After a mandatory rest period in Santiago, the remaining nine teams, at staggered times, collected their next clue directing them to the underground garage at Paseo Bulnes in the city to collect their vehicles for a drive through the Andes to Punta Viejo, in Argentina.
The car garage was closed until 5 AM in which the teams, some having the foresight to ask for directions, jumped in their vans and drove out of central Santiago on Highway 5, took the exit to Los Andes and Portillo and headed up the steep mountains for the Paso de los Libertadores. See map and photos of the area.
Or some did. The teams of Debbie and Bianca, who had gotten a map and driving instructions, stayed on the highway too long and drove two and a half hours out of their way to the ocean. The mother and son team of Susan and Patrick got lost in the city and drove around aimlessly looking for the route.
Driving up the steep, zig-zaggy road to the mountain pass (see photo) into Argentine, some teams remarked on the awesome scenery, others felt the elevation, and one commented the view of the snow clad peaks made her think of Heaven. See this .
Once past the border and in Argentina, the teams screeched to a stop at the Puente Viejo, an old railway bridge where they faced a Yield situation. Each team has the power to yield one challenge once during the entire race. None of the teams chose to exercise this power and faced another Detour Choice: Paddle or Pedal. Either choice was a seven mile course, either by rafting down a swift river (probably Río Mendoza, a favorite with rafters) with professional paddlers and appropriate equipment, or biking along the railroad tracks. Most of the teams chose Paddle.
Once in their vehicles again, with directions to drive another 70 miles to Mendoza and a barbeque at Camping Suizo the teams were led by Lynn and Alex who chortled over passing Rod and Amber on the river.
The barbeque at Camping Suizo, was a variation on an Argentine parrillada which includes various cuts of steak, lamb, pork, sausages, sweetbreads, and internal organs not often found on US menus. For the teams, this was a Roadblock, an eating challenge in which one member of each team had to consume four pounds of meat, intestines, sausages and brains.
Some managed to consume the meal, including Debbie after she and Bianca arrived very late. Most of the others chose to forego the challenge and take the penalty of a four hour delay starting with the arrival of the next team. Uchenna managed to overtake first arrival Alex and finish his eating challenge. He and wife Joyce sped away with the next clue, an eight mile drive to the Estancia San Isidro. However, they took the wrong turn and Alex and Lynn overtook them to be the first to arrive at the pit stop. Uchenna and Joyce were second. The others straggled in, with Debbie and Bianca the last to arrive. They were eliminated from the race, with a comment from the host, Phil Keoghan, that after their strong beginning, he expected them to be in the final top three teams.
Where next? Best guess is a stay at the estancia to enjoy horseback riding, then ???
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