The Amazing Race, Apr. 8 – Camping and Arguing Go Together
The first team to leave the pit stop in Baku, Azerbaijan are Blonde Rachel and Dave at 9:15 PM. Their clue tells them to fly to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. They’re excited to go, since they’ve never been to Africa. They stop at a travel agent to look up possible flights and find a flight leaving tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM via Nairobi, then to Kilimanjaro.
Border Patrol agents Art and J.J. leave at 10:45 PM and still feel like the frontrunners. They’re hoping they can get rid of some of the dead weight, i.e. the Big Brother team of Redhead Rachel and Brendon. They’re getting tired of them following them and are “getting a little cranky about it.”
Kentucky team Bopper and Mark leave ten minutes later, and Big Brother leave one minute after that, as she celebrates their upcoming trip to Africa. This is her dream, having wanted to go on an African safari her whole life. Bopper asks whoever thought two country boys would be on their way to Africa.
Border Patrol is booking their flight, and when Big Brother walks in, they ask the agent to not mention their flight out loud, as they know the other team will try to listen. Sure enough, Rachel sits right next to them, all ears. She mentions the animosity and claims to not have done anything to deserve it. She thinks Border Patrol just doesn’t believe they belong there. Kentucky arrives, and Bopper is excited to see a candy dish and pockets some of it.
Federal Agents Nary and Jamie leave in fifth place at 11:32 PM. Jamie explains that a year ago she was in a training accident where her gun went off and shattered her femur. Nary slept in a bed right next to her and never left her side. She appreciates the support. Vanessa and Ralph leave three minutes later.
While waiting to book their flight, Mark asks what teams are behind them, and Bopper tells him the “Teachers” and Vanessa and Ralph. Border Patrol contends “they’re not teachers.” Redhead Rachel asks why, and is told it’s just a hunch, but Border Patrol believes they do something in law enforcement. Art had been talking about “UC operations” on the last leg, and that’s code for “undercover.” Jamie asked what kind of UC operations Border Patrol does, and it was apparent she knew exactly what he was referring to. Border Patrol and Rachel discuss that teachers are more friendly and bouncy.
Once it’s Big Brother’s turn to book their flight, Rachel asks what flight Border Patrol got and asks if the agent was told not to tell them. While in the cab on their way to the airport, J.J. is still complaining about them, saying, “Do something on your own for God’s sake. Pull up those little boy britches and be a man.” Brendon tells Mark he doesn’t care if Nary and Jamie are cops; they can be FBI agents for all he cares. If he only knew how close he was. They’re nicer than the Border Patrol guys. Border Patrol laughs at the pot they just stirred.
Sure enough, Nary and Jamie enter, and Brendon mentions right away that Border Patrol told them they were cops. He mentions cops or not, they’re still nicer than Art and J.J. The “teachers” say they can still run faster than Border Patrol anyway. Brendon wonders who Border Patrol is chasing and claims that’s going to be where he crosses, through that hole in the fence they patrol. Jamie figures if the gig is up and the truth is out, that’s okay, as their agency is better anyway, and they can kiss their ass.
Vanessa and Ralph enter to wait in line for airline tickets as Big Brother is leaving. Redhead Rachel says she wishes there were a quicker flight than 10 AM. Vanessa laughs and says she’s not going to buy that. Observing Rachel, she thought it seemed like she was in a bad acting class. The other teams book their flights, and Vanessa comments that she hears Nairobi is nice this time of year. All teams make the same flight.
The flight lands in Nairobi, and Brendon and Ralph collide, and Brendon puts his finger in Ralph’s face, who says it was uncalled for. Border Patrol talk about Brendon flipping Ralpha off. Border Patrol uses this time to bring up Big Brother following them. Rachel then picks up the beef and tells Vanessa and Ralph to get out of their faces. Everyone is upset at Brendon for flipping them off, and Rachel says it was Vanessa who ran into her. Vanessa says Rachel shoved her, as she doesn’t take up that much space, in other words attacking her size.
Vanessa tells Rachel to just to put on more sparkles. Rachel hopes insulting people makes her feel better about herself, and Vanessa hopes running her mouth helps Rachel feel better about herself. Rachel asks her how old she is, and Vanessa says she’s 38, but still looks better than Rachel, then tells her to get her nose done next time before her boobs. Ralph turns around and tells Vanessa to stop. Mark compares it to a bunch of kids in school in a lunchline. J.J. can’t believe they’re even in the same race as Big Brother. Rachel is upset about being insulted, and J.J. just laughs at her. She encourages him to learn some humility. Rachel goes back to her Big Brother days and cries that everyone is picking on her.
Border Patrol calls over the Federal Agents and asks them what job they really do, saying they know they aren’t kindergarten teachers. He tells them no one talks about UC operations and caseloads unless they’re in law enforcement. Jamie asks if they really want to get into this amongst all the other confrontation. Nary and Jamie stick to their story, but it really doesn’t change how anyone feels. J.J. is happy, though, to get “them juices flowin’ before we hit that road runnin’, Baby.”
The flight touches down in Kilimanjaro and everyone takes off to catch cabs to the Arusha Airstrip. They’ll sign up for one of three charter flights. Big Brother discusses how much they hate Border Patrol, as Redhead Rachel calls them “Snobby McSnobsters.” Vanessa feels it’s a shame that “Team Big Baby” got ahead of her and Ralph. He just wants to worry about themselves for a change. What a novel approach.
Border Patrol arrives at the airstrip first and signs up for the first flight at 9:30. Big Brother is next, grabbing that same flight, followed by Kentucky and Blonde Rachel and Dave, who get a 9:45 AM flight. Blonde Rachel cracks up seeing Border Patrol and Big Brother on the same flight. Federal Agents and Vanessa and Ralph get the last flight at 10:00 AM.
Border Patrol and Big Brother board the charter together. J.J. jokes they’re their best friends, and Redhead Rachel says not only is she motivated to beat them, she’s motivated to destroy them. Art thinks someone will end up crying by the end of the day. J.J. just hopes it won’t be Art.
iewing the scenery, Brendon feels it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kentucky and Blonde Rachel and Dave take off next, and enjoy watching the wildlife below. The last two teams take off, and Ralph says his daughter would be very jealous right now. They get to fly over the most amazing sights, and the teams put animosity behind them for a short bit. Nary, though, falls asleep.
The first flight lands, and the teams get a clue telling them to choose a safari vehicle and navigate the driver to Ngorongoro Crater. There they will find a warrior who will hand them their next clue. And guess what happens here? Border Patrol find themselves telling their driver to follow Big Brother. Fancy that. Both teams then end up getting out to ask directions and remark about the locals carrying spears. Redhead Rachel is thrilled to finally be on a safari and calls it “so cool” seeing the zebras.
The second flight lands, and Mark tells their driver “this place is beautiful. These teams also stop and ask the locals for directions. Blonde Rachel can only guess they’re going the right way as there are no real roads. Mark comments that he’s been wanting to visit this area as his great-great-grandfather is originally from the area. He knows his mother will be amazed.
Border Patrol finds the warrior, followed closely behind by Big Brother. The clue is a Detour – Marksmanship or Courtship. In both they’ll need to choose a bicycle and pedal their way there. In Marksmanship, teams will learn to hunt just like the locals. They’ll master the use of a unique weapon to shatter a clay target. In Courtship, teams will join a group of warriors in a jumping ritual. They’ll need to jump for an exhausting minute, and when they complete it, they’ll get the next clue.
Border Patrol chooses Marksmanship, while Big Brother chooses Courtship, natch. Apparently they are once again not following. Border Patrol begins pedaling, and Rachel has a hard time with it as her bike has a very high seat. And she’s a tall woman, so the others might have even more of a problem. The third flight lands with the “Kindergarten teachers” waving to the locals, and Ralph not understanding why the locals seem so happy to see them.
Border Patrol reaches the village, followed closely behind by Big Brother. They get cloaked in traditional garb, and Border Patrol gets started right away trying to break a clay target. J.J. remarks that he played quarterback for a law enforcement football team, so he tries to sling it like a football. He cracks one, but doesn’t anihilate it enough.
Big Brother gets to their jumping ritual and start jumping. She notes the locals jump really high and don’t even have tennis shoes. They’re just wearing sandals. This is by far the easier task, but you have to be in shape, as one minute can seem much longer. Nevertheless, they complete it very quickly and get the next clue to travel to the Simba Campsite. Border Patrol is still working on it, and finally break their targets.
Blonde Rachel and Dave find the warrior, and Dave wants to do Marksmanship. As predicted, she finds it even more difficult to use this high-seated bike and calls it “scary as hell.” Big Brother and Border Patrol are finding it not so easy to bike up the hill. Blonde Rachel and Dave are already arguing on the way down. He tells her not to misconstrue his support for yelling. There really isn’t a fine line in that.
Kentucky gets the clue from the warrior, and Brendon, who has just reached the vehicle again with Rachel, yells out to them to take Courtship. They take him up on his hint. Big Brother is following behind Border Patrol, who aren’t happy with it, but seriously with only one road to travel on, what do they expect them to do?
Blonde Rachel and Dave reach the village and start throwing at the clay targets. He instructs her to watch him, but he doesn’t hit it, so I’m not sure why she’s supposed to watch him. Kentucky show up and start jumping, with Bopper yelling out, “White men can jump!” Mark notes they could have jumped for ten minutes, as it was just fun. He does hope it didn’t mean he and Bopper were courting. They finish right away and head back up the hill on the bikes. Rachel and Dave finally break their targets and start heading up the hill as well.
Nary and Jamie reach the warrior and get their clue deciding on Marksmanship, as Vanessa and Ralph decide the same. Vanessa has a hard time on the tall bikes. She complains she can’t even “mount this thing.” He tells her to just get on and push. She tries but keeps falling off. She decides to just walk it, and he complains that they’ll fall behind, even though they’re currently in last place anyway. He tells her to try and get momentum going downhill, but she keeps falling off. He concedes that she should just walk it.
Nary and Jamie work on Marksmanship saying they’re great with targets and are great shots. They don’t hit any in the beginning. Border Patrol are driving to the Campsite and can’t believe the Japanese tourists that they see taking pictures. Big Brother stops for directions and find they need to go back the way they came. They turn around, while Border Patrol continue to go in the wrong direction.
Rachel and Dave end up being the first team to reach the Simba Campsite and get a clue telling them to unload materials stacked on a truck, then construct an elaborate safari tent complete with a working bush shower. Once they complete this, they will race to the nearby pit stop. They start constructing it, as Dave says this might be in the deep recesses of his Army skills. He thinks his OCD will help him as well.
Mary and Jamie finally break their targets and take off back up the hill as Vanessa and Ralph finally arrive. Border Patrol finally stops and asks for directions and find they are going the wrong direction. They were so obsessed over Big Brother following them yet again that they didn’t seem to notice they turned off and went in the correct direction awhile ago. They were in first place, and now think they’re fighting for their lives.
Vanessa breaks a clay target, while Ralph struggles, and finally hits it. She, of course, has to walk her way up the hill. Big Brother are arriving at the campsite, followed closely behind by Kentucky. Redhead Rachel says she’s no African safari bushmaster, but she’s camped before. Ralph and Vanessa get to the top of the hill, and he asks if she realizes they just lost, then tries to tell her he’s not mad and is proud of her. Yeah, right.
Border Patrol lands at the campsite, following closely behind are Nary and Jamie. Dave’s poles fall, and she tells him having a fit is clearly not the way to go at this point. Redhead Rachel runs to the tent that is set up as an example and lays down. Brendon asks what she’s doing, and she says she’s measuring. He tells her to use her feet, but she seems to be doing okay with her method.
Dave tells his Rachel that they need to do this the right way, and what she’s doing isn’t right. They’re still working on the frame. She asks him to hold her pole, and he says yes, because he has eight hands. She thanks him for being a darling, and he complains she’s being annoying. Redhead Rachel says the hardest part of this challenge is that one person has to hold up the pole while the other secures them, so if you’re not tall enough or don’t have a strategy, it can be really difficult. Nary and Jamie are finding they’re missing a piece already.
Vanessa and Ralph aren’t too far behind, as they just arrived at the campsite. They hear them all arguing, so know what they’re walking into at this point. Blonde Rachel keeps curtly telling Dave, “Yes sir.” She tells him then that she’s tired of his pouting, and he tells her to shut her mouth. J.J. comments that that’s why he and Art aren’t out there with their wives. Rachel complains Dave is the “most negative person in the frickin’ universe.” Even the teams who have two tall people are having a hard time. Anyone who has ever camped has empathy.
Amidst Blonde Rachel and Dave’s arguing, he sees the problem, that they have a bracket in the wrong spot, meaning they have to deconstruct their whole frame. Now that they know the error of their ways, its going more quickly to put it back together. Jamie complains this is difficult because there’s a lot of pieces that look similar.
Brendon and Redhead Rachel now have the canvas up around their frame, and he’s hammering in the pegs. She comments this is why she prefers a pop-up tent. This is like extreme to her, making her feel like she’s putting up a circus tent. Kentucky are getting their strings tied down, and while J.J. is inside the tent assembling the contents and making the beds, Art is outside putting the remaining poles in. J.J. feels like a woman. Interestingly, so does Shania Twain.
Ralph is saying Vanessa is great about following directions, and she glances over and notices they are way ahead of the “teachers.” Nary and Jamie are still trying to get their frame up. They think it’s the physical part, not technical part, holding them back, noting they don’t have a man on their team.
Redhead Rachel is trying to get the shower up and complains she can’t do it by herself. Brendon tells her to quit whining. Art and J.J. are putting their shower up as well. Vanessa is struggling with this part like Rachel is, and Ralph tells her to relax, as it’s not going to kill her. Rachel and Dave are collecting water.
Kentucky asks to have their tent passed, as J.J. says if they get it, he’s going to kick himself. The judge of the tent city tells them they are not done. They realize they need to get water from somewhere and run towards the bathroom. Blonde Rachel and Dave ask to have theirs passed and note this isn’t fun to do with a spouse. They complete theirs, as J.J. says, “Unbelievable.” They take off for the pit stop. Dave knows they’re stubborn and bitch and complain at each other, but they still pulled it off.
Kentucky fills their shower with water and now pass. They take off for the pit stop stop hoping to pass Vanessa and Dave. Yet, they’re not quick enough for that, as Vanessa and Dave are officially team number one. For this leg of the race they have won a trip for two to Costa Rica. He wants to clarify this is their fourth first place, but she wants that kept a secret.
Kentucky arrive on Phil’s mat to be named team number two. Mark says they’re “slowly walkin’ ‘em down,” although I’m not altogether positive what that means. Border Patrol finish and get their tent passed. The judge thinks Art looks like he needs a drink, and he says he needs more than that. Brendon and Rachel get passed as well.
Jamie complains that they haven’t slept in three days, are extremely hungry and tired, and need water. There’s a lot to stress about, but it doesn’t do them any good at this point to get all frazzled. Ralph and Vanessa are still there.
Border Patrol is named team number three, and Phil mentions the race getting interesting bcause of the rift between the teams. They say they’re trying to minimize their involvement in all that junk. I’m not sure who they’re trying to kid with that statement. They were the ones starting the stuff earlier about Nary and Jamie and celebrating that it would cause trouble.
Brendon and Rachel run in to be named team number four. Phil tries to ask them about the nasty turn of the Race, but she says they aren’t going to let anyone’s negative personality affect them any more. I think that’s impossible for Rachel to not let anyone else bother her.
Vanessa and Ralph get their tent passed and take off for the pit stop. Nary and Jamie are busy making beds and constructing the shower. They know they aren’t looking so hot right now. Vanessa and Ralph are named team number five. Phil asks them about the negative direction of the Race, and she claims everyone is on the same page about Big Brother. She has no desire to even speak with them, let alone make up with them.
Nary and Jamie finally get their tent passed and head to the pit stop, knowing they’re in last place. They see some elephants by the side of the road and stop to enjoy this chance of a lifetime. It’s the right move when you know you’re in last place. They tell Phil they have no regrets. Nary tells him they were hoping he wouldn’t eliminate them. He asks if they’d like that, and they respond they’ve love that. In fact, it is a non-elimination leg.
This doesn’t quite have the same emotional impact of the last non-elimination leg when Kentucky was saved. Next week is a Double U-Turn. It almost seems like they’re adding that intentionally with all the interpersonal drama going on. It ought to be very interesting on Sunday night!
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