Izzy and Jeff's Most Excellent Adventure: Adult Day Camp - aka the George Town Cruisers' Regatta

Hi All...Ben here, in George Town, Exuma, Bahamas

home of the largest Adult Day Camp ever at the annual Cruisers' Regatta. I'm ready for the parade of boats that kicks off the week of fun and games, but Izzy made me wear this geeky life jacket again. At least I loosened the collar a little so it looks more casual.

There are almost 300 boats in the harbor this week, and it's safe to bet that most are familiar with this event and are here because they are ready to have some fun!

The theme this year is "Cowboy Boots and Bathing Suits," so you can guess what the attire might be!

Some people decorated their dinghy,

and some decorated their big boat.

Some just wore hats

while others wore...well, other things - like this guy. He was a little more elaborate. No tellin' what all is decorated here...maybe even his dinghy. I hope someone keeps an eye on him.

This boat is full of "cowboys" and a horse made out of a cardboard box with a palm frond for a tail,

and I guess this is the judges boat. Lots of flags.

And some, like Jeff and Randy - just like to watch.

Looks like there are some Pirates among the crowd. There might be some trouble this week. They must have taken that poor little dog hostage and made him wear that Hawaiian shirt.

Our friends Barb, Randy and Debbie are at Volleyball Beach waiting for the next game.

Some signs of a commotion here...

Those Pirates must have struck again and pillaged the Chat 'N Chill, drinking all the Kalik and leaving this cow trapped in the barbeque.

There are directions to many places, but everyone wants to stay right here for the party.

The boats look peaceful tied up here waiting for their owners to come back and drag them back into the water.

Most of them are here at Chat 'N Chill having a beer, playing volleyball,

playing Bocci Ball

or trying the Conch Salad.

It's made as you wait - from the freshest conch. The live conch that will be used for today's salad are sitting happily in the warm ocean water, unaware of their destiny.

And these are the empty shells at the end of the week!

The wind picked up during the week while our boat was in a slip at the marina getting fuel and water, so when we wanted to leave the marina we needed a little help to keep our bow from being pushed by the wind and waves into the pilings as we exited the slip.

Dockmaster extrordinaire, Clevon, was helping with the plan and the lines to get us safely out of the marina.

Our friends Sherman and Bob, in Sherman's dinghy, came to our aid, and became our personal tug boat, pushing against the side of our bow with the nice soft rubbery dinghy nose, while Clevon and Randy pulled on ropes, Jeff maneuvered the throttles and Izzy moved fenders and retrieved lines! This was one of those times when I made myself scarce so I couldn't be blamed for any of Jeff's miscalculations.

Izzy didn't get pictures of that crazy maneuver, but as you can see from the expressions in this picture, it worked like a charm. Thanks, Bob and Sherman!

Randy and Jeff are celebrating the success with ...a beer, of course! Whaaaat....? it's after 9 AM.

Across the bay on Stocking Island, the fun and games of the Regatta continue with a beach golf tournament. Jeff and Randy had entered this, so Izzy and Nancy went along to document the event and socialize.

There are more and more beached dinghys as their owners are merrily knocking golf balls around on the beach, oblivious to the outgoing tide. Hmm.... I hope they don't want me to help drag them back into the water. Nancy has been keeping an eye on hers...there she goes to move it further out into the deeper water.

This is the golf "course" Grounds Keeper and traffic cop.

The all important choosing of "the" club....

This is the fearsome foursome golf team that Randy and Jeff were on. Looking pretty cocky at the start!

Jeff shows his form to the crowd.

The "hole" isn't hard to find on this course...you just have to get the ball within the fifteen foot diameter circle around the flag. Heck, I think even I could do THAT! And I don't even have thumbs.
Maybe the breakfast beer handicap they had makes the difference. Jeff says that helps his game.

At the final hole, I think they had to throw the ball into the bucket. At least that's what I saw!

Randy and Nancy in their big comfy dinghy (saved by Nancy) headed back to Prime Time V.

The final scores were added up later in the day, and Jeff got a tie for second place. He got a bottle of wine and a flag.

He and Randy were on the volleyball team that tied for first place, so he now has two flags to crow about! He wore those flags around the boat for three days before Izzy made him hang them up.

I'm sure that Izzy and Nancy polished off the wine.

However, Jeff and his team didn't fare so well on the "Coconut Challange". This game has grown complex over the years, and now has several parts to make it more challanging. Separates the dogs from the cats I guess, and as it happened, these guys were apparently cats because "Team-D-Lime-in-D-Coconut" members, Randy, Bob, Sherman, and Jeff splashed their way to a pathetic 20th place out of 27 entries - not very impressive. Here's how it all happened:

First they paddled a motorless dingy around the bay using only fins, collecting floating coconuts. (that right there must have been quite a sight - four grown men in a dinghy frantically paddleing with finns to collect coconuts.) Next they were supposed to play "Catch the Coconut" within their team, but they were DSQ'd (coconut talk for "disqualified") in that event due to a "foot foul". (Not sure what they stepped in...) Then they tossed the coconuts across the volleyball net to a bullseye, and had some trouble with that one, too. ( beer kicking in? - just wondering...) I heard they got a DFL for the entire Coconut Challange.. (DFL...What could that mean?) But they seemed to have a good time anyway. Unfortunately, no pictures of that one. It was probably pretty funny. I was boat sitting, and Izzy was back in Cali visiting Sandy and Wendy.

Randy and Nancy joined us for dinner and drinks at Peace and Plenty one night after Izzy got back to the boat.

They started out with a rum punch or two made by the Dr. of Libation at the patio bar, and then were ready for the tasty buffet overlooking the bay!

After dinner, the guys went back to the boats but Nancy and Izzy wanted to go to the local festival of Gospal music across the street. They stayed for several hours and took pictures of the local talent and came home singing.

There's always someone among the cruisers who knows the good spots for a picnic lunch or a good hike. Word spreads like wildfire when a plan gets put together, and the result is always a great time with fun folks. This was the case on the day Jeff and Izzy went to Flip Flop Beach for a hike and a picnic.

There is a thatched palapa with some picnic tables and benches under it, and a place where a fire could be built. Just behind it is a trail head leading to the beach on the opposite side of the island where the waves from the Atlantic Ocean are bigger.

Here are our dinghies at rest on this beautiful stretch of deserted beach.

Before long, Paul and Carol joined us.

Looks like this poor fellow got into some shallow water. I guess that's why Jeff and Izzy left me behind this time. Of course I do have the responsibility of the safe keeping of the "Izzy R", and I take that seriously.

Carol and Paul and Jeff are ready for the hike. I guess Izzy was taking the picture.

A nice trail through the island and sure enough, there was the Atlantic.

This is one of those perfect photo ops where the water just gushes over the rocks perfectly, but unpredictably. Almost caught it with Paul and Carol.

During these pictures, Jeff always says "stomachs in" to the guys, and "shoulders back" to the girls.

More hiking up the side of the hill to back to the other side. Now I'm glad that I didn't go on that trail...my old hips just aren't ready for that stress any more.

At the end of the trail they were back on the bay side of the island again right at Hamburger Beach. I recognize that place from last year. I don't remember the fridge right in the middle of the beach, though. I'll bet Bob and Jeff are checking it for a few cold ones.

Another day someone organized a dinghy ride to a beautiful beach south of GeorgeTown. Here are some of the nine boats gathering for the ride.

Other dogs got to go on that ride, but I stayed home in the air conditioned boat and kept it safe. I think I got chicken that night instead of just Purina.
Off they go!

They drove for what seemed like a long way in that little dinghy, but the views were spectacular and worth the bouncing around on the inflatible sides.

They finally came to a calm turquoise lagoon with a beautiful white sand beach at the end. All the dinghys pulled up on the sand and put their anchors out.

They grabbed their lunches and towels and headed across the sandy beach to the Atlantic Ocean side. Jeff was in charge of the cooler.

They found some shade and spread out the food and cold beer.

There are those lucky dogs that got to go along. Izzy said that they are "Whippersnappers" and that's why they got to go. I'm not familiar with that breed. She said I'm part Airedale and part California Fence Jumper. I guess my breed can't go to that beach.

Just as well, because I don't like the waves...and I did get to stay in the cool boat, and I got chicken for dinner for being a good watch dog!

There are Pollie and Mo in "Little Toot" coming back from the picnic.

That rainbow in the sky was because it was raining back at the "Izzy R". I couldn't close the windows, but it made it nice and cool inside the boat.

Izzy and Jeff didn't seem to mind a little water inside. They usually try to keep the water on the outside, though. Jeff said that is rule number two.

I think the boating rules go something like this:

1. Keep the boat in the water.

2. Keep the water out of the boat.

3. Keep the people in the boat.

4. Keep the water out of the people.

5. Keep the people out of the water.

6. Keep the boat off the people.

7. Keep the cats off the boat.

8. Give the dog lots of treats.

(I might have made up a couple of those.)

The winds calmed down and we left George Town early one morning to head further south so we can get to Grenada by June. That's when the hurricanes season starts, and Jeff especially wants to follow the first two boat rules during that time.

We saw another rainbow in the cloud as we left the harbor. Izzy said it means good luck. I guess she closed the windows...