Rob knows this is where things get REALLY tough. Ron & Kelly (Team American Beauties) leave a minute later and sign-up for the charter right behind Rob & Amber. It's over an hour later when Uchenna & Joyce leave, happy to be together and "in a groove". And it's almost an hour after THAT when Lynn & Alex (Team Fab Two) depart. Finally, three hours after Rob & Amber left, Meredith & Gretchen (Team Socially Secure) - the team that refuses to die despite their old age - depart in last.

But you all know that doesn't mean squat. The flight doesn't take off until sunrise, so ALL FIVE TEAMS are tied for the lead yet again as they travel to...

FRANCISTOWN, BOTSWANA

The airport... well, it's not exactly what you'd expect from an "international" airport. But, any port in a storm and all that rot. The ticket counter lady says it'll be an hour or so before they can get their tickets. During that downtime, Lynn & Alex borrow a cell phone and try to book tickets from Mombai to Lucknow. But Rob & Amber decide to strike back... and drag Ron & Kelly along for the ride.

As Alex stays on the phone, Rob gets the lady to find flights to Lucknow for him & Amber and Team American Beauties. Alex books six tickets for the other three teams for a flight with a stopover in Dehli... but Rob books a similar flight for HIS alliance...that arrives five minutes EARLIER. Rob ALSO tells the lady to tell other teams that they can't be helped BECAUSE of him.

MOMBAI, INDIA

After a long converted-cargo plane ride, the teams land in the largest city of the OTHER over-billion-person country in the world (the first being China, of course) at 3am. Team Survivor and Team American Beauties immediately get on the first flight to Lucknow while the other teams have to wait a while. In the down time, Gretchen looks for another backpack (her original one was stole... er, taken by Phil Keoghan) but the prices are a bit steep for her. Finally, she finds a reasonable price on a "snazzy" one and she rejoins Meredith as they, Team Will Race For Food and Team Fab Two all get on the flight to Dehli and then to...

LUCKNOW, INDIA

At 9:44am local time, the first flight hits the tarmac. And the two teams learn something rather interesting about the cabs there: you have to pre-pay. Ron & Kelly are first out of the gate with Ron telling the driver - while gesturing to traffic - saying, "Mow 'em down like grass!" Rob & Amber follow close behind... but Team American Beauties have to STOP for gas... much to Ron's dismay.

Eight minutes later, the second flight lands and the last three teams run out, pre-pay and get into the cabs. Uchenna & Joyce go to a CONSIDERABLY less crowded counter for the pre-pay and, as such, gets out sooner. For Lynn & Alex and Meredith & Gretchen... they need to read Getting to Yes because their negotiation skills leave a deal to be desired. Of course, the fact that they don't speak Hindi doesn't help. Finally, they get to an agreement and the last two cabs head out to...

BARA IMAMBARA, LUCKNOW, INDIA

Team Survivor are the first to the palace. They have to don traditional Indian scarves to enter (being it's holy ground and all) but Rob's a LITTLE nervous about covering his 'Bahstin Red Suocks' cap. Ron & Kelly arrive behind them and, after choosing the right color scarves to wear, they enter.

There's no running or screaming in the palace grounds, so it takes some time for the teams to find and get to the clue box. Team Survivor fast-walk there and reads the next clue:

Rob & Amber fast-walk out, wanting to beat Ron & Kelly to the YIELD so as to be spared. Ron & Kelly are thinking the same thing, though Kelly thinks Lynn & Alex would be YIELDed by Team Survivor. As both teams travel through the congested streets, Team Will Race For Food enter the palace grounds and look for the next clue. Lynn & Alex and Meredith & Gretchen arrive shortly behind them, cover their heads (with scarves OR caps) and start the search. In that order, the teams find the clue and exit the palace to find the steel emporium.

At said emporium, Team American Beauties arrive first at the:

After consulting with Team Survivor, Ron & Kelly choose not to YIELD anyone. Rob & Amber do so as well and both teams run right into a:

Ron says Kelly DOESN'T have a lot of patience... but agrees to let her do it to keep the "six ROAD BLOCKs per person per team" rule in effect. Amber chooses to go for her team. The two ladies agree to holler when one finds a clue. (Uh,...that didn't come out right, did it?)

As the Lucknow Street Derby takes place between the other three teams, Amber finds one of those precious yellow envelopes. She shouts, runs out the door and rejoins Rob to read:

As they leave, Kelly searches a little longer before finding a clue herself. she and Ron find a rickshaw and head out in pursuit.

Uchenna & Joyce arrive at the emporium, choose not to YIELD and choose Uchenna to take on the ROAD BLOCK. As he starts speeding through the tin boxes, Lynn & Alex arrive. They are SHOCKED that Rob & Amber didn't YIELD them. They pass on YIELDing Meredith & Gretchen and choose Alex as the patient one. As Team Socially Secure arrive at the ROAD BLOCK, Alex finds a clue and does a happy-happy-joy-joy dance. As he and Lynn depart, Gretchen (who is a little behind in ROAD BLOCKs) chooses to search.

Uchenna finds his clue while Gretchen seems absolutely lost in this massive pile of tin. As Team Will Race For Food departs, Meredith tries to shout "hurry-up"s at his better half. Gretchen quickly starts to give up... but a hug from Meredith gets her back in there. After a little more frustrated searching, she finds one and she and Meredith leave the ROAD BLOCK in last (AGAIN) and find a cyclist to...

AISHBAGH, LUCKNOW, INDIA

Rob & Amber and Ron & Kelly pay off their rickshaw pushers and jog to find the gas station. They both arrive at said station and find a:

Both teams decide to deliver LIQUID. Rob & Amber take off in the same rickshaw... but Ron & Kelly argue about how best to get there They finally get on a rickshaw, though Kelly does it in protest.

Team Fab Two are the next to arrive at the gas station and they choose SOLID. They LIKEWISE argue about transportation, but at least they WALK in the direction of the tea shop. Team Will Race For Food quickly decide on LIQUID, re-board their rickshaw and pass Lynn & Alex, who begrudgingly get on another rickshaw. Team Socially Secure take their time to get to the DETOUR (as usual)

At the shop, Team Survivor and Team American Beauties get the tea carts and push them to the big building. But... it's not as easy as it looks. Rob's "Bahstin English" accent confuses the locals and, soon, he's down to asking everyone, "You have a business card?" He manages to get ONE at least as Ron & Kelly start THEIR search. They follow the same tact that they followed this entire leg: follow the leaders.

Uchenna & Joyce then arrive and start THEIR tea-totting trial, with Lynn & Alex right behind. Meanwhile, the lure of CBS cameras attracted a crowd around the gas station as Meredith & Gretchen arrive to a rousing ovation. Blushing, they get the DETOUR clue and decide, of course, on LIQUID.

Back at the office building, the teams work on their deliveries... but it's Lynn & Alex who have the worst time. They simple go from door to door asking if they know anybody from the list they have. But it's Rob & Amber who hand out their fifth cup of tea first. They gather the cards and push the cart back to the tea shop. Ron & Kelly are right behind them, trying to pass cars on the way.

Team Survivor are the first to the shop. They hand in their cards and list and receive from the owner this clue:

Amber notes, "This clue is written differently. It never says this is the PIT STOP."

Can you say "foreshadowing", boys and girls? Sure, I knew that ya could.

The two teams look for rides to the "flats". Rob & Amber find a motorized cab while Ron & Kelly get back to the rickshaw. As they see Rob & Amber ride by, Kelly gets a little... miffed at Ron. And Ron responds, "Let's lighten up the attitude!"

Back at the building, Uchenna & Joyce finish their five tea deliveries and rush to push the cart back to the shop. As they leave the building, Lynn & Alex ENTER it with THEIR last cup. They're a bit behind Team Will Race For Food, but they're not out of it. The two teams get their clue. As Uchenna & Joyce speed off in a motorized cab, Team Fab Two are PRAYING it's a PIT STOP, since they're EXHAUSTED. They're ALSO praying that Meredith & Gretchen didn't "tear through the coal".

No worries about THAT, guys. Team Socially Secure are only NOW pushing their tea cart to the building. They apparently misread the clue because they give a cup of tea to the first businessman they run across... and he can't give them a card because he's not on their list. They do FIND someone on the list nearby... and Gretchen says to the first guy, "Shame on you for taking his tea." (The first guy has an "Excuuuuuuuse me!" look on his face.) One down, four to go... but it seems already too late...

...or IS it?

CHARBAUGH MULTI-STORY FLATS, LUCKNOW, INDIA

Team Survivor arrive at the flats and mount the stairs, Rob saying, "Please let this be it." If the clue didn't clue them in that this wasn't a PIT STOP, the fact that Phil was ALONE on the rooftop (without the prerequisite "local greeter" or the PIT STOP sign that says where they were) should've done the trick.

They hit the mat, huffing and puffing. And Phil says, "Rob & Amber... welcome to Lucknow. You guys probably think this is the end of the leg?"

He reaches behind him and takes out a clue envelope, saying, "I don't wanna hold you up. You're still racing. This leg is NOT over."

(I'm sure both Rob & Amber are thinking, "Phil, you son of a....")

TO BE CONTINUED