Survivor Blood vs Water - Oct 29/14 Episode Recap

Make Some Magic Happen

Last week on Survivor, they decided to mix it up, literally.  Coyopa ended up with three couples... and Keith, and Hunahpu was a bunch of singles with one couple (Josh & Reed).  Unfortunately, the legacy left the new members of Hunahpu was starvation as the former tribe had run through all their food.  But still, it was Coyopa that lost the challenge, and the new power couple, Jon & Jaclyn, decided to stick with Baylor & Missy, making Kelley the first person voted out of the new tribe.

Coyopa - Night 13
-They returned from tribal council and Dale was upset from having watched those people slaughter his daughter right in front of his eyes (okay, that's a little bit dramatic) but in true Dale style he just sat off by himself and didn't say anything.  Though I'm sure in his head he was plotting revenge.

Next morning - Dale knows he has to do something drastic in order to keep himself there.  He takes the medallion he found on the water well the first day at camp and shows it to Jon, saying he's got an idol and he's not going home next. 
-Jon is a little bit of a lunkhead - he buys it and is scared Dale's having an idol is going to mess up their plans.

Hunahpu - Day 14
-Alec is speculating on what Jeff is going to take from them in trade for more rice.  If they lose their roof, tear down the camp and can't make fire... what are they going to do?  (Start over, duh.)
-Jeremy can't believe they're so torn up about a little rice, he says they could win a reward or have a feast tomorrow, suck it up. (Says the man who has been eating twice as much as them the whole time he's been out there.)

Ominous music... here comes Jeff up the beach with a big ol' sack of rice on his shoulder. (We're going to find out what he wants sooner rather than later.)
Jeff says he can only think of one other time that a team had to have their rice replenished, that was in Australia (season 2!).  Then he shames them for a bit, has the new tribe members blame the old tribe members for being so reckless which makes Jeremy all defensive... and then Jeff tells them what he's taking - the tarp, all their comfort items, the hammer, the hatchet, one pot and the extra flint. 
Which will leave them with a pot, the machete and a flint.  He's trying to be fair to Coyopa who was playing correctly... (but half the gluttons are now on that tribe and with them gunning for the rice nazi (Dale) they could be in the same pickle soon.)
-Reed feels like it's worth it but Jeremy is mad, "why are they happy?"  and Julie is worried about the rain, she can't take the cold.  (Man, I'd be so pissed if I was new on that tribe, how dare they think it was okay to eat all the food by day 14!)

Reward Challenge
-One person from each tribe will be blindfolded and race through a series of obstacles to a station where they will find a mask which they can study with their finger tips - then they must untie 3 bags of puzzle pieces and return through the obstacles to the starter station where they must recreate the mask using the puzzle pieces... by feel alone. To make it tougher, they've included dummy pieces which may fit but aren't right (This seems pretty impossible to me.)
-Reward: is a Survivor BBQ, hibachi, briquettes and huge shish-kabobs of meat and veggies. (Mm, that looks yummy.)

And it will no longer be blood vs blood so they can put up whoever they want and it's going to be Reed vs Baylor... and the loser will be going to Exile Island.

Off they go and there is some head bumping through the obstacle - Reed is feeling up the mask before he takes the first bag back but Baylor is just going to collect the bags first and do all her studying on the last bag - we'll see which strategy works.
-They are both working on the puzzle at the same time but Reed has a better grasp on the shapes of the pieces... he gets all the pieces except one right - she only has two in and one is wrong... then he changes that one out and Reed is Right!  Hunahpu wins reward and Jeremy is going to be extra pissed, they got food, just like he said.
Reed is too busy bawling... he's just so hungry.

Baylor is heading to Exile and Reed chooses... (send Jeremy, send Jeremy)... Julie to go to Exile (awgh!) but Natalie pipes up that she was going to volunteer.  She feels like Julie won a reward for them and she hasn't so... hey, if you want to volunteer, no one's going to stop you.  And Natalie goes to Exile with Baylor.
-Missy is happy that her girl Natalie is going to spend time with her daughter at Exile - (Hmm, Missy may be playing harder than I gave her credit for.)

Coyopa - Day 14
-Keith is fishing by himself, but not catching anything.
-Jon is walking with Jaclyn and Missy, and he tells them that this morning Dale showed him a hidden immunity idol.  It puts a little wrinkle in their plan, in that they may have to vote Keith out next. (Again, why are the old guys not talking to each other?)

Exile Island
-Natalie confirms she volunteered to ingratiate herself with Missy & Baylor so if they all make the merge, they will want to take care of her.
-Baylor got the clue to the idol and shared it with Natalie (I wonder if they are putting out more idols for them?  I doubt it.)
-Natalie is saying that getting information from Baylor is more important to her right now than some food reward.  She feels like she, Jeremy and Julie are on the chopping block now so she wants to find the hidden idol (Keith has it) and she trusts Missy so she can trust Baylor.

Hunahpu - Day 14
-They are going to EAT Tonight!  Josh & Reed are all huggy and kissy (like Jon & Jaclyn last week) and Jeremy is not impressed.  He said if Val was still there, they'd be so separate you wouldn't think they even liked each other - a close couple is a threat.  Jeremy is definitely targeting the couple.
-So while everyone is rhapsodizing about how good the food is, Jeremy is rolling his eyes... while he's also eating the food.  "If they only waited one more day, they would have had food" (for one day.) "They're so dumb." (I'm sick of Jeremy's sanctimonious belly-aching, let's face it, he's mad his game got blown to hell in the shake up and he's tantruming.)
-Of course, to make matters worse, here comes the rain and Julie is reaching her breaking point.  Jeremy is even more disgusted.  He wants her to stay cause he's hurting for numbers but if she has to go she needs to go before him, so he can make the merge and make his magic happen. (Jeremy definitely has a high opinion of himself, he better make sure he's not missing things right in front of him by looking too far ahead though.)

Hunahpu - Day 15
-Jeremy is giving Julie a pep talk telling her he needs her, she made it through the night, "don't let them see you like this..." but he's talking to her sodden back as she's curled in the fetal position (that doesn't bode well.)  Finally she does get up though and she is proud of herself for not quitting during the worst night of her life.
-Alec is disgusted by her behaviour and talking to everyone while she's down by the water, "This is Survivor.  You signed up for this sh*t.  Go home." (Which I can't help but agree with, but he might want to not say that to everyone, she does have some friends, doofus.... Alec, again, proving he ain't no rocket surgeon.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They must race all together and scale a tall wall, then work together to 'roll' a wooden cube through a series of posts - at each post they will have to grab a bag of puzzle pieces that they will have to unwind off a spring - once they have all three bags, two tribe members will use the scrolls inside to solve a flag puzzle - first tribe to raise their flag wins Immunity.
-Hunahpu sits Julie.

-Off they go - and Hunahpu gets out to an early lead - Jeremy is up to get the bag of pieces when Coyopa starts on theirs and Jon gets their pieces faster - it's a dead heat.
-Jon proves to have the knack on the pieces and Coyopa takes the lead.
-Jon & Missy are working on the puzzle for Coyopa when Hunahpu is still getting the third bag.
-Missy & Jon are two pieces in to the puzzle when Josh & Reed start working the puzzle for Hunahpu. 
-But Coyopa gets stuck on the fourth piece and Josh & Reed speed on by - getting all the pieces bang, bang, bang... and HUNAHPU wins Immunity - AGAIN!
-We'll see if Dale can bluff his way into staying.

Coyopa - Day 15
-Keith feels like his job is to get Dale out of there so he can make the merge and be reunited with Wesley... and having a hidden immunity idol in his pocket is his insurance that will happen. (You better make sure you use it.)

-Dale is bringing it though, he goes to Jon and tells him he doesn't want to play his idol tonight but he is willing to make a sacrifice.  If they vote someone else out, once the torch is extinguished, he'll give Jon his idol.  Jon, "Dude." 
-No big deal for Dale, he's sure it's not an immunity idol, but he's going to leverage it for votes if he can. 
-I can smell Jon thinking from here... he doesn't have much of a poker face at all (or he's a good actor, but I don't think so.)  Jon says it would have to be Missy then.  She has the most ties in the old tribe... (oh, ho, I didn't see that coming.)
-Dale is quick to stick his hand out to agree to Missy going but Jon is still pretty reluctant, he shakes but he doesn't mean it.

-Next we see Jon telling Jaclyn, Missy and Baylor the whole conversation, but the girls aren't impressed, they want Dale to go but Keith would work too - so they are going to split the votes - Jon, Jaclyn and Keith vote for Dale and Missy & Baylor will vote for Keith.

-Jon & Jaclyn then go off to discuss what they want to do by themselves - he's convinced Dale's idol is real and he thinks their best option may be to align with Dale and use the idol for their alliances advantage.  Jon wants to set himself and Jaclyn up as a power couple for the merge. (Destroying another couple could make that happen, get rid of Missy!)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
-Dale says the challenges are the fun part of this game, it's the other 23 hours of the day that are the draining part.  Everyone, including the howler monkeys, agrees.
-Baylor said being on Exile was like being lost in the grocery store without her mom and then Missy gets choked up because she wasn't there for her and Baylor starts crying... (just proving how close their ties are, not so smart in this game.)
-Dale says once his loved one was gone (Kelley voted out last episode) he's gone from a long term strategy into looking at maybe a 12 hour strategy.
-Jon says he felt Dale's game play today for sure - Dale made it be known he was willing to do whatever it took to further himself in the game.
-Jaclyn agrees it was good to get a different viewpoint on things... which prompts Jeff to point out to Missy that isn't good for her (really? Could you try and steer this thing a little harder? Sheesh.)
-Missy agrees that's not good for her... or Baylor.  It's disconcerting.
-Dale pipes up that he now has to put his entire faith in the people that just voted his daughter out.  The only things he has to offer is that he's loyal, he's a lone vote and he has no ties to anyone else out there.
-Baylor says she feels Jon & Jaclyn are very loyal people and she is more loyal than Dale.  (That made his eyes bug out a little... and Jeff points that out too.)
-Dale says he thinks Baylor should own up to her game.
-Jaclyn is well aware that Dale never did anything to her and Baylor did flip on her before.
-Jon says he knows they are coming to the merge and tonight's vote has to be about who can he trust long term.

And with that, it's time to vote:
Keith votes for Dale
Missy votes for Keith
Dale votes for Missy... it's gonna be a barn burner!

Tallying the votes:
Hidden Immunity idols?? No one plays one.

Votes:
Dale - 1
Keith - 1
Missy - 1
Keith - 2
Dale - 2...3... and it's DALE voted out - sigh.  I really wanted them to get rid of Missy tonight.  That would have been much more exciting.
But alas, they don't care what I want ;) and with Dale leaving, that takes out Susan N., Karen S., and Kevin C.

Next week: MERGE!  Everybody knows it's game on and nobody is safe.

Dale's final thoughts: He did everything he possibly could since he woke up this morning but Jon & Jaclyn did the same thing to him that they did to Kelley.  This game was everything and more than he thought it would be and he can't wait to have a long talk with his daughter. (Snore.)

Have a great rest of your week, and Happy Halloween everyone!

Coleen

The Amazing Race 25 - Oct 24 Episode Recap

Morocc' and Roll

Last week the mighty blowhard fell as the McFakerson Dentists came in last in Denmark... but apparently they are also lucky because they didn't have to burn their Save, it was a Non-Elimination round.

This week the Cyclists were the first out at 9:48pm - they get the clue to fly to Marrakech, Morocco - once they land they will have to make their way to the food cart garage at the bazaar and look for their next clue.  The girls felt breaking away from the group in the last leg helped them do things with more patience and hope they can carry on that way with the other teams around them. They head for a travel agency.
-Wresters are next out at 12:08am... and they have taken too many blows to the head - talking about playing the Moroccos (when they mean maracas - not the same thing.)
-Survivors Whitney & Keith head out at 12:22am - they've been engaged for a year and half and she's decided it's time for them to move up and win themselves a honeymoon.
-Scientists 12:37am - super excited to be heading to Morocco.

At the travel agency, Cyclists Kym & Alli find out the earliest flight to Morocco leaves at 8:25am and they will land at 3:15pm.  It's crushing for them to realize they've totally lost their lead (uh, you have watched this show before, yes?)

-1am - Tim & Te Jay - they are ready to Morocc' and Roll!
-1:59am - Shelley & Nici had a long talk last night and they seem to have worked some things out.  Nici left home at 17 so this has been the first time in years they have been together non-stop, in your face. (I totally get the fighting, especially with your mom who's going to love you no matter how awful you act.)
-Soul Surfers, 2:19am - they are chipper and laid-back as ever.
-McFakerson Dentists, 2:29am - they are back on track and ready to tackle this leg - she's so grateful it was a non-elimination leg and they still have the Save - he, as usual, can't just say 'we're going to dust our selves off,' he has to say, "Winners dust themselves off and keep trucking and that's what we're going to do." (He sounds like he drank the Kool-Aid at a How to Be A Winner seminar.)

-In the airport all the teams are hanging out waiting for their flight and no one is very happy to learn that the Dentists still have the Save.  Dentist Jim is glad the other teams know they won't be going home today because if there is a U-Turn, why make an enemy of a team that won't be eliminated. (We may see if the others see it that way.)

Marrakech, Morocco
-The flight lands and the Dentists are the first in a cab and obviously his confidence is back as he declares "Team Domination is back in action." (Ugh!)
-Daughter Nici is speaking Spanish to the cab driver and negotiates a rate with him and gets him to agree to keep their bags in the cab. Shelley is so proud.

Jemaa El-Fnaa (the bazaar)
-The teams start arriving and have to look for a brown door... somewhere in the huge plaza area... they all just start jogging among the tables of goods and snake charmers (eek) and all arrive at the cluebox basically together and read the clue: they have to help a food vendor bring out their cart and set up shop, once the vendor is satisfied he can open for business, they'll get their next clue... Caution, U-TURN Ahead. 

Jim & Misti also see their Speed Bump - They must gather 8 rugs from the carpet shop, then use a stick to hang them by hooks on a wire strung along the walls of a nearby hotel to display them for sale.
-They get to the shop and Jim wants to carry everything, they waste time with him insisting he can carry more and she just picks up and goes.

The rest of the teams are all scrambling to grab the food carts which they find out are pretty heavy - once they get rolling some are having to struggle to get them to stop.  Once they get the carts to their designated positions, then they have to start untying everything and getting it set up.  (This could be a struggle for the one armed girl... at least they have help from the vendors as well.) Hmm, or maybe not, they're not really sure where anything goes and with the language barrier they are just guessing.

-Dentists start trying to hang the rugs and it's much easier said than done.  I was disappointed with Misti, she tried but the rugs proved too heavy for her to hang and it fell to he-man dentist Jim to do most of the work.  It's taking much longer than they would have liked and they are just praying they won't get U-Turned (but you have the Save.)

-The other teams were helping set out the food as part of the set up of the carts - T&T had a meat cart and they said it smelled gross.  Cyclists had vegetarian and, as usual, Kym wants to know if they get to eat when it's done.  Wrestlers are setting out eggs which were not refrigerated, Brooke was sure they would all be bad.
-And the first team to get a pass is Whitney & Keith because the food vendor was smitten with the flaxen haired Whitney.  They get the clue to make their way on foot to the tannery to look for their next clue.

-Dentists finally get all the rugs hung and are just getting their food cart rolling out into position when the rest of the teams are finishing and heading for the tannery.  But this tannery is pretty well hidden - Keith & Whitney are still wandering through the rat maze of back alleys looking for the place... along with everyone else now, as they show the Dentists finishing set up and Phil drops in to tell us the Dentists are 12 minutes behind the other teams.

- Keith & Whitney finally get to the clue box and find it's a ROADBLOCK - Phil tells us they must finish the tanning of the leather by scraping the hair off three hides, then deliver bundles of finished hides by bicycle to the local cobbler who will give them a receipt to return to the tannery to get their next clue.
-Keith, Amy, Brooke, Bethany (who will be doing her first Roadblock), Tim and Kym are going to be doing the Roadblock.  They quickly realize that it stinks (Brooke was doing some heaving) and it's just gross.  Nici also jumps into the mix and finally the Dentists choose Misti to do this one so she could mentally get past her failure at the last Roadblock. (Okay, say what I do about the Dentists, they really are positive and up for any challenge - I just wish he'd stop pointing out how wonderful they are, cause that almost negates everything.)

-Kym & Tim are the first two to finish the hides and she's in her element taking the 3 bundles of hides on the bike - Tim can't figure out how to get them strapped down.

-The rest of the teams are finishing the scraping and Jim is telling Misti to hurry up.  Scientist Maya is telling the camera the smell isn't the worst, they are experiencing the culture... and Jim starts making fun of her to the camera - "No, it smells like sh*t." (And I'm no longer warming to him.)

-Once the teams are on the bikes, the next challenge is to find the cobbler.  Bethany was really struggling to get the bundles tied to her bike then some locals helped her... but that didn't help her find the cobbler any faster - everyone is now riding in circles through the rat maze of alleys looking for the cobbler.

-Misti closed the gap on Nici at the skins with Mom and Jim yelling at both of them... They are both trying to get the hides tied on the bikes - Nici starts to ride away but hers fall off and she's blocking the way out so when Misti tries to get by her she knocks her bike all the way.  She's genuinely sorry, she didn't do it on purpose... but attitude Nici is back (she really needs to learn some patience that one.) 

-A bunch of the bike riders meet up to lament not being able to find the cobbler and they are all just blown away by what a beast Bethany is in these challenges - Kym & Brooke especially say they have enough trouble with two arms and she's doing all of this with one.(I know, she's amazing!)
-Then they all end up bunched together until finally they all find the cobbler at the same time - so now it's a jostling crush to deliver the skins and get back to the tannery.

-Tim and Amy take off the wrong direction, everyone else gets to the tannery quickly and Nici finds her mom first, there is much screaming from the ladies. Keith gets to the tanner first though and Shelley tries to push him out of the way saying he has to be with his partner, but Whitney is right behind her and Keith's not moving. "Push me one more time." "And what?"  Whitney tries to keep the peace, "It's okay, It's okay, I'm right here." (And you're going to be getting the clues literally seconds apart... but Shelley's having none of it. "Don't you threaten me."  (I know two teams that are going to be looking to U-Turn each other.)

-Keith reads the clue that they again have to travel by foot to find Ben Yousef Medersa to find their next clue.  And yes, these teams have choice words for each other.
-Cyclists and Surfers are the first to find the clue and it's the DETOUR: Twirl Time or Tea Time
-In Twirl Time - they have to become street performers and play the traditional trance-like music - one person will have to wear a hat and twirl the tassel on the top while playing castinets type instruments and the other will have to play the drum. When they are able to twirl the tassel for one straight minute while keeping the beat, they'll get their next clue.
-In Tea Time - They must pick up a traditional Moroccan tea set then walk it through the narrow winding streets of the old city to a specific restaurant.  Once there, one team member must hold a tray of glasses with one arm while the other performs a traditional pour (this was made for Bethany) - once the professional tea server is satisfied with their pour, they'll get the next clue.
-Surfers choose Tea Time and Cyclists are going to Twirl Time... actually the teams end up pretty evenly split: Wrestler, Tea - Mom & Daughter, Twirl - Keith & Whitney, Twirl - Dentists, Tea - Scientists, Twirl and Tim & Te Jay, Tea Time.
-Surfers, Wrestlers and Dentists all get their tea sets and head for the restaurant.
-Survivors and Cyclists are the first to the music place and they have to get dressed (I love a good dress up) - Scientists and Mom & Daughter show up and after everyone dresses up they get an instructor to work with them and show them the beat they will have to follow... There is definitely an art to getting the tassel to twirl... I think this is going to be quite the challenge.

-Tim & Te Jay are the last team to finally get their tea set - just as the other teams are finally arriving at the restaurant - exhausted as the tea sets were actually pretty heavy.  Brooke wasn't the only one complaining this time (though she did her fair share).
-They also have to put on white robes and white gloves then get a demonstration - one person holds the tray with one hand and the other pours two tea pots at the same time, lifting them higher as the glasses fill.
-The Dentists are the first to jump in (as usual) but in their haste didn't notice the tray holder could only use one hand.  Misti used two and they failed.
- The Surfers decided to practice first, they have learned to take their time in some of these challenges and it usually pays off if they only have to do it once.
-The Wrestlers jump in but Brooke doesn't lift the teapots when she's pouring so they fail as well.

-Out in the bazaar, the street musicians are trying their hand at drums and twirling - Kym was getting dizzy wobbling her head around and Whitney learned that any musical talent she has does not extend to twirling a tassel on her head. Maya could not get the hat to stay on her head and Shelley kept having the tassel smack into her face... ho, boy, this is going to be a long day.

-Tim & Te Jay get to the restaurant and we see that Jim & Misti still haven't figured out she needs to hold the tray with one arm and the Wrestlers haven't figured out that Brooke has to lift the pots up higher as she pours.  Bethany & Adam get it right on the first try (of course they did - cause they stay calm and pay attention... laid back and athletic is a good combination for them.)
-They read the clue to make their way on foot to another place... it's the U-Turn.

-Back out in the bazaar, Kym says she's too dizzy so they switch and Alli is able to get her tassel twirling for a full minute, hat nearly falling off and everything - they are the first to get the clue to the U-Turn from this group.
-Keith & Whitney try switching too since he's blaming her head for not being able to twirl... but he doesn't do any better (see!)
-Maya and Shelley are still struggling too.

-Surfers have to ask directions to find the U-Turn and it's the Cyclists that make it there first.  They choose not to U-Turn anyone and they can make their way to the Pit Stop - Al Matjar Carpet Shop.
-The Surfers also choose not to U-Turn anyone and head for the Pit Stop.

-Nici takes a minute to tell Shelley, "once you get the tassel swinging, do not change the pace or direction"... and for some reason that worked 'cause they are the next team to finish (sorry Keith &
Whitney).  Whitney wants to change tasks but he insists they finish this first (cause he might have a feeling they'll have to do both.)
-But Shelley & Nici can't decide who to U-Turn, the Dentists who still have a Save or Whitney & Keith who just p*ssed them off... in the end Shelley looked down and saw Keith & Whitney still struggling with the tassel and it was a no-brainer for her to choose the Survivors to U-Turn.  She sees it as karma, he played dirty and it came back to bite him. (I don't know, they both seemed equally awful in that situation.)

Back at the tea service - Tim & Te Jay are the next team to pass and get the clue.  After another demonstration, Misti finally realizes she needs to hold the tray with one arm and Brooke is still befuddled on what she's doing wrong.

-Back out in the square, Whitney still can't swing her tassel for more than 30 seconds and wants to switch detours but Keith still won't let her.
-Maya and Amy finally decide to trade out so Amy will try the twirling (why did that take so long?)

-Tim & Te Jay get to the U-Turn board and are so happy not to be the one's U-Turned... they decide not to U-Turn anybody and head for the Pit Stop.

Back at the tea service - Jim & Misti finally get a pass (I swear, nothing ever gets that smile off Misti's face, is she for real?) and it looks like the Wrestlers finally figure out the correct pouring technique.  These teams also head for the U-Turn.

Back at twirl time - we find out Amy was in band for years and is really good at keeping rhythm... so twirls for a minute with no problem (again, why didn't she do the twirling from the start?) and they head for the U-Turn.  This finally convinces Keith that they should switch.

-U-Turn, Wrestlers and Dentists choose not to U-Turn anyone, they are all hoping that Keith & Whitney are dead last.  The Scientists also choose not to U-Turn anyone, they know Keith & Whitney are still behind them.
- Then we see a montage of Keith & Whitney - they finished the tea service, found out they were U-Turned and had to go finish the tassel twirling - but they did it and started to have some fun with it - why not at that point?

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Kym & Alli (Cyclists) - they won $5K each. And were just seconds ahead of...
2) Adam & Bethany (Surfers)
3) Tim & Te Jay
4) Shelley & Nici - Phil was worried that they might quit after the last leg but blood is thicker than water - they may fight, but it'll always blow over, "She's my only mama."
5) Robbie & Brooke (Wrestlers) (5, 6, 7 were all on the mat together)
6) Misti & Jim (McFakerson Dentists) - "no Speed bump for us tomorrow," Jim says, like that's the only reason they finished so far back. (He really needs to get over himself.)
7) Amy & Maya (Scientists)
8) Keith & Whitney (Survivors) - ELIMINATED - it sucks, but she's still glad they postponed their wedding and came on the Race - it was a wonderful experience... He thinks if only they had chosen the tea task first they could have won that honeymoon... (oh well. you didn't.)

So, with Keith & Whitney's departure, that takes Lois & Dave L., Karen F., Sandy G., Karen W. and Sue & Hannelore out of the pool. (It's a bloodbath ;))

Hope everyone has a great week and Happy Halloween.

Coleen

Survivor Blood vs Water - Oct 22/14 Episode Recap

Blood is Blood

Last week Hunahpu went to tribal council for the first time because Drew decided to throw the challenge so he could weed out those he didn't want on HIS tribe - but it ended up blowing up in his face when he realized the unwanted person on his tribe, was him.

Hunahpu - Night 10
-Jon feels like he was the odd one out because Drew was his friend, so he starts campaigning as soon as they get back to camp - Jeremy called it his apology tour - Jon is trying too hard to tell them all he would have been with them if they told him they were voting for Drew and he especially apologizes to Jeremy saying he should have been there for him but he definitely will be now. (So you're setting yourself up as the weak-willed follower who was riding Drew's delusional coat-tails - not sure that's a great strategy there Jon.)

Coyopa - Day 11
They are looking forward to being the first tribe in the arena to witness Hunahpu's "walk of shame."  Alec says he can't see them voting Drew off first because they want to keep winning and he's looking forward to battling his brother in the arena. (I'm not sure if he's going to be happy or sad that Drew's gone - shocked for sure.)
And here they come... and everyone is shocked on Coyopa - Alec says they must have thought Drew was a threat, nothing else makes sense to him.  Baylor says she thought Drew was Mr Popular over there which makes Dale's daughter...Kelley (why can I never remember her name) laugh.  Josh says truth is they don't know the dynamic of that tribe because they are not over there... quite the segue for Jeff to tell them to drop their buffs... (Oh sweet jebus!)

Jeff asks Kelley if she would be excited to be on a tribe with her dad and she says that's a tough one - those without loved ones are kind of free - while those still with loved ones are looked at as targets right now.
-Jeremy says being in a pair is dangerous but there is nothing he wouldn't give to have Val still there.
-Josh doesn't even know what he wants to happen.

New tribes:
Coyopa - now with three pairs of loved ones: Kelley & Dale, Missy & Baylor, Jaclyn & Jon and one lone person in Keith.
Hunahpu - only one pair of loved ones: Josh & Reed with a bunch of singles: Wes, Alex, Jeremy, Julie (oh yeah, she's still there) and Natalie.

Keith is feeling a little like a target now being the only single with a gaggle of pairs while it's the opposite on the other tribe with the one couple wondering if they'll be the target in the sea of singles.

There is no challenge - they are all sent back to camp to get to know their new tribes.  Jon is ecstatic, he's with his girlfriend and he got out of the bad situation he was in after Drew got voted out.

Hunahpu - Day 11
-The new members of the tribe are not impressed.  Wes, Alec and Josh can't believe they are almost out of food on day 11. This sucks. 
-Jeremy's not too happy with the mix up either, he was under the radar, able to do whatever he wanted but now his worst nightmare has been realized and his game is shot - he's sure that Josh can work Reed and they'll want to take him out first thing.
-Josh doesn't seem to be thinking strategy yet, he's just excited that he's going to be able to play the game with his boyfriend. We learn a little more about them from Josh - he is a pastor's son and so not all his family is accepting of his relationship but some of the Christian tenants have stuck with him because they're remaining abstinent until marriage. (Uhh...huh.)

Coyopa - Day 11
-The new members are so excited there is so much food and Jon and Jaclyn cannot keep their hands and mouths off each other (get a room you two.)  He's so relieved to be with her especially because she knows everything that's going on with him, with his Dad's terminal brain cancer weighing on him. 
-She's not sure what this means for her game now, to all of a sudden have someone she can trust 100%.  And she gets right down to telling him all the background of whats been going on - it was all the guys together and Baylor flipping back and forth.  But then it's back to being excited they get to sleep together and looking forward to playing the rest of the game as a team.
-Back at camp Baylor is jealous watching the lovebirds, and there she is, single, hanging out with mom. 
-Keith is really feeling the odd man out among the couples - he's off fishing by himself while the rest of them get to know each other - but he has a secret, a hidden immunity idol in his boot (There's a snake in my boot!) - that's his ace in the hole. (Well it can save you once but you better start trying to get to know them if you want to survive past that.)

Hunahpu - Day 11
-Alec is feeling better about his new tribe, he feels like they have the more athletic of the two tribes and for the first time in his life he can say that he beat Drew (a lifetime of bragging rights in that alone, little brother.)
-Natalie and Jeremy are talking and she thinks that Alec is not that different from Drew (oh, don't tell him that.) Jeremy doesn't care, he thinks they need to get Alec on their side because he's sure Reed will have flipped to Josh, Wes & Alec so he wants to target the other single - Alec - and make him realize he's the odd man out and should join the singles.
-Natalie takes it upon herself to talk to Alec, who is taking up Drew's spot sleeping in the hammock while everyone else is working.  She says the couples are going to try and pick the singles off, one by one but he doesn't seem that interested.
-Jeremy takes a better approach, appealing to Alec's ego, he's just like a little Drew so Jeremy's befriending him by confirming that Drew didn't have the heart for this game but Alec, he has the heart. (Jeremy is a smart guy, he's playing Alec like a fiddle.)

Coyopa - Day 11
-Missy is trying to make rice, Baylor keeps telling her to put more in the pot and Dale is totally monitoring how much rice she's making.  She's not happy with Dale playing the Rice Police (now we know how they still have so much rice left) and then Baylor tells Missy that Dale has been trying to vote her out from the beginning... well, don't rile mama bear, Blood is Blood and she doesn't like hearing that Dale's been mean to her kid.  (So I guess he's out for husband no 4?)
-Dale cannot believe that Missy just comes traipsing in here and starts serving up double portions of rice - it took every ounce of his self control not to go slap the rice dishes out of their hands and tell them this is our camp, this is our rice, stay the hell away from it.
-Kelley sees the trouble a-brewing and steps in, asking her dad to go for a walk and trying to counsel him on not coming off as a crotchety old rice miser.  She knows he's set in his ways and speaks his mind which will not go over so well with Missy's diva-like ways.  Kelley is playing peacemaker because getting into a fight over a little scoop of rice can put a bulls-eye on Dale's back which then put's a bulls-eye on Kelley's back.  Dale's take on Missy: She's a self-centered, bossy bitch. (Oh boy, looks like we may see more of Dale's personality with his loved one there - and I can see why Kelley was hesitant to want to be on the same tribe as him - he's already making her have to work twice as hard.)

Hunahpu - Day 13
They are laying around in the shelter because they have no food and no energy.  Josh can't believe how fool-hardy they were on this tribe - there is maybe three days worth of rice and beans left while on Coyopa, they were eating once a day and could have made it 39 days easily.  Alec says they may have to try and trade a reward for food but Reed is reluctant to do that because they last time they tried to trade it made them all look foolish, "this isn't Survivor market." (I think the situation is a little different this time, it's not blowhard Drew asking to trade back flint, it's new tribe members telling Jeff they are starving.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They will race to dig up a bag containing a key, then they will crawl through the mud and use the key to open a gate, then they must shake a basket set on top of a pole to drop sandbags, once they have all the sandbags, two tribe members must try to land the bags on a wobbly suspended platform.  First tribe to land all 10 sandbags on the platform will win Immunity.

-Off they go - Hunahpu found the bag of keys first and they are in the mud.  Coyopa is still looking for the bag when Hunahpu is at the gate.  Coyopa finally finds the keys and is in the mud when Hunahpu starts shaking the heck out of the basket - apparently there are 20 sandbags in the basket and Hunahpu shakes it so violently the bags fly out all over the place so they have to go retrieve them all.
-Wes & Jeremy are tossing the sandbags when Coyopa finally gets to shaking the basket but they are very conservative with the basket. Hunahpu has 8 bags on the platform before Coyopa even gets their bags to the tossing area and they get all 10 on the platform before Coyopa even has a chance to throw one sandbag.  Hunahpu wins Immunity!

Jeff sends them all back to camp, Coyopa leaves and Reed asks Jeff if they can speak to him.  He tells Jeff that they are out of food and wonders if they can make a trade for more food. (What do you have to trade?)  Jeff asks how much food they have left and the new tribe members say Hunahpu was eating twice a day and not rationing at all, they have maybe a scoop left.  Jeff tells them it could be argued that Hunahpu was dominating at challenges because they were eating twice a day and now, no matter who is on the tribe, they will have to pay that invoice - however, he does give them some hope - he says they have enough food to eat tonight so he'll see them tomorrow and they can figure it out.

Coyopa - Day 13
-Keith feels like the three couples are going to gun for him as the easy vote but he knows at least one couple doesn't like another one so that could be good for him (get in there!)
-Dale knows with the numbers on the tribe, one couple has to team up with another to tip the scales and he can't stand Missy's bossy ways and Baylor's inconsistency so he feels he & Kelley will absolutely have to work with Jon & Jaclyn.  And Dale & Kelley do talk to Jon and Jaclyn and just lay out their misgivings about Missy & Baylor.
-Jon & Jaclyn hear them out but then among themselves figure they have to get to know everyone better before they align themselves with one couple over another. (I think Dale should be talking to Keith, those two would probably get along.)
-Jon & Jaclyn go and talk to Missy & Baylor and Baylor is trying to spin her former allegiance with the guys as hard for her because she loves Jaclyn (whatever).  Missy asks what the deal is with Dale and Jaclyn said they tried to take him out first but... and Missy says she thinks Dale & Kelley are a huge threat because they are so smart (why does smart not usually equal social I wonder?) But Missy seems to be much more conniving - Dale and Kelley go to get water and she's saying, I bet you Kelley's going to look for an idol right now, we need to divide and conquer.
-Jaclyn is leery of going with Missy & Baylor because of Baylor's past behaviour, she's flipped on her before and she could do it again (go with your gut! I'm not a fan of Mom & Daughter.) But Jaclyn also thinks that Dale is sneaky and she bets Kelley is the same - so she's not sure who they should go with.
-Kelley comes over to Jaclyn & Jon and says they are voting for Baylor and leaves it up to them to vote as they will.  But Dale feels confident they'll vote with them.
-Looks like Keith is voting with Missy & Baylor.
-Jaclyn tells us that if they vote with Kelley & Dale they will vote Baylor but if they decide to vote with Missy & Baylor they are going to split their votes for Kelley & Dale in case one of them has the hidden immunity idol.  Either way they will be declaring what pair they are aligning with and someone is not going to be happy.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff asks Keith how he feels about the new tribe.
-Keith says initially he felt this was not good for him being the only single, but some of his old team mates came with him so it seemed like it had good and bad, to tell you the truth.  Do you know what I'm getting at? (No, we really don't.)  He says if it's six to one tonight he's really been had.
-Jaclyn knows that two couples are going to have to side against another at some point and that makes it all that much harder to have their loved ones on the same tribe.
-Jon says they did have conversations with the other couples and it really helped him to have Jaclyn with him, she's someone he can count on 100%.
-When Jeff asked Dale if he talked to the other couples he said he and Baylor have had an ongoing rocky relationship - (So that would be a no, Jeff.)
-Baylor knows that she and Dale haven't had a chance to get to know each other, doesn't mean she doesn't like Dale...
-Dale pipes up that she did get all the girls to vote for Dale then switched her vote back.
-Jaclyn knows they are the couple in the middle and it is a good (maybe) position for them to be in right now.  They are the hottest couple in camp.
-Kelley agrees that Jon & Jaclyn are the couple in the middle but she also says she feels she couldn't go to Baylor and suggest an alliance because of the bad blood between Baylor and her dad.  She feels sort of handicapped by his existing bad blood in the tribe.
-Then 'mama bear' Missy says she can't get past the fact that Dale's been gunning for her daughter without her there.
-Kelley, "Wasn't she gunning for him first?"
-Baylor said she did suggest they vote for Dale but it was the first tribal council, no one knew anyone.
-Missy is going by what Baylor has told her, that Dale's put her name down. And it puts a damper between Kelley & Missy too because Missy is going to protect her kid, that's just a no-brainer (and all the more reason to vote one of you out, in my opinion.)
-Keith says it could be good for him if the parents are so fixated on protecting their kids they screw up their own game - but Keith understands where Missy & Dale are coming from, it's blood.  Someone's going to be disappointed today but I just hope we can get over that hump as a tribe.
-Dale says this is going to be even harder because not only are you voting out somebody's loved one, you then have to go back to camp with them after.  There is no way to vote somebody out and feel good about it.

Time to Vote:
They didn't show how anyone voted.

Tallying the votes:
No one played a hidden immunity idol - Keith is the only one who has one but Missy and Baylor were checking to see if Dale or Kelley were going to play one.

Votes:
Baylor - 1
Kelley - 1
Baylor - 2
Kelley - 2
Dale - 1
Dale - 2
Kelley - 3 - WOW!  It's Kelley going home tonight.  (I would not have sided with Missy & Baylor but I guess Jaclyn had more of a relationship with Baylor than Dale... I knew Dale should have been buddying up with Keith!)

So, with Kelley leaving tonight, that takes Elaine R., Bob L, and not sunnie out of the pool.

Next week: Dale reveals his fake idol to Jon (remember he found that medallion on the water hole on the first day) and he's trying to bank on that to keep him in there.
And Jeff brings Hunahpu a bag of rice but says no tribe has needed as much help as them and the price is going to be steep. (Oooh, what are they going to have to do?)

Kelley's final thoughts: "I kind of wish I didn't play with my Dad, he was more of a hindrance than a help to me."  She would give anything to be back on her old tribe and still in the game and to not play with him at all especially coming into the Coyopa tribe where they were not a fan of him. (Ouch, seems like their rocky relationship may be back on the rocks after this experience.)

Have a great rest of your week everyone,

Coleen

The Amazing Race 25 - Oct 17/14 Episode Recap

Thinly Sliced Anchovies

Last week we lost the Firefighters when Scott badly twisted his ankle,  and made the mistake of asking for directions at a bar instead of the museum.

This episode the teams woke up in tents... yes, they made them camp out on the Shetland Islands after the last leg, some teams embraced it - and some teams, not so much... anyway, McFakerson Dentists are the first team to head out at 10:36am, a little over an hour ahead of the next team.  They read the clue to head to Copenhagen, Denmark.  First they must take a 13 hour ferry ride to Aberdeen, Scotland then fly from there - once in Denmark they'll find their next clue on the marked Ford Seemus?... Oh, C-Max Energi, I think... got to get the product placement right :)

-When Jim & Misti get to the ferry terminal they find out the ferry doesn't leave until 5:30pm - which means everyone will be on the ferry but they ask about a travel agency to book their flight to Denmark... and the Shetland Islands doesn't have a travel agency - so they head to the library to do their own research of flights.
-The Dentists book themselves tickets that will get them into Copenhagen at 1600 (4pm). Jim is confident no one will get a better flight than that.

-Next teams, Soul surfers and Survivors, when finding out there is no travel agent, decide they will have to go to a travel agency in Aberdeen when the ferry gets in.  Everyone else arrives and the ferry leaves.
-We find out from the Wrestlers that the travel agency doesn't open until 9am and the ferry docks at 7am - so their plan is to head to the airport and get tickets there, hoping everyone else heads to the travel agency.

-Aberdeen, Scotland - the Cyclists are the first off the ferry and they head to the airport, along with the Tim & Te Jay and the Wrestlers.  The Cyclists get a flight that gets them into Copenhagen at 2pm (oh the Dentists are going to be mad!)

-Whitney & Keith, Shelley & Nici, Scientists and Surfers are waiting outside the travel agency.

-At the airport, Tim & Te Jay get a flight getting in at 5:15pm and the Wrestlers get in at 5:10pm ... (and I gotta ask, how many flights do they have going to Denmark today?)  Tim is not happy the Cyclists got such an early flight.

-At the Travel Agency, Shelley & Nici get 5:20pm flight and the rest of the travel agency teams get a flight arriving at 5:10pm.  (So, crazy they are on so many different flights.)
-And then Tim & Te Jay's flight was delayed 20 mins and Shelley & Nici's flight was delayed about an hour (huh, all the flight attendants had bad flight luck, go figure.)

Copenhagen - Cyclists Kym & Alli are the first team to arrive - Phil tells us they must drive their Ford C-Max Hybrid from Copenhagen to Malmo, Sweden - if they successfully drive the car efficiently, using less than 1/10th of a gallon of gas, they will get their next clue.  If not, they will have to correctly answer a geography question to get the next clue.
-As Cyclists, they try to be environmentally friendly so they are stoked for this task - and they complete it successfully.  The next clue is for the DETOUR: Parking Space or Wedding Cake.
Parking Space - they have to repurpose a parking space as a Parklet setting, so they choose either a garden theme or a living room theme and have to recreate the set up in the picture they are given EXACTLY in less than 30 minutes.  If they don't get it exact and the time runs out - they will have to break it down and start again in an adjacent parking spot.
Wedding Cake - teams have to complete a traditional Danish wedding cake (which is a tall cone shaped tower of round hard donut-ish cakes... it doesn't look too appetizing by my standards) then they have to transport it by a crazy bicycle that has a flat deck area in front - one person will hold the cake on the flat deck and the other will pedal behind on the bike part... (that looks hard) - once they deliver the cake in one piece to the restaurant, the maitre'd will sign the receipt and they have to go back to the bakery to get their next clue.
The Cyclists feel like they have to do the bicycle challenge and choose Wedding Cake.... but first they have to drive back to Copenhagen.

Meanwhile, the Dentists have now landed and are trying to efficiently drive their way to Sweden.

-The Cyclists get to the bakery and take a gander at the bikes - those are crazy looking - luckily they have good balance.  First they have to finish the cake though, which is like Jenga with sweets.

-The Dentists get to Sweden and Jim wasn't able to relax and drive efficiently enough (no surprise there) so they run to the square and read that they have to name the capitals of the Scandinavian countries... they have to find a local to help them.

-Next flight arrives with the Surfers, Scientists, Wrestlers, and Survivors - they're going to have trouble being efficient because they're going to want to race each other... Keith is being slow and steady guy.
-Tim & Te Jay land and are super excited to be driving to Sweden.

-Misti & Jim have found a local to help them name the capitals and upon reading the Detour clue have chosen Parking Space (which I found odd because he was Mr. Doing the physical challenges...)

-Back at the bakery - the Cyclists prove resourceful by grabbing one of the icing piping bags as they leave with the cake... for repairs.
They head out to the bike and run across the street to ask for directions to the restaurant - then Kym is going to drive the bike because she's had a little exposure to cargo bikes in the past... and the cake falls apart immediately.  Instead of fixing it, they decide to take the top off and transport it in two pieces, then they'll put it back together later (so smart.)  Off they go and it's a swervy mess, plus there is lots of bike traffic in the bike lane, so they have to watch for that too.

-In Sweden, the Wrestlers have gone over the 1/10th gallon and have to answer the question.
-Keith & Whitney arrive and he's driven like a green rock star - they get the clue and are choosing Wedding Cake, of course, cause they're getting married. 
-The Surfers also failed to drive efficiently so they have to go answer the question too.
-The Wresters work with the Surfers and ask locals to name the capitals - then both teams choose the Wedding cake race.
-The Scientists also show up and failed but answered the capitals quickly and chose Parking Space.

-Shelley & Nici finally arrive in Copenhagen but they couldn't find the cars.  Nici is having a bit of a meltdown, taking her frustration out on Mom and Shelley's having none of it... oh boy.

-The Cyclists arrive at the restaurant and fix the cake... but they can't find the receipt... which means they can't get it checked in... eek! (And OMG, the chick at the restaurant has the weirdly darkest tan and super blond hair - that doesn't look good at all - but I bet the Dentists would feel they'd found one of their own.)
-The girls run back outside and luckily find the receipt sitting right there in the gutter - they get back to the bakery and along with the clue beg some baked goods to eat - which the baker gives them (yum, those danish looked good.)
-Oh yeah, then they open the clue which tells them to drive to the Ida Davidsen Restaurant to find their next clue.

-McFakerson's get to the Parking Spot challenge and choose the garden themed scene to recreate - as usual they are convinced they are going to blow everybody away with their attention to detail... (and there are a couple hippy dudes playing music for them... one guy had this huge, long red wig - what was the deal with that wig?)

-The Wrestlers, Surfers and Survivors all get to the Wedding Cake challenge and Robbie wants to eat some of the cakes - Baker tells him he's not allowed. 

- The Dentists are still working on their parking spot when the Scientists arrive (much to Jim's dismay).

-Tim & Te Jay did not drive efficiently enough but they knew the capitals and got the clue quickly.  They decide to do the Parking Space.
-Shelley & Nici are still really ticked off at each other but Mom drove well and they get the clue right away - and choose Parking Space.

Ida Davidsen Restaurant - ROADBLOCK: Who has a memory for faces?
-One person must become a server and take an order from a table for 4 of the 280 sandwiches on the menu - then they have to memorize the ingredients for the four sandwiches which are ordered by number and give the correct order to the chef - once they can place the order correctly and serve the customers, they'll get the next clue (oh man, this one is impossible.)
-Kym is going to do this one, she was once a horrible waitress who got fired and became a bike messenger - so I guess she has some experience?  She can't even remember the numbers of the sandwiches... oy, this is going to take her a while.

-Wedding Cakes - Keith takes the bike into the road instead of the bike lane, their cake falls apart and they have to go back in the bakery and put it back together.
-Robbie is trying to get the bike going but not having much luck and the Surfers have Adam holding the cake while Bethany tries to drive the bike with one arm - she realizes very quickly that she won't be able to control that bike with only one arm and they switch Detours.  Once Robbie has a feel for the bike, Brooke gets on the deck and is holding the cake steady just with her arms.

-Back at the restaurant - Kym is still having trouble with the memorizing.

-Keith & Whitney have repaired their cake, get back on the bike and it falls apart immediately again - Okay, Switch.

-Parking Space - Jim & Misti ask for a check of their set up and it's not right - there is a plant pot with a flower painted on both sides - one side has 7 petals and the other has 8 petals.  They have to have the 8 petals showing and they have the wrong side out.  They still have a couple minutes to fix it but they don't see the problem and time runs out.  They have to start over in another spot.
-The Scientists, however, did the living room scene and there was no tricky bit - they get the clue.

-Tim & Te Jay and Mom & Daughter are still driving back to Copenhagen - Nici wants to do the Wedding Cake but Mom already chose and they are doing the Parking Spot.

-Ida's restaurant - Kym has finally put in her order correctly and they get the clue to the Pit Stop - The VM Houses.  She tries to get a sandwich on their way out but no luck.

-Wedding cakes - Brooke is true to form, complaining about her arms and back - making faces... but good on her, she's kept that cake in one piece - I bet her back and arms are sore.  They are the only other team to complete the wedding cake task and Robbie wants to eat some of the cake still - No!

-Parking Space - the switching teams arrive, the Surfers and Survivors are excited to see the Dentists are still there.  They still have the flower pot backwards.
-Adam & Bethany get their parking spot checked they have the same problem - the flower pot is backwards.
-Whitney & Keith did the living room scene as did the Scientists and they get a pass as well.
-Jim & Misti are feeling some Amazing Race karma, they show him saying how he wanted to be the most dominant team in TAR history - but they still can't figure out what they have wrong and he feels that Save slipping through their fingers...  After failing to pass the task for the 2nd time, the Dentists decide to switch detours.
-Leaving Bethany & Adam there trying to figure out that darn flower pot.

Ida Davidsen restaurant - The Scientists and the Wrestlers both get there and Maya & Robbie are being the servers.  (I gotta say, some of those sandwiches did not sound appetizing - raw egg yolk, horseradish, anchovies - ew.)

-Tim & Te Jay have just arrived at the Parking Space task and are excited to see the Surfers still there.  T & T decided to do the garden scene too (oh, this one's harder).
-Shelley & Nici show up too and now Nici's happy they chose that one because there are other teams there - Mom & Daughter are doing the living room.

-Wedding Cake - Jim said the cake wasn't that detailed, if they had done that one first, their day would have been much different (whatever doofus).

-Keith & Whitney get to Ida Davidsen's and she's doing the Roadblock, but her memory suuuuucks, she says.
-Robbie is bringing a lot of personality to his sandwich delivery, but he's still wrong.
-Maya goes to start her order, but then just walks away (ha! This one is really hard.)

-Jim & Misti get the cake together quickly and he's grousing that this was way easier... until they get on the bike and he has a few bobbles and things start falling off the cake.

-Maya gets her order right finally and the Scientists get the clue to the Pit Stop.
-Robbie also gets the order correct and Whitney finishes right after him.  They all head for the Pit Stop.

Parking Space - Adam finally sees the flower pot and they take off for Ida Davidsen.  Tim & Te Jay also notice their pot was backwards and they take off for the restaurant. Leaving Shelley & Nici still working on their living room scape.

-The Dentists get to the restaurant and the super tan Maitre'd, while being one of their tribe, cannot accept their cake... what's wrong with it? They dropped one little flag off the cake along the way and they have to go back to get it.  Jim, "I could just shoot myself in the face right now." (How the mighty have fallen... I'd feel bad for them if he wasn't such a goof.)

-Shelley & Nici are still sniping at each other as they try to set up the living room - Mom's trying to be patient but daughter is acting like a pouting teen.

-Tim & Te Jay and the Surfers get to the restaurant and Te Jay is a server so he's hoping to knock this out quickly - Adam is going to do it for them.

-The Dentists get their cake corrected and delivered.
-Mom & Daughter get their parking spot inspected and pass.

Ida Davidsen - Jim & Misti show up just as Te Jay completes the task and Jim has 'let' her do this one because she has a good memory. He's also very happy to hear that Shelley & Nici are still behind them because they're hoping to hold on to the Save.
-Misti tries to give her order but she didn't give the sandwich numbers just the ingredients - sigh.
-Shelley & Nici show up and Nici is going to rock this.
-Adam gets his order right - meat jelly, cabbage and beet root (gross.)
-Misti - again gets it wrong but Jim is being supportive, telling her to just relax.  (I don't know, I can tell he's mad, she just pastes on the beauty pageant smile and said his support made all the difference.)
-Then Nici gets her order correct and there is much jubilation.
-Misti runs back over to try her order again and she's still wrong.  Jim is kissing the Save goodbye.

-The Surfers and Mom & Daughter are having trouble finding the Pit Stop.  Shelley is tired of being barked at by her daughter all day and refuses to drive anymore - they switch places and it's time for Mom to pout in the backseat (yeah, these two are the same.)

-Misti finally decides to read the clue again because she can't figure out what she's doing wrong... and reads that she has to state the sandwich number... Oh dear lord!  She can't believe she made such a fatal mistake.  As soon as she added the numbers she was right.

-Back in the cars Nici spots the mat but can't find parking and Shelley calmly says from the backseat, yeah there was a man at the corner... Nici,"why didn't you say something?" "Cause I'm not driving." (Seriously?  Your fit of pique is worth losing the race?) Shelley feels she is totally justified, every time Nici starts to have a meltdown, she's just going to stop... (how is that helpful?)

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Cyclists - Kym & Alli - the both won a Ford C-Max Energy Hybrid.
2) Wrestlers - Brooke & Robbie
3) Survivors - Keith & Whitney
4) Scientists - Maya & Amy - Amy has an eyebrow contest with Phil :)
5) Tim & Te Jay - The Great Dane with Phil decides it wants to "dance" with Phil, if you know what I mean.  Whoa, big boy.
6) Shelley & Nici - Shelley is blaming Nici's attitude for their troubles yet she's sabotaging them by not speaking up.  I was team Nici eventhough her freaking out all day would have been exhausting.
7) Surfers Adam & Bethany - No need for tears, you're still in the race.
8) McFakerson Dentists - Jim & Misti - the dog has fallen asleep waiting for these two - and before Phil even says a word, Jim hands over the SAVE... which Phil hands back because this was a NON-ELIMINATION leg! (Oh so lucky!)
-He says every drop of confidence he's had for the first three legs is gone - it's very humbling having challenges that do match up with our skill sets, and then we just screw them up! (I think this was a kick in the pants he needed to take him down a peg - maybe now he'll be watchable.... ah, who am I kidding, he's probably not going to change.)
She says, "We got our teeth kicking in today." And they still put in the tooth glint on her (haha.)

Next week: Marakesh, a Double U-Turn and Keith and Shelley get into it. (oh no you didn't.)

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen

Survivor Blood vs Water - Oct 15/14 Episode Recap

We're a Hot Mess

Last week things got ugly at the Immunity Challenge when John Rocker's past came back to haunt him and his alliance turned on him and voted him out with a hidden immunity idol in his pocket.

Coyopa - Night 8
-They returned from Tribal Council and Baylor is celebrating the fact that John got voted out (instead of her.)
-Alec apologized to Dale for leaving him out of the decision to blindside Rocker but they weren't sure what he would have done... Dale realizes he's got to put some more effort into his social game cause if they lose the next immunity, he's toast.

Hunahpu - Day 9
-The sleepy tribe awakes, Natalie stokes up the fire and what should she behold... but the lost flint, right there by her foot (ha!) So everyone is super bummed that they traded the fishing gear for flint and Mr Wonderful (in his own mind) Drew says he's going to ask Jeff if they can trade the flint back for the fishing gear.  Everyone else lives in reality and knows that Jeff would just laugh them right out of the arena (plus the other team took the fishing gear last week) but King Drew is going to do it anyway.  He thinks he's dragging these people along and they'd be nothing without him so he's got to 'balls up' and do what a good leader would... (what colour is the sky in this guy's world?)

REWARD CHALLENGE
Hunahpu claps when they see that John Rocker was voted out, Julie looks surprised but tells Jeff she isn't, that she created a shell to distance herself from his game and just be there with her tribe (what else is she going to say, her tribe basically bullied the other tribe into voting out her boyfriend, she's sleeping with the enemy.)
Drew takes this opportunity to ask Jeff if it might be possible to trade the brand new flint, never been struck, for a small amount of fishing gear. Everyone else on the tribe is hanging their heads in embarrassment and Jeff says he loves it, "that does sound reasonable, you'd like to make a return."  Jon, "Why do I feel like you're taunting us?" 
Jeff, "Because I am taunting you.  Put the flint away, you made the trade."  Drew still thinks it was worth the try... Coyopa just laughs at them.

Challenge - one person from each tribe will use a grappling hook to retrieve three bags of balls, then they will use a catapult to launch the balls into a series of 5 baskets.  First person to get balls in all 5 baskets wins either the comfort items or campfire food - sausage, popcorn and smores.

Ro sham bo - Missy's paper covers Wes' rock and Hunahpu chooses Jon to go up against his girlfriend (and my pool pick) Jaclyn.

Off  they go - and Jaclyn is off to an early lead with two bags to Jon's one but he catches up and gets all his balls before Jaclyn can get the third bag.
-Jon has two balls in baskets before she tries her first.  He's up three balls to her one... Jon is down to the smallest and hardest basket and Jaclyn catches up so it's neck and neck going for the final basket and JON scores for Hunahpu!  Jon & Jaclyn share a hug and confirmation that they love and miss each other. 
-She's okay with going to Exile, he knows she can take care of herself and I guess that's why he chose Drew to go with her because we all know he's useless.

-Hunahpu also chooses the comfort items, Jon says they have to get something they can share with Drew when he gets back and Kelly rolls her eyes and makes an exasperated sound (I know, right?)

Hunahpu - Day 9
-Jon was surprised at how easy it was to send Jaclyn to Exile (or that's what he's telling the tribe) he tells the camera he does have mixed emotions about sending Drew with her because he knows she's going to be doing all the work (then why?? Ugh - boys.)
-Then someone says they can't believe they actually voted Rocker out and Julie says she was prepared for it, stuff like this happens all the time with John and she fronts to the tribe like she's almost relieved not to have to worry about him anymore - but she tells the camera it's a desperate feeling to be without him out there and she hopes she can get herself back in the game.

Exile Island
-Drew is complaining, it's hot, there's no shelter... and he ends up picking the urn with the clue (I get the feeling things tend to go Drew's way despite himself.)  He's glad that Jaclyn's good looking but he's not trying to hook up with his buddy's girl, he's there to manipulate minds and strategize (LOL!)
-He tells her there is no one physically better than Jon and him on his tribe and he's worried about all the girls trying to get them out - he tells Jaclyn he's going to throw the next immunity challenge so he can start whittling down his tribe and get himself closer to the million dollars. (Yeah, this guy is an idiot - you have to have some patience and work a long game - he's of the instant gratification generation and that's not how Survivor works.)

Hunahpu - Day 9
-The youngin's are enjoying the comfort items which leaves Keith some time to go and look for the hidden immunity idol.  He pokes around for 1/2 hour or so and "can't find nothin'" so he assumes that Jeremy must have already found the idol - he then shares that information with the rest of the tribe while Jeremy is off in the water. (Uh, I don't remember Jeremy finding an idol.)

-Reed immediately tells Jeremy that Keith just told them all that he has an idol... Jeremy can't believe it, he thought Keith was with him, especially with them both being firefighters... but Keith flips it immediately, he's got them all believing that Keith must have found the idol and is just trying to throw them off.  Jeremy just wants Keith gone now, he's a rat.

-Keith decides to go poke around a little more and he actually does find the idol.  So, he's going to keep his mouth shut, if everyone thinks Jeremy has the idol that's good for him.  (But Jeremy has the cult of personality thing going, he has the rest of the tribe turned against Keith with his righteous indignation.)

Coyopa - Day 10
Alec and Baylor get tree mail and they fight over who gets to read the clue, just like little children.  Alec wants to read the clue which he does a little haltingly, when Josh wants to hear it again Baylor snatches it out of his hands a second time and re-reads it (so childish and also... it's so on!) Yeah, he makes her go clean the pot before she makes rice, telling her he's not going to let her half-ass it and totally putting her nose out of joint... (hello, social game here too you guys. Oy.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
The Exilees return and Drew says to the camera, "will I throw the challenge today? That is the question."  Some of them may hate him for it but he's got to get things done. (Seems like Drew & Alec's parents did a number on these two.)

Challenge - on Jeff's go, one person from each tribe will dive into the water, swim out to a platform, run up the incline and dive in to retrieve a ring then bring it back - once they collect all 4 rings the two remaining tribe members will have to throw the rings and try to land them on a post.  First tribe to land all four rings wins Immunity.

Hunahpu has to sit three people: Kelly, Jon and Jeremy.

Off they go - Baylor and Missy are neck and neck but Baylor makes it back a little quicker.
Jaclyn and Reed are next out and Reed catches up and passes Jaclyn on the way back.
Natalie and Alec go next and Alec makes up a lot of time on Natalie, getting the lead back.
Keith and Wes are the last two in the water and Wes has quite a lead on dad... getting Coyopa ahead when they start throwing the rings.
Dale and Josh are throwing for Coyopa.
Drew and Julie will be throwing for Hunahpu and Drew is obviously trying to throw the challenge... what is that? He actually won't let Julie throw and is not a good actor.
Coyopa is up two rings when Drew I think accidentally gets one on - he keeps trying to just throw all the rings but they can only do one at a time and if it misses have to retrieve it and try again... Jeff even says, "Drew is single-handedly losing this challenge for Hunahpu."
And he does, Coyopa finally wins Immunity!  (And he's going to be stupid enough to tell them he threw the challenge isn't he?  Because he has to take credit for everything, always.)

-Drew tells the camera he threw the challenge today because he has to get some of the snakes on his tribe off.  If he doesn't want to win, they are not going to win, "that's what make me the kingpin of my tribe." (Oh, sweet jebus! Survivor Karma save us from this blowhard.)

Hunahpu - Day 10
-They return defeated from Immunity and Drew keeps his mouth shut about throwing the challenge (huh) he actually apologizes... but tells the camera he's the badass manipulating this game (sigh.)
-Next we see Jon talking to Reed, Missy and then Keith joins them and he says he's worried that individuals are going to outnumber the couples going to the merge so they have to start taking the individuals out - Julie is the easy vote.
-Drew then joins them and when Jon starts to explain his choice Drew shoots it down immediately - "there is no reason to vote Julie off right now.  The most dangerous player out there is... Kelley." (WHAT? This guy is such a tool!  She's smarter than him, she's pretty and she doesn't like him so she must go.) Jon is still trying to plead his case and Drew won't even listen - he does have a good point that she is a fan of the show, she's observant and Julie is not going to beat any of them to the money... but still his manner is just obnoxious.
-Jeremy then makes his pitch, Keith tried to throw Jeremy under the bus by telling everyone he has the idol and he wants the guy who doesn't have his back out.  Drew tells him he's missing the mastermind and it's Kelley.  (You guys, save your breath - tell Drew what he wants to hear then vote him out.) Jeremy tells Jon to get his boy, he's so pissed off at him.
-Natalie was in on some of this conversation and heard Drew's worry that the girls are going to take the guys out - she points out that there are less girls than guys for one thing, but he's so fixated on Kelley and his master plan that he's stepping on everyone's toes.
-Natalie then goes and tells the girls about what Drew said, and that all the guys are not united.  Natalie wants to take Drew out but they have to strike now while the guys are all over the place (Go talk to Jeremy!)

-Next we see Drew talking to Jon and Reed with Kelley standing right behind them - (he's not that stupid, surely... oh but he is.) He tells them they take Kelley out and "these b*tches won't be able to f*ck us, trust me guys." (Seriously, I wanted to punch him through the TV.)
-Kelley was just like "What the hell?" She has Drew's number, he gets so focused on being king and making his decrees, it's so annoying and his welcome is wearing pretty thin with the tribe.

-Natalie does go to Jeremy and says the girls want to vote Drew... which then scares Jeremy because Drew's prediction is coming true (self-fulfilling prophesy if you ask me.)

-Then we see Drew as he announces to Missy that it's Kelley tonight whether she likes it or not, he doesn't even trust the girls to vote... Jon cuts him off and tells him to stop being a jackass and Drew says he doesn't care (I'm predicting the "ladies man" may have some troubles with the ladies after this episode airs).

-Jeremy is sitting back and watching all this - he knows the guys are all over the place - Drew's demanding they vote Kelley out, Jon wants to go after Julie and Jeremy wants to vote Keith.  He says maybe they should take Drew out, he's basically digging his own grave, but Jeremy's just not sure it's the right time. (Oh yes, it is totally the right time - make the jackass who threw the challenge to get rid of the snakes on the tribe, take himself out - that would be SWEET!)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff asks Julie about relationships. Who's getting along?
-She says Jon and Drew, they run around like they are 5 yr-olds - it's cute.
-Missy says they have a whole lot of chiefs and not enough indians. There are some selfish and self-less people around camp.  She says half the tribe is selfish.
-Drew said everyone's been playing nice until they lost today and then he felt it, like wow, now we have to play this game.
Jeff calls him out on his performance at the challenge, for being beaten by grand-dad Dale.
-Drew tries to deflect, "could we have had better swimmers? Could we have better retrievers? I did the best I could and you win some, you lose some Jeff." (Really?)
-Jon said when they got back to camp everyone started scrambling. Emotions got high and it was really confusing.
-Jeremy was asked what 'emotions got high' meant and he decides to just lay it out there... says that Keith got back to camp and tells everyone that Jeremy has an idol - he could have come to me.
-Keith says it doesn't work that way in Survivor.
-We were aligned, we could have kept it between us.
-Keith doesn't seem to think that was a viable option and Jeremy can't believe this guy doesn't understand that he betrayed their alliance.... And I missed a bunch of what was said because Keith had some Great Big BUG crawling on his shoulder!! OMG! WHAT IS THAT??? Oh, finally he shoos it off.  I think Keith is confused that any of them see his actions as betrayal, he just thinks that's how you play Survivor.
Jeff asks Drew what they need to do tonight at the vote.
And he lays it out there - he heard Keith's name, he heard Julie's name (which is news to her) and he just wants to strengthen the team by getting any negative energy out so they can roll forward.
-Kelly agrees they need to get the bad energy out but who is the bad seed in this bunch? Maybe we don't agree on that.
-Natalie says she thinks this is a really critical vote.  At one point today Drew was saying the girls want to get the guys out and she was like, "Whhahhatt?"
Jeff even says, How would the girls take out the guys? There's only four of them?  (Exactly!) And everyone starts talking.
-Drew says none of the girls wanted to talk to him when he got back.
-Kelley said that's because you freaked out and didn't want to talk to me at all, then I heard my name going around, maybe you have a problem with me?
-Natalie says she thought they were all on one page but now everyone seems to just be scatterbrained, it's scary because a few stray votes can change everything.
-Jeff asks Jon what he thinks they need to do - he says he honestly doesn't know who's name he's supposed to write down tonight.
Natalie, "Oh Jeff, we are a hot mess."

Jeff, "And it's about to get a lot messier, cause it's time to vote" (finally!)
They don't show us how anyone voted... this could be interesting.

Tallying the Votes:
Anybody want to play a hidden immunity idol? Keith sits on it.

Votes:
Julie - 1
Kelley - 1
Drew - 1
Keith - 1
Julie - 2
Drew - 2, 3, 4!  Drew looks like he's going to cry and Jon is surprised!  "Good play girls."  (Drew was shocked that those b*tches were able to take out the kingpin.  Don't let the bamboo hit you in the butt on the way out.)

And with Drew leaving, that takes Andria S., Katie L. and Roxanne S. out of the pool (somehow I don't think any of you ladies will be too upset that he's gone.)

Next week: Jon vs Hunahpu, he's not happy they voted out his boy without telling him (wah!) but the bad blood won't last too long as Jeff tells them to drop their buffs at the Reward challenge. (Merge already?  Or just a shuffle?)

Drew's final thoughts: I knew all along those girls wanted me out of there, I'm obviously a physical and social threat to them.  Congrats to them for getting me out.  I wish I had been a bit more chill and kind of rolled with the girls instead of going for them right away because, um, it turned out to bite me in my butt. (How does that humble pie taste?)

Oh and I was surprised by how some of them voted:
Kelley voted Drew
Drew - Kelley
Jon - Keith (really?)
Natalie - Drew
Jeremy - Drew (good for you!)
Julie - Drew
Reed - Julie
Missy - Drew
Keith - Julie

Have a great rest of your week and Happy Birthday to Bob L. and my Big Bro Jeff  T!

Coleen

The Amazing Race 25 - Oct 10/14 Episode Recap

Get Your Sheep Together

Last week my team Isabelle & Dennis were eliminated in England and the Surfers came in first place also earning an Express Pass (and thankfully beating the McFakerson Dentists.)
Adam & Bethany are the first team to head out at 12am - they read the clue to travel by land and sea (train and ferry) to the Shetland Islands, Scotland.  Once there they must drive to the Lifeboat institute and find a guy in a puffin suit to get their next clue.  They find out the train station is just up the street.
12:16am - Dentists are heading out and Jim says leaving in 2nd place frustrates him (ugh) but the most successful people in life fail forward and they are not going home today no matter what happens (his eyes are all bugged out, this guy is really a piece of work.)  They jump in a cab and Adam & Bethany tell them the train station is within walking distance so they decide to stick together and head on over.
12:22am - Kym & Alli
12:38am - Keith & Whitney  - they are all running for the train station.

-When the first teams arrive at the station they find out the first train doesn't leave until after 6am... so they will all be on the same train.

1:56am - the firefighters go running by and we hear Scott cry out in pain... "I took a huge dixie." (I've never heard that expression) but he rolled his ankle really badly.  He thought he broke it but he got up and kept go, if at a slower hobbling pace.

When the Cyclists, Kym and Alli found out they had to wait 6 hours for the train they decided to check out Oxford, they say the rest of the teams are square, just camping out at the train station.  These two go skipping through the streets then find a pub to dance their little hearts out... outside in the street.  (Maybe you might want to conserve some of that energy for the race?? Of course if you have the time why not have some fun... I'm torn if this was reckless or cool.  Sometimes it seems these two are trying too hard to be bad-ass.)

6:38am - they are all on the train - for 8 hours - and we see some
beautiful scenery.

Aberdeen, Scotland - they get off the train and run for the cars... well, everyone but the Firefighters are running cause Scott's ankle is hooped.  They all get into the cars and realize they have to drive on the wrong side of the car and road.  But everyone gets on the same ferry without incident.
-Then Scott reveals the black bruise on his ankle to everyone... it looks awful.  He ices and elevates it on the ferry ride but "it still looks like a football."  He says Mike is like a brother to him, he literally trusts him with his life and with Scott's injury Mike may have to step up a bit more but they are still going to make it work. (I don't know, I think they're toast.)

Shetland Islands - Firefighters and Scientists are the first two teams to find the puffin and they get the clue to drive to Scalloway Castle and search the castle for the next clue.  Dentists and Survivors are the next teams to get the clue and they all take off for the Castle.
Firefighters get stuck behind a native island driver who was in no hurry to get anywhere... (yeah, that would have driven me nuts).
-Whitney & Keith say this is their three year anniversary leg, it was three years ago that they met on Survivor.
Keith & Whitney are the first team to the castle - they find a skeleton and then they also have a big scary dude standing by the pile of bones where they clues where (creepy!) - They get the clue to the DETOUR:
Pony Up or Light My Fire.
-Pony Up - there are almost no trees on the Shetland Islands so locals use peat to fuel their fires - in this task they must cut 50 blocks of peat from the ground with a special spade, then, working with a Shetland pony they must deliver two loads of peat to the little house up the hill. (Uh oh, working with animals is often the kiss of death on the Race.)
-Light My Fire - Vikings inhabited the islands 1200 years ago - in this task they must properly build a viking torch - when it is approved and lit by the Vikings, they'll get their next clue.
All the teams are getting to the castle and choosing the tasks... except Tim & Te Jay who are horribly lost.  They finally stop and ask directions and realize they went the wrong direction ... (wait, Tim doesn't know what a quarry is - how is that possible?)

-The Dentists are going to do Pony Up and Jim is confident this is where they will make up time - from watching the show he's sure that if you can do the physical challenges efficiently, they are usually quicker and he has such supreme confidence in his physical abilities, this will be a breeze. (My  Mom called him a blowhard - exactly!)  Misti is just worried about the pony, she'd dealt with a Shetland before and it was "sassy!"

-Keith is worried about exactly that and they decide to build the torch.  First they have to find the store to collect the supplies, then find the shed where they will be building the torches.
-Firefighters and Cyclists also show up to build torches.

-Tim & Te Jay have finally found the castle - they are the last team and decide to build the torch.

-Pony Up - Mom & Daughter, Shelley & Nici are trying to cut peat - Soul Surfers show up and Bethany is hoping this is do-able.  Adam is cutting the peat and she sizes up the situation and starts placing the blocks he cuts, picking them up with her one arm - she is totally amazing, you never hear a word of complaint, she never says 'I can't'... some of these other teams could learn a thing or two from her.
-Dentist Jim is bragging that his 29th cut is just as easy as the first - he got into competitive weightlifting in college so pushing his body past the pain is nothing new to him (and maybe that explains the horrible fake tan?)
-Scientists Maya & Amy are having real trouble cutting the peat, neither one of them are able to push the spade through the peat... (well, keep trying or switch tasks.)  Finally they figured out the angle they needed to use and it was much easier - they used physics... way to go scientists!

-Wrestlers wanted to do Pony Up but ended up finding the torch building challenge instead and right away Brooke is complaining - "Oh man, this is going to be hard." (She has the worst attitude - if you start out thinking it's going to be hard, it's going to be hard, sheesh. She needs to spend more time with Bethany.)

Torch building - there are three very tough steps and after each step they had to get it approved before they could move on.  The demonstater was going really fast and they are all having trouble catching what exactly they needed to do.
Step 1 - roll the burlap really tightly around the stick and nail it in place.  Keith & Whitney fail.

Pony Up - the Dentists have finished cutting the peat and they fill two saddle bags on their pony who runs right up the hill - Jim & Misti said the run up the hill was even more challenging than cutting the peat.

Torches - Brooke is still complaining, "I'm so over this." (Ugh, I'm so over her.)
-Keith & Whitney are frustrated and fighting - and all the teams start passing Step 1 - except the negative-nelly wrestlers - whine, whine, we can't learn fast enough - I knew this would be hard... (She is driving me crazy.)

Pony Up - Shelley & Nici and Adam & Bethany have cut their 50 peat bricks and start up the hill.  Jim & Misti have loaded up their pony for their second trip up the hill and that Pony was done!  He starts pulling back on the rope, and charging Jim... it was scary.

Torches - Step 2 - was a thousand times harder - they have to wrap another burlap sack around the first one and then nail it all over so it's tufted including bending over a nail on the top.  And the wrestlers can't figure out how to bend the nail, "should we bend it first?" (Oh, these two are definitely not rocket surgeons.)
-These teams are taking so long trying to make their torches that Tim is wishing the ponies are really aggressive... (His wish is their command.)

-We come on Shelley & Nici also running from and wrestling with the pony trying to get it up the hill.  Jim & Adam are luckily able to strong arm their ponies to get them up the hill and get the clue to make their way to Berry Farm in Scalloway.
-Jim & Misti are the first team to leave and in his mind that's the way it should always be - if they get there first, there is no way another team should pass them. (So basically he's saying, "I'm so great, everyone should know how great I am.")
-Shelley & Nici also finish the Pony challenge.

Back at the torches they've mostly moved on to Step 3 which is mixing up some cement and coating the bottom of the burlap to seal it.  Wrestler Brooke is still being Debbie Downer and they're still a step behind.  Cyclists are the first team to get their torch approved and they head out to find the Vikings at the dock... but they can't find them (this is proving to be a deceptively difficult challenge, that's for sure.)

-Soul Surfers finish delivering their peat and also the Scientists finish - they had no problem with their pony, which they named "Cupcake." (Must be nice for them, I think the other teams would be happy never to see a Shetland Pony again.)

Torches - Tim & Te Jay, Whitney & Keith and the Firefighters all complete their torches and the Wrestlers are their own worst enemies - still trying to bend a nail (really?)  They do better once everyone is gone though, when they don't have the pressure of the other teams around, they can get it done.
-Tim & Te Jay are the first to find the Vikings and get their torch burned - they head for Berry Farm.

Berry Farm - McFakerson Dentists are the first to arrive and they get the clue that they have to work like dogs... sheepdogs that is - they have to corral a flock of sheep down the centre of a course and into a pen... what the...? Are they flying sheep?  I've never seen sheep jump that much, they are flying all over the place - Crazy!
Once the sheep are contained they'll get their next clue which is a piece of celtic jewelry.
-And Jim says the corralling of the sheep is "damn near impossible."  Oy, and they thought the ponies were bad.

Back at the Viking dock - everyone is burning their torches... and finally the wrestlers get approved.

It was fun watching the Dentists run around but finally they got most of the sheep in the pen just as Shelley & Nici showed up, followed closely by the Soul Surfers.  Shelley says, "This is going to be easy, and fun." (Ha, hahaha, she's in for a rude awakening.)

-The dentists finish and when handed the piece of jewelry are told to "Go where this was found."  They have to figure out that the Pit Stop is St Ninian's Isle made famous after the discovery of 8th century treasure.  The Dentists go to the island museum and find out where they need to go.  Jim, "We knew we were the team to beat coming in, difference is, now everyone else knows it too." (Ugh.)

-Wrestlers finally burn their torch and are in last place.

-There is still a lot of sheep wrangling going on and no one is having much luck... but it was pretty amusing watching them chase around the sproingy sheep.
-The torch challenge teams start to show up at the sheep task and see all the pony people are still there.
-The Scientists prove to have calming abilities with the sheep as well and they are the second team to get their flock penned.
-Adam & Bethany had a sheep miracle when they were too exhausted to chase the sheep anymore and calmly walked them down the course, they just went right in the pen - huh!

-Scientists ask some local tradesmen where the piece of jewelry was found and they directly back to Scalloway Castle (NO! That's not right.)

-Whitney is bossy but polite to the sheep and they do her bidding, firmly talking to them then thanking them for getting in the pen. (Well, there you go - it seems calm and steady is the ticket here.)
-The Firefighters show up and Scott is hobbling pretty badly - this is going to be so tough for him.

-Adam & Bethany also find the museum and get the correct location of the Pit Stop.

-Tim & Te Jay have no way with sheep but they can totally sound like them - they resort to taking off clothing and tying it together to use as a barrier to guide the sheep into the pen - but they just hop right over it... D'oh!

 -Wrestlers show up to the sheep challenge and appear useless... Brooke is screaming in frustration immediately. (Sigh.)  But they end up getting all their sheep corralled rather quickly (these two should always stick to the physical challenges.)
- Firefighters have no luck - and poor Scott can't run after the sheep.  He falls again and starts yelling that they should take the 4 hour penalty.  Mike doesn't want to do that, it's way too long.  There is a commercial break and then miraculously the firefighters sheep go into the pen, which I notice have carrots strewn all over the ground (hey!)
-That leaves Tim & Te Jay with a string of clothes and no penned sheep.

-The Scientists are still unable to figure out where the Pit Stop is - they visit a church- nope, not there.
-The Firefighters decide to ask at the local bar where the piece of jewelry was found and the patrons have no idea, maybe they mean a foundry - and the firefighters head out of town (NOOOO!)

-Tim & Te Jay finally get their sheep penned and still feel alright because they know they can beat the firefighters in a foot race.

-The firefighters get to the town the bar patrons sent them to and they ask at a jewelry store, she tells them where they should actually have gone.  Mike, "Bad directions are worse than no directions." (Maybe next time try the museum instead of the bar.)

-Tim & Te Jay find the museum and find out where the piece of jewelry was found.  They worked too hard to be there, to go out on sheep would be devastating. (I can't help but think going out on anything would be devastating, don't blame the poor little sheep. Heh heh.)

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Jim & Misti (McFakerson/Dentists) - they won a trip for two to Dubai.  Jim wants to establish themselves as the most dominant team ever on the Amazing Race (which makes me root for their demise... is that bad?)
2) Adam & Bethany (SoulSurfers)- she wants to go swimming but according to the Puffin standing with Phil, it's a little chilly. (So they may not be the smartest team, but I still think she's amazing.)
3) Keith & Whitney (Survivors) - they don't care if people think their manner with each other is harsh - "it works for us and that's all that matters."
4) Shelly & Nici (Mom & Daughter)
5) Amy & Maya (Scientists)
6) Robbie & Brooke - (Wrestlers) they overtook the Cyclists in a foot race to the mat.
7) Kym & Alli (Cyclists)
8) Tim & Te Jay - somehow they did some overtaking and are still in the Race - then they had the most awkward almost hi-5, almost hug I've ever seen (are you sure you're a couple?)
9) Michael & Scott - Firefighters are ELIMINATED from the Race.
They had a great time but a broken paw, sheep and asking directions at the bar instead of the museum were their undoing.
And with the Firefighters leaving, that takes Bryon L, Robert & Cindi, Drew C., Sharon R. and Pat T. out of the pool.

Next week: they head to Copenhagen where the cyclists are right at home on bikes and other teams fall apart - with Nici walking away from Mom on the mat... WHHATT? is that all about?

Hope everyone had a great turkey day! 

Coleen