Nat & Kat leave the Pit Stop first at 6am sharp and read their first clue telling them to head to cross the border to Narvik in Norway. There, they’ll make their way up Fagernesfjellet Mountain for their next clue.
Nat & Kat express how much their relationship has grown, Brook talks about how crazy she is and how calm Claire is, and Michael & Kevin talk about this being their last opportunity to pee together until Kevin leaves home as they all leave the Pit Stop. Thomas continues harping on about his Notre Dame education.
Nat & Kat get into the gondola that’ll take them up to the top of the mountain and Nat begins crying as she’s afraid of heights. But they get to the clue and discover the Fast Forward. For this Fast Forward, teams will take part in a traditional Norwegian Christmas ritual, eating a roasted sheep’s head. They go for it.
Brook & Claire get into the gondolas, but Gary & Mallory miss that trip allowing their best friends Michael & Kevin to catch up and they go up together. The non-Fast Forward clue tells them to find the next cluebox at the Skjomen Bridge. The three teams head down just as Jill & Thomas head up.
Nat & Kat get to the Fast Forward and they hope it isn’t an eating challenge especially since Kat has been a vegetarian for 22 years. Well… here’s a sheep’s head for them. Kat pushes through it.
Meanwhile, the first three teams arrive at the bridge and find the Road Block.
In this Road Block, teams will rappel down to the water and signal one of two boats to deliver them the clue. They’ll then have to use an ascender to get themselves back up.
Kevin and Gary decide to do it and Brook tells Claire to as well.
Back at the Fast Forward, Nat & Kat finish and they get their clue telling them to head to the Pit Stop, the Ankenes Marina. Nick & Vicki get to the mountain and the clue and decide to do the Fast Forward. They think everyone is going to do the Fast Forward, why wouldn’t they? They get to the restaurant and see the “Fast Forward Taken” sign on the door. They aren’t sure what that means. They decide not to wait so they decide to just go do “the other one” as if they had a choice?
But the only Fast Forward winners Nat & Kat arrive at the Pit Stop and check in with Phil, first for the 2nd leg in a row. They get a trip to Costa Rica.
At the Road Block, Kevin finishes first and opens the clue telling them to find a remote field in the region of Harvika. Gary & Mallory are right behind them. But Claire is struggling and feels like she can’t do it. That allows Thomas to pass her and they’re on their way. Brook yells down to Claire to find the inner strength of her grandma who had just passed before the Race. That pushes Claire to finally finish.
Nick & Vicki get to the Road Block and Vicki is excited to do it. Chad & Stephanie catch up to them.
Michael and Kevin arrive at the field and find the Detour.
In this Detour, teams will have to choose between work and play, Bike or Boat.
In Bike, teams must choose two mountain bikes and remember the color of their bike lock. They will then ride a grueling course to a sign where they’ll have to memorize the color coded combination to unlock their next clue back at the start.
In Boat, teams make their way onto a fishing trawler and using a provided map, must direct their captain to the shore where they’ll get off and continue on foot, carrying two large cod and a chainsaw which they’ll deliver to a summer lodge up the mountain.
Michael & Kevin choose Boat as Kevin doesn’t want his father to get hurt on the rugged terrain on the bike. Gary & Mallory and Jill & Thomas choose Bike, which they finish quickly and they head off to the Pit Stop. Michael & Kevin make their way to the top of the mountain and deliver the fish and chainsaw. They run into Brook & Claire on the water on their way back.
Gary & Mallory go straight to the Pit Stop and with only his eyebrows, Phil tells them they are Team #2.
Meanwhile, Jill & Thomas get lost and end up going back to the bridge. Katie & Rachel are motivated when they see the teams pass them. Michael & Kevin catch up and decide to follow them, now both of them lost.
Nick & Vicki and Chad & Stephanie get to the Detour. Nick, having riding BMX bikes since he was a kid, chooses Bike. But Vicki ends up being the all-star on the bikes, Nick can’t even keep up. Chad & Stephanie decide to do the Boat.
Jill & Thomas and Michael & Kevin finally find the Marina and they check in 3rd and 4th respectively. Brook & Claire are close behind, but Brook cuts her face open when she opens the door. Her eye is bleeding like she’s been in a boxing ring but they are still Team #5 and they laugh it off. Phil thinks she’s a nut.
Nick & Vicki arrive at the Pit Stop next. He thinks they’re in 2nd. They’re actually 6th.
Chad & Stephanie run into Katie & Rachel on their way back in the boats and that pretty much seals the deal. Chad & Stephanie officially finish 7th and Katie & Rachel are eliminated.
Episode Thoughts
Another good, fun episode. Even though there were really no placement changes during the leg, it was still fun and exciting. Sucks for the back of the pack that the leg was pretty linear (one of the criticisms of most of the first half of TAR16), but the tasks were good and the teams showed nice personality.
It seemed like they were in a very remote area, which is something we haven’t seen a lot of on the Race. At least, not interesting enough that remote areas are good location decisions. This leg had teams running around what looked almost like an untouched wilderness. Very nice.
But the crazy part of this leg was Nick & Vicki at the Fast Forward! Wow. Did they not read the TAR Rulebook? The Fast Forward is still one of the basic TAR fundamentals really. They seemed to think that all teams could just go and get one. It was really hilariously tough to watch! Never have I seen a team like Nick & Vicki. Not even Dandrew was this clueless.
But overall, a good, solid leg.
