FATHER KNOWS BEST: Ep 4, 06/19/03
Posted by Peaches on 2003-06-20
First out of the gate leaving Austria at 2:57am were Steve & Josh, who won the lead by using the Fast Forward in Episode 3. They were followed nearly an hour later by Monica & Sheree, Reichen & Chip, and Tian & Jaree, in rapid succession. Millie & Chuck, Kelly & Jon, David & Jeff, and Jon & Al followed and Steve & Dave took their final position in the race to the next pit stop, St. Remy de Provence, France. The first task was to reach Paris, France which was 800 miles away. Teams used different routes to get to Paris. Steve and Josh, left to their own resources since they were first, argue about the best strategy. Steve wants to take the taxi to the Salzburg airport, but Josh argues that they should save the money by taking the train. "Stingy man! Scrooge", chides dad, but Josh is sure he is right and Steve lets his son make the decision. As they are waiting at the train station which is devoid of life, Steve says "See, sometimes Dads are right!"
At the pit stop, Millie deprived herself of the rest period in order to study the routes and strategies with Jon & Al. They decided to go to Munich rather than Salzburg because there were flights available. Kelly asked Millie which airport they were going to, and Millie politely tells her she didn't know. Kelly becomes enraged that Millie won't share her hard-earned strategy and whines, "She doesn't want anything to do with us; just blew us off. I don't know if it's her personality or just that she's super competitive." Jon & Kelly get off the train at Salzburg while the other three teams went on to Munich. From Munich, Millie & Chuck, John & Al, and David & Jeff all took direct flights to Paris. Kelly & Jon found themselves tied for last place with Steve & Dave on a flight to Paris. In the airport Kelly remarked how impressed she was with the BFG's (big fat guys) referring to Steve & Dave, while in the next breath lambasted "Millie the Mole" again saying that was who she wanted to beat. She couldn't stop her snide comments yet though, as she continued to say Millie was like one of those little cheerleaders in high school that she used to hurl spit wads in their hair while they were cheerleading. Is anyone else nauseated with Kelly yet?
Monica & Sheree, Reichen & Chip, and Tian & Jaree all get to Salzburg airport, but the women get the last four tickets on the flight to Paris with a connection in Frankfurt, Germany. Reichen & Chip are stung, but, at the last minute, they are told there were tickets available for them as well. They all arrived in Frankfurt together, but as they all boarded the plane from Frankfurt to Paris, Reichen & Chip discovered that they were given Business Class tickets for this part of the flight, and were forced, due to the rules, to deboard the plane and wait for the next flight to Paris.
Monica & Sheree and Tian & Jaree arrived in Paris at the same time and asked for directions to Le Mans race track, their next stop. After directions were given, Monica & Sheree scurried out of the airport to the train station, while Tian & Jaree stayed to get further directions. They just lollygagged around said Monica & Sheree. Monica & Sheree arrived at the train station in time to catch an 11:05 train to Le Mans, which gave them an hour head start on Tian & Jaree who thought the next train was at 12:00.
Monica & Sheree arrived at the racetrack first and found the Roadblock instructions which said the person to do it should be able to fit in a tight place. Monica agreed to do the Roadblock but was startled to learn she had to change, not one, but four tires on the racecar and then take a ride around the track at high speeds. She couldn't get the old tires loose and was aghast at how heavy the tires were. "They weigh as much as I do," she said as she chased a rolling tire down the racetrack. But fear of losing their lead gave Monica a surge of energy, and she proved she could learn quickly as she finally got the hang of the task and completed the changing of tires. She said her whole body was pushed back, and she tried to wave to Sheree and her arm almost broke because of the wind.
Meanwhile, Reichen & Chip were delighted to find that they had caught up with Tian & Jaree on the train to Le Mans. They were depressed about the mistakes they had made, but were philosophical about them saying others made mistakes too, and they were faster.
As the rest of the teams headed towards Paris, Kelly stood with Jon in the airport complaining that she wasn't being treated as an equal member of the team. "You should let me be 50% of the team," she whined and then insisted on doing the next road block, even before she knew what it was. Jon said, ok, and they were off to Le Mans. Kelly was angry and hilarious to watch as she complained and learned how to change tires, and complained and climbed into the racing outfit. "Frustrating Roadblock!"
Tian & Jaree and Reichen & Chip raced each other to the Raceway. Tian arrived there seconds faster, but Chip changed tires faster and finished the Roadblock first. Chuck is elected to do the Roadblock. He was so deliberate in his actions that Millie got a little antsy. And when Chuck was strapped into the race car, he suffered a panic attack and had to be let out of the car to overcome his fear. "Please God, help me overcome my fear," he prayed as he apologetically said to Millie, "I know this is bad timing". Soon he was back in the racecar taking his lap, but Jon and Al pulled ahead of the pair.
As the rest of the teams completed the Roadblock, Monica and Jaree were on their way to the next task which was to drive to Marseilles, Port 4, the lighthouse, a 556 mile trip. They elected to take the back roads, not knowing or not understanding about the expressway. They lost their lead at this point as the other teams sped through the expressway. Reichen & Chip were first at the Port but the Port was closed. They pleaded with the guard to park at the gate for the night so that they would be first through the next morning. The guard refused. Tian & Jaree duplicated the efforts to no avail and so the four of them went to a hotel for the night. The other teams, however, circled around and parked on the side of the road, sleeping in their cars until morning.
When morning arrived, Tian and Jaree were first to drive up to the port. They were going to park in line behind the others, but the guard wouldn't let them stating there were already six cars parked there. The guard directed Tian to park at the gate. Reichen & Chip arrived shortly after Tian & Jaree and pulled up behind them. The teams who had spend the night curled up in their cars were furious and let the two teams at the gate know their wrath. Tian walked off, but Reichen and Chip backed their car up. Steve (of Steve & Dave) walked over to Tian and said "Girls, check your tires before you pull out because, (wink) Oh, God, you never know what'll happen." Chip haughtily stood and pointed to their car and announced, "Everybody, for the record, we have just pulled to the back of the line." Steve (of Steve & Josh) tried to shake hands with Chip, (no hard feelings, you know). But Chip would have no part of it. He scowled that he was first to the gate the previous night at 9:30 pm and wasn't allowed to park there. He said everyone was questioning his integrity and "Don't question my integrity!!" When the gate opened, Tian got out of the car and dramatically waved everyone through.
Once the teams were all through the gate, the task of finding the lighthouse took precedence over the bickering. Thank goodness, this group is volatile when they all get together.
Jon drove and asked Kelly to look at the map and help him find the lighthouse. She insisted he should turn around and go the other way, but Jon persisted. They reached the lighthouse first. Jon couldn't pass up this golden opportunity to get back at Kelly by chiding, "How many times I gotta prove you wrong?\" She kissed him and said he was right. Oh My!. As Jon & Kelly left the lighthouse, they passed Millie & Chuck who were on their way in. Kelly leaned out to Millie and said "Is this the way," then howled with joy for herself thinking she had misdirected Millie. Millie just said to Chuck, "She's so catty".
Reichen & Chip passed Kelly & Jon and were first out of the port. Being first to a place has been a curse this episode. They tried to find the marked parking lot to the next clue. Chip was certain he was right about where they were to park. Reichen was not so sure but because Chip was so adamant, Reichen let Chip take the lead. They parked the car, found a path, and started down.
Meanwhile, the others find the correct parking lot and reach the Detour. Here they have two choices, Ropes, or Slopes. They all elect to take the fast and frightening Ropes challenge which is to rappel down 230 feet of a steep cliff. The Slopes choice was a slow but leisurely hike down to the next marker. David and Jeff were first down the cliff but looked right and not left and did not see the clue box. They wandered around and finally hiked back up the cliff without the next clue.
Tian and Jaree were hopelessly lost in Marseilles and decided to go for the Fast Forward. They had to find a museum and work a puzzle the size of a museum wall. The puzzle was a picture of the Chateau de Alpilles, the mansion which was their final pit stop. They were successful with this chore and skipped all others to reach the pit stop first.
"Come on Al, your weight will pull you down", shouts Jon.
"Throw the whale off the cliff," shouts Dave.
"I'm hanging in this little nylon rope that I wouldn't use to bind a turkey," said Dave.
As Millie & Chuck and Monica & Sheree slid down the slope, an irritated Jeff and Dave were hiking back down the cliff to find their clue.
Meanwhile, Reichen and Chip, after walking and running more than two miles down the forlorn path to nowhere, finally decided they in fact did not park at the correct parking lot and returned to their car. They arrived at the cliff as Steve and Dave were getting to the bottom. Reichen and Chip quickly rappeled to the bottom and retrieved the next clue. They overtook Steve and Dave during the hike back up the cliff. Steve remarked his knee was right back where it was a week ago. But the team does not quit. The clue at the bottom of the cliff directed them to hike back up to the car and drive 150 miles to the next pit stop, Chateau de Alpilles, a 200 year-old mansion.
Steve and Josh were negotiating the ropes down the mountain as the other teams were checking in at the pit stop. It was night by the time they made it to the pit stop. Still they ran rather than finish with a drag. Phil was waiting. Does Phil stand there all those hours? Steve & Josh looked resigned as they stepped on the pad to hear the dreaded words from Phil, "Steve & Josh, you are last to arrive. I'm sorry to tell you that you've been eliminated from the race." Both Steve and Josh said they got what they wanted out of the race. Josh said he thought that over all they came out ahead.
Order of finish:
1st. Tian & Jaree with the Fast Forward
2nd. Jon & Al
2nd. Millie & Chuck
4th. Monica & Sheree
5th. Reichen & Chip
6th. David & Jeff
7th. Kelly & Jon
8th. Steve & Dave
9th.and eliminated. Steve & Josh
