Recap, Episode 4: Cape Town to Namibia
Teams Rush for Charters The leg began in the heart of the South African wine country. At 2:52 am, best friends Oswald & Danny were the first Team to depart the Pit Stop, Lanzerac Manor outside Cape Town. Though they left the Pit Stop in first place, their confidence was shaken by an injury: Danny's leg was in pain after having hurt himself practicing yoga the night before. Opening the clue envelope, they discovered their first task was to head to a local airport and catch one of two charters to the nation of Namibia, located 800 miles to the north. The first flight would leave three hours before the second one, and since there were spots for only four Teams on each charter, Teams had to hurry to stay ahead. Separated couple Tara & Wil and former roommates Gary & Dave left immediately after Oswald & Danny. To save money, the three Teams decided to pool their resources and share a taxi. As their taxi left the winery, Wil felt confident. "We're definitely on the first plane," he said. His self-assurance turned out to be warranted when they arrived at the small local airport and signed on to the first charter. Waiting in the commuter airport, the three lead Teams wondered who would get the coveted fourth and final spot on the first charter. At 5:56 am, sisters Mary & Peach left the Pit Stop. Peach felt sick and a bit weak, but she assured her sister she would be able to push on. Reading the clue, she realized they would have to work fast to stay ahead of the next Team to get the final seats on the first charter. "They're six minutes behind us," she exclaimed, "So we have to get there. Now!" The sisters hopped in a taxi and headed away. Hot on Mary and Peach's heels, Shola & Doyin and brother/sister Blake & Paige left the Pit Stop and grabbed taxis. The three Teams raced in their taxis toward the airport. Blake promised their driver extra money if he could beat their competitors. Behind them, the twins wondered if there was a shortcut to the airport. Their driver told them he thought he knew a faster route. In the end, however, Mary & Peach arrived before the other two Teams and obtained the final seats on the first charter. Shola & Doyin and Blake & Paige arrived soon after, and had to settle for the second charter. Doyin explained, "We got there probably a minute or two after Mary & Peach did. So we missed the first flight by a minute or two." Frustrated, Shola added, "The game is about minutes, man. It's about minutes." At 8:50 am, lifelong friends Chris & Alex departed Lanzerac Manor just ahead of married pastors Cyndi & Russell. These two Teams were the final competitors to start the leg. Cyndi noted, "Going into the fourth leg, I think all the Teams now that are left are very, very aggressive. I don't think you have to play mean or trick someone to win this game. We just believe in God that we can win and not compromise." It's All Sand At 9:00 am, the first charter departed Cape Town, and for the first time since the race began, Gary & Dave were near the front of the pack. Gary explained, "We knew we were in the top tier because we knew that we had the first plane out of Cape Town. It feels pretty good up here." As the plane headed north, the lead Teams had the confidence of a three-hour head start on the second pack of Teams once they landed in Namibia. As their plane approached Walvis Bay, Namibia, Wil was startled by the desolate landscape. Glancing out the window, he commented, "I have no idea what we are doing here. It's all sand." Upon landing, they rushed down the airport terminal and grabbed the next clue envelope. This clue instructed the Teams that their next task was to find their way to the top of the lighthouse in the nearby town of Swakopmund. Teams were given a map to the location, but had to find their own transportation. The four Teams rushed to the car rental agencies only to learn they couldn't rent automobiles without a credit card. Because the Teams are only provided with cash, and may only use credit cards to purchase airplane tickets, they couldn't rent cars. Gary & Dave, Tara & Wil and Mary & Peach hurried away from the counter. Oswald & Danny, however, stayed behind, and their persistence and politeness paid off. The counter agent offered to have one of her drivers take them into town for tips only. As they headed out of the airport, Oswald was happy, but not overconfident. "We are the first out," he noted, "but we never know in this race whether we'll be the first in." As the three other top Teams finally ordered taxis in Namibia, the second charter left Cape Town. The four Teams on it were a bit nervous because they were so far behind. Paige explained, "The first four Teams left about three or four hours before us. And we were on the second plane, so we were a little panicky." "I Can't Walk, Man" Oswald & Danny, the first Team to arrive at the lighthouse, climbed the stairs to the top and grabbed the clue envelope. This clue directed them to look out and spot their vehicles in a nearby parking lot. Their next clue envelopes would be hanging on the vehicles. As the teammates headed toward the vehicles, Danny continued to feel the effects of the previous night's yoga injury. "I can't walk, man," he told his teammate. He had a noticeable limp as they made it to the parking lot. Pulling the clue envelope from the windshield of one of the trucks, they discovered they had been given both a route marker and a Fast Forward clue. The route marker informed them to hike to the top of the Matterhorn sand dune. Danny took one glance at the word "hike" in the route marker instructions and decided they should go for the Fast Forward, an award that, once obtained, would allow them to jump all remaining tasks in the leg and go directly to the next Pit Stop. He informed Oswald that he was in no condition to make any kind of hike. This leg's Fast Forward was hidden on the grounds of a hotel that once served as the railroad station. Once they found the hotel, Teams going for the Fast Forward would have to find the exact spot where the railroad tracks used to run--right in the middle of the swimming pool. The Fast Forward award awaited them in the middle of the pool. Oswald & Danny took off in search of the hotel and the Fast Forward envelope. The next Team to arrive at the lighthouse was Tara & Wil. They hopped in a vehicle and took off toward the Matterhorn. The third Team, Mary & Peach, worried about making the hike. Peach felt weak and wasn't sure she could make it up the dune. "Hiking up a sand dune is not the easiest thing in the world," Mary chimed in. With no way of knowing that Oswald & Danny had made the same decision, the sisters decided to go for the Fast Forward. Meanwhile, Oswald & Danny found the hotel and spotted the race flag floating in the pool. Excited, Danny stripped down and hopped in. He grabbed the clue from a buoy floating in the heart of the pool and returned it to his partner. Winning the Fast Forward allowed Oswald & Danny to head directly to the Pit Stop, located at the Amani Lodge, a game reserve outside Namibia's capital city, Windhoek. Tara & Wil were the first to arrive at the sand dune. Wil took one look out the window and exclaimed, "Look at this. Radical!" They got out of the truck and began running up the massive dune. The hike to the top was tough, however, and they were out of breath by the time they made it to the clue box. "Thank you, Jesus," Tara said as she reached inside for a clue. This time the clue was a Detour. A Detour contains two distinct tasks, each with their own pros and cons, and Teams must complete one of the two tasks before continuing on. In this instance, the choices were "Slide" or "Stride." Slide involved sledding down the steep side of the dune on a sandboard that could reach speeds of up to 60 miles an hour. Stride meant walking down the less challenging backside of the dune. There was nothing scary about this option, but it would take much longer. Wil immediately wanted to slide. Tara was less sure, but finally relented. "All right. I'm gonna die," she said, half-jokingly. Wil hopped on the board and slid down the dune, followed by Tara. At the bottom waited their next route marker envelope, which directed them to drive 125 miles to the town of Spitzkoppe and find the General Dealer. Once there, they had to ask for the post card of the day. In the meantime, Mary & Peach arrived at the hotel, only to discover that the Fast Forward had already been taken. Peach commented, "We just make dumb mistakes again. So now we're behind and the other people on the second flight are either here…or on our tail." The sisters had to backtrack and make their way to the Matterhorn sand dune. The second charter landed, and the trailing Teams searched for transportation to the lighthouse. Blake & Paige, Shola & Doyin and Cyndi & Russell found taxis together, leaving Bostonians Chris & Alex behind. As they headed away, Blake theorized that Chris & Alex's unwillingness to work with them could cost the Boston boys the race. Second Charter Arrives in Namibia The remainder of the leading Teams began arriving at the Detour location. Gary & Dave had a great time sliding down the dune. Peach impressed herself with her ability to perform the more adventurous Detour choice. "What a rush!" she exclaimed as her board slowed to a stop. Blake & Paige, Shola & Doyin and Cyndi & Russell hit the lighthouse together. They ran off toward the trucks, and then began their journey toward the Matterhorn sand dune. Chris & Alex were the last to make it to the lighthouse. Chris would later explain, "The hardest part was looking out there and seeing only one car out there in the parking lot." Having completed the Detour, Teams raced to the General Dealer in Spitzkoppe, where they were given a postcard that featured a local woodcarver's market. Tara & Wil, who had been first at the General Dealer, were also the first to find the woodcarver's market. They opened up the next clue to find themselves confronted with a Roadblock. A Roadblock is a task that can be performed by only one member of the Team. In this Roadblock, one teammate had to use his or her bargaining skills and, with whatever cash they had left, purchase five woodcarvings representing Africa's big five animals: rhino, elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. After purchasing these items, they were to take the carvings to a waiting bushman, who would add a giant giraffe to their collection and give them their next clue. Tara decided to perform the task for her Team. She immediately purchased a wooden rhino. She then hurried from stall to stall, negotiating with the shopkeepers. "Come on, I'm gonna run out of money. You're killing me," she told one owner who didn't want to budge on her asking price. Finishing the task, she handed the carvings to the bushman and received her next clue. This one sent the Teams to the Amani Lodge Pit Stop, where the last Team to check in would be eliminated from the race. Tara & Wil raced away just as Gary & Dave arrived to perform the Roadblock. Still trailing, Chris & Alex and Shola & Doyin raced to catch up. Chris & Alex were worried that they were significantly behind their competitors. They also believed they might have gotten lost. Meanwhile, Shola & Doyin were having troubles of their own. They got lost several times, and finally, their truck got stuck in the desert. The tires spun and dug into the sand. "We're stuck!" they groaned. They got out and asked for assistance. A local was kind enough to help them free their truck, then point them on their way. Meanwhile, other Teams were arriving at the woodcarver's market and completing the Roadblock. "I have to come back here shopping one day," Peach informed her sister. Back at the Matterhorn, an exhausted Chris & Alex made the climb to the top of the dune. Somewhere behind them, Shola & Doyin were struggling to find the sand dune. "It says it closes at 7:45. And 7:45 is, like, right around the corner," Doyin moaned. Race Against Elimination With the Fast Forward in hand, Oswald & Danny were the first to check in at the Pit Stop. Behind them, Teams continued their search for the Amani Lodge. Gary & Dave arrived next, followed by Tara & Wil. Mary & Peach pulled up to the lodge slightly ahead of Blake & Paige. Mary & Peach rushed up the path to check in, but were beaten by Blake & Paige, who had cut through an unmarked path. Cyndi & Russell were the next Team to check in. Worried they may be in last, Chris & Alex approached the mat with trepidation. "All right, we're here. It's judgment time," they said. With the giant wooden giraffe in tow, they checked in, only to discover they had arrived in seventh place, thus were still in the race. Relieved, they warmly hugged host Phil Keoghan. Never having found their way to the Matterhorn sand dune, last-placed Team Shola & Doyin were unable to continue the race until the following morning, when the Matterhorn would open again. With all the other Teams checked in, they received a clue directing them to the Pit Stop. In the early morning hours, Shola & Doyin finally showed up at the Lodge and walked to the mat, where Phil Keoghan informed them that they were the last Team to arrive and had been eliminated. In the end, the twin brothers were happy to have experienced the adventure. Remarking on the challenges and adversity of the race, Shola said, "I don't care which of the seven remaining Teams win. They're gonna earn it, because it's a tough thing to do. Believe me, I only made it through four legs and there's nine more legs to go. If they can finish this, I wanna be at the finish line to shake their hand." In a game lodge near Windhoek, Namibia, Shola & Doyin, the twin brothers from Albany, NY, became the fourth Team to be eliminated from THE AMAZING RACE.http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race2/show/episode04/story.shtml
Teams Rush for Charters The leg began in the heart of the South African wine country. At 2:52 am, best friends Oswald & Danny were the first Team to depart the Pit Stop, Lanzerac Manor outside Cape Town. Though they left the Pit Stop in first place, their confidence was shaken by an injury: Danny's leg was in pain after having hurt himself practicing yoga the night before. Opening the clue envelope, they discovered their first task was to head to a local airport and catch one of two charters to the nation of Namibia, located 800 miles to the north. The first flight would leave three hours before the second one, and since there were spots for only four Teams on each charter, Teams had to hurry to stay ahead. Separated couple Tara & Wil and former roommates Gary & Dave left immediately after Oswald & Danny. To save money, the three Teams decided to pool their resources and share a taxi. As their taxi left the winery, Wil felt confident. "We're definitely on the first plane," he said. His self-assurance turned out to be warranted when they arrived at the small local airport and signed on to the first charter. Waiting in the commuter airport, the three lead Teams wondered who would get the coveted fourth and final spot on the first charter. At 5:56 am, sisters Mary & Peach left the Pit Stop. Peach felt sick and a bit weak, but she assured her sister she would be able to push on. Reading the clue, she realized they would have to work fast to stay ahead of the next Team to get the final seats on the first charter. "They're six minutes behind us," she exclaimed, "So we have to get there. Now!" The sisters hopped in a taxi and headed away. Hot on Mary and Peach's heels, Shola & Doyin and brother/sister Blake & Paige left the Pit Stop and grabbed taxis. The three Teams raced in their taxis toward the airport. Blake promised their driver extra money if he could beat their competitors. Behind them, the twins wondered if there was a shortcut to the airport. Their driver told them he thought he knew a faster route. In the end, however, Mary & Peach arrived before the other two Teams and obtained the final seats on the first charter. Shola & Doyin and Blake & Paige arrived soon after, and had to settle for the second charter. Doyin explained, "We got there probably a minute or two after Mary & Peach did. So we missed the first flight by a minute or two." Frustrated, Shola added, "The game is about minutes, man. It's about minutes." At 8:50 am, lifelong friends Chris & Alex departed Lanzerac Manor just ahead of married pastors Cyndi & Russell. These two Teams were the final competitors to start the leg. Cyndi noted, "Going into the fourth leg, I think all the Teams now that are left are very, very aggressive. I don't think you have to play mean or trick someone to win this game. We just believe in God that we can win and not compromise." It's All Sand At 9:00 am, the first charter departed Cape Town, and for the first time since the race began, Gary & Dave were near the front of the pack. Gary explained, "We knew we were in the top tier because we knew that we had the first plane out of Cape Town. It feels pretty good up here." As the plane headed north, the lead Teams had the confidence of a three-hour head start on the second pack of Teams once they landed in Namibia. As their plane approached Walvis Bay, Namibia, Wil was startled by the desolate landscape. Glancing out the window, he commented, "I have no idea what we are doing here. It's all sand." Upon landing, they rushed down the airport terminal and grabbed the next clue envelope. This clue instructed the Teams that their next task was to find their way to the top of the lighthouse in the nearby town of Swakopmund. Teams were given a map to the location, but had to find their own transportation. The four Teams rushed to the car rental agencies only to learn they couldn't rent automobiles without a credit card. Because the Teams are only provided with cash, and may only use credit cards to purchase airplane tickets, they couldn't rent cars. Gary & Dave, Tara & Wil and Mary & Peach hurried away from the counter. Oswald & Danny, however, stayed behind, and their persistence and politeness paid off. The counter agent offered to have one of her drivers take them into town for tips only. As they headed out of the airport, Oswald was happy, but not overconfident. "We are the first out," he noted, "but we never know in this race whether we'll be the first in." As the three other top Teams finally ordered taxis in Namibia, the second charter left Cape Town. The four Teams on it were a bit nervous because they were so far behind. Paige explained, "The first four Teams left about three or four hours before us. And we were on the second plane, so we were a little panicky." "I Can't Walk, Man" Oswald & Danny, the first Team to arrive at the lighthouse, climbed the stairs to the top and grabbed the clue envelope. This clue directed them to look out and spot their vehicles in a nearby parking lot. Their next clue envelopes would be hanging on the vehicles. As the teammates headed toward the vehicles, Danny continued to feel the effects of the previous night's yoga injury. "I can't walk, man," he told his teammate. He had a noticeable limp as they made it to the parking lot. Pulling the clue envelope from the windshield of one of the trucks, they discovered they had been given both a route marker and a Fast Forward clue. The route marker informed them to hike to the top of the Matterhorn sand dune. Danny took one glance at the word "hike" in the route marker instructions and decided they should go for the Fast Forward, an award that, once obtained, would allow them to jump all remaining tasks in the leg and go directly to the next Pit Stop. He informed Oswald that he was in no condition to make any kind of hike. This leg's Fast Forward was hidden on the grounds of a hotel that once served as the railroad station. Once they found the hotel, Teams going for the Fast Forward would have to find the exact spot where the railroad tracks used to run--right in the middle of the swimming pool. The Fast Forward award awaited them in the middle of the pool. Oswald & Danny took off in search of the hotel and the Fast Forward envelope. The next Team to arrive at the lighthouse was Tara & Wil. They hopped in a vehicle and took off toward the Matterhorn. The third Team, Mary & Peach, worried about making the hike. Peach felt weak and wasn't sure she could make it up the dune. "Hiking up a sand dune is not the easiest thing in the world," Mary chimed in. With no way of knowing that Oswald & Danny had made the same decision, the sisters decided to go for the Fast Forward. Meanwhile, Oswald & Danny found the hotel and spotted the race flag floating in the pool. Excited, Danny stripped down and hopped in. He grabbed the clue from a buoy floating in the heart of the pool and returned it to his partner. Winning the Fast Forward allowed Oswald & Danny to head directly to the Pit Stop, located at the Amani Lodge, a game reserve outside Namibia's capital city, Windhoek. Tara & Wil were the first to arrive at the sand dune. Wil took one look out the window and exclaimed, "Look at this. Radical!" They got out of the truck and began running up the massive dune. The hike to the top was tough, however, and they were out of breath by the time they made it to the clue box. "Thank you, Jesus," Tara said as she reached inside for a clue. This time the clue was a Detour. A Detour contains two distinct tasks, each with their own pros and cons, and Teams must complete one of the two tasks before continuing on. In this instance, the choices were "Slide" or "Stride." Slide involved sledding down the steep side of the dune on a sandboard that could reach speeds of up to 60 miles an hour. Stride meant walking down the less challenging backside of the dune. There was nothing scary about this option, but it would take much longer. Wil immediately wanted to slide. Tara was less sure, but finally relented. "All right. I'm gonna die," she said, half-jokingly. Wil hopped on the board and slid down the dune, followed by Tara. At the bottom waited their next route marker envelope, which directed them to drive 125 miles to the town of Spitzkoppe and find the General Dealer. Once there, they had to ask for the post card of the day. In the meantime, Mary & Peach arrived at the hotel, only to discover that the Fast Forward had already been taken. Peach commented, "We just make dumb mistakes again. So now we're behind and the other people on the second flight are either here…or on our tail." The sisters had to backtrack and make their way to the Matterhorn sand dune. The second charter landed, and the trailing Teams searched for transportation to the lighthouse. Blake & Paige, Shola & Doyin and Cyndi & Russell found taxis together, leaving Bostonians Chris & Alex behind. As they headed away, Blake theorized that Chris & Alex's unwillingness to work with them could cost the Boston boys the race. Second Charter Arrives in Namibia The remainder of the leading Teams began arriving at the Detour location. Gary & Dave had a great time sliding down the dune. Peach impressed herself with her ability to perform the more adventurous Detour choice. "What a rush!" she exclaimed as her board slowed to a stop. Blake & Paige, Shola & Doyin and Cyndi & Russell hit the lighthouse together. They ran off toward the trucks, and then began their journey toward the Matterhorn sand dune. Chris & Alex were the last to make it to the lighthouse. Chris would later explain, "The hardest part was looking out there and seeing only one car out there in the parking lot." Having completed the Detour, Teams raced to the General Dealer in Spitzkoppe, where they were given a postcard that featured a local woodcarver's market. Tara & Wil, who had been first at the General Dealer, were also the first to find the woodcarver's market. They opened up the next clue to find themselves confronted with a Roadblock. A Roadblock is a task that can be performed by only one member of the Team. In this Roadblock, one teammate had to use his or her bargaining skills and, with whatever cash they had left, purchase five woodcarvings representing Africa's big five animals: rhino, elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. After purchasing these items, they were to take the carvings to a waiting bushman, who would add a giant giraffe to their collection and give them their next clue. Tara decided to perform the task for her Team. She immediately purchased a wooden rhino. She then hurried from stall to stall, negotiating with the shopkeepers. "Come on, I'm gonna run out of money. You're killing me," she told one owner who didn't want to budge on her asking price. Finishing the task, she handed the carvings to the bushman and received her next clue. This one sent the Teams to the Amani Lodge Pit Stop, where the last Team to check in would be eliminated from the race. Tara & Wil raced away just as Gary & Dave arrived to perform the Roadblock. Still trailing, Chris & Alex and Shola & Doyin raced to catch up. Chris & Alex were worried that they were significantly behind their competitors. They also believed they might have gotten lost. Meanwhile, Shola & Doyin were having troubles of their own. They got lost several times, and finally, their truck got stuck in the desert. The tires spun and dug into the sand. "We're stuck!" they groaned. They got out and asked for assistance. A local was kind enough to help them free their truck, then point them on their way. Meanwhile, other Teams were arriving at the woodcarver's market and completing the Roadblock. "I have to come back here shopping one day," Peach informed her sister. Back at the Matterhorn, an exhausted Chris & Alex made the climb to the top of the dune. Somewhere behind them, Shola & Doyin were struggling to find the sand dune. "It says it closes at 7:45. And 7:45 is, like, right around the corner," Doyin moaned. Race Against Elimination With the Fast Forward in hand, Oswald & Danny were the first to check in at the Pit Stop. Behind them, Teams continued their search for the Amani Lodge. Gary & Dave arrived next, followed by Tara & Wil. Mary & Peach pulled up to the lodge slightly ahead of Blake & Paige. Mary & Peach rushed up the path to check in, but were beaten by Blake & Paige, who had cut through an unmarked path. Cyndi & Russell were the next Team to check in. Worried they may be in last, Chris & Alex approached the mat with trepidation. "All right, we're here. It's judgment time," they said. With the giant wooden giraffe in tow, they checked in, only to discover they had arrived in seventh place, thus were still in the race. Relieved, they warmly hugged host Phil Keoghan. Never having found their way to the Matterhorn sand dune, last-placed Team Shola & Doyin were unable to continue the race until the following morning, when the Matterhorn would open again. With all the other Teams checked in, they received a clue directing them to the Pit Stop. In the early morning hours, Shola & Doyin finally showed up at the Lodge and walked to the mat, where Phil Keoghan informed them that they were the last Team to arrive and had been eliminated. In the end, the twin brothers were happy to have experienced the adventure. Remarking on the challenges and adversity of the race, Shola said, "I don't care which of the seven remaining Teams win. They're gonna earn it, because it's a tough thing to do. Believe me, I only made it through four legs and there's nine more legs to go. If they can finish this, I wanna be at the finish line to shake their hand." In a game lodge near Windhoek, Namibia, Shola & Doyin, the twin brothers from Albany, NY, became the fourth Team to be eliminated from THE AMAZING RACE.