Once in China, they can make their own arrangement to get to Jade Dragon Mountain, where they'll get their next clue. Zev and Justin take off. In diary scenes, Zev voices concern about how many people are in China. He has Aspberger's, and he doesn't really like crowds of people.
Gary and Mallory are the second team to leave, followed by Ron and Kristina, who are excited to go to China since they both speak the language and have been there before. It will be interesting to see if they can use this to their advantage.
All of the other teams leave and true to what we expected, they'll all leave on the same flight. Team Goth has declared this leg PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) leg. You can almost feel the set up by the editors. And sure enough, PMA doesn't even get out of the parking lot as Kent struggles to open the trunk. That's the one thing about reality shows like this. They telegraph what's going to happen by the way they edit the shows, because they use the same tricks every single time.
Everyone is at the airport...except Team Goth. They have become inexplicably lost. Vyxsin has a major meltdown. One can only guess how much exhaustion plays into this game. After each leg, they get a twelve hour break, but we never really get to see how long each leg takes. This is only the third leg, since the first one was a double leg, encompassing two episodes. We never really get to see much of that twelve hour break, but I'm assuming in addition to sleeping, they have food available and time to take care of bodily functions.
Even though they had several hours to get to the airport, Team Goth has been going the wrong way on Vyxsin's navigation, and they are a long way from the airport with fifty minutes before the flight takes off. I have to give major kudos to Kent; he doesn't get angry or freak out on Vyxsin. He just says they can't give up.
The other teams take off on the flight, wondering what happened to Team Goth. Kent and Vyxsin arrive at the airport. We're not shown how late they are, but they are given a flight later in the afternoon. Since the first flight was a required flight (and every time they show the flight, it says "required", I'm wondering if there will be a penalty for missing it or if being so far behind will be penalty enough.
The other teams take off on the flight, wondering what happened to Team Goth. Kent and Vyxsin arrive at the airport. We're not shown how late they are, but they are given a flight later in the afternoon. Since the first flight was a required flight (and every time they show the flight, it says "required", I'm wondering if there will be a penalty for missing it or if being so far behind will be penalty enough.
After landing in China, Ron & Kristina are able to grab the first train ride to Li Jiang. The other teams miss this train, but are able to get on the next one. Ron & Kristina leave at 8:50 PM; the other teams around 10:15 AM. Poor Team Goth get into China at 1:15 AM, to find everything shut down, so they won't even be able to catch a train until the next morning.
Ron & Kristina arrive in Li Jiang at 5:38 AM the next morning. Ron makes them stop for breakfast - warm Chinese buns. They get to the base of the marked shuttle, but it doesn't leave until 8:00 AM. Back at the airport (they opted to fly instead of taking the train), Team Goth is headed to Li Jiang providing Vyxsin can find her passport (she left it at the ticket booth). This has just been a comedy of errors so far. I don't think I've ever seen a team screw up so much in one leg.
With the exception of Team Goth, all of the teams make the first shuttle. We see Team Goth land in Li Jiang at 8:15 AM. Depending on how long it takes to get to the shuttle, they've made up some time.
Jade Dragon Mountain has an elevation of over 10,000 feet. Here, one of the members of each team must saddle a yak and then use it to cross a river to get their next clue. Wow, the scenery here is beautiful. I may have to put riding a yak in China on my bucket list.
Next up, the teams must take a gondola to an elevation more than three miles high to find their next clue. We went to Colorado a couple of years ago, and that elevation kicked my butt. I can't imagine what it would be like that height. Team Redheads is the first team out, but everyone else is close behind. Lots of comments on the altitude - Marjorie comments that even though she's from Colorado, she's hurting.
The challenge is a road block, so one team member will complete it. Phil tells us that according to Chinese legend, Buddha challenged the twelve animals of the zodiac to a race and their place on the zodiac is how the race finished. Each team must find a plaque with each animals picture and then assemble a mobile with the animals in the correct order.
The teams go off a model to find out what they need. Kristina knows it because her mom made her memorize it when she was little. Since there are thousands of plaques to look through, it's not helping her much though. While all the teams are searching, we see Team Goth at the yaks. Luke is the first with his plaques, but he doesn't get the order right. Mallory is right behind him and does. She takes time to help Luke (who is deaf) to understand he has to get them in the right order and shows him hers. I think this has been the most interesting dynamic of this season so far. Some of the teams are really working together and helping each other. The one exception seems to be Ron & Kristina - I think this has more to do with Ron, who can be a real ass to the other teams (and to his daughter).
The teams must now get on marked buses and head to a prayer wheel where they will get their next clue. Mallory and Gary are out first, with Luke and Marjorie right behind. The other teams finish and head to the buses. Zev (who is doing this challenge) is really struggling with finding the plaques though. He's really getting frustrated which is hard to watch.
Team Goth finishes the yaks and heads up in the gondola. The Cowboys notice the them going up as they are heading down. The teams are heading for the marked buses, but Ron & Kristina bypass those and grab a shuttle and are probably going to be in trouble.
Zev is getting really frustrated with trying to figure out how the plaques are supposed to hang on the mobile, and Justin gets really worried when Team Goth shows up. Ron freaks out at Kristina and the shuttle driver when he realizes he put them on the wrong transportation. This guy is a real piece of work, and I would not be sorry to see them go home. Kristina ends up on the ground after jumping out of the shuttle before it stopped. They start waving and yelling at the shuttle buses. Did Ron just lob a rock at one of the buses? The Globetrotters have their bus stop and wait for them. I wonder if this is penance for last week when they grabbed Ron & Kristina's pack (by mistake) and left in a locker room without telling them. It's odd that no one (not even the show) mentions the penalty the Globetrotters received because of this.
Justin points out to Kent that they missed the "required" flight. Kent tries to play it cool, but you can see this thought shakes him. Vyxsin tries to peak at Zev's mobile, but he's not having it. He's also not getting his clue since he still doesn't have them in the right order.
The other teams must find their zodiac sign, write a prayer on a piece of paper, and deposit it in the correct slot for their sign. Sweet, sweet Mallory writes that he hopes she and her dad have the most fun and best experience on the race; Gary writes "win." Marjory and Luke are out first.
From here, the teams head to a detour - Hammer or Horn. In Hammer, they have to hammer some candy to make what looks like some kind of peanut brittle. In Horn, they have to carry a large horn and find a castle to receive their next clue. Both teams choose hammer.
Ron & Kristina and the Cowboys complete the prayer wheel; they both choose hammer as well. The Globetrotters don't know their sign and are basically running through all the signs trying to figure it out. Kisha & Jen finish and head to Hammer; The Redheads finish and choose Horn.
Back at the zodiac challenge, Zev realizes his problem is he has two goats instead of a horse. Vyxsin can't locate all of the symbols. Zev finishes and Justin serves him with some backhanded compliments. Vyxsin starts to melt down.
The Globetrotters finally figure out their signs and head to complete Horn. On the way to the Hammer challenge, Ron is far more interested in the local cuisine than he is the race. Several teams are hammering out the candy, but Ron is eating it.
The Redheads reach the Horn challenge, decide it's too hard and head to the Hammer challenge.
Vyxsin, in the midst of a total breakdown, finds the last plaque.
At Hammer, the teams are finishing up. Marjorie and Luke get the clue first and it's says to head to a tower for the pit stop. Ron and Kristina continue to bicker constantly. The Globetrotters look like they're having the time of their lives on the way to find the castle. They seem to be taking time to interact with the people in the village.
Zev and Justin do the prayer wheel and choose to do Horn. Vyxsin finishes the zodiac mobile and they head to the prayer wheel.
At the pit stop, Marjory and Luke are the first to arrive; they win a trip for two to Aruba. They also are handed another clue by Phil who says this leg isn't over. Marjory is REALLY not happy about this.
Teams check in as follows:
#2 - Cowboys
#3 - Gary & Mallory
#4 - Ron & Kristina
#5 - Kisha & Jen
#6 - The Globetrotters
#7 - The Redheads
The episode ends with Zev and Justin trying to find where they need to take their horn. We then see Team Goth on the bus, suddenly realize they've lost their fanny pack that had their passports and money in it. We see a flash to them exiting the gondola and Kent leaving it in there. They try to get the driver to turn the bus around but there is no place to do it.
Team Goth has had one of the worst legs I've ever seen. Losing their passports is what got Zev and Justin sent home on their previous race. In the first episode the Cowboys were way behind, but at the end but were able to turn it around and not go home. It will be interesting to see if Team Goth can do it as well.
Ron & Kristina arrive in Li Jiang at 5:38 AM the next morning. Ron makes them stop for breakfast - warm Chinese buns. They get to the base of the marked shuttle, but it doesn't leave until 8:00 AM. Back at the airport (they opted to fly instead of taking the train), Team Goth is headed to Li Jiang providing Vyxsin can find her passport (she left it at the ticket booth). This has just been a comedy of errors so far. I don't think I've ever seen a team screw up so much in one leg.
With the exception of Team Goth, all of the teams make the first shuttle. We see Team Goth land in Li Jiang at 8:15 AM. Depending on how long it takes to get to the shuttle, they've made up some time.
Jade Dragon Mountain has an elevation of over 10,000 feet. Here, one of the members of each team must saddle a yak and then use it to cross a river to get their next clue. Wow, the scenery here is beautiful. I may have to put riding a yak in China on my bucket list.
Next up, the teams must take a gondola to an elevation more than three miles high to find their next clue. We went to Colorado a couple of years ago, and that elevation kicked my butt. I can't imagine what it would be like that height. Team Redheads is the first team out, but everyone else is close behind. Lots of comments on the altitude - Marjorie comments that even though she's from Colorado, she's hurting.
The challenge is a road block, so one team member will complete it. Phil tells us that according to Chinese legend, Buddha challenged the twelve animals of the zodiac to a race and their place on the zodiac is how the race finished. Each team must find a plaque with each animals picture and then assemble a mobile with the animals in the correct order.
The teams go off a model to find out what they need. Kristina knows it because her mom made her memorize it when she was little. Since there are thousands of plaques to look through, it's not helping her much though. While all the teams are searching, we see Team Goth at the yaks. Luke is the first with his plaques, but he doesn't get the order right. Mallory is right behind him and does. She takes time to help Luke (who is deaf) to understand he has to get them in the right order and shows him hers. I think this has been the most interesting dynamic of this season so far. Some of the teams are really working together and helping each other. The one exception seems to be Ron & Kristina - I think this has more to do with Ron, who can be a real ass to the other teams (and to his daughter).
The teams must now get on marked buses and head to a prayer wheel where they will get their next clue. Mallory and Gary are out first, with Luke and Marjorie right behind. The other teams finish and head to the buses. Zev (who is doing this challenge) is really struggling with finding the plaques though. He's really getting frustrated which is hard to watch.
Team Goth finishes the yaks and heads up in the gondola. The Cowboys notice the them going up as they are heading down. The teams are heading for the marked buses, but Ron & Kristina bypass those and grab a shuttle and are probably going to be in trouble.
Zev is getting really frustrated with trying to figure out how the plaques are supposed to hang on the mobile, and Justin gets really worried when Team Goth shows up. Ron freaks out at Kristina and the shuttle driver when he realizes he put them on the wrong transportation. This guy is a real piece of work, and I would not be sorry to see them go home. Kristina ends up on the ground after jumping out of the shuttle before it stopped. They start waving and yelling at the shuttle buses. Did Ron just lob a rock at one of the buses? The Globetrotters have their bus stop and wait for them. I wonder if this is penance for last week when they grabbed Ron & Kristina's pack (by mistake) and left in a locker room without telling them. It's odd that no one (not even the show) mentions the penalty the Globetrotters received because of this.
Justin points out to Kent that they missed the "required" flight. Kent tries to play it cool, but you can see this thought shakes him. Vyxsin tries to peak at Zev's mobile, but he's not having it. He's also not getting his clue since he still doesn't have them in the right order.
The other teams must find their zodiac sign, write a prayer on a piece of paper, and deposit it in the correct slot for their sign. Sweet, sweet Mallory writes that he hopes she and her dad have the most fun and best experience on the race; Gary writes "win." Marjory and Luke are out first.
From here, the teams head to a detour - Hammer or Horn. In Hammer, they have to hammer some candy to make what looks like some kind of peanut brittle. In Horn, they have to carry a large horn and find a castle to receive their next clue. Both teams choose hammer.
Ron & Kristina and the Cowboys complete the prayer wheel; they both choose hammer as well. The Globetrotters don't know their sign and are basically running through all the signs trying to figure it out. Kisha & Jen finish and head to Hammer; The Redheads finish and choose Horn.
Back at the zodiac challenge, Zev realizes his problem is he has two goats instead of a horse. Vyxsin can't locate all of the symbols. Zev finishes and Justin serves him with some backhanded compliments. Vyxsin starts to melt down.
The Globetrotters finally figure out their signs and head to complete Horn. On the way to the Hammer challenge, Ron is far more interested in the local cuisine than he is the race. Several teams are hammering out the candy, but Ron is eating it.
The Redheads reach the Horn challenge, decide it's too hard and head to the Hammer challenge.
Vyxsin, in the midst of a total breakdown, finds the last plaque.
At Hammer, the teams are finishing up. Marjorie and Luke get the clue first and it's says to head to a tower for the pit stop. Ron and Kristina continue to bicker constantly. The Globetrotters look like they're having the time of their lives on the way to find the castle. They seem to be taking time to interact with the people in the village.
Zev and Justin do the prayer wheel and choose to do Horn. Vyxsin finishes the zodiac mobile and they head to the prayer wheel.
At the pit stop, Marjory and Luke are the first to arrive; they win a trip for two to Aruba. They also are handed another clue by Phil who says this leg isn't over. Marjory is REALLY not happy about this.
Teams check in as follows:
#2 - Cowboys
#3 - Gary & Mallory
#4 - Ron & Kristina
#5 - Kisha & Jen
#6 - The Globetrotters
#7 - The Redheads
The episode ends with Zev and Justin trying to find where they need to take their horn. We then see Team Goth on the bus, suddenly realize they've lost their fanny pack that had their passports and money in it. We see a flash to them exiting the gondola and Kent leaving it in there. They try to get the driver to turn the bus around but there is no place to do it.
Team Goth has had one of the worst legs I've ever seen. Losing their passports is what got Zev and Justin sent home on their previous race. In the first episode the Cowboys were way behind, but at the end but were able to turn it around and not go home. It will be interesting to see if Team Goth can do it as well.
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