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While Chester & Ephraim are trying to use brute force to destroy the salt blocks, Brandon & Adam take the methodical approach of chiseling away at the same crack to weaken the block. The point goes to Team Beardo this round as they are the first ones done.

They must now travel back to Iquique and take a bus a thousand miles to the capital of Chile – Santiago. In Santiago, they have to search Plaza de Armas for their next clue. The boys are understandably elated that they have gone from last to first so far this leg. But hot on their trail to the bus station are Leo & Jamal and Chester & Ephraim, who are the next two out of the Detour.

Marie explains without an ounce of humility that when she saw that the other ladies were only carrying one bag of salt to their tub at a time, she knew they could catch up because she KNOWS she is much stronger than any of them. This may be the case but if you can’t work together as a team, it doesn’t matter how strong you are.

As Leo & Jamal bike back to the taxis, they pass last place Rowan & Shane as they are about to start the biking. This leads to Leo's ominous observation - “Oh my, they are so screwed.”

Team Beardo and the Afghanimals are at the bus station and get the news that they will be on a 1:30 p.m. bus. So not only are they staring down a long 24+ hour bus ride but there will likely be several teams joining them. So much for that lead, laddies.

Any possibility of relaxing at the Brining task dissolves…well, like salt in water…thanks to Marie yelling incessantly at Ex-Tim because she doesn’t like his solution of mixing the salt around to help it dissolve. She also thinks his valid analogy comparing it to lemonade is stupid. With each passing moment like this, I am more and more baffled why he chose to do this show with such a person.

The first ones to finish the Brining task are Jason & Amy, who are now on track to join the three all-boy teams on the 1:30 bus. And depending upon seat availability, the next Brining-finishing team of Travis & Nicole might be along for the day-long ride. It appears that the time between teams finishing this task is minute as the exes aren’t too far behind. It’s no mystery which of these three teams I want to flounder here. Interesting coincidence: These are the three teams I gave the top three rankings this week. Clearly, they aren’t living up to my lofty expectations.

Speaking of not living up to my expectations, baseball wives Nicky & Kim aren’t exactly bringing their A-game to the Race. For the second leg in a row, Kim starts to melt down when faced with a difficult task. Last leg, she overcame a minor anxiety attack at the paragliding task but here she starts to crumble from carrying bags of salt. They slipped some in my rankings from initial prediction to this week and if they survive this leg, I think they will continue a Power Rankings freefall.

Ally & Ashley enjoy the few minutes of silence they get between the bickering exes leaving and them completing the task. But editing makes it seem like this was a very fleeting few minutes.

It’s good news for me but bad news for Tim & Marie as the 1:30 p.m. bus is full and they are left to find another. The bus they won’t be on will be occupied by Team Beardo, the Afghanimals, Chester & Ephraim, Jason & Amy and Drs. Travis & Nicole.

The bitter exes do find another bus that leaves only 30 minutes later but appears to get in a couple hours later. Despite an attempt to claim seats on his bus for his “bride,” Leo & Jamal will be solo on this bus ride, while Ally & Ashley are on the 2 p.m. bus with the exes.

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