Replies

SCHROEDERS LOSE THEIR WAY IN LOUISIANA

While the Bransen family cruised to another first place finish, the Weavers faced their biggest imaginable obstacle when they stepped onto a motor speedway track. And although they got off to strong start, the Schroeder team couldn’t find their overnight hold, causing Stassi to break down in tears. The next day became worse for the family as they became lost in their own home state, resulting in their elimination.

HAVE A SEAT
Departing the Pit Stop at 1:15 pm, the Bransens opened their clue to learn they had to travel over 100 miles to the town of Anniston, Alabama and find the world’s largest office chair, a roadside attraction built 24 years ago. The drive through Alabama brought out the worst in one Team as the Schoeder family joked around at the expense of the Weavers. Hunter began the insults, referring to them as “the white trash family,” with Stassi adding that Linda Weaver was “the wicked witch.” Char added, “At first we were like, ‘We feel so bad. They lost their dad.’ Then we found out they were evil.”

Hanging onto their lead, the Bransen family arrived at the world’s largest office chair in first place. Opening their clue, the family discovered they needed to drive 18 miles to Talladega, Alabama and find the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame. Having lost their husband and father in a speedway accident, the Weavers opened their clue and became upset at the prospect of reliving their painful memories. Linda Weaver simply told her children, “I’m sorry.”

PEDAL PUSHERS
Arriving at the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame in first place, the Bransens opened the next clue and learned they had to make their way to the Talladega Super Speedway track where they would choose a multi-person vehicle known as a party bike and, pedaling as a Team, complete one lap around the track.

As the Bransens ran to the track to begin their lap, they soon had company with the arrival of the Linz and Schroeder families. Trying to pedal the painfully slow bikes around the track, all three Teams had a sense of humor about the task. Lindsay Bransen joked, “This is probably the half-time show at these places.” Tommy Linz quipped, “Get behind someone and draft them.” Finishing first, the Bransen family earned the clue that informed them to drive 260 miles to Hattiesburg, Mississippi and find the Southern Colonel. Teams had to figure out that the Southern Colonel was a trailer home dealership containing their next clue.

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
Arriving at the Talladega Speedway in fifth place, the Weaver family ran into the Hall of Fame hoping to leave as soon as they opened their clue. Instead, being confronted with walking onto the racetrack, Rachel Weaver pleaded, “No, mommy! We can’t!” Instead of running away, Linda encouraged her children to face the obstacle head on. As they set foot on the track, Linda said, “Your daddy liked racing. Just let it go. You’re above all this. We’re gonna do it.” After the experience, Linda commented, “Visiting Talladega was a victory for our whole family. We broke through something that we didn’t want to break through. I’m not saying we’re leaving the mourning, but we’re leaving the depressing, heavy sadness and I think that will help us in our moving on.”

FULL MOON
On the long drive to Hattieburg, the Bransens decided to have a little fun when the Linz family pulled up alongside them. With the prodding of her family, Lauren Bransen shocked the Linz family when she pulled down her shorts and mooned them. Alex Linz reciprocated by lifting up his shirt for the girls. From that point onward, the two Teams traveled together into Hattiesburg where they stopped at a gas station to figure out that the Southern Colonel was a trailer home dealership.

Arriving together at the Southern Colonel, the Linz and Bransen families opened their clues and discovered they would be spending the night at the dealership. Teams needed to search among 37 trailer homes for one of three departure times for the next morning: 7:20 am, 7:40 am and 8 am. Having the luxury to search with no other Teams around, the Linz and Bransen families each secured the 7:20 am departure time, while the Godlewskis settled for 7:40 am. Not paying attention, the Weaver and Gaghan families both selected an 8 am departure, allowing the last place Paolo family to move up the ranks and take a 7:40 am departure time.

LISTEN UP
After arriving in the Hattiesburg city limits in third place, the Schroeder family failed to listen to a police officer who said it sounded like they were looking for a mobile home park. Then, after driving around, the family stopped at a gas station to discover that the officer had been correct, sending Stassi into tears. At the Southern Colonel, the Godlewski sisters told the Schroders to look for a 7:40 am departure, but Mark decided to settle for 8 am over the complaints of Stassi. Now in near hysterics, Stassi cried, “No one listens to me! We’re with the Florida team now!”

The next morning, the Linz and Bransen families opened their clues at 7:20 am to learn they had to drive 84 miles to Richland, Mississippi and find Les at a BP gas station. With all the Teams on the road, the Bransen and Linz families maintained their lead to arrive at the BP gas station tied for first place. The next clue revealed that they had to drive 151 miles to Madisonville, Louisiana and find the Fairview Riverside State Park. Already in last place because they needed to get gas at the BP, the Schroeder family, residents of Louisiana, made the mistake of taking a smaller highway believing that the interstate would take them too far out of the way.

ALL WORK AND PLAY
Arriving at the Fairview Riverside State Park in first place, the Linz clan encountered a Detour. In this Detour, Teams had to choose between Work and Play. In Work, Teams would use a two-person handsaw to cut four slices off a log 12 inches in diameter. In Play, Teams would make their way to a riverboat and play 21 against a professional dealer. To win a round, the hand of each Team member needed to total more than the dealer’s hand. Once Teams win three rounds, they would earn their clue.

As the Bransens and Linz families canoed out to the riverboat for some blackjack, the Paolo family opted for the mainland task of sawing logs. As the Paolos sheared off their first slice of wood, the Godlewski sisters also began the physical task of sawing. After a couple of losing hands on the riverboat, the Linz family decided not to let luck decide their fate and paddled back to shore to begin cutting logs as well.

MAKING THE CUT
On the riverboat, the Bransens managed to win one hand while the Gaghans quickly learned why the Linz family threw in the towel on this task. Meanwhile, the Paolos sawed off their fourth log slice to take the lead for the first time in the race. Opening their clue, the family discovered they had to drive across the world’s longest bridge spanning Lake Ponchartrain to the city of New Orleans, park their cars on Esplanade Avenue, and run through the famed French Quarter to Preservation Hall, a 255-year-old landmark and Pit Stop for this leg of the race.

As the Paolos drove off, the Bransens beat the dealer for a third time to earn their clue. With their losing streak continuing, the Gaghans decided to jump ship and saw logs when the Weavers joined them on the riverboat and promptly won two consecutive hands on their way to easily completing the task. The Weavers celebrated even more when they passed the Schroeders, who finally arrived after taking a long route to the Detour. Although they initially decided to saw against the Gaghans, the Louisiana natives played blackjack instead. Finishing within moments of each other, the Gaghans and Schroeders raced to New Orleans hoping to avoid elimination.

UNDER PRESSURE
With a first place victory on the line, tensions rose among the Goldlewski sisters when Christine insisted on taking her backpack while her sisters protested the decision. Sharon noted, “We have to walk around the entire French Quarter.” Her sisters’ lack of support caused Christine to break down in tears. “Thanks for making me cry, guys!” said Christine. A nonplussed Michelle replied, “You did it to yourself.” Later, Christine explained, “A lot of times crying for me is a release physically when I’m tired.”

While the Paolo family parked their car and raced through the French Quarter with the lead, the bickering family became lost, allowing the Bransen family to notch another first place victory. For their efforts, the Bransens won a trip for four from Travelocity to Orlando, Florida with accommodations at one of Universal Orlando’s onsite hotels and complimentary admission to Universal’s two amazing theme parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Coming in only moments behind, the Paolo family happily accepted second place from Phil after several near last place finishes.

THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS
With the Linz and Godlewski families stepping onto the mat in third and fourth place respectively, the battle to avoid elimination began to heat up. While the Weavers hustled through the historic streets of New Orleans into a fifth place finish, the Gaghan family struggled to locate Preservation Hall. In the end, however, the Gaghans arrived at the mat in sixth place, narrowly beating out the hometown favorite Schroeder family, who became the fourth Team eliminated from the race. Commenting on his family, Mark Schroeder said, “I feel awful that Stassi was crying. I feel responsible for it and I blame myself for every little mistake. I have learned how incredibly capable my family is so whatever situation comes, they can take care of themselves. They can deal with real stress and I’m glad to see we can all deal with hardships when they may arise.”