((*)) 500

Can't wait 'til next week......

I have to disagree about Romber following the rules. When Uchenna tried to give Gretchen and Meridith a hand with the boats, they said, no help allowed. And Uchenna said, right, no help allowed. Yet, Romber had their Englishman doing their detour for them. Isn't that a rule violation?

I'm hoping this will catch up with them in the end with Phil telling them that they did not complete their detour properly and so are penalized! That would be a surprise ending!

"Keith, which team didn't appreciate the whirling dervishes? It always amazes me how some people can't appreciate other cultures or customs."

Those 4 sets of quotes were in the same order that the teams visited the station. That was Ron and Amber.

ncgrrl, a yield is 1 hour.

Keith

Ron and Kelly asked questions to get their detour done too. I don't understand the inconsistencies of the no-help rule either, but it's obviously acceptable to ask locals for information - it's been done in lots of other navigation detours as well.

I thought a yield was 30 minutes. ???

The "no help" rule must only apply to physical challenges. I think it's very smart of Rob and Amber to solicit help when they can get it during the race. Rob's probably one of the few men alive who will not only stop and ask for directions, but will ask someone to show him the way! :)

I thought it was Ron, not Rob who said, "at least people actually speak English here".

I think Rob & Amber are doing a fantastic job and can't believe the bitterness people have towards them because they are doing well.

Just because they aren't trying to being best friends with everyone does not make them bad people, they are there to win.

For the not stopping thing (which people still have not gotten over),they saw someone was already stopped, there is nothing they could have done. If it were me I would have stopped, but I am not going to hold it against them forever.
I am so glad Meredith & Gretchen are gone, she drove me crazy. And then to say the playing field wasn't level from the beginning, what is that supposed to mean? They are not getting any special favors. Maybe because they are smarter contestents?

I would be disappointed if anyone but R&A won, IMHO they have played the best game by far. U & J are really good people and they are doing a good job, but when it comes down to it, they have not played as well as R&A.

actually the suprising mistake i believe rob made was yielding Ron/kelly. why do it? even w/ a hour penalty they were going to finish top 3. but if they would have yielded U&J (although i love U&J) that would have more than likely resulted in their elimination. i think that may come back to bite rob in the rear later...

well the first hour next week will be non-elimination so it will be the second hour that is of interest.

Naaaaahhh they are "bad people." ;-) And it goes a long way past not making friends....

When J&U win, you know it's because they did the best job, went the fastest. When R&A win, you know it's because they messed up someone else.

Regarding flights - haven't the teams figured out that it's not the EARLIEST flight to a destination, but the flight that ARRIVES FIRST that is most crucial. That's one place where Uchenna and Joyce made a mistake.

Actually, their mistake was asking only about direct flights. The flight connecting through Frankfurt arrived in London earlier, but it was a huge risk because they couldn't get confirmed seats on the Frankfurt-London portion until they got to Frankfurt. I wonder if we were not shown them asking the agent if the flight was full or if there was a good chance they could get on it. I know I would have asked that before I took the risk of being stuck in Frankfurt.

Back to the no help rule. What about the help a lot of the teams, esp Romber with their "child labor", got in India, pushing the elephant? I wonder if a lot of teams are not getting people to help them (other than asking questions) because that is how they interpret the "no help" rule.

I'm confused about the "no help" rule. Kayb95 suggested above that it applies only to physical tasks. That's what I thought at first, too, but what about pushing the elephants in India, where all of the teams enlisted the help of locals?

Hmm, maybe the rule applies only to teams helping each other, as opposed to strangers helping?

Heh, nibblette, looks like we read each other's minds. :)

My understanding is that they are not allowed to interfere in any way with other teams doing tasks.

With the elephants, didn't the direction specifically mention help from bystanders?

it was ron & kelly and not romber who commented on how it was nice they spoke english in london.

and romber and ron & kelly were both told that the flight from frankfurt to london was sold out. they both took the risk that they could get on standby. but they easily could have been screwed. they did not show whether u&j found out this information but i'm guessing not as the 4some seemed surprised when they found out at the info desk in london that 2 teams had already been there 2 hours beforehand.

i think the "no help" rule applies to teams physically helping other teams. or maybe anyone physically helping.

i was completely grossed out when kelley used that woman's lipstick. yuck! both ron and kelley are coming across as low class.

As for the finale next week (finale-already-boo hoo), have heard that posters to the web site www.realitytvworld.com have frozen frames from next week's episodes and determined that the 3 remaining teams fly from London to Jamaica, then to NYC and the finish line. If true, a touch of the Caribbean would be a nice change of pace.

Can't remember what obstacle R&K run into-R&A have a brush with the law and U&J deal with a flat tire wherever it is they're actually at.

I was dissapointed that Uchenna and Joyce lost the lead they had from last week. For those who think that Rober don't have a distinct advantage over everyone else - remember that they are already celebrities - not only here in the US but all over the world. Survivor and Amazing race via for the number one spot on tv in South Africa - I can imagine it's as popular in the UK.

When I was in London (and I was nice to tourist) I probably wouldn't have offered to lead someone around the countryside unless they were celebs. I'd have helped with info but that's about it. And yes - I did think I could have aced that leg! I would have loved to drive a doubledecker bus too.

I was also seriously pissed that Romber got a prize - so what if it's not the biggest one - they just have always got one! It sucks for Uchenna and Joyce!

I'm in two minds about Meredith and Gretchen - I think it would have been nice for them to make it to the final three but I'm not sad to not have to listen to her moan anymore.

BTW Potters field where the pitstop was - the last time I was there I was watching people throw cheeseburgers at David Blaine LOL It brought back fond memories of my last trip to London.

Oh and the same thought came to mind when they said they'd taken a taxi from Baker St to the Millenium dome! OMG that's sooooooo expensive. I was also wondering why M&G did the brawn task.

Can't wait for next week. Although I will miss having a busy forum to follow ;)

Bianca

Re: the taxi. Did anyone else notice that one team was told by a taxi driver they'd be better off taking the tube? I thought, only a London cabbie would be that honest!

Is it true that George W. Bush and King Abdallah of Jordan are thinking about competing in Amazing Race 9 as "Boyfriends"?