The Amazing Race 20, Episode 7: It’s Getting Very Tents

Radon start jumping. Rachel feels blessed that the Masai let them take part in this ritual. She notes that they don’t have the benefit of wearing sneakers. Art’s still trying to hit his target. Radon’s jumping time is up, so if teams can handle the altitude, this is clearly the task to do. They’re sent to the Simba Campsite. Chances of friendly, talking animals there: slim to none. Art hits his target, so he and J.J, are off, too.

Rachel B. & Dave get the Detour clue and set off for Marksmanship, passing both of the first two teams on their way. Rachel B. accuses Dave of yelling, but he says not to mistake it for support. Mark & Bopper are next to the Detour, and as the other teams drive off, Brandon tells them to do Courtship. I almost never say this, but they should listen to Brandon.

Dave & Rachel B. hurl their weapons. He says it’s like knife-throwing. I guess he has a lot of experience with that? Mark & Bopper arrive as they’re still throwing. There’s jumping. They never explain the courtship part of this task – does this mean Mark & Bopper just married one of the locals? Or are they celebrating someone else’s engagement? I don’t know. Anyway, they’re done quickly and leave Dave & Rachel B. behind. Dave soon gets a target, and Rachel isn’t far behind.

Ralph & Vanessa and Jamie & Nary reach the Detour clue at the same time. Both teams decide to do Marksmanship. Vanessa has trouble riding her bike. The creative swearing goes right out the window. Jamie & Nary are already at the Detour. Vanessa falls off her bike and gets a little banged up. She says she needs a shorter bike. Ralph is frustrated, which makes her frustrated. He finally tells her to just walk the bike.

Jamie & Nary are used to targets and are self-proclaimed great shots. You know, as teachers. Radon and Art & J.J. pass some groups of people, who one of the Border Patrol guys calls “Japanese tourists.” It looks like they may be lost. Make that definitely lost, as Rachel B. & Dave are at the next clue box. They need to offload a bunch of supplies, put together a tent (complete with a working shower), then go to the Pit Stop nearby. I think it’s safe to say they’ll be staying right there tonight. Dave says this skill set might be in the “dark recesses” of his abilities, but he does have a good attention to detail, plus perfectionist tendencies and some OCD.

Nary & Jamie finish Marksmanship as Vanessa & Ralph arrive. Elsewhere, J.J. & Art find out they went the wrong way and are most likely no longer in first place. Vanessa takes out a target, and moments later, so does Ralph. Now everyone is on the way to build a tent, except Dave & Rachel B., who are already there. Vanessa has to walk her bike again, and Ralph says they’ll fall behind.

Radon and Mark & Bopper are at the tents. Rachel says she’s not an “African safari bush master,” but she has camped before. Vanessa & Ralph make it back to their safari vehicle, and she apologizes for letting him down. He says it’s not her fault; he just hates losing. Art & J.J. and Nary & Jamie start building tents. Apparently part of Rachel R.’s past camping activities included using her body to measure the length of a tent. I don’t know. Rachel B. & Dave are sniping at each other. Rachel R. finds it difficult to hold up a pole while Brandon fits things together, since he’s taller than she is.

Ralph & Vanessa are last to make it to the tents. They’re greeted by Dave snapping at Rachel B. while she sarcastically replies, “Yes, sir.” At one point he tells her to shut her mouth. “That’s why we’re not here with our wives,” J.J. says. Yeah, because Rachel’s the jerk here. Dave sees the problem, and though it requires taking down all the poles, he and Rachel get them back up quickly.

Time passes. I guess the editors didn’t think watching people put up tents wasn’t interesting. For five of the teams, all the building is pretty much done. The exception is Jamie & Nary. They blame the fact that they don’t have a male on their team. Excuse me? Federal agents? You don’t need men to build a tent. Well, Rachel R. does, apparently, since she’s whining about putting the shower together.

Mark & Bopper are the first to ask for a verdict. Bopper wants it quickly since he wants to use the shower. Heh. They’re not done – the shower doesn’t work – but Rachel B. & Dave are. They admit that they’re stubborn, but they get the job done. Once their shower works, Bopper & Mark are also done. Dave & Rachel B. find Phil first, so they’ve now won four legs. Yeesh. They get a trip to Costa Rica. Mark & Bopper come in second, their best finish yet.

Art & J.J.’s shower and tent are approved. Same with Radon’s. Jamie tells us she and Nary haven’t slept in three days (except Nary’s nap on the plane, I guess), and they’re tired and hungry and exhausted, but they’re not giving up. Art & J.J. check in third, and Phil notes that the race is getting interesting because of the teams’ rivalries with each other. The guys say they’re going to stay out of it. Yeah, they’ve done a great job of that so far. Radon meet Phil fourth. Rachel says they’re not going to let anyone’s negativity affect them anymore. Uh-huh.

Ralph & Vanessa are done with their tent and shower, so Jamie & Nary are alone at the task. Phil addresses the rivalries with Vanessa & Ralph. Vanessa doesn’t care to make friends with Radon. Yeah, shocking.

Jamie & Nary are finally done with their tent and shower, and sure they’re done in the race, but they’re still happy to look at the animals on their way to the mat. They even get out of their vehicle to look at them. Um, guys? You know this could be a non-elimination leg, right? And that time could still be of the essence? I mean, yeah, elephants, yay! But… come on.

Nary & Jamie are the last team to meet Phil. He doesn’t say they’re out. Just noting that. He asks if they have any regrets. They don’t. Then he tells them they’re still in the race. See? Don’t stop to look at elephants when you should be meeting Phil! (I’m getting that stitched on a throw pillow.) Jamie’s happy that they’re going to live to see another day.

Next week: a double U-Turn, and the Border Patrol agents are done playing nice with Dave & Rachel B.

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