Recap: 11/08/09 Winners: Meghan and Cheyne made it to the Pit Stop first after breezing through the Detour and Roadblock. When the team was told they had won a red cedar sauna, the pair seemed more confused than thrilled (what -- no free vacation to Turks and Caicos?).
Eliminated: Father/son team Gary and Matt were the last to arrive at the Pit Stop -- again. The pair lucked out during last week's non-elimination leg when they were given a second chance at survival. This week ... not so much.
Detour: Teams had to choose between Serve (play mud volleyball against locals) and Sling (shoot radishes at a target). A veritable volleyball showdown took place between the Globetrotters and Sam and Dan, who played simultaneously in side-by-side courts. Although the Globetrotters won their game first, Sam and Dan managed to catch up after Flight Time and Big Easy sprinted to the Pit Stop -- in the wrong direction.
Roadblock: This week the teams had to solve a medieval mystery a la Dan Brown, which required one team member to join the "Brotherhood of the Blackheads," an ancient, secret Estonian society. This member had to locate a candelabra that had a room number on it and proceed to the appropriate room. Next, the Racer needed to figure out how to derive the next clue from a blank scroll. Some Racers immediately knew to hold up the scroll to a lighted candle in order to read the secret message. Other Racers reverted to their childhoods and proceeded to frantically scribble on the scroll with a crayon, which didn't exactly help.
Biggest Blunder: Already trailing behind the other teams and facing a Speed Bump, Gary and Matt cemented their elimination during the Roadblock when Matt failed to understand the meaning of the word "candelabra." Poor pink-haired Matt actually asked a local man if he was a candelabra. Matt: The word has "candle" in it. Next time you seek the meaning of a word, try logical inference (or at least carry a pocket dictionary).
Savviest Travel Move: Teams Brian and Ericka and Meghan and Cheyne asked the locals when they needed directions to Pikk Hermann Tower Garden, which held their next clue. It was a smart move; it never hurts to ask for directions!
Funniest Moment: We were in stitches when Flight Time and Dan wiped out multiple times as the dueling teams raced to the Pit Stop. Dramatically, Big Easy later insinuated that Flight Time's fall was no accident. Were Sam and Dan playing rough? We predict some kind of smack down between the teams next leg....
Must-See Sight: The beds didn't look too comfortable on the 16-hour ferry ride from Sweden to Estonia. But the sun setting and rising over the pretty Baltic Sea took our breath away.
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