The Amazing Race: A watched pot never boils (spoiler alert)

Hi TAR fans, another recap for you from my correspondent Astrid Lange:

Again, apologies for the delayed recap. I was out on Sunday night for Oscar festivities, but better late than never!

Still in Argentina, teams began the second leg of the Race by driving to the Cafayate Town Square, where they waited for the chasqui (mountain postman) to deliver their first clue. Unfortunately for the teams in the lead, the postman didn't arrive until sunrise, so all were forced to begin at the same time.

The first clue, the Detour involved natural resources used by the locals. A choice between Boil My Water (assembling a solar kitchen and then boiling a kettle) and Light My Fire (gathering firewood and clay, loading it on a donkey and transporting it to a pottery workshop).

With the sun still rising, Art and JJ were convinced that the solar kitchen task would take longer than the firewood task. While all the other teams began assembling the solar kitchens, the border patrol agents drove and drove, looking for the firewood task, finally stopping to ask directions.

Meanwhile, all the other teams were busily assembling solar panels using a picture on the side of the box as a guide. Well, all teams except the clowns, who didn't realize there was a picture until Dave and Rachel told them.

As if they were assembling furniture from Ikea, teams grew increasingly frustrated with the solar kitchens and began swearing up a storm. Network television-friendly swearing of course: "It's hotter than shenanigans!" "Awww shnikeys!" "Son of a monkey's uncle!" One of the guidos even badly cut his hand on the panels. Yep, just like assembling Ikea furniture.

Teams finally assembled the kitchens and just had to wait for the water to boil. Fearing the old adage about a watched pot, the clowns jokingly turned their backs on the kitchen, while the other teams just yelled at the kettles. Mark and Bopper, who had worked well during this task, heard their water boil first, so they received the next clue first, which told them to make their way by bus to Buenos Aires: an 18-hour trip!

Art and JJ, who had finally arrived at the firewood task, completed it quickly and finished in second place. With Dave and Rachel, and Brenchel, these first four teams got on the first bus to Buenos Aires.  On the second bus, the clowns, Vanessa and Ralph, Joey "Fitness" and Danny, and the twins, Elliot and Andrew. Bringing up the rear on the third bus, federal agents Nary and Jamie (who told everyone they're teachers) and Kerri and Stacy. But these ladies were not in last place for long, as the second bus was delayed for almost two hours after a window shattered on the drive to Buenos Aires.

At the Road Block at a cattle market, one member from each team had to listen to an auctioneer call out the total weight of cattle in a pen, count the cows, then determine the average weight of each cow, all while a noisy auction was going on in the background.

After a couple of wrong attempts, JJ and Rachel (of Dave and Rachel) worked together on the math and finished first. On to the Pit Stop, Dave and Rachel arrived first yet again (also winning a trip to Grenada) with Art and JJ in a close second.

Reminiscent of her breakdowns on Big Brother, Rachel (of Brendon and Rachel) grew frustrated trying to do the math at the cattle market. "I'm not as smart as you Brendon!" 

Mark, who had worked in cattle yards and is good with figures, selflessly helped the crying mess, and he and Rachel finished the task. Despite the help, Rachel still whined to Brendon, "Stop blaming me, you know I can't do things under pressure." Rachel was always a blubbering mess on Big Brother. It's early Race fans, we'll see a full breakdown yet.

Arriving in third place at the Pit Stop, Mark and Bopper, followed by Brenchel, Kerri and Stacy, Nary and Jamie, Vanessa and Ralph, Joey "Fitness" and Danny, and Elliot and Andrew. 

Receiving no help from other teams at the cattle market, Dave struggled with the math, and the clowns unfortunately arrived at the Pit Stop in last place and were eliminated. But no tears of a clown here, despite the elimination, Dave and Cherie say they haven't lost as they still have each other.  All together now, "Awwww."

And did I miss it or did Phil not introduce the man at the Pit Stop mat with him?  That man just happened to be Argentinian soccer superstar Diego Maradona. I don't understand why he didn't mention it ... did he really think American television audiences (who watch another style of football) would know who he was by sight alone? Luckily, twin Andrew, also a pro soccer player, recognized the star and got to kick around a ball with him. Must have been a thrill of a lifetime for him.

Until next week, Race fans! I see watermelons in the scenes from next week. Let's hope there's no catapult involved.

(The photo of Rachel counting cows is by Robert Voets for CBS.)