The Amazing Race
Season 34, Episode 8b (second half)
By Jim Memmott
Ronda, Spain – From the beginning of the second half of this Mega Leg, background shots of the bridge kept popping up.
Veteran race watchers knew what was going on. The Racers were probably going to have to bungee jump from the bridge. They would be terrified. They would scream. We would look the other way.
As it happened, there was no bungee jumping. Instead, one member of each team, wired up for safety, had to walk on a high wire across the gap. On the other side, there were five flags on a wall. They had to bring back the right flag, the Andalusian flag, or go back again.
Michele Burgos, race partner with her husband, Luis Colon, (above left) was the first to the wire.
Was she scared? No. Did she scream? Yes. With delight.
Michelle’s triumph was a strange and wonderful moment for The Amazing Race. Finally, there was someone who leaned into danger, someone who had absolutely no fear of taking a 300-foot plunge.
Thank heavens, Claire and her partner Derek Xiao were in an alliance with David Hernandez and Aubrey Ares. (Earlier, they had teamed up on the flamingo dance/memory challenge.)
Aubrey walked a wire beside Claire. Aubrey was scared, as well. But Aubrey knew what flag to grab. She instructed Claire to do the same. Thus, Claire did not have to cross the gap again.
Good thing. After finishing, she was a wreck, doubled over with relief and residual terror.
Which raises the question, why was she doing the arial challenge at all? Well, Derek said she should because she had the better memory. She would know which flag to choose.
David encouraged Aubrey to go because she had the better balance.
Men. They know how to get out of a chore. Could be doing the dishes, or putting the kids to bed, or walking on a wire a mile above certain death. Men.
Remember Episode 5 of Season 33? Sheri Cook had to bungee jump into a vast chasm. She was terrified, saying “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.” Why didn’t husband Akbar do the drop? Too heavy. Oh sure. Men.
Anyway. Aubrey/David finished second, Claire/Derek third, followed by the twins, Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert.
The Mega Leg was a struggle for the sisters, Molly’s bum knee slowing them down. Still, Molly zipped across the wire, got the right clue, and they made it to the finishing mat.
Once again, the Craigs got lost, their navigational skills failing them. It’s too bad they’re gone, but as the season went on, they seemed to lose their edge. Life isn’t fair, especially if you can’t use GPS.
Overheard
Michelle: As nice as Luis and I are, we’re very competitive.
Michael: We have to have like flawless navigation from here on out.
Aubrey: I’ve been in costume since I was three years old.
Michelle: Oh, I love heights. ... This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you baby, thank you for letting me do this.
Luis: She’s crazy. I love it.
Orson Welles: A man is not from where he is born, but where he chooses to die.
David: I just told her, don’t look down.
Claire: I think this is one of the worst things I’ve ever done.
Marcus: Today is not our day, not even a little bit.
Order of finish:
1. Luis Colon, Michelle Burgos (Married couple)
2. Aubrey Ares, David Hernandez (Ballroom dancers)
3. Derek Xiao, Claire Rehfuss (Big Brother graduates, dating couple)
4. Emily Bushnell, Molly Sinert (Long-lost twins)
Eliminated
5. Marcus and Michael Craig (Military brothers)
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