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At least, they finally notice the GIGANTIC word search grid but are clueless about how to decode it. Volleyballers Katie & Rachel are the first to recognize the fruitlessness of the task and hop on over to Bicycle Parts, followed by Chad & Stephanie, which leaves Jill & Thomas still aimlessly pillaging kids’ schoolbooks for a decoder and Team HSN floundering. It cracks me up that each of the teams walk right by the decoder legend on their way to switch tasks.

Gary & Mallory quickly conquer the bicycle task and are officially checked in as team number two. These guys may prove my hunch correct and be a formidable team on this race. They just need to avoid the bad cab luck that almost got them knocked out last time. Around this time, we see that Michael & Kevin are taking on the Pop Quiz as the doctors with dad and son going to Language Arts and Nat & Kat going to Bicycle Parts.

Now it’s time to reflect on two polar opposite reactions to the Detour. Nick continues to crack under pressure and tells Vicki that he doesn’t care what the clue says because he can figure this out. Yes, this is the same guy who just read her the riot act for not reading the clue correctly. Out of frustration and failure, Nick hurls insults and bike rims. Then there is the reformed Chad, who notices that the kids playing outside are just like any kid in the world and he admires that they have an honest and pure view of the world. He is either that sensitive or laying it on thick to impress his lady. I will give him the benefit of the doubt because I want to the think he is not the raging a-hole I assumed him to be.

Positivity pays off as Chad & Stephanie get through it and hit the mat as number three, following just a few minutes by Katie & Rachel as number four.

Finally, after wasting enough time to actually create a brand new language, Brook & Claire and Jill & Thomas bail on the word search. The heat and pressure of task has gotten the better of Vicki and her as-yet-unmentioned asthma has flared up. The light bulb of self-reflection turns on above Nick’s head and realizes that he needs to curb his enthusiasm for being a jerk and talk her through her spell.

The physical demands of the task always weigh heavily on Kevin as he knows that switching to the more demanding bicycle option would be taxing for his dad. As a side note, I find it humorous that so many teams are complaining about the 98 degree heat. I guess that spending a lifetime in the Texas heat of about two dozen (or so) days of 100+ degree days every summer makes it where I don’t feel much sympathy for them. The heat complaint is also a bit odd to me because Michael and Kevin are actually from Sugarland, Texas, so this shouldn’t be too much of a shock to their system.

The teams are faring much better on the bicycle parts and Nick is actually proving that you attract more flies with honey than vinegar. They finish up and race Brook & Claire to the mat. The tattooed twosome is number five and Team HSN is number six. Dating Jill & Thomas check in at number seven and the doctors are wandering all over with no luck.

Pushing through the pain and following a visit from the show’s medical staff, dad Michael finishes his last pass on Bicycle Parts and they head to the Pitstop. Thanks to the holy union of creative editing and what is shaping up to be the most directionally challenged (or unlucky) doctors, Nat & Kat narrowly beat Michael & Kevin to the mat.

Ever the sly one, Phil tells the father and son that he is sorry to say they are the last team…..BUT…..this is the first non-elimination leg. This means the race is still on for them, but they are reminded of the impending Speedbump on the next leg. Personally, I am glad that this team was spared elimination, probably because they seem to be a great example of a healthy parent-child relationship.

Two observations about the non-elimination: First, this seemed to show up early this season (I love that the producers don’t follow a set schedule for them) and second, the great thing (for me at least) is that with this being a non-elimination leg, I basically get a bye-week on my prediction. Don’t worry; I can be wrong again next week. Also, The Amazing Race ups the karma and apparently the teams will help fix up the classrooms used for the Pop Quiz task as a chance to pay it back to these students.

Next week, from the heat of Ghana to the snow of the Arctic, The Amazing Race is going to send the racers’ bodies into shock. Also, it appears that Chad’s introspective turn this week was short-lived as his meltdown with Stephanie makes the preview reel. I will vicariously dream of the snow and cold in the upcoming episode over the next seven days.

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