Season 39 • Leg 6‘The Amazing Race’ Leg 6 in Albania

I was really late with last week’s episode, and so we will do two of them today. There was an another episode that aired last night, so we will do both down the line in order.

Last week was the Season 39’s 6th leg of the Race. They are still in Albania after it being a non-elimination leg. Keep in mind that the two remaining Express Passes have to be used by by the end of the leg. There was also an Intersection that brought teams to partner up to accomplish the Roadblock. Both teams must finish before the mission is technically completed.

Michelle and Matt started an hour ahead of everyone after their third win a row last time; however, they waited for Daisha and Dalton to team up with, and as a way to ensure that everyone made it to the Roadblock at the same time. It makes sense. They would have to wait for them anyway. The Intersection Roadblock had one person from each team perform a wedding celebration dance ensemble geared to the culture, while being created centuries ago. Therefore, Michelle and Daisha did it for the combined teams. The four of them completed the task before anyone else showed up.

Ann-Marie & Riley, along with Ali & Joanna Lohman, Conner & Garrett, Doug & Dylan, and then Anuar & Andrea, all showed up together or simultaneously. Andrea & Anuar had already teamed up with Conner & Garrett on the drive over, while the Boss Girl Alliance created an all-women’s team. Dylan and Doug had to wait for Javi & Erin for their team to begin the Intersection Roadblock. All of the teams are either strong across the board or have strong elements.

Joanna & Riley completed the Roadblock, while Garrett & Andrea finished it after attempt number 4. Dylan & Erin completed the Roadblock on their first try; at the same time, they were still the final team to leave.

The ‘Heads’ or ‘Tails’ Detour was next, with the ‘Heads’ challenge had the teams create this rubbery-looking traditional Albanian hat. They had to make the hat flat, without creases. It had to be very smooth. The ‘Tails’ had teams learning a verse of a poem in Albanian, and then the other person had to repeat it using English. It also needed to be memorized.

Matt & Michelle, Ali & Joanna, Ann-Marie & Riley, and Doug & Dylan chose to do the hat, or ‘Heads.’ Daisha & Dalton, Andrea & Anuar, and Erin & Javi all chose ‘Tails’ to recite the poem in two languages and by memory.

By the time Doug & Dylan arrived to make the traditional Albanian hat, the Boss Girls failed after the first time, and therefore, all teams had to basically start first time and restart evenly.

Matt & Michelle are not only far ahead of everyone else; they also used the Express Pass at the ‘Heads’ challenge, since this was the last day to use it.

They arrived first at the Pit Stop. That is their third win in a row, which you are damned if you do, and you are damned if you don’t win challenges. They are going to be major targets from now.

Then, Conner & Garrett use their Express Pass before they start the ‘Tails’ Detour.

Doug & Dylan were the last team to the arrive, but since Phil Keoghan told us prior that whomever ‘may be eliminated,’ and not that they ‘will be eliminated,’ and therefore, no one gets knocked out this week (last week).

This was a non-elimination leg.

Doug & Dylan will have a penalty challenge to get through, along with the normal one, on the next leg of the Race.

The the teams were all then seen flying to Sri Lanka while catching up with Phil, who told everyone that they would be incurring a Double U-Turn.

That happens right away on the next episode, which, again, I will get to now.

Season 39 • Leg 7‘Amazing Race’ Leg 7 With the Double U-Turn in Sri Lanka

OK. So right away, and like we alluded to in last week’s episode, Matt & Michelle are the top pick in the Double U-Turn. I do not like Double U-Turns. It’s not about real strategy. It is about penalizing the top players.

Regardless, there are a lot of moving parts happening right away. They had to sell a bunch of fish they scooped from a barrel. Then, they need line up hundreds of fish with no gap in between and without piling them on top of each other. They had to then get on a bus to go to this town, where they then had to load up 30 cardboard boxes onto a hand cart. It then had to be rolled to People’s Park in the middle of this busy city. The streets were packed, so rolling cart was very hard. They also have to play Tuk-Tuk Polo, and then the teams need to score a goal. They then have to take a taxi to find Phil at Independence Square.

Overall, the episode also had a Detour, Roadblock, and Route Info challenge.

Doug & Dylan are being automatically U-Turned because of their penalty for finishing in last place in the last episode.

In the Double U-Turn vote, Erin & Javi voted for Michelle & Matt and Ali & Joanna. Ali & Joanna voted for Michelle & Matt and Daisha Wilks & Dalton Hamby. Conner & Garrett, Anuar & Andrea, and Ann-Marie & Riley. Daisha & Dalton went with Michelle & Matt and Anuar & Andrea, and then Doug & Dylan did the same. Michelle & Matt voted for Daisha & Dalton and Anuar & Andrea.

Michelle & Matt had six total votes. Daisha & Dalton had five votes. They were both Double U-Turned.

The challenge is ‘Dry Out or Sell Out.’ Everyone had to pick up armfuls of fish from a bucket. They had to wash the fish in the ocean, and then that was when they were allowed to lie them next to each other on the ‘coconut fiber mat.’ They are set out to dry in the strong sun because it is very hot this day in Sri Lanka. You also had to lay down the fish so there was no space in between any of the fish. During the portion called ‘For Sell Out,’ the teams had to sell 5,000 rupee worth of fish in an auction inside this bustling food market.

All teams chose ‘Dry Out,’ while the three teams that are now U-Turned had to complete both of the tasks.

When completed, they all had to take a bus to Mada Park in the town of Colombo. Ali & Joanna made the bus first; however, they were on the local one at first before asking about how to get to Mapa faster. It turns out there was a Highway bus that got them their quicker. They did have to stop the bus, exit it, before finding the express bus.

Andrea & Anuar, Ann-Marie & Riley, and Erin & Javi all got on the next Express bus. There was some type of pseudo-alliance set up, but at the same time, I think people felt cornered, and they yes’ed them to get through the bus ride. Like I said many times, you do not need to depend on an alliance until it’s mandated in a challenge. Conner & Garrett got on the smelly bus, evidently.

The U-Turned teams were the last to get on any bus. Daisha & Dalton and Matt & Michelle were on a bus as Doug & Dylan arrived. They managed to get on the express bus to get to the Roadblock before the other two teams that had been U-Turned.

One team member then had to load up 30 boxes onto a long hand cart, and then that same person had to roll it through the busy and chaotic streets in this town. The streets were filled with people, other people using those same hand carts with a ton of boxes piled on it, along with a crazy amount of cars, trucks and a ton of traffic. They could barely fit through anything on the streets.

When Matt & Michelle and Daisha & Dalton finally got there, everyone else was already done with this Roadblock. Dylan decided not to show Matt the clue box, while Doug’s boxes fell off his the cart. Doug also had problems getting through the traffic.

They were the last to finish the Roadblock.

Then came the ‘Route Info Task,’ which was when they got to play Tuk-Tuk Polo. Someone had to drive the electric cart, and the other person had to use the polo mallet to score a goal. They would have to dangle out of the car to hit the ball like in a polo match. This also needed to be done in 60 seconds; otherwise, you had to go to the back of line and wait for the other teams to do it.

When Doug & Dylan got to the Tuk-Tuk Polo challenge, Daisha & Dalton were the only ones left. Doug & Dylan had a failed attempt, while Daisha & Dalton scored a goal and was then able to take their taxi to Independence park for the Pit Stop.

Doug & Dylan scored as Daisha & Dalton left but could not catch up to them. This time, Phil says that they are being eliminated.

Matt & Michelle impressively ended up in third place after being U-Turned. The Boss Girls, Ali & Joanna, won the entire leg, getting to not only go to New Zealand, but they also asked Phil to invite them over for dinner, to which he agreed, while Anuar & Andrea came in second without needing any alliance help.

We are now up to date with the Race!