The Amazing Race 15, Episode 6: I Can Hear the Bells

Previously on Celibacy Leads Canaan to Get Physical with Mika in a Different Way, Sam & Dan decided to flirt with Maria & Tiffany and not reveal that they’re gay. Nate had trouble with a watch and briefcase at a Roadblock. Mika & Canaan were somewhat not horrible. Brian & Ericka struggled a little while Meghan & Cheyne finished first again. Mika & Canaan faced off at the top of a waterslide, and though Mika technically won, let’s just say no one came out of the situation looking like a winner, including Herb & Nate, who eked out a not-last-place finish. Canaan & Mika were eliminated and we’re down to six teams.

The island in Dubai where the racers have been Pit Stopping is shaped like a palm tree. Cool. Meghan & Cheyne leave at 1:13 p.m., flying to Amsterdam. There, they need to find a monument on a 19-mile causeway. Cheyne says their focus is to stay in first place, and if they have a target on their backs, they can’t do anything about it. They quickly get to the airport and are told that the earliest flight to Amsterdam doesn’t leave until midnight. Hellooooo, equalizer!

Maria & Tiffany leave second, Tiffany saying that second place feels good but they know from poker that they can’t get too comfortable. Sam & Dan are right behind them, and Sam is especially excited to see the world because he’s an anthropology student. Their driver is so fast that they think they’ll beat the poker girls to the airport. Brian & Ericka leave. Ericka laments that she feels like she’s becoming a nagging wife. Gary & Matt are next, and Matt tells us that before the race, he’d only ever left the States for Canada.

The first five teams convene at the airport as the Globetrotters leave. They still know they’re being targeted for elimination by the other teams since they’re so strong. Too bad for the other teams, since everyone’s now at the airport. Herb & Nate tell the others what happened at the top of the waterslide with Canaan & Mika. Everyone’s entertained.

A few minutes later, Sam & Dan decide to come out to everyone. Everyone cracks up, including Tiffany & Maria. “Now the matching swimsuits make sense,” Brian says. Ha! Dan blames their mom. He adds that a lot of their family and friends don’t know. Well, now they do. Maria & Tiffany don’t care about their sexuality, though they admit to being a tiny bit sad there won’t be any dates between the two teams. “Should I tell Matt he’s adopted now?” Gary asks. Heh.

Everyone flies to Amsterdam together, and Meghan & Cheyne fulfill their desire to stay in first place. Brian has trouble with the car, for some reason, but everyone else seems to get the hang of it. Ericka tells Brian not to get mad at her because he can’t work the car. Fair enough. He’s starting to lose it. After a little while they ask someone in the lot for help with getting the car in gear. On the highway, Ericka tells Brian that he dictates her mood, so he should calm down. This is going to get ugly, I have a feeling.

All the teams except Ericka & Brian reach the clue box at the monument around the same time. They’re sent to the Martinitoren, the highest building in the city of Groningen. The racers note that Brian & Ericka aren’t around. Herb jokes that they don’t know anyone else’s name on the race except Brian’s because they keep hearing Ericka yell his name. In fact, when the two of them finally reach the monument, she yells.

The task at the Martinitoren, which Meghan & Cheyne and Sam & Dan reach first, is a Roadblock. One team member has to walk up the tower and count the 62 bells in the carillon. Meghan and Sam take the task and decide to work together. The Globetrotters and Matt & Gary are next, with Herb and Matt taking the task. Tiffany & Maria follow and Tiffany takes the Roadblock. Has Maria done anything on this race? I think maybe she used the calculator last week. Apparently Ericka & Brian have closed the gap, as they’re now at the Martinitoren and Ericka is doing the task.

Sam and Meghan find a ton more bells at the top of the tower, so they’re not as close to being done as they thought they were. It doesn’t help when the bells start ringing right next to them. Matt quickly counts bells and heads down to the person playing them. He’s right, and he and Gary are now in first place and going to Vierhuizen de Marne in search of a windmill. A windmill in the Netherlands? Preposterous!