Desert Storm

Desert Storm is the fifth episode of The Amazing Race 1.

Story[]

At Amphitheatre of El Jem, in El Jem, Tunisia, Joe & Bill are the first to depart at 4:02 am. Opening their clue, they find a picture of the Globe Monument in Tataouine. Outside of the colloseum, Joe & Bill hail a cab, asking the driver if he knows where Tataouine and the Globe Monument are. The driver replies that he knows where it is, and Team Guido sets out. At 4:31, Kevin & Drew are the second to depart. Kevin notes that Tataouine's name is similar to Tatooine from Star Wars. At 4:36, Nancy & Emily are the third to depart.

In their taxi, Joe notes how resourceful the fraternity brothers are and that they love Nancy & Emily, but they are not very fast.

Nancy trips outside of the amphitheater, prompting Emily to ask if she is okay. After, Nancy asks where they are going. Emily replies that they are going to Tataouine. The two hop in a cab for Tataouine's Globe Monument.

“Nancy: Emily and I are opposite. I mean, we are opposite-.
Emily: Completely
Nancy:-characters and I think we're doing great.”— Nancy & Emily

Nancy & Emily have a minor scrape with their driver after the cab is physically moved back on them. Nancy attempts to find another cab driver, but Emily convinces her to get back in the cab. Nancy says they are making fun of them, while Emily says they can go screw themselves.

At 4:49 am, Paul & Amie depart fourth, due to production difficulties in the previous leg bumping them from fifth to fourth. After reading the clue and butchering Tataouine's pronunciation, Paul decides that they should ask somebody where the Globe Monument is. Ultimately, they get into a taxi to head to the monument.

“It's nervous when you get up, and you're not quite sure where your journey's gonna take you next. So the stomach is a little upset, trying to hold food down, you know trying to get your nerves calm, figure out what to do next.”— Amie

At 5:03 am, Frank & Margarita are the fifth to depart.

“Frank: We've been separated almost eleven months now. We had the dreaded relationship talk last night.
Margarita: I'm the one who always starts wanting to talk about relationship stuff. Frank feels like-.
Frank: I'm thinking strategy.
Margarita: Well he's thinking race. Here we are in the race and so that's kinda frustrating at times 'cause I want to sit and talk about relationship stuff, but right now, we don't know what's gonna happen in the long run.”— Frank & Margarita

Frank & Margarita get a taxi cab and head for the monument in Tataouine.

At 5:22 am, Rob & Brennan are the sixth to depart. The two race out from the amphitheater to a cab.

“We headed out in sixth place, which of course at this point is second-to-last and Lenny & Karyn were behind us, but we're a little nervous that there's not going to be any plane flights or train rides or anything where there's an equalizing spot, like there has been in the other legs, when we've been ahead, they've managed to catch up to us. We'll find out what happens when we get to Tataouine.”— Brennan

At 5:43 am, Lenny & Karyn are the last to depart. They are able to get a cab and head toward Tataouine.

“I don't make any apologies for the person I am. I'm bossy, I like things done a certain way, preferably my way.”— Karyn

“Lenny: When we first starting dating, her mom and I will say this verbatim-.
Karyn: Make sure you say it right.
Lenny: She said, "You have a lot of work in front of you. It's not going to be easy." It's not going to be easy.”— Lenny & Karyn

In their taxi cab, Amie is excited because she believes that they will win the million. Paul hopes to get married after they win the money.

“She wants a specific wedding. She wants it by the sunset and the beach and hopefully to be able to afford the wedding that she wants and hopefully, you know, have a great wedding, be able to invite everybody and really-, but that all comes back to the million dollars. Nothing better than winning that $1 million for me.”— Paul

Joe & Bill are the first team to find the Globe Monument. Kevin & Drew pull up in their taxi cab shortly after, spotting Team Guido at the monument. Joe & Bill see Kevin & Drew and get in one of the trucks, where they can hire a driver for DT50 or drive themselves, which contains their next clue. Joe & Bill opt to drive themselves. Kevin & Drew enter one of the trucks and open their next clue, a Detour. Their choices are Listening or Puzzling. In Listening, teams must drive themselves to Ksar Hadada and use a provided walkie-talkie to locate its partner unit located somewhere in the labyrinth of stone caves to find their next clue. In Puzzling, teams have to find their way to Ksar Ouled Soltane. There, they will need to solve an ancient die game to receive their next clue. Kevin & Drew decide to hire a driver, not knowing where they are going. Kevin & Drew decide to perform the Listening task.

Nancy & Emily arrive at the Globe Monument, with Paul & Amie arriving shortly before them. Both teams each take one of the trucks and open their clue. They consult the map inside the envelope to find where the Detour tasks are located.

“We had a Detour to do a puzzle or do a listening task.”— Amie

Amie says to Paul that she is thinking that they should do Listening.

In their cab, Frank & Margarita see Nancy & Emily and Paul & Amie as they arrive at the Globe Monument. Nancy & Emily decide to hire a driver, while Paul & Amie decide to drive themselves. Both teams agree to do Listening, since neither can find the Puzzling location on their maps. Nancy & Emily head out, with Paul & Amie tailing them.

Frank & Margarita enter their truck, with Frank behind the wheel. He asks for directions from Margarita, who is trying to read the map. Frank states that they are already lost.

Joe & Bill navigate themselves to Ksar Hadada to do the Listening task.

Kevin & Drew arrive at Ksar Hadada, grabbing a walkie-talkie at the entrance. Drew begins speaking into the walkie-talkie to find its partner.

“Drew is a cop, so he thinks he's an expert with walkie-talkies, so we figured we'd get done with it really quick.”— Kevin

Drew speaks into the walkie-talkie as Kevin listens for its partner as the fraternity brothers walk around the ruins.

“We showed up at Ksar Hadada. Apparently, we were the first ones there and we were opening each door, trying to find the other walkie-talkie by talking into the one we had.”— Drew

After searching one of the buildings, Kevin thinks he hears the other walkie-talkie and asks Drew to stay where he is and continue speaking into it, so he can find it.

“Kevin thought he heard the other walkie-talkie as I was blowing into it, so he ran ahead, I kept blowing into it.”— Drew

Kevin spots the other walkie-talkie, then shouting for Drew to get over to him.

“And then I heard the interference, and being used to using walkie-talkies, I know when they're very close to one another, you get that inference, that squelching.”— Drew

They grab the clue out of the nearby pot. They leave the ruins and hear Joe & Bill arrive. They head in the opposite direction and climb on top of the ruins.

“We heard Bert and Ernie yapping it up outside the gate.”— Kevin

“We climbed over the rooftops to make them think to make them think the walkie-talkie might be somewhere on some rooftop.”— Drew

Kevin & Drew climb down from the rooftops, dashing for their car as Team Guido figure out how to turn on their walkie-talkie. Joe & Bill begin searching the ruins to find the other walkie-talkie, climbing the roofs after seeing Kevin & Drew on them. Figuring out that they were unlikely to be on the rooftop, Joe & Bill climb down, continuing the search for the other walkie-talkie.

Rob & Brennan are still in their taxi cab on the way to the Globe Monument.

“This is an amazingly difficult game to play. It's about taking the next task at hand and getting it done as best you can, like any competition. Just get it done.”— Rob

Lenny & Karyn have stopped at a gas station, as their cab driver needs gas. They prompt the attendant to hurry with filling the car so they can continue. After they taxi is filled up, they continue toward the Globe Monument, asking their driver to go faster.

“When it's time to prepare for the next leg of the race, you're so focused on the problems that you have between the two of you as a team that sometimes it's difficult to concentrate on what's ahead, and to be honest, he's [Lenny's] dozing most of the time.”— Karyn

Joe & Bill continue searching for the walkie-talkie. Eventually, Joe finds it as he is speaking into the one he has. He takes the clue from the pot and reunites with Bill. He hands the walkie-talkie over to Bill and proceeds to open the clue. The clue reveals that teams will need to navigate themselves to a route marker in Guermessa, in the Sahara Desert, which will then point them to Ksar Ghilane. There are yellow-painted rocks along the correct route to the route marker.

Kevin & Drew continue driving, worried they are lost as they have not seen any yellow rocks.

Nancy & Emily and Paul & Amie are still caravanning to Ksar Hadada. Nancy & Emily stop at an intersection, unsure if their driver should go straight or turn left. Emily exits the car to talk to Paul & Amie on which way they should go. Amie, who is just getting over some car sickness, pulls out the map. They decide the direction toward Ksar Hadada, looking for a yellow flag marker on the way. Emily informs her mother of Amie's car sickness. Nancy says a little prayer for Amie to get better.

Host Phil Keoghan recaps were the teams are. Kevin & Drew are in the lead, with Joe & Bill close behind. Nancy & Emily, Paul & Amie, and Frank & Margarita are in the middle of the pack. Rob & Brennan and Lenny & Karyn are currently in the back.

Rob & Brennan arrive at the Globe Monument, noticing that there are only two trucks left. Lenny & Karyn pull up right behind them. Rob & Brennan see Lenny & Karyn. They hire a driver so they can talk in the back. Lenny & Karyn hire a driver. Both teams decide to head toward Ksar Hadada for the Listening Detour.

At Ksar Hadada, Nancy & Emily and Paul & Amie spot the yellow flag. Nancy & Emily are first to take a walkie-talkie and begin searching for its partner. Paul & Amie follow, grabbing a walkie-talkie and begin searching. Frank & Margarita arrive, talking into a walkie-talkie and begin searching.

On their way to Guermessa, Kevin & Drew buckle up for safety over the bumpy roads.

Back at Ksar Hadada, Emily finds the walkie-talkie's partner, shouting that she has found it. Nancy runs over to her ecstatic that Emily found the clue. Paul & Amie continue searching for the walkie-talkie's partner, having no luck. Nancy & Emily return to their truck and head toward Ksar Ghilane. Paul finds the walkie-talkie, yelling to Amie to come to him. They hop into their truck and begin driving. Amie consults the map to find where Ksar Ghilane is.

“We were so adamant about getting out there and hurrying up that we just started driving.”— Amie

Frank finds the walkie-talkie, shouting for Margarita to meet with him. The two open the clue and run to their car. As they exit, Lenny & Karyn arrive. Lenny & Karyn begin to search for their walkie-talkie's partner. Karyn tells Lenny that they have to use the walkie-talkie. He attempts to give it to her, but Karyn states that Lenny should use it.

As they are driving to Guermessa, Joe & Bill say they are fine being in second. They also wonder what happened to Rob & Brennan.

Rob & Brennan are the last to find Ksar Hadada. They quickly grab a walkie-talkie and begin searching. Lenny & Karyn are still searching for their walkie-talkie's pair. Karyn finds the walkie-talkie, shouting for Lenny to come find her. The dating couple quickly leaves for their truck, as Rob & Brennan continue searching.

Nancy & Emily have a brief spat over the information, as Emily wants to see it, thinking her mother has it, but her mother wants to find the information herself, as Nancy is looking for yellow stones.

Kevin & Drew stop at a cafe, thinking that it has their next Route Marker. Drew looks into the cafe, finding nothing. The fraternity brothers continue on, trying to find the next Route Marker.

Margarita shows Frank, who is not really listening to her, what roads they need to go on to get to Guermessa.

“In this race, it's not about one person, it's about two people cooperating together in every aspect.”— Frank

“It's really clear to me that we've been learning to appreciate each other and learning how to be teammates instead of, you know, rivals, 'cause it really easy to become rivals in a relationship.”— Margarita

In their truck, Bill worries about Joe going too fast, as the truck is their only means of transportation. Joe tells him that he will go as fast as he wants. Bill retorts that he thinks Joe is not being safe on the unpaved roads in the desert.

Brennan finally finds their walkie-talkie.

“Well, we ended coming up like forty minutes behind everyone else. We were the last team in, and it took us way too long to do. We were running around like a couple of idiots. We got out of there in seventh place.”— Brennan

Rob & Brennan head back to their truck, telling their driver to head toward Guermessa.

Kevin & Drew find the yellow Route Marker. They exit the truck and spot another marker. They realize that they have to get the truck and run back.

Meanwhile, Frank has Margarita point out the compass, so that they know they are going north. Lenny & Karyn and Frank & Margarita pass each other. Karyn wonders what Frank & Margarita are doing.

“There was a long period of time where we had no idea whether we were going the right direction or not and it's a little bit scary.”— Brennan

Rob & Brennan come across the same cafe Kevin & Drew found earlier. Similarly to the fraternity brothers, the attorneys find no Route Marker there either. They continue on driving.

Paul has Amie, who is still car sick, hold the compass so that Paul knows they are going north.

Nancy & Emily are anxious, thinking they are lost, as they have not seen a yellow rock in miles. Nancy notes that they see a car in front of them.

Joe & Bill notice that Nancy & Emily are following them.

Kevin & Drew's driver follows the yellow markers out into the desert. Kevin notices that the final yellow marker has their clue, telling the driver to stop. The fraternity brothers exit the vehicle and grab the next clue, finding that it is a Roadblock. For the Roadblock, one team member must ride on and guide a camel, following a set of coordinates, continue using the compass and locate a designated point where their next clue awaits. The non-participating member would walk alongside the camel throughout the Roadblock. Teams may hire a camel handler for DT50. Kevin decides to perform the Roadblock. Kevin gets on top of the camel. The two head out. Kevin notices the flag but has trouble controlling the camel.

In the desert, Karyn asks their driver to stop and turn left. Lenny notices that they never saw Frank & Margarita after they passed them earlier. Lenny has the driver go back to where they just came, upsetting Karyn.

“My concern is that we stay in a positive frame of mind, communicate, and if something goes wrong, we can probably make it work out. She [Karyn] doesn't see it that way.”— Lenny

Frank & Margarita happen to come across a small structure. They ask the man nearby where Ksar Ghilane. He gives Margarita, in French, directions to where it is. He informs the two that they are south of where they need to be.

Paul notices the people living out in the desert, thinking that they are crazy. The pull over to ask for directions from a local to at least point them in the direction they need to go.

At the Roadblock, Drew says how he gets screwed with the Roadblocks. Kevin wonders how he will get down from the camel. The fraternity brothers reach the flag opening their next clue. Teams are instructed to follow the compass 270° until they find the flag flying across the oasis campground, which is their next Pit Stop.

Rob & Brennan still have trouble finding Ksar Ghilane.

“We knew we were in last place, and we knew we were in trouble, but finally we just said, look, the compass is in the car for some reason. Let's take a look at this. We know generally the direction we have to go. At this point, we're either going to make up time, or we're out, so we just gotta go.”— Rob

Paul & Amie have a fight over where they are going, as Amie thinks the map and the compass are useless, as they have been driving in circles.

Joe & Bill find the yellow marker. They exit the truck and begin walking on the marked path.

On the way to the Pit Stop, Drew complains about sand being in his eyes.

In their truck, Paul asks Amie if she is looking for a yellow route marker, saying that he keeps seeing her head down in the rear-view mirror. Amie defends herself, saying that she is holding her barf bag in her hand if she needs to vomit again.

Kevin & Drew finally find the oasis. They step onto the mat, informed they are team number one. They congratulate themselves for winning their second leg.

Frank spots another yellow rock, excited that they are on the right track. With three hours driving, Margarita hopes that someone screwed up worse than them.

Joe & Bill find the camel outpost. Joe decides to perform the Roadblock.

Nancy & Emily ride to the outpost, thanking their driver for his time. Emily decides to perform the Roadblock for her team.

Lenny & Karyn are still trying to find the next Route Marker.

Paul stops the truck and decides to look at the maps so that he knows where they are.

Joe & Bill find the flag and head toward the Pit Stop. Nancy & Emily arrive shortly after Team Guido leave, opening their clue. Nancy is worried that she has to continue walking out in the desert.

Rob & Brennan find the camel outpost, opening their next clue. Rob decides to perform the Roadblock. The two head for the flag.

Paul is still driving, and he is getting sick himself of hearing Amie's continuous vomiting.

Joe & Bill arrive at the Pit Stop, placing second. Nancy & Emily arrive moments later, placing third. Kevin & Drew congratulate on Nancy & Emily's third place.

Lenny & Karyn find the Route Marker. Frank & Margarita are following close behind them. Karyn decides to ride the camel. Margarita gets the next clue. She decides to perform the Roadblock. Both teams head out toward the flag.

Rob & Brennan arrive at the Pit Stop, placing fourth.

After opening the next clue, Lenny & Karyn head out. Margarita thinks there is only one clue left at the site of the flag, but Frank informs her that there are actually two left. Frank & Margarita head out. Both teams eventually find the oasis at the same time. Frank & Margarita get ahead of Lenny & Karyn, allowing them to check-in in fifth place. Lenny & Karyn check-in in sixth place. Karyn proceeds to give Margarita a handshake telling Margarita that she did a good job on the camel ride.

Paul & Amie are still lost and driving in the desert.

The other teams at the Pit Stop wonder where Paul & Amie are. Nancy says that Paul is likely the one freaking out, while Rob rebuts that Amie is more likely to do so, calling Amie "loud".

As Paul & Amie are driving, Amie begins to cry, thinking that Paul is quitting on her. Paul says that she has been nothing but sick all day, and her health is more important than the race. Amie eventually sees a bunch of trucks, prompting Paul to turn to where the trucks are. It is revealed that they are driving toward the Pit Stop. Emily cheers that they arrived. Drew asks if Paul & Amie are okay. Paul replies that they are fine and asks the others if they are last. The teams break the bad news to Paul & Amie that they are the last team. Paul & Amie walk with Phil over to the Pit Stop.

“It's unfortunate. Every time we hear that there's a team in last place, like when Paul and Amie were lost in the desert, everybody was bummed, you know? Nobody wanted them to lose and it's tough, but it still is a game and unfortunately, someone's got to lose.”— Rob

Phil informs Paul & Amie that they are the last team to arrive, and that they have been eliminated from the race. Paul, despite his frustrations, says it was fun. Amie says the fun part was traveling and it sucks they will not be doing so anymore.

“She really feels that it's fault that we're eliminated and we're out of the race now, because he was sick. We're a team. It's a team effort and it's not her fault. It's...we both lost. It's not your fault, baby. Don't worry about it, we'll prevail in something else.”— Paul

Route Markers[]

The order of departure from the Amphitheatre of El Jem are as follows:

Joe & Bill (4:02 am)
Kevin & Drew (4:31 am)
Nancy & Emily (4:36 am)
Paul & Amie (4:49 am)
Frank & Margarita (5:03 am)
Rob & Brennan (5:22 am)
Lenny & Karyn (5:43 am)

Due to production errors in the previous leg, Paul & Amie received a time credit and departed 4th.

Teams must make their way to Tataouine and find the monument depicted in a provided photograph, which they must figure out was the Monument to the Memory of the Earth, where they would find their next clue.

The Fast Forward instructions were given to teams at the Pit Start. Teams must use a map that has an arrow pointing to a location to find a cave and take a picture of something inside. Since no team chose to perform the Fast Forward, its instructions are neither elaborated nor aired.

Choice A: Puzzling
Teams must choose a driver and a marked vehicle, which would serve as their transportation for the leg. Teams may choose to drive themselves or hire their provided driver for DT50. However, if they choose the latter, the driver may not give directions. They must then take their vehicle to Ksar Ouled Soltane, where they must solve a simple Tunisian dice game to receive their next clue.

None of the teams chose this task.

Choice B: Listening
Teams must choose a driver and a marked vehicle, which would serve as their transportation for the leg. Teams may choose to drive themselves or hire their provided driver for DT50. However, if they choose the latter, the driver may not give directions. They must then take their vehicle to Ksar Hadada and use a provided walkie-talkie and their sense of hearing to locate the radio's counterpart hidden in one of the chambers to find their next clue.

All teams chose this task.

Teams must take their vehicle to the village of Guermessa and, using a provided map and compass, find an arrow approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the village that directed them along a marked path into the Sahara Desert to Ksar Ghilane, where they would find their next clue.

"Who wants to go for a ride?"

The team member assigned to this Roadblock must ride a camel and follow a set of coordinates to reach the flag visible in the distance, where they would find another set of coordinates that would lead them to the Pit Stop at an oasis, where they must check in. Meanwhile, the non-participating member must walk alongside the camel. Teams may choose to hire a provided camel handler for DT50.

The Roadblock performers are underlined:

Paul & Amie fell too far behind the other teams and were eliminated after finding the Pit Stop by chance.

Leaderboard[]

Legend:
First Place • Eliminated • Last placer on a Non-Elimination Leg or continue racing on a No-Rest Leg • Season winner • Season 2nd place • Season 3rd place • ► Used the Fast Forward

1st place Kevin & Drew Fraternity Brothers	2nd place Joe & Bill Life Partners	3th place Nancy & Emily Mother/Daughter	4th place Rob & Brennan Lawyers/Best Friends	5th place Frank & Margarita Separated Parents
6th place Lenny & Karyn Dating	7th place Paul & Amie Engaged

Trivia[]

Tataouine is the inspiration of Tatooine, a fictional planet in the Star Wars film series.^[2] The Ksar Hadada, the location of the Listening Detour, is noted by host Phil Keoghan to be a Star Wars movie set.
Kevin & Drew become the first team to win multiple legs.
This episode marks the first instance where a team bypasses the remaining tasks for being so behind. Paul & Amie found the Pit Stop entirely by accident en route to the Roadblock after all other teams had already checked in.

References[]

The Amazing Race 1 Episodes
"The Race Begins" · "Divide and Conquer" · "Home for Some" · "Colossal Showdown" · "Desert Storm" · "Whatever It Takes to Win" · "Triumph and Loss" · "Competition to the Fullest" · "The Unexpected Twist" · "To the Physical and Mental Limit" · "Fight to the Last Minute" · "Race to the Finish (Part 1)" · "Race to the Finish (Part 2)"

[ratings-1] 1.0 ^1.1 http://www.spottedratings.com/2011/12/spotvault-amazing-race-cbs-fall-2001.html

[2] ttp://books.google.ca/books?id=1FU9hIqv9uAC&q=tataouine+tatooine

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