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!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
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!
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