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While they tread/paddle water, Team Slapshot and Cowboy Royalty are now at the next Roadblock, just in time to demoralize the other teams still struggling in the heat. Bates is surprisingly adept at rebuilding sandcastles for an ice hockey player. Not only that, he only has to go through a couple before becoming the second team out of the challenge. Anthony & Bates have leapfrogged four of the frontrunners and throw a kink in the alliance’s Express Pass plan.

Well, that decision is now in the hands of John & Jessica, who are officially the winners of the first leg of the season and the proud owners of two Express Passes. John explains that they want to honor their pact of giving it to the second team from their alliance to hit the mat but they recognize the conflict of just handing over an advantage to another team. Also, I am happy to report that I picked them to win the whole thing and they are off to a grand start. This may be an Amazing Race Recap first for me.

Paddling their way into second place is Team Slapshot, while Joey is bouncing around gleefully amongst the sandcastles. The teams that have been sweating it for that last few hours aren’t exactly amused or matching his level of excitement for the Race at this point. Everyone is now on the scene with Beth building for Team Sock ‘er Moms.

Livestrong pops David is the next one out of the challenge. He snatches it up and bounds off the beach. They are followed almost immediately by the former last place team of Mona & Beth. One by one, teams are finding success in their treasure hunt: next is Pam & Winnie (looks like I was wrong about them being eliminated unless they paddle in the wrong direction) and Team YouTube Joey & Meghan, who are getting on Idries’ last nerve.

Team Livestrong is checked in as the third team at the mat and Connor recaps (to the camera…not Phil) that IF John & Jessica live up to their word, then they will be sitting comfortably with the extra Express Pass.

Thankfully for Idries’ diminishing sanity from being baked in the sun, Team Dead Ringers is the next one off the beach with Wynonna finding hers next while envisioning refreshing vodka and 7UP. All the first flight teams are now done. Speaking of which, Pam & Winnie didn’t get lost and are checked in as number four. On their sand-caked heels is Team Sock ‘er Moms (Mona & Beth), who are number five.

Enemies of water Jamil & Idries take an unfortunate capsizing of their canoe, which allows Chuck & Wynonna to pass them by. On Phil’s beach, Joey & Meghan have staked claim to sixth place and the aforementioned Mr. & Mrs. Mullet are number seven. With exhaustion on their faces, Jamil & Idries are facing Phil as number eight.

Matt recaps the situation on the sand castle hell beach as “Then there were three.” This trio of teams could be the start of a bad joke: Firefighters, newlyweds and country singers walk into a sand bar. After three hours, all of them scream “Son of a beach.” (Hey, I warned you it was a bad joke.)

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