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Episode 12.7
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Leg # 7
Air Date: 12/23/07 (2 weeks after December 9 episode)
From Dubrovnik, Croatia to Florence, Tuscany, Italy
 Episode Recap:This was another great leg with plenty of classic AR drama, excitement and gorgeous scenery. As you’ll remember, the teams finished the last leg over a pretty wide time period. Ron and Chris started out first at 2:19AM and were closely followed by the Goths and NatenniferTM. The starting clue instructed teams to travel by bus to the port of Split, Croatia for a ferry ride across the Adriatic to the Italian port of Ancona. The teams were treated to a gorgeous bus ride along the rugged Croatian coast from Dubrovnik up to Split. Due the varied departure times of the later teams, they were spread out on three different buses. However, all teams departed on the same ferry arriving late that evening in Ancona. Teams found cute, boxy Fiats waiting for them in the ferry parking lot and clues instructing them to drive to the city of Empoli and find a small airfield. Natennifer really lucked out and got directions at a nearby gas station that provided the best route to Empoli. The other teams got directions from other sources and ended up taking longer, more difficult routes. TK and Rachel discussed a unique route via Rome with some locals at an outdoor cafe in Ancona but took off, unknowing that they left their clue sitting on the table! Fortunately, they realized they did not have the clue relatively soon and after a frustrating, unsuccessful search of the car, decided to return to the cafe. To their great relief, someone had set the clue aside for them. During their long overnight drive, teams were treated to messages from home delivered on special Blackberries provided with their vehicles. This drive proved to be particularly long and frustrating for the three teams using a route via Bologna as at one point, the main highway they needed to use was closed. Nick and Don decided to wait out the closure (with the road re-opening at 6AM) while the Goths and Ron/Chris decided to try detouring around the area on small, mountainous surface roads adding hours to their travel. Using their superior route, Natennifer arrived first at the airfield in the early hours of the morning to find a “take a number” board and the news that the facility would not open until 7AM. Once back on the road, TK and Rachel also had a relatively quick route to Empoli via Rome and arrived second – still prior to the 7AM opening time. Once this rolled around, the two teams found that the next clue was a Roadblock requiring one team member to fly in an ultralight and direct the pilot in a 30 min search of the surrounding area for a clue to the next destination. Both of the guys grabbed this awesome task – typical – and were quickly suited up and airborne on a gorgeous clear Tuscan morning. Nate quickly saw the clue – the word “VINCI” written in large white letters on a nearby field - and directed his pilot back to the airfield. After revealing this to an airfield official, they were given the actual clue instructing the teams to drive to Vinci and find Leonardo’s birthplace. Around this time, Nick/Don and Ron/Christina both arrived at the airfield after their divergent takes on the road closure detour. When informed that they had to “take a number” for the next task. Ron and Christina had difficulty in finding the number board and Ron pitched one of his typical nasty fits. Take a chill pill, guy! The usually mellow TK was in need of his own chill pill as he was unable to find the area with the “VINCI” letters and had to return empty handed for refueling prior to going out again for a second search. Christina went up next for her team and found the clue on the first try. However, Nick and Don decided to take the Fast Forward option. This opportunity was apparently the only Fast Forward on this AR and it turned out to be a big one for Nick and Don. They were instructed to go to a nearby “studio” to participate in a typical “seafaring tradition.” To their surprise, this turned out to be getting a tattoo! Millenial goofus Nick was of course down with this idea but his grandfather was not so sure. After a little AR editing drama, he gave in and the pair were quickly seated and getting matching “FF” tattoos (for “Fast Forward). To Don’s credit, he opted for a pretty exposed bicep location for his apparently first and only ink. Bravo, Don. The tats were quickly done and the team received their clue directing them to the finish mat in the Boboli Gardens (any relation to the pizza dough?) in Florence. Meanwhile, the overnight drive had not worked out well for the Goths. Vyxsin had done all the driving due to her superior manual transmission skills. Apparently their personal detour route around the closed highway section was the most onerous and they arrived exhausted at the airfield in last place. At this point, TK had taken another ultralight flight and still not located the VINCI clue. Vyxsin went up for the team and found the clue on her first flight. TK was extremely frustrated at this point but went up one last time and finally saw the clue allowing their team to move on to Vinci in last place. Natennifer had already arrived first in Vinci and pulled another “park the car and run to the location” ploy - slowing them down somewhat. At Leonardo’s birthplace on top of a beautiful Tuscan hill, they found the next clue indicating a Detour with the choice of “Invention” or “Tradition”. In the Invention task, teams had go to a nearby area of the birthplace grounds and assemble a working replica of a Leonardo-designed crane. They would then use it to lift a stone 1 foot off of the ground allowing a Leonardo mirror box to be placed underneath to reveal a clue on the bottom of the stone. In Tradition, teams had to travel down to a piazza in the nearby town to learn and correctly perform a traditional complex flag twirling/tossing routine. Natennifer took one look at the crane - a pile of complex wooden parts - and decided to go for the flag tossing. Considering their past success w/ “intellectual” tasks, this was probably a good choice. Meanwhile, in nearby Florence, Nick and Don arrived at the mat after using the Fast Forward to achieve an outstanding Last to First finish. Phil welcomed them and rewarded their first place finish with a Travelocity trip to Cancun, Mexico. Back in Vinci, Nate and Jen made their way down to the square, where local men in colorful military costumes were performing the flag ritual. This looked pretty difficult, involving synchronized swings of the flags in various directions and throws/catches finished with a thrown exchange of flags between the partners. Using her innate cheerleader skills, Jen very quickly mastered the routine and coached the somewhat more hamfisted Nate in his performance. They went through it earning a “Si!” from the lead flagman who provided them with the next clue directing them to the mat at the Boboli gardens. Ron and Christina arrived in Vinci and also decided on the flag toss as Natennifer traveled on to Florence for a second place finish. Ron and Christina did surprisingly well at the flag toss and after a first “No” from the judge, re-did the routine and finished. They headed on to Florence for a third place finish as the Goths arrived in Vinci. After checking out the crane, the Goths decided to try the flags and headed for the plaza as TK/Rachel arrived in town in last place. Unfortunately, at this point, things began to go wrong for both teams leading to a dramatic race to stay out of last place. The Goths’ bad direction-luck continued with a very tired, frustrated Vyxsin at the wheel trying to make it down to the plaza. This led to a major meltdown and their first real argument. Kynt pitched a Gothic Kentucky fit and told her to “stop the car”. Things went from bad to worse as Kynt attempted to drive and the car’s transmission failed. Vyxsin got back behind the wheel again but they realized that the car was dead and nothing to do but head out on foot to reach the plaza. TK and Rachel were the only team to decide on the crane task and with careful, calm teamwork managed to complete it quickly. They headed away from Vinci for the mat, but just as it appeared they would easily finish ahead of the troubled Goths, they got their own major car problem in the form of a flat tire! As they stopped to fix this, Kynt and Vyxsin easily completed the flag toss and headed back to find a replacement vehicle waiting for them. Both teams now raced for Florence but TK and Rachel managed to arrive first at the mat in fourth place. The stunned, exhausted Goths arrived shortly afterwards to Phil’s classic long face informing them of their last place finish. However, his frown quickly turned around when he informed them that this was the first non-elimination leg! He went on to describe a new non-elimination scenario in which they would be subject to a unique “Speed Bump” task in the next leg. Kynt and Vyxsin really had a difficult and exhausting time on this leg and its going to take all of their Pink Goth power to survive elimination next time around. Can’t wait to see what happens! |
 Detour: Invention or Tradition. In Invention, teams had to put together a replica of a crane as conceived by Leonardo da Vinci and then use it to lift a load a certain height. Once done, they had to use the provided box mirror to reflect the surface of the load which would reveal the team's next destination. TK & Rachel chose this task. In Tradition, teams had to learn a traditional flag twirling art used in Italian festivals. Teams had to master the technique and be in sync with each other to receive their next clue, which was subjected to approval by a local judge. Nathan & Jennifer, Ronald & Christina and Kynt & Vyxsin chose these task. |
 Roadblock: One team member had to get into an ultralight with a pilot and then search from the sky for a word symbolizing their next destination, Vinci. Teams have a limit of 30 minutes and once up had to return to ground for a mandatory period for refuelling. Nathan, TK, Christina and Vyxsin completed the Roadblock. |
| Best use of strategy: Helpers: Schemers: Biggest comeback: Nicolas & Donald took the Fast Forward Team to watch next week: Kynt & Vyxsin, Ronald & Christina |
Mini-Scorecard Fast-forward: In this Fast Forward, both team members had to get a tattoo each as part of a sailor's tradition. Their tattoo would be a small "FF" which symbolizes Fast Forward. Nicolas & Donald won the Fast Forward.U-turn: N/A  | 1st Place: Nicolas & Donald Last place: Kynt &Vyxsin |
hanlam84 |
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, Apr 15 2009, 12:48 AM EDT
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spyne | Episode Seven Commentary | 2 | Dec 26 2007, 11:56 AM EST by hanlam84 | ||
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Thread started: Dec 24 2007, 4:45 PM EST
Watch
Well after taking a week off from The Amazing Race due to the Survivor: China finale, we're back in gear! The teams are now heading out to Italy, and there are definitely some relationships that can hopefully be ironed out in this leg. Most notably Nathan & Jennifer.
On that note, I do have to say that Nathan & Jennifer were better this leg. Hopefully they'll be improving more as time goes on. But on this leg came the only Fast Forward on the entire race. Nicolas & Donald really did need it, as they were constantly in the back of the pack. It was pretty funny once they knew they needed to get permanent tattoos to get it. Their gamble pulled off and arrived at the Pit Stop first, winning a trip to Cancun. Now as some relationships improved, some became fractured this leg. Ronald is back to his old ways with Christina and only seems to be getting worse. Kynt & Vyxsin are at each other's throats as they fall behind. Eventually due to their bad luck this leg and TK & Rachel staying one step ahead of them, Kynt & Vyxsin arrived in last place. But good news for them! It's the first of only two non-elimination legs on the race. But I'm confused, I thought they got rid of non-elimination legs this season. Oh well, I guess what I read was inaccurate. But now Kynt & Vyxsin face a new twist, called a Speed Bump. It means they have to complete a task nobody else but them has to do in the next leg. Will this lead to them being eliminated? We'll have to watch and find out. See you next week, and everyone have a Merry Christmas! |
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