With Kelly & Kate the unexpected (let's be serious here) winners of the fourth leg, they're the first ones to hit the ground running for leg number five at 10:28am with all the other teams close behind and Jillian & Emmett in the dreaded last position, leaving at 12:56pm. All teams will now be heading back to Canada to Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, home to the Haida people for over 13,000 years.
They're all on the same flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Taipei to Vancouver to Sandspit where they'll choose a 2017 Chevy Volt, unplug it and hit the road to catch the ferry to Skidegate, from where they'll drive to the Haida Heritage Centre & Museum to find their next clue. Somehow Jillian & Emmett managed to be the first Volt off the ferry and the first to the clue box.
Roadblock; Who Wants the Inside Story? I love stories, and obviously so does Wayne, but because of the First Nations link to this challenge I think he might enjoy it more. Then again, his attention to detail may be a problem as in this Roadblock one team member needs to identify the Haida Master Wood Carver based on the story of their totem pole and then match the name to the correct totem pole. That's six stories, six names and six poles. Jillian chooses to do it, followed by Kristen, and Ashley, who is the first to sit down with a storyteller.
On the upside, the team member can race out after hearing each story to identify the poles one at a time so that may make this task a little easier. They still need to remember each name though. Julie, Kate and Rita all choose to try the challenge as they arrive and Julie and Rita decide it would be easier to work together as Frankie & Amy arrive and Amy is on it.
Jillian makes her first attempt and gets the first two poles but not the third so she races back to hear the stories. Time for Kristen to step it up as she matches all six names to the correct totem pole and Rd dives the next clue. Steph & Kristen are now on their way to Spirit Lake Trail to find the trailhead then follow the trail into the forest to locate puzzle pieces and then recreate two puzzles based on contemporary Haida art. I love puzzles.
While Julie and Rita compare notes Amy is on her own but she has a much better memory than her mom so that's probably okay with her. Somehow I think Frankie could be too easily distracted but when Amy takes a shot she blows the second carvers name. So much for the better memory.
Steph & Kristen had no problem locating the trailhead at Spirit Lake Trail and finding the puzzle pieces. Even without a picture to work from it looks like a fairly easy puzzle to assemble. As they get started on the puzzle Ashley is recognized by one of the storytellers and Joel relates how she's always recognized wherever she goes. He's a pretty proud papa. Even more so when Ashley goes to identify the poles to their carvers and nails it. Ashley & Joel have now moved into second place and are off to Spirit Lake Trail.
As Ashley races out, Kate asks who the last two were and Ashley points them out for Kate and Amy. It's not a lot of help but sometimes just a little is enough and it also opens the door for her to ask for help in the future if she needs it. Come on, we're Canadian, that's just the way we are. Kate takes her shot and she and Kelly are right on Joel & Ashley's tail. As they load their bags she mentions that she just listened to the others to get the order right. I guess that works, maybe Amy should try it because she keeps blowing the same name.
Ashley & Joel had no problem catching up to Steph & Kristen and already look like they could pass them on this task. I don't think that'll be a concern with Kate & Kelly who are now in the mix and a little confused with the puzzle pieces. Kind of like Amy who is still confused on Jim Hart and keeps calling him Rob Hart. This time she nails it and as she races past Jillian, Rita and Julie with the clue, Rita asks if she'll help but she just keeps moving.
Jillian, Rita and Julie start working together but now they're starting to second guess each other. Focus dammit. Julie tries and gets it so she goes back to tell Jillian and Rita and Lowell knows that there's a fine line when it comes to helping other teams but they may need the help in the future so this should build up some good karma. Let's hope. Rita gets it and races back to Julie while Jillian tries but as she stumbles the girls yell out the answer and all three teams are now in their way.
The final four teams are all pretty close as they head for Spirit Lake Trail and the puzzle challenge where Joel is starting to look a bit lost but Steph & Kristen have managed to complete one of the two puzzles. Their idea of keeping the pieces separate was a great idea and the exact strategy that Kate & Kelly are now discussing but it may be too late because I think they've just been grabbing pieces as they go. Not a good plan.
When Jillian gets started she already knows not to mix up the pieces. They work well together when they stay focused and they're catching up to Steph & Kristen who've just completed the second puzzle and call for a check. It's pretty obvious that they're right and they get the next clue . . . Steph & Kristen are now on their way to Queen Charlotte City to board a seaplane for Prince Rupert where they'll jump into a 2016 Chevy Camaro and then search the town for the statue of Charles Hays, its founding father.
As the girls fly off to Prince Rupert, Jillian & Emmett call for a check and they get the next clue. So far they've been doing a lot better this leg than they did on the last one. Rather than running off Emmett goes over and they help Julie & Lowell to assemble their puzzles. See, sometimes it's good to help another team. While they're busy helping out, Joel & Ashley call for a check and as they run past with the clue Emmett apologizes and they head out right behind. Hopefully it was enough help to keep Julie & Lowell in the race but as they run past Joel & Ashley, Jillian dropped the clue and that allowed Joel & Ashley to get to their car first. At least she noticed it was missing before they drove off.
While Jillian frantically searches her pack for the clue Emmett runs over to Joel & Ashley's car to ask about the next location and hopefully slow them down. It's a little nefarious but it's not wrong, I'm just surprised that Joel stopped. Actually, I'm not that surprised. Joel seems to be a pretty nice guy. As Jillian & Emmett race back to the trail to find their clue Joel & Ashley drive off but then stop to get directions. That was enough time for them to find the clue, get back to their car and pull out ahead of Joel. Jillian & Emmett are on the second seaplane with Joel & Ashley on their tail in the third.
Steph & Kristen arrive in Prince Rupert and immediately ask a local about the statue before choosing their Camaro. Good plan as they're now headed downtown to city hall. While they happily drive their yellow Camaro, Julie & Lowell, Rita & Yvette and Frankie & Amy all call for a puzzle check back on the trail. Done, done and done . . . and as they race off down the trail Kate & Kelly are wondering why they're having so much trouble. I'll tell you why, because you've mixed up all your puzzle pieces thus increasing the difficulty.
Speaking of difficulties, Steph & Kristen have found the statue and the next clue, another Roadblock. In this Roadblock the other team member will need to log time in a tiny tugboat doing some timber raft logging and deliver three rafts of wood from a water lane area to a dispatcher to get their next clue. Of course' first they'll have to take a water taxi to the logging area. If Wayne did the totem pole challenge this one would be mine and it's a good thing I've spent plenty of hours moving around large boats in marinas because that would really come in handy in this task.
Jillian & Emmett arrive and choose the white Camaro while Joel & Ashley choose the blue Camaro. As those two teams drive off, three other teams climb into their seaplanes and I think it's kinda cute that Julie & Lowell are high-diving each other for being second last. These two have a great attitude, which is something Kate & Kelly are going to need to not quit the puzzle challenge.
So far, Steph & Kristen have kept ahead of the pack and this may finally be their leg to finish first, but to do that Steph is going to need to learn how to drive that tiny tugboat really quick. As long as she can do it without sinking her boat.
When Emmett gets in his tug he asks if he can move any of the bundles but the guy tells him just the ones with the red ribbon. I'm not sure the guy should have told him. It goes back to rule number one. Both Emmett and Steph have realized that the marked bundles are hidden behind a number of other bundles but Steph is still keeping ahead by delivering her first raft, . . . shortly followed by Emmett delivering his first one.
Way back on the island, Kate & Kelly are still struggling but they finally get it and now the pressure is on. As they head for the seaplane, Frankie & Amy find the statue of Charles Hays and Frankie is wondering if they should use the Express Pass. Already? Without even seeing the challenge?
Meanwhile, Rita & Yvette are trying to get directions to the marina and it looks like they're getting conflicting info from everyone around, while Julie & Lowell just found the clue. Having Lowell do this challenge could be their downfall, but he's ready to give it his all. Exactly what Steph is doing as she delivers her second raft, followed by Emmett again. This could be close.
At the water taxi, Rita & Yvette have caught up to Frankie & Amy and just as the water taxi starts blowing its horn, Julie & Lowell have caught up to both of them, . . . as long as the water taxi doesn't pull away as they race down the dock. Too late, it did, leaving Julie & Lowell alone on the dock with only Kate & Kelly behind them.
As Steph and Emmett maneuver to get their third raft, Joel is still struggling to control his tugboat. Steph finally delivers her final raft and gets the next clue . . . Steph & Kristen are now on their way to the Pit Stop at the North Pacific Cannery in Port Edward where the last team may be eliminated. Still think it's too early for another non-elimination but it's always possible. As the girls head out Emmett delivers his last load and Jillian & Emmett switch places with Frankie & Amy and Rita & Yvette as they use their water taxi to head back to shore.
With Frankie and Yvette hitting their tugboats the pressure is on for Joel who just delivered his first raft. As he heads back for his second, Julie & Lowell switch with Steph & Kristen who are still in the lead but Jillian & Emmett are only a few waves behind. Emmett is counting on the girls not having a map but he's wrong. They do, and they've gotten straight-forward directions to Port Edward.
Before the water taxi pulls away Joel & Ashley have caught up and jumped in to join them, once again leaving Julie on the dock waiting for the next one. At least they're still ahead of Kate & Kelly.
While we are on the topic of being ahead, so far Steph & Kristen are just ahead of Jillian & Emmett, but this could all be just good editing. If not, one missed turn could flip these two teams. It's no contest as Steph & Kristen are welcomed to the city of rainbows and are officially Team Number 1. Finally. They've also won a trip to New York City and five nights accommodation from Hotels.com. I loved New York City but I'm willing to bet that the sights they visit will be different than the ones my daughter and I took in.
Jillian & Emmett are Team Number 2 and they're a bit ticked they missed the number one spot but considering where they started this leg they shouldn't complain. After all they could be back where Kate & Kelly are, just arriving at the second Roadblock. That's where Yvette just delivered her second raft and Lowell works out identifying his red flags and delivers his first bundle.
Over at the North Pacific Cannery, Frankie & Amy are Team Number 3 and Joel & Ashley are Team Number 4, arriving almost on top of each other. Kind of like Yvette's third bundle of logs which gets Rita & Yvette the next clue just as Kelly & Kate arrive on the scene. Time to step on it Lowell. His only chance is if Kelly's fear of machinery slows her down but it doesn't look like it as she delivers her first raft.
Rita & Yvette are Team Number 5 and they seem okay with that. Almost as okay as Lowell is delivering his second bundle, but Kelly is right behind him delivering hers. It's going to be a race for last place from the looks of it, but then Lowell sees the red flag and gets his third bundle in before Kelly just as the water taxi arrives and that gives them at least a twenty minute lead on the girls.
The editing makes it look really close but it's Julie & Lowell as Team Number 6 and they're happy about that because they're not ready to go home just yet. That leaves Kelly & Kate as the last team to arrive and they have unfortunately been eliminated from the race. From first to last all in the course of one leg, but they had one heck of a ride.