So Big Brother leave at 7:48 am. They must drive the sponsor's car to Civita Di Bagnoregio (phew, leaving Rome) and find their next clue. U-turn ahead. Hooray. They've decided to U-Turn the Cowboys forcing them to use the Express Pass. Uh, the boys have to use the Express Pass this leg so not sure if that makes sense. Maybe U-turn a team that doesn't have an Express Pass. Although Rachel adds they are only doing to get a first place win. Okay, let's see if that works.
The Country Singers leave second, thanks to a dumb yet gentlemanly move by the Mormons. As I said in my blog and our video, you should never, ever let a team step on the mat ahead of you. Never. But it hurt no one, at least not yet. Although the girls are going to work with the Mormons this le. Which goes back to their old ways of working (cough, using, cough) another team. They've been doing pretty good without help, why start that again? So the teams head on the road together while Dave calls them honest and bright. Although, you'll have to lead, Dave. And slow down so they can keep up.
The Cowboys are off, get directions, talk about their Express Pass and do a nice job promoting the sponsor. Methinks someone's getting new cars this leg. But then the Country Singers lose the Mormons, complain they were ditched, but the Mormons slow down so they can catch up. Sigh. Why do team continue...nevermind, you know how I feel. Hey, look it's the Afghanimals leaving. (Thanks for the nice tweet favs, Leo). Followed by the Globetrotters in last place. They get directions and talk about working harder. No kidding, boys. Sure, not losing is more important but a little more effort would be nice.
Nice shots of Italy and Big Brother find the clue box. Detour. And Donkeys. Yah. Donkey's are fun because they're unpredictable. One side says Donkey Run, getting teams to ride donkey's three laps of a race before the band finishes, they move on. In Donkey Build, teams must assemble a wooden donkey, load it with wood and bring it to Geppetto. Hmm. I'm thinking Gord and I would take Build cause we're both dads good a building toy type things. And with the race, you're at the mercy of your donkey.
Big Brother take Build. But while they run through the very picturesque community, they see the Donkey Run. So do that. First instincts are always best but you never know. The Mormons choose Run. And Big Brother has some theory about pooping donkeys being faster and they're off. And a few seconds later, Rachel is off, falling from her mount, which runs away. See, a factor out of their control. And then Brendan falls off. The song ends as the Mormons arrive. They boys ask for info and again seem irked another team won't help them. I like the Mormons, they've played well but they can't expect teams to help them cause it's a race.
Big Brother try again and Rachel is hanging on dear life. We learn the Mormons used to ride mules into the mountains so maybe that will help. Cue lesson on the difference between mules and donkeys. Big Brother get done. Good work. Get to Hostaria Del Ponte for the next clue. And the Double U-turn. The Mormons start their race. Dave falls off as Big Brother discuss maybe U-turning the Mormons instead of the Cowboys. I'd pick the Mormons cause they don't have the Express Pass and would, in turn, have to U-turn someone else. The various teams discuss strategy and worries about the U-turn. Although the Country Singers and Globetrotters are lost.
Big Brother arrive at the U-turn and...hit the Mormons. Man, if those dudes were annoyed then, they'll be pissed now. The next clue tells teams to drive to La Badia Di Orvieto. But Rachel is having second thoughts, asking for a redo on the Cowboys. Brendan gets her to move on. The Mormons are on their 4th attempt and we get our second ass joke. The Cowboys play it smart use their Express Pass on Build before the U-turn to hopefully get ahead of the other teams. They don't know what's happening but it's smart cause if they aren't U-turned, they can move on, possibly U-turn someone else. And if they are U-turned, they get to ride the donkeys. And I'm sure Jet and Cord would pretty good at that task, despite the donkeys. Good thinking.
But the Mormons are done and there's a race to the U-Turn. And here come the Afghanimals. The Mormon's arrive first and...not surprisingly, U-Turn Leo and Jamal. Give the Mormons credit, when they run into the Afghanimals, they tell the Afghanimals what they've done. But they try to put the blame on the Big Brother. The look on the Afghanimals' faces when the Mormons try to justify what they've done is priceless. Great TV. But then they decide to work together to build the donkey. Man, I thought Catholic guilt was tough but looks like Mormon guilt is worse.
Big Brother finds the next clue. Roadblock: Who's got the write stuff? Teams must copy a page from an old manuscript. This is classic Gord cause he's an artist but the clue could have thrown us off because as a writer, I might have taken it on. I have terrible handwriting. Maybe the church could have tipped us off, ya never know. Rachel says she's good at this, like she was supposed to be good at bartending and you remember how that turned out. Still, they are far ahead.
Finally, the Country Singers arrive, first annoyed at the Mormons but Dave tries to explain they waited. They did, we have video evidence. And they all decide to work together. Let's see how long the Afghanimals stick to that plan with another side of the Detour ahead of them. Finally, we see the Globetrotters looking for directions. Rachel is writing and the Afghanimals are almost done but forgot the baskets. Same for the Mormons. The Afghanimals leave to do the other side, getting a promise from the Mormons to tell what they've done wrong. So far the Mormons are honest so they should tell them.
Cowboys arrive at the Roadblock. Jet is on it, complaining that he always gets the arts and crafts task. Back to the donkeys and Dave finally reads the whole clue about the toymaker loading with firewood. Wonder why, when teams are stuck, they take so long to read the clue? Again. All the info you need to figure things out is always in the clue. Man for a bunch of seasoned teams, there sure is a lack of clue reading going on this season. And reading the clue pays off because the Mormons put on the baskets and are ready to head to Geppetto. The Country Girls call them geniuses but it's Amazing Race 101: always read the clue! If you can't figure something out, then read the clue again!
The Mormons start moving while the Afghanimals ride. Well, I guess you can call it riding. And as expected, the Mormons do tell Leo and Jamal what to do. And Jamal decides to change mounts cause his other one was too slow. And the Mormons and the Country Singers leave while Dave makes insulting comments about Rachel because she's playing the game instead of helping everyone. Not nice, Dave. The switch of Donkeys pay off for Leo and Jamal and they finish the race. But just as the Globetrotters get there. Rachel is writing while Brendan is praying. Cord is having more fun hanging with monks; I'd ask if they brewed any beer or wine they would like to share.
Globetrotters are racing while the Afghanimals are finished their Build. The Globetrotters are stuck on their second racing attempt so they switch. Afghanimals move on but stop for a sec to take it in the wondrous scenery. Good on them to enjoy the moment, but not too long boys. Globetrotters are stuck because of the basket. Rachel is close to finishing but has to start again. Jet starts again on his own. Globetrotters joke with the toymaker. Less joking, more thinking. More teams arrive at the writing task. Some sarcasm from the Mormons at the chapel but the best part is Dave and Connor arguing who is going to do the task. Gord is!
Globetrotters stand there, clouds pass so they switch again. Teams write and Rachel gets done first. Drive to some town which name I didn't get and ride a funicular to Piazza Del Duomo, the pitstop. Better not be a non-elimination. Better not. Teams write and struggle and the Afghanimals arrive.The Globetrotters are back on the ride. And they're off on some faster donkeys. And they get done. Jet gets done writing. Big Brother are on the mat winning their second leg. As well as a $7,500 each. No cars but they played well, didn't waste the U-turn.
More writing and Leo thanks his mom for making his practice writing as a kid. The Country Singers are done. And no, they are not waiting for the Mormons. Connor is stressing out and threatens to take a penalty. Might be a good move because this probably isn't a Globetrotters skill. Leo is done. And the Afghanimals decide to wait for Dave and Conner. I wouldn't cause it's a race. But they don't wait long because Connor gets done. And they all leave together, behind the Country Singers who seem to be lost again. The Cowboys land on the mat in second. Flight Time is writing but confusing Leos. Too bad he didn't mention my Leo, the protagonist in my bestselling novels Fall From Grace and A Killing Winter (hey, I had to plug myself somewhere).
Dave and Conner get confused and turn left instead of right. They missed the obvious sign in front of them and run into the girls. The Afghanimals turned left and end third, which is quite awesome considering they were U-turned. The Mormons arrive ahead of the Country Singers and wisely don't act like gentlemen this time. They are fourth and the girls are fifth. Looks like the Globetrotters will be sixth, again. And there is dialogue about adversity, etc. which tells me they are out. And not surprisingly, they are. They just didn't have their game on this season, finishing back of the pack for so many legs and you just can't keep doing that before it hits you. But they got to run the race three times which is three times more than most of us so they were quite lucky for that opportunity.
Next week, there's some maid work and the Afghanimals, the Mormons and the Country Singers make a final three alliance. Watch for our video in the next couple of days.