The Amazing Race 5, Episode 11: C’mon Baby, Plow My Mud Pit

Previously, on The Amazing Race, five teams left Calcutta, India, and raced to Auckland, New Zealand. Twins Kami & Karli fell behind the other teams at the airport, but thanks to a little luck and a lot of speed, they were able to catch the same flight as the other tams. Colin & Christie began to argue as usual, but for the first time, Colin admitted he was wrong and apologized, showing that their relationship was getting better. Chip & Kim acted like they would use the Yield on Kami & Karli, but didn’t end up doing it, only to find out that they were the last two teams. Old rivals battled to make it to the Pit Stop, but it was Kami & Karli who ended up being eliminated. Only four teams remain, so who will be eliminated next? Well, I’m here to tell you! But first, let me introduce you to the four remaining teams, in the order they’ll leave the Pit Stop:

• Colin & Christie – Dating/Might get engaged/Sentimental Favorites
• Linda & Karen – Moms/Bowling partners/Sentimental Favorites
• Brandon & Nicole (The Hypocrites) – Dating/Models/Hymn writers
• Chip & Kim – Married parents/Not so sure how I feel about them

We begin this week where we left off last week, in New Zealand, a remote island in the South Pacific. This beautiful landscape was used in the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and is also the location of the tenth Pit Stop in a race around the world. Teams have 12 hours to eat, sleep, and mingle. Will Colin & Christie continue to breeze by the competition? Will Chip & Kim be able to climb out of last place? I sure hope so – because I still want the Hypocrites to be eliminated!

Colin & Christie are the first to depart at 4:56 a.m. Their clue tells them to get to the West Haven Marina in Auckland. Then, they must find a marked yacht and lower their clue from the sail. Colin says they are confident they are the strongest team, and all the others just make stupid mistakes, but don’t take that away from them – since he and Christie are great racers. Hmm, you can’t argue with the truth! Speaking of which, I’ve gotten TONS of email about calling Colin & Christie Sentimental Favorites, and people just can’t seem to understand why. I think the reason I do that is because I myself am a lot like Colin. No, I don’t yell at women, but I’m very intense the way he is, and just excited to do new things. Yeah, he’s a little cocky, but everyone can be at times. In the same breath, I don’t like the Hypocrites because they act like God is on their side and WANTS them to win the race. Yes, they have stated their fate is in God’s hands, but more times than not we have seen them say that God wants them in the race, and then see them backstab someone or do something very “un-Christian like.” Does that help a little? Moving on…

At 6:23 a.m. Linda & Karen leave the Pit Stop. Karen says they never expected to be in second place at this point and couldn’t be happier, however, they are exhausted. They read their clue and head off, but do a little arguing about directions. Both seem pretty restless and fight about driving and navigating. Right behind them, the Hypocrites leave the Pit Stop at 6:46. Nicole says she’s not happy about being in third right now, and Brandon states that this is very serious at this point. Wasn’t it serious during the previous ten legs? Finally, at 7:02 a.m. Chip & Kim leave the Pit Stop as well. Chip says that they will no longer be the diplomatic team, and now it’s “Me first, and forget friends – we can have them after the race.” I agree with this – you’re nearing the finish line, so all alliances are out the window at this point!

In Auckland, Colin & Christie get to the Marina, see the yacht and get their next clue. It’s the Roadblock. The clue says this person should have no fear of heights and needs strong legs and arms. Phil explains that in this Roadblock, one person must travel by boat to a bridge, climb a ladder from the boat up to the steel beams of the bridge, walk across two beams, and get their clue from someone waiting for them. Then, they will be lowered to their partner who will be waiting on the boat. Colin says he’ll do it, straps up and heads off to the bridge. Linda & Karen are lost again, while the Hypocrites and Chip & Kim are slowly but surely making their way to the marina. Colin climbs up the ladder to the bridge, and starts to act a little cocky, but that’s just Colin, and I think that’s just a part of who he is. He says he has no fear of heights and just tackles the obstacle in front of him. He gets the clue and heads down to Christie. Their clue tells them to fly to Manila, in the Philippines. Once there, they must get to Malaguena Motors for their next clue. They hail a taxi and head to the airport.

The Hypocrites are the second team to reach the marina and find their clue on the yacht. After reading the clue for the Roadblock, Nicole basically tells Brandon he’s doing it, which he agrees to. Chip & Kim also arrive at the Roadblock, and Kim basically tells Chip he’s doing it as well. Wow, I guess we know who the boss is of these two teams! The moms are still stuck trying to get directions, as we see Colin & Christie at the airport trying to find a flight. They find a flight leaving in 20 minutes that has a connection in another city. They do make the flight, which arrive in Manila much earlier than the other teams. Over at the bridge, we see Brandon getting a little nervous. Chip suits up for the Roadblock as we see the moms finally arriving at the marina. Brandon does the Roadblock and looks very nervous the whole way. That’s to be expected – I’d be petrified! He gets the clue though, and heads down to Nicole, who is waiting in the boat. He admits that he was really scared. They read their clue and head for the airport. Chip & Kim see the Hypocrites finishing up, and Chip says a prayer because he’s so scared. You know what? It’s not so bad when Chip does it since he doesn’t do it every 10 seconds the way Brandon & Nicole do. Linda & Karen finally get to the Roadblock, while Chip heads up the ladder. Linda & Karen argue about the Roadblock, but Linda decides to do it. Chip says crossing the beams of the bridge is the hardest thing he’s ever done as he gets his clue and heads to the airport with Kim. The moms get to the bridge, and Chip says that the moms won’t be able to do the Roadblock, and if they can, then they will win the race! Linda is very nervous, and it shows.