Sunday’s installment of “The Amazing Race” saw the teams remaining in Africa, so there were no long airport waits, and no getting a jump on the competition by finding an early plane departure.  Instead, all of the teams got a chance to check out the natural beauty and see the fantastic animal life on a little safari in the area.

The first assignment was to travel to a nearby village and find “Hillary Clinton”.  This was the only clue, and the teams had to discover for themselves that this was a pushcart shop in the village and not the Secretary of State on safari.

The clue at the pushcart location led to either “Water Supply” or “Air Supply”, the next phase of the race.

Our boys chose “Air Supply” where they had to repair a bike tire.  They were the second team at this challenge, joining the Army husband and wife, Dave and Rachel.  Bopper and Mark made short work of this, as did their competition, and were soon on their way.  Other frontrunners, Art and JJ chose “Water Supply” and had to wait in a long line of villagers to fill can from a hose and deliver the water to a local resident.  While not particularly difficult, this was more time-consuming, and the Border patrol agents and Brendan and Rachel (the whiner) fell back a bit. 

A Double U-Turn was also available in this leg of the race.  If a team is U-Turn’d, they must complete both challenges.  Bopper and Mark arrived at the U-Turn station first and decided not to U-Turn any of their competitors, as did Rachel and Dave.  The Border Patrol team U-Turned Rachel and Brendan, who, consequently, U-Turn’d Ralph and Vanessa, who were way behind by this time as they could not find the Hillary Clinton pushcart.

With a much later start time, teachers/Federal agents Nary and Jamie didn’t seem like much competition, particularly with a speed bump ahead of them due to their last place finish in a non-elimination round last time.

Team Kentucky (with Bopper proudly wearing a Kentucky t-shirt was first to the final challenge, closely followed by Team Army.  At this point, it was basically a two-team race for first.

In this challenge, one tem member (Mark) had to don a beekeeper’s costume and retrieve 500 grams of honey from hives swarming with African bees.  Though frightening to me, Mark and Dave (Team Army) had few problems, and Bopper and Mark started off to the finish mat with a slim lead. 

Even with an injury (apparently Bopper had had knee surgery just 6 months prior) Team Kentucky was able to hang on and reach Phil first.  For winning this leg of the race (their only first place finish thus far), the two friends received a trip to Hawaii when the race is over.  The Army couple arrived shortly after our boys, and were followed b Art and JJ and the Big Brother team of Rachel and Brendan.

Jamie and Nary arrived last again, and this week were eliminated.

Great going, guys!  Just a few weeks left till the Final Three.  Here’s hoping we see you then.  Congratulations on the Hawaii win.  Can’t wait to see Mark and Bopper sporting grass skirts and doing the hula.