Simply Amazing

Character is not made in a crisis—it is only exhibited.

—Robert Freeman

And how!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what I have found most interesting while watching the fifteenth season of The Amazing Race:  how humans react under pressure.  When life squeezes you to the nth degree, then whatever you're made of—whatever is truly at your core—rises very quickly to the surface.  And sometimes that's not a pretty picture.

As I have pointed my finger at others this season, of course there have always been three (and a thumb) pointing right back at me.  I've just commented on what I've observed and how I've interpreted each week's events.  But maybe what I haven't blogged about is how it's caused me to ponder my own circumstances and how I would (and do) react when under pressure or caught in unfavorable and uncomfortable situations. 

I know that I lash out, too.  I'm not as kind or compassionate to others as I should be when I am in the grip of a life squeeze.  And I imagine had I been racing through 8 countries in 21 days and traveled more than 25,000 miles that I might have been a little cranky, treated others poorly at times and been short-tempered, too.

But … had I won the $1 million prize … now that would have been a different story, right? 

So let's get to it.  Who did win in last night's finale?  Well, don't hold your breath any longer, ‘cause you've probably already guessed it.  It's the team who was consistent and kept the bar high, week after week after week.  Yes, Team All American (Meghan and Cheyne) were the first to cross the finish line in the last leg of The Amazing Race 15.

But during the final episode, it really was anyone's race to win.  And challenge to challenge, we were all kept wondering what the outcome would be.  Here's a mini rundown of what happened:

• VIVA LAS VEGAS … In Prague, Czech Republic, where teams finished last week's leg, this week's first clue pointed to Las Vegas, Nevada.  All teams were on the same flight from Europe back to the States, and once there, teams had to travel to the Graceland Wedding Chapel where "Elvis" handed them their next clue.  All teams arrived at the same time, heard a little "'Amazin' Grace," got the next clue and then scurried back out the chapel doors to their waiting taxis.

• CLIMBING MT. MANDALAY … Next up:  "Make your way to Mandalay Bay."  Or, in other words, "Who's ready to climb down a mountain?"  Yikes!  Teams had to rappel face-first 600 feet down the side of the Mandalay Resort hotel/casino building.  Yep.  And you'll never guess who came in first in this challenge.  Ericka from Team Jungle Fever!  Unbelievable.  But this team's too-good-to-be-true lead didn't last for long …

• IT'S ALL AN ILLUSION … After the rappelling challenge, the next clue said:  "This desert has only one mirage.  Go to it."  Teams figured out they should go to the Mirage hotel, and once there, the next clue instructed them to "join the cast of 'Love.'"  As in the Cirque du Soleil show.  One team member was hoisted in the air via bungee cords while the other stood on the ground and catapulted him or her through the air in efforts to swipe a flower bouquet that was hanging from the rafters.  And this is where Ericka had her biggest meltdown of the entire season.  To call it a temper tantrum would be putting it mildly.  Cursing, accusing, screaming, kicking her feet and lashing out at husband/teammate Brian … well, this was not her finest hour.  And unfortunately, her outburst-ing and lack of focus allowed Team All American to get back into the lead.  (Team Bro also bickered a little during this challenge, but were able to get it together and pass up Team Jungle Fever.)

• THE CHIPS ARE IN … MONTE CARLO … The next clue directed teams to figure out "what's the most famous casino in the country of Monaco."  Teams had to decipher that it was Monte Carlo.  This challenge was a nail-biter as Team All American did not know that it was Monte Carlo and wasted precious time on other hotels (The Venetian, The Bellagio) before figuring out that they should be headed toward the Monte Carlo hotel.  Meanwhile Team Bro arrived at Monte Carlo first, followed by Team Jungle Fever.  The next clue directed teams to "count $1 million worth of poker chips."  Each table was covered with a sea of 8,400 chips (in various denominations).  When they thought they were finished counting, a dealer then verified the amount.  If they counted correctly, teams were handed a special chip and their next clue.  In the end, the calm, cool and collected teamwork of Team All American (who showed up last to count their chips, by the way) allowed them to finish first, regain the lead (again) and move on to the next challenge. 

• A NIP-TUCKED MR. LAS VEGAS … Wow.  Times, and Wayne Newton, sure haven't changed.  Teams received their next clue to "make their way to Suite 88 at the MGM Grand Hotel."  There, teams found "Mr. Las Vegas" himself (a creaseless Wayne Newton) tickling the ivories in a high-roller suite.  He then informed teams that they had to find his Las Vegas home which was the location of the finish line.  And that was all he said.  So that was all that team's got for their final clue.

• GOING ALL IN FOR A BIG FINISH … Teams "lucked" out as apparently Newton's home is a regular Las Vegas tourist attraction, so every cabbie knew exactly where to take the Amazing Race-rs.  But what they didn't know was which entrance was the right one.  Since the home is really a ranch with lots of acreage, it took Team All American just a little bit of extra time before they figured out the right entrance and Chariots-of-Fire'd their way to the finish line.

Upon reaching the check-in mat, Meghan and Cheyne threw their arms around host Phil Keoghan before offering some final comments: 

Meghan:  "This is absolutely a dream come true.  I couldn't have imagined a better race.  I've learned so much about Cheyne.  He's just such a good friend and such a good person.  I know he's always going to be there for me throughout my entire life."

Cheyne:  "[Meghan] was one of the strongest competitors in the whole race, even compared to the guys … The whole experience in itself was life-changing, and the money is not even as important as what we got to do together.  It was the perfect race.  It could not have been any better."   

Sam & Dan then arrived and clocked in in second place:

Dan:  "We're completely happy to be here, and we wanted to share our story.  We wanted to not let our family down just by being who we were.  But we just wanted to come out and do this race and finish this race and that's what we did." 

Sam:  "We bicker and we pick at each other, but we know it's not going to matter.  At the end of the day, we're still brothers, we still love each other, we still want to hang out the next day.  You know you have a great family whenever you look up to your younger brother, and I just love him so much and respect the person that he is." 

Rounding it out, Brian and Ericka finished in third place.  And in an ironic final set of comments regarding character, Ericka discussed her family's issues with Brian being white and marrying into a black family and how she hoped this experience would change their feelings toward him: 

Ericka:  "I think they're going to see some things in Brian that they've never had an opportunity to see before, and I hope that they fully accept him for who he is.  I think it's really important that people step back and evaluate the character of a person as opposed to what's face value, what's on the exterior and he's nothing in comparison to who that person really is. 

Well said, Ericka.  Well said.  May we all learn from this example.  And may we take time to evaluate character in others, as we make sure our own lives are rooted in that which is solid and remains unchanged—despite the detours, road blocks or speed bumps that come our way in the amazing race of life (Hebrews 12:1).


For additional coverage of Meghan's and Cheyne's win on The Amazing Race 15, please visit here or here.

STAY TUNED …

The sixteenth season of The Amazing Race is slated to premiere on CBS sometime in the first quarter of 2010.  So keep it simply amazing and keep yourself ready for the next season of The Amazing Race.  See you soon!

Many times, we are our own worst enemies.  Or in the case of Team Bro, our own worst enemy could be a little DNA and one meltdown away.

In this week's episode of The Amazing Race, Team Bro's Sam and Dan were spared by the skin of their gollum.  Well, make that the clay exterior of their gollum (read on for the deets).  But in the end, it was the brothers from another mother—Team Globetrotter's Nathaniel and Herbert—who were eliminated. 

The next-to-last episode for this season began in Prague, where last week's final pit stop brought the teams.  The four remaining teams had to complete a number of challenges in order to make it to the final three (competing in next week's grand finale for first place and a prize of $1 million).  Here are the highlights …

HOLY SPANISH SYNAGOGUE! … It's the city's "oldest Jewish house of prayer," we're told, and yet it's called "Spanish Synagogue."  I don't get it either.  Anyway, the teams taxied here to pick up their first clue:  "DETOUR:  Go to the Ekotechnicke Museum."  That was the directive for all except Team Jungle Fever, who had to complete a SPEED BUMP first ("Pay a visit to the green fairy."  They had to find a pub and perform a three-step process to make a drink called absinthe.  Then, they each had to drink a shot and continue on in the race.  "It was like rubbing alcohol going down my throat," said Brian, the teetotaler, afterward.)

KAFKA CALLING … Meanwhile, back at the museum, a ROAD BLOCK met the teams:  "In order to obtain the impossible one must attempt the absurd."  Teams had to search for five phones in a Kafka-esque type of convoluted, bureaucratic setting (dozens of empty desks and telephones in an otherwise-barren and darkened room) and listen for a voice at the end of the line.  Five voices needed to be heard with five different letters being spoken.  Teams could not write them down until they had made their way through the desks and phones and heard all five letters, and then checked in at the supervisor's desk.

Once there, they had to fill out a form (useless information to try and scramble their brains and cause them to forget the letters they were trying to remember).  At the end of the form, teams had to correctly write down the five letters and figure out that they should be in the order that would spell out "FRANZ" (as in existential author Franz Kafka).  If done correctly, the supervisor would approve their form and give them the next clue.  Not surprisingly, Team All American's Meghan sailed right through.  But Team Bro's Dan had some trouble figuring out that the letters should be spelled in the order of "FRANZ," as did Team Globetrotter's Nathaniel. 

Frustrated beyond measure, Sam and Nathaniel decided to pool their resources and work together.  But in the end, Dan figured out the lettering combo, withheld the information (except for a snarky, mildly helpful "it starts with an F!" clue) and left Nathaniel in the near dark while he scurried off to the next challenge.  But the task proved too intricate for Nathaniel, and Team Globetrotter ended up taking a four-hour penalty and sat out the hours before they could continue on.  This lapse in time (and judgment), led to Team Jungle Fever's gain as they made it through their SPEED BUMP, and then saw Brian sail through the phone and lettering challenge to pass up Team Globetrotter and receive the next clue.

ICE ICE BABY … The teams hadn't stripped down to their skivvies in quite a while, so it was time to get to it!  (Seriously, though, has there been an episode this season yet where someone has not had to strip down to underwear or swimsuits?).  In this challenge, teams were required to go into a holistic treatment chamber at the Kryocentrum, where it was 180 degrees below zero (Celsius).  Teams were allowed to don gloves, surgical masks, socks and flip-flop-ish shoes, and sweater headbands to cover their ears.  But they had to remain in the chamber for two minutes before exiting and receiving their next clue to head to Charles Bridge (which connects the old and new parts of Prague). 

OF LEGEND AND LAGER … Once reaching Charles Bridge, teams received their choice of DETOURS:  Legend or Lager.  Legend required teams to cover a monstrous gollum form with clay, then transport the heavy figure (on foot) across busy intersections of the city (up and over curbs and all) to another synagogue.  If the rabbi was satisfied with their work, he would give them their next clue.  It's a wonder Team Bro ever made it through this challenge, though, with all of their "shut up's" and bickering and mini meltdowns.  Their gollum even fell at one point, cracking an arm, and frequently the brothers would be stopped in the middle of streets with their teetering gollum while arguing about the best way to transport it to the synagogue.  I thought for sure they would be passed up, eliminated or (gulp) maybe clipped by a passing motorist.

Lager required teams to transport 30 glasses of beer on round serving trays, while walking through cobble-stoned city streets amidst drunken groups of people who might try to swipe at a glass—and Czech people drink more beer per capita than anywhere in the world, we're told—from one pub to another.  Team All American and Team Bro chose Legend, while Team Jungle Fever chose Lager.  Meanwhile, Team Globetrotter was still on their four-hour break (penalty).  Zzzzzzzzzz.

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER … The first three teams to complete Legend or Lager and arrive at the check-in mat at Strelecky Ostrov—an island of sorts next to Charles Bridge—were greeted by host Phil Keoghan and congratulated for making it to the final three. 

So, after all of that, our current standings are as follows:

1st:  Team All American (Meghan and Cheyne)
2nd:  Team Bro (Sam and Dan)
3rd:  Team Jungle Fever (Brian and Ericka)

Team Globetrotter's decision to take the penalty was a foul move from the get-go and the basket-ballers weren't able to make up a four-hour discrepancy.  In fact, after their time period was up at the museum, they were instructed to just go straight to the final pit stop (the other teams had long since checked in).

Next week, we're told this for the season finale:  "In high-rolling Las Vegas, teams put it all on the line, experience the highs, the lows and ‘The King.'  Who will cross the finish line first and win one million dollars?"

It's anyone's guess at this point.  Will Team All American clinch what looks like sure victory?  Will Team Bro use their bickering to fuel their way to the top?  Or will Team Jungle Fever come from behind and outdo them all with winning colors?

Who knows!  But until then, keep it simply amazing.  And keep watching The Amazing Race.  See you next week!

WANT TO WATCH?

The Amazing Race airs on CBS on Sunday nights at 8/7 Central.  Plan your schedule accordingly.

You can watch the "Elimination Station" interview with Nathaniel and Herbert here.

Or to watch the latest episode in its entirety online, go here.

It's a short week (Happy Thanksgiving, everybody). And therefore, it's a short blog with a holiday twist (ready to talk turkey?).

Here's all you need to know from this week's episode of The Amazing Race:

• Team All American blew off working together with Team Globetrotter in securing transportation from an outdoor adventure center to a theater.  TURKEY TRANSLATION:  Don't burn your bridges—especially if family game time is happening right after football and you need the strongest playahs on your side.

•  "Shut up!"  "Stop!"  "Oh, shoot!"  "You don't understaaaaand!"  TURKEY TRANSLATION:  Sure, you might expect to hear such outbursts at the dinner table this coming Thursday (or possibly in conjunction with the gazillion-piece puzzle you're trying to put together).  But it's also possible that Team Bro would say such things to one another as well.  Either or. 

•  Team Bro stole Team Jungle Fever's taxi (they had asked the taxi driver to wait for them) while Team JF was still completing a challenge.  TURKEY TRANSLATION:  It's like what happens when someone steals the other turkey leg you were eyeing:  you take solace in knowing that sweet revenge—and dessert!—is coming.  Plus, you know where Mom is storing the pies anyway, so you can always get the first slice.  Or two.

•  Hidden miniature mandolins are highly desirable, cannot really be played and must be handled with great care.  TURKEY TRANSLATION:  Sooooo ... like wish bones, they are pretty much useless instruments.

•  It was a non-elimination leg, so no one got canned.  TURKEY TRANSLATION:  Besides, fresh pumpkin is SO much better.  Ditto for cranberry sauce.  Make it fresh, people.  Make it fresh!

•  The standings are now as follows.  TURKEY TRANSLATION:  Like the seating chart at your family's holiday dinner, you may not like who's in front of you.  "Please, Mom … do I HAVE to sit near Uncle Earl again?  He's so annoying and smells funny.") …

   - 1st:  Team All American (Meghan and Cheyne)
   - 2nd: Team Bro (Sam and Dan)
   - 3rd:  Team Globetrotter (Nathaniel and Herbert)
   - 4th:  Team Jungle Fever (Brian and Ericka)

Next week, "a night in Prague brings out the teams' dark side."  Ooooh.  Sounds like a page right out of New Moon (except without Team Edward or Team Jacob ... or glitter, sparkle or shimmer).  Can't wait!

Until then, keep it simply amazing.  Watch out for Tryptophan.  And keep watching The Amazing Race.  See you next week!

WANT TO WATCH?

The Amazing Race airs on CBS on Sunday nights at 8/7 Central.  Plan your schedule accordingly.

Or to watch the latest episode in its entirety online, go here.

To read last week's Simply Amazing blog, go here.
 

Keeping it short and sweet this week.  Just like the Travelocity roaming gnome (who I assume is sweet … I mean, if he were animate and all).  So here's my week-at-a-glance, commentary blog-chart for the latest episode of The Amazing Race:

START > From Stockholm, Sweden, teams must travel to Tallinn, Estonia, by ferry (a 16-hour ride on the Baltic Sea).  Cabins are small (like a "living in 100 sq. feet" studio set-up at Ikea), but the stow-away bunks are pretty cool.

MEDIEVAL TIMES > Upon arriving in Estonia, a Road Block informs teams that they must find the right key (in their jam-packed key rings they are given) to open the door of a building called Mustpeade—a lair to some secret Medieval brotherhood where a group of chain-mailed men are carrying away in a darkened room (perhaps the very first man cave?) while sword-fighting, ale-swigging and mandolin-strumming.  Teams must find a candelabra (or as Team Father & Son's Matt called it, "a candle-uh-BRAH") on a table and take it.  Each candelabra has a number on it which corresponds with a room number in the building.  Once teams find the right room, they are presented with a scroll on a table which also has a candle and a crayon lying next to it.  The message on the scroll appears to be blank, but if teams figure out that they must hold it up over candlelight then the message will appear.  Some teams think they should color lightly over the scroll (like those childhood books you would trace over with your pencil and then pictures would appear) and that the message will be revealed in this way. Eventually, each team figures out that the candlelight is the key to finding the message.

ROAD BUMP > Remember last week, when Team Father & Son came in last place and were not eliminated but were told they'd face a Road Bump this week?  Well, here you go.  In front of Mustpeade, a box with the clue for the Road Bump informs them that before they get their Medieval on, they must find a Saunabuss (basically just a city bus with a sauna room inside), strip down and take a five-minute sauna with a group of locals.  Hopefully, they can make up the lost time and snap back to it after they're done chillaxin.

MUD OR VEGGIES > Meanwhile, the other teams all decipher their scrolls' hidden messages which direct them to Pink Hermann Tower Gardens (a castle-ish looking structure with a tower in some gardens).  Once teams arrive at this area, they receive a Detour.  They're directed toward wetlands in the Estonian countryside, where they must choose between "Serve" or "Sling."  In Sling, they have to slog around in knee-deep mud while playing volleyball against a local team.  Five points must be scored to earn the next clue.  In Sling, teams use a slingshot with various small, round vegetables in order to hit a moose target (a small road sign with a moose illustration on it).  When they make a direct hit, the table below the target will be triggered to collapse and dump a pile of vegetables on the ground.  All teams but one choose Serve.

MUD > Of course, Team All American has had some v-ball experience, so they have no trouble reaching five points in a short amount of time.  They're the first team to receive the final clue to head to Keava Raba Overlook Tower (visible from the v-ball area and just a short jog away) which is their final pit stop for this leg of the race and where host Phil Keoghan will reveal their standings at the check-in mat.  Three teams then arrive at the v-ball challenge at about the same time:  Team Globetrotter, Team Bro and Team Jungle Fever.  But the brothers' teams got there first, and only two teams can play v-ball at the same time.  So Team Jungle Fever is forced to switch to slinging some veggies instead of waiting to play v-ball.

VEGGIES > Team Jungle Fever doesn't take too long to hit their target and see the pile of (what looks like) cabbages fall to the ground.  Team Father & Son arrive later and choose the Sling task and are also able to hit the target fairly quickly.  But apparently not quickly enough …

CHECK-IN MAT > While probably expected by most viewers at this point, Team All American reclaims their first-place status this week and Team Father & Son has come in last (again), but this time has been eliminated.  That leaves three other teams still in the mix, and the standings are as follows:

1st:  Team All American (Meghan and Cheyne)
2nd:  Team Bro (Sam and Dan)
3rd:  Team Globetrotter (Nathaniel and Herbert)
4th:  Team Jungle Fever (Brian and Ericka)

Next week, we're told the teams will be in Prague.  "Flight Time serenades and Sam and Dan get sneaky."  Until then, keep it simply amazing and keep watching The Amazing Race.  See you next week!

WANT TO WATCH?

The Amazing Race airs on CBS on Sunday nights at 8/7 Central.  Plan your schedule accordingly.

You can watch the "Elimination Station" interview with Gary and Matt here.

Or to watch the latest episode in its entirety online, go here.

From Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Stockholm, Sweden … by planes, trains and automobiles … with gnomes, explosives and 186 bales of hay.  It seems the latest episode of The Amazing Race had a little something for everyone—including plenty of choice comments that made me go "huh?" or chuckle or possibly raise an eyebrow and groan à la Scooby Doo.  Arrumph?

So without further ado, here's what I heard (in no particular or chronological order):

"We're probably embarrassing our family."  Yep.  Probably so.  Team Bro talk about their sibling rivalry and their bickering and yelling as they drive to the airport in Amsterdam to catch a flight to Stockholm.  Got to love their honesty.  Well … at least since last week's "true confessions" time with the other teams.

"We're running a really strong race which is a good sign of compatibility and a good partnership."  Wow.  Seriously!  A pro-marriage statement from Team All American who acknowledged that they were planning to head toward the altar.  Not used to hearing such positive affirmation from a couple on a reality television show.  Maybe Meghan and Cheyne should get a new nickname.  Go Team Marriage!

"I'm on gnome duty."  Team Globetrotter's Nathaniel to Herbert after successfully tossing a ring around the right cone (at a "Roaming Gnome Ring Toss" game at an amusement park) and finding the ceramic-looking Travelocity "roaming gnome" underneath which revealed the next clue; they also had to carry the gnome with them for the rest of this leg of the race.  Later, while driving on their way to blast some explosives (the next challenge required them to go to a rock quarry where they had to build a bunker with dirt bags and then fire off some dynamite), the duo tossed around some nicknames for their new little buddy:  Sweet Pea, Louisiana Shorty ("That's ghetto!") or Harlem Gnome. 

"The guy is supposed to win his girl something at the fair, not the other way around."  But then Team Jungle Fever has always seemed to do things a little differently, haven't they?  Brian said this after Ericka did well at the Roaming Gnome Ring Toss.  And to that, Ericka had to say:  "It's two-thousand-and-nine!" (As in, times have changed.)  Thanks for the history lesson, Ericka.

"Thank the Lord."  Well glory be!  Didn't expect a vertical shout-out from Team Bro (Sam and Dan) whilst doing the hale bay duty.  (The last challenge in this leg of the race required the teams to unroll bales of hay [there were 186 of them from which to choose] in a large field in the hopes of finding one of seven flags which they would need to deliver to host Phil Keoghan at the check-in mat).  But I guess desperate times call for desperate, God-fearing measures.

"We ‘bout to go somewhere and blow something up."  That's right, dawg!  Team Globetrotter's Herbert as the team is driving on their way to the rock quarry to build their bunker and ignite some explosives.

"Scoop!"  Team All American's Meghan to Cheyne while they're loading dirt into bags to build their bunker.  Apparently, Cheyne was not scooping in dirt fast enough (and not in the manner in which Meghan was asking him to) as other teams were passing them by and moving ahead in this leg of the race. 

"Cowboy up!"  Team Father & Son's Matt as he jogged to the rock quarry to build his bunker while carrying the gnome under one arm and wearing his protective helmet.  Albeit, he had on his hard hat with his punkish, pinkish-red hair poking out and the piercings and all, so it was kind of funny.  Kind of.

"Cover up our gnome!"  Team Jungle Fever's Brian to Ericka before pushing the button to ignite the explosives at the rock quarry.  Maybe good preparation for parenthood someday?  Protective instincts … check!

"What he doesn't realize is that I stopped listening to him 10 years ago."  More true confessions.  I love it!  Team Bro's Sam when annoyed by his brother Dan's hay bale-unrolling directives ("Sam, just unroll it and be done with it!") and recommended techniques being shouted from the side of the field.  Apparently, Sam was taking too long to sift through the hay looking for a flag in each bale.

"We had no hay in the projects."  Team Globetrotter's Nathaniel as he shows that he's up to the task while completing the hay bale unrolling task.  He reminds us:  "I'm from the concrete jungle in New Orleans, baby."  "Third Ward!" shouts Herbert from the field's sidelines.  Nathaniel agrees: "Fo sho!"  I'm not making this up, people.  Love me some Globetrotters.

"I was so overwhelmed with pride that that was my girlfriend."  Team All American's Cheyne after a weary and teary Meghan finally finds a flag in a bale of hay which brings them to the check-in mat in second-place position.  Wow.  These two are definitely on a roll (pun intended).  Ten bucks that there's a marriage proposal somewhere in the remaining episodes of this season.  I'm just saying …

"I could not ask for a better wife.  She encourages me and lifts me up."  Team Jungle Fever's Brian praising Ericka to host Phil Keoghan at the check-in mat after he finds a flag in the hay.  Um, okay.  Really?  Have you been watching the last several episodes, Brian? 

"I kept rolling and kept rolling and kept rolling."  Papa was a rolling stone!  Team Father & Son's Gary as he is the last person in the field, yet continues unrolling bale after bale of hay searching for a flag.  Says he grew up with a strong work ethic.  "If you give up, you're giving up on the race!"  Thankfully for Team F&S, this was not an elimination leg, so their last place finish did not see them out.  Props to the Papa! 

And now, since you're probably really confused, here's a quick episode recap …

This week, teams left from The Netherlands and flew to Stockholm, Sweden where they drove themselves to an amusement park.  There, they had to make it through a free-fall ride (the "Frit Faul," I believe it was called) that plunged 24 stories in less than three seconds and before doing so, spot a big arrow somewhere in the park. 

Once teams navigated their way to the arrow, the clue revealed a Detour that presented two challenges:  Nobel dynamite or Viking alphabet.  All teams chose the dynamite.  This task required teams to drive out to the countryside to a rock quarry where they filled bags with dirt to build bunkers and then set off some explosives. 

Amidst the rubble, they had to find boxes which contained their next clue to head to a farm where the Road Block was a switchback to a challenge from a past season:  unrolling giant bales of hay (like huge cinnamon rolls) in order to find flags stuffed inside which they would then need to take to host Phil Keoghan and be counted at the check-in mat.  (In Season 6, a team member was unrolling hay for 8 hours and never found a flag.  Yikes!). 

Thankfully, this was a non-elimination leg of the race, so the last team to arrive at the check-in mat was not arrivederci'd.  Can you say "early Christmas miracle"? 

So now, the standings are as follows: 

1st:  Team Globetrotter (Nathaniel and Herbert)
2nd:  Team All American (Meghan and Cheyne)
3rd:  Team Jungle Fever (Brian and Ericka)
4th:  Team Bro (Sam and Dan)
5th:  Team Father & Son (Gary and Matt)

Next week, the teams will be in Estonia where Matt is "at a loss for words" and apparently "the brothers" will clash with the other brothers (Team Globetrotter vs. Team Bro).  That should be fun.

Until then, keep it simply amazing.  And keep watching The Amazing Race.  See you next week!

WANT TO WATCH?

The Amazing Race airs on CBS on Sunday nights at 8/7 Central.  Plan your schedule accordingly.

To watch the latest episode in its entirety online, go here.