Our Caribbean Adventure - continued: May 2018

. April 2018 .

(The tannest you'll ever see Sam)

Hello!

Well, a fairly busy month for us!

We started off with the Carifta Swim meet in Jamaica, which was a pretty action packed week. Following that was another boat trip, then ANZAC Day and slowly winding down the month with a couple of social outings and some beach time.

Carifta 2018 - Jamaica

As you may be aware, both Sam and Jake made the cut for the Cayman Swim team to compete in the Carifta meet in Jamaica. This is basically the Caribbean Swim champs for 11 - 17 year olds.

This would be Sam's last Carifta, since she will be 18 at the end of this year. Her first was in Bahamas about 7 years ago.

Team pic at the airport before departure

The meet is held over Easter, and this year would start on the Saturday. The team traveled over on Thursday. We popped over on Friday morning - it's only an hour from Cayman.

The swim team stayed at a different hotel so there wouldn't be much hanging out with the kids on this trip (not that there would have been otherwise!). So, since we had the rest of Friday free, we parked up by the pool at our hotel and hung out with some other parents who travelled over. Red Stripes and Daiquiris would be the order of the day!

Our view across the pool to the bar

The pool was surrounded by big beds, so we spent the day chilling by and in the pool. Given previous Carifta trips, we knew that this would probably be about the only chillout time we'd get!

Doing it tough...

The next day it was off to the pool for the morning session. Each day started about 8:30 am and went to around 12/12:30 ish. The pm sessions started at 5:30, so there wasn't a lot of time to do much in between. We did manage a few midday Gym sessions in the hotel gym though, just to keep us honest! Especially after the cooked hotel brekky each morning!

Jake psyching out his opposition

The kids both had pretty good meets really. Jake got his first Carifta Medal early on (400 IM) which was pretty cool. He'd worked hard so it was well-deserved. But he wouldn't stop at one!

Most of the team just before the opening ceremony.

Sam is warming up at this point.

In Jake's age group Cayman have sometimes struggled to get four boys to qualify and as a result he has missed out on competing in the relays. This year they had four qualify so at least they'd get the chance to have a crack.

They had some really good races, often coming 4th or 5th.

However in the 4 x 200 Free relay they did real good and came away with the Bronze medal. It would be the first medal for two of the other guys in the team which was so cool. Some big smiles after that!

Don't smile, be cool

We sat in the stands everyday, and were on the opposite side to the swimmers. The usual set up was bring your large coffee in the morning, and your big kids drinks at night.

Our usual spot

Sam picks up a silver in the 800 free. Not sure who has the biggest smile here!

He was pumped all meet

Another Bronze for Sam in 400 IM, Lilly Higgs (right) and Bryanna Renuart (middle)

Sam's relay team. They came so close to medalling.

On the second night, both Sam and Jake were in the 400 IM. Sam was in the very next event after Jake so saw him finish in the race with a Bronze from her place behind the blocks.

Sam also came in with the Bronze in her race. That was a special moment.

The next night they both made the 200 Fly final. Again, Jake's race was immediately before Sam's. This time she had the same lane as Jake so had great view of his swim. He swam a really strong race and in the last 100, passed about three swimmers and came in for Silver. The Cayman crowd went wild! Sam was right there when he touched and she had the biggest grin on her face when she saw his finish. Its a shame we did'nt get a picture!

Jake showed some real power in his Fly events

The videos below are really worth a look (Jake's 200 Fly finish, and then Sam's).

You will also get an appreciation of how Caribbean swim meets go. So much noise and drums and hooters and all sorts, unlike the quiet and sedate crowds you often see elsewhere.

This is a video of the last half of Jakes race.

Sam's last 50

Not to be outdone, Sam also swam a strong race, and as she had showed all meet, came in with a strong finish as well. And guess what? She came Second too! Picture another bout of screaming and cheering from the Cayman crowd. Michelle might have been the loudest and there may have been a few tears...

Silver in the 200m butterfly

Double Silvers - very cool!

On the last day Sam made it into the final of the 200 Back as well as the 400 Free. She was getting pretty tired by then, as she had at least 3 individual races plus a relay every morning, as well as finals for both in the evening. The 400 Free didn't go particlarly well, so we weren't sure how the 200 Back would go. Sam is known for starting out a lot slower than other swimmers but clawing her way back in the second half of races, so we weren't too concernerd when she was well back at the half way mark but when she didn't start moving on the 3rd length we thought she had nothing left. But lo and behold, she found something and started to make a move on the last length, taking it right down to the last few metres where she managed to steal the Bronze! It was another great race and finish!

Bronze in the 200m Backstroke

(I don't think that girl who won liked Sam...)

This was the last Carifta for these guys.

Sam is next to her friend and rival Annabella from Jamaica.

The swimmers side of the pool. Even Coach got into the spirit and coloured his hair.

Sam & Lilly

One day between sessions, a few of us organised a van to take us up to Strawberry Hill, way above Kingston. We had stayed there once before. It's a very nice place, way up in the clouds with great views (when the clouds aren't there). We'd booked in for lunch so had about 4 hours or so to get up and back down for the evening session.

Pool view

We had a nice lunch and a fun time. There were some slightly more rowdy folk in the van on the way back down!

Walking on water

We made it back to the pool with about 30 seconds to spare - the kids were in some of the first races in the finals session that night and the traffic was terrible so everyone was panicing. The taxi driver took pity and ended up driving on the footpath to get us to the stadium in time!!

Michelle had to head back to Cayman the following morning, so Dave was left to cheer the kids on.

So, in the pool, Sam came away with a total of four medals, and Jake came away with three which was a great result for them both.

The following morning the majority of the team headed back to Cayman. The Open Water Swimmers (which included Jake) would head off to James Bond Beach near Ocho Rios, which was about a 2 - 3 hour drive. It was an early start.

Dave traveled in the Parent's Support vehicle - departing an 5 am.... Lucky there was plenty of space to spread out and sleep!

James Bond Beach - where "Dr No" was filmed...well, part of it.

In case you don’t know why it’s called James Bond beach, it’s because the author Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond novels here. There’s a place called Golden Eye near this beach where he wrote the books. The beach is also where bikini-clad Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) famously rises from the the waves.

Of course !

The race is a 5km open water swim. It was five laps around a 1 km course. It was a great setting and perfect for spectators who could sit on the deck in comfort.

Pre-race

And they are off!

Swimming strong

Jake had a great start to the race and was just in behind the leading group after the first lap. In this race the 15 and overs and the 13/14 ages swim in the same race. After the second lap, the group had broken up and Jake was left swimming on his own for most of it. The next couple of laps he worked had to stay up there and seemed to be getting better each lap. By the final lap he was flying and it would be a close thing at the end.

The finsh

It wasn't to be and Jake finished a credible 5th. Still, it was a really good swim and he left a whole bunch of swimmers trailing in his wake.

Post race - after some recovery drinks I think!

Cayman's Open Water Team (plus Coaches) on the viewing deck.

The course is behind them and passed directly in front each lap.

After the race, the swimmers headed to Dunne's River Falls, while the supporters bus headed out for some lunch...and maybe a Red Stripe or two!

Aha! That explains a lot!

So, a week after leaving Cayman, the swimmers returned. Those that had returned the previous day came out to greet the Open Water Swimmers and do their media commitments. I don't remember ever having Media Committments?

A job well done you two. Take a week off!

Click here for more actions shots from Jamaica

Boat Day

The next weekend we went out on the water to help celebrate a birthday.

Our friend's daughter (Sammie) was 18 so away we went!

Stingrays looking for victims....

(Not really, they are very tolerant and friendly and know where their food comes from!)

Sammie (Top right).

Jake (Bottom centre)

Sam finally gets in the water

Next stop, Starfish Point

Michelle with a whopping 3 drinks - she turned up late due to a Gaelic game so had some catching up to do!

Kids pic

Mum's n Bubbles...

The Crew!

Some of the less fortunate...

We stopped at Kaibo for a few more drinks and nibbles before heading back home after a fun day.

Click here for pics from the Boat Day

Randoms

The swim team (and Michelle) did their bit for 'Earth Day'

Jake's group is on a break...

ANZAC Day

ANZAC day is not officially observed here in Cayman, but Dave and a few other expat Kiwis and Aussies arrange for a Dawn Service to be held at the South Sound Pier every year. The service follows the standard Dawn Service format and is always well attended by most of the Aussies and Kiwis on island, plus a few others who show an interest.

Dave was in charge of Flags, The Ode, and the Music

A moment of Reflection during the service.

Everyone was given a sprig of Rosemary which they threw into the sea and took a moment to remember.

A pause in preceedings for the minute silence

Chef Ron (from Tukka - Aussie Restaurant) was on the scene early handing out hot coffee (with liberal amounts of Bundy Rum).

Michelle made ANZAC buscuits.

Another successful service over, however, unlike NZ and in Oz, we had to go to work....

Click here for more ANZAC Day pics

Friday night at Fidel's

Michelle with our Taxi Driver

We hadn't been to the beach for a while so took the opportunity last Sunday. It was also our friend Lisa's birthday, and Pete's the day before. Not that we needed an excuse!