The Show Must Go On...

one stop 'tar' pit stop shop # 5a

My apologies for the lack of an entry from last week.  I had to tape the episode and after I watched it, I got around to writing the entry a few days later... was running low on time and almost done when POOF... I got booted offline and lost it all.  Argh.  Don't you hate that?  But, fear not (or be very afraid) - I'm back with the latest 2 HOUR episode(s)! 

This is PART ONE of 2.  :-)

'The Amazing Race 7' Leg/Episode 5a of the Race
THE JOURNEY
Buenos Aires, Argentina to Soweto, South Africa or...

"OUCH!"  Spills, Chills and Spelunking Thrills.

The teams leave the polo club in Buenos Aires to go to the airport where they will leave for Johannesburg, South Africa.  There they are instructed that their next clue will be found in the marked cars.  Despite a huge lead, Romber is very discouraged that all the departing teams end up taking the same flight and it's one of them there 'TAR' Bunch Ups once again.  Aw, poor Rob.  ;-)  Alas, two teams were forced to check their baggage, thus putting them at a slight disadvantage upon landing.  Uchenna/Joyce and Ron/Kelly had to take the time to get their bags.

Upon hitting the marked cars, the teams faced the first Fast Forward out of two planned for this season:
From the TAR Glossary -"Two pre-determined legs have one FAST FORWARD, which allows the Team that completes the FAST FORWARD task first to proceed directly to the next PIT STOP without having to do any further tasks, including DETOURs or ROADBLOCKs, on the way. The trick is that only the first Team to find and complete the FAST FORWARD on the leg may use it; any subsequent Team that finds it will have wasted their time and must go back and complete all tasks. In addition, a Team may claim only one FAST FORWARD during the entire race."

Since Ray/Deana connived the steward into letting them off the plane first, they were the first to happen upon the Fast Forward clue.  They decided to go for the challenge in the FF - walking across a very intimidating suspended foot bridge in Soweto (about 26 miles from Joburg) at the Orlando Cooling Towers.

Rob and Amber also shoot for the FF, but Alex/Lynn go for the Detour - a choice between Tunnels and Tribes.  In Tunnels, the teams must drive 50 miles to underground caves, rappel 45 feet down into the cave and find a clue in the tunnels before emerging.  In Tribes, the teams must drive 40 miles to the Lesedi Cultural Village and home to 5 different tribes.  They'll find 6 traditional items - only 5 correspond to the native tribes. Teams deliver right item to right tribe and Tribal Chief gives a necklace.  Once all 5 necklaces are received, the team will get the next clue.

Romber got to the Cooling Towers way too late and, though Deana had her problems with it, Ray/Deana got the FF and headed onto the Pit Stop.  Romber got way delayed.  Too bad; so sad.  <g>

Tunnels was a rough go for teams as some made it out thinking the clue was on the other end only to find out they had to re-spelunk.  Gretchen did a re-spelunk only to fall and suffer some scary injuries with massive bleeding.  YIKES.  But, she's a tough biddie.  She got stitched and wrapped and finished the Detour.  You go, Girl! 

Meanwhile, my least favorite team of them all (no, NOT Romber) - Ray/Deana made it to the Pit Stop at the Soweto Overlook not far from Nelson Mandela's childhood home and got a pair of Toyotas from Phil.  Sigh.  Romber had left to go do Tribes after blowing the chance and time with the FF.

With the exception of Ray/Deana, the next clue led teams to the Baragwanath Market where they would find their next clue (a Roadblock) instructing them to shop for specific items for the local orphanage.  Who likes to shop?  Dang it if Romber didn't run into another fan who recognized Ambuh.  Sheesh. 
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MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS and BEST LINES...

Gretchen: "I can't go to Soweto looking like this!" - while all bandaged, bleeding and dirty.

WHAT I HATED:  Not too much to hate this ep.  Yay.
WHAT I LOVED:  Once again, the scenery.  South Africa is stunning.
WHAT I ALSO LOVED:  Gretchen's gumption.  Wow.  I am really impressed.
AND I LOVED:  The way the teams reacted to the children in the orphanage... especially Uchenna/Joyce and the few who spent a few moments for fun.
FAVORITE TEAM THIS LEG:  I must go with Gretchen/Meredith on this leg, mostly HER.  Truly amazing stamina.  No guts, no glory.  They be glorious indeed.

For a big prize, answer me this...! 
Name at least 3 of the 5 items teams had to shop for at the market. 
You may win a BRAND NEW MONKEY or an equally EXCITING prize!  :-)

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PIT STOP ARRIVAL ORDER

A cool link on the official CBS site which tracks the order, who did what in Detours and Roadblocks and more is the Leaderboard at http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race7/show/ep01/route/leader/

1.  Ray/Deana
2.  Ron/Kelly
3.  Brian/Greg
4.  Lynn/Alex
5.  Rob/Amber
6.  Uchenna/Joyce
7.  Gretchen/Meredith - NON-PHILIMINATION LEG - STILL IN RACE!

Not only did they lose their money, they lost all their possessions... left with passports and clothes on their backs.  OW.

Come on and join in on the fun on the Fans of The Amazing Race Message Board!

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