Laura & Tyler, having come in first on the last leg are the first to leave at 12:19 pm and they're on their way from Windhoek, Namibia (Hosea Kurako Airport) to Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Schiphol Airport). That's gonna be quite the culture shock. They're followed by Matt & Ashley who leave at 12:20, and Hayley & Blair who leave at 12:34. Jelani & Jenny and Mike & Rochelle are also right behind them.
It's no surprise that everyone is on the same flight into Amsterdam. I've flown into Schiphol many times and it's a great airport but it's also a little confusing, especially when you're being followed by a camera crew and four other teams. Once arriving at Schiphol teams need to catch a taxi to Jagershuis shoe shop outside of Amsterdam to get their next clue.
Tyler says they're getting in a boat as soon as they get to Amsterdam but Laura says his odds of being right haven't been good. Mike's glasses start fogging up as soon as he gets in the cab and Rochelle tells him he should have gotten the contacts. I'm thinking Mike would have had some other problem with contacts, at least he's used to the glasses.
Teams arrive at Jagershuis to find it's a Roadblock. One team member needs to find an identical match to the displayed Klompen, a traditional Dutch wooden shoe, while dressed in a traditional Dutch costume. Tyler thinks he has a match but his first attempt is wrong. Rochelle keeps looking for a match while Jenny races out of the other room and gets hers' on the first try. Blair gets started looking for a match while Matt chooses incorrectly. Tyler's second shoe choice is the right one.
Jelani & Jenny get their next clue and they need to bike along the Amsel River to the city of Amsterdam where they need to find the Munttoren. This is usually a half day tour around the countryside and it looks like it'd be a lot of fun. Jelani & Jenny are having a blast biking along to the Pontveer ferry where they take their bikes on to the ferry and cross the river. Tyler finds the right one and Laura & Tyler are also off and enjoying a relaxing bike ride. I'll need to try this with the family next time we go to Amsterdam.
There are shoes flying all over the place but at least Blair has found the match. Hayley was actually pretty supportive on this one. There's just Matt and Rochelle remaining at the Jagershuis. Jelani & Jenny exit the ferry and get directions from a local into Amsterdam while Laura & Tyler need to wait for the ferry to return before they can try to catch up.
Matt tries again but to no avail and he's starting to get frustrated. Rochelle was watching Matt race like a madman through the shop but she stayed calm and eventually found her match. Matt however was still looking as Mike & Richelle headed out and Ashley tells him to just take a moment and breath. That would probably help because he's gonna pass out from all this racing about.
Hayley & Blair are now waiting for the ferry while Mike & Rochelle are on their way. Hayley is hoping they're far enough behind to end up on the next ferry. Matt is still looking through all the wooden shoes and still can't find a match.
While biking into town Laura & Tyler see the sign for the Centrum and head into the core of Amsterdam. It's actually a fairly easy city to get around, and there are signs all over the place. Hayley & Blair are across the river and on their way as Mike & Rochelle get on the ferry.
Having passed Jelani & Jenny. Somewhere in town Laura & Tyler are the first to the clue box, this legs Detour: Soak or Shuffle. In Soak teams take a ride in a floating hot tub and need to decipher a bunch of clues to get their next one. In Shuffle teams need to play a Dutch version of shuffleboard and score 51 points by shooting their pucks through the right slots to get their next clue. As much as I love a good soak, Wayne and I would probably choose Shuffle. Being a military kid I'm sure he's had plenty of experience playing shuffleboard in one Legion or another. That said, Laura & Tyler choose Soak.
Still biking along, Hayley is hollering for Blair to wait for her but he's only like 10 feet ahead. She is definitely slipping back into "annoying Hayley" mode. Meanwhile Mike & Rochelle are across the river and hoping to catch up.
Laura & Tyler strip out of their clothes and get into their hot tub and off they go down the river. They need to keep an eye out for all the clues because if they miss one theylol have to do it again. Laura points out that Tyler just really enjoys going about in his underwear. I don't see a problem with that. She also just realized that Tyler was right, they are in a boat.
Hayley & Blair pause for directions allowing Mike & Rochelle to catch up and that Spurs them back into panic mode. Mike & Rochelle find the clue box and choose Shuffle. Back at the Jagershuis Matt realizes he needs to calm down and take a breath. I'm so proud of Ashley for not saying she told him so. It's his 43rd attempt . . . and he's finally done it.
Laura & Tyler need to write down the clues and decode the answer while they enjoy their soak. Jelani & Jenny have finally arrived, choose Soak, and get changed. Laura & Tyler get more clues and they think they know the answer while Hayley & Blair have gotten lost on the streets of Amsterdam. Hayley is starting to lose it again and I really respect how Blair can remain so calm, even though she did tell him to take the street they've now gone back to. Yes, she was right, but she doesn't need to harp on it. Even with a smartphone and a map app Blair seems to be a little directionally challenged and Hayley just keeps yelling at him from behind.
Mike & Rochelle have arrived at the Shuffle location. The room is filled with gentlemen in traditional Dutch costumes, apparently it was a drinking game even then. They're given the rules of the game and told how much the slots are worth and how to score, and they get started. Right out of the gate Rochelle got 34 points so Mike only needs to get 17. That should be easy, right? Nope.
Matt & Ashley are finally on their bikes and heading into town as Jelani & Jenny are finally shown getting into their hot tub. Tyler is confirming their clues as they pass Jelani & Jenny heading out. They get back to the dock and now they need to write down their answer "ice skating rink." They're right and they're given their next clue. They need to make their way to the Museumplein Ice Skating Rink, the Pit Stop for this leg of the race.
Back at Shuffle, Mike missed it again by one point and they need to start over. So close.
Laura and Tyler arrive at the Museumplein Ice Skating Rink to be greeted by Phil and a 15 year old hockey player and are once again Team Number 1. They also win a trip for two to Seoul, South Korea. Based on the way their relationship is going it should be a nice break after the race. As they say, they both share such a love for the race that it overshadows anything else.
Hayley & Blair have finally figured out where they're going as they bike across the bridge over Jelani & Jenny. Hayley & Blair get into their hot tub and Hayley's concerned because she's just wearing her underwear so she covers up with a tight dress (or a long t-shirt, not sure which). Time to start gathering their clues and catch up.
Jelani & Jenny still don't know what the clues mean and feel they need to do it again because they think they've missed a clue. They haven't but that should give Hayley & Blair a little breathing room. Meanwhile, it's the 7th attempt at Shuffle for Mike & Rochelle as Matt & Ashley finally bike their way into Amsterdam.
Jenny tries to compare notes with Blair & Hayley but Blair just shrugs as he and Hayley return to the dock. They turn in their clue and change as Matt & Ashley choose Shuffle. They may be a little late as Mike & Rochelle just completed the task on their eleventh attempt, but they're still in it.
Hayley & Blair arrive at the Pit Stop and are Team Number 2. Blair says they might have different ways of dealing with stress and I'm thinking that's a bit of an understatement. Blair obviously tends to internalize his while Hayley likes to share. Once the pressure is off though they actually appear to get along.
Matt gets 42 points on his first attempt and it's up to Ashley to get the last 9. This should help them catch up but I'm not sure it'll be enough. Out on the water Jelani & Jenny finish their hot tub run, but they have again messed up the clues and still have the wrong answer. They'll need to do it again and that's definitely going to help Matt & Ashley. Jelani is ready to get back into the hot tub, until Jenny decides to ask someone walking by if they can help. They correct their answer and get the next clue to the Pit Stop.
Somehow Mike & Rochelle have gone in the wrong direction again and Jelani & Jenny are Team Number 3. They finally get turned back around and Mike & Rochelle are team Number 4. They had one really good leg but otherwise they've been the underdogs this entire season, and who doesn't love underdogs.
Back at Shuffle Matt & Ashley get their 51 points and get their clue to the Museumplien. They are the last team to arrive and Phil tells them that everyone needs to go home eventually, but they're not going home yet. This was a non-elimination leg and they're shocked, surprised, but mostly happy. They never gave up (Bergen & Kurt should take notes) and they're still in the race. Even if they do have a Speed Bump coming up in the next leg, the odds are it won't have anything to do with wooden shoes. Won't that make a great wedding gift.
Next week teams head to Peru where they work the Roadblock and crash the Detour. Would anyone like fries with that? Despite being behind on this leg I'm sure they'll all be on the same flight to South America next week so be sure to check back on Sunday/Monday for my BBCan reviews and Wednesday to see who's being voted out of the tribe on Survivor. If you don't care for either of those, I'll see you again next Friday. Until that time.