Recap: The Amazing Race Australia, Episode 2.08 – “It’s a Pit Pause.”

The Amazing Race Australia 2, Episode 8

The Leg

Paul & Steve and Michelle & Jo open the clue handed to them by Grant and find teams must make their way to Maria Hemingway to sign up for one of seven charter boats departing at four different times.  They both sign-up for the first boats leaving at 8am.

A local man helps Shane & Andrew’s car get started and are able to check-in at the Pit Stop in 3rd.  James & Sarah manage to catch up and pass Lucy & Emilia at the Tropicana allowing them to step on the Mat 4th with the sisters in 5th.

Joseph & Grace arrive at the Mat, but Grant says he can’t check them in.  They are issued a 2-hour penalty for their pulling James & Sarah’s stuff out of the taxi in Paris.  They wait off to the side as Sticky & Sam, who had caught up to them at the Tropicana, get back on track after getting lost again to officially check-in 6th. 

Next morning, Paul & Steve and Michelle & Jo head out on the water with the Road Block.


In this Road Block, teams will have to use a nautical chart, compass and provided coordinates to locate “the old fisherman of the sea” who will give them their next clue.  However, if they catch a fish on the way, they will automatically be handed the next clue without having to find the fisherman.  If they fail to do either within the time limit, they’ll get a four hour penalty.

Steve seems comfortable, but Jo is struggling.  The second pair, Shane & Andrew and James & Sarah set off from the marina just as Steve finds the fisherman.  Jo decides to just follow their boat and they both get the next clue, the Detour.


This Detour, celebrates two of Cuba’s historic icons and teams must head to Old Havana.
In Che Puzzle, teams head to the Plaza de la Catedral where they must put together a 90-piece puzzle of the iconic image of Che Guevara.
In Daiquiri Guzzle, teams head to the El Floridita Bar, which Ernest Hemingway frequented, where they’ll make six daiquiris each to deliver using one hand to Hemingway’s old room at the Hotel Ambos Mundos.

Back in the water, James is having trouble pinpointing the fisherman’s location while Shane decides to start fishing early and catches one.  Lucy & Emilia set off as the only team departing at 9am. 

Paul & Steve initially decide to go for the puzzle, but can’t find the location so they head over to the daiquiris instead.  Having trouble with their new, more modern car, Michelle & Jo and run into Shane & Andrew and they decide to work together to find the Plaza.

Paul & Steve finish making the drinks and start walking down the street when they run into a festival of people trying to mess with them.  Meanwhile, at the Plaza, Michelle & Jo get locals to help them put the puzzle together.  On the water, James’ split second decision helps him and Sarah get the clue just as their time was running out.  Lucy & Emilia are close behind and both teams catch up at the Plaza.

Paul & Steve finish the Detour and get the next clue telling teams to drive to Australia, a town southeast of Havana, and find a crocodile farm.

At the Detour, Grace, who insisted on doing the daiquiris, drops her glasses and they have to switch and are now in last. 

At the crocodile farm, teams must fill a wheelbarrow with fish and feed the crocodiles in a pit before having to lasso one to receive their next clue.  Paul & Steve breeze through the task.  Teams can now make their way to the Pit Stop by walking to boats and taking them across the Laguna del Tesoro Nature Reserve to the Mat near the bungalows. 

Paul & Steve claim another leg win and a trip to Queensland.  Shane & Andrew jump up to officially check-in 2nd while Michelle & Jo take 3rd.  James & Sarah complete their comeback by finishing 4th. Lucy & Emilia check-in 5th.

Sticky & Sam, who finish the Detour before Joseph & Grace, again get lost heading to Australia.  That allows the siblings to arrive at the crocodile farm before them and head to the Pit Stop to officially finish 6th.

After checking-in, James & Sarah and Joseph & Grace run into each other.  Joseph & Grace apologize for stealing their cab in Paris and Grace gives them a hug.  Sarah can believe Joseph’s sincerity, but she says Grace is fake.  Joseph offers to make it up to them by helping in the future.  Afterwards, Grace says she has no intention of making it up to them at all.

Darkness falls and Sticky & Sam arrive at the Mat and Grant tells them they are officially eliminated from the Race.

Episode Thoughts
An interesting leg.  The staggered departure times for the boats at the Road Block pretty much determined the final placements with almost no change from the previous/first part of the leg. 

The tasks themselves were good, but it would’ve been nice to see a little more of Cuba considering TARUS will likely never go there in the future. 

Yay for Joseph & Grace’s penalty, though it would’ve been better if it was given to them at the real Pit Stop. Maybe it should have been considering this was one superleg?

Overall, a solid double-leg.  I hope we see one on TAR21.

PIT STOP
Hotel Nacional
Havana, Cuba

ROAD BLOCK
Marina Hemingway
Havana

DETOUR
Plaza de la Catedral
Havana

El Floridita Bar
Hotel Ambos Mundos
Havana

ROUTE MARKER
Crocodile Farm
Australia, Cuba

PIT STOP
Hotel Villa Guama
Laguna del Tesoro, Cuba

DEPARTURE
Hotel Nacional
Havana, Cuba

Paul & Steve
Michelle & Jo 
Shane & Andrew
James & Sarah
Lucy & Emilia
Sticky & Sam
Joseph & Grace

CHE PUZZLE
Shane & Andrew
 Michelle & Jo
 Sarah & James
Lucy & Emilia
Joseph & Grace <

DAIQUIRI GUZZLE
Paul & Steve
Sticky & Sam

> or < indicates team switched Detours.

Who did the Road Block?
Who’s feeling a little nautical?
In order of completion; Italics indicate who did the Road Block

3 Paul Paul & Steve Steve 3 
3 Michelle Michelle & Jo Jo 3 
3 Shane Shane & Andrew Andrew 3 
3 Sarah Sarah & James James 3 
2 Lucy Lucy & Emilia Emilia 4 
3 Sticky Sticky & Sam Sam 3
3 Joseph Joseph & Grace Grace 3 

1 Tarryn Tarryn & Ross Ross 3 
1 Donna Kym & Donna Kym 1 
2 Sue Sue & Teresa Teresa 0 
0 Adam Adam & Dane Dane 0 

PIT STOP
Hotel Nacional
Havana, Cuba

1st Paul & Steve =
2nd Michelle & Jo =
3rd Shane & Andrew +3
4th James & Sarah +3
5th Lucy & Emilia =
6th Sticky & Sam -2
7th Joseph & Grace -4
Joseph & Grace arrived 6th, but were issued a 2-hour penalty.

Hotel Villa Guama
Laguna del Tesoro, Cuba

1st Paul & Steve =
2nd Shane & Andrew +1
3rd Michelle & Jo -1
4th James & Sarah =
5th Lucy & Emilia =
6th Joseph & Grace +1
7th Sticky & Sam -1

Sarah & James Sarah & James – It was almost another disaster for them had James not made the right decision at the Road Block.  Other than that, a solid leg for them.  If I were them though, I wouldn’t trust Joseph & Grace at all. 
Paul & Steve Paul & Steve – Now that they’re dominating, they’re becoming a little less fun.  Though the leg design has helped them a lot in maintaining their position at the top, it would be nice to see them have to step it up and not be complacent.
Lucy & Emilia Lucy & Emilia – They’re holding steady just as other teams continue making fatal mistakes.  They’ll need to step it up now though since it looks like even Shane & Andrew are doing just that.  It’s time to get a little more serious.
Michelle & Jo Michelle & Jo – It’s good Jo realizes she’s got to step it up to keep up with Michelle.  Michelle’s been doing a lot better on the Race then Jo has so far.  But together, they’re still a strong team and unless they break down or make a huge mistake, they’ll be in the final leg.
Shane & Andrew Shane & Andrew – Almost surprising to see them in 2nd, but it is nice to see.  They can use this momentum to step it up and make a run for the final leg.    
Sticky & Sam Sticky & Sam – A tough leg continued for them.  Cuba was not lucky for Sticky and Sam.  They seemed out of their element too, it’s a wonder how they managed to get themselves lost heading to every single Route Marker.  A shame they didn’t keep up their strong start.  
Joseph & Grace Joseph & Grace – Thank goodness they were issued a penalty.  And their “apology” to James & Sarah was laughable even though Joseph probably was more sincere than Grace who doesn’t care who she steps on and only wants to get her way no matter what. 
Quotes from Episode 2.08

Sarah: “This Pit Stop hasn’t stopped.  It’s a Pit Pause.”
James: “It was a Pit Continue.”
Jo: “I’m going to bar…”
Michelle: “Over the edge, dickhead!”
Sarah: “I know I always think I’m right, but if you don’t really prove me wrong, then I am right.”

Over 360 episode caps at photobucket.com/TARAu208

 

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