Survivor Samoa - October 15/09

This is going to be short and snappy as I have been up since 5:00 and its now 1:00 a.m.I spent the morning and early afternoon with a wonderful group of women from across Canada at a workshop in Ottawa, and the rest of the day has been spent sitting in airports, riding in planes or driving to get home. But enough wining...

Its night 11. Galu has returned from Tribal Council minus the company of Yasmin. Shambo has realized that she is out of synch with the rest of her tribe and Monica has realized that Shambo voted for her, making her go hmmmmm.

The next morning tree mail arrives announcing an icky food challenge. Survivors spin a wheel to determine the ingredients of the "smoothie" they will drink. The ingredients include such things as giant clam, octopus, jelly fish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and sea slug guts. Two by two Survivors from opposing tribes come up, learn the components of their blender drink and gulp it down. Amazingly everyone gets their smoothy down until the very last pair, when Ashley from Foa Foa falters, giving Galu the win. The reward is a great heap of meat including steaks, hamburgers and sausages. But before Galu can chow down they have to select someone to go home with Foa Foa. Russell picks Shambo to go again and she is not at all happy about having to miss the barbeque.

As Foa Foa returns to camp, Shambo openly slags her tribe and asks for a group hug from Foa Foa. Meanwhile Ashley is feeling badly about losing the challenge for her tribe. Natalie comforts her but viewers can see a bullseye growing on Ashley's back. Shambo decides to share all three of her clues with her new Foa Foa friends. The clues make it quite clear that the idol should be in the hollow tree by the fire, but it is not there. There is talk that Ben may have had the idol when he was sent home, and never played it. But Liz suspects that Russell (EGG) has it and tells him so. Naturally EGG isn't please about being found untrustworthy (even though he is untrustworthy, and creepy too).

At Galu, Russell is trying to light the fire while explaining to his tribe why it was necessary to send Shambo over to Foa Foa. She lost the chicken and she needs to experience the consequences.Meanwhile Dave is getting frustrated by Russell's inability to light a fire. Russell tells Dave that he is all talk and no action. Eventually (after being formally asked), Dave steps forward to get the fire going so they can cook their meat. Privately Dave tells us that being the only one who can make a fire makes him invaluable but he is smart enough to keep quiet about it.

On night 13 the rain begins to fall, and fall, and fall. Both tribes are cold and wet but Galu is particularly miserable. Kelly regrets taking the blankets instead of the tarp at an earlier immunity challenge.

Immunity challenge involves having a man and a woman from each tribe hang onto a rope. The rope is attached to a basket. Opposing tribe members throw coconuts into those baskets making them progressively heavier. The last person to let go of their rope will win immunity for their tribe. EGG goes out first leaving tiny Liz to hang on for Foa Foa. She fights well but finally gives way, giving the victory, once again, to Galu. Poor Foa Foa can't even strategize. The incessant rain keeps them huddled together and no one can have a private discussion. But, after the Foa Foavians have warmed themselves at the Tribal Council fires, and Dimples has counted the votes, it is Ashley who is heading home. With Ashley goes Jack, one of our right honourable (honorable) members from New Hampshire.

So Foa Foa continues to struggle. Will they recover? Or will they simply ooze away into the Samoan mud. Stay tuned! Until next week...

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

Pat (aka Erik the ocean is angry and fickle Cardona)