by Sandhurst Miggins

 

On last night's episode of The Amazing Race, Norway became the 5th leg of the race. Nat and Kat were the first to leave and were told to head to the Norwegian border where they would receive their next clue atop a mountain. Tonight's episode would prove a test to overcome one's fears for this team, as Nat was obviously shaken by the fact that they had to go up so high in a gondola to receive their next clue.

 

As Gary and Mallory take off Mallory is proud to help her father realize a dream of competing on the race. "It's a lot different actually running the race than sitting and watching it on the couch." I bet.

 

Though they are the first ones out and with quite a sizeable lead Nat and Kat decide to take the Fast Forward to cement their position. To complete the task, They must head to a Norwegian restaurant and take part in a traditional Norwegian Christmas meal. The catch is that they don't know what it is, until they get there. While they head to the Fast Forward, other teams that don't go after the Forward must head to the Road Block where one teammate must repel off a bridge, to the lake below to receive a clue from a boat, after this is done they must use their body strength to pull themselves back up to the bridge. Yeah this one actually looked to be one of the hardest challenges I have ever seen on this show.

 

Michael and Kevin are the first to arrive, followed by Gary and Mallory, then Brook and Claire. Kevin is definitely doing this one, seeing

his father might not be able to pull himself back up. Just as the opening pack starts their decent to the water below, the later groups are set off. Rachel and Katie are in last place and even though they know they have to catch up, they are in no mood to make friends on this race. Great attitude to have their girls.

 

Back at the Fast Forward, Nat is forced to break a 22 year abstinence from meat when she is forced to eat roasted head of sheep to complete the task. The texture disgusts the women but they both eat it like it's nothing and are easily the first team to arrive at the Pit Stop. Nick and Vick who were one of the later teams to leave, for some unknown reason decide to try for the Fast Forward. Now I think it's safe to assume, on the race that if you are the sixth team to leave, that someone ahead of you already took the Fast Forward, but no, not these two. They decide to go after the fast Forward and are greeted by a sign that says "Fast Forward Taken." That should have been enough of a hint to move on right? Nope! Vicki becomes confused by the sign and thinks that the sign means that the Forward is still in play, even suggesting that they wait. I worry about these two.

 

Doing her first Road Block since the melon incident, Brook is struggling to find the strength to pull herself back to the top. Claire being the, ever supportive teammate, tells her to remember her spunky Grandmother who passed away four days before they started the race. It's more than enough to motivate her to get back to the top and continue on to the Detour.

 

The detour tonight is pretty straight-forward. It's a decision between Bikes and Boats. In Bikes teams must choose a pair of bikes with a specifically colored, combination lock. Then they must ride through the hills to find a board with all of the colored lock's combination written on it, after they memorize their specific lock's combination they must ride back and unlock it for their next clue.

 

In Boats teams must use a map to direct a boat captain to a location, where they must take a chainsaw and two heavy cod fish up a hill to the owner of a cabin at the top. Both tasks have their pros and cons and for the most part the teams split down the middle on who does which task. Though Mike and Kevin were the first to arrive Mallory and Gary were blessed with a bit of luck when both Mike and Kevin as well as Jill and Thomas both took the wrong turn on their way to the Pit Stop to finish second.

 

The race to the finish tonight was not as close as it had been on Previous legs. Though all throughout the early stages of the race they were constantly jockeying for position with Chad and Stephanie, the Volleyball team of Rachel and Katie were just too far behind to catch up. You could tell they were hoping for a non-elimination surprise from Phil but it never came and they were sent home. Seven teams are remain, find out who is eliminated next on The Amazing Race. Did I just steal that from Top Model?

 

 

The Amazing Race airs Sundays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

 

Follow Sandhurst at twitter.com/sandhursttacama

 

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