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by Dan Weltin Published: October 26, 2005
The Bransens lead things off with a 12:40 a.m. start and are followed by the Paollo family a minute later. Eight minutes after that, the Linz siblings depart. Teams must fly to Panama City, Panama (its about time they left the U.S.) and once there drive 31 miles to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and travel by boat across the Panama Canal to an island where they'll find scientist Ricardo Diaz. Teams can either fly out on Continental or American. The Bransens call the airport en route in the taxi and discover that Continental arrives two and a half hours earlier. The Linzs, Bransens and Paollos all arrive at the airport before the fourth team, the Godlewski sisters, even leave the Pit Stop. All six teams arrive at the airport before the ticket counter opens, but the early flight is full after only three teams (Linz, Bransen, Paollo) buy tickets. All others are on the later American flight. DETOUR AND FAST FORWARD At 6:40 p.m. the first flight lands and the three families head out into the night to find the research institute. Unfortunately for them the boats don't depart until 7:00 a.m., allowing all teams to catch up. When all six families arrive at the institute, they agree to depart in the order they arrived, so the Paollos lead off with the Weaver family bringing up the rear. The Linz siblings are in boat number two, but it's very slow and they get passed by the Bransens, Godlewskis and Weavers. That's still better than the Gaghans, whose driver decides to go off course and pick somebody up before dropping them off. After much pleading, he changes his mind and drops the Gaghans off first. Teams need to weave around the park looking for the scientist. Once they find him, it's time for a Detour. This leg teams can choose between Rhythm and Coos. In Rhythm, teams travel to several music clubs collecting four musical instruments. Then they must deliver all instruments to a jazz club where they'll put them in their respective cases and receive their next clue. In Coos, teams use binoculars to find wooden replicas of exotic birds. After they correctly identify five birds they'll receive their next clue. In addition to the Detour there is the race's only Fast Forward. As a reminder, the first team to complete the Fast Forward gets to skip all other tasks on the leg and proceed directly to the Pit Stop. In this Fast Forward the family will tandem bungee jump off a crane. On the boat ride back to the mainland, the Weavers tell other boat drivers to drive slow. They really should concentrate on their own driver though because along with them, the Godlewskis and Linzs all drive right past the dock giving the lead to the Paollos. The Paollo and Gaghan families choose the Fast Forward. The Bransens and Weavers choose Coos. And the Linzs and Godlewskis choose Rhythm and decide to work together. The Paollo family arrives at the Fast Forward first, but son DJ is afraid of heights. Papa and son Brian jump first and without problems. Mama and DJ are next, but DJ is slowly chickening out. The Gaghans have arrived and are ready to go. If DJ doesn't jump, they'll miss their opportunity to head directly to the Pit Stop. In a long-overdue mother/son moment, DJ decides to jump earning them the Fast Forward. They now can travel to the Miraflores Locks, this leg's Pit Stop. The Gaghans head to the Rhythm Detour. Speaking of the Detour, the Weavers get their first try at bird watching wrong. They start again as the Bransens arrive. Weavers get it right on attempt number two and Bransens are correct right away. Over at the music clubs, the Linz siblings and Godlewski sisters are tracking down a trumpet, trombone, saxophone and conga drum. Their teamwork is paying off and they are making quick work of the task. The Paollos meanwhile check in at the Pit Stop and win a trip to Panama. ROADBLOCK After the Detour, teams must head to a baseball stadium. The Weaver family arrives first followed by the Bransens. It’s a Roadblock and this time one member of each team must hit a base hit or homerun against a championship little-league pitcher. They only get three pitches a turn, then have to go to the end of the line. Both families strike out on their first attempt. The Linzs and Godlewskis arrive. The Linz siblings give the Weavers a taste of their own medicine and heckle Rolly at the plate. Ma says that's rude. Says she was being "encouraging" to other teams. (She's not only crazy, but also deluded). The heckling doesn't work in any case and Rolly gets his base hit (cheaply I might add. I think the team was instructed not to try very hard and that the pitcher let the ball roll through his legs on purpose). Once done with the Roadblock, teams can join the Paollos at the Pit Stop. The Linzs and Bransens both get a hit. The Godlewskis are starting to struggle and it gets worse as the Gaghans arrive and easily get a hit. The Godlewskis catch a break as they not only get a hit, but the Gaghans get stuck in a literal roadblock. The sisters don't take any chances though and decide to layer on their clothing in case they're last and it's a non-elimination leg. Turns out to be good thinking on their part because not only do they come in last, but it is a non-elimination leg. They get to keep the clothes they are wearing, but lose all other possession and money and won't receive any new cash on the next leg. LEADERBOARD
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