Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Amazing Race - April 17/15 Episode(s) Recap

Back in Business

Last week the teams arrived in Monaco in style; Blair & Ashley proved that once they stopped fighting they could win a leg and Jeff & Jaclyn made a surprise exit.

This episode started by showing us Tyler & Laura's date night in Monaco (which is very pretty), they are genuinely having a great time together but their heads are still in winning the race.

-Blair & Ashley are the first team to head out at 12:35am - and they read the clue to head to Windhoek, Namibia.  Phil tells us after a 10hr flight to Namibia, they will sign up for a flight on a bush plane... heading for the desert.
-Blair teasing/warningly says to Ashley they are going to continue to race like they did last leg, right? Right, that was just a preview of what's to come.

-Steve & Aly 12:41am - They are hoping to improve on their transportation issues.  And  they realize that everyone is going to be on the same flight at 9:55am.  Once all the teams get to the airport, they all print their tickets and go look for a quiet place to sleep for the night.

Namibia - they land and run for the guys with the bush plane signs - they also happen to be the pilots.  Steve & Aly get number one... and Blair & Hayley get the last place #6 - and I think the honeymoon is over as she is berating and belittling him for choosing the more comfortable seats on the plane which had them disembarking last... he says the only saving grace is that Hayley has a crush on their handsome pilot so maybe that will shut her up (at least in his presence.) (Hayley could not hide her true colours for long it seems.)

Bush flight #1 - Steve & Aly - they're not sure what's in store, maybe a safari? 
Flight #2 - Jenny & Jelani - wow, that is a small plane - I'm pretty sure I would not fit in that backseat.
Flight #3 - Matt & Ashley - he just wants to see some lions.
Flight #4 - Laura & Tyler - she's a little scared of the small plane.
Flight #5 - Mike & Rochelle - ah, they don't fit on one seat together... see it's not just me, it's tight in there.
Flight #6 - Blair & Ashley - she's still excited about the hot pilot and is at her flirty best - Blair just wants to get racing (and I'm sure he's glad she's got something else to focus on so she'll leave him alone.)
Elephants! Giraffes... this is so cool. 

-Steve & Aly land on a dirt strip in the middle of nowhere... but there happen to be a line of Ford vehicles waiting - and they get the clue to drive themselves to the Bushmen Village, along the way they have to pick up a salt lick.  They go to get in the truck and it's a right-hand drive... so they have to remember to drive on the opposite side of the road as well (which could be an issue if there were actual roads.)
-All the planes are landing and the teams are heading out in the trucks.  Matt looks a little freaked out to be driving on the wrong side of the car.  Tyler & Laura get the date night again, it's their third time, Laura says they're going to be sick of date night soon (really?)
-Steve & Aly find the pile of salt licks by the side of the road, he jumps out to pick one up and it's really heavy (cinder block sized block of salt) and they try to scramble away from there before another team comes.
-Jenny & Jelani (who are wearing matching pink bandana's around their heads - how adorable) find the bricks of salt - she runs out and just picks up a broken piece of one (hmm.)
-Matt & Ashley find the pile and she picks a small one too - he's not sure if that's enough but she says it's fine.
-Tyler & Laura aren't sure what salt licks look like and it appears they missed the huge pile by the road.

Steve & Aly get to the Bushmen Village and their ROADBLOCK clue is written on the side of an ostrich egg, "Who's Feeling Grassy?"
-Aly's turn to do the roadblock so she smashes open the hollow egg and reads the instructions inside - she has to help a bushman build a grass hut to earn her next clue.  Aly's not very happy about having to do this task but the decision has been made (suck it up.)
-Jelani is doing this one... and Aly's still complaining.
-Matt is also doing it... Aly, still mad and making it known (wow, has she been taking some lessons from Hayley - she's not a role model!)

-Mike & Rochelle's bush plane lands and they have another stick shift to drive, this time on the wrong side too - and Mike can't even get the truck started.
-Blair & Hayley are the last team to land and they have no trouble getting their truck going... they drive away leaving Mike & Rochelle behind... she finally takes over and gets the truck started, but still leaves it to him to drive (I don't get it, she's totally capable, just lacking confidence, it seems to me, but whatever, I'm not their shrink.)

-Back at the grass hut building - Aly is still complaining at Steve and he's taking it - I think someone needs a nap or a Snickers, it's just not like Aly to be such a pill.
-Jenny is yelling at Jelani to hurry up - no surprise there.
-Ashley is in awe watching the bushmen build their hut, Matt is ADD as ever stabbing the ground to make a hole (he's a bit of a spaz).
-Laura & Tyler get to the village and he's going to do the building.

-Blair & Ashley get to the Bushmen Village without a salt lick so they ask Steve if the salt lick was before this and he tells them it was right near the beginning - so they take off heading back for the salt.
-Tyler is starting his digging and he tells Laura to find out if they should have picked up the salt lick already - so she goes and asks helpful Steve (who is probably just happy not to be listening to Aly complaining for 2 seconds) and he tells her they should already have the salt lick. So Tyler & Laura pack it up and take off looking for the salt too.

-Blair & Hayley pick up their licks and have now passed Tyler & Laura who get there right behind them.  Hayley's always glad when they're back in business due to someone else's error.

-Mike & Rochelle finally show up at the Roadblock and she's going to do the building.

-Jelani & Matt are already starting to bend the sticks and get the structure together while Aly is still digging holes and complaining - this is not her finest hour - if she would just shut up about it and get it done, people wouldn't be passing her.
-Tyler is the first one to finish his house (wow, that was quick!) and they get the clue to drive themselves to the Ranger HQ and look for the head ranger to get their next clue.
-Matt, Jelani, Aly - are the next teams out.

-Tyler & Laura are the first team to drop off their salt lick and get the clue for the DETOUR: Track or Pack
In Track - they must use telemetric technology to track an elephant - once they find the pachyderm, the field guide will hand them their next clue.
In Pack - they must prepare a bucket full of wildebeest meat then drive out into the wilderness and feed it to a pack of hungry wild painted dogs.
-Tyler & Laura are doing Pack.  Matt & Ashley, also doing pack.
-Jenny & Jelani decide on Pack as well and for a minute he thinks of using their Express Pass but then decided against it, they're doing well.
-Then we get to see them all hacking up sides of meat (mmm, I bet that smells special.)

-Steve & Aly get to the Ranger station with their huge salt lick and Aly seems to be back to her good natured self, laughing at their huge block - the Ranger tells them there are no Pack spots left so they have to do Track.

-Back at the hut building - Blair finishes his hut and they leave Mike & Rochelle in the dust.  She's saying this is really hard on her hands, (Wah! Get it done.)

-At the Ranger station Blair & Hayley want to do Pack but, no more room, so they are doing Track... and Hayley is back to her old self - "Are you sure you can do this?", he says yes. 
Are you really sure?
I've said it a few times. 
You don't have to pull an attitude, I'm really serious... (OMG!)

-Steve & Aly may have gotten a bead on their elephant - and they saw a giraffe in the meantime.

-Back at Pack - everyone is still cutting up meat but they finally get full buckets and start heading out to feed the dogs.

-Rochelle is still building the hut but she's finally on to the grass - and the rest of the tribe came over to dance and cheer her on - that was nice - she was okay with the sympathy cheer.  Finally they get the clue and head for the ranger hq.

-Out on the safari, Aly gets distracted watching zebras instead of watching the elephant tracker... and they bicker a bit (this has been a hard leg for Aly.)

-Pack - Laura & Tyler are the first team to arrive at the dogs and they just start chucking meat into the dirt.  Matt & Ashley are right behind them and Matt asks what would happen if he jumped down - the guide says they'd eat him right up (okay, good to know, just stay in the truck.)  Looks like Jenny just wants to dump the bucket over the side and go but they do have to throw it by hand (leave it to the lawyer to look for the loophole.)
-Tyler & Laura and Matt & Ashley are neck and neck getting the clue to the Pit Stop - Spitzkoppe - red rocky outcroppings.

-Mike & Rochelle drop off their salt lick and choose Pack.  They are able to do it because the other teams are all gone.  And they start hacking up some meat. Rochelle is vegetarian so this is grossing her out - Mike says it looks delicious (ha!)

-Track - Steve & Aly are still bickering and needless to say, Hayley is yapping at Blair to let her do something and he's trying to ignore her, which only makes her talk more... sigh. (We had one leg of peace.)

-Teams driving to the Pit Stop are following the signs to Spitzkoppe which say 215km... is it really that far?  This could be a car race to the mat.

-Mike & Rochelle are feeding the dogs and she at least found it worth cutting the meat to see the dogs.  They get the clue to the Pit Stop.

-Steve & Aly, finally working together, they find their elephant and get the clue to the Pit stop.

-Mike & Rochelle get back to the trucks and see there are still vehicles there - so they know they're not last and take off to try and keep it that way.

-Blair & Hayley finally find the elephant as well - with him at the controls and her shutting the heck up.  They get the clue to the Pit Stop.

-On the road to the Pit Stop, Matt & Ashley are leading the way when Tyler & Laura pull over to look at the map and make sure they know where they're going - this sends everyone into a tizzy - Matt & Ashley, who are in the lead, think they missed something and try to reverse back, then get out of the car to find out what's going on... Tyler & Laura just laugh and Matt's mad that he second guessed himself (JUST GO!)

-Steve & Aly are on their way and she's saying how disheartened she is to be at the back of the pack then she tells Steve he's driving too close to the side of the road - he's had enough of her attitude today and says she's welcome to drive... as he hits something and blows a tire.  Harpy Aly takes the opportunity to basically say "I told you so." (Why are my Olympians falling apart?)  They get out to try and change the tire and Blair & Hayley pass them (Damn it!)

-Convoy to the Pit Stop - Matt & Ashley stopped to ask directions and Tyler & Laura passed them.  Jenny is telling Jelani he doesn't need to follow them, she thinks they should turn but everyone else went straight.
Mike is just driving, he has no idea where he is or where he needs to go and Rochelle is no help, "Uh, I don't know."

-Meanwhile, Steve is still changing the tire - they added a challenge to the Race - Aly thinks it's only fair since she had to build the hut (Wow, she really needs to let that go.)

-Blair & Hayley are hoping at least one other team isn't as good at navigating as they are so they can make up some time - he's sure at least one team isn't as good as they are. (Ah, there's the doctor ego.)
-Jenny & Jelani are lost, they didn't follow the other cars.
-Tyler & Laura are the first team to see the sign to Spitzkoppe 30kms, and Matt & Ashley are right on their tails.  Once they get to the rocks, they can see Phil up on the rocks but no one's sure how to get up to him... Tyler is ready to do some rock climbing but Laura holds him back and...

Here's How They Finished:
1) Matt & Ashley - they were the more daring rock climbers and won $5000 each.
2) Tyler & Laura - she was looking for the stairs - but at least they have the date night again.
3) Hayley & Blair - he thought it was awesome, her flirting with the pilot, anything to keep her from screaming at him... which she denied she did.
4) Jenny & Jelani - They were amazed to not be last.
5) Mike & Rochelle - Also so surprised to not be last.
6) Aly & Steve - they went from first to last but Phil didn't say the word... that's right it is a Non-Elimination round (Oh thank Godupus!)

It was two hours... so there is more: Look At Those Guns
They slept in tents at Spitzkoppe so they were already out in the bush for the next leg. 
-6:47am - Matt & Ashley read the clue and Phil tells us that Germany colonized Namibia centuries ago so some of the locals still speak the language - they will be driven out of the back country to the town of Swakopmund - once there they must find the bookstore, pick up a local paper and search the German text for their next clue.  Caution U-Turn Ahead. (oooh)
-Matt & Ashley want to work together with Tyler & Laura this leg to U-Turn Jenny & Jelani for that time she ditched them (couple legs back.)
-Hayley & Blair they say they have more trust in each other, knowing they'll both work hard to get the tasks done. 
-Jenny & Jelani - are not happy to see there is a U-Turn ahead, she's sure Matt & Ashley would U-Turn them in a second... maybe time to bust out their Express Pass this leg.
-Mike & Rochelle- this experience has changed their lives and they want to keep going.
-Steve & Aly are leaving last but they're optimistic - they had a tough leg last time and they're looking to turn things around today.

Bookstore - Matt & Ashley and Tyler & Laura are looking through the paper - Laura spots the red and yellow flag in a picture of a bush plane but the text is in German so they head to the nearby hotel to see if someone can read it for them - all passing the guy right by the door who is reading the same paper (think maybe you could ask him?)
-Blair & Hayley get the paper, find the ad and ask the guy reading the paper to translate (there ya go.)

-At the hotel, the first two teams find out they're heading to a skydiving club... then Blair & Hayley find out too and it seems everyone is excited to be jumping out of airplanes.

-Jenny & Jelani get to the bookstore and have a lady inside read the clue to them.
-Mike & Rochelle overhear and ask the same lady to help them with the translation.  Steve & Aly get there right behind them - it's a German off.

-Skydiving place?  They get to where they were directed to drive and find a clue box - ROADBLOCK - Who's Always Wanted a Skybox?
-The Travelocity Roaming Gnome is going to oversee the dropping of a supply box into the desert then tandem skydive to wait for the team members on a rocky hill - the team members must track the box to find where it landed (over a mile away in the rocky desert) and when reunited with their partners, they can open the box to get their next clue.
-Laura & Ashley are going to do this one.  Laura thought she was going to get to jump out of a plane but instead it's running through the desert.  Ashley doesn't look too happy about it either.
-Hayley was also excited to skydive... but they see the boxes coming down as they drive up and more crushing disappointment.
-All the guys are laughing that they were trying to make the girls happy and let them skydive, and then it's actually running in the desert... They are so bad, but it is kinda funny - if you're not the one out looking for a box in the desert.

-Jenny & Jelani get a flat tire - there's a nail in it - they stop at a gas station to have someone else fix the tire for them (figures).  She knows the other teams want to U-Turn them so she's riding the poor guys to fix the tire fast (maybe try being nice to people for a change, just a thought.)

-Aly is whining at Steve again that he wrote the directions in a confusing way, she's not sure if it's straight or turn - so they stay straight (uh oh - pull it together you two!)

-Laura and Ashley find their cases and head to the top of the hill to pick up their gnomes...then they run back to the boys.  Hayley gets her case and heads for the hill.

-Ashley is the first back and the clue tells them to head to Snake Bend Pan to search for their next clue - Matt is already putting up pictures at the U-Turn in his head.
-Tyler & Laura are right behind them and make effort to hide the fact that they are working together - this makes Blair a little anxious - he thinks everyone is on the same page to U-Turn Jenny & Jelani but you never know.
-Everyone is driving away when they see Mike & Rochelle driving in - which is exciting because they left after Jenny & Jelani.

-Roadblock - Mike is going to do this one.
-Jenny & Jelani get there right after and wonder if they should use the Express Pass - they figure other teams have already left, they should do this one and save the Express Pass in case they get U-Turned so they would still only have to do one task.
-Jelani finds his box before Mike... poor Mike is struggling up the hill to get the gnome.

-Steve & Aly get there and find their Speed Bump - they need to make a toy airplane out of repurposed soda cans.  Luckily there are kids there to help Aly figure it out.

-Matt & Ashley, followed closely by Tyler & Laura, are the first teams to the DETOUR clue - Work or Play
-In Work - they have to drag 5 huge tires behind their vehicle to smooth out the ruts in 5 miles of road - once the foreman deems it travel worthy, they'll get their next clue.
-In Play - they get to cross-country sand ski (what? Craziness!) they get a crash course from a world class sand skier, then they have to follow a marked path up over and around the dunes then sled down to get their next clue.
-Matt & Ashley are going to have some fun and do the sand skiing.
- Laura has skied once in her life (more than me... I know, I know) but they are going to do Work.
-Hayley doesn't like skiing at all, so she crushes Blair's dreams and they go to do Work.

-Matt & Ashley are having fun with the sand skiing in the beginning... but it soon becomes pretty hard to go up the dune.

Work - They have to first unstack the huge tires and chain them together, then attach them to their vehicle - this task definitely is work.
-Tyler is able to move the tires on his own and Laura gets to chaining as the Bickersons arrive (that's what Laura called Blair & Hayley and it's perfect.)  The tires are a bit more challenging for Blair.

Roadblock -Mike nearly pukes and or passed out on his run back to Rochelle with the case but she is proud of him, he never gave up and she thinks she couldn't have a better partner on the race and/or in life - she thinks when they get home it may be time for him to meet her son (Wow, that was a lot to go through, I hope the kid is pretty special...)

Speed Bump - They finally get all the planes built and spending time with the kids put Aly in a better mood... But you better believe she made Steve do the running in the desert.
Unfortunately, Steve was too busy looking at the compass on his watch to pay attention to where the box actually dropped and he takes off running in a very wrong direction. (Oh man, this is my team and I was saying to someone I thought this could be my year... looks like I jinxed myself.)

-Matt & Ashley are finding the Sand Skiing is more work than fun - Ashley had a bit of trouble at one point but Matt talked her through it and they got to the top of the dunes - now they have to ski along it...

-Steve finally finds the case in the desert and picks up his gnome - but they are in a pretty deep hole, time-wise and Aly knows it.

-Tyler is having too much fun driving with the tires dragging behind the truck... while Blair is hating life as he's stuck in the truck listening to Hayley berating him for no reason other than she doesn't think he's a good driver.  Laura wonders if Hayley's yelling at Blair as they pass each other (they are leveling the same stretch of road) and Tyler says he hopes so... that can only be good for all the other teams if Blair & Hayley go home because he finally decides to kill her.

-Matt & Ashley ski along the top of the dune and are awestruck by the view... they come to the Roaming Gnome and a guy appears telling them to take off their skis and he shows them how to slide down the dune on a piece of cardboard - WHEE! Except Ashley got sand all up in her grill.  They are the first team to get the clue to make their way on foot down the road... to the U-Turn board. 
-Tyler & Laura are the next team to get the clue and run for the U-Turn board as well.

-Jenny & Jelani get to the Detour clue, choose Play but then hand their Express Pass to the ski guide and get the clue to head to the U-Turn Board.
(I was wondering if both the teams ahead of them U-Turn them, would they still need to do both sides of the Detour?  Probably a rule against that.)

U-Turn - Matt & Ashley U-Turn Jenny & Jelani because they had the Express Pass - and then they get the clue to the Pit Stop - to find Phil in the middle of the Goanikontes Oasis.
-Tyler & Laura get to the board and pull out Blair & Hayley's picture... but then decide to U-Turn Steve & Aly instead (WHY? They are so far behind already?! My poor team.)

-Jenny & Jelani get to the board and see they've been U-turned so they have to go do the Work side of the Detour.  Jenny can't be surprised but she's still mad.

-Pit Stop - Phil tells us, just or fun, they can choose an exotic animal to bring with them to the Pit Stop (just for fun? Bring along a zebra?)

Work - Mike & Rochelle are getting their tires together - Mike's glad he's got the strongest girl out there for this one.  Jenny & Jelani get there and she's her pushy self - Mike feels sorry for Jelani.

-On the way to the Pit Stop - Tyler & Laura choose a zebra to bring with them - and Matt & Ashley choose an Antelope/Ibex? (not sure exactly what it was) ... which proves to be more docile - the Zebra gets all riled up and tries to kick Tyler, yikes.

-Work - Mike & Rochelle get the clue to the Pit Stop followed closely by Jenny & Jelani - Mike & Rochelle don't want to be Matt & Ashley right now - Jenny can be mean.

-Steve & Aly get to the Detour and decide to do Play, they are both excited to be skiing (they are winter sport athletes after all) but it's sad for me because they are so going home.

-On the way to the Pit Stop - Mike & Rochelle choose a zebra not realizing what they're in for - it starts running and bucking and almost took away Mike's ability to have children.  They decide to switch animals.

-Jenny wanted to ride the camel in but she is only allowed to lead it, and it's named David, which is her father's name, so she's leading her dad to the Pit Stop.

-Instead of the zebra, Mike & Rochelle decide to bring a donkey - because that's a less stubborn animal - and they fall back a place.

-Steve & Aly get to the U-Turn board and get the bad news - off to Work they go. 

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Tyler & Laura - their first first place - they won a trip to New Zealand.
2) Matt & Ashley - they've been planning to U-turn Jelani & Jenny all along.
3) Blair & Hayley - they say today was pretty smooth sailing (oh no, he's getting used to it.) Oh and they brought a camel along.
4) Jenny & Jelani - she's gunning for Matt & Ashley now.
5) Mike & Rochelle - the donkey wasn't much better for them.
6) Steve & Aly - They brought a camel to their *** ELIMINATION ***  They had so much fun and wanted to go farther in the Race.  Aly thought they should have won the whole thing but they took themselves out, you're welcome [other teams.]

They slowly lead Dave (the camel) away into the desert. (well not quite, but that would have been a good visual.)
And with Steve & Aly's elimination, that took Heather G., Emily H., Donna P., Susan N., and Coleen T. out of the pool (Boo!)

Next week they head to Amsterdam - take a hot tub boat through the canals (what?) - have to dress up again, (I see wooden shoes) - and Hayley is yelling at Blair again (surprise).

Have a great week everybody,

Coleen

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