Hello again fellow Amazing Race fans. I knew I was going to be late this evening and made sure to have my DVR and a backup set to record the show at 8pm. Well little did I know that like the NFL football games in the fall that could cause the show to be delayed on the east coast that the same would occur in the spring because of a sporting event that I truly don’t care about. College Basketball’s March Madness, of course traditionally shown on CBS. So while I was 30 minutes late getting home, the show was a full hour late. At least I am not missing it.
What I have been missing is on my predictions for elimination of teams on The Amazing Race. My last prediction for elimination was for Christie & Jodi because on this episode they face a “speed bump” that could cause a delay and keep them in the back of the pack. I have been predicting that the gay father and son team Mel & Mike for elimination most weeks because Mel has struggled through the hefty tasks and travel. He’s had it easy for a couple episodes. Now it’s time for suffering. Suffering? Well, this episode began with teams leaving the cold and cleanliness of Russia for the hot and dusty land of India.
Margie & Luke left the pit-stop first just after Midnight, Tammy & Victor at 12:24pm, Former Miami Dolphins cheerleaders Jaime & Cara at 12:30, Mel & Mike at 1:01am, brothers Mark & Michael at 1:02, sisters Kisha & Jen at 1:30am and last place team Christie & Jodi at 3am. But none of this will matter as once again, teams face that great equalizer of flight schedules AND a requirement that they make their travel through Moscow. And while the teams departed on different flights overnight, everyone would make the same flight from New Delhi to the city of Japur, India.
Once in India, teams had to travel by taxi to locate a specific tree to get their next clue. And this is when teams had trouble with taxis. First Mel & Mike’s taxi driver walked away from the car temporarily leaving Mel & Mike stranded for a few moments. Knowing their driver was getting directions and other teams already on their way, they tried to get another taxi. But their things were locked in the trunk. Other problems included one team’s taxi stopping to get gas.
Teams had a reality check while riding in their taxis as they began to see the poorer areas where people and animals were seen eating trash, children were walking around naked and living conditions were very poor. The most emotional was Luke who cried like a baby as he saw the living conditions.
Once teams located this sacred tree there were telephones there where they would have to listen for their next clue. Margie & Luke decided to follow another team and didn’t use the telephone
The next clue sent teams to a place called Amber Fort and there was the “roadblock” task that required teams to care for a camel by providing feed and water to a herd of camel. This was a physically demanding task that required carrying heavy buckets of water and large baskets of feed. It was time for the elderly Mel to do some heavy work and he did so much faster than expected.
Some teams broke some of the rules of this task by not using the correct type of bucket or basket according to local customs. But they corrected themselves part way through their task.
After the “detour” came the “speed bump” task that only Christie & Jodi would have to complete. That task had them decorate an elephant with paint for a festival. It seemed like a fun event but they were still in last place and this task would only delay them further.
After the “roadblock”, teams had to race to a puppet store in town to get their next clue, the “detour”. Detour task choices were “Movers” when teams would have to transport several large barrels full of hay on a pedaled vehicle to a location where they would then search through the barrels for a small metal elephant trinket and then exchange it for their next clue. The other “detour” choice was “shakers” where teams would put on local costumes and dance for tips. Every team chose the “shakers” but brothers Mark & Michael chose the “movers” task and they struggled to search for the tiny trinket in the large barrels.
After earning a certain amount, teams would proceed to the next pit-stop at a place called Jaigarh Fort. The first team to reach the pit-stop was the brother-sister team Tammy & Victor. And for their first arrival at the pit-stop, they won a kayak.
The rest of the arrivals were in the following order.
SECOND: Mel & Mike
The next three arrivals were a foot race.
THIRD: Kisha & Jen, immediately followed by
FOURTH: Margie & Luke immediately followed by
FIFTH: Jaime & Cara
SIXTH: Michael & Mark
And just a few minutes behind but still in last place were the CHRISTIE & JODI and they were eliminated.
Folks, this means I got a prediction right! And this is a rare occasion. It was very possible that another team could have messed up good enough to allow Jodi & Christie time to catch up. But even Mel & Mike managed better than expected.
We are reaching a point where it is safe to predict what teams would likely make the final three. I think the sibling teams TAMMY & VICTOR and KISHA & JEN can make it to the final three provided they maintain a good relationship and remain focused through the remainder of the race. I also believe JAIME & CARA could make the final three AND I am cheering the former Miami Dolphins cheerleaders to win the race. It would be the largest win related to my Miami Dolphins since the 1974 Super Bowl.
DAMN, Jaime & Cara weren’t even born when the NFL team they used to cheer for last won a Super Bowl game. I wish them well. Make us “dolfans” proud Jaime & Cara!
I also think there is a good chance for Margie & Luke to make the final three and but I have to be honest, I think Tammy, Victor, Kisha, Jen, Jaime and Cara are the strongest competitors left in the race. And as much as I hate to appear to be age discriminating I think the remaining competitors are good and will make for a good fight for the race. But they simply are not as physically strong as the younger teams.
So my predictions for upcoming eliminations include Mel & Mike and Mark & Michael. The first team because of the aged and struggling Mel and Mike is a bit of a weakling. Then Mark & Michael are at the back of the pack right now with younger and faster teams leading the pack. Their being stunt men in real life could help them survive the tough tasks but their physical size forces them to work extra hard to get through this race.
My prediction for next elimination is a tough decision. The previews for next week’s broadcast show Margie fainting in the heat but it appears to be at the pit-stop mat. She and Luke will probably survive elimination. I however predict that Mel & Mike will be the next team eliminated. I am guessing that if Margie appears to faint after a grueling leg of the race, Mel won’t have a picnic either. I don’t wish for this, I’m just keeping it real.
So again, my prediction for next elimination is for Mel & Mike.
We shall see next week. I hope you have many great days between now and then.
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