Oh man, it was painful watching the people who had never been in a rowboat before. Thank god for that one guy who used to row crew.

You've got to love it though, when two of the neo-rowers literally fell off their benches the first time they tried.

I've paddled canoes and kayaks, I don't know how I'd do with regular oars, but I do have some generally understanding of physics and mechanical know-how.

No, it was the opposite - since the first Roadblock clue was "Who wants to follow the leader" (or something), the active participant in that one was actually the person in the taxi. The non-participant i.e. the paraglider was the one who had to do the rowing.

Ohhhh, right. No wonder it was confusing.

I think that bodes well for the season that they are complicating things a bit for the teams.

Yes, I like it when the clues are tricksy.

I can think of three teams that misread clues in just the first leg. What is going to happen when travel fatigue and sleep debt kick in?

I can think of three teams that misread clues in just the first leg.

Yeah, I was surprised at the number. That doesn't bode well, unless it's a "get your mistakes out early", but...

I was surprised that the paraglider was the one who had to row--they didn't make the "find them on the beach" seem all that difficult! Also, I was totally wondering if I would be one of those people falling off the seat in the rowboat. I mean, I've used a rowing machine at the gym, but...

The who does what mis-reads at least make a little sense because that was confusing. But messing up on the walk versus other transport is Amazing Race 101.

That rowing task was a rough one right out of the gate. I would've been like that one dude who fell right over and bonked his head.

I was glad to see some twists in the clues rather than just "Go here. Do this. Take a cab to the pit stop." It does bode well for the season. That said, read the frikkin' clue people! Seriously, we are on season elevnty-million. Everyone should know that by now.

I like the NFL players and the ER Doctors (provided they start reading the clues!). I also like the Bingo dudes and the Duck Dynasty Dudes could be fun if they start playing better. I'm already tired of the Oklahoma guys talking about how they are doing this for their family because they really need the money. This is not the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Save the poor me for another time. Also, I saw more than enough of that one dude's blurred out crack than I really needed to.

I'm not enjoying the blonde NHL girls. Why are they always screaming? Inside voices are OK sometimes. I'm not enjoying either of the dating couples (Boston and the Exes). I'm reserving judgment on the Baseball Wives. They annoyed me at the paragliding (Suck it up, lady. Nobody dies on this show from jumping off of high shit) but overall, they raced pretty well. I thought I was going to like the Afghan kids (and they have beautiful Spanish) but they wound up really annoying me. Sad.

I always enjoy Phil. That won't ever change.

I was appreciative/entertained that many of the groups had someone who at least had rudimentary Spanish, and several better than that. Because it surprised me in past seasons how few people seemed to know any other languages in places they'd go! Even in places where they spoke Spanish, which I assume lots of people at least took in school, y'know? Possibly they just showed more of the attempts to speak to the cab drivers than usual, but still, it made me feel like maybe some of them prepared a little?