"You Just Made Me a
Millionaire" - September 21
PIT STOP: LAGON ISLAND BEACH, PHILIPPINES
So... one last PIT STOP, once last chance to sleep and
eat well and... aw, y'know, let's just get to the final
leg, all right?
At 3:16am, the Dating Models open up their clue,
starting the final leg of the Amazing Race:
ROUTE
INFO: |
Make your way to the
city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, (over 8000 miles
away). Travel by marked boat to El Nido pier and get
on a charter flight to Manila. Once at the
International Airport, fly to Calgary. Take a taxi
to Lookout Mountain (80 miles from the airport).
Once you arrive at Sunshine Village Ski Resort, take
the gondola up, then put on the provided gear and
hike 1000 feet up, following the marked path, to the
top of the mountain. Your next clue is on the
lookout pedestal at the top. You have $630 for this
final leg of the Race. |
They REALLY want to win
and are trusting in the will of God to pull them
through. (Again, I feel His Mightiness wouldn't get
involved with material gains... but whatever nails their
cross... or... whatever.) They quickly get to the pier
and await the bus ride to the airport.
26 minutes later, Chip & Kim depart the PIT STOP,
staying focused and in synch. They're already winners,
according to them... but they'd rather be winners with a
7-digit paycheck. Six minutes behind them is Colin &
Christie, confident that the "strongest team" will win
(that being them). Both the Married Parents and Team
Type A arrive at the pier and sign up, meaning that
everyone is on the same charter flight to...
MANILA, PHILIPPINES
The next morning, all three take the hour-long flight
back to the Filipino capital (and, yes, this will be the
LAST time I say the word "Filipino") and the
international airport. And it turns out that they are
all booked on the same flight across the Pacific. It's a
three-way Race again as they travel 8000 miles to...
CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA
From the warm South Pacific to the freezing Canadian
Rockies in a matter of a half-a-day. The three teams run
through the terminal to find taxis to Lookout Mountain.
Team Type A grabs one first and FINALLY get back into
the lead. Right behind them are the Dating Models, then
the Married Parents.
Colin & Christie get to the ski resort... and Brandon &
Nicole are right behind them. They more or less take
adjacent gondolas. Chip & Kim, for some odd reason, were
not prepared for how cold Calgary would be and had to
put on warmer clothing in the cab. They arrive a far
clip behind the others, but take the gondola up
nonetheless.
Team Type A gets their gear on and start the steep hike
up the mountain course. Colin takes note of what little
oxygen can be had at this great height... and Christie
is ALREADY thinking she can't do it. Meanwhile, right
behind them are the Dating Models. Nicole likewise gets
tired from the hike, slowing Brandon down and giving
Colin & Christie a chance to make some ground. Brandon
tries to tell Nicole to picture Jesus waiting for her at
the top of the mountain, and this motivates Nicole
somewhat. Inevitably, Colin lets Christie hold on to his
ski pole and half-pull her up the mountain.
As they near the top, the Married Parents arrive at the
bottom and start THEIR climb. Colin & Christie reach the
top first and Colin retrieves the next clue:
ROUTE
INFO: |
Congratulations, you
have made it to the top of the Continental Divide!
Make your way to the base of the Olympic Cauldron in
the Olympic Park (80 miles away) to find the next
clue. |
Team Type A starts the
slow trek down the mountain while Brandon & Nicole reach
the top and get the clue themselves. Colin & Christie
pass Chip & Kim...and Colin is laughing and doing flips
right in front of them. Oddly, it's CHIP having the
troubles getting up the mountain without stopping, not
Kim. In fact, Kim has a LONG lead on Chip and has to
wait for him as they near the top.
Back at the bottom gondola stop, Team Type A get a cab
almost immediately. The Dating Models are right behind
them in a cab of their own. As they take off, the
Married Parents reach the summit, get the clue and head
down. They have quite a bit of catching up to do...
starting with finding a cab.
OLYMPIC PARK, CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA
At the site of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, where the
Jamaican Bobsled team and British ski-jumper Eddie "The
Eagle" Edwards showed that Europeans aren't the ONLY
ones who can make the Games, Colin & Christie arrive at
dusk. They find the cauldron which was first lit 14
years before to start the Games and also two arrowed
signs marked "Slide" and "Ride". It doesn't take a
genius to figure out that this is the final:
DETOUR:
Slide or Ride? |
SLIDE: Follow the
marked path to the luge track and do a two-person
luge ride (where speeds up to 40 mph) in under 34
seconds (the accepted competitive time for
amateurs). If you don't finish the run in less than
34 seconds, you must try again. When you succeed,
you'll get your next clue.
RIDE: Head for the top of the nearby hill and then
use mountain bikes to head DOWN the mountain through
a series of gates. You must complete the course in 3
minutes or less to obtain your next clue. Otherwise,
you'll have to do the course over again. |
Christie wants to RIDE,
but Colin explains how wickedly hard it will be to bike
down snow and ice... so they decide to SLIDE instead.
Right behind them is Brandon & Nicole who, at first,
decide to SLIDE. But, when Brandon shows Nicole how
close RIDE was, she argues about it but they turn around
to try RIDE instead.
At the top of the hill, the Dating Models get on their
bikes... but Nicole's feet can't touch the snow. At just
about the same time, Colin lies on top of Christie... on
a toboggan made for the 2-man events. They get pushed
off onto the track... at just about the same time that
Brandon & Nicole start THEIR run. It's a fast and smooth
ride for Team Type A... but not so much for the Dating
Models. They fail to make it down the hill in time
(4:32)... but Colin & Christie's time is 30.92 seconds,
MORE than enough to get them their next clue:
ROUTE
INFO: |
It's time to fly to
your Final Destination City: Dallas, Texas, back in
the USA (3000 miles away)! Once you land there, head
for the Ft. Worth Stockyards and find your clue amid
the cattle pens. |
To say that Team Type A
isn't excited to head back to their native state is an
understatement, they rush to the airport... while
Brandon & Nicole try the bike run once more (this time
with a lower seat on Nicole's bike). But no sooner do
they start than Nicole starts to cry. She sobs and
tosses the bike down, saying through the tears that she
just can't DO this! Brandon carries Nicole down the
course as they decide to do SLIDE instead.
At the airport they had just left that morning, Colin &
Christie try to find the first flight out so they can
win this Race hands down. The PROBLEM is...no ticket
counters or agents are open at this late hour. So they
call American Airlines (since they've won so many
vacations from them) and find out that the quickest
flight to Dallas is Flight 848, leaving at 7:08am.
While they try to find a plane out, the Dating
Crybabies... er, Models get on the luge (Brandon on top)
and slide down. No telling if Nicole was crying down the
track...but at least they made it in 30.41 seconds (even
FASTER than Team Type A) and earned the trip to Dallas.
In the taxi, Brandon says he was to blame and Nicole
says that's not WHOLLY true. Brandon likes Nicole a
lot... but isn't sure they're made to be lifemates yet.
When Brandon & Nicole started the run, the Married
Parents arrived at the DETOUR and chose SLIDE
immediately. As Brandon & Nicole were finding a taxi to
the airport, Chip got on top of Kim and they take off...
and... they wipe out on the first turn. On their SECOND
attempt, they zigzag all over the track and fall again.
After figuring out where they went wrong, they try once
again. It's CLOSE... but they cleared it by 1.01
seconds! They get their clue and, quietly, catch a cab,
thinking there was NO way they could catch up now.
Brandon & Nicole arrive
at the airport as the ticket counters open up.
They go to a Delta counter and ask about the earliest
flight to Dallas out of the airport. They are told
American flight 848... the same on Colin & Christie got
on. They make reservations to get on the flight... while
Team Type A head for the hotel to relax in the lobby and
try to make sure a cab is waiting for them in Dallas.
Chip & Kim arrive thinking they've blown their chance.
The Models and Team Type A decide to pack up most of
their belongings into boxes and check them all the way
to Dallas, so as not to be weighed down during the
sprint for the FINISH LINE. While they do that, Kim gets
on the phone with the Double-As to find out about
flights. And that's when they find something rather
interesting: Flight 848 has been delayed! Until 9:50am,
no less! This is EXCELLENT for the Married Parents; they
can find a flight which arrives SOONER than the delayed
flight! Chip is on the phone with United, which has a
flight that goes through Denver that gets into Dallas at
1:06pm... TWO HOURS before the American flight arrives!
As they go to the hotel to rest up for the final day,
they once again promise not to tell EITHER team about
how they got screwed. Brandon and Colin are convinced,
when Chip & Kim enter the lounge, that all three teams
are on the same flight. And Chip's smile would envy ANY
Cheshire cat's!
While the Models and Team Type A sleep, the Married
Parents depart for the ticket counter. The next team is
Brandon & Nicole... who are the first to find that THEIR
flight is delayed. And the WORSE news is the 6:55am
flight that Chip & Kim are on is oversold! Chip & Kim
get informed about this when THEY show up... and they
are equally bummed.
At 6am, Chip & Kim head
for the gate to await boarding, thinking that this would
be the break of the entire Race. Meanwhile, the other
two teams are QUITE pessimistic about THEIR chances.
Brandon even says, "We're done! We're absolutely done!"
They're able to get an American Airline flight from
Denver to Dallas which will arrive at 1:24pm... but the
PROBLEM is getting to DENVER. So they get put on standby
for the United flight... and start to pray.
The ticket agent for United tries to bump people to get
the four Racers on the same flight. After some tense
moments, she confirms that they can join the Married
Parents to Denver. Team Type A and the Dating Models
learn they're on standby on the flight from Denver to
Dallas... but Colin has already booked them on the
American flight. Team Type A checks in both boxes
of unneeded goods at American, grab the tickets for them
and the Dating Models and, when the boarding call is
made, all three board the same flight to Denver... but
will they all be on the same flight to the FINISH LINE?
DENVER, COLORADO, USA
At the mile-high city, Team Type A and the Dating Models
find out something as they run to the United gate: since
they checked their bags on AMERICAN, they're not ALLOWED
to get on the United flight! Despite the pleading and
moaning and complaining, there's nothing that can be
done; Chip & Kim WILL arrive at Dallas before the
others. Distraught, they race to catch the United flight
that they're booked on, which is scheduled to arrive 18
minutes later than the Married Parents' flight.
10:15am United Flight: Married Parents
10:32am American Flight: Team Type A and Dating Models
DALLAS, TEXAS, USA
At 1:06pm, Chip & Kim land at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.
10 minutes later, the other teams land. Chip & Kim get a
taxi to take them to the stockyards... and Colin &
Christie have THEIR driver all ready when THEY leave the
terminal... leaving Brandon & Nicole high and dry... and
in last.
FT. WORTH STOCKYARDS, FT. WORTH, TEXAS, USA
At the stockyards, the Married Parents find large
pictures of the last three teams, a clue in a glass
container... and a clue in the usual Route Box:
ROUTE
INFO: |
The final clue is
inside the glass case under your picture. To open
the case, you'll need to find the key. Here's how
you go about it:
Take the key in the box under your picture and then
work your way through the giant maze before you.
When you find a lock box with your name on it and a
lock with the number "1" on it, unlock it and
withdraw a picture (of the Olympic Cauldron in
Calgary). Bring it back here and put it below your
picture. Then go into the maze again and find the
lock boxes with the number "2" on the locks. Unlock
your box to recover ANOTHER key. This key will open
the glass case to your next clue. |
(TRIVIA: This is the
same place that 'USA's Cannonball Run 2001' held
one of its events.)
Chip & Kim grab the key and start to wind through the
maze... and get lost. They run into all sorts of "Wrong
Way" and "Are You Lost?" signs before finally reaching a
lock-box... which has a "2" on the lock... dang! They
keep winding their way through the maze...
...which gives Colin & Christie and their driver - who
must have been a reject from the "Crazy Taxi" video game
series - to drive willy-nilly across the Dallas-Ft.
Worth expressway with very little regard for public
safety. Brandon & Nicole's driver is a little more
cautious, but that doesn't stop the two lovebirds from
yelling at him to speed up. But whereas Team Type A's
driver is more than happy to break the speed limit (not
to mention the sound barrier), the Dating Models' driver
says he's going to obey the laws.
Back at the maze, the Married Parents FINALLY find the
right lock-box and get the picture. It's a bit of a
chore getting out, but they manage to put the picture
where it belongs. Knowing where the second lock-box is
(relatively, anyway), they find it, get the key and race
out of the maze to unlock the final clue:
ROUTE
INFO |
FINISH LINE!: It's
almost over! Make your way to downtown Dallas, get
to Crow Lake Park and run for the FINISH LINE! First
one there gets ONE MILLION DOLLARS! |
Their taxi is waiting
for them and they take off... just as Team Type A pulls
in! Chip & Kim can relax just a bit... but not much.
They still have to head back to Dallas... in rush hour
traffic... with a very smart team right on their heels.
Colin & Christie head into the maze, with Colin's
suggestion that they keep following the left side of the
walls, even through the dead-ends. They easily find
lock-box #1, and then retrace their steps to put the
picture in place. As they make their way back, Brandon &
Nicole make their way IN... and they bump into each
other in the process. After Team Type A gets their
picture on, they remain as quiet as possible as to not
give the Dating Models any idea where they are. They
easily find lock-box #2, leave the maze, get the clue
and rejoin their crazy driver.
Traffic is murder on the expressway... and the Married
Parents are smack in the middle of it. Team Type A's
cabbie (named Earl) is told to do whatever it takes to
get them to the park ASAP. And he obliges... by driving
on the shoulder and laying on the horn. Meanwhile,
Brandon Nicole get lost in the maze... and are
essentially out of the running.
FINISH LINE!: CROW LAKE PARK, DALLAS, TEXAS
Just over 1300 miles as the plane flies from the
STARTING LINE, your host Phil Keoghan stands on a large
red mat with the show's logo on it. He anxiously awaits
the arrival of the winners.
A taxi pulls up... and, out of it pop...
CHIP & KIM!
As they see the FINISH LINE, they tell the driver, "You
made me a millionaire!" And, of course, there's the line
of former teams cheering them the last few thousand
feet: Dennis & Erika (Team Once Engaged, 11th place),
Alison & Donny (Off-and-On Daters, 10th place), Jim &
Marsha (Team Wounded Knee, 9th place), Bob & Joyce (Team
Net-Widowers, 8th place), Marshall & Lance (Team Pizza
Brothers, 7th place [quit]), Charla & Mirna (Team Hi-Lo,
6th place), Kami & Karli (Team Twins, 5th place) and
Linda & Karen (Team Bowling Moms, 4th place). Chip & Kim
hit the large red finish line and Phil says those magic
words:
"Six continents, 11 countries, 72,000 miles... Chip &
Kim, you are the
OFFICIAL WINNERS of the Amazing Race! Congratulations,
you have won
the one million dollars!!"
After the hugs from Phil and the other teams, the host
asks Chip how special his wife is. Chip replies it was
great having his "soulmate" and "best friend" along for
the ride... and that they can tell their kids they can
accomplish anything. Kim was happy to just get the time
to travel and meet new people (like the other teams)...
but, of course, the money ain't too shabby, either.
Just then, over a hill comes Team Type A... who suddenly
realize that all of Earl's wild driving wasn't enough
since they were coming from a whole different direction.
Phil says to them, "Colin & Christie, you're team number
two. But you were one of THE most competitive teams
ever." Colin says that he loves Christie so much and
THAT'S important. He also says something NOBODY thought
they would here from him: that Chip & Kim DESERVED to
win 'cause "they ran an awesome Race". Christie doesn't
say a word. She just hugs the winners in
congratulations... and all is forgiven.
Oh, wait... isn't there THREE teams? Less than an hour
later, the Dating Models arrive in las... er, third,
Nicole going piggy-back on Brandon's back like they've
done so many times during the Race. Phil proclaims,
"Brandon & Nicole, you're team number three." Nicole has
fallen more in love with Brandon during the Race... and
Brandon feels the best is yet to come. After that, all
the teams hug each other, as if all the animosity
gathered during the Race has melted away.
OK, everybody, gather
together for the final group shot! Now applaud!
Phil, raise Chip's hand in victory! And...CUT! That's a
wrap, everybody! See ya for Amazing Race 6! |