REMAINING TEAMS: Bella and Douglas (Chicago Cats) Climber and Pinta (Brown County Cats) Ernie and Socks (Rejected Presidential Cats) F.F. and C.B. (Friskies Fancy Feast and Chef's Blend Spokescats) Hedley and McClurg (Skunks) Koko and Smoky (gorilla & cat) Mei Xiang and Tian Tian (Panda Bears) Spotty and Barney (White House Dogs).

Sea of green
We rejoin our race teams at their latest petstop, a boat anchored in the Douglas Head, Isle of Man. The teams all share a fancy Manx feast, as Bella entertains everyone with Manx tales. C.B., a little sick of dealing with F.F. and her constant hissing, eats with Climber and Pinta.

Run to the station...
Having come in first yesterday, National Zoo panda bears Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are the first to leave the boat twelve hours later. Their instructions: Take a shuttle boat to the dock, then get on the Manx Ferry for Liverpool, England. When they arrive, they find out the first ferry, which leaves at 9:09, is already booked up. All eight teams get to travel on the one after!

Upon arrival in Liverpool, the teams are directed to go to the Cavern Club and look for Father Mackenzie, who will give them their Road Block instructions.

A ROAD BLOCK is a task in which only one member of the two-critter Team may participate; in most cases, the other member must wait for the partner to accomplish the goal.

Lucky Bella and Douglas recognize a theme here, and head right for the club where they see a man in a priest's outfit. Koko and Smoky arrive next. "Apple," says Koko.

F.F. and C.B. are stopped by tourists wanting to photograph F.F., and are delayed. The other cat pairs jump in a cab, but they're well behind B&D and the gorillas. The pandas decide to get some Chinese food, and the skunks are noticing something interesting - nobody is shying away from them here!

Bella and Koko are the first to do the road block. Bella's first clue is "In Penny Lane there is a barber showing photographs." She rushes off, finds the barber, who takes her photo and gives her the next clue, "On the corner is a banker with a motorcar." Bella finds him and is directed to laugh at him behind his back. He gives her the clue, which asks her to find the fireman with an hourglass. The fireman gives her a portrait of the Queen, brushes her, and tells Bella next to buy a poppy from the pretty nurse behind the shelter in the middle of the roundabout. Koko is back with the banker, and Hedley is at the barber shop.

Mean-while-back
Bella buys the poppy and runs back to the Cavern Club, where she finds Douglas. They're in first! Climber arrives at the barber shop, Mei Xiang is laughing at the banker, Ernie is getting brushed at the fire house, and Hedley is buying the poppy from the nurse. The entire Penny Lane area is crawling with animal racers. A rather unfortunate C.B. has misread the clue, and after going to the barber shop, went back to the club rather than on to the bank. Much hissing from F.F. followed.

Back at the Cavern Club, Bella and Douglas are instructed to find Maggie Mae in Lime Street, who will give them their final clue of the day. Douglas thinks there are real limes on Lime Street and runs very fast. They find her right away, and she tells them, "You're going to, Strawberry Fields, the petstop for the night."

Very strange
They take a cab to the famous children's home and run through the gates. As a very high trumpet fanfare greets them, they see Amanxing Race host Phil Kiwi, and an older lady. The lady is wearing a crown and holding a British Shorthair cat and is surrounded by Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs.

"We are pleased to welcome you to Great Britain," says Queen Elizabeth II. "Douglas, we have no marshmallows for you, but as the winners of this leg of the Amanxing Race, you and Bella have won a free trip to London." Douglas is very excited, and attempts to meow, but nothing comes out. "That Douglas is a pretty nice cat, but he doesn't have a lot to say," explains Phil. Bella falls asleep immediately.

But it all works out
The other teams arrive: Koko and Ndume, Hedley and McClurg, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, Spotty and Barney. All are very surprised to see their welcomer, who takes a special interest in Spotty and Barney. Finally, at dusk, a very upset looking F.F. and C.B. walk in, snapping and hissing.

"F.F. and C.B." announces Phil Kiwi, "you're the eighth team to arrive. However, this is a non-elimination round, and you can stay in the race."

More photos! Visit here again for additional photos from this leg of The Amanxing Race.

Next on THE AMANXING RACE: A gorilla is in the midst of bagpipers and tartan plaids. Will the Koko & Smoky team's chances be "kilt"? And for Chicago cat Douglas, the moor's the merrier.

On to episode 5 ->

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