Amazing Race 10 update – Off the African coast

Teams start out from Mauritius and head to Madagascar. It’s revealed that the teams are starting out with only $10 for this leg of the race. Team Ergo continues to wait around for the “Six Pack” to keep their alliance with Teams Alabama and 16 Tons. It’s 3 a.m. at night so this is a bunching situation since the first flight leaves at 11 a.m. the following morning. In Madagascar, all the teams need to find the “Black Angel” for the next clue.

At the clue box, a new twist on the Race is revealed: the Intersection. Teams must pair up and perform all remaining tasks until further notice – so essentially, the competition goes from six teams to three. There’s also a Fast Forward which, if chosen, must be performed by the merged teams. Team Bicker and Team Rehab arrive first, immediately pair up, and head to the Fast Forward. They must find a restaurant and everybody must eat a plate full of cow lips. You heard me: cow lips.

The Blondies arrive next but they must wait for another team to arrive before they can go on. The remaining three teams arrive in quick succession and Team Blonde immediately latches onto the strongest team of Erwin & Godwin. This leaves the Southern teams together to figure out the Detour: Long Sleep or Short Letter. Teams may either deliver a bunch of foam mattresses or made decorative paper from hand-made pulp. The two merged teams go for the Long Sleep while the Team Rehab-Bicker alliance struggles with the disgusting hair-and-teeth filled cow lips.

Team Alabama/16 Tons actually comes up with a seemingly good idea: they lash their mattresses together with the straps from their fanny packs. This is better in theory than practice since eight foam mattresses make for an unwieldy burden. Mary makes her typical contribution of screaming constantly. Team Ergo-Blondie finish first and then are split back up into separate teams.

Team Blondie gets to the Roadblock first: one team member must collect some rubber stamps matching patterns. Team Ergo’s taxi runs out of gas. The Fast Forward teams are still eating while the Southern Alliance finally finishes their Detour. Kimberly is stating to look like she won’t be able to finish the cow lips; maybe the Fast Forward wasn’t so fast. It seems like they’re spending a lot of time rationalizing why the Fast Forward was the better choice. (Foreshadowing, anyone?) Nah, it looks like they’re going to make it after all and they head to the Pit Stop at Andohalo Cathedral.

After completing the Roadblock, both Dustin’s and Godwin’s taxis run out of gas. Dustin re-fuels first and Team Blonde arrives at the Cathedral as Team #1 for the second week in a row (and beating the Fast Forward teams). Team 16 Tons finishes the Roadblock but they need to get there at least 30 minutes ahead of the last place team to make up for last week’s penalty.

Team Alabama finishes their Roadblock but their taxi runs out of gas! Nevertheless, they arrive at the Pit Stop with plenty of time to spare and David & Mary are eliminated. It’s a tearful farewell as the Southern teams had formed a bond. David hands off his University of Kentucky baseball cap to continue on with Team Alabama.

Final standings:

#1 - Team Blonde – Dustin & Kandace – Prize: Travelocity trip
#2 - Team Rehab – Tyler & James – Fast Forward
#3 - Team Bicker – Rob & Kimberly – Fast Forward
#4 - Team Ergo – Erwin & Godwin
#5 - Team Alabama – Lyn & Karlyn
#6 - Team 16 Tons – David & Mary - PHILIMINATED

Next week: Into the big muddy.

Extra – This space reserved for recaps from Pat and Kris.