That pretty much says it all for tonight’s double-barreled TAR7 episode – it turned out to be a non-elimination episode first, with an elimination second. Gretchen took a terrible spill and cut up her face something awful, plus they had wandered around looking for the clue before that, so they came in last. In yet another “new twist,” this time in addition to losing all their cash, they had to hand over their backpacks and all their possessions except for the clothes they were wearing.

You can tell who the nice people were from the not-nice people at the beginning of the next episode – Uchenna and Joyce came to their room that night with extra clothes, and the next day, all but Rob/Amber and Ray/Deana donated cash. The brothers (love my boys!) were generous as were the other nice people. R/A and R/D: not nice.

Then in the second episode, the brothers (love my boys! etc. etc.) rolled their Land Rover over, injuring their cameraman, who had his head and arm out the window on that side filming! Fortunately, they determined by the end of the leg that he’d be all right. But you could tell who was nice and who was not-nice by who stopped to help after the crash, who slowed down to ask if everyone was all right.. and who rolled on by, saying “well, that’s too bad, but it’s a race.”

Included in the nice category: Lynn and Alex, who actually stopped and offered help and support, Meredith and Gretchen, Uchenna and Joyce. Ray and Deana at least slowed down and asked if they were all right.

Not nice: Rob and Amber again. Meanwhile, they benefited again from being recognized. In Soweto! Being greeted by name! They had Ferns springing up all over! Ugh.

However, the second episode ended satisfactorily, because Ray and Deana got beat out in a footrace to the mat by… the brothers! My boys! And Ray? Not nice, ragging on your “teammate” like that after being supportive earlier in the 1st leg and the first half of the 2nd leg. The poll over at TWOP makes it clear:

Ray:
Needs to be stung to death by wasps – 56%
Is an overbearing creep – 42%
Is just trying to help – 2%

So satisfying. Ron and Kelly beat out Rob and Amber for first, Meredith and Gretchen came in 5th after getting mugged AND robbed, and my boys weren’t eliminated. And Ray and Deana: GONE. Such unpleasant people. Especially as they took one of only two Fast Forwards in the whole race, and they won two friggin’ RAV4s! Fortunately, some well-timed mega-bunching ate their lead up right away.

Not only was the outcome of the second episode totally bitchin’, but the various tasks in South Africa and Botswana were awesome – spelunking, delivering tribal goods, buying and delivering children’s clothes and infant supplies to a Soweto orphanage, feeding raw meat to lions, throwing spears, grinding corn and storing water in ostrich eggs.

AWEsome. Great pair of episodes. So happy.

My BOYS!