Our Caribbean Adventure - continued: Issue # 80

.. April 2014 ..

Hello there!

Here we are at the beginning of May. Time certainly is flying!

Speaking of flying, there's been a bit of that going on recently. More on that below. We've had a couple of sun starved Canadians pop in for a week. Jake has been traveling all over and the rest of us made the trip to support Sam and the Cayman Swim team in the CARIFTA Swim champs in Aruba.

In from the Cold

Tonya and Russ, our friendly Canadians came down for a week of work (Russ) and Sun (Tonya).

They arrived on the Saturday just after lunchtime and were on the beach not too long later. Luckily it was a nice sunny day. Last time Russ came down, it was pretty wet.

Tonya thaws out in the Cayman Sun

Russ is pretending to be polite and talk with Robbo,
but we can tell that his eyes are on the Chilly Bin.

That vitamin D certainly helps with hair growth!

It was nice to spend some time with the O'Connors. We had a couple of dinners and maybe little drink or two as well. Hopefully we'll see them again soon!

Random Stuff

Jake about to lay his hoof into a soccer ball at the Sunday morning session.

Who's got it?

After soccer on a Sunday we sometimes head down to the local surf beach - which is about 3 minutes away. The surf isn't huge but it's enough to have a little fun. On this particular day they were holding a surf competition as well as a Stand Up Paddleboard comp. Jake can be seen sitting out among the SUPers.

Click here for more randoms pics from April.

West Side... (?)

800m Sea Swim Relay

The local Swimming organisation held a 4 x 800m sea swim relay recently. It was to help with funding for the swim team heading to Aruba. The idea was for each member of the teams of four to complete an 800m circuit and then race up the beach and tag the next swimmer.

Michelle, Sam and Jake all entered, and Tonya got dragged into Michelle's team at the last minute. Dave's electric pace wasn't required...

And they're off!

Jake taking the mickey out of the opposition.

Jake emerges from the sea.

Michelle walks elegantly away after doing a nose dive in front of the crowd during her changeover...

The event was organised by Michelle and a few others and was a great success. All involved are keen for another one at some stage.

Aruba Diving

As you know, we headed down to Aruba for the last week in April for the CARIFTA swim Champs. We arrived on the Sunday night. The meet started on the Tuesday, so that gave us all of Monday to do some touristy stuff. Sam had divorced us at this stage and was staying with the Team in a different hotel. We arranged a two tank dive on the Monday morning - no sleep ins for us on holiday!

Diving the Antilla (1939)

The diving was quite good. Not as clear as Cayman but we've been spoiled here. And, believe it or not, the water was a lot colder.

There are a lot of wrecks in Aruba, so chances were that we'd do at least one wreck dive. As luck would have it, we did two! Unfortunately, Jake was recovering from a head cold which caused him to have ear issues in the second dive and he wasn't able to do the dive - he happily thawed out on deck while Dave and Michelle enjoyed it (Michelle for the first 20 minutes at least until she also got too cold - wuss!)

Jake getting amongst it.

Need to work on your timing when posing for photos Jake!

Just giving Jake a lift...

Friendly Eel

Bonjour!

You can't get cold in the Caribbean!

Jake got to drive the boat back at the end of the diving.

Click here for the rest of the dive pics

Aruba Swimming

OK, so we really went to Aruba for the swimming. The next five days we spent the mornings at the pool for the heats and then took a break from late morning through to about 5 pm when the finals started. Sam did really well - she swam 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m Free in the pool, as well as the 5km sea swim. She did big PBs in the 400 and 800 and another PB in the 100, going up the rankings from her seed times. As one of the youngest swimmers in her age group this year she did not manage to make finals but everyone was very happy with her performance. Being the second fastest freestyler in her age group in Cayman, she was in every relay so she swam in every session. Sam really thrived in the relays and managed to do more PBs in almost every relay.

Sam swims one of her races with the Cayman supporters cheering her on (below)

Pumped and ready to go!

"I am the greatest! All Hail Sam!!"

Beautiful streamline!

Jake helps make some adjustments to the Cayman flag, with Dave getting two pats on the back for his efforts!

Sam's favourite dance

Some of the entertainment during the opening ceremony

The Cayman Team after their march-past

The Cayman Supporters Club

Woo hoo - let's dance! Sam warming up for her race...

Greetings, Minions!

On the second night there was the 400m IM relay. Each swimmer swims 100m. Sam was in the 13/14 year old girls team and would be the last swimmer in her team. Cayman has traditionally been at the back of the field when it comes to relays, so expectations weren't high but everyone is always hopeful of a miracle! Their first swimmer did a great Backstoke leg and the team found themselves in the lead! The supporters were on their feet screaming and hooting and waving flags.

Some supporters waved their flags, screamed and sloshed cider everywhere.

With a massive amount of support and a lot of effort the next two swimmers worked really hard against some quality opposition and managed to remain in the top three coming into the final leg.

Sam watches on as her turn is about to come

No pressure Sam. We are in third place and some of the other teams aim to make that number a little bigger.

The third swimmer comes in with the fourth place getter hot on her heels. Sam leaps into the pool and takes off like a cut cat. The Cayman supporters are going nuts. Screaming and yelling and hoping that the girls can take a medal - any medal!

Sam turns for the home stretch and keeps it going. Arms flailing, and her kick going. Meanwhile on the far side, the coaches are having kittens and the other Cayman swimmers are also leaping about and urging Sam on.

The pursuing swimmers can't make any more headway and Sam makes a final push for the wall. Third place! The crowd goes wild! Once the last swimmer comes in, which, for a change isn't a Cayman Swimmer, Sam gets out of the pool to join her team. See below for their reaction. Pretty cool really....

Did it!

Four very happy swimmers

The result is confirmed. No disqualifications or other such devastating news. Cayman wins it's first Carifta relay medal in a decade. Great result.

Four very happy Mothers of Four Very Happy swimmers

Medal presentation

The swimming continued over the next few days.

All of the Cayman relay teams actually competed really well for the remainder of the meet, coming in with some close fourths and doing some impressive individual and team times. The team came home this year with 5 medals - 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze. 3 of the medals were won by one swimmer - Lauren Hew, in each of the Backstroke races in Sam's age group - she broke Carifta records and even qualified for the Youth Olympics - a great achievement for a Cayman swimmer. Although the medal count was down this year compared to last year, we had more swimmers in finals, resulting in more points for Cayman overall, so Cayman swimming is still on the improve. Watch out for this time next year when many of the swimmers age up and Sam will be in the older group in her age group...

After 4 days in the pool, 8 swimmers took to the sea for the 5 km sea swim. It was a difficult course, with strong winds and currents, and a loop of 1km which had to be done 5 times. This was the first time Sam had ever swam that distance in the sea and it was a shame to be in such difficult conditions - she's probably been put off for life! Despite having to clear her goggles every 5 minutes, she did her best and made us proud by digging in to the bitter end!

Just before the 5km sea swim.

Not impressed with the strong winds and bumpy looking sea.

It's pretty hard to maintain the enthusiasm of the pool during a 5 km race in the sea.

Jake was right into it.

Sam had her very own security unit that followed her around the course.
Not sure if they were keeping an eye out for sharks or what!

Made it!

"Never again..."

Aruba Tourists

As we mentioned above, we had all of Monday and then every afternoon to do some touring around Aruba. So, Touring we did!

Outside Salt n Pepper. A nice spot for lunch!

California Lighthouse

The place is pretty barren and wind swept and there is Cactus everywhere.

The old Gold Mine ruins

There are hundreds, if not thousands of little stone cairns that people have erected over the years.
Jake adds another one on top of a large rock.

The 'Natural Bridge'

Obeying the sign

Some rough seas on this coast!

The boat ramp needs a bit of work

In search of Indian drawings

Mmm, what sort of tree is that? Maybe Gordy can tell Dave

Not sure if they are trying to be phunny or not!

Baby Beach

Some up market dining at Ling Nam. We also saw a Supermarket called Wai Phat...

The Lord's work is never done.

National Park

Jake and Michelle finally see the light. Or is Scotty about to beam them up?

As we said, it is very barren in parts. Almost like Mars!

Turtles are laying around now.
This turtle has either had a couple, or has a very poor sense of direction.

This shows the effects of the prevailing wind.

Just a little wind swept!

We took some time out to do some go-karting.

Michelle and Jake nearly came to blows. Jake was trying pass on a bend but Michelle swung out and sent Jake careering of the track and spectacularly though a pile of safety tyres. He wasn't happy and Michelle was none the wiser until she noticed him parked up in an odd spot.