Reichen & Chip Rooters Cheer: The Amazing Race 4 Finale
Posted by Peaches on 2003-08-22
Leaving from Ellis Beach, Australia, the three remaining teams began the last leg of the Amazing Race to win one million dollars. David & Jeff were first out at 1:47 am. They talked about feeling they would win and that they felt they had made the fewest mistakes of any of the remaining three teams. This voice over took place as the camera showed them taking several tries to get the van doors in the correct position to close properly. This may have been the opening clue that this team was not going to win.
Second to leave were Reichen & Chip at 2:14 am followed 24 minutes later by Kelly & Jon. The first clue told the teams to drive to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Culture Center where they would take place in a ceremony to receive the next route marker. All three teams arrived before the gate opened at 6:00 am. The ceremony conducted by Aboriginal tribe members consisted of the member throwing a flaming arrow to a small island which seemingly made the island explode into fire as it ignited a gigantic torch. This flaming torch signaled another member to bring the clue sticks to the three teams.
The clue directed the teams to go to the General Aviation center at Cairns Airport for the next route marker. David & Jeff were first to leave, followed by Kelly & Jon and Reichen & Chip. Chip was the driver in their van. His road rage personality took over again as he tailgated Kelly & Jon trying to pass them. The roads were wet from a recent rain. Chip finally did pass Kelly & Jon and immediately spun out of control flipping the car into a ditch. They were shaken but not injured and Reichen told Chip he couldn't do that again.
At the airport, teams found the route marker for the Detour. The Detour gave them the choice between Wing It and Wander It. Wing It was a skydiving challenge that would take them high into the air by plane, and each contestant would jump out of the plane with an instructor and skydive down to the landing field where they would find their next route marker. Wander it was a long ride through a mangrove forest, followed by a boat ride back to the skydiving landing field for the route marker. All three teams elected Wing It. They jumped merrily onto the airplane. David & Jeff looked eagerly towards the jump. Reichen said he would rather jump out of the airplane than be in the car with Chip driving. Kelly didn't think it would frighten her until she was several thousand feet up and decided to look down. Then she told us of her intense fear. After watching David & Jeff take the leap, her fears intensified, but the instructor took her securely in hand and they bounded out of the plane. Once into the fall, Kelly was delighted with the experience and commented how beautiful the scene was below them. All the teams seemed to enjoy the skydiving experience.
Once on the ground they ran for the next route marker which directed them to go to the big island of Hawaii by Air and to Kaulana Bay, Southern most area in the United States, by car. At the airport Reichen & Chip showed their travelling experience by going to the Quantas terminal. They stated they knew this airline always to be very helpful even for other terminals or flights. Kelly & Jon followed them. David & Jeff, however, reasoned that they would get more flight opportunities if they flew to Sydney as soon as possible and picked up a connection to Hawaii from there. They went to the International Terminal.
While Reichen & Chip were asking about flights at the Quantas Terminal, Kelly overheard the attendant telling them that there were no flights to Honolulu from Sydney until the next day. Reichen & Chip purchased tickets to Tokyo with a connection on United Airlines to Honolulu. From Honolulu, they would catch a local airline to Kona, Hawaii. Kelly & Jon purchase the same tickets.
In Tokyo, they had only 45 minutes to make their connection to Honolulu. David & Jeff ask an attendant for directions to the Terminal and were told to take the bus. Kelly & Jon ask a different attendant and were told to take the tram. Jon rushed onto the Tram without checking to see if the tram actaully was going where they wanted to go. Kelly was behind him asking if he was sure; didn't he want to check to make sure the tram went to the terminal they needed. But neither stopped to check, and the tram left with them on it, going to the wrong terminal. When they stopped, an attendant was there to help them get on the bus to the correct terminal. They arrived to watch Reichen & Chip get on the plane, but the attendants would not let Kelly & Jon on the plane. The attendant said they had to close the gates 5 minutes before the plane took off. A Japanese attendant interceded for them and pleaded with the Manager to allow Kelly & Jon on the plane, but the manager, stubbornly and without emotion, refused. Kelly sat down in the terminal with tears flowing down her face as we heard her voice-over explaining it was the lowest point in the game for her to watch Reichen & Chip board the plane as they were being refused entry. Kelly & Jon purchased tickets on the next flight to Honolulu which arrived 70 minutes after Reichen & Chip.
At Kaulana Bay they reach the Road Block clue. One member had to swim out into the ocean to a floating tiki head, dive down and get a special rock that contained the clue, and swim back to shore with the rock. On shore, the team member was to crack open the rock with a chisel to retrieve the clue. Reichen said Chip was better with that skill and Chip did the challenge. He had no trouble getting the rock to shore, but had a lot of difficulty cracking it open. His immense frustration was evident as he repeatedly lost grip of the chisel. He finally did, however, get the clue and they left for the next task.
The next task was to drive to Volcano National Park and run across the solidified lava rock to get the next route marker. As Reichen & Chip were driving to Volcano National Park, Kelly & Jon were heading to Kaulana Bay. Jon decided the best way to accomplish swimming/diving task was to srtip down to his birthday suit and take the swim. Kelly laughed but cheered him on while cautioning him 'not to damage the merchandise'. Jon also cracked the rock open bare naked, then donned his nice dry clothes while Kelly read the next clue.
Reichen & Chip retrieved the route marker at Volcano National Park which told them to make their way to Phoenix, Arizona, and once there, find the USS Arizona Anchor Memorial. Reichen found two airports on the map and told Chip that they should go to Hilo (he pronounced High' Low), because it was the closer airport. Kelly & Jon arrived at Volcano National Park as Reichen & Chip were going to the Airport.
Kelly & Jon elect to go to Kona Airport rather than Hilo because it had more flight choices. They flew from Kona to Honolulu just after Reichen & Chip left from Hilo to Honolulu.
Meanwhile, David & Jeff were finally able to get a plane out of Sydney and were heading to Hawaii.
In Honolulu, Reichen & Chip were fortunate to get seated in the first row of the airplane going to Phoenix. Kelly & Jon arrived in time to get the same flight to Phoenix, but were seated four rows behind Reichen & Chip. Reichen & Chip talked about how important it was to get out of the plane first because there may be only one taxi waiting there and the first team out had the advantage.
While waiting to board the plane in Honolulu, Reichen & Chip and Kelly & Jon asked waiting passengers how to get to the designated Arizona memorial. Reichen & Chip find a gentleman who gave them the exact address. Kelly & Jon also got directions, but they did not get an exact address.
Both teams procured taxis quickly. Kelly & Jon's driver got a little lost and didn't arrive at the memorial as soon as Reichen & Chip. Reichen & Chip retrieved the clue while having their taxi wait for them. The clue told them to go to the Southwest Entrance of Sun Devil Stadium for their next clue. Kelly & Jon also asked their taxi driver to wait while they retrieved the clue.
At Sun Devil Stadiuim Reichen & Chip found their clue which was a riddle. " Happy Valentine's Day plus White plus White", stated the riddle. They figured out that Valentines Day, 2/14 was Section 214 and ran up the stairs to Section 214. Then it took them a while to figure out that White and White were two honored players whose names and numbers were in large block letters printed on stadium walls. Welford White, No. 33 and Danny White, No 11, took them to Section 33 Seat 11 for their next clue. They rushed out and away from the area so that Kelly & Jon wouldn't arrive to see where they found the clue. Kelly & Jon arrived just after they left. They were able to figure the clues quickly and return to their waiting taxi with the clue.
Both teams gave their taxi drivers more money along the way to drive fast and to wait for them. Kelly & Jon gave the driver increments of $100 while Reichen & Chip gave increments of $50. Reichen & Chip arrived at Papago Park first where they were to ride bikes up the trail to the finish line. Phil and the eliminated teams were all waiting for them and cheering. When Reichen & Chip stepped on the designated spot, Phil recited thie finishing congratulatory speach, announcing that they had traveled 4 continents, 24 cities, and 44,000 miles to become the official winners of the Amazing Race.
Reichen & Chip hugged and cheered and stated they needed and loved each other and helped each other throughout the race. Chip commented on how patient and supportive Reichen was with him.
Kelly & Jon crossed the finish line minutes later. She told us that the race was a test of faith and that the race made them both realize how much they loved each other. Kelly broke into tears as she and Jon hugged each other.
Meanwhile, in the darkness of night in Hawaii David & Jeff received a message at one of the route markers that the race was over. They stated that they had not anticipated losing but that the experience made them realize and appreciate what they had at home and that they were glad they had participated.
Author's comment. The most glaring mistakes on this leg involved negligence in taking a few minutes to make sure travel decisions were good. David & Jeff didn't ask about possible flights out of Sydney which left them stranded for hours longer in Sydney, and Kelly & Jon leapt onto the wrong tram which caused them to miss their connection in Tokyo. "Look before you Leap," my Mom used to say.
And though it grinds me to say it, I think there may have been more than a little influence by taxi drivers again; not as much as in past TAR events, but present all the same. I feel the last stretch should be made by teams themselves. Perhaps CBS fears the intensity is too great and that there might be a terrible accident, but to have to depend on a taxi driver for that race to the finish line gives me an ugly visceral emotion.
