Amazing Race - October 17th Episode Recap

We Should Have Brought Gloves and Butt Pads

The episode opened with the teams helping paint the school in Ghana during the Pit Stop - giving back - it looked good.  A cute little kid thanked them, "We love our school."  Awww... 
-Connor & Jonathan will be the first to depart at 10:15am (I hope the following day) - the clue tells them they are heading to the Arctic Circle... from the furnace to the freezer - they are flying 4500miles to Kiruna, Sweden.
-The teams have all been given tickets on the same flight to the Arctic circle but they are under no obligation to use them. Once in Sweden they must make their way to the world famous Ice Hotel to get their next clue.
-Team Glee are missing their college graduation during this leg of the Race.  They ask their driver to go faster but he tells them to take their time (Huh, these drivers got attitude in Ghana.)
-Mallory & Gary are the next out at 11:19am - she, of course, is SO EXCITED to be going to the Arctic Circle (she needs to dial back the sugar.)  So happy to get out of the heat.
-Craig & Stephanie next out - she hates the snow (uh oh.)
-Rachel & Katie next to leave - Rachel (I think) is excited go to Sweden, she's half Swedish but doesn't speak it - knows how to be mean in Romanian though (surprise.)
-Nick & Vicki - tattooed duo - get in the cab and he tells the driver they need to go to the Arctic Circle - you know? (Seriously?  Does this guy need to remind himself to breathe? How stupid is he?) Vicki tells him that's where they're flying.
- Claire & Brook next out and Brook is SO EXCITED to be going to the Arctic Circle (I think she & Mallory may be the same person - do we ever see them together?)  Brook & Claire decided to dress in bright clothes to try and make themselves feel better - now they're disappointed they'll have to put on more clothes for the cold.

-Team Glee at the airport see they won't be leaving until 4:30pm and hunker down to wait for everyone to catch up - Lame.

-Jill & Thomas next to head out - he says they have the express pass but he doesn't want to use it until he has to, otherwise it will be a waste.
-Nat & Kat head out at 1:12pm - Kat is excited about going to Sweden - her homeland, her people (don't know if she's really Swedish or if it's just because it's the home of the blue-eyed blondes.)
-Kevin & Michael are the last out at 1:26pm - they know they'll have a speed bump but they're focused and ready.  In the cab they're strategizing flight routes and Kevin uses the cab drivers cell phone to call the airport and check on quickest flights - they find a connection that will get them in 2hrs earlier.
-At the airport they realize no one else looked into changing flights and they decide to share the info with Gary & Mallory (Oh come on, there is such a thing as too nice.)  They get Mallory to bat her eyelashes at a guy and he's going to check if he can get them on the earlier connecting flight.  She says, "See, you gotta have a girl." (Well, enjoy the blond working for you in Africa, me thinks it won't be much of an advantage in Sweden.)
-Nat & Kat are in the Internet cafe at the airport looking for earlier flights.  The Shopping girls go looking for them because they admire the doctor's smart play (and want to ride their coat tails.)
-The airline guy gets back to Mallory & the boys and confirms they're booked on the earlier flight.  She's so happy she has blond hair.  But they do too much celebrating and Team Glee is suspicious, thinks there might be an earlier flight - so they head to the information desk.
-Nat & Kat book the earlier flight and when Brook & Claire track them down in the Internet cafe share the information with them (somewhat reluctantly but whatchagonnado?)
-Team Glee & the Volleyball girls try to change their flight too but they're told the other flight is fully booked, not switching for them.

-All the teams are together on the flight to Frankfurt - but those teams that changed their connecting flight have only 1 hr and have to sprint through the airport to get their connection - Brook & Claire, Nat & Kat and Gary & Mallory make it - Kevin & Michael are stuck in an elevator (What?  Why didn't they follow...) oh you tricky editors - they make the flight as well.

-First flight arrives and they get in their marked cars - Gary & Mallory drive right but the sign that says ICE HOTEL (in English no less) she yells at him to turn around.  The all girl teams turn right in - Kevin & Michael decide to follow Gary & Mallory (Okay, this may be sexist but why don't men read signs?  I don't get it.)

-The girl teams go into the ice hotel storage warehouse and see blocks of ice with the clue etched into them - in Swedish.  They have to figure out they need to go to Fjellesborg's Lodge to get the next clue.
-They other two teams arrive and Kevin & Michael get their Speed Bump - they have to sit on chairs made of blocks of ice for 10 minutes before they can continue.  Kevin is wearing soccer shorts, this is gonna hurt - Dad wishes he had those chairs in Ghana.

-Nat & Kat take their block of ice outside and ask someone what it says - he tells them it's a lodge by the lake.   Gary & Mallory don't even ask, they decide to just follow Nat & Kat (everyone just wants to be like them... this could be smart or could bite them in the butt if they lose them...)

-And, speaking of butts, Kevin & Michael are starting to freeze theirs.  Kevin is finding it very uncomfortable - pins and needles of ice - Dad is okay, he just kept alternating cheeks :)  They get the okay to move on and grab their ice clue - Kevin wishes they had gloves... and butt pads.

-Nat & Kat are leading the first 3 teams through the woods - supposed to be on an unmarked road but they're not sure if they're right - doesn't seem to be anything there.

-Kevin & Michael are the first ones to the lodge and find the clue box: ROADBLOCK: Who's feeling kind of slushy?
-Using a summer training sled they must drive a team of sled dogs down a marked trail where they must grab 5 flags along the way to trade for a shipment of fur pelts from a hunter.  For every flag they miss they must do a penalty lap around the camp before heading back to the start where they'll trade the pelts for the next clue.
-Michael (Dad) is doing the mushing.  He thinks it's awesome - he keeps saying "Good doggy." He's so cute.
-The other three teams get to the clue box and Mallory, Claire & Nat are going to be doing the mushing.
-Everyone is having a great time doing the dog sledding - Claire grew up on a ranch so she felt comfortable and like a tough outdoors woman.
-Michael got all 5 flags so he got the pelts right off and headed back.

-2nd flight arrives in Sweden and they 5 other teams head out - Team Glee is leading the pack and my team, Chad & Stephanie, are bringing up the rear... (Come on guys!)

-Meanwhile- Mallory is too short to grab the first flag - this could be problematic - she realizes she has to balance on a higher bar on the sled to reach the flags. 
-Mallory & Claire both pass Nat on the trail - she needs to whip those dogs (not literally, but she could be more aggressive.)
-Mallory first to the hunter but she had to do a penalty lap for missing one flag, Claire gets her pelts right off though and after taking their 'kiss count' to 6 (she kissed the hunter guy) is on her way back.  Mallory finishes the lap and heads back as Nat gets there to get her pelts.

- The 2nd flight teams all get to the ice hotel and most of them just write the words down on paper instead of lugging the blocks of ice outside (smart) - It helps that all the people they ask seem to speak English - they're all off to the lodge except Jill & Thomas, who did lug the ice outside - by the time they get out everyone is gone - Hmm, that didn't work so well.

-Michael & Kevin are the first done the mushing and get the clue to make their way to the train station for the next clue.  Claire & Brook 2nd, Gary & Mallory 3rd, Nat & Kat 4th and they're all heading to the train station.

-The next 4 teams get to the clue box but Jill & Thomas are nowhere to be found.  When they do arrive they see they are last, miss the arrow showing the way to the sled dogs and start running the wrong way... uh oh, express pass time now?
-Connor, Nick, Katie and Stephanie are running the dog sleds and everyone is having a blast with it - Stephanie has wanted a husky forever and it looks like Chad may have no choice after the race.
-Jill & Thomas realize they must have gone the wrong way when they still haven't come to the task - They head back - Jill asks if they should use the Express Pass now but he doesn't want to panic yet (don't get caught with it buddy).  They make it back and Jill is going to do the mushing.

-Kevin & Michael get to the train station, it's cold, and they get the clue to the DETOUR - Sleds or Beds.
-In Sleds - they have to make their way to the top of the mountain and using an extreme sports gadget called a Tech Sled, they must speed down a difficult course.  Both team members must make the run in less than 1:58 - if they succeed they'll get the next clue - but if not they'll have to start over and try again.
-In Beds - they'll have to make their way to an encampment of decedents of the earliest Scandinavian nomads - then using traditional materials, they must construct a tent-like structure known as a ghoti - once it's completed and the inside is made comfortable for sleeping (pelts and a fire) the elder will give them the next clue.
-Kevin's scared his Dad won't be able to do the sledding so they go for Beds.  Ummm... I don't think they're campers - the locals are laughing at Kevin & Michael's first attempts to get the tent up.
-Nat & Kat decide to do the sleds - think it sounds awesome (I think it'd be fun... and scary... and exhausting if you had to do it over and over again.)

-Connor finishes the dog sledding, then Nick, Katie, Stephanie and Jill is last.  Chad is very aware that Jill & Thomas have the Express Pass so they are, in essence, last place.  Thomas tells us they may have to use the pass... (Could be an idea.)

-Kevin & Michael are making some progress - Kevin says they have camped before but they thought they'd be making a bed not a tent - trying to keep Dad focused but he just keeps giggling... (Altitude madness maybe, is that a thing?  I know it's just his way, but I think it's driving Kevin a little crazy.)

-Gary & Mallory get to the train station and are going to do the sledding - Brook & Claire are doing it too - Brook is excited and Claire is scared (she's always struck me as the more level-headed of the two.)

-Nat & Kat are excited as they head down the track for their run - it's so fast & icy that the brakes did nothing - Kat went off the track & was struck in the protective netting/fence.  Nat got to the end, "Where'd she go?"  Kat didn't make it down in 1:58 - they had to head back up the chairlift and try it again.
-Mallory & Gary head down and she comes in bang on 1:58 - celebration is cut short though as they're told they have to BEAT that time - they have to go again.  Dang it.

-Nat & Kat both beat the time on their 2nd run - get the clue to make their way to the Norwegian Border - the Pit Stop for this leg of the race.
-Brook & Claire both beat the time on their first run and Gary & Mallory come in right behind them (Brook & Mallory were together there and the world didn't implode, I guess they're not the same person after all.)
They all get the clue for the Pit Stop.

-Team Glee and Chad & Stephanie get to the clue box at the train station & they are doing the sledding.
-Chad is excited to do the sledding - Stephanie was not.  She's never done anything like that (hates the snow remember - I'm with you girl) but she wanted to hack it out for him.
-Nick & Vicki and the Volleyball girls get to the train station too and are doing the sledding too.

-Kevin & Michael complete tent and setting up the beds inside and get the clue for the Pit Stop.

-Jill & Thomas get to the train station and are going to do the Bed - Thomas says in the car they could easily bypass everyone and kill it with the Express Pass (then do it already, sheesh.)

-Connor & Jonathan are not so sporty - they both fall off the sleds.
-Stephanie nervous when they're told the track is running fast and to brake into the turns - they start down the run and she's now PETRIFIED!  She lost control and didn't know how to stop - she nearly runs into Chad and then falls off the sled.  He's NOT happy and starts yelling at her (guys like him are one reason I never did any team sports - my total lack of any athletic ability was another ;)
-Team Glee goes overtime - has to go again.

-Jill & Thomas get to the tent building/bed task and FINALLY decide to use their Express Pass - Thomas says, "This is the best choice." (yes, it is.)
-Stephanie is giving up on the sledding and he's pissed.  Lost their lead, everyone is there now... She's too scared - crying.
-Jonathan can't get the sledding - he keeps going over the side & falling off - they'll have to go again, again.
-Chad & Stephanie get to the Beds and he knows they're going to have to hustle... good thing he was a boy scout - he seems to have given up his pique, which is better rebound time than Nick showed last week.
-Nick & Vicki are more a physical couple than mental (she says with a laugh) they kill the sledding easily.
-Katie & Rachel having a hard time - they keep falling off the sleds and Katie loses hers over a ledge - they decide to switch tasks.
-Connor & Jonathan also still not having any luck - it was becoming truly painful for Jonathan - they decide to switch to the other task too.
-Stephanie & Chad see the Volleyball girls arrive (and they called them that too - I wonder if anyone knows who's who on that team :) Chad & Stephanie are relieved they're still in it.  They finish and get the clue.
-Volleyball girls don't pass the inspection of the inside of the tent on the first try - but they still finish before Team Glee.  They are all on their way now to the Pit Stop...

Here's How They Finished:
1) Nat & Kat - won a trip for 2 to Belize - So happy, they are a team to be reckoned with and want to be the first all-female team to win the Amazing Race.
2) Gary & Mallory - So happy
3) Brook & Claire - So happy
4) Kevin & Michael - They did their best and are proud of their improved performance this leg.
5) Jill & Thomas - Had to make an important decision and burn their Express Pass, but it was smart I think.
6) Nick & Vicki - She's so happy they did better this leg (and he didn't have another tantrum.)
7) Chad & Stephanie - She's also so happy - she was worried he'd be disappointed in her.
8) Katie & Rachel - Brought their block of ice clue to the mat - (Huh?) They made it by the skin of their teeth.
9) Connor & Jonathan - sing the graduation march as they get to the mat - **ELIMINATED** Oh man, they miss their graduation and get eliminated on the same day... that sucks.  They look at it positively though, this was an incredible experience and it's like they graduated from the Race today - they skip off, sing an elimination song and click their heels (I'm going to miss those singing boys.)

So, with Connor & Jonathan leaving that means Miranne D, Roxanne S, Sharleen H, Bernice W and Nenad M. are out of the pool.

Next week Nat & Kat have to eat something gross and Claire is left hanging - telling Bam to shut up (I bet everyone has wanted to do that.)

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen