'The Amazing Race' Racers Max Bichler and Katie Bichler survive non-elimination leg

The Amazing Race teammates Max Bichler and Katie Bichler survived to compete in the 22nd season's sixth leg despite a last-place finish during Sunday night's broadcast of the CBS reality competition's fifth leg.


The "Newlyweds" arrived at the Race's fifth Pit Stop at Meno A Kwena Safari Camp in Maun, Botswana, in last place but were told by The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan it was a non-elimination leg.

"Today we made the stupid mistake, tomorrow somebody else makes a stupid mistake. We just can't let it be us again," Max explained.

"The honeymoon is continuing in Africa," Katie added.

"Yeah, that tent's going to be rocking!" Max said.


The sixth episode of The Amazing Race's 22nd edition began with "Best Friends" Pamela Chien and Winnie Sung departing the fourth Pit Stop, the Vietnam National Museum of History, in first place at 10:40PM.

Max and Katie departed at 11:34PM, and they were soon followed by "Roller Derby Moms" Mona Egender and Beth Bandimere at 11:37PM, "Hockey Brothers" Bates Battaglia and Anthony Battaglia at 11:39PM, "Friends and Country Singers" Caroline Cutbirth and Jennifer Kuhle at 11:46PM, "Friends and YouTube Hosts" Joey Graceffa and Meghan Camarena at 12:47PM, and "Married Couple" Chuck McCall and Wynona McCall at 3:26AM.

The teams' first clue required them to figure out they needed to fly more than 6,000 miles across the Indian Ocean to Maun, Botswana. Upon landing, they must head to Mack Air and sign up for one of three flights that would take them to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Once there, they'd find their next clue.

The earliest flight out of Vietnam headed towards Botswana was at 10:45AM, so all the teams had to wait for the flight and were therefore put on an equal playing field. Joey and Meghan and Mona and Beth were still on the outside of the majority alliance, and Caroline and Jennifer and Bates and Anthony were especially close. Caroline also noted Jennifer had "a baby crush on Bates."

Caroline and Jennifer ended up booking the first Mack flight at 9AM along with Bates and Anthony. Max and Katie and Joey and Meghan snagged the 9:15AM flight, and the remaining three teams got stuck with the 9:30AM flight -- Mona and Beth, Chuck and Wynona and Pam and Winnie.


After observing the sights on their small plane, Caroline and Jennifer reached the next clue box before any of the other teams and discovered they must drive down Old Xhumaga Road, following the marked route, and search for their next clue. Their self-drive vehicle was awaiting them in the airport parking lot.

Following Caroline and Jennifer were Bates and Anthony, Joey and Meghan, Max and Katie, Mona and Beth, Chuck and Wynona, and Pam and Winnie.

After driving to their next destination, the teams received their next set of clues, which instructed one member from each team to complete a Roadblock task.

For the Roadblock, the team members were led to a scorpion hole, where they had to help a local bushman dig out a scorpion and then put it into a jar. Once they successfully touched and enclosed the scorpion, they'd earn their next clue.

Caroline opted to do the Roadblock task for her team and she was later joined by Bates, Joey, Max, Pam, Wynona, and Mona.


The task proved itself to be frightening and uncomfortable, especially for Joey, but everyone managed to get the job done. Bates and Anthony were the first team to complete the Roadblock task, and they were then followed by Caroline and Jennifer, Mona and Beth, Max and Katie, Joey and Meghan, Pam and Winnie, and finally Chuck and Wynona.

The teams then learned they must go back down Old Xhumaga Road and bring their three local bushmen along for the ride. Upon arriving at their next destination, it then became time for the teams to complete one of two Detour tasks: "Fire" or "Fowl."

Bates and Anthony got to the clue before any of the other teams. They were soon followed by Caroline and Jennifer, Max and Katie, Mona and Beth, Joey and Meghan, Pam and Winnie, and Chuck and Wynona.

"Fire" required the teams to walk with the bushman to a nearby campsite and figure out how to make fire using two sticks, zebra manure and grass. Once they managed to spark a flame, they were then required to light the elder bushman's pipe to receive their next clue.

"Fowl" required the teams to go hunting with the bushman by setting a trap to catch a guinea fowl. They had to figure out how to construct the device using sticks and strings and then act like a guinea fowl, hopefully triggering the trap to receive their next clue.


All the teams attempted the "Fire" task first except for Pam and Winnie and Chuck and Wynona -- who both assumed starting fire would be very difficult.

Caroline and Jennifer, Joey and Meghan, Mona and Beth, and Max and Katie all ended up switching tasks and trying out the "Fowl" one instead after wasting a lot of time unsuccessfully making fire. However, Bates and Anthony completed their original task with flying colors.

After Bates and Anthony completed the Detour task, Pam and Winnie and Chuck and Wynona soon followed. Joey and Meghan eventually finished the "Fowl" task and then Caroline and Jennifer, Mona and Beth and Max and Katie were right behind them in that exact order.

The teams' next clue instructed them to make their way on foot, still following the bushman, to Meno A Kwena Safari Camp -- the Race's fifth Pit Stop.

Bates and Anthony then arrived at the Pit Stop mat and were greeted by Phil in first place. As reward for their victory, Bates and Anthony received a trip for two to Thailand.


Pam and Winnie subsequently arrived in second place and then Chuck and Wynona secured third place.

Joey and Meghan followed in fourth and Caroline and Jennifer claimed fifth place soon afterwards. It was then a race to the finish on foot for Mona and Beth and Max and Katie. Mona and Beth managed to beat the "Newlyweds" out for sixth place, leaving Max and Katie in seventh -- and last -- place.

"Max and Katie, I'm sorry to tell you that you are the last team to arrive," Phil told the team.

"This is sickening," Max said. "This is not the feeling that I wanted."

"I do have some good news. This is a non-elimination leg and you're still in the Race!" Phil explained.

"Thank you Phil," a relieved Katie said.


"Of course that does mean that some time during the next leg of the Race, you will encounter a Speed Bump and you will need to complete that before you can carry on in the Race and try to catch up with the other teams," Phil said. "Are you up to that?"

"Yes," Max noted.

"Of course," Katie added.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski