ladies get a good laugh.
Mallory manages to find a film strip and she and Gary run off and yell “good luck” to Nick and Vicki. Nick & Vicki decide to go back to the pianos because “we’re not quitters.” Kevin has finished his planting and with a kiss to his Babushka gets his clue which tells him to go to the next Pit Stop at St. Isaac’s Cathedral, which is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city and took 40 years to complete. Brook finishes her planting and Jill is planting away while the Russian ladies remark that “these skinny girls can do everything.” As Brook & Claire leave in the cab, Claire complains that Brook “smells ripe.” Thomas is complimenting Jill on how fast she completed the task (even though she didn’t go to college! Imagine that!) Brook & Claire’s cab has to stop for gas as Nat & Kat show up at the store and Nat will plant the potatoes. Chad & Stephanie get there and Stephanie will do the task, and as she’s looking for “Duck’s End” and the wheelbarrows, Nat sneaks by Stephanie with her wheelbarrow full of poo. Back at Music, Nick & Vicki decide to concentrate on one song at a time and find it much easier. Nick interviews that he promised himself and Vicki that he would never blow up like he did with the hoops-in-the-field challenge again. Amazing what one can do when calm and composed, because they sailed through and got their clue.
Michael & Kevin get to St. Isaac’s and can’t find Phil and the Mat and soon after Thomas & Jill show up and run around too. Michael asks Kevin a couple of times about the park across the street but Kevin nixes the idea of looking there, but of course that’s where Phil is! Thomas & Jill take off to the park and get to the Mat in first place, winning a trip to San Paolo, Brazil. After circling the whole cathedral, Michael convinces Kevin to look in the park and they see Phil, but not before Brook & Claire get to the Mat in second place.
Back at the farm, Nat is planting away, but Stephanie can’t find the wheelbarrows and the poop. Mallory catches up and spends a bunch of time looking for the wheelbarrows and Stephanie manages to see the sign to Duck’s End and gets there. Mallory asks numerous locals who don’t speak English and quacks at them to no avail. She asks a gentleman who lifts her over his fence and she thought she was in the right spot - but it turns out that he was asking her if she wanted to hang out and drink vodka with him. Kat finishes her planting and as she runs back for the clue, she passes Mallory who asks where Duck’s End is, and Kat tells her “wrong way.” Stephanie is shoveling poo and when she’s done, she tosses the shovel up onto the pile of poop so the next person (Mallory) would have to climb onto the pile to grab the shovel. She does, and as Mallory turns to leave, her shoe sticks in the pile of poop and her foot comes out of it. She runs with her wheelbarrow yelling that she has cow poop all over her.
Stephanie runs back to Chad who tells her “good job” but adds that she looks good in the getup and “we have to take home that babushka and let you clean the house in it.” (Smack him right now!) Mallory finishes and in the cab, as she looks at her poop-stained hands, she remarks that she would chew all her nails off, cow poo and all, not to get eliminated. Nat & Kat make it to the Mat in fourth place.
Nick & Vicki finally get to the store and with the clue saying “Russian drag race” Nick decides to do the task - and remarks that it was “a race with a whole lotta drag - more queen than cars.” He’s asking the locals where Duck’s End is and all they want to do is pose for pictures with the guy in the babushka.
Gary & Mallory find the cathedral and Chad & Stephanie are right behind them. After running around the cathedral, Gary decides to check the park as Chad & Stephanie drive up and decide to go to the park first. They beat Gary & Mallory to the Mat in fifth place. Nick is planting potatoes, saying he never thought he’d be “planting potatoes in Russia wearing a woman’s dress.” Nick & Vicki tell us that they’re proud of each other as they leave the farm in the cab, and are bummed that they’ll be eliminated. However! Phil tells them that this is a non-elimination leg and they’re still in the Race. Of course, with their mental capacity, that’s enough of a Speed Bump, but let’s see how they do in the next Leg!
Here is the order of finish:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Michael & Kevin
4 - Nat & Kat
5 - Chad & Stephanie
6 - Gary & Mallory
7 - Nick & Vicki
Next week, the teams have to join a circus for a bit and Michael has problems throwing sticks. Sounds exciting! Can Nick & Vicki get lucky and overcome their last-place finish? Or will their brains explode and hold them back? Check in next week!
Once in Stockholm (which is absolutely beautiful from the few shots of the city we got) everyone jumps in a cab except Gary & Mallory and Chad & Stephanie, who for some reason can’t find one. Maybe it’s because they’re screaming at each other - Chad says Stephanie wasn’t ready to go when Chad said they should and all the cabs disappeared. Stephanie isn’t going to take it and yells right back. All that yelling means nothing, because all the teams are on the same flight.
In Saint Petersburg, all the teams remark on the beautiful architecture in the city. Nick & Vicki talk about how the Russians keep all their old buildings instead of “blowing them up” like they do in Las Vegas. Brook & Claire are first to the clue box, which is a Detour: Classical Music or Classic Cinema. For Classical Music, teams must go to a historic palace, find a maestro with three gramaphones and listen to three different compositions being played. They must then go into a ballroom where there are multiple people playing piano, and figure out which three are playing the same music as they heard on the gramaphones. Taking the sheet music from the top of the piano, they have to put it in a proper folder to match the gramaphone and they’ll get their clue from the Maestro. For Classic Cinema, the teams go to a film studio and the first place a movie was screened in Russia. They will have to go through mounds of film strips to find one that matches the movie playing on the screen - Sergei Eisenstein’s silent montage, “October.” If their choice matches, they will get their next clue from the director.
Brook & Claire and Michael & Kevin decide to try the Cinema, and Chad & Stephanie and Gary & Mallory will attempt Music. Thomas & Jill will go to Cinema, and Nick & Vicki and Nat & Kat (who are now in last place) will try Music. Brook & Claire’s cabbie has no idea where the studio is, and Michael & Kevin beat them there followed soon by Thomas & Jill. The teams are thinking it will be tough looking through all the film strips. Chad & Stephanie get to the Music palace and are a bit overwhelmed by all the pianos in one room and trying to pick out the music of just one. All the Music teams soon get there and rush around the room trying to find the music they need.
Brook & Claire are still in the cab, with their driver asking directions. Chad & Stephanie take their music and find out they’re wrong. Thomas manages to find some large Russian writing on a film strip and they get their clue, which is a large film reel container. There is a photo on it, which is the Palace Square (the Music teams get a record with the photo on it), and that’s where the next clue box is.
Vicki tells us that the Music task was mentally challenging (although I think putting on her socks would be mentally challenging to her!) All the teams take their music to the maestro and are told “nyet” over and over again. Brook & Claire find a piece of film strip with the Russian writing on it also, and Michael & Kevin watch yet another team leave before them. They finally find the Russian writing and are off.
Thomas & Jill get to the clue box at the Palace Square which tells them to go to the town of Alexandrovskaya. They will follow a marked road to a neighborhood store for their next clue. Gary & Mallory are the first Music team to give up and go to the Cinema, followed soon by Nick & Vicki and Nat & Kat. Chad sees everyone leaving and asks Stephanie what she wants to do, and she wants to stay and finish this task. Gary & Mallory get to the film studio and Mallory tells her dad to say a prayer (because of course, God has nothing better to do than worry about some Amazing Race teams). Nat & Kat laugh at the studio that this could be the faster task as they sift through the mounds of film strips. Chad is getting frustrated and Stephanie isn’t putting up with it, saying “I’m trying to be positive.” Thomas & Jill are stopping at what they think might be a store, and end up playing charades while asking some locals where some marked signs might be to drive to. Brook & Claire catch the red and yellow arrows and get to the store to see some little old ladies and get a Roadblock: “Who’s ready for a Russian drag race?” Phil tells us that Russian women known as Babushkas do the farmwork. One team member will have to work in the field. They’ll have to dress as a Babushka and plant a row of 50 potatoes - but! They’ll have to fertilize with a “generous helping” of cow manure.
Brook takes off after putting on her dress and scarf and following the directions, finding her potatoes and wheelbarrow to fill with manure. Kevin decides to do the Roadblock since they “needed to catch up” until he found out he had to wear a dress, and then wished his dad would have done it. He looks really cute in his dress and Babushka! He manages to find the field before Brook and the ladies speak to him in Russian as they show him what to do: first dig a hole, shovel in some manure, drop in a potato, and cover it up. Kevin is repeating the words and learning Russian as he plants, although he’s stepping on his dress as he moves. Back at the Cinema, Nick hopes that Chad & Stephanie are still having problems with the pianos - and he’s right as they once again hear “nyet” from the maestro. Chad then decides that “we’re done. We’re screwed.” when Stephanie asks if he wants to switch. Sure, why not give up, that’s the best idea! Stephanie asks if that’s what he’s doing, is quitting, and Chad says “Yeah, we’re done.” Stephanie doesn’t want to (of course) and they run off to listen to another piano. Getting it wrong once again, Stephanie asks if he wants her to just do it herself, that she wants to stay and work it out together. Chad is having problems letting Stephanie take the lead and interviews later that he had to let her direct them, and whaddaya know? With her lead they get it right! Stephanie interviews that she will teach him to let her lead now and again.
Nat finds the correct film strip and she and Kat are off. Nick complains that they got there last and they’re the first to leave - “those girls have the best luck.” Thomas & Jill finally get to the store and Jill will don the babushka and farm. The Russian ladies are remarking what a good worker Kevin is and Brook finally finds the farm to start planting. We see Kevin planting away as a Babushka shouts encouragement to him, telling Kevin “come on, come on! I love you!” in Russian and Kevin is laughing and really moving - and interviews later that “I think I fell in love a little bit.” Brook is yelling that “I stepped in poo!” and wiping her hands on the ground while the Russian ladies get a good laugh.
Mallory manages to find a film strip and she and Gary run off and yell “good luck” to Nick and Vicki. Nick & Vicki decide to go back to the pianos because “we’re not quitters.” Kevin has finished his planting and with a kiss to his Babushka gets his clue which tells him to go to the next Pit Stop at St. Isaac’s Cathedral, which is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city and took 40 years to complete. Brook finishes her planting and Jill is planting away while the Russian ladies remark that “these skinny girls can do everything.” As Brook & Claire leave in the cab, Claire complains that Brook “smells ripe.” Thomas is complimenting Jill on how fast she completed the task (even though she didn’t go to college! Imagine that!) Brook & Claire’s cab has to stop for gas as Nat & Kat show up at the store and Nat will plant the potatoes. Chad & Stephanie get there and Stephanie will do the task, and as she’s looking for “Duck’s End” and the wheelbarrows, Nat sneaks by Stephanie with her wheelbarrow full of poo. Back at Music, Nick & Vicki decide to concentrate on one song at a time and find it much easier. Nick interviews that he promised himself and Vicki that he would never blow up like he did with the hoops-in-the-field challenge again. Amazing what one can do when calm and composed, because they sailed through and got their clue.
Michael & Kevin get to St. Isaac’s and can’t find Phil and the Mat and soon after Thomas & Jill show up and run around too. Michael asks Kevin a couple of times about the park across the street but Kevin nixes the idea of looking there, but of course that’s where Phil is! Thomas & Jill take off to the park and get to the Mat in first place, winning a trip to San Paolo, Brazil. After circling the whole cathedral, Michael convinces Kevin to look in the park and they see Phil, but not before Brook & Claire get to the Mat in second place.
Back at the farm, Nat is planting away, but Stephanie can’t find the wheelbarrows and the poop. Mallory catches up and spends a bunch of time looking for the wheelbarrows and Stephanie manages to see the sign to Duck’s End and gets there. Mallory asks numerous locals who don’t speak English and quacks at them to no avail. She asks a gentleman who lifts her over his fence and she thought she was in the right spot - but it turns out that he was asking her if she wanted to hang out and drink vodka with him. Kat finishes her planting and as she runs back for the clue, she passes Mallory who asks where Duck’s End is, and Kat tells her “wrong way.” Stephanie is shoveling poo and when she’s done, she tosses the shovel up onto the pile of poop so the next person (Mallory) would have to climb onto the pile to grab the shovel. She does, and as Mallory turns to leave, her shoe sticks in the pile of poop and her foot comes out of it. She runs with her wheelbarrow yelling that she has cow poop all over her.
Stephanie runs back to Chad who tells her “good job” but adds that she looks good in the getup and “we have to take home that babushka and let you clean the house in it.” (Smack him right now!) Mallory finishes and in the cab, as she looks at her poop-stained hands, she remarks that she would chew all her nails off, cow poo and all, not to get eliminated. Nat & Kat make it to the Mat in fourth place.
Nick & Vicki finally get to the store and with the clue saying “Russian drag race” Nick decides to do the task - and remarks that it was “a race with a whole lotta drag - more queen than cars.” He’s asking the locals where Duck’s End is and all they want to do is pose for pictures with the guy in the babushka.
Gary & Mallory find the cathedral and Chad & Stephanie are right behind them. After running around the cathedral, Gary decides to check the park as Chad & Stephanie drive up and decide to go to the park first. They beat Gary & Mallory to the Mat in fifth place. Nick is planting potatoes, saying he never thought he’d be “planting potatoes in Russia wearing a woman’s dress.” Nick & Vicki tell us that they’re proud of each other as they leave the farm in the cab, and are bummed that they’ll be eliminated. However! Phil tells them that this is a non-elimination leg and they’re still in the Race. Of course, with their mental capacity, that’s enough of a Speed Bump, but let’s see how they do in the next Leg!
Here is the order of finish:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Michael & Kevin
4 - Nat & Kat
5 - Chad & Stephanie
6 - Gary & Mallory
7 - Nick & Vicki
Next week, the teams have to join a circus for a bit and Michael has problems throwing sticks. Sounds exciting! Can Nick & Vicki get lucky and overcome their last-place finish? Or will their brains explode and hold them back? Check in next week!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Dashing Through Norway - the Locals Don't Smile and the Vegetarian Eats a Sheep Head
Our teams begin in the Swedish Lapland, far above the arctic circle. In the summer, the sun never sets! (I spent a summer in southern Alaska, and it doesn't get very dark there either - definitely different!)
Nat & Kat will leave the Pit Stop first, and must drive themselves to Narvik, Norway to a gondola station. They’ll ride the gondola to the top of the mountain to find the clue box. As Brook & Claire leave, Brook tells us she’s hyper and energetic. (Can’t say I’ve noticed that yet.) Michael & Kevin interview that Kevin is in college now, but he’ll be moving out when he’s out of college (and Michael makes a happy face with a thumbs-up. No empty nest problems there!) As they drive, Kevin tells his dad he gave him the clue but Michael can’t find it. Thomas interviews that he expected to be with someone who has gone to college since he went to Notre Dame (uppity, isn’t he?) and we get to hear Jill stating once again that she wants to prove that she’s smart even though she didn’t go to college, she doesn’t want to be following behind. Quit talking and do it woman! I think she’s got an inferiority complex, actually. She might as well give up now and find herself a plumber or something..... Michael ends up finding the clue and sheepishly apologizes.
Brook & Claire catch up to Gary & Mallory and they drive around a roundabout a few times talking to each other and trying to figure out which way to go. I guess stopping the cars to talk didn’t make much sense. Rachel interviews that it’s a race, and she and Katie want to win - “It’s not called Amazing Friends.” They also mention that Nat has a fear of heights and they’re hoping that will mess up the doctor team on the gondolas. As they take off she sits in the corner of the gondola and cries, with Kat trying to calm her down. They get to the top and the clue is a Fast Forward (should they choose to use it). For those of you unfamiliar, a Fast Forward is a special task, and if the team completes it they can skip all other tasks and go directly to the Pit Stop. The team will have to go to a restaurant and participate in a Norwegian Christmas festival - which they won’t know is to eat an entire roasted sheep’s head. Each team member will have to eat half the head.
Brook & Claire jump on a gondola just as Nat & Kat are getting off. Gary & Mallory miss the one and by the time they get on, Michael & Kevin have arrived. The non-Fast Forward clue tells the teams to drive to the Skjombrua Bridge (which Phil doesn’t even try to pronounce - he says “this” bridge. Sissy.) Michael & Kevin ask Gary & Mallory if they’re going to do the Fast Forward, and Gary says “no” but Mallory sees that it says “Christmas ritual” and yells “I love Christmas!” Well, if it involved snowball fights or mistletoe, I’d go along too. But NOT eating a sheep’s head! Blech!
On the way to the Fast Forward, Nat asks “What if it’s an eating challenge?” That’s when we find out that Kat is a vegetarian. Uh–oh! This will be interesting! They walk into the building and see the plates along with a glass of water, and Nat says they know that’s a bad sign to see the water there. Kat’s face is one of total disgust as they peel the meat off the skeleton (I’m not too thrilled either) and they decide to cut it into little pieces and then eat it. After a toast of “tastes like money” Kat tries to just swallow it and not chew it - and doesn’t look like she’s doing very well at it. There’s a woman there playing a violin-like instrument - looks really interesting. They say that the skin is thick and slimy - ew.
Gary & Mallory have teamed up with Michael & Kevin to find the bridge, and get there before Brook & Claire. The clue is a Roadblock. One team member has to step off the bridge and rappel down to the water. Once at the end of the rope, they have to call the boat to get their next clue, then use an ascender to get the 135 feet back up. Kevin and Gary decide to do it - Kevin says the clue asks “who has strength, stamina and guts” and Michael laughs saying “I don’t have guts.” Brook & Claire show up and Brook gives Claire the Roadblock to do and tells her she’ll do great. As she’s walking to the bridge all harnessed up, Claire says “it’s giving me a wedgie.” The guide asks her what a wedgie is, and she says “it’s like when it goes up your butt.”
Back to Nat & Kat, gagging down the sheep and saying it’s crunchy Romaine lettuce, or cucumbers. Kat again reminds herself that it “tastes like a million dollars.” Back at the bridge, Kevin goes down first, but Gary quickly catches up. He tells Kevin “my **** are already gettin’ it” and we’re not shown the word, but I’m thinking his "boys" are a little squished in that harness (if Claire’s getting a wedgie without even going down, can you imagine how the men will feel?)
At the “feast” a Norwegian is standing and staring at the doctors eating the sheep. They ask “how are we doing?” and get a cold stare. Nat asks “thumbs up?” Nothing. She looks at the guy and says “you’re very inspiring.” They manage to finish and the clue tells them to go to the Pit Stop - the Ankenes Marina. Kat says she wants to go to the Pit Stop and she’ll “get sick there.”
Nick & Vicki get to the gondola and decide to try the Fast Forward. They’re gonna be pretty bummed to find out it’s already taken!
Thomas & Jill get to the bridge as Kevin starts repelling back up. Claire is down below trying to figure out how to get back up and having major problems. Gary and Kevin still haven’t made it back up and Thomas is on his way up already. Meanwhile, Nick & Vicki get to the Fast Forward and there’s a sign on the door saying “Fast Forward Taken.” Our rocket scientist Nick says “I have no idea what that means.” Vicki doesn’t either, saying she didn’t know if it was “taken for right now, or just taken, period.” (OMG these two are sooooo dumb!) They don’t know if they should wait or not, and finally decide to go back to the bridge.
Nat & Kat get to Phil and the Mat and are greeted by another Norwegian who doesn’t know how to smile. (A high school mate of mine married a guy from Norway and moved there, and they’re not all like that - some actually smile sometimes!) Phil tells them that they’re in first place and will travel to Costa Rica. The first team to make first, twice!
Katie & Rachel show up to the bridge right after Chad & Stephanie. We see Kevin in first place rapelling up, followed by Gary, Thomas and Claire. Stephanie will do the challenge and I can only imagine the wonderful encouragement she’ll get from Chad when she’s like Claire - exhausted and trying to come up. Claire tells Brook to “shut up” as Brook shouts encouragement (and Brook’s not even being obnoxious about it!)
Kevin makes it up and the clue tells them to drive to Harvika and find a remote field for their next clue. Thomas is up and Claire is crying that her arms are dead - I’d kill Brook for making me do this challenge if I were her. Brook tells her she can do it, and “all I want you to do is finish this - I don’t care when.” She is making decent headway, albeit slowly. Brook tells Claire to call on her grandmother, who passed away four days before the Race started. Brook says “you think Claire & I are spicy? This woman beat us both.” She says Claire need to find the inner strength of her grandma.
Nick & Vicki show up and Vicki is excited about doing the challenge - she says “I’m the one who has the guts in this relationship.” Chad & Stephanie show up and Chad, of course, decides he’s the one to do the challenge. “I’ve got strength.” Michael &* Kevin make it to the next clue box, and the clue is a Detour. Phil tells us that when the weather gets warmer in this part of the world (and mind you, our Teams have winter coats and gloves on. So it’s all relative!) They like to get out and have a good time, but work still needs to get done. The teams can choose from Nike or Boat. For Bike, they choose bicycles and have to pay attention to the color of their bicycle lock. They ride to a sign and memorize a code that coincides with their lock color, which is the bike combination. They ride back, use the combination to open the lock and get their next clue. In Boat, they have to go to a fishing trawler, and use a map to direct the captain to a spot on shore, get off the boat, and deliver two large cod fish and a chain saw to a cabin to get their clue.
Michael & Kevin decide to try Boat, because Kevin doesn’t want his Dad to get overtaxed doing the bike ride on the terrain. Thomas & Jill and Gary & Mallory will do Bike. Brook & Claire will do the Boats. Brook says that this is so out of their realm of wearing makeup and going to parties - and Claire laughs “can we go get a manicure while we’re here?” Brook is cracking up about the life jackets, which go up through the crotch and snap, saying she’s wearing a diaper.
We see Vicki getting close to the top, and spinning around just under the bridge (and getting me dizzy!) Katie & Rachel show up just as Vicki, then Chad get done and are hopeful they can just “blast through this one and catch up.” Katie will do the task.
Michael & Kevin get to shore and climb up the slippery incline to deliver the fish and chain saw. Kevin is carrying the fish and Michael interviews later “that is why he smells so fishy right now.” I really am liking these two, they have a super relationship. We see Gary & Mallory slipping on part of the bicycle path and falling over, deciding to walk their bikes for a bit. Thomas & Jill get to the sign after Gary & Mallory but get back and open their locks first, finding out they get to drive to the Pit Stop at the Marina.
Brook & Claire pass Michael & Kevin on their way to shore in the boat, and Brook carries the fish. She laughs that the fish slung over her shoulder were slapping their tails against her butt. We see Thomas & Jill trying to find the Marina and saying they may have missed a turn - then Michael & Kevin in the car, saying the same thing. Gary & Mallory have a better sense of direction, and get to the Mat where Phil raises his eyebrow twice at the team to let them know they’re in second place. (Cute, Phil!)
Nick & Vicki decide to try the Bike challenge, and Brook & Claire give the cabin owner a kiss on the cheek. He looks pretty happy about it too! Thomas & Jill are so lost they pass Katie & Rachel on the bridge again. Katie & Rachel are ecstatic and Thomas is pretty pissed - “we just totally ruined ourselves!” Michael & Kevin end up right behind them on the road, as Katie & Rachel take off in the other direction. Nick, who allegedly rides bikes competitively, is having major problems getting up a hill while Vicki is cruising right along. They get to the sign as Chad & Stephanie find the place to dock. Katie & Rachel decide to do the Boat. Thomas & Jill stumble upon the marina with Michael & Kevin right behind. They beat the father & son team to the Mat for third.
Brook & Claire get to the Marina in fifth place, and Brook cut her eye on the car door as she was getting out. They get to the Mat and Phil is incredulous that Brook is cut, saying she’s a tough nut “all cut up and standing here like you’re going to sell jewelry.” Katie & Rachel pass Chad & Stephanie in their boat - the producers are really highlighting this, I wonder if the volleyball girls will actually catch up and beat Chad & Stephanie. Nick & Vicki get to the Marina and Nick says “I think we’re in second, dude” as they run to the Mat. (Yeah, okay.)
Chad & Stephanie stop someone on the road to ask if he knows where the Marina is, and the poor guy is a stutterer. Could this be the break that Katie & Rachel are hoping for? It seems as if Katie & Rachel get to the Marina as Chad & Stephanie do, but the dating couple gets to the Mat first. Phil tells them they’re the last team to arrive, and they’ve been eliminated. They’re happy they did it together, but they snuffle in being told to go home.
So here’s our order of finish:
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Thomas & Jill
4 - Michael & Kevin
5 - Brook & Claire
6 - Nick & Vicki
7 - Chad & Stephanie
8 - Katie & Rachel (Eliminated)
Next week the teams “get immersed in Russian culture - music, cinema, and babushkas!” Looks like fun!
Nat & Kat will leave the Pit Stop first, and must drive themselves to Narvik, Norway to a gondola station. They’ll ride the gondola to the top of the mountain to find the clue box. As Brook & Claire leave, Brook tells us she’s hyper and energetic. (Can’t say I’ve noticed that yet.) Michael & Kevin interview that Kevin is in college now, but he’ll be moving out when he’s out of college (and Michael makes a happy face with a thumbs-up. No empty nest problems there!) As they drive, Kevin tells his dad he gave him the clue but Michael can’t find it. Thomas interviews that he expected to be with someone who has gone to college since he went to Notre Dame (uppity, isn’t he?) and we get to hear Jill stating once again that she wants to prove that she’s smart even though she didn’t go to college, she doesn’t want to be following behind. Quit talking and do it woman! I think she’s got an inferiority complex, actually. She might as well give up now and find herself a plumber or something..... Michael ends up finding the clue and sheepishly apologizes.
Brook & Claire catch up to Gary & Mallory and they drive around a roundabout a few times talking to each other and trying to figure out which way to go. I guess stopping the cars to talk didn’t make much sense. Rachel interviews that it’s a race, and she and Katie want to win - “It’s not called Amazing Friends.” They also mention that Nat has a fear of heights and they’re hoping that will mess up the doctor team on the gondolas. As they take off she sits in the corner of the gondola and cries, with Kat trying to calm her down. They get to the top and the clue is a Fast Forward (should they choose to use it). For those of you unfamiliar, a Fast Forward is a special task, and if the team completes it they can skip all other tasks and go directly to the Pit Stop. The team will have to go to a restaurant and participate in a Norwegian Christmas festival - which they won’t know is to eat an entire roasted sheep’s head. Each team member will have to eat half the head.
Brook & Claire jump on a gondola just as Nat & Kat are getting off. Gary & Mallory miss the one and by the time they get on, Michael & Kevin have arrived. The non-Fast Forward clue tells the teams to drive to the Skjombrua Bridge (which Phil doesn’t even try to pronounce - he says “this” bridge. Sissy.) Michael & Kevin ask Gary & Mallory if they’re going to do the Fast Forward, and Gary says “no” but Mallory sees that it says “Christmas ritual” and yells “I love Christmas!” Well, if it involved snowball fights or mistletoe, I’d go along too. But NOT eating a sheep’s head! Blech!
On the way to the Fast Forward, Nat asks “What if it’s an eating challenge?” That’s when we find out that Kat is a vegetarian. Uh–oh! This will be interesting! They walk into the building and see the plates along with a glass of water, and Nat says they know that’s a bad sign to see the water there. Kat’s face is one of total disgust as they peel the meat off the skeleton (I’m not too thrilled either) and they decide to cut it into little pieces and then eat it. After a toast of “tastes like money” Kat tries to just swallow it and not chew it - and doesn’t look like she’s doing very well at it. There’s a woman there playing a violin-like instrument - looks really interesting. They say that the skin is thick and slimy - ew.
Gary & Mallory have teamed up with Michael & Kevin to find the bridge, and get there before Brook & Claire. The clue is a Roadblock. One team member has to step off the bridge and rappel down to the water. Once at the end of the rope, they have to call the boat to get their next clue, then use an ascender to get the 135 feet back up. Kevin and Gary decide to do it - Kevin says the clue asks “who has strength, stamina and guts” and Michael laughs saying “I don’t have guts.” Brook & Claire show up and Brook gives Claire the Roadblock to do and tells her she’ll do great. As she’s walking to the bridge all harnessed up, Claire says “it’s giving me a wedgie.” The guide asks her what a wedgie is, and she says “it’s like when it goes up your butt.”
Back to Nat & Kat, gagging down the sheep and saying it’s crunchy Romaine lettuce, or cucumbers. Kat again reminds herself that it “tastes like a million dollars.” Back at the bridge, Kevin goes down first, but Gary quickly catches up. He tells Kevin “my **** are already gettin’ it” and we’re not shown the word, but I’m thinking his "boys" are a little squished in that harness (if Claire’s getting a wedgie without even going down, can you imagine how the men will feel?)
At the “feast” a Norwegian is standing and staring at the doctors eating the sheep. They ask “how are we doing?” and get a cold stare. Nat asks “thumbs up?” Nothing. She looks at the guy and says “you’re very inspiring.” They manage to finish and the clue tells them to go to the Pit Stop - the Ankenes Marina. Kat says she wants to go to the Pit Stop and she’ll “get sick there.”
Nick & Vicki get to the gondola and decide to try the Fast Forward. They’re gonna be pretty bummed to find out it’s already taken!
Thomas & Jill get to the bridge as Kevin starts repelling back up. Claire is down below trying to figure out how to get back up and having major problems. Gary and Kevin still haven’t made it back up and Thomas is on his way up already. Meanwhile, Nick & Vicki get to the Fast Forward and there’s a sign on the door saying “Fast Forward Taken.” Our rocket scientist Nick says “I have no idea what that means.” Vicki doesn’t either, saying she didn’t know if it was “taken for right now, or just taken, period.” (OMG these two are sooooo dumb!) They don’t know if they should wait or not, and finally decide to go back to the bridge.
Nat & Kat get to Phil and the Mat and are greeted by another Norwegian who doesn’t know how to smile. (A high school mate of mine married a guy from Norway and moved there, and they’re not all like that - some actually smile sometimes!) Phil tells them that they’re in first place and will travel to Costa Rica. The first team to make first, twice!
Katie & Rachel show up to the bridge right after Chad & Stephanie. We see Kevin in first place rapelling up, followed by Gary, Thomas and Claire. Stephanie will do the challenge and I can only imagine the wonderful encouragement she’ll get from Chad when she’s like Claire - exhausted and trying to come up. Claire tells Brook to “shut up” as Brook shouts encouragement (and Brook’s not even being obnoxious about it!)
Kevin makes it up and the clue tells them to drive to Harvika and find a remote field for their next clue. Thomas is up and Claire is crying that her arms are dead - I’d kill Brook for making me do this challenge if I were her. Brook tells her she can do it, and “all I want you to do is finish this - I don’t care when.” She is making decent headway, albeit slowly. Brook tells Claire to call on her grandmother, who passed away four days before the Race started. Brook says “you think Claire & I are spicy? This woman beat us both.” She says Claire need to find the inner strength of her grandma.
Nick & Vicki show up and Vicki is excited about doing the challenge - she says “I’m the one who has the guts in this relationship.” Chad & Stephanie show up and Chad, of course, decides he’s the one to do the challenge. “I’ve got strength.” Michael &* Kevin make it to the next clue box, and the clue is a Detour. Phil tells us that when the weather gets warmer in this part of the world (and mind you, our Teams have winter coats and gloves on. So it’s all relative!) They like to get out and have a good time, but work still needs to get done. The teams can choose from Nike or Boat. For Bike, they choose bicycles and have to pay attention to the color of their bicycle lock. They ride to a sign and memorize a code that coincides with their lock color, which is the bike combination. They ride back, use the combination to open the lock and get their next clue. In Boat, they have to go to a fishing trawler, and use a map to direct the captain to a spot on shore, get off the boat, and deliver two large cod fish and a chain saw to a cabin to get their clue.
Michael & Kevin decide to try Boat, because Kevin doesn’t want his Dad to get overtaxed doing the bike ride on the terrain. Thomas & Jill and Gary & Mallory will do Bike. Brook & Claire will do the Boats. Brook says that this is so out of their realm of wearing makeup and going to parties - and Claire laughs “can we go get a manicure while we’re here?” Brook is cracking up about the life jackets, which go up through the crotch and snap, saying she’s wearing a diaper.
We see Vicki getting close to the top, and spinning around just under the bridge (and getting me dizzy!) Katie & Rachel show up just as Vicki, then Chad get done and are hopeful they can just “blast through this one and catch up.” Katie will do the task.
Michael & Kevin get to shore and climb up the slippery incline to deliver the fish and chain saw. Kevin is carrying the fish and Michael interviews later “that is why he smells so fishy right now.” I really am liking these two, they have a super relationship. We see Gary & Mallory slipping on part of the bicycle path and falling over, deciding to walk their bikes for a bit. Thomas & Jill get to the sign after Gary & Mallory but get back and open their locks first, finding out they get to drive to the Pit Stop at the Marina.
Brook & Claire pass Michael & Kevin on their way to shore in the boat, and Brook carries the fish. She laughs that the fish slung over her shoulder were slapping their tails against her butt. We see Thomas & Jill trying to find the Marina and saying they may have missed a turn - then Michael & Kevin in the car, saying the same thing. Gary & Mallory have a better sense of direction, and get to the Mat where Phil raises his eyebrow twice at the team to let them know they’re in second place. (Cute, Phil!)
Nick & Vicki decide to try the Bike challenge, and Brook & Claire give the cabin owner a kiss on the cheek. He looks pretty happy about it too! Thomas & Jill are so lost they pass Katie & Rachel on the bridge again. Katie & Rachel are ecstatic and Thomas is pretty pissed - “we just totally ruined ourselves!” Michael & Kevin end up right behind them on the road, as Katie & Rachel take off in the other direction. Nick, who allegedly rides bikes competitively, is having major problems getting up a hill while Vicki is cruising right along. They get to the sign as Chad & Stephanie find the place to dock. Katie & Rachel decide to do the Boat. Thomas & Jill stumble upon the marina with Michael & Kevin right behind. They beat the father & son team to the Mat for third.
Brook & Claire get to the Marina in fifth place, and Brook cut her eye on the car door as she was getting out. They get to the Mat and Phil is incredulous that Brook is cut, saying she’s a tough nut “all cut up and standing here like you’re going to sell jewelry.” Katie & Rachel pass Chad & Stephanie in their boat - the producers are really highlighting this, I wonder if the volleyball girls will actually catch up and beat Chad & Stephanie. Nick & Vicki get to the Marina and Nick says “I think we’re in second, dude” as they run to the Mat. (Yeah, okay.)
Chad & Stephanie stop someone on the road to ask if he knows where the Marina is, and the poor guy is a stutterer. Could this be the break that Katie & Rachel are hoping for? It seems as if Katie & Rachel get to the Marina as Chad & Stephanie do, but the dating couple gets to the Mat first. Phil tells them they’re the last team to arrive, and they’ve been eliminated. They’re happy they did it together, but they snuffle in being told to go home.
So here’s our order of finish:
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Thomas & Jill
4 - Michael & Kevin
5 - Brook & Claire
6 - Nick & Vicki
7 - Chad & Stephanie
8 - Katie & Rachel (Eliminated)
Next week the teams “get immersed in Russian culture - music, cinema, and babushkas!” Looks like fun!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Race is Less Musical as the Singers, Connor & Jonathan, are Eliminated
The nine remaining teams begin in Ghana - but before they leave, they stay to paint the school (dripping paint all over from what I see). It underscores again how lucky we are in the US, and the teams work away with smiles and kisses for the kids.
Connor & Jonathan are the first team to leave the Pit Stop - and they rip open the clue to find out they’re going to the Arctic Circle. Actually, it’s Kiruna, Sweden, in Swedish Lapland. All teams have been given tickets for the same flight that flies from Ghana to Frankfurt and on to Sweden, but they’re not going to be forced to use them (making me think there are other ways to get there, and someone will try, and get stranded in some country somewhere.....). They must drive themselves to Jukkasjärvi and find the Icehotel, which is made from 10,000 tons of ice, and they’ll get their next clue there. The singers say they’ll be missing their college graduation on this Leg, and it’s a testament as to how bad they want to win it.
Gary & Mallory leave next, and Mallory screams to find out they’re going to the Arctic Circle. (She screams a lot!) Gary mentions they’ll be going from “a hundred to zero.” Chad & Stephanie leave and Stephanie asks “did I mention I hate freaking snow?” Katie & Rachel leave and Katie (I think, still can’t tell them apart) tells us she’s half Swedish but only knows a few words in Romanian, and the most mentioned is “dumb.” (Don’t think that saying “dumb” everywhere will help - nor will Romanian in Sweden!) Brook & Claire say they didn’t bring their snow boots, and Claire is bummed that they’ll have to put on more clothes (and no one will see her hot pink leopard shorts). Nick & Vicki, our resident brainiacs, get in the cab and Nick asks the cab driver if he knows where the Arctic Circle is. Michael & Kevin, leaving in last place and looking at a Speed Bump along the way, call the airport on the way and find out they can get a flight that leaves two hours earlier from Frankfurt to Kiruna. They decide to tell Gary & Mallory, because they can relate to them as a father/child team. They’ll have an hour between flights, so they hope that’s enough time to connect. Mallory sees an airport employee and asks him to check and see if they can get tickets. She laughs that they “need a girl” to help them out. Brook & Claire decide to check on an earlier flight also, and see an internet café and figure that’s where Nat & Kat are. Mallory’s “best friend” comes back and says they are all on the flight that leaves earlier. Mallory laughs that “I’m so glad I have blonde hair.” Connor & Jonathan are watching all this go on and think there’s an earlier flight and go to an information desk to find out. Nat & Kat bought tickets for the earlier flight, and decided to share that info with Brook & Claire (although how would they not - the Shopping Network gals showed up as they were buying the tickets!) Jonathan and Katie & Rachel find out that all the flights are fully booked and are nervous about some other teams getting a quicker flight. The teams that do have those tickets are preparing for a mad dash to the gate because of the one-hour window before their flight leaves. (Of course, if they miss it they can always use their original tickets - unless they had to give those up to get the new flight).
Nat & Kat make the flight, as to Gary & Mallory and Brook & Claire. We see Michael & Kevin in an elevator worried about making it on time - but the manage to get to the plane before it takes off. Gary & Mallory pass up the sign to the Icehotel, and with Michael & Kevin following them they have to turn around. Brook tells the woman standing by the clues that “my fiancé calls me an ice princess so I may have to borrow that [outfit] later. It’s very pretty.” The clues are blocks of ice with Swedish words etched in them that will lead them to Fjellborg’s Lodge - once they figure out the words. Michael & Kevin get their Speed Bump here. They have to sit on the furniture made from blocks of ice for ten minutes. Sitting for ten minutes sounds like a pretty easy thing to do - but to sit on solid ice with regular pants on? I dunno ‘bout that! Kevin is wearing soccer shorts, too! Michael laughs that he wishes they had that furniture in Ghana.
Nat & Kat ask a local what the words on their ice block say, and he tells them “it’s a camp. By a lake.” Mallory just wants to follow them (bad idea - you ALWAYS find out where you’re going before you decide to follow someone else!) Michael & Kevin get through their Speed Bump, but not before Kevin tells us that his butt is tingling. They get their block-of-ice-clue and say they should have brought gloves - “and butt pads.” A local gives them exact directions on where to drive.
Brook & Claire are following Nat & Kat on an unmarked trail through the (sparse) woods. Claire, in a sinister voice, narrates: “Four girls, traveling alone in the woods, and their car stalls ... and out come the ax murderers.” Michael & Kevin get to the clue box first (after leaving the Icehotel last) and it’s a Road Block: “Who’s feeling kind of mushy?” Dog sleds are the transportation of choice with snow eight months out of the year, but the other four months they have to stay in shape. They’ll have to mush their dogs with a summer training sled along a trail and pick up five different flags along the route. They’ll trade the flags for some pelts. For every flag they miss, they’ll have to do a penalty lap around the hunter’s camp. They then mush the dogs back to the start and exchange their pelts for the next clue. Michael takes off, yelling “good doggy” all the way. There’s a bear that jumps up next to the road - what—!!! Okay, it’s a guy in a bear suit. Cute. I’d like to think they’d find a way to keep real bears from getting that close to the contestants!
Mallory, Claire, and Kat will do the Roadblock too. As Michael gets all of his pelts the rest of the teams land in Sweden. Mallory misses the red flags but passes Kat up on the road, saying “I’ve got good dogs.” Kat’s dogs stop in the road and Claire passes her up as well. Mallory has to do a penalty lap and Claire gets her pelts with all of her flags, and kisses the hunter. I guess they’re doing a kiss count, and Claire’s was the sixth of the day. Wahoo! Germs from every part of the world!!!
The five remaining teams get to the Icehotel and some write down the words on the ice (as opposed to some other teams, who take the ice with them). Katie & Rachel ask a local, who says he can take them there. Thomas takes his ice but is having problems keeping a grip on it and uses Jill’s jacket.
Michael mushes back to the beginning and gets the clue, which tells them to drive to the Vassijaure Train Station for the next clue. All the mushers come back with mega smiles on their faces saying it was awesome.
Chad & Stephanie see all the other teams except for Jill & Thomas driving to the clue box. Katie, Connor, Stephanie and Nick race off to mush the dogs, and Jill & Thomas show up. Jill decides to do the task but they start running off in the wrong direction! We hear the familiar “zing” in the music that lets us know they’re making an AWFUL mistake. As Connor and Nick take off, laughing and urging their dogs on, Jill & Thomas keep running down a road to nowhere - but at least they’re thinking that maybe they screwed up, with Thomas asking “did we miss a sign or something?” (Yep.) If I’m them, I’m thinking about now that it shouldn’t take that long to get somewhere! They finally figure they’re off track and turn around, and Jill asks if they want to use the Express Pass. Thomas doesn’t want to make any decision yet but wants to check it out first.
Nick is hot on Connor’s trail, yelling “I’m coming, Connor!” as he catches up. Jill & Thomas get back to the dogs and off Jill goes.
Michael & Kevin get to the train station and the clue is a Detour. Phil tells us they're in a place where people can go to do extreme sports, but there are also people who follow the customs of their ancestors. They can do Sleds or Beds. For Sleds, they go to the top of the mountain and speed down a course on a tech sled. They both have to finish the course in less than a minute and 58 seconds. If they don’t make it, they have to go back to the top and try again. In Beds, they go to the camp of Sami people, descendants of Scandinavian nomads. Using the traditional tools, they must build a tent known as a ghoatti (if the internet tells me correctly). When the tent is up and the inside ready for sleeping with pelts and a fire, they’ll get their next clue. Kevin would love to do the sled, but he’s worried that his dad wouldn’t be able to do it. As they’re putting up the tent, and it’s flopping all over, the local Sami are cracking up watching them. (I think we have to have at least one set of locals laughing at a team or two every episode, or it just wouldn’t be The Amazing Race!)
Nat & Kat are next to the clue box and head off to Sleds. Back at the mush dogs, the teams finish their challenges and Nick tells the dog handler “your dogs are awesome!” They get their clues, and as Chad & Stephanie leave just before Jill & Thomas, Chad says that because of Jill & Thomas’ Express Pass, they’re running the Race as if they are in last place. After seeing what the Detour is, I wouldn’t blame them if they used the Express Pass!
Michael & Kevin are making better headway with the tent, but they tell us that they thought they’d be building a bed, not a tent. Nat & Kat get to the sled course and are loving the scenery sitting in the chair lift. They’re excited about trying the sleds, but Nat interviews that the turns were really icy and the course was fast, and pulling the brake didn’t do much. Kat misses a turn and gets tangled in a fence as Nat finishes in 1:48. Gary & Mallory start their run, and Gary takes off quickly but Mallory is kneeling on the seat and going slower. But! It looks like they make it - 1:58 on the dot. The guy tells them no, they have to BEAT the time. Back at the tent, Michael & Kevin have it up and are off to get pelts and firewood, and Kevin says his feet are frozen - he’s only wearing ankle socks. Nat & Kat make it in 1:55 on their second try. Their clue tells them to drive to the Pit Stop which is at the Norwegian Border. Brook & Claire make it in 1:48, and Gary & Mallory do 1:24 on their second try.
Chad & Stephanie decide to try the Sleds, but only Chad is excited - Stephanie wants nothing to do with it but says she’ll try for Chad. (Awwww). Nat & Kat find Phil and the Mat, and are the first team to arrive. They win a trip to Belize.
Michael & Kevin finish their hut and get their clue. Gary & Mallory then Brook & Claire get to the Mat and there are hugs all around.
Jill & Thomas are the last to the clue box at the train station and talk about using the Express Pass to just bypass the tasks and “kill everybody.” Jonathan & Connor are on the course, and Jonathan keeps falling over. Stephanie says she’s never been more scared in her life looking at the course. She ends up right behind Chad and yells at him to go faster, but ends up wobbling and tipping over. Chad yells at her to get back on. She hits a turn and flies off the sled and gets tangled in a fence. Ever the supportive one, Chad yells at her “well, don’t even try or anything!” Connor & Jonathan finish, but in 2:03 and have to try again. Stephanie crashes once again and tells Chad she can’t do it. At the bottom, Chad says Stephanie is letting her head get to her.
Jill & Thomas are attempting Beds and talking about using the Express Pass, saying it would be a shame to be eliminated and not use it. They decide it will take too much time and give the Sami their Express Pass and get the clue to go to the next Pit Stop. As Stephanie gets to the bottom of the course, she tells Chad she’s done. She doesn’t want to go again after crashing three times and the sled landing on top of her. She’s too afraid to try again. I’m looking at Chad’s face and thinking it reminds me of the old saying “if looks could kill....” She cries as they walk away and Chad thinks they’re giving up.
We see Connor & Jonathan trying again, and failing miserably, and Jonathan interviews that “saying Connor is batter at the sledding than I am is a gross understatement.” He kept going over and through the fences and was afraid he’d end up in Norway. Nick & Vicki begin the course and Vicki interviews that they’re a more physical couple than a mental one (you’ve definitely proved that!) and this challenge was more suited to them. They finish in 1:46 on the first try. Katie & Rachel are flopping all over and Rachel loses her sled down the hill, so they decide to switch tasks. After another disastrous run, Connor & Jonathan switch also.
As they get to the Beds challenge, Jonathan & Connor are happy to see the other teams, but Chad & Stephanie are soon finished. Katie & Rachel’s first check isn’t good enough, giving Connor & Jonathan some hope. Chad & Stephanie arrive at the Mat carrying their block of ice clue! Katie & Rachel get approval and drive off, and Connor & Jonathan get their clue. It looks like both teams get to the location of the Mat at the same time (and they have their block of ice also). The A Capella team sings their way to the Mat but Phil tells them they’ve been eliminated. From first to worst! They tell Phil they graduated from Princeton and graduated from the Race on the same day, and toss their baseball caps into the air. We’re treated to them singing about the Race and Phil sending them home.
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Brook & Claire
4 - Michael & Kevin
5 - Jill & Thomas
6 - Nick & Vicki
7 - Chad & Stephanie
8 - Katie & Rachel
9 - Connor & Jonathan (eliminated)
Okay, yet another team finishes first. Are the teams that close? Do you see a clear front runner yet? Next week will only tell!
By the way, I've found a couple other "amateur" bloggers that are quite entertaining - you should check them out!
Sean - http://sfurfaro.blogspot.com/2010/10/amazing-race-recap-we-should-have.html
Josh - http://www.joshwolk.com/blogs/archive.php
Connor & Jonathan are the first team to leave the Pit Stop - and they rip open the clue to find out they’re going to the Arctic Circle. Actually, it’s Kiruna, Sweden, in Swedish Lapland. All teams have been given tickets for the same flight that flies from Ghana to Frankfurt and on to Sweden, but they’re not going to be forced to use them (making me think there are other ways to get there, and someone will try, and get stranded in some country somewhere.....). They must drive themselves to Jukkasjärvi and find the Icehotel, which is made from 10,000 tons of ice, and they’ll get their next clue there. The singers say they’ll be missing their college graduation on this Leg, and it’s a testament as to how bad they want to win it.
Gary & Mallory leave next, and Mallory screams to find out they’re going to the Arctic Circle. (She screams a lot!) Gary mentions they’ll be going from “a hundred to zero.” Chad & Stephanie leave and Stephanie asks “did I mention I hate freaking snow?” Katie & Rachel leave and Katie (I think, still can’t tell them apart) tells us she’s half Swedish but only knows a few words in Romanian, and the most mentioned is “dumb.” (Don’t think that saying “dumb” everywhere will help - nor will Romanian in Sweden!) Brook & Claire say they didn’t bring their snow boots, and Claire is bummed that they’ll have to put on more clothes (and no one will see her hot pink leopard shorts). Nick & Vicki, our resident brainiacs, get in the cab and Nick asks the cab driver if he knows where the Arctic Circle is. Michael & Kevin, leaving in last place and looking at a Speed Bump along the way, call the airport on the way and find out they can get a flight that leaves two hours earlier from Frankfurt to Kiruna. They decide to tell Gary & Mallory, because they can relate to them as a father/child team. They’ll have an hour between flights, so they hope that’s enough time to connect. Mallory sees an airport employee and asks him to check and see if they can get tickets. She laughs that they “need a girl” to help them out. Brook & Claire decide to check on an earlier flight also, and see an internet café and figure that’s where Nat & Kat are. Mallory’s “best friend” comes back and says they are all on the flight that leaves earlier. Mallory laughs that “I’m so glad I have blonde hair.” Connor & Jonathan are watching all this go on and think there’s an earlier flight and go to an information desk to find out. Nat & Kat bought tickets for the earlier flight, and decided to share that info with Brook & Claire (although how would they not - the Shopping Network gals showed up as they were buying the tickets!) Jonathan and Katie & Rachel find out that all the flights are fully booked and are nervous about some other teams getting a quicker flight. The teams that do have those tickets are preparing for a mad dash to the gate because of the one-hour window before their flight leaves. (Of course, if they miss it they can always use their original tickets - unless they had to give those up to get the new flight).
Nat & Kat make the flight, as to Gary & Mallory and Brook & Claire. We see Michael & Kevin in an elevator worried about making it on time - but the manage to get to the plane before it takes off. Gary & Mallory pass up the sign to the Icehotel, and with Michael & Kevin following them they have to turn around. Brook tells the woman standing by the clues that “my fiancé calls me an ice princess so I may have to borrow that [outfit] later. It’s very pretty.” The clues are blocks of ice with Swedish words etched in them that will lead them to Fjellborg’s Lodge - once they figure out the words. Michael & Kevin get their Speed Bump here. They have to sit on the furniture made from blocks of ice for ten minutes. Sitting for ten minutes sounds like a pretty easy thing to do - but to sit on solid ice with regular pants on? I dunno ‘bout that! Kevin is wearing soccer shorts, too! Michael laughs that he wishes they had that furniture in Ghana.
Nat & Kat ask a local what the words on their ice block say, and he tells them “it’s a camp. By a lake.” Mallory just wants to follow them (bad idea - you ALWAYS find out where you’re going before you decide to follow someone else!) Michael & Kevin get through their Speed Bump, but not before Kevin tells us that his butt is tingling. They get their block-of-ice-clue and say they should have brought gloves - “and butt pads.” A local gives them exact directions on where to drive.
Brook & Claire are following Nat & Kat on an unmarked trail through the (sparse) woods. Claire, in a sinister voice, narrates: “Four girls, traveling alone in the woods, and their car stalls ... and out come the ax murderers.” Michael & Kevin get to the clue box first (after leaving the Icehotel last) and it’s a Road Block: “Who’s feeling kind of mushy?” Dog sleds are the transportation of choice with snow eight months out of the year, but the other four months they have to stay in shape. They’ll have to mush their dogs with a summer training sled along a trail and pick up five different flags along the route. They’ll trade the flags for some pelts. For every flag they miss, they’ll have to do a penalty lap around the hunter’s camp. They then mush the dogs back to the start and exchange their pelts for the next clue. Michael takes off, yelling “good doggy” all the way. There’s a bear that jumps up next to the road - what—!!! Okay, it’s a guy in a bear suit. Cute. I’d like to think they’d find a way to keep real bears from getting that close to the contestants!
Mallory, Claire, and Kat will do the Roadblock too. As Michael gets all of his pelts the rest of the teams land in Sweden. Mallory misses the red flags but passes Kat up on the road, saying “I’ve got good dogs.” Kat’s dogs stop in the road and Claire passes her up as well. Mallory has to do a penalty lap and Claire gets her pelts with all of her flags, and kisses the hunter. I guess they’re doing a kiss count, and Claire’s was the sixth of the day. Wahoo! Germs from every part of the world!!!
The five remaining teams get to the Icehotel and some write down the words on the ice (as opposed to some other teams, who take the ice with them). Katie & Rachel ask a local, who says he can take them there. Thomas takes his ice but is having problems keeping a grip on it and uses Jill’s jacket.
Michael mushes back to the beginning and gets the clue, which tells them to drive to the Vassijaure Train Station for the next clue. All the mushers come back with mega smiles on their faces saying it was awesome.
Chad & Stephanie see all the other teams except for Jill & Thomas driving to the clue box. Katie, Connor, Stephanie and Nick race off to mush the dogs, and Jill & Thomas show up. Jill decides to do the task but they start running off in the wrong direction! We hear the familiar “zing” in the music that lets us know they’re making an AWFUL mistake. As Connor and Nick take off, laughing and urging their dogs on, Jill & Thomas keep running down a road to nowhere - but at least they’re thinking that maybe they screwed up, with Thomas asking “did we miss a sign or something?” (Yep.) If I’m them, I’m thinking about now that it shouldn’t take that long to get somewhere! They finally figure they’re off track and turn around, and Jill asks if they want to use the Express Pass. Thomas doesn’t want to make any decision yet but wants to check it out first.
Nick is hot on Connor’s trail, yelling “I’m coming, Connor!” as he catches up. Jill & Thomas get back to the dogs and off Jill goes.
Michael & Kevin get to the train station and the clue is a Detour. Phil tells us they're in a place where people can go to do extreme sports, but there are also people who follow the customs of their ancestors. They can do Sleds or Beds. For Sleds, they go to the top of the mountain and speed down a course on a tech sled. They both have to finish the course in less than a minute and 58 seconds. If they don’t make it, they have to go back to the top and try again. In Beds, they go to the camp of Sami people, descendants of Scandinavian nomads. Using the traditional tools, they must build a tent known as a ghoatti (if the internet tells me correctly). When the tent is up and the inside ready for sleeping with pelts and a fire, they’ll get their next clue. Kevin would love to do the sled, but he’s worried that his dad wouldn’t be able to do it. As they’re putting up the tent, and it’s flopping all over, the local Sami are cracking up watching them. (I think we have to have at least one set of locals laughing at a team or two every episode, or it just wouldn’t be The Amazing Race!)
Nat & Kat are next to the clue box and head off to Sleds. Back at the mush dogs, the teams finish their challenges and Nick tells the dog handler “your dogs are awesome!” They get their clues, and as Chad & Stephanie leave just before Jill & Thomas, Chad says that because of Jill & Thomas’ Express Pass, they’re running the Race as if they are in last place. After seeing what the Detour is, I wouldn’t blame them if they used the Express Pass!
Michael & Kevin are making better headway with the tent, but they tell us that they thought they’d be building a bed, not a tent. Nat & Kat get to the sled course and are loving the scenery sitting in the chair lift. They’re excited about trying the sleds, but Nat interviews that the turns were really icy and the course was fast, and pulling the brake didn’t do much. Kat misses a turn and gets tangled in a fence as Nat finishes in 1:48. Gary & Mallory start their run, and Gary takes off quickly but Mallory is kneeling on the seat and going slower. But! It looks like they make it - 1:58 on the dot. The guy tells them no, they have to BEAT the time. Back at the tent, Michael & Kevin have it up and are off to get pelts and firewood, and Kevin says his feet are frozen - he’s only wearing ankle socks. Nat & Kat make it in 1:55 on their second try. Their clue tells them to drive to the Pit Stop which is at the Norwegian Border. Brook & Claire make it in 1:48, and Gary & Mallory do 1:24 on their second try.
Chad & Stephanie decide to try the Sleds, but only Chad is excited - Stephanie wants nothing to do with it but says she’ll try for Chad. (Awwww). Nat & Kat find Phil and the Mat, and are the first team to arrive. They win a trip to Belize.
Michael & Kevin finish their hut and get their clue. Gary & Mallory then Brook & Claire get to the Mat and there are hugs all around.
Jill & Thomas are the last to the clue box at the train station and talk about using the Express Pass to just bypass the tasks and “kill everybody.” Jonathan & Connor are on the course, and Jonathan keeps falling over. Stephanie says she’s never been more scared in her life looking at the course. She ends up right behind Chad and yells at him to go faster, but ends up wobbling and tipping over. Chad yells at her to get back on. She hits a turn and flies off the sled and gets tangled in a fence. Ever the supportive one, Chad yells at her “well, don’t even try or anything!” Connor & Jonathan finish, but in 2:03 and have to try again. Stephanie crashes once again and tells Chad she can’t do it. At the bottom, Chad says Stephanie is letting her head get to her.
Jill & Thomas are attempting Beds and talking about using the Express Pass, saying it would be a shame to be eliminated and not use it. They decide it will take too much time and give the Sami their Express Pass and get the clue to go to the next Pit Stop. As Stephanie gets to the bottom of the course, she tells Chad she’s done. She doesn’t want to go again after crashing three times and the sled landing on top of her. She’s too afraid to try again. I’m looking at Chad’s face and thinking it reminds me of the old saying “if looks could kill....” She cries as they walk away and Chad thinks they’re giving up.
We see Connor & Jonathan trying again, and failing miserably, and Jonathan interviews that “saying Connor is batter at the sledding than I am is a gross understatement.” He kept going over and through the fences and was afraid he’d end up in Norway. Nick & Vicki begin the course and Vicki interviews that they’re a more physical couple than a mental one (you’ve definitely proved that!) and this challenge was more suited to them. They finish in 1:46 on the first try. Katie & Rachel are flopping all over and Rachel loses her sled down the hill, so they decide to switch tasks. After another disastrous run, Connor & Jonathan switch also.
As they get to the Beds challenge, Jonathan & Connor are happy to see the other teams, but Chad & Stephanie are soon finished. Katie & Rachel’s first check isn’t good enough, giving Connor & Jonathan some hope. Chad & Stephanie arrive at the Mat carrying their block of ice clue! Katie & Rachel get approval and drive off, and Connor & Jonathan get their clue. It looks like both teams get to the location of the Mat at the same time (and they have their block of ice also). The A Capella team sings their way to the Mat but Phil tells them they’ve been eliminated. From first to worst! They tell Phil they graduated from Princeton and graduated from the Race on the same day, and toss their baseball caps into the air. We’re treated to them singing about the Race and Phil sending them home.
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Brook & Claire
4 - Michael & Kevin
5 - Jill & Thomas
6 - Nick & Vicki
7 - Chad & Stephanie
8 - Katie & Rachel
9 - Connor & Jonathan (eliminated)
Okay, yet another team finishes first. Are the teams that close? Do you see a clear front runner yet? Next week will only tell!
By the way, I've found a couple other "amateur" bloggers that are quite entertaining - you should check them out!
Sean - http://sfurfaro.blogspot.com/2010/10/amazing-race-recap-we-should-have.html
Josh - http://www.joshwolk.com/blogs/archive.php
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