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Episode 12.3
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Leg # 3
Air Date: 11/18/07
From Amsterdam, Netherlands to Bingo, Burkina Faso
 Episode Recap:This was an outstanding leg. We began in the early AM (4:19) in the Dutch countryside with LorenasonTM opening their clue. This directed them to fly to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in West Africa and find the next route marker at the town’s train station. Several teams were very close behind at the start with Ron and Christina bringing up the rear departing over an hour behind. We were informed that Ron apparently sustained/re-injured a hernia during the prior leg of the race in Amsterdam. This was a great clue-read as none of the teams were remotely capable of pronouncing Ouagadougou correctly. Someone should definitely do a video mash-up of their various erroneous takes on this. (Of course, Phil was perfect). Teams basically bunched up at Amsterdam's Schipol airport with only one flight a day continuing on from Paris to Ouagadougou. All teams traveled to Paris on an 8AM flight except for NatenniferTM who snagged standby on a 7:20 departure. Ron and Christina barely made the 8AM departure due to Ron’s struggling with the hernia situation – ouch! Natennifer were quite pleased with themselves for grabbing the earlier flight and it almost paid off as the second 8AM flight (with all the remaining teams on board) was delayed by mechanical problems and with only a single daily flight on to Africa this could have resulted in a huge lead. However in the end all 9 teams made the Paris-Ooagadougou flight and were greeted on the plane with a half-hearted, disingenuous “Glad you made it” from Jennifer. Upon arrival in Burkina Faso, teams grabbed taxis to the train station. The Blonde’s Jennifer got into a heated argument with their friendly, grinning cabby over a 1,000 franc discrepancy in the cost of their trip (about $2 I believe). They emerged on this leg as somewhat nasty and “superior” although Jennifer Blonde made up for this somewhat with the debut of a cleavage-baring t-shirt ensemble. Teams quickly bunched up at the train station clue box and the next leg was revealed as a train journey to Bingo. Phil slyly pointed out that Bingo was actually a place where the train stopped in the middle of nowhere –lacking a station or any identifying signage, etc so teams would have to pay close attention. Also by the time the first teams arrived, the Ouagadougou station was already closed for the day not to reopen until 6AM the following morning. The teams all settled in for a night in Ouagadougou that turned into a jam/dancing session with some local drummers. Even Gramps got up and got down with las Chicas. Ahh.. good times on the Amazing Race. The next morning all teams boarded the train for Bingo. This provided an eye-opening introduction to West Africa. Scenes of kids playing soccer were interspersed with images of great poverty and devastation. The sight of some flies buzzing around a young kid’s face on the train prompted Jennifer Blonde to comment “These people bring flies”. Uh huh. Unfortunately, all the teams were paying attention and all got off successfully at the sandy nowhere that was Bingo. (Imagine a team continuing on obliviously into the African landscape and having to make their way back, perhaps via camel, to Bingo – I’m sure the producers did). The teams ran around the area eventually finding the clue box in a random spot in the sand. The next clue revealed a Roadblock requiring the teams to milk a camel (!) – filling a native wooden bowl up to a designated line – and then drinking the milk to complete the task and receive their next clue. This was a simply brilliant Roadblock combining 3 of the hallmarks of AR task design: 1 – dealing with difficult animals, 2 - performing an unfamiliar, frustrating task and 3 – consuming a potentially nasty native food. Actually most teams did pretty well on this and finished relatively quickly. Gramps in particular really stepped up (his second roadblock in a row following his semi-nude ditch jumping last week). Between this and his impressive dancing/flirting the night before, I’m beginning to admire him as a competitor and an all-around good egg. TK, using his hippie love powers on the camel, finished first and declared the milk to be sweet and warm but grainy. Mmmm. Gramps was not far behind. The next clue required teams to lead a group of 4 camels along a marked path. TK instead took off along his own special path leading Nick and Gramps, Ron/Christina, the Goths (and 16 unruly camels) somewhat astray. They figured this out and all got on the correct path as Natennifer finished the milking task and began their camel trek. This left a group of unhappy camel milkers back at the Roadblock. Azaria, Julia, Jennifer Blonde and particularly Lorena were having a lot of trouble with this task. Milking the camel was one problem but then having the bowl tipped (and hard-earned sweet, warm, grainy milk spilled) by stray camel kicks compounded this. Lorena quickly became hysterical having one of the best melt-downs (I think perhaps the all time best considering the severity and the situation?) in AR history. An ironic natural history note is that camels (I would particularly imagine lactating female camels) are particularly sensitive to loud noises and disturbance – of which Lorena was at this point a powerful point source. After the umpteenth camel kick and spilled milk, she ended up on her knees in the sand of Bingo shrieking/weeping hysterically. It looked like the end for Lorenason. However, to her credit she kept at it and along with the other remaining teams, eventually changed camels and got enough milk to satisfy the task. Meanwhile, our camel drivers began to arrive at the end of their trek which turned out to be a Detour at a local school requiring the teams to either teach 10 English words to a Burkina Faso child or learn 10 words in Möre, the local language. Starting this task was delayed for some teams by the difficulty in finding the school – a random concrete block structure amid the sand and scrubby trees. A+H got a local to direct them to the school and started the task first. TK/Rachel, Nick/Gramps and Ron/Christina decided to teach English while the Goths, Natennifer and A+H decided to learn the Möre words. Perhaps due to their Ethiopian heritage, A+H finished quickly and moved on as a spectacular thuderstorm broke. They arrived first at the mat and were rewarded with a trip to Bermuda. Back at the Bingo camel dairy, the Chicas finished up leaving Lorena in the pouring rain. However, switching camels again, she quickly filled her bowl and finished the task. It was now basically a race between the Chicas and Lorenason to complete the camel driving and the Detour task. The remaining teams at the Detour basically finished up around the same time but then had varying difficulty in finding the mat and seeing where the others were going in the storm. This led to a free-for-all dash for the mat with 6 teams basically arriving at the same time. TK/Rachel were judged to be second with Natennifer, the Goths, Ron/Christina and Gramps/Nick in 3rd-6th place and the Blondes showing up shortly afterwards in 7th. As you’ll remember, Lorenason were the last to began the camel driving task. However, they ran with their animals and eventually caught up and passed the walking Chicas who seemed exhausted. Both teams started the Learning task at the Detour about the same time with Lorenason slightly ahead. They were able to keep this small lead and beat Marianna and Julia to the mat to come in 8th leaving the Chicas to be eliminated in last place. |
 Detour: Teach It or Learn ItTeach It: Participate in the education of a local child by teaching them 10 words in English. TK & Rachel, Nicolas & Donald, Ronald & Christina and Shana & Jennifer chose this task. Learn It: Delve into the local culture by learning 10 words in the African language of Môre. Azaria & Hendekea, Nathan & Jennifer, Kynt & Vyxsin, Marianna & Julia and Lorena & Jason chose this task. |
 Roadblock:"Who's ready to work up a thirst?" In this roadblock, that person had to perform a chore commonly done by local nomads; they must milk a camel. Team members had to extract enough milk to fill a bowl upto the designated line, then, they had to drink the milk to receive their next clue. TK, Donald, Christina, Nathan, Vyxsin, Azaria, Jennifer (of Shana & Jennifer), Julia and Lorena performed the roadblock. |
| Best use of strategy: Azaria & Hendekea. They took five words each on the Roadblock and memorized them systematically. Helpers: Marianna & Julia. They told Lorena which camel would have lots of milk, and also sealing their fate. Schemers: Biggest comeback: -Ronald and Christina roses from 9th place to 5th place -Azaria & Hendekea beat Nathan & Jennifer and TK & Rachel. Team to watch next week: Shana & Jennifer and Lorena & Jason, Azaria & Hendekea. |
Mini-Scorecard Fast-forward: N/A U-Turn: N/A | 1st Place: Azaria & Hendekea Eliminated: Marianna & Julia |
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| Spyne | Episode Three Commentary | 2 | Nov 29 2007, 8:17 PM EST by ja1207 | ||
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Thread started: Nov 19 2007, 9:06 PM EST
Watch
The teams are now traveling to Burkina Faso in West Africa eventually ending up in the village of Bingo. But before they could even start, Ronald is experiencing a hernia. I really thought this would be a major disadvantage which would lead them to the back of the pack the entire leg. But I was surprised at how well they held up, also Ronald seemed a little more low-tone this leg.
Again there was the race to get the flights to West Africa, for a moment I really thought Nathan & Jennifer would have a huge lead the entire leg because they got an early flight. I also felt that even more when the flight carrying the other teams got delayed. But eventually they all caught up, which I usually like. Just to keep it even. Definitely some tasks this time that tested people to their limits and even at their breaking points. This was especially apparent in the Roadblock, milking the camels. Lorena really just lost it, but I can just sense her frustration. It also didn't help a torrential thunderstorm rolled through as well. The Detour didn't seem so harsh, but it was definitely a test of mental abilities. Either teach kids English, or learn the African language. Azaria & Hendekea propelled ahead to come in first at the Pit Stop and won a trip to Bermuda. It was also really fun to watch the all out foot race to the Pit Stop. Seriously, five teams basically came at the exact same time. Though unfortunately for Marianna & Julia, their race came to an end as they became the third team eliminated from the race. They tried hard though, I'll give them that. Next week looks to be interesting as well, I wonder what controversial move Shana & Jennifer make. We'll watch to find out. See you next week and have a Happy Thanksgiving! |
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| dragon6473 | Race thoughts | 3 | Nov 20 2007, 4:16 PM EST by dragon6473 | ||
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Thread started: Nov 19 2007, 2:49 PM EST
Watch
I was surprised to see that four of the teams came at the exact same time. Last time they were in Africa it took three days for them to all arive. I wonder how they will start the teams in the morning? Will they start the four off at the same time, of send them off one after the other. I think I might have been able to do the road block, and I would have done Teach It. A final comment, I've never been to this part of Africa, but I have been with a cammel, and they are somthing to handle.
Dragon6473 |
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