Right after the recap all teams are waiting on the steps to see who got eliminated and Brodie is a little upset to find out it was Blair & Scott. On the upside they had made arrangements to see each other outside of the race and this does eliminate her from being a distraction for him so I'm sure Kurt is okay with it. Before Blair & Scott left Brodie was able to walk over and give her a consoling farewell hug before getting on with his game.
Having come in first on the last leg, Zach & Rachel are the first out at 10:39pm and on their way to Dubai, UAE, where they'll need to meet up with their travelling companion, the Travelocity Gnome, for this leg of the race. Wayne will be in Dubai for a few hours this summer so he’ll be able to relate just how hot it gets there. It really doesn't matter what time everyone else leaves the mat because everyone is on the same flight, even Tyler & Korey who left at 1:17am, and when they arrive in Dubai they all race out of the airport upon arrival to find their marked ride, six identical white SUVs.
They all receive the same driving directions when they get into the car but Matt seems to have tuned out Dana and she’s already getting upset with him before they even leave the airport. Nothing like a little heat and a lot of pressure. While everyone is looking for the correct exit to get out of the city Burnie & Ashley notice Sherri & Cole miss their turn. At least Cole has a good attitude about it which is a good sign for how his mamma raised him.
Everyone else heads into the desert looking for race flags and it gives Tyler & Korey a chance to make a bedouin joke while passing a bunch of camels wandering alongside the road. The first three teams arrive pretty much one after the other and race out into the sand but it’s Tyler & Korey who are first to find the Bedouin camp and the traditional Bedouin greeting before receiving their Travelocity Gnome and their next clue.
Time for the Detour. In Races, teams will go head to head on bikes for two kilometers against a pair of racing camels and they need to cross the finish line before the camels to get their next clue, if not teams will get a 1500m head start on their second try. In Oasis, teams must walk about a mile across the desert leading four camels to a Bedouin camp to receive some delicious camel milk and get their next clue. I’m pretty sure that Wayne and I would take a walk in the desert before we decided to hop on a couple of bikes and race camels, especially with my bad knee. Besides, I’m pretty good with camels.
Zach & Rachel grab their gnome and clue and then Burnie & Ashley grab their gnome and clue, while Kurt & Brodie and Dana & Matt pull up. As Burnie & Ashley pull away he figures that Sherri & Cole are still lost in the desert, and he’s not wrong but at least they seem to be back on track and are heading for the camp where we find Kurt & Brodie deciding to do Races. Of course they may not make it to the track now that they’re stuck in the sand as everyone else pulls away,. . . everyone except Sherri & Cole.
While Kurt & Brodie try to dig themselves out of the hole they’ve created, the rest of the teams are on their way to their respective Detours. Tyler & Korey are making their usual bad puns while Rachel reveals that she’s not comfortable going fast on a bike. So why are they heading towards the Races? Maybe it’s fortuitous that they overshot the exit and have allowed Tyler & Korey and Burnie & Ashley to arrive at the Races ahead of them.
While Zach and Rachel turn around and Burnie & Ashley and Tyler & Korey get down to the track, Brodie manages to push their SUV out of the rut and they’re back in it. They feel like they’re in dead last but nobody has seen Sherri & Cole yet. Meanwhile, Dana & Matt chose Oasis and upon arrival are driven down to their starting point to start leading their camels across the scorching desert. Depending on the time of day this could get really hot, really fast. Just in case there’s a problem they get followed by an actual Bedouin, which is probably a good call.
Waiting for the their chance to beat the camels, Burnie & Ashley and Tyler & Korey are straddling their bikes as the gate goes up and a bunch of bedouin cheer and holler behind the camels to get them going. Those camels are damn fast and the trucks honking are just edging them on while the racers have no such crowd behind them. The camels easily beat both teams, as Kurt & Brodie pull up to watch them lose and Burnie & Ashley immediately decide to switch because Ashley is already complaining about her legs. Good call Burnie, and as they race to the other side of the Detour Kurt & Brodie take their place.
Oh look, Sherri & Cole finally found the Bedouin camp to pick up their gnome and get their next clue. While they do that, Dana is berating poor Matt as they lead their camels across the desert and she asks him if he’s hot and he says he’s a little warm. That must have pushed her over the edge because then she starts going on about him wearing flannel in the desert . . . what’s wrong with that. Dana does not do well with heat, they may want to move to Canada when they get back.
Kurt & Brody pull ahead of the camels, while Zach & Rachel lag behind, mostly because Rachel is afraid to go any faster. It took everything they had but Kurt & Brodie beat the camels, unfortunately now they can't move their legs. While Zach & Rachel coast to the finish line Rachel once again tells Zach that she’s not comfortable going fast on the bikes and he acts like this is the first time he’s heard her. He may want to work on those listening skills. They decide to switch and Rachel feels that she let Zach down and cost him the race but there’s still plenty of daylight left so she needs to ease up on herself. It’s a good thing that Kurt & Brodie worked through the pain because they’ve reclaimed the lead and are on their way to . . . Atlantis, the Palm and the AquaAdventure, from Season 15.
While Brodie & Kurt head to Atlantis and Zach & Rachel head to the Oasis, Dana is just about done with the heat. She’s still complaining as they lead their camels and tells Matt that she’s about to pass out while he continues on with his flannel shirt without complaining. Maybe if she complained less and walked more they’d be done already.
While the sun bear down, Tyler & Korey get a 1500 meter head start on the camels and they hope that’s enough of a lead. Speaking of lead, Burnie & Ashley have arrived to pick up their camels and lead them off into the dunes, hopefully with better luck than Dana & Matt. Ashley is a lot happier leading camels than she was racing them. Which takes us back to the Races where Tyler & Korey beat the camels and got their clue just about the same time that Dana & Matt drop off their camels and get a little something to eat and some fresh camel milk with their clue. They both really enjoyed that camel milk and hopefully that’s all Dana needs to reset her attitude.
As they get a lift back to their SUV, Sherri & Cole arrive at the race and Cole is pretty fast once he gets going but the camels have more endurance. When they realize how far it is to that finish line they slow down because there’s no way they’re going to catch those racing camels. Like Tyler & Korey, they hope that their head start will be enough.
Kurt & Brodie arrive at AquaAdventure and find the clue box right in front of the waterslide from Season 15 that cost one team the race. Kurt & Brodie have discovered the Roadblock; Swimming With Sharks. In this Roadblock both team members need to change into gold lame swimsuits and then one team member has to get into some diving gear, drop down into the shark tank that surrounds the waterslide tube and retrieve an Amazing Race puzzle, then they need to bring the puzzle to a basket, get out of the water, retrieve the basket with their puzzle, and then they’ll need to solve the water puzzle before getting their next clue. Nice to see Phil in the tank actually performing the task, very Canadian of him. I’d love this task.
Since Kurt pulled off the last Roadblock it seems to be Brodie’s turn as he puts on his water helmet and drops beneath the waterline to join the sharks. It’s actually a really easy task to perform as long as you’re not afraid of sharks, and just think of how soothing that cool water would be to escape the gruelling Dubai heat. Unfortunately, after Brodie has retrieved his water puzzle he seems to have no idea how to solve it.
As Brodie cools down poolside, Burnie compares his walk in the desert to being in a Star Wars movie as he and Ashley deliver their camels. They enjoy some camel milk, get their next clue and head off the AquaAdventure. As they get a ride back to their SUV Burnie dumps out half of the desert from his shoe, passing Zach & Rachel just as they’re walking in with their camels.
Meanwhile, back out on the road, both Tyler & Korey and Dana & Matt feel like they’ve made a wrong turn somewhere on their way to Atlantis. It’s interesting to see the difference in how each team handles the stress, which is entirely different to how Brodie handles the stress of the water puzzle.
Zach & Rachel enjoy a quiet moment with their camel milk while Sherri & Cole race again and this time they beat the camels. I think a big part of that is because the trucks don't honk as much on the second attempt so the camels aren’t quite as scared as in their first run. While Sherri and Cole make a lopsided run for their SUV the other teams have finally found Atlantis which is going to put even more pressure on Brodie who is still stressing over the puzzle and wants to use the Express Pass.
Burnie is complaining that his swimsuit is a bit roomy while Dana comes out covering her chest and needs Matt to perform a little adjustment to keep her from falling out of the top, for which she apologizes to her mother. Nice girl, as long as we keep her out of the heat. As they get ready to swim with the sharks Kurt keeps asking Brodie if he can do the puzzle and Brodie feels it’s a waste of time and they should just use the Express Pass. I don’t get it, because it can’t be that hard, but eventually they decide to use the Express Pass before another team arrives and sees them do so and now they must make their way to Poseidon’s Revenge to Take The Plunge on a water slide which is twice as long as the original Leap of Faith and apparently a lot scarier because you get in and an operator opens the floor underneath you whether you’re ready or not.
Meanwhile, as the boys head to Poseidon’s Revenge, Sherri & Cole are once again lost outside Dubai. Burnie was hoping that some of the teams would have full on panic attacks but nobody seemed to have a problem getting into the tank, and once in the tank gathering the puzzle was easy. Not quite as easy as Kurt & Brodie who’ve arrived at their plunge and plummeted down the pipe. It doesn’t look anywhere near as scary as one would think, but it does look fast.
Kurt & Brodie get their next clue and must now take a water taxi across Dubai creek to the Old Souq Station where they'll find Phil at the Pit Stop where the last team to check in may be eliminated. As the boys go in search of a water taxi Burnie, Korey and Dana are all working on the puzzle and trying to devise a plan while beneath the waves, Zach picks up his puzzle and heads up to join the others.
Burnie gets the clue solved, calls for a judge to approve it, and ignores everyone else asking him for a hint on how to solve it as he races out of there. Dana figures he just didn’t hear them because his ears were still plugged and she could be right, or he could just be ignoring them. Obviously Brodie could have saved his express pass because that looked almost as easy as retrieving the puzzle.
As Burnie races to join Ashley, Sherri & Cole have finally found a store and stop to ask for directions to Atlantis. They may be way behind everyone else but they still have a good attitude about the whole thing and there’s no barking between them. Too bad that Sherri is so navigationally challenged.back at the pool Korey solves the puzzle, leaving Dana on her own complaining that she’s not a puzzle person as Zach exits the pool. This has not been her leg.
Speaking of legs, Ashley’s are taking the plunge and as soon as she’s gone Burnie jokes that there’s no way he’s doing that. Suck it up princess. From inside the glass tube Burnie hollers over to Tyler & Korey but just as he starts to say something the operator releases the floor and it’s . . . bye, bye Burnie . . . causing Tyler to look on in fear.
Zach and Dana are both struggling with the water puzzle, until Zach gets it and now Dana is entirely on her own with just one letter locked into place. As Dana struggles, Tyler panics and then it’s Korey’s turn to take the plunge. They had so much fun that they were thinking they should have stayed at the waterpark all day.
That’s probably what Kurt & Brodie wish they had done because now that they’ve used the Express Pass the pressure is on to come in first, otherwise they wasted their Express Pass. It doesn’t help when Kurt & Brodie miss their turn and can’t turn around to get back to it. Apparently this is a common occurrence in Dubai so it’s probably a good thing that when Wayne gets there he never has to leave the airport.
Dana finally solves the puzzle just as Sherri & Cole have arrived and Zach & Rachel plunge. Everyone says they’re scared going down but the smiles on their faces at the bottom seem to prove otherwise. The person who’s scared is Sherri since it’s her son who is now in the shark tank while they feed the sharks. Well, that will keep them away from Cole for awhile.
Kurt & Brodie get a water taxi, which is called an aura in Dubai, just ahead of Burnie & Ashley and it's a race to the Pit Stop. It’s close but Kurt & Brodie are Team Number 1 and have won a trip to Helsinki, Finland. Burnie & Ashley are right behind the boys and they are Team Number 2. Brodie is pretty glad now that they used the Express Pass.
As Dana & Matt endure Poseidon’s Revenge, Sherri cheers on her son as Cole seems to quickly solve the puzzle and he and his mom are back in the race. However, not as in as Tyler & Korey who are Team Number 3 and whom reveal that they learned the traditional greeting of the bedouin and ask Phil if he wants to do it, but Phil just laughs them off . . . at least on camera.
Leaving Atlantis, Dana gives Matt directions but Matt doesn't get it and Dana is starting to lose it. She repeats the directions and he still doesn’t seem to get it and she just gets louder and starts berating him again. Matt remains calm while Dana keeps ranting and he’s trying to get her to calm down without following her lead and berating her back. That takes a lot of patience to deal with someone when they start going at you personally like that and I’m sure Dana’s not exactly proud of that moment being caught on film but, as I said before, this girl does not like the heat.
Sherri & Cole complete their plunge and get the clue. They may be last but at least they continue to have a good attitude about it. As Sherri & Cole head out, Dana & Matt take a break from driving and that may be all Sherri & Cole need if Dana doesn't pull it together quickly. Dana wants to just quit but Matt basically tells her that’s ridiculous. Refusing to get back in the car certainly isn't helping. She’s pretty much given up on working as a team but Matt understands Dana and knows that it’s the heat of the moment and that this too shall pass. Loads of respect for Matt at this point.
Zach & Rachel arrive at the Pit Stop and are Team Number 4 and they’re still in love. As darkness falls Dana & Matt slowly jog in looking all depressed but they are Team Number 5 and they’re still in it. Phil advises that, if they’re going to win this race they’ll need to do it together and Dana tears up a little but Matt just hugs her and tells her it’s okay. It’s just a game.
Eventually Sherri & Cole arrive and they're Team Number 6, and they know that they’re good with whatever but Phil tells them they don’t know everything because they're still in the race as this is a non-elimination leg, which causes Sherri to tear up. Why couldn't that have happened on the last leg? Sherri & Cole have been saved twice now and they'll have to complete a speed bump in the next leg to stay in the game so it’s time to step it up. Sherri says it’ll be fine as long as they don’t let her drive anywhere. That sounds about right.
Next week the teams are off to Indonesia where they’ll take to the sky, play with snakes, and Rachel may meet her match in a gruelling Roadblock that looks like a heavy load to bear. I’ll be right here to give everyone my review of the episode and I may still get a big multi-episode review done in the next 24 hours on what’s been happening in the BBCan Grand. Don’t worry, I’m not going to be all that in depth if I do it at all. Nowhere near as in depth as I am for the Amazing Race. See you next week racers. Until that time.