Episode Three: Huntsville, AL (10/11)
FLY AWAY Departing the Pit Stop at 2:26 am, the Weaver family discovered they needed to fly 500 miles to Charleston, South Carolina and drive into an area known as the Battery to find their next clue located under a gazebo. Faced with the first opportunity to test their skills of airport maneuvering, the Gaghan and Bransen families struck first by using their taxi driver’s cell phone to learn that a US Air flight would land in Charleston at 10:06 am. However, after passing the Weaver family on the road, the Linz family arrived at Washington Dulles Airport and secured tickets on an Independence Air flight that would land two minutes earlier than the US Air flight. Joining the Linz siblings on the first flight were the Weaver family, the Godlewski sisters, the Aiellos and the Schroeders. After being turned away from the now sold out Independence Air flight, the Bransens settled for the US Air flight they discovered earlier, along with the Gaghan family. After narrowly escaping elimination in the last leg, the Paolo family still found themselves squarely in last place, being forced to take a United flight landing at 10:38 am. THE ENEMY During the hours before the flight to Charleston boarded, Linda Weaver and her family, not overly familiar with airline transportation, decided to ask the ticket agents some general questions about what to expect. Their inquisition drew the attention of the Schroeder and Aiello families who assumed the Weavers were trying to sneak onto a better flight. As the Weavers walked away from the counter, Kevin, from the Aiello family, asked them if they found another flight, but the Weavers didn’t answer. An annoyed David sniped, “I hate them,” before promptly telling the Schroeder family of their perceived snub. Char Schroeder believed the Weavers were “just playing mind games,” while Stassi added, “They’re pissing me off.” Now, not trusting the Weavers, Char became concerned when stepson Hunter chatted up Rolly Weaver. Fearing Hunter may give away information to Rolly, Char told him to “get away from the kid.” In response, Hunter told Rolly, “She’s a bitch.” DIRTY DECISION Landing in Charleston, South Carolina, the Teams on the Independence Air flight raced to their cars, jockeying for position as they drove to the Battery. Spotting the gazebo first, the Schroeders opened their clue to find a Detour. Teams had to choose between Forrest Gump and Muddy Waters. In Forrest Gump, Teams needed to drive seven miles to a fresh seafood company, hop on a traditional shrimp boat and, using their hands, dehead 200 pounds of shrimp. While the location was nearby, working through 200 pounds of shrimp could take awhile. In Muddy Waters, Teams had to drive 37 miles to the Ridgeville Mud Run and jump in a 4x4 to drive round trip through a 400-foot gulley known as a mud bog to earn their clue. While the location was in another town and their 4x4 could get stuck in the mud, Teams with monster driving skills could finish fast. As the Weaver clan drove to the mud bog in Ridgeville, the Schroeder family headed out to sea to dehead shrimp with the Linz family close behind. With the first crate of the fresh shrimp poured over a bed of ice, Char complained, “Shrimp juice in my socks. What’s with that?” EAT OUR MUD With the Godlewski sisters joining the Linz and Schroeder families on shrimp boats, the Weavers arrived at the mud bog. Linda Weaver navigated the 4x4 through the treacherous course, but soon became mired in mud. When the Aiellos arrived, Kevin made it through the first turn of the course, and powered back toward the finish line only to be stopped short. As the Bransens hopped on a shrimp boat, the Weavers and Aiellos each failed on their sixth attempt at the mud bog. Eventually, the Weavers gave up and left for the shrimp boats. At the same time, the Gaghans showed up at the mud bog. Bill Gaghan plowed through the course on his first attempt, causing the Aiellos to note, “They passed us again.” After removing the last shrimp head, the Schroeders opened their clue and learned they must go to the Charleston Visitor Center and sign up for one of two charter buses, the first leaving at 3 pm, the second at 5 pm, heading to a mystery location. Joining the Schroeders on the first bus were the Linz, Godlewski and Bransen families. Settling for the second bus were the Gaghans, Paolos, Weavers, and Aiellos, who finally completed the mud run on their 14th try when David got behind the wheel. LIFT OFF Arriving in Huntsville, Alabama, the Teams on the first charter bus ripped open their next clue instructing them to drive five miles to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and find the Edward O. Buckbee Hangar. Getting a quick jump on the other Teams out of the bus station, the Bransens arrived at the hangar in first place to encounter a special Family Edition Roadblock performed by two Team members. In this Roadblock, the Team members had to enter a centrifuge and ride the machine until gravity pressed on them at 3.2G. With Beth and Lindsay Bransen volunteering to take the big spin for their Team, the line behind them began to form, as Nick and Tommy Linz, Stassi and Mark Schroeder, and Chris and Michelle Godlewski all waited for their turn. As the centrifuge began turning, Beth asked her sister if she was feeling okay, to which Lindsay replied, “I’m not used to all this pressure.” However, the Bransen daughters withstood the pressure to earn their next clue instructing them to travel on foot one mile to Rocket Park and search for Saturn 5, the same kind of rocket that took man to the moon. Once there, they needed to enter the Space Museum, find a computer station, and log onto aol.com for their next clue. SPACE RACE With the Linz family close behind, the Bransens found the museum along with their next clue courtesy of aol.com. After they logged in, the Bransens watched a video clue from Phil instructing them to proceed on foot to the next Pit Stop, the Space Shuttle Pathfinder. In a footrace to the space shuttle, Wally pulled through for his daughters as the Bransen family stepped onto the mat in first place. Phil informed the excited Team that each licensed driver had won free gasoline for life from BP and Arco. On their win, the Bransens commented, “We had a huge jump this leg on the race. There’s nothing like being at the top.” The Linz siblings settled for another second place finish, with the Schroeders and Godlewskis checking in third and fourth respectively. LOSING CONTROL Meanwhile, the pressure of little sleep after an exhausting day took its toll on the Weaver family. On the second bus, Rachel and Rebecca Weaver looked drained, as Linda Weaver complained, “What concerns me is my children. I don’t know where we’re going. I am a prisoner on a bus.” Their behavior took a bizarre turn at a quick restaurant stop when Linda instructed her children to “lie and be completely fake” so the other Teams wouldn’t see them cracking from the pressure. This lead to Rebecca and Linda dancing around in the parking lot while the other Teams looked on in bewilderment. With elimination looming for one of these Teams, the second bus arrived in Huntsville, Alabama. The Weavers regained their composure to reach the Edward O. Buckbee Hangar in fifth place. As Rolly and Rebecca began their spin in the centrifuge, the Aiello family made a crucial mistake when they arrived at the cluebox in sixth place, but didn’t take a number to ensure their position allowing the quick thinking Paolos to grab number six and the Gaghans number seven. The dejected Aiellos noted, “We got smoked.” BAND OF BROTHERS With the now happy Weaver family nabbing fifth place, a three-way race for last place developed as the Gaghans and Paolos both had difficulties in finding Rocket Park, giving the last place Aiello family an opportunity to sneak ahead. A tired Marion slowed down the Paolos, but relieved, they manage to lock down sixth place with the Gaghan family arriving in seventh. After a valiant effort, the Aiello family stepped onto the mat in last place becoming the third Team eliminated from THE AMAZING RACE. On his sons-in-law, Tony remarked, “These guys are good guys, tried hard. We took no easy road.” Son-in-law Matt added, “Through these grueling tasks, we learned to love each other like brothers and I love Tony like my father. The respect we have for each other is insurmountable.” Tony finished by saying, “They’re good guys. This just reconfirmed it. We’re family. Everything else doesn’t matter.”Source: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race8/show/ep03/
FLY AWAY Departing the Pit Stop at 2:26 am, the Weaver family discovered they needed to fly 500 miles to Charleston, South Carolina and drive into an area known as the Battery to find their next clue located under a gazebo. Faced with the first opportunity to test their skills of airport maneuvering, the Gaghan and Bransen families struck first by using their taxi driver’s cell phone to learn that a US Air flight would land in Charleston at 10:06 am. However, after passing the Weaver family on the road, the Linz family arrived at Washington Dulles Airport and secured tickets on an Independence Air flight that would land two minutes earlier than the US Air flight. Joining the Linz siblings on the first flight were the Weaver family, the Godlewski sisters, the Aiellos and the Schroeders. After being turned away from the now sold out Independence Air flight, the Bransens settled for the US Air flight they discovered earlier, along with the Gaghan family. After narrowly escaping elimination in the last leg, the Paolo family still found themselves squarely in last place, being forced to take a United flight landing at 10:38 am. THE ENEMY During the hours before the flight to Charleston boarded, Linda Weaver and her family, not overly familiar with airline transportation, decided to ask the ticket agents some general questions about what to expect. Their inquisition drew the attention of the Schroeder and Aiello families who assumed the Weavers were trying to sneak onto a better flight. As the Weavers walked away from the counter, Kevin, from the Aiello family, asked them if they found another flight, but the Weavers didn’t answer. An annoyed David sniped, “I hate them,” before promptly telling the Schroeder family of their perceived snub. Char Schroeder believed the Weavers were “just playing mind games,” while Stassi added, “They’re pissing me off.” Now, not trusting the Weavers, Char became concerned when stepson Hunter chatted up Rolly Weaver. Fearing Hunter may give away information to Rolly, Char told him to “get away from the kid.” In response, Hunter told Rolly, “She’s a bitch.” DIRTY DECISION Landing in Charleston, South Carolina, the Teams on the Independence Air flight raced to their cars, jockeying for position as they drove to the Battery. Spotting the gazebo first, the Schroeders opened their clue to find a Detour. Teams had to choose between Forrest Gump and Muddy Waters. In Forrest Gump, Teams needed to drive seven miles to a fresh seafood company, hop on a traditional shrimp boat and, using their hands, dehead 200 pounds of shrimp. While the location was nearby, working through 200 pounds of shrimp could take awhile. In Muddy Waters, Teams had to drive 37 miles to the Ridgeville Mud Run and jump in a 4x4 to drive round trip through a 400-foot gulley known as a mud bog to earn their clue. While the location was in another town and their 4x4 could get stuck in the mud, Teams with monster driving skills could finish fast. As the Weaver clan drove to the mud bog in Ridgeville, the Schroeder family headed out to sea to dehead shrimp with the Linz family close behind. With the first crate of the fresh shrimp poured over a bed of ice, Char complained, “Shrimp juice in my socks. What’s with that?” EAT OUR MUD With the Godlewski sisters joining the Linz and Schroeder families on shrimp boats, the Weavers arrived at the mud bog. Linda Weaver navigated the 4x4 through the treacherous course, but soon became mired in mud. When the Aiellos arrived, Kevin made it through the first turn of the course, and powered back toward the finish line only to be stopped short. As the Bransens hopped on a shrimp boat, the Weavers and Aiellos each failed on their sixth attempt at the mud bog. Eventually, the Weavers gave up and left for the shrimp boats. At the same time, the Gaghans showed up at the mud bog. Bill Gaghan plowed through the course on his first attempt, causing the Aiellos to note, “They passed us again.” After removing the last shrimp head, the Schroeders opened their clue and learned they must go to the Charleston Visitor Center and sign up for one of two charter buses, the first leaving at 3 pm, the second at 5 pm, heading to a mystery location. Joining the Schroeders on the first bus were the Linz, Godlewski and Bransen families. Settling for the second bus were the Gaghans, Paolos, Weavers, and Aiellos, who finally completed the mud run on their 14th try when David got behind the wheel. LIFT OFF Arriving in Huntsville, Alabama, the Teams on the first charter bus ripped open their next clue instructing them to drive five miles to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and find the Edward O. Buckbee Hangar. Getting a quick jump on the other Teams out of the bus station, the Bransens arrived at the hangar in first place to encounter a special Family Edition Roadblock performed by two Team members. In this Roadblock, the Team members had to enter a centrifuge and ride the machine until gravity pressed on them at 3.2G. With Beth and Lindsay Bransen volunteering to take the big spin for their Team, the line behind them began to form, as Nick and Tommy Linz, Stassi and Mark Schroeder, and Chris and Michelle Godlewski all waited for their turn. As the centrifuge began turning, Beth asked her sister if she was feeling okay, to which Lindsay replied, “I’m not used to all this pressure.” However, the Bransen daughters withstood the pressure to earn their next clue instructing them to travel on foot one mile to Rocket Park and search for Saturn 5, the same kind of rocket that took man to the moon. Once there, they needed to enter the Space Museum, find a computer station, and log onto aol.com for their next clue. SPACE RACE With the Linz family close behind, the Bransens found the museum along with their next clue courtesy of aol.com. After they logged in, the Bransens watched a video clue from Phil instructing them to proceed on foot to the next Pit Stop, the Space Shuttle Pathfinder. In a footrace to the space shuttle, Wally pulled through for his daughters as the Bransen family stepped onto the mat in first place. Phil informed the excited Team that each licensed driver had won free gasoline for life from BP and Arco. On their win, the Bransens commented, “We had a huge jump this leg on the race. There’s nothing like being at the top.” The Linz siblings settled for another second place finish, with the Schroeders and Godlewskis checking in third and fourth respectively. LOSING CONTROL Meanwhile, the pressure of little sleep after an exhausting day took its toll on the Weaver family. On the second bus, Rachel and Rebecca Weaver looked drained, as Linda Weaver complained, “What concerns me is my children. I don’t know where we’re going. I am a prisoner on a bus.” Their behavior took a bizarre turn at a quick restaurant stop when Linda instructed her children to “lie and be completely fake” so the other Teams wouldn’t see them cracking from the pressure. This lead to Rebecca and Linda dancing around in the parking lot while the other Teams looked on in bewilderment. With elimination looming for one of these Teams, the second bus arrived in Huntsville, Alabama. The Weavers regained their composure to reach the Edward O. Buckbee Hangar in fifth place. As Rolly and Rebecca began their spin in the centrifuge, the Aiello family made a crucial mistake when they arrived at the cluebox in sixth place, but didn’t take a number to ensure their position allowing the quick thinking Paolos to grab number six and the Gaghans number seven. The dejected Aiellos noted, “We got smoked.” BAND OF BROTHERS With the now happy Weaver family nabbing fifth place, a three-way race for last place developed as the Gaghans and Paolos both had difficulties in finding Rocket Park, giving the last place Aiello family an opportunity to sneak ahead. A tired Marion slowed down the Paolos, but relieved, they manage to lock down sixth place with the Gaghan family arriving in seventh. After a valiant effort, the Aiello family stepped onto the mat in last place becoming the third Team eliminated from THE AMAZING RACE. On his sons-in-law, Tony remarked, “These guys are good guys, tried hard. We took no easy road.” Son-in-law Matt added, “Through these grueling tasks, we learned to love each other like brothers and I love Tony like my father. The respect we have for each other is insurmountable.” Tony finished by saying, “They’re good guys. This just reconfirmed it. We’re family. Everything else doesn’t matter.”