TAR21, Recap Leg 1, 9/30/12

Welcome to Leg 1! We’re back to TAR after a hiatus, and it couldn’t come soon enough.  This time, we are travelling through California.  AGAIN.  This time, though, all the teams are on a hippie bus, driving through Pasedena, past City Hall to the Colorado Street Bridge.  (Toyouke: “What is with the hippie bus?”)  After getting off the bus, the eleven teams are:

Trey and Lexi, AKA Sporty YDC, are dating from Austin, Texas.  He played football for the University of Texas where she was a cheerleader.  They don’t plan on living together until they get married.  Lexi: “I’m running the race to get a ring on my finger!”

Natalie and Nadiya, AKA Bollywood Twins, are twins that were born in New York, but lived in Sri Lanka.  They think twins are awesome.   (Toyouke: “Rugby playing girl twins...nice.  Have fun though, I think they both have nose piercings.”  Auburnium0513: “I think I like the twins right now...”)

James and Abba, AKA Team Rock of Ages, are a rock star and his lawyer.  James was a member of White Lion and Megadeth in the 1980’s.  (Auburnium0513: “The rocker and lawyer could be entertaining...maybe...”)

John and Brent, AKA The Fabulous Beekman Boys, are goat farmers from New York.  They run a grade A goat dairy.  Mmm.  Goat Cheese.  Brent: “We make farming fabulous!”

Amy and Daniel, AKA Gimpy YDC, ahave been dating on and off for 10 years from Colorado.  Amy is a double amputee, but is also a top ranked snowboarder.

Caitlin and Brittany, AKA Midwest BFFs, are best friends from the “Midwest”.  But I see an Arch!  They are both skilled at sports.   (Toyouke: “See I knew one of the blondes was a beauty queen.”)

Rob and Sheila, AKA The OK Lumberjacks, are an engaged couple from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  He is a professional lumberjack, and she works in cosmetics.

Gary and Will, AKA The Replacements, are best friends and substitute teachers.  There is an 18 inch height difference between the two men.  They have also applied seven (!) times.  (Toyouke: “You've applied seven times?!?! Damn.”)  I thought they kept those on file. . .

Abbie and Ryan, AKA Sparkly YDC, are dating from San Diego.  They are very active.  He didn’t mention it, but Ryan was Tide To Go Joe on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.  Ryan: “I must be bowed down to.”  Whatever, Mr. Clean.  (Toyouke: “Ryan, "playfully" putting your girlfriend in a chokehold just confirms how I thought you were a douchebag.”)

Jaymes and James, AKA Team Eye Candy, are Chippendales from Las Vegas.  And that’s all I’ve got.  I’m too busy drooling.  (Auburnium0513: “Yummy Chippendales!“  Toyouke: “Chippendales, still not that hot.”)

Rob and Kelley, AKA The Monster Truckers, are married monster truckers from Boston, Georgia.  I think that says it all.

The camera careens to the Colorado Street Bridge where the teams run in and where Phil gives his standard speech.  There will be twelve legs, nine countries and 25000 miles.  Oh, and the first team to finish will win ONE MILLION DOLLARS (US$1000000)!  Well, that is if they don’t win the first leg.  If they do that, then they can win TWO MILLION DOLLARS (US$2000000) when they cross the finish line.  (Toyouke: “I hate that they so carefully didn't describe the details of doubling the prize during all the commercials and promos. Chances are, they'll only have to shell out 1 mil.”  Auburnium0513: “Double your money?  So, no Express Pass then?“)  Oh, and teams have to rappel down the bridge to get to their first clue on their bags.  Then oh so sexy Phil does his standard patter: “Ready?  The world is waiting for you.  Good luck, travel safe. GO!”  Who will be eliminated . . . tonight?

Colorado Street Bridge, Pasadena, California, USA

Clue: Travel to Shanghai, China!  Make your way to Los Angeles International Airport and get tickets.  Once there, the first seven teams will get on the better flight via China Air and arrive at 10:50 am.  The last four teams will fly Eva Air and arrive at 12:05 pm.  Then, teams make their way to Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium to get their next clue. 

(Toyouke: “We're not even making them check which flight lands first? You're just going to tell them? WEAK.”)

Teams rappel to their clues on their bags and get their clues.  Thus, the order of departure for the airport is:

1- Jaymes/James
2- Trey/Lexi
3- Josh/Brent

4- Caitlin/Brittany

5- Amy/Daniel

6- Rob/Kelley

7- Abbie/Ryan

8- James/Abba

9- Natalie/Nadiya

10- Rob/Sheila

11- Gary/Will

Teams drive themselves to the airport and find the marked parking lot.

Once everyone arrives, there’s very little jockeying for position, and the flights shake down like this:

Flight 1, China Air, arrives 10:50 am:

1) Jaymes/James
2) Caitlin/Brittany
3) James/Abba

4) Amy/Daniel

5) Abbie/Ryan

6) Natalie/Nadiya

7) Rob/Kelley

Flight 2, Eva Air, arrives 12:05 pm:

1) Josh/Brent

2) Trey/Lexi

3) Rob/Sheila

4) Gary/Will

So, teams board their respective flights.  We follow the Amazing Red and Green Lines across the Pacific Ocean to Shanghai

Teams arrive at Shanghai in the following order:

1- James/Abba
2- Jaymes/James
3- Abbie/Ryan – Ryan: “I’ve been flying for 20 hours and I still haven’t changed my underwear.”  (Auburnium0513: “Why do we care about your underpants?  Why are you discussing your underpants on national TV?”)

4- Amy/Daniel

5- Caitlin/Brittany

6- Natalie/Nadiya

7- Rob/Kelley

8- Trey/Lexi

9- Rob/Sheila

10- Gary/Will

11- Josh/Brent

Teams now get their taxis to Yuanshen Sports Center and get their next clue.  They arrive in the following order:

1- Jaymes/James  
2- Caitlin/Brittany
3- Natalie/Nadiya

4- Abbie/Ryan

5- James/Abba

6- Amy/Daniel

7- Rob/Kelley – who get lost finding the stadium.

8- Trey/Lexi

9- Rob/Sheila

10- Gary/Will

11- Josh/Brent – who realize they are last.

Once they arrive, teams get the first roadblock clue.  (Toyouke: “Aaahhhh...a real clue box.”  Auburnium0513: “HOLY SHIT, AN ACTUAL CLUE BOX!!!”)

ROADBLOCK:

Who’s ready to get paddled?

In this roadblock, one team member must play table tennis against the Junior Champion, who will play using a paddle in addition to other household items.  Roadblockers only need to score one point in order to get their next clue.

The following teammates take the Roadblock:

1- James D.
2- Caitlin
3- Natalie – who starts getting frustrated.  (Auburnium0513: “Oh look, Kmanpat!  A tambo!!”)

4- Abbie

5- James L.

6- Daniel

7- Kelley

8- Trey

9- Rob S.

10- Gary

11- Josh

(Toyouke: “Hee, this is a fun Roadblock.  Ha! Laughing Chinese kid graphic!”)  After much ping ponging, teams complete the Roadblock in the following order:

1- Abbie/Ryan
2- James/Abba
3- Jaymes/James – (Auburnium0513: “Why is the Chippendale glistening?  Is it really that hot?”)

4- Caitlin/Brittany 

5- Amy/Daniel

6- Natalie/Nadiya

7- Rob/Kelley

8- Trey/Lexi

9- Rob/Sheila

10- Gary/Will

11- Josh/Brent

Teams are now instructed to make their way to Cui Ping Jiu Jia Restaurant to get their next clue.

Teams get their next clue in the following order:

1- James/Abba
2- Abbie/Ryan
3- Caitlin/Brittany

4- Amy/Daniel 

5- Jaymes/James

6- Natalie/Nadiya

7- Rob/Kelley

8- Trey/Lexi

9- Rob/Sheila

10- Gary/Will

11- Josh/Brent – (Toyouke: “How did Josh and Brent screw this up so bad? I was really looking forward to several weeks of sassy gays and comparing Brent to your boyfriend.”)

Once they arrive, teams get the second roadblock clue. 

ROADBLOCK:

Who wants to go tubing?

In this roadblock, one team member must eat a local Chinese delicacy: Hasma, which is frog Fallopian tubes in hollowed out papaya.  Roadblockers are not allowed to pick up the plate or the papaya from the table.  Once both halves of papaya have been devoured, teams get their next clue.

(Toyouke: “"Go Tubing"? CBS? Really? That is disgusting.  Judging from the woman they got to "demonstrate" and the reactions of everyone, I wonder if maybe this "delicacy" is something this show made up.”  Auburnium0513: “I heard dessert, and got excited, then I heard what it was.  Ugh!!”)

The following teammates take the Roadblock:

1- Abba
2- Ryan
3- Brittany

4- Amy

5- Jaymes

6- Nadiya – (Auburnium0513: “Less dancing, more eating!”)

7- Rob F. – who picks up the papaya, is denied his clue, and brought a SECOND helping to do it correctly.  (Auburnium0513: “NOOOO!!!  What part of "you can't pick up the papaya" did you not understand?”)

8- Lexi – (Toyouke: “Fallopian tubes are not intestines, LEXI.”)

9- Sheila

10- Will

11- Brent

After much hasma eating, teams complete the Roadblock in the following order:

1- James/Abba
2- Abbie/Ryan
3- Jaymes/James

4- Amy/Daniel 

5- Caitlin/Brittany

6- Natalie/Nadiya

7- Rob/Kelley

8- Trey/Lexi

9- Rob/Sheila

10- Gary/Will

11- Josh/Brent

Teams are now told to make their way to The Bund and find the woman working with an abacus.

Teams get their next clue in the following order:

1- Amy/Daniel – who help out some teams behind them.  (Toyouke: “I was kind of hoping they told those guys the wrong direction.”)
2- Abbie/Ryan – Ryan: "Why isn't she using a calculator?" (Toyouke: “Shut up moron.”)
3- Caitlin/Brittany

4- Natalie/Nadiya

5- Rob/Kelley

6- James/Abba – (Auburnium0513: “Abba-kiss?  How long until Kmanpat starts singing "Dancing Queen"?”  Kmanpat: “Well, since you mentioned it. . . “Friday nights and the lights are low. . .””)

7- Josh/Brent – (Toyouke: “Wait! Did I speak too soon?! Is the editing actually accurate today?”  Auburnium0513: "You're looking for the lady?"  When random passers-by know what you're looking for...wow...”)

8- Gary/Will

9- Trey/Lexi

10- Rob/Sheila – (Auburnium0513: “A-bask-kiss?  This is pitiful!  It's not even like a foreign city name or anything.  Sheesh.”)

11- Jaymes/James – (Auburnium0513: “A-back-kiss?  I think that was an "Are you a battlement?" moment... Well, Chippendales aren't hired for their brains...”)

Teams must now make their way to the PIT STOP by foot, Bund Weather Signal Station.  This is the first pit stop in a racearoundtheworld.  The last team to arrive WILL be eliminated!

1- Abbie/Ryan – who win the chance to win $2000000 at the end of the Race.  (Toyouke: “I don't blame Ryan for passing Amy, not at all. I do feel bad that he won because Amy told them where the thing was. But I also could see her thinking that they were ahead and could escape.”)
2- Amy/Daniel
3- Caitlin/Brittany

4- Natalie/Nadiya 

5- Rob/Kelley

6- James/Abba

7- Josh/Brent

8- Gary/Will

9- Trey/Lexi

10- Jaymes/James

11- Rob Sheila

And in a foot race, the Chips beat the Lumberjacks to the Pit Stop.  They still love each other.

ORDER NOW:
1^st – Abbie/Ryan  
2^nd – Amy/Daniel
3^rd – Caitlin/Brittany
4^th – Natalie/Nadiya
5^th – Rob/Kelley
6^th – James/Abba

7^th – Josh/Brent

8^th – Gary/Will

9^th – Trey/Lexi

10^th – Jaymes/James

Next week: More China!  (Toyouke: “I think I saw synchronized swimming. “)  Until next time!