A Romp Through Australia With a Bunch of Strange-Looking Kangaroos!

The teams are still racing - well, ten of them are. Our Cowboys Jet & Cord are still at the flags trying to decipher the phrase for the Commodore. This should make Amanda & Kris feel better about their double U-Turn, at least!

The clue that everyone received from Phil at the Mat on Shelly Beach tells teams to make their way back to Sydney and get To Sail to Stop - which is an anchor next to City Town Hall. The first six teams to get there will be signed up for two charter flights that will take them to Broken Hill, a mining town.

We see some teams take a cab back to Sydney, and some go back to the ferry. Jet & Cord finally get the phrase and take off to sail the 16-foot skiff. Amanda & Kris and Gary & Mallory get to Sydney, except they have no idea where they’re going. Kisha & Jen are taken to the Maritime Museum, but go to the information center and ask to use the computer. Zev & Justin show up and Zev tells us that “we started Googling” and Justin deadpanned “that sounds dirty.” They find out it has to do with an anchor and Town Hall so they all decide to walk over. We see Mel & Mike on the beach, and Mel is telling Mike “I’m not gonna make it” - already! Mel's legs seem to go out and Mike is worried about his dad. Kynt & Vixsyn jump on the ferry right after Mike & Mel, and Mel is looking pretty shaky. Mike is crying that “I don’t want to kill you.” (Good, good.) Mel tells Mike that it will be his own decision on how far he’s going to go.

Back in the water, Jet & Cord are showing us that riding horses and riding skiffs are two different things as they both fall off the side. On the ferry, Margie & Luke borrow a woman’s computer and find out they need to go to Town Hall and tell Jaime & Cara. Kisha & Jen and Zev & Justin get to Town Hall and are elated to find out they are the first teams there. The teams jump off the ferry and between asking locals and checking computers, they find out they need to go to Town Hall also. Ron & Christina run into Gary & Mallory as do Amanda & Kris, and they end up asking locals about where they’re going. Jaime & Cara and Margie & Luke find the anchor, and Mel & Mike and Kynt & Vixsyn end up joining them as the six teams that will get the first flight out of town.

Jet & Cord show up at the Mat, finally, and Phil tells them the bad news, that they are the last team to arrive. He then pulls out the clue and tells them to go redeem themselves, because they’re still racing.

Oh, my gravy - our Cowboys are asking everyone about To Sail To Stop and no one knows enough to tell them. It’s getting dark, the first flight is leaving the airport, and Jet & Cord are still wandering around town. They find a cabbie who knows where to go and see there are other teams on the flight with them - now to find out if they’ve made the flight! At the airport, Kisha sees Mel and asks him how he feels, and ever the gentleman, Mel says “I feel all right. Seeing you makes it twice as better.” Jet & Cord manage to make the second flight and have caught up.

The first six teams land and their clues are on their cars. They must drive to the Living Desert and search for the clue box. Jaime & Cara are going to stop and ask for directions with Margie & Luke with Kynt & Vixsyn. Mike & Mel are following Kisha & Jen, and Mel is in the back seat saying that “a kangaroo can go faster than you Kisha.” Zev & Justin find the clue box and it’s a Detour, where teams can choose between two Aboriginal customs: Spirit World or Natural World. For Spirit World, teams use natural materials to create an Aboriginal mosaic that matches the sample, and then perform a dance on top of it for their next clue. For Natural World, they must recreate territory markers using a natural paint made with clay and water. They must pour the paint into their mouths and spary it out onto stencils to create the markers. Once they’ve done it correctly, they get their next clue.

Zev & Justin will do Spirit World, because Zev tells us that Justin is very artistic, to which Justin adds, “and autistic.” (heehee!) All the other teams are doing Spirit World as well - I guess no one wants to suck clay water (not that I blame them). Mallory ends up grabbing the materials in her shirt as other teams follow suit. Kisha & Jen get a “no” for their mosaic while Kynt & Vixsyn are approved to go dance. Kynt runs around saying they need children to dance with, sounding like a pedophile - “we need children!” Zev & Justin and Margie & Luke just jump on their mosaics and start dancing (badly, I might add). I guess they have the right idea, though, because Kynt & Vixsyn get a “no” and Zev & Justin get their next clue. They must drive back to Broken Hill and find the home of the Magpies - a stadium, Central Football Club, where the next clue box is.

After they see teams running off, they finally realize that they have to dance on top of the mosaic and get their clue. Ron is being a butthead again micromanaging Christina’s completion of the artwork. She tells him to speak in Chinese so the other teams don’t hear them and copy what they do. No worries about that, mate - the Globetrotters, Cowboys, Jaime & Cara and Gary & Mallory all take off ahead of them. Ron & Christina don’t get an okay, and Amanda & Kris take off to do the other Detour. It’s funny to watch Amanda trying to spray the paint, and Kris takes over and does a pretty good job. They’re using reddish paint and when they’re done, it looks like they’re bleeding from the mouth. They finish just as Ron & Christina finish grabbing all their stuff and taking off also.

Zev & Justin get to the stadium and the clue tells them “time for a ‘roo’d’ awakening.” Phil says this task will challenge their knowledge of high school chemistry (in which case I’d be dead meat!) They will have to do it dressed as kangaroos! All they will have is a paper with the periodic table of elements written on it. They will have to bounce through the mining town, looking for the streets named for the elements in the table - but the street names are the names, and the table has the abbreviations. There are only two streets that cross each other, Mercury and Bismuth, and they’re highlighted on the paper. When they get to that intersection, they’ll see the next clue box.

The kangaroo costumes have little bouncy things on their shoes and Margie has problems staying upright. She and Luke tag along with Zev & Justin as Jaime & Cara drive up, laughing that the teams are dressed as kangaroos. The two teams find a local with a handheld computer and she looks up the abbreviations and directs them to the streets. As they bounce through town, locals watch and laugh. Back in the locker rooms, Kisha & Jen go to the men’s locker room and are shooed out to the women’s, with Mel remarking “they’re always trying to get in the locker room.” Jaime tells us with a seductive grin that the kangaroo costume is “a far cry from a little green bunny suit.” Kynt & Vixsyn join up with Jaime & Cara, and Kynt knows the names of the streets they’re looking for. He tells us he got an “A” in Chemistry and it’s nice to know it finally paid off. One of the girls tells him “Brains and beauty! Go Kynt!” Mel is running ahead with the bouncy feet and decides that he wants them for the rest of the Race. As they bounce down the street with three or four other teams, we see an Animal Control truck parked!

Margie & Luke and Zev & Justin find Mercury Street, and Margie ends up dropping a part of her costume on the street. Luke tells her to “just go” and something tells me this is not a good idea. Would have taken her 2 seconds to pick it up! I guess she didn't know that she dropped it until later on, and she tells Luke that they have to go back to get it (smart lady) as Zev & Justin get to the clue box. It tells them to go to the next Pit Stop (in their kangaroo suits), which is Junction Mine, a former silver mine built in the 1800s. They are allowed to put their shoes on and as they get in the car, Zev slams his tail in the door and yells “ow!”

Mel finds the costume part and picks it up as Margie & Luke get back to the spot. Margie gives Mel a big hug in thanks. Zev & Justin get to the Mat where Phil tells them “I’ll give you the bad news - you look ridiculous.” The miner Phil is with tells Zev he’s the female (with the baby roo sticking out of his pouch). Justin says he’ll be the female as long they’re still in the Race.


Flight Time & Big Easy are second to the Mat and Phil asks the miner if he’s ever seen a kangaroo that big before. (I guess Phil is gonna have a field day with these costumes!)

Ron & Christina and Gary & Mallory are talking about teaming up, but Gary & Mallory take off in the direction that the other teams did, with anal Ron saying they need to get their bearings first and wondering why Mallory is just running off. Take a chill pill, dude!

Jet & Cord get to the mine just as Kisha & Jen do, and beat them in a foot race for third place.

Ron & Christina and Gary & Mallory figure out the streets they’re looking for, but aren’t doing a great job of finding them. Amanda & Kris get to the clue box right after they do, and Ron again complains that Mallory is “just impulsive.” At least she’s moving, buddy!

Margie & Luke get to the Mat fifth, and Mel & Mike are sixth. Mike tells us his Dad is his hero. Kynt & Vixsyn are seventh, Jaime & Cara follow and Phil tells them they’re the best looking things to hop into town. Gary & Mallory prove that impulsive isn’t a bad thing as they check in next. It looks like a foot race at the mine as Ron & Christina and Amanda & Kris pull up, but Ron & Christina make it to the Mat in tenth place. That leaves Amanda & Chris to get eliminated, and Kris is really bummed about it. They still love the opportunity and “would do it again.”

The previews for next week are interesting - “the teams are steeped in Japanese tradition” which includes flinging mud in their underwear. And it looks like Jaime & Cara end up hitting someone or something as they drive along. Hmmmm!

So have Jet & Cord redeemed themselves from that horrible start? The teams seem to be pretty cooperative with each other, how long will that keep up? You know someone’s gonna get cutthroat sooner or later!

1 - Zev & Justin
2 - Flight Time & Big Easy
3 - Jet & Cord
4 - Kisha & Jen
5 - Margie & Luke
6 - Mel & Mike
7 - Kynt & Vixsyn
8 - Jaime & Cara
9 - Gary & Mallory
10 - Ron & Christina
11 - Amanda & Kris (eliminated)

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!

A U-Turn and Morse Code Sink Joe & Heidi

Please excuse the lateness of the recap – I was on a train to New York state to spend the week with my just-turned-one grandchild (and her parents). I don’t have a laptop (although my TiVo is right next to my desktop at home) and it’s nice to be able to sit in the big recliner with their laptop, and a kitty on my legs, typing as I watch. With my angelic, beautiful granddaughter Hayley sleeping in her room after getting to see her first steps today! (ahhh, life is good.)

The teams begin in Hamburg, Germany but don’t start in Hamburg. Now that I’ve got your attention: (and no, Brent is not wearing his stupid off on me) the Pit Stop was in Hamburg but the teams boarded a bus and were taken to another “unnamed, secret” location to begin the next leg of the Race. Jeff & Jordan are determined not to be last again. Joe & Heidi talk about Joe’s bad knee and state that they’ve done really well even with Joe’s gimpy leg. The Detectives take offense, saying that there are other teams in this competition.

Michael & Louis get to leave first from what they think is France (using their highly honed detective skills they have surmised that they went south and west on the bus). From their “secret location” they are to drive themselves to the city of Ste Menehould and find the Boulangerie Defontaine and purchase a baguette to get their next clue. They stop and ask a postal worker for help with directions which turns out to be a good idea because they were headed the wrong way. Steve & Allie leave second, with Steve saying he feels a lot younger than he is, and Allie says “he’s rocking it!” As Jet & Cord take off from the start, they can’t figure out what a baguette is, but surmise it’s in the pastry family and wonder if they can eat it.

At the bakery, Michael & Louie get their baguette and ask the gentleman if he has a clue for them. Michael is breaking the bread in half as he asks and sees a piece of paper sticking out – their clue. (That would not be my first instinct, to break the bread in half. I would think that I would have to take it to the next location…but then, I guess there wouldn’t be one because I’d be sitting at the bakery waiting for my next clue! Okay, I guess I just wouldn’t cut it on this Race). The paper tells them to go to La Main De Massiges for their next clue. Louie thinks they’ll be getting a massage, but Michael says that would be too easy (you got it, buddy). Brent & Caite leave and ask someone for directions, and talk about how they’re doing things great but keep getting lost – “we think we know where we’re going but we don’t.”

Michael & Louie get to the correct location and find a Detour: In the Trenches or Under Fire. The location they are at was a site of a vicious battle during WWII between the French and the Germans. In the Trenches has them dress in American Doughboy uniforms (hey! That was our school mascot name – Doughboys. I always thought that was really weird and wished we could be tigers or something less dorky sounding) and go through the trenches built to find a communication device. Using a field manual, they must translate a message in Morse Code. For Under Fire, they must crawl in a muddy field under barbed wire to get a message from a French officer. In both tasks, once they get their messages they must attach them to a pigeon and they will get their next clue. Michael & Louie opt for Under Fire.

All the other teams get to the bakery and figure out the clue is in the baguette, and all are appreciative of its good taste. The Cowboys decide they have to step it up because Carol & Brandy were ten minutes behind and they arrive at the same time. Jeff & Jordan are finally leaving and talk about how they are still the team to beat – and then promptly get lost and start bickering about directions. They’re driving around in circles.

Back at the war field, Michael & Louie are watching the planes coming in really close and “bombs” going off and spewing dirt everywhere. Louie is huffing and puffing but happy that Michael is there to motivate him. Steve & Allie and Joe & Heidi show up and decide on Under Fire too. Louie is panting as they get their message and Michael wisely tells him to catch his breath before they go back (or Louie has a stroke). On their way back, Michael & Louie crawl past the two other teams. (Seeing this, I’m wondering if anyone has a possibility of war flashbacks – Steve, or one of the detectives may be old enough. Hopefully their rifles have blanks loaded!!)

Carol & Brandy and Dan & Jordan are going Under Fire as well, with the girls yammering about the uniforms and the hike. Jet & Cord aren’t far behind and decide that they don’t know Morse Code either so they will crawl.

Michael & Louie let their pigeon go and find out they must start walking down the road. They come to a Blind U-Turn, which allows them (if they choose to use it) to U-Turn any team and that team will not know who did it. The U-Turned team will have to go back and complete the other part of the Detour before they are able to move on. They discuss using the U-Turn on either Steve & Allie or Joe & Heidi, and ultimately choose Joe & Heidi because of Joe’s remarks on the bus earlier in the day, how he’s not worried about any teams in the Race. Louie decided Joe “needed to be taken down a peg.” Considering that Joe & Heidi may be the second team to the U-Turn I think they can figure out who did it.

We see Brent & Caite driving up to the battlefield and the planes flying, and Caite gets excited thinking they’ll be flying. (Nothing that cool, dippy girl!) As she gets changed she laughs that it seems as if she’s modeling Army clothes – “old Army clothes.” (Um, ok. WWII IS old!) Jordan and Dan decide that they are going to pretend that “the enemy is chasing us” and jog a little faster. Jordan then gets really tired and can’t keep up, and the brothers end up arguing. Carol & Brandy whine all the way about their uniforms.

Jeff & Jordan get to the bakery and Jeff proves once again what a dipwad he is. He gets the baguette and asks for the clue. Getting none from the shop owner, he re-reads his clue and then asks if the baguette is fresh. (No, you get a stale one. Doofus.) Jeff finally cracks his baguette in half and sees the paper inside. (And it just hit me. The paper clues inside the bread are encased in plastic. How did the plastic not melt when baked inside the bread?) Off Jeff & Jordan go again to get lost.

Joe & Heidi are indeed the second team to the clue down the road with Steve & Allie right behind. They see they’ve been U-Turned and are really bummed (of course). Steve & Allie shout encouragement to Joe & Heidi as they go on ahead. Heidi says she always thought the detectives were nice guys. (They still are, they’re just doing their best to win a million bucks. They did not cheat, but used a perfectly legit tool of the Race. Doesn’t mean they’re not nice, just …. Willing to do whatever it takes to win a million dollars!!!) Getting to the next clue box, Michael & Louie find out they have to change clothes yet again into period Tour de France uniforms and ride a bike through a 4-mile course to the Pit Stop.
Joe & Heidi are attempting to decipher the Morse Code and check to see if it is “Viva le Liberty” and it’s not. Carol is complaining about crawling around in the dirt, saying she never wanted to be a boy, she did not sign up for this, smart people do Morse Code. Caite passes the lesbian couple and it gives her motivation to move faster after the disparaging remarks Brandy & Carol made about Caite being a beauty pageant contestant. We see Steve & Allie riding off on their bikes and Allie has a moustache along with her uniform. Michael & Louie get to the Mat and Phil, and I see that while they both have their own moustaches, they have fake ones on too. Louie tells Phil “I’m gonna die” and is panting like he just might.
Dan & Jordan are leaving the battlefield and Jordan says he hates guns – he likes swords better. (Should I think that means something? Maybe I’m just looking too far into things….) Jet & Cord pass them up on the road saying that they want to get ahead and “I guess they’re happy with their position.” Dan & Jordan look ridiculous in their cycling outfits and moustaches, and Jordan asks “Do I look like Lance Armstrong or do I look like Lance Armstrong?” (Um, no.) Carol whines about biking, with Brandy telling her that she takes a spinning class so Carol should “kick my ass.” Carol thanks her for “that tone.” These women should just break up now before they kill each other!

Brent & Caite get their pigeon in the air and set off down the road. They are supposed to go southwest, and there is a sign with “N” and “S” pointing in the proper directions. Brent has a compass on his watch and Caite tells him to use it, and they see they are going north. They wander in the opposite direction down the road and Brent is wondering “if they meant south as a direction, or south, like, go that direction?” (Does this man even get through a day without someone telling him how to brush his hair? I think that has to be about the dumbest thing I’ve heard in multiple seasons of the Amazing Race. It’s so dumb I have no idea what he thinks he means by it!!)

Jordan is yapping all the bike ride to the Pit Stop and Dan is begging him to shut up. They manage to get to the Mat in fourth place. Jeff & Jordan are finally at the battlefield and get their Speed Bump. They must reinforce a wall of the trench with branches to get their next clue. Jordan’s shoes are too big and her hat keeps falling off, and she stops to fix things as Jeff tells her to get moving. They see Joe & Heidi there and Jeff is excited seeing another team, knowing they have a chance. Brent & Caite wander down the road and see the clue box by the church, and start off to the Pit Stop. (They’re gonna be pissed when they get to the Mat! Missing a clue gets Phil kinda cranky.) They arrive and Phil tells them they have to go back and read the clue. (I can almost figure out by Phil’s look that he agrees with me - they are amazingly stupid sometimes.) Joe & Heidi are still desperately trying to decode the message, coming up with all kinds of phrases and getting nowhere. Jeff & Jordan finish shoring up the wall and get the clue with the Detour and Jeff tells Jordan it’s her choice, and she chooses to crawl through the field. Jeff is trying to make her crawl a certain way to help time, getting overly frustrated. The message says “the war is over” and as they hand it to the soldier, “Brent says Because of this message or because it took us so long to get here?” They get their pigeon sent and take off, and see that Joe & Heidi were U-Turned, realizing they are still in the Race. Joe & Heidi take one more message to the soldier and find out they’re wrong yet again. It should have said “we will prevail, viva le France.” Joe says he’s not happy that they were U-Turned but they understand the rules and the Race. At least he’s graceful in losing!

So here’s our order of finish:

1- Michael & Louie
2- Steve & Allie
3- Jet & Cord
4- Dan & Jordan
5- Carol & Brandy
6- Brent & Caite (even after having to go back)
7- Jeff & Jordan
8- Joe & Heidi (eliminated)

Are Michael & Louie going to continue to kick butt or is another team due for a first place finish? We’ll find out next week!

Running Around in Prague - Answering Phones and Freezing Their Buns!

It’s getting down to the nitty gritty! Three teams are left (you have to read to the bottom to figure out who they are) and the finale is next week!!!!

Still in Prague, Meghan & Cheyne leave the Pit Stop first and the clue tells them to look for the Spanish Synagogue, which is the city’s oldest Jewish house of prayer. Sam & Dan know that they are now “looked at as the villians” because they stole Ericka & Brian’s taxi during the last leg of the Race. They don’t care, they want to make the final three.

At the Ekotechnicke Museum, the clue is a Roadblock. (Ericka & Brian’s Speed Bump is there as well). One team member must go into a huge room of ringing old-style telephones which the locals call “kafka-esque.” Only five phones will have someone on the other end, and each of the five will give the teams a letter. They then have to go to the supervisors and fill out a form and put the five letters at the bottom of the form in the proper order to get their next clue - it spells “Franz.” Meghan goes in and gets the letters and associates them with animals to remember them: R for rabbit, F for ferret, Z for zebra, and then gets to N and can’t come up with an animal. Meghan has to fill in such things as name, height, weight, partner’s name, and then misses it on the first try, but gets it on the second. Their clue tells them to go to Kryocentrum for their next clue. As Meghan & Cheyne come out of the Museum, Sam & Dan are just pulling up in their cab, and Meghan & Cheyne try to grab it but Sam & Dan tell the driver to wait for them. Meghan gets the driver to call for another taxi. (They should have offered the driver more money like Sam & Dan did - wouldn’t that be cosmic justice?) Dan runs in to do the Roadblock while Sam hopes he doesn’t get overly frustrated with the task.

Brian & Ericka leave the Pit Stop saying they can overcome more than “a little Speed Bump” because they’re the only team that has been in last place. The Globetrotters get to the Museum and Big Easy goes in to the phones as Dan finishes getting his letters and gets his first try rejected. (I love how the supervisor stamps big red X’s over the form, with great vehemence, like he’s trying to tell the teams they’re idiots.) He “doesn’t know if it’s a Czech word or English word.”

By this time, Meghan & Cheyne are at the Kryocentrum and get their next clue, which tells them to “check out the coolest holistic treatment in town.” They will have to strip down to their skivvies and spend two minutes in a -180̊ room. They get to wear socks and gloves, at least, and cover their ears and wear masks.

Brian & Ericka get to the Museum and find their Speed Bump. They have to “pay a visit to the green fairy.” They will have to find the M1 Pub and prepare a traditional shot of Absinthe by lighting a sugar cube on fire and dropping it into the shot glass with the Absinthe, and then drinking it. They will then get their next clue.

Dan is still having trouble spelling the correct word and calls the supervisors “douches.” The Globetrotters get to the Museum and Big Easy goes in to the phones as Dan gets to the supervisor’s room and gets rejected. The two decide to work together to try and figure it out. A lot of good it does, because neither of them can get the right combination.

Meghan & Cheyne come out of the freezer saying that “I feel bad for polar bears.” They get the next clue, telling them to go to the Charles Bridge, which connects the old and new sections of the city, and look for their next clue.

Brian & Ericka get to the bar and see the party going on, and try to pay attention to the bartender while he makes the drink. Brian doesn’t drink alcohol at all and says “it’s gonna be a challenge for me.” Brian sees all the women dancing on the bar and says “you’re gonna get me in trouble!” Ericka wisely tells him “you’re gonna get yourself in trouble!” They make their drinks and the looks on their faces after the shot are priceless! They say it was like drinking rubbing alcohol. (I’ve never tried Absinthe, myself.)

In the meantime, Dan finally gets the right combination and spells Franz. He tells Big Easy “it starts with an F, that’s all I’m saying.” Big Easy protests “that’s all you’re gonna give me?” Dan interviews that they’re trying to make the final three and he wouldn’t want to help him too much. (They were right, the brothers really seem to be nice guys but when it comes to a million bucks, they can be as nasty as the rest. Can you blame them, or are they being obnoxious?) Dan comes out and tells Sam that he and Big Easy were working together and he helped, but not much. Sam seemed upset that Dan helped even that much, and we see Big Easy griping in the supervisor’s room about how he felt Dan screwed him (I don’t blame him at this point, but I’m not sure I have a problem with it. It’s a million bucks!) Brian & Ericka get to the Museum and Brian tries the Roadblock. As he begins answering phones, Meghan & Cheyne get to the Charles Bridge and their clue is a Roadblock: Legend or Lager. In Legend, “teams will delve into Prague lore and Jewish mythology and build a Golem Man, which is made of straw and clay and was constructed to protect the Jewish quarters in the 15th century. Teams will cover a wooden Golem Man with clay and transport the figure through the town to the Old-New Synagogue and if it is deemed okay by the Rabbis, will get their next clue.” (I really hope everyone appreciates the research to find out what the hell Phil was describing there - it took me all of three minutes to Google it and find out what it was!) In Lager, teams must “drink in the local culture and deliver beer to a group of rowdy soccer hooligans.” Beer drinking is also considered a sport in Prague, and the Czech people drink more beer per capita than any other country. They have to carry 30 beers from a brewery through the town square to a bar to get their next clue.

Sam & Dan get to the Kryocentrum and complain that the Speedos are too small (although I have no complaints, they’re some cute butts there!) As they enter the cold room, Brian gets to the supervisor’s room and sees Big Easy still struggling with the letters for the name - he tells Brian he’s been there for about 2½ hours. Brian gets rejected and says the supervisor “is mean with the stamp.”

Meghan & Cheyne get to the Legend task and start to cover the wooden figure with mud as Sam & Dan come out of the freezer. Flight Time says he’s never coming back to the Czech Republic if they don’t get the word right. Brian gets the word and comes out of the Museum yelling, saying “I did it drunk, too!” Big Easy gets rejected once again and decides to go out to Flight Time saying that he’s willing to take the penalty. Teams who cannot finish a task must take a four-hour penalty before they can resume the Race. They insist it’s taking a strategic move, but I see it as dumb. With process of elimination, and anagramming the letters, it would have to be shorter to figure it out than four hours!

Meghan & Cheyne are struggling to move their clay-covered Golem, as the clay makes the statue much heavier. Brian & Ericka get to the Kryocentrum, with Ericka telling us that she’s from Florida and didn’t see snow until she was 21. Welcome to the cold, boopsie! Cheyne is complaining that Golem is heavy, and Meghan tells him that he’s taking the whole handle and not letting her help. Sam & Dan drop their Golem and Dan is asking if they should keep doing the challenge. Meghan & Cheyne are in the middle if the road trying to move their Golem and getting beeped at in traffic. They stop at the curb and she reminds him to be positive, as Cheyne tells Meghan he’s not yelling at her. The brothers bicker at each other covering the wooden statue (hey, we haven’t had a bickering couple the whole Race, it might as well be them!) Brian & Ericka decide to try the Lager challenge. Meghan & Cheyne get to the Synagogue and the Rabbis okay their statue, giving them the clue telling them to go to the next Pit Stop at Strelecky Ostrov, which is a small island next to the Charles Bridge.

Sam & Dan are rolling their Golem down the road and the arm is cracking and ready to fall off. They stand it up and bicker - Dan wants to go find the synagogue first and come back for the statue rather than drag the statue to the location. They stop a taxi driver and get directions from him.

Brian “used to be a server” so he’s instructing Ericka on how to carry the tray of beer. He takes 8 glasses and gives Ericka 7 and they walk through the street with locals bouncing around them and leering at the beer (or maybe at Ericka. Or maybe Brian!) He asks “don’t you people have jobs?”

Meghan & Cheyne run up to Phil at the Mat and find out they are team #1 once again. They each win 52" TVs.

Sam & Dan are seen pulling their statue and yapping at each other. Dan is complaining about how heavy it is, and Sam is telling him “Meghan did it!” Back at the Museum, Big Easy tells Flight Time that he killed about four trees filling out the forms. We then see Ericka & Brian carrying their beer, and as Brian tips one of his glasses over, Ericka turns around and loses her whole tray of beer. She tries to convince Brian to go do the other task., saying “it’s insane” and they won’t be able to do it. After seeing the other teams go through the Legend task, I’m with Brian - just stick with this one! Ericka just wouldn’t have the strength to pull that statue around. Brian gives her two glasses and tells her to just keep with it, and Ericka uses her hands to carry the two glasses. They have to dodge drunks walking down the street trying to grab the beers. Sam & Dan are still yapping and carrying the statue. Brian & Ericka are walking down the street with full trays of beer, and a girl walks by and says “For me?” and tries to grab a beer. Ericka gets an attitude saying “she’s about to get her ass beat” and saying she has “an American attitude.” Back at the Museum Big Easy is saying “it’s all on me.” Brian & Ericka meet up with some more drunks and manage to deliver their beer anyway. Sam & Dan get to the Synagogue and call it the “Detour from Hell” and still bitch at each other in the cab to the Pit Stop.

Brian & Ericka grab their last 11 beers and end up with a couple of guys following them down the street. Sam & Dan make it to the Mat and they two guys say “ooh, ow!” as they see the pretty lady standing with Phil. Phil tells them they’re Team #2, and still in it for a million bucks. They think they can overcome Meghan & Cheyne because the other teams see them as “second or third place.”

Back at the phone bank, the Globetrotters’ penalty is over and they head to the Kroycentrum. It’s daylight when Brian & Ericka finish delivering the beer and the guy waiting for them is half asleep. As they head to the Kryocentrum, Big Easy & Flight Time are hoping that someone had a real problem with a Detour - but it’s not to be, as Brian & Ericka get to Phil at the Mat and are told they are Team #3 and they celebrate.

We don’t see the Globetrotters go into the freezer, or which Detour they chose, but we get to see a recap of their exploits on the Race, with them riding the bikes, and dancing at the Opera House. As they get to the Mat, they know they’re in last place and Phil tells them they are eliminated. Big Easy says that this Race can tear up relationships, and it didn’t do that to them - and I give them credit. They really were the quintessential team, helping each other and staying positive the whole way. Too bad they were eliminated, but someone had to go!

Here is the order of finish:
1 - Meghan & Cheyne
2 - Sam & Dan
3 - Brian & Ericka
4 - Big Easy & Flight Time - eliminated

So next week is the finale - who will be victorious and get the million bucks? Will Meghan & Cheyne keep their winning streak alive or will the brothers manage to get ahead? Will the perpetual last-place team of Brian & Ericka pull it off? We’ll find out next week!

Mud Volleyball & Estonian Hotties

It’s the 8th Pit Stop of the Amazing Race in Stockholm, Sweden. Flight Time & Big Easy leave first, and find out they have to go to Tallinn, Estonia and then open the door to Mustpeade. They talk a local cabbie into letting them follow him to the ferry. Once at the ferry, they find out it doesn’t leave until 5:45 p.m. the next afternoon. Meghan & Cheyne get a cabbie to write the directions for them. Brian & Ericka mention that Ericka didn’t win any preliminaries during the Miss America pageant, but won the crown so they’re not worried about not winning a leg. They get a cabbie to follow to the ferry, and end up beating Meghan & Cheyne there. They see Flight Time & Big Easy sleeping in their car and are bummed that they have to wait till 5:00 for the ferry. Flight Time & Big Easy mention that Sam & Dan acted badly by yelling at each other "flipping the bird and stuff" during the hay challenge and they shouldn’t win. Once on the ferry, the teams have rooms with beds for the 16-hour ride. They’re all hanging out watching the scenery, I’d be zonked the whole time!

The teams ran down a long hallway to get off the ferry complaining the whole time, but the Globetrotters laugh “ya’ll getting tired, huh?” However, they end up leaving last from the ferry stop. At the door of Mustpeade, Meghan & Cheyne and Sam & Dan find a little lock on the building that’s the one they need to open (as opposed to the actual door) and get it unlocked and into the building before Brian & Ericka get there and see them. The clue inside is a Roadblock. It involves the brotherhood of the blackets, which is a secret society of merchants. One person will join the ranks of the brotherhood. They go down to the cellar and find a candelabra with a room number on it, go to the room and be given a “blank” scroll. They have to figure out that they need to hold the scroll over a lighted candle and will get their next clue.

As Gary & Matt show up they find their Speed Bump. They have to find a bus and take a five-minute sauna with a group of locals. As they dash off to find the sauna bus, we see Cheyne and Sam looking for their rooms. Brian & Ericka get into the building and Flight Time & Big Easy don’t have to use their key but follow them in.

Flight Time got to his room first and got his scroll. He sees a red crayon and scribbles across his scroll, thinking that it was the way to get his clue. At this time, my hunny is screaming about how Flight Time slams his candelabra on the top and is scribbling on a beautiful grand piano and possibly wrecking the patina. Cheyne immediately uses his candle to try and read the scroll.

At the sauna, Gary & Matt are enjoying sitting with the locals, especially Matt, who is next to a beautiful blonde woman who is looking like she’s thinking “these guys are dorks.”

Cheyne manages to see his clue, which is Pikk Herman Tower Garden. Ericka is right behind him. While Sam and Flight Time are still looking for their clues, Gary & Matt get to the Mustpeade and Matt does the task, pronouncing it “candle - a - BRA” and getting a laugh out of the locals. Sam figured it out, and Flight Time finally used the candle and got his clue. Matt can’t figure out what a candle-a-bra is, asking if some guy can lead him to a room. I think the pink hair dye has finally gotten to him! He gets lucky and associates the candelabra with the number on it as what he needs.

Meghan & Cheyne get to the Tower with Ericka & Brian, and their clue is a Detour. Teams have to choose between Serve or Sling. In Serve, they have to play a round of volleyball in the bog with a local team and score 5 points to get their clue. In Sling, they have to stand in the mud and use a sling to hit a moose target, dumping a table full of cabbage and get their clue.

Meghan & Cheyne decide to do Serve since Meghan has played beach volleyball. As they race off to find a taxi with Ericka & Brian, they grab a taxi that Ericka thinks is theirs (although Meghan & Cheyne were running in front). They jump in the cab and the driver asks about “the other guys” and Meghan & Cheyne say “no, we don’t care about them” as their driver grabs his cell to call another cab ofr Brian & Ericka. Matt, back at the building, tries the "rub" method on the scroll and gets nowhere. Brian & Ericka find a cab and she decides she has to “keep an eye on Brian” because he has a big heart. Brian refused to say that Meghan & Cheyne "stole the cab."

All the teams are going to the volleyball challenge. Sam & Dan are begging for a guy to get out of a taxi but the man riding inside says he can’t walk. They see another taxi as the Globetrotters do, and both teams end up in the same taxi complaining that Big Easy & Flight Time are just “hanging on our coattails.” Gary & Matt end up walking/running to the Tower. In the cab, the teams read the clue saying that they have to play volleyball in their underwear, and Ericka says “you’re gonna have to get out another pair of underwear, because all I’m wearing is a stringy thong and that ain’t happening.”

Gary & Matt are at the Tower, and decide to go into it and totally miss the clue box in front. After running around inside, they decide to look outside and find the clue box. They decide to do the Sling challenge. Gary & Matt get a cabbie with a cab-driving buddy with Meghan & Cheyne in his cab, and tell the driver to tell the other driver to go slowly. Meghan & Cheyne’s driver lets them know what was up and doesn’t go along with it.

Meghan & Cheyne get to the volleyball and score three points pretty quickly. They look like they’re having fun, even knee-deep in mud and moving very slowly. As the Globetrotters, Brian & Ericka and Sam & Dan show up, they can’t find the marked path through the forest and wander around. Meghan & Cheyne finally get their 5 points and get their next clue, telling them to go run through the bogs and look for the next Pitstop, the Keava Raba Overlook Tower. Meghan & Cheyne get to the Mat first, full of mud. Their prize is a sauna, which doesn’t seem to impress them all that much.

We see the other three teams wandering and they finally manage to find the arrows to their destination. Sam & Dan say that there were some “hottie Estonian guys.” The Globetrotters and Sam & Dan take the volleyball nets, and since only two teams could play at a time, Brian & Ericka end up trying Sling. They had to put "snowshoes" on to walk over the mud.

The volleyball is not going well for either team, and I guess the “Estonian hotties” got Dan all excited, because his crotch was all blurred out. They all interview that they enjoyed playing volleyball but they couldn’t move so it wasn’t easy. The Estonian players started feeling sorry for the teams and ended up giving points away. Flight Time & Big Easy got their 5 points first and Sam & Dan were right behind and after getting their clue, realized that the Globetrotters were going the wrong way. Big Easy & Flight Time realize their mistake and quickly catch up to Sam & Dan. As they run one of the Globetrotters tangles with either Sam or Dan and falls, but the brothers manage to get to the tower ahead of the Globetrotters. Phil mentions that “Big Easy looks like he wants to kick some butt right now.” (Nothing like fanning the fire, Phil!) After the replay we see that the Globetrotters were the instigators and tried to knock over the brothers. However, Big Easy did the most complaining about being knocked over.

Brian & Ericka, after many slingshots, get their cabbages to fall and get their clue and race to the Mat. Phil asks them if they know if they’re last, and when they say no, he says “I’m gonna put you out of your misery and tell you you’re team number 4.” Gary & Matt interview that they enjoyed the experience and “shooting radishes” was part of it. They get to the Mat and Phil tells them they are eliminated. Gary gets overwhelmed and sniffly as he says how much fun it’s been doing the Race with his son.

So here’s the order of finish:

1 - Meghan & Cheyne
2 - Sam & Dan
3 - Flight Time & Big Easy
4 - Brian & Ericka
5 - Gary & Matt - eliminated

It looks like any one of the remaining teams could take it. Who are you rooting for?

Running Through Sweden and the Dreaded Hay Challenge

The teams leave the Pit Stop at a harbor in Holland. Sam & Dan leave first and find out they have to fly to Stockholm, Sweden. Once there, they will travel by train and a ferry to Tivoli Grona Lund Amusement Park and find the tallest ride (that looks like a Demon Drop). Flight Time & Big Easy say that it’s Flight Time’s birthday and they’d love to come in first this leg - an omen, you think?

At the airport, Meghan & Cheyne note there are two flights leaving for Stockholm - one at 6:55 a.m. and one at 9:25 a.m. They run into Sam & Dan and find the ticket counter, which doesn’t open until 5:30 a.m. The Globetrotters and Gary & Matt join them to spend the night in the airport, and Brian & Ericka arrive to wait also. Sam & Dan, Meghan & Cheyne and Flight Time & Big Easy make the first flight, but Gary & Matt and Brian & Ericka can’t get tickets and have to fly at 9:25.

Once in Stockholm, Sam & Dan and Meghan & Cheyne get train tickets upstairs at the tickets kiosks, while Flight Time & Big Easy run down to the train entrance to get theirs - but end up missing the train. The two teams get on the ferry and see the tall ride and race to the clue box. The clue says one member of the team must ride the Fritt Fall, and while going up look for an arrow which will point them in the direction of the next clue box. The arrow is visible for only 15 seconds before the ride plunges 24 stories in less than 3 seconds. Sam and Cheyne decide to work together and they spot the arrow. The clue tells them to play a game of Roaming Gnome Ring Toss. They have to throw rings onto gnome hats and hope the one they ring has a Roaming Gnome under it. They will have to keep the gnome with them throughout this leg of the Race. Their next clue will be on the bottom of the gnome.

The clue is a Detour. Since Sweden is known for Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and the Vikings, the teams will choose either Nobel Dynamite or Viking Alphabet. In Dynamite, teams must fill sandbags and build a protective bunker in a rock quarry, then set off an explosion which will uncover a box containing their next clue. In Viking Alphabet, teams must decode a message using the Viking alphabet and find a Viking to get their next clue. Both lead teams decide to do the dynamite.

Flight Time rides the Fritt Fall and then tosses rings. He can’t seem to get one hooked, and Big Easy throws one (maybe through the magic of editing) and gets it. However, no gnome under the hat. Their second try gets a gnome and they also decide to Detour to the dynamite.

Brian & Ericka and Gary & Matt land in Stockholm and get to the train station, but it takes Gary & Matt longer to get their tickets and they miss the train.

Driving to the Detour, Meghan & Cheyne get a local to go ahead so the teams can follow him. Flight Time & Big Easy are driving, trying to decide what to name the gnome. They come up with Sweet Pea (nixed by Big Easy - “that’s dumb”) and Louisiana Shorty (nixed by Flight Time as being too ghetto). Gary & Matt are stressing because they lost 15 minutes waiting for the next train. At the amusement park, Brian is afraid of heights so Ericka gets to ride the Fritt Fall by default, and spots the arrow right away. Ericka gets their gnome at the ring toss pretty quickly and Brian says “the guy is supposed to win his girl something at the fair, not the other way around.” Matt rides up and sees the arrow and they run off to the ring toss, getting the gnome.

As Meghan & Cheyne and Sam & Dan get their safety gear on, the Globetrotters drive up. They do a little trash talking “Did your fans help you get here?” Big Easy answers “now you hurt our feelings, we’re gonna blow ya’ll up.” Sam & Dan use their hands rather than the little shovels to fill their sandbags, thinking they’d be quicker, and it seemed to work pretty well.

Brian & Ericka pay a cabbie to lead them to the Detour, while we see Gary & Matt driving around naming Swedish streets and getting lost.

Sam & Dan get to blast the dynamite first and seems really pumped about it. (I guess you had to be there, I don’t see the big deal). They find their box and the clue tells them to drive to Bogs Gard Farm, which is the place of a task from another season - where they have to find a clue in the gazillion bales of hay in the field. That was the task that Lena & Kristy spent over 10 hours on and Phil came out to the field to tell them to just give up and go home. (Admired their tenacity, but glad Phil stopped them!)

Meghan & Cheyne are slow at bagging the sand and the Globetrotters get ahead. Meghan complains as they drive away that they didn’t have good teamwork. She begged Cheyne to work with her more and he didn’t listen, as he tries to tell her it’s over and not to worry about it. (I can see his point, they’re still in it with two teams behind - but then, they may have gotten out quicker had he paid a little more attention. I guess I’m just gonna be wishy-washy tonight).

Gary & Matt finally stop and ask for directions as Brian & Ericka begin sandbagging. Ericka complains that the gravel is getting into her nails, then interviews that she “can’t even think about beauty - if I’m dirty and stinky, I don’t care because I just want to win.” Great for her, but what about the people she’s crammed on a train with? More bad pub for Americans! (Heehee)

Sam & Dan get to the farm first, followed closely by Meghan & Cheyne. The clue is a Roadblock, and it's the exact same one that Lena & Kristy spent almost 10 hours doing in seasons past. (I know they're at home watching and shuddering). One team member must search through 186 hay bales to find one of seven Race flags to go forward - and the Pit Stop is at the farm where they are searching. Sam bravely offers to do the task as Dan yells encouragement and instruction from the side and Sam tells him to “shut up” on numerous occasions. Meghan & Cheyne read the clue and feel overwhelmed by the task, so much that Cheyne refuses to answer Meghan when she asks “who’s gonna do this?” she tells him she’s going to do it. Dan keeps yelling and Sam is ready to clobber him. Big Easy & Flight Time show up and Big Easy is easily pushing the hay bales around.

Gary & Matt show up to the dynamite challenge as Brian & Ericka are getting finished, and do a great job of catching up. From what it looked like, they’re only a few minutes behind.

Dan yells at Sam that he’s taking too long looking though the hay, and Sam remarks that “he doesn’t realize that I stopped listening to him about ten years ago.” Big Easy laughs that “we didn’t have no hay in the projects.” Flight Time cheers as Big Easy finds the flag, and Sam complains that “they’re the luckiest team in the Race.” Flight Time yells as they race to the Mat “it’s my birthday!” Happy Birthday, Flight Time, you guys get first!

Brian & Ericka arrive at the farm and Matt & Gary are right behind. Sam and Meghan are bumming big time that the other teams have caught up, and Meghan cries that she “can’t do this any more.” Matt should be doing this task (with his big body) but Gary decides to do it. Ericka doesn’t give Brian a choice (not that I blame her!) and tells him he’s doing it. The team members that are not doing the challenge all talk about how this is a challenge from another season and it took one team "like 8 hours" to do it. Dan yells encouragement to Sam and once again gets told to “Shut up.” Brian yells to Dan that “it’s harder than it looks.” Meghan finds a flag and decides to pull a fast one on Cheyne, as she runs toward him crying that she can’t do it any more and then pulls out the flag. Cheyne is impressed and tells Phil at the Mat that he’s so proud that Meghan is his partner on this Race and “my partner for life.” (Brownie points to Cheyne!)

Brian finds a flag as Ericka cheers and they make it to the Mat in third. Sam sits for a quick rest...they’ve been there the longest and he’s exhausted. Dan screams more encouragement as Sam finally finds a flag. He tells Dan he’s just exhausted but offers to race him to the Mat. Dan is crying at the Mat, saying he was being a jerk for yelling at Sam and he’s really proud of his brother.

Gary is over an hour into the task and he interviews that to give up would be to give up on the Race, and he wasn’t going to do that. “I’ve got a pretty strong work ethic” to which Matt says “pretty strong?” Matt hates sitting on the side feeling helpless. After over 2½ hours, Gary finally gets a flag and they head to the Mat. Phil tells them that it’s a non-elimination leg and they’ll have to complete a Speed Bump on the next leg. Matt remarks that “my dad is superman.”

I think it’s a great thing that after this task, it’s a non-elimination leg. After all that work pushing the hay around, the teams deserve the little perk.

Here’s the order of finish:

1 - Flight Time & Big Easy
2 - Meghan & Cheyne
3 - Brian & Ericka
4 - Sam & Dan
5 - Gary & Matt - non-elimination leg (but they get a Speed Bump on the next leg)

So do you think Gary & Matt can overcome the Speed Bump? Are the Globetrotters hitting their stride, and maybe becoming too tough to beat? Tell me what you think!

Amsterdam Proves to be a Trying Challenge for the Poker Players

After watching Ericka & Brian fumble their way through this leg of the Race, and then incur a 30-minute penalty and still not get eliminated, I guess the gods were smiling on them - and not on Maria & Tiffany, whose lack of arm strength pretty much killed their shot at winning the Race.

The last Pit Stop was the palm tree-shaped island that I remember seeing being built (on some Discovery Channel show) in Dubai. Pretty impressive, that’s one thing I’d like to see in person - of course, that’s after I hit the lottery!

The teams are told to fly to Amsterdam and find a monument on a thruway between Holland and Netherlands. Leaving first, Meghan & Cheyne found out the earliest flight leaves at midnight. Sam says that he has a degree in anthropology and studying other cultures has helped him in the Race. Dan says he’s the “street smart” brother. All the teams meet up at the airport, and they ask the Globetrotters what happened with Mika & Canaan. Big Easy tells them that they were egging her on, telling her “if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t do it.” He said that he felt bad that she was crying, but “we didn’t want to go home either.” Sam & Dan then feel it’s the right time to “come out” to the other teams - they tell them “we are the token gay team.” Brian laughs and says “now the matching bathing suits make sense!” Maria & Tiffany interview that they don’t care who Sam & Dan choose to date, even though they might shed a little tear that it’s not them. Gary pipes up “should I tell Matt he’s adopted now?” and everyone cracks up. It’s nice to see all the teams actually look like they like each other, even for a little while!

In Amsterdam, Brian can’t get the car to shift into drive (or anything else). Ericka is losing it because according to her, Brian’s attitude gives her attitude, and “you know I have a short fuse.” They find a guy in the parking garage that shows them how to do it and finally get going. The teams get to the monument and grab the clue, telling them to go to Martinitoren, the highest building in the city, and search for the next clue. The first five teams are pretty much even, mentioning that they didn’t see Ericka & Brian. Flight Time says that they know when Ericka & Brian are around, because they hear Ericka screeching “BRIAN!” and of course, the next thing we see is Ericka yelling “Brian!” as they run to the monument.

The next clue is a Roadblock, asking “who’s got strong legs and keen eyes?” making me think they’re gonna have to run up a lot of steps. Yep! The team member to perform this task has to run up the “narrow, winding steps” and correctly count the number of bells (62) to get their next clue. Meghan decides to do it, and Sam (I think, I’m still not sure which brother is which) is right behind her, and they’re going to help each other and count together. Flight Time and Matt choose to do the task for their teams, and Tiffany follows them. Ericka & Brian finally pull up and Ericka takes off up the steps. As Meghan, Sam and Matt get up to the top the bells start ringing, and they can’t hear themselves think, much less what the other is saying. Matt counts quickly and heads down the steps, getting the count correctly.

The clue tells them to drive to Vierhuizen De Marne and find a windmill for their next clue. Sam whispered the number of bells to Tiffany as she ran up and he ran down. He thought it was a good idea because “they’re a team we can beat.” Meghan & Cheyne and Sam & Dan pay a cab driver to follow to the town, and end up passing Gary & Matt, who had stopped for directions. Flight Time gets the correct number and Brian watches them leave, muttering “come on, baby, don’t give up” under his breath. Unfortunately, Ericka shows 43 to the bell player and something tells me they’re going home tonight!

The clue at the Windmill is a Detour, Farmer’s Game or Farmer’s Dance. They are both examples of how the hardworking farmers unwind after a hard day’s work. The teams must change into traditional Dutch costumes for either task and ride bicycles to the challenge. For Farmer’s Game, the teams must “strip down to their farmer’s underwear” and swim across a creek. They grab a set of clubs and taking turns, play three holes of Farmer’s Golf, finishing each hole in 8 strokes or less to get their next clue. They’ll have to keep playing until they manage to get the holes done under the 8 strokes. For Farmer’s Dance, they have to find a country festival where one team member has to ring the bell on a carnival midway-type game - the one where you use a sledgehammer and try to hit the bell on the top. Then they have to go into the barn and perform a traditional dance. Once they are okayed on the dance, they will be served salted herring and onions (which looks huge and semi-raw and not all that appetizing, and I like fish!) They’ll get their clue when they finish the fish. Sam & Dan and Meghan & Cheyne decide to do the Game, even with Meghan protesting that she can’t golf. Matt & Gary decide to try the Dance. Each set of costumes has one male and one female outfit, and Gary gets stuck with the female outfit - and looks cute in the little hat!

Ericka’s next guess back at the bell tower is 56 and off she goes again to count. Sam & Dan are cracking up riding their bikes, one with a dress and a falsetto voice. Maria & Tiffany decide to try the Dance also. Sam & Dan get to the creek, strip down and take their shoes as they jump into the creek, complaining of the cold water. Meghan & Cheyne are right behind. Sam & Dan make the required 8 shots on the first hole.

Ericka’s next guess at the bell tower is 57. (Some team really has to screw up for Ericka & Brian to stay in the Race - or it’s a non-elimination leg).

Matt & Gary get to the dancing barn, and Matt rings the bell and they go inside to watch the dancing. We see Gary in his cute little dress and hat practicing the moves as he watches, then they cut to an interview clip where all Matt & Gary are doing is cracking up. (Me too!) As we see Maria (the boy) and Tiffany ride off on their bikes, Ericka comes back down in tears to Brian, saying she’s not giving up but “it’s so hard.”

Sam & Dan get hole #2 in 8 shots, and Meghan & Cheyne go back to hole #1 for the third time. Sam & Dan breeze through hole #3 and get their clue which tells them to bike through town to Zoutkamp Harbor, which is the Pit Stop. Meghan is complaining about golfing, and doing really pathetic (so I can see her point). They finally get their act together and manage to get hole #1 in 6 shots.

Gary & Matt are at the barn and Gary is getting his lesson, and Matt happens to read the clue really well, seeing that they have to eat herring after. He hates fish so they take off to try the Golf challenge. In the meantime, Meghan & Cheyne have gotten the hang of golfing and finish their 3 holes. Maria & Tiffany get to the Dancing task and neither can hit the bell with numerous tries.

Ericka gives the counting another shot, and goes to the bell ringer one more time. She’s nervously giggling, and the bell guy says “you’re laughing.” Ericka tells him “might as well,” saying she already cried but he just didn’t see that. This time she gets the count right and they take off in the car praying they don’t get eliminated.

Sam & Dan, the cute Netherlands couple, get to the Mat first, where Phil asks them “you guys like dressing up like this?” and they answer “no, we’re not that kind of gay guys.”

Flight Time dresses as the woman, saying “we look like some kinda buffoons” as they ride the bikes along the road. Meanwhile, Maria & Tiffany are on their thirtieth try at ringing the bell and they decide to go hit some golf balls. Flight Time gets the bell on the first try and as they walk into the dance barn, the tiny, little old ladies give them a look that makes me laugh. As Meghan & Cheyne get to the Mat, Brian & Ericka finally make it to the windmill clue box and decide to Dance. As they walk off in their costumes and wooden shoes, they walk right past the bikes.

Flight Time & Big Easy were having a great time dancing, putting a little hip action into their routine. They chest bump at the end and all the ladies clap for them, then laugh as they’re eating the fish. Flight Time looks like he’s ready to upchuck but manages to finish the herring. Brian & Ericka end up walking down the road to the next challenge, and Maria & Tiffany have given up on the golfing as Gary & Matt finish their three holes. Maria & Tiffany are on attempt 50 to ring the bell and hug each other crying. At this rate, Brian & Ericka may catch up but get penalized for not riding the bikes - who knows what’s gonna happen? As they walk down the path, Brian reads the clue and finds out they were supposed to pick up bikes. They’re both complaining about walking in those shoes - at this point, though, I would have just taken them off (since they knew they weren’t supposed to be walking).

The Globetrotters get to the Mat in third place and Phil tells them “you look ridiculous.” I really like these guys, they have a great attitude and have fun. As we see Ericka & Brian bicker their way back to the bikes, Maria & Tiffany are on attempt #71 at ringing the bell and decide to go back to golfing. Brain & Ericka get to the barn and ring the bell on try one. They perked up quite a bit dancing and interview that “it brought us back down to earth” and “I fell in love with him all over again.” They leave the dance hall and borrow two bikes from some campers to get to the Pit Stop, where they find out they’re Team #5 to arrive, but they get a 30-minute penalty for not riding a bike to the Detour challenge.

Maria & Tiffany are trying their best to golf, and getting nowhere, while Ericka stresses on the bench. After the attempts at ringing the bell and golfing, Maria & Tiffany have nothing left in their arms to golf with and just can’t keep it up. They see Phil walking over to them on the golf “course” and tell him that they’re not giving up, but they have to quit because they don’t see how they would be able to finish the challenge. I guess they should have done a little more weight lifting instead of card lifting and their arms may not have given out!

So here’s the finish order:

1 - Sam & Dan
2 - Meghan & Cheyne
3 - Flight Time & Big Easy
4 - Gary & Matt
5 - Brian & Ericka
6 - Maria & Tiffany (eliminated)

So who is looking like they have a shot to win? Will Ericka & Brian turn it around? Are Meghan & Cheyne going to stay at the top? We’ll see next week!

Little Rowboats, Extreme Heat, and a Helluva Water Slide!

The little clip we get of tonight’s happenings is interesting - Mika shows her extreme fear of heights having to go down a TALL water slide and it looks like Canaan is trying to push her down - that’s not very Christian, now, is it?

Leaving the Pit Stop, teams have to choose a locked briefcase and taxi to the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club for their next clue. Meghan interviews that she can’t remember when she was more stressed than on the Race, and Cheyne laughs that “that’s saying a lot because Meghan gets pretty stressed out.” The clue at the Golf & Yacht Club is a Road Block. One team member has to row a small inflatable dingy out to a yacht anchored in the water, where a sheik will present them with a watch which is the Arab custom of hospitality. Then they have to row back to the dock and unlock their briefcase. They have to figure out that the combination is the time on the watch, 8:35. Their next clue will be in the briefcase.

As Cheyne is rowing, he yells out to Meghan “Do you love me?” and all she does is grin. (I guess she’s not willing to commit unless he kicks butt in the challenge!) Brian & Ericka leave the Pit Stop saying that Ericka starts every day with good hair and makeup, but by the end of the day it’s all gone - “but you gotta try.” Flight Time & Big Easy talk in the taxi about how hot it is (very hot. Really hot. Did he say it was hot?) in Dubai. Gary & Matt re-dyed Matt’s hair, which got a laugh from Gary - “I never thought I’d be dying my son’s hair.”

Cheyne figured out right away that the lock code was the time on the watch, and their next clue told them to taxi to the Abra Station, a water taxi stand in “Old Dubai.”

Brian chooses to row the boat, saying Ericka “does not do water.” Sam & Dan talk about their alliance with Maria & Tiffany, saying that it’s advantageous, and they could outrun the girls if need be. The cab driver takes Flight Time & Big Easy to the wrong marina, making them think they are in last place. Gary can’t row the little boat to save his life, so he ends up laying in the boat on his stomach and using one paddle.

Meghan & Cheyne get to the next clue box to find a Detour - Gold or Glass. In Gold, teams must find a jewelry store and use a scale to weigh out exactly $500,000 worth of gold. They have to figure out how much to weigh out using the gold exchange rate - which changes constantly, meaning they have to work quickly. (This is where the cell phone calculator comes in handy!) In Glass, teams have to go to a spice market and open a crate of pieces of Middle Eastern smoking pipes called Hookahs. They will have to assemble 12 of three different styles of pipes. Meghan & Cheyne decide to try Glass.

Maria & Tiffany are leaving the Pit Stop, saying “Please, Jesus, let us leave Dubai.” (I guess the heat is getting to them.....) Tiffany says “it’s very James Bond, taking a briefcase to some location - although I’ve never seen James Bond sweat.” (Yep, they don’t like the heat). Matt & Gary leave the challenge after opening their briefcase saying “can you just see Big Easy in that little raft?” They called it, because Big Easy decides to do the challenge. Flight Time yells instructions and Big Easy just looks confused trying to row. (I didn’t realize that so many people had problems knowing how to row. Maybe doing it is tough, but knowing how to do it shouldn’t be all that hard!)

Meghan & Cheyne make it to the spice market and pick a crate in the shade. As they start assembling, Meghan starts getting stressed as Cheyne tells her to relax. (It really didn’t seem like anything to panic about - they knew they were ahead just for the fact that no other teams were showing up). In the taxi, Ericka tells us she’s dying to go shopping, seeing all the beautiful textiles hanging at the shops. Big Easy decides to forgo the paddles and uses his hands to row and is making pretty good time, with Flight Time yelling that “you’re going to go down in history as the biggest man in a rowboat made for a 5-year-old.” Dan does this challenge also, following Big Easy’s lead and using his hands to row. Flight yells at Big Easy to “do it for the ‘hood!” and Sam yells for Dan to “do it for the suburbs!” (Heehee)

As Maria & Tiffany show up at the yacht club, Big Easy is trying to open his briefcase. He correctly figures out that the watch has something to do with the lock code, but looks at it too literally - little hand on the 8, big hand on the 7, “and the third number would be the date.” On a close-up of the watch, I didn’t see the little square in the center where the date would be, so I had no idea what prompted that - but it messed them up big time. Dan got it right away, and the Globetrotters watched Sam & Dan leave. Big Easy is trying 8-7 and every other number in order, and not getting the case open. Flight Time, seeing Mika & Canaan at the docks, says “if we stay here long enough Lance & Keri might show up.” Mika then mentions that she’s pretty scared of water (and heights, and can this girl do anything without fear?)

Brian & Ericka find the jewelry store to attempt the Gold challenge. It’s taking him awhile to do the math for the gold weight - and Ericka says “my American education has dumbed me down, to use a calculator for everything.” (Pretty sad comment from a former Miss America!)

Mika & Canaan finish the task at the marina and get their case open, and leave the Globetrotters still trying to figure it out. (Now, don’t you think they could have at least yelled the code to them as they were leaving, considering the Globetrotters helped them out last time telling them to take their coats into the snow challenge? Bad karma, kids!)

Big Easy finally figures out that it’s the time on the watch, and remarks that he was “doing it for the ‘hood, the ‘hood is mad at me now.”

Meghan & Cheyne have some pieces left over and are told they don’t have the pipes put together correctly. In the meantime, Brian & Ericka are having problems figuring out the gold. Ericka says she just “spends the money, rather than counting and keeping it - I’m sure glad I married up.” Their first attempt at the weight is wrong. (Looks like both of these challenges are not easy ones!)

Gary & Matt, talking about what challenge to attempt, talk about the pipe assembly - and as Matt describes what a hookah is, Gary says “we used to call it something else.” (You old hippie, you!)

After being told once again that they are wrong weighing their gold, Brian & Ericka run off to try to assemble pipes, while Meghan & Cheyne finally realize they have extra parts left over that need to be used. They put the leftover washers on the pipes and get their next clue, telling them to go to the Atlantis, The Palm Dubai resort and search the water park for a slide called the "Leap of Faith.” They have to slide down the 6-story slide at nearly a 90º angle through a shark tank and they will get their next clue.

Sam & Dan choose to do Gold and take off for the jewelers, as do Maria & Tiffany. Brian & Ericka, meanwhile, are putting together the pipes with Ericka saying “I don’t think the colors matter” and then saying “it’s got to be something miniscule” when their pipes are rejected. (Ya think it might be something like the COLORS?)

Sam & Dan bought a calculator at Wal-Mart before they left on the Race, and pulled it out of their bag - but didn’t know what to do to figure out the amount of gold they needed. Maria & Tiffany borrowed the calculator and knew what to do, and told the guys, but just as the guys got their gold on the scale, the price changed and they were told it was wrong. They have the girls recalculate the amount and both teams get it right, finally.

Meghan & Cheyne see the slide and admit they are afraid of heights, but both enjoy the trip down the slide (which looked like wicked fun!) Meghan asked if they were “real sharks” down there (they were). The clue told them to search for Dolphin Bay Beach, which was the next Pit Stop. They dash off down the beach and make it to the Mat first, and go falling into the water - then run back to Phil saying “okay, what did we win?”

Back at the hookah challenge, Ericka is letting Brian do all the work, saying “I don’t think that matters that much” when Brian wants to assemble them a certain way. (C’mon, if you’re supposed to build something, and there are samples to look at, wouldn’t you think the samples are what they need to look like?) The heat starts getting to Matt, who has to sit down because he fells like he’s going to pass out. Mika wishes she were naked (and I bet a bunch of guys watching second that!) Brian finally figures out the combination of the pipes and gets their next clue. As the Globetrotters see Brian & Ericka leave, they figure that Brian & Ericka were two hours ahead of them, and it took them two hours to do the challenge, so they were going to switch tasks and go do Gold. (They may have been 2 hours ahead, but they took so long at the challenge because they were STUPID!!!)

Tiffany & Maria both get close to using their bikini tops going down the slide (oh, what this show could have been for the guys watching!)

Gary & Matt get their clue (after Gary does most of the work assembling the pipes). Brian & Ericka go down the slide, commenting that Brian is afraid of heights and Ericka hates water - but they do just fine and seem to have fun in the process. Gary & Matt love the water slide after the heat of Dubai. At the top of the slide, Mika is in a panic and has floaty things on her arms (to go down a water slide? Good grief!!!) Canaan is trying his best to get her down, telling her “it’s a million dollars, just go down the slide.” He gets her close to the slide and tries to push her at the opening, which of course doesn’t work and sends her into more of a panic. He implores her to just sit down in the water as she prays. She sits down and Canaan gets behind her as if to go down with her, or push her - no such luck. Big Easy & Flight Time show up, and we find out that Mika & Canaan have two minutes to either do the task or let the next team go ahead. Big Easy & Flight Time start yelling to Mika “don’t do it! It’s a big way up!” and Mika ends up wasting time and the Globetrotters go ahead. Canaan tells Big Easy that “it’s crap, dude.” Canaan goes down the slide and Mika finally decides not to go down the slide, and they walk up to the Mat in last place and get eliminated. Canaan interviews that he doesn’t hold it against Mika - give him credit for that, I suppose. My hunny is bitching that the Globetrotters did a cheap shot by goading Mika about her fear - but I don’t see a problem (during the eating challenge in Survivor, the other team was making gagging and vomit noises when Ashley was drinking the goo). It’s a million dollars!!! The Globetrotters didn’t sabotage their equipment, or Yield them, just talked some trash, and if Mika couldn’t handle it, shame on her.

So Mika & Canaan are gone - do you think the Globetrotters were low class or just trying to win the Race? Are Meghan & Cheyne becoming the team to beat? Who are you rooting for? We’ll talk more next week!

1 - Meghan & Cheyne
2 - Maria & Tiffany
3 - Sam & Dan
4 - Brian & Ericka
5 - Gary & Matt
6 - Big Easy & Flight Time
7 - Mika & Canaan - eliminated

Karma, Heat & Snow in Dubai

Well, Lance & Keri (those of the major Boston accent - “nothing could tear us apaaaaaaat”) are gone. Their lack of direction finally did them in. I'd really like to know if they actually stay married for more than six months (after Lance gets his money's worth from the wedding!)

The teams are told to fly to the Persian Gulf and find the world’s tallest building. They’re not told where in the Persian Gulf, and they have to figure out that the building is “the Burj Dubai, a colossal structure still under construction that is nearly twice the height of the Empire State Building" which was in the city of Dubai. Sam & Dan give us a taste of Stupid Americans by asking the Cambodian cab driver where the Persian Gulf is. (He didn't know.) They’re from Liberty, Missouri, which I guess doesn’t have TV or newspapers - or Sam & Dan live under a rock. Brian & Ericka say that they’re trying to be nice to the other teams because this Race is “all about Karma.” (No, it’s all about A MILLION DOLLARS!) I just really looked at Cheyne’s hair, too, and it looks like he styles it in a wind tunnel! During Lance & Keri’s interview Keri tells us that they have a strong bond - and then Lance, ever the romantic, says that “we have a lot of nonrefundable deposits on our wedding, I’m not gonna miss out on that.” Mika & Canaan, our little Christian couple, show the first cracks in their sunny relationship...they see that they have to go to the world’s tallest building, and Mika is petrified of heights. Canaan tells her that “you need to change that little tune” and she tells him “you need to quit telling me what to do.” Love the look of “wha-a-a?” on his face!

We see Sam & Dan at a window asking for tickets to the Persian Gulf, and hear them say the first sensible thing - “The Persian Gulf isn’t even a country.” Brian tells them they need to go to Dubai, which bums me out, I would have liked to see how long it took them to figure it out. Brian tells everyone as they get to the airport where they need to go. Lance & Keri stop at an internet cafe and try to get tickets but the website is slow (although Lance decides that it’s because all the tickets are being bought up). Lucky for them, they get to the airport in time and get on the same flight with all the other teams.

As they jump into cabs, the teams all remark on the heat (and we can see the cameras fogging up). They have to make their way to a fountain where they would sign up for one of two groups scheduled to ride the elevator to the 124th floor of the Burj Dubai the following morning. Maria & Tiffany get there first and sign up in the first group, followed by Brian & Ericka, Sam & Dan and Meghan & Cheyne.

Mika & Canaan get a cab driver that doesn’t know where the fountain is, and we see Canaan throwing a hissy fit. They make it and get into the second group. As they waited for their turn, Mika stressed herself out even more worrying about having to jump off somewhere. To his credit, Canaan was a bit more supportive this time. It turned out to be anticlimactic, because once on the 124th floor, the clue box was sitting on a balcony and the clue simply told them to go back down and look for a parking structure, get in a marked car, and drive to the desert. There is also a Fast Forward (the only one of the Race). “In this Fast Forward, teams had to travel to the Dubai Autodrome, the only racetrack of its type in the Persian Gulf. Then, driving in an F3 open-wheel racecar and accelerating up to speeds of 100 mph, one team member must complete a lap in 45 seconds or less.” Meghan & Cheyne decide to go for it, and the other teams didn’t want to challenge them and possibly lose, losing precious time. The second group gets their clues and gets back down to ground level, and Mika is breathing probably the biggest sigh of relief she’s ever done. Lance & Keri, our directionally challenged couple, take off in the other direction while looking for the parking garage (even though Keri tells him that everyone else was going the other way. And remember, according to Lance, Keri is the stupid one!)

Mika & Canaan don’t follow the other teams to the desert and end up very behind everyone, except for Lance & Keri who continue to get themselves lost. Meghan & Cheyne, meanwhile, get to the Fast Forward and Cheyne is excited to find out he gets to drive a race car around a track, and if he finishes the lap in less than 45 seconds, they’ll get their clue. Meghan is in tears watching him, being afraid for his safety. Cheyne decides “I’m the man!” and gets around the track in time on the first try. They’re instructed to drive a Maserati to the Pit Stop, where they get to the Mat in first place.

The other teams made it to the desert and get to the clue box, which has a Roadblock. “In it, one team member had to choose a traditional bag and search the desert for water that was stored in urns buried in the sand. However, not all of the urns contained water. When they found enough water to fill their bag, they had to give it to a Bedouin and his thirsty camels in order to receive their next clue.” Dan, Tiffany and Brian started off in the sand, and Tiffany was the first to find an urn - but no water. Brian found an urn with water and secretly filled his bag, then told Dan and Tiffany where to find it. “If you help people now, they’re gonna help you down the road.” (Not necessarily, Brian - not if helping you hurts their chance at a million bucks!) Dan’s ladle broke as he was getting the water, but Tiffany let him use hers and waited for him as he filled his bag. (All this Karma going on!) Mika & Canaan managed to beat Lance & Keri to the task site, but both of them wandered in the sand looking for water - Lance showing his wonderful attitude once again when he found an empty urn and chucked it into the sand, breaking it. Canaan found water and got done ahead of Lance.

The clue told the teams to “drive back into the city and find Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort with more than 22,000 square meters of snow.” As Maria drove off in their car, she ran over a spike and punctured a hole in the radiator. She commented that “I have an excuse because I’m an Asian female driver.” Sam & Dan hung around with them until they got a new car, which can either be seen as stupid or chivalrous depending on your point of view.

Once to the “ski” resort, the clue was a Detour “with the choice of Build a Snowman or Find a Snowman. In Build a Snowman, teams had to carry snow from the frigid winter conditions inside, to the blistering heat outdoors. Once there, they had to build a traditional snowman complete with two coal eyes, a carrot nose, and top hat. In Find a Snowman, teams had to take a chairlift up the mountain and then sled down to a mound of snow. Once there, they had to search through the massive pile of snow for a tiny snowman buried within it.” They had to take their snowman to a polar bear and they would get their next clue. (That polar bear was a little creepy too). Matt & Gary get there first and decide to Find a Snowman. Shortly Maria & Tiffany, Brian & Ericka, Sam & Dan, and Flight Time & Big Easy join them and Ericka manages to find the snowman in the snow first. They take off for the Pit Stop and arrive in second place. Maria & Tiffany and Sam & Dan, along with Matt & Gary, decide to switch tasks and build a snowman, but the Globetrotters stick with the snow pile and find their snowman. As they rush off to the Pit Stop, they run into Mika & Canaan on their way in and told them to grab their coats, which Mika & Canaan appreciated, saying “The Globetrotters really helped us out.”

The other teams manage to get their snowmen built, and they didn’t melt as fast as one would have expected - although the snowmen weren’t actually works of art either. They got the required parts together, though, and all got their clues.

Lance & Keri went right to making a snowman, and when they finished Lance confused the clue-giver by asking if he could kick the snowman apart before he got his clue. This guy is something! All their bad choices piled up on them, though, and they were eliminated.

So here’s the order the teams finished:

1 - Meghan & Cheyne
2 - Brian & Ericka
3 - Big Easy & Flight Time
4 - Sam & Dan
5 - Maria & Tiffany
6 - Mika & Canaan
7 - Lance & Keri (Eliminated)

So, sorry that the bickering Bostonians are gone? They did add a little spice to what seems to be a bunch of teams that like each other. See any good fights coming or are we destined for a bunch of good-Karma-seeking, helpful teams? Stay tuned!

Going to Sean Penn and Going Bananas - Until a Lost Passport

What a way to go! Totally a bummer that Zev & Justin get knocked out for losing Zev’s passport. And after coming in first for the leg! I was really liking this team a lot, and I like them even more now after seeing their reaction (not complaining, no blaming each other) and realizing what good friends they are - and what friendship is all about. Damn shame! Another shame is missing the alleged masturbating monkey - I haven’t deleted the TiVo version yet, gonna have to go back and look for that one. I have a feeling that some editor on the show may get canned for that one!

The teams leave the Pit Stop with the instruction to fly to Phnom Pen, Cambodia. I was amazed at how many of them couldn’t pronounce it (but then, they are a bunch of young’uns). Zev cracked me up calling it “Sean Penn Cambodia.” When they got there they had to find the Foreign Correspondent’s Club and find the “assignment editor” and ask him in a whisper “what their next assignment is.” All very intriguing, no? (No. Cute, but no intrigue).

As the teams get to the airport, they find out that only one airline, Vietnamese Air, flies to Cambodia, and the next flight is at 12:25 p.m., so they’re all looking at a night’s sleep in the airport. Lance & Keri (Lance says they’re getting married after the Race, and they’re good because “the Amazing Race is like 5 years of marriage stress”) and Zev & Justin are the last two teams to get to the airport and find out the flight is full, so they have to book tickets on the 2:15 flight. Both teams get on the waiting list for the first flight, and after a little sweating, they find out they will get on the first flight after all. Lance sees the teams boarding the plane and yells “no cheap wins, bitches!” I’m sure that really endeared him to the other teams.

Zev & Justin get lucky with a great cab driver, Terry, who tells them he’ll stick around with them for as long as they need him. Zev tells him “don’t leave us or I’ll tell your mother” which cracks Terry up. He seemed to be a really nice, good-natured guy and really helped Zev & Justin a lot. Getting to the Foreign Correspondent’s Club, the teams saw two guys looking very shady, reading newspapers and hiding their faces, and those were the “assignment editors.” They walked up and quietly asked for their next assignments, and got a folded-up newspaper with a manila folder in it. (Canaan had major trouble with this challenge because he kept asking for his “next task” instead of “next assignment.”) The folder had a photo of Jackie Kennedy Onassis in a motorcade with the President of Cambodia, and the teams had to find “the same picture in a hotel that has a suite named after the famous woman. Teams needed to figure out that their next destination was the Hotel Le Royal where they had to find the picture of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on her only official visit to Cambodia in 1967.” I was absolutely flabbergasted that only two teams knew who Jackie Kennedy was (Gary & Matt and Zev & Justin - and isn’t Zev supposed to be mentally handicapped?) Obviously their history classes were lacking or they cut class a lot! Flight Time said she was a Cambodian queen, while Mika & Canaan decided that she was either a Queen or a Cambodian dignitary (“she looks to be of Cambodian descent.” Idiots!) Lucky for them, their cab drivers knew who she was and where they needed to go.

The clue at the hotel was a Detour - Cover or Wrap. “In Cover, teams had to find a helmet stand and choose four motorcycle helmets. Then, using only their powers of persuasion, the teams had to sell the four helmets, for ten dollars, to a family of four consisting of two adults and two children. Once the teams returned the money to the helmet shop owner, they would receive their next clue. In Wrap, teams had to find the Russian Market and locate stalls 980 and 981 where the shopkeeper would hand over an intricately patterned silk sca rf. Then, the teams had to search the confusing corridors of the market for a woman wearing an identical scarf. When they correctly matched the two scarves, the shopkeeper would hand them their next clue.”

All the teams except Lance & Keri decided to do Wrap (which I thought was a much better idea). Zev & Justin’s cab driver got them to the Russian Market quickly and Justin told him “you’re the smartest man in Cambodia! I’m going to name one of my children after you.” Obviously this impressed Terry so much that he helped them find the market stall and stayed with them to find the woman with the matching scarf. Brian & Ericka and Matt & Gary got behind after their taxi drivers took them to the wrong place. Lance & Keri managed to sell their helmets, which surprised me (hey, $10 in Cambodia must be a fortune!) but they still were at the back of the pack. Flight Time & Big Easy, wearing their Globetrotter jerseys, find two girls from Pennsylvania in the Russian Market who help them find the stalls and the woman with the matching scarf.

The next clue tells the teams to go on foot to Wat Tuol Tom Pong and look for the clue box. Zev & Justin run behind their cab driver who leads them straight to it. That clue was a Roadblock - “Who wants to monkey around?” “In Cambodia, monkeys are so revered that the royal family employs a royal monkey master who trains dancers to behave like monkeys. In this Roadblock, one team member had to put on a monkey mask and tail and complete three monkey maneuvers, as demonstrated by their monkey master. If they could keep up their simian act during the maneuvers, the monkey master would hand them their next clue.” I’m looking forward to this one (and hoping it doesn’t involve throwing poop)!

Zev decides to try it, and has to put on the monkey mask and tail. He’s doing great until he has to climb across a log (about 4 inches off the ground) on his feet and hands. He’s having problems with balance, and gets ticked at Justin who is shouting encouragement to him, telling Justin to shut up. Zev ended up rolling off the log onto the mat, panting that he just had no energy left, and felt like he was having a panic attack. That allowed Sam & Dan to breeze through and pass them. Somehow Zev mustered the energy to finish correctly and they took off after Sam & Dan to the Pit Stop.

Sam & Dan had a very slow ride to the Pit Stop and with Zev & Justin’s super cabbie, they got to the Mat in first place. Sam & Dan actually thought they made it first and were really bummed when Phil told them they were second. After Flight Time & Big Easy made the Mat in third, we see Zev & Justin looking through their things for their passports, saying they couldn’t find them. They go back to Phil and tell him, and Phil tells them to dump their backpacks. Phil spotted a passport and it was Justin’s but Zev’s was nowhere to be found. Phil tells them they cannot continue on the Race without their travel documents, and if they could find Zev’s passport and get back before the last team checked in, they would not be eliminated. They called Terry the cabbie to retrace their steps and hoped they’d be able to find it. As time wore on and they couldn’t find it, Justin mentioned that he’d “let Zev down” and Zev told him no way, it was a freak happening and it was no one’s fault. Zev then blamed himself: “We finished first and now it looks like we’re gonna be last because I lost a little piece of paper. We would’ve won the whole thing too.” Tell you the truth, they could have. They seemed to really have a good rhythm going and were very level headed compared to some other teams (Lance bigmouth egomaniac and Keri please-don’t-talk come to mind).

Lance showed us how utterly goofy he is yet again as he performed a roundhouse kick before he stepped on the Mat. Phil looked afraid - let’s see, Lance challenged Phil to a fight and now is showing off his karate mo ves - maybe next time instead of a cute little local lady, they should have a couple of goons with Phil at the Mat to protect him from Lance. Especially if they come in last and Phil has to eliminate them!

Maria & Tiffanyshowing up technically in last place, were told by Phil that they were in last, but they would not be eliminated because of one other team’s problem with travel documents. Getting lucky once with a non-elimination round and now this, they said “I wish we had this much luck with poker because we’d be zillionaires.”

So here are the standings after this leg of the Race:
1 - Sam & Dan
2 - Flight Time & Big Easy
3 - Brian & Ericka
4 - Gary & Matt
5 - Meghan & Cheyne
6 - Lance & Keri
7 - Mika & Canaan
8 - Maria & Tiffany
9 - Zev & Justin - from worst, to first, to worst and eliminated

So another team gets first place. They all seem to get lucky at different times - who will keep the luck and win the Race? Tune in next week!