The Amazing Race 15 – Episode Six
Aired 10-25-09
We picked back up in Dubai with Dating couple, Meghan & Cheyne, departing the Pit Stop at 8:17AM. The first clue of the new leg instructed them to choose a locked briefcase and travel by taxi to the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. I got a big kick out of that name. At the Club, they would have to search the marina boardwalk for the next clue. Meghan admitted to being the high-strung one but, so far, she hasn’t been all that bad. They seemed to have a pretty good head start because we followed them to the Yacht Club and learned the next clue before anyone else had even started the leg. Meghan & Cheyne found a Roadblock.
Roadblock
One member of the team had to row an inflatable dingy to a yacht anchored off shore. On the yacht, a sheik would present them with a watch to depict the Arab custom of hospitality. They then had to row back to shore and figure out that the time on the watch (8:35) was the combination to the briefcase containing the next clue. Cheyne took the challenge.
Married couple, Brian & Ericka, were second leaving at 9:59AM. Wow! Meghan & Cheyne had over an hour and a half lead. Brian commented that people might think Ericka is “Pageant Patty” (she’s a former Miss America) but she can rough it when necessary. Ericka replied that, as long as she can start the day with her make-up and hair done, everything will be fine.
Harlem Globetrotters, Flight Time & Big Easy, left in the 3rd spot at 10:42AM. I think this is the most spread out we’ve seen a leg start all season. Father and son, Gary & Matt, followed at 10:45AM. I really like this pair. Their backstory is that they weren’t particularly close but they’ve been getting along quite well. Matt brought along extra hair dye so he could keep rocking his hot pink look. Dad Gary helped him dye it the night before and dad laughed that they’ve been getting very close on this trip.
Cheyne completed the boat trip before anyone else had arrived at the marina. The next clue instructed them to take a taxi to Abra Station - a water taxi port in the old section of Dubai. Brian & Ericka seemed to arrive soon after and Brian did the challenge commenting that Ericka doesn’t do water.
Back at the starting point, brothers Sam & Dan left in the 5th spot at 11:34AM. They felt good about their alliance with Maria & Tiffany because, as Dan pointed out, if it came down to a footrace they could outrun the girls. They actually figured that only the Globetrotters could beat them.
Speaking of the Trotters, this leg got off to a rough start for them as their cab driver took them to the wrong yacht club. That delay allowed Brian to finish and Gary to start the Roadblock before the Trotters arrived.
At Abra Station, Meghan & Cheyne found a Detour.
Detour
The choice was between “Gold” and “Glass”. In “Gold” the teams had to locate a specific jewelry store and use a precision scale to weigh out $500,000 worth of gold. They would have to figure out that they needed to divide $500,000 by the per ounce exchange rate shown on the store’s monitor. They would have to work quickly because the rate was constantly changing. In “Glass” the teams had to head to a spice market and assemble a crate full of hookah pipes. They had to use all the parts and match the pipes exactly to three display models. Meghan & Cheyne opted for “Glass”.
Poker players, Maria & Tiffany, were the 6th team to depart at 11:47AM followed by newly dating couple, Mika & Canaan, who were the last to leave at 11:54AM. Mika commented that Canaan is quite a bit more competitive than she.
Flight Time & Big Easy finally made it to the right place and Easy (who really is big) got in the little boat and was lost when it came to rowing. He ended up paddling with his hands. Dan followed and did the same thing.
Meanwhile, Meghan was freaking out a bit with the hookah pipes. Stress really isn’t her best thing but Cheyne seemed to handle it well. Brian & Ericka opted for the “Gold” challenge and had no trouble understanding the calculation – Brian just had trouble doing it without a calculator.
Big Easy ran into trouble when it came time to use the watch to decode the briefcase lock. He got so stuck on the little hand being on the 8 and the big hand being on the 7 that he was missing the obvious answer. Eventually Dan, Tiffany and Canaan came and went before Easy figured it out. In the midst of all this, Mika had the cringe moment of the episode as she asked Canaan, in all seriousness, if the Muslim clock worked differently. Oh, Mika. On the plus side, it was nice to see how well the Trotters handled their adversity. Flight never came close to losing his temper while he waited for Easy and they both kept their sense of humor (and perspective) about the whole thing.
After struggling a while with the gold calculation, Brian & Ericka bailed and headed over to the pipes. Gary & Matt also opted for the pipes but neither pair made it there before Meghan & Cheyne finished. The next clue took them to the Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai Resort. There they would have to find, and slide down, a 6 story waterslide set at a 90 degree angle. Now see, this kind of crazy thing is why I’ll never be able to do TAR.
The alliance was still going strong as Sam & Dan and Maria & Tiffany ran into each other at the jewelry store. The girls knew the calculation and the boys had a calculator. They made quick work of it.
At the waterslide, both Meghan & Cheyne confessed to being afraid of heights but they did the jump quickly without thinking much about it. They got the final clue taking them to the Pit Stop at Dolphin Bay Beach. Meghan & Cheyne checked in 1st and each won a personal watercraft.
Back at the pipes, Brian & Ericka watched their lead fade as they just couldn’t get the pipes right. They were still there as Mika & Canaan and Flight Time & Big Easy joined the group. Working in the hot sun was also taking a toll as Matt started to feel faint. Brian managed to keep his cool and eventually figured out that they had the hoses on the wrong pipes. They were on their way to the slide.
Flight & Easy realized that it took Brian & Ericka two hours to do the pipes so they headed to the “Gold” task. Maria & Tiffany and Sam & Dan completed the waterslide and headed to the Pit Stop.
Maria & Tiffany were team number 2.
Sam & Dan checked in 3rd.
The Trotters arrived at the jewelry store and had a pretty easy time measuring out the gold. For starters, Easy went to the shop next door and simply borrowed a calculator.
Brian & Ericka were 4th.
Easy said the others probably thought they were crazy to do a math challenge – especially after he fell on his face telling time - but they aced it.
Gary & Matt were 5th.
At the waterslide, Mika & Canaan had an ugly meltdown. Mika put on a pair of water wings (I’m not kidding) and promptly turned into a 6 year old. Don’t get me wrong, I have a ton of sympathy for her fears. I would have been terrified, and I don’t know if I could have done it, but Mika’s regression to Grade School was a bit much. The only thing worse was Canaan’s reaction. He acted like a bully – plain and simple. At one point it looked like he actually tried to force Mika down the slide. Mika was still sitting at the top when Flight & Easy showed up. The rules said Mika & Canaan had two minutes from the Trotters arrival to do the challenge or they’d lose their spot. As Canaan tried to cajole Mika, the Trotters started up about how high the slide was and how Mika shouldn’t do it because she might get hurt. Canaan called Easy a piece of crap for acting that way. What Flight & Easy did was mean, and I was disappointed in them, but Canaan had no room to talk. Mika never did go down the slide.
Flight Time & Big Easy checked in 6th.
Mika & Canaan were last. Host Phil Keoghan informed them that they had been eliminated from the race. Mika said she felt like she’d let Canaan and herself down. Canaan said in an interview that he didn’t hold what happened against Mika. He stated there was “freedom in forgiveness” and no one was perfect – including himself. Um, you can say that again. At this point I think Canaan should be less concerned with forgiving Mika and more concerned with whether or not she forgives him.
Next Week: Ericka has a meltdown and Flight Time & Big Easy do some dancing.
Full episodes and bonus clips from TAR are available at CBS’ website here:
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