A long way from home . . . .

First time in many years that I joined a raft up on my own bottom, and it was quite a long way from my slip in the marina. all of 0.66 nautical miles !
I tied up alongside CatNap around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. At first, it felt like Christmas. Francine was giving shirts around and I got exactly what I wanted ! I think that from now on, I won't be wearing anything else on casual dress events.
Then, it was our Captain for Life handing pins in preparation for the next world Zaf where trading pins is one of the favorites traditions.
Then, to add to Orza, CatNap, Ti Moun and Casual Class sailed in Talisman, Shanty and Maraj to complete a raft up of seven boats.
The festivities could begin . . . .
The highlight of the evening was the induction of brother "Boats", also known as Red Davis, with firing of the canons from Orza, Casual Class and CatNap, and as always, with the help of that liquor from Mr. Barbancourt.
After the induction, several of us chose to go meditate before resuming the evening on Orza.
The night could have been quiet, had it not been for one of the police boats on the water that sailed around us, sirens blasting and generating a big wake that caused some damage on Maraj and almost landed Ti Moun on the deck of Talisman ! Obviously, this policeman was well aware of the boredom caused by a calm sea and the need to shake up things a little bit to liven up the week-end.
Except for the early clean up going on aboard Orza (made necessary in part by Brise-Galets and the casqueronis brought by him from Texas for the induction and creating a bit of a mess on the after deck of Orza !) the Sunday morning started quietly around 9:00 a.m. to bloom into a huge breakfast and Bloody Marys at 9:30 a.m. There is quite a nice competition going on between Blue Stache (the chef aboard Casual Class), El Maestro (which translates as well into Chef !), Ann, Francine, June, and I probably forget other talents in the table and I don't think you could get quite a similar breakfast anywhere in town. Hats off to all those who prepared it.
After a short meeting to confirm our commitment to organize a National Zaf to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, it was time to sail to other adventures.
Having to go all of 0.66 miles, Ti Moun was the first to cast off and head back to Rebel Marine. Orza, the slowest of the bunch (she only cruises at speed not published but known to exceed 25 knots ) was the last one seen on the site of the raft up.
That was another very successful event for the table, with 100 % participation of those in town (Rocket Boy was out of town, and Limey out of the country altogether and our new engage Eric was taking delivery of his new boat and sailing down the bay).
And again, a big welcome to Boats into our table and into the brotherhood !
As usual, there are more photos about this event that you can look at in my library.

The 2006 Texas Trailer Trash party

I never anticipated that I was going to have so much fun ! What a week-end. I should have known, having had a taste of what the Texas brothers can do at the San Antonio Zaf.
It started early on Friday to catch a flight at 8:00 am for San Antonio where we got around noon.
Oso, a.k.a. charlie, Marquis de Sade a.k.a. Craig and Cheryl were at the airport to meet us and took us straight away to a Mexican restaurant, owned by Lebanese, with very nice decoration and great food.
Then, it was on the first step of working the credit card, this time at the "Mercado" downtown. This is why you always have more stuff coming back than going out....
We then got back to Craig and Cheryl's house where Rumline a.k.a. Larry and his captive Jean, as well as Graywater, a.k.a. David and his captive Barbara were staying.
In the evening, margaritas were flowing non-stop out of a machine while Tricky Dick a.k.a. Dick was preparing the food. Obviously, there was more than margaritas and my strict bicyclist diet went out the window.
Very early next morning, a quick cup of coffee and then preparation of the Brotherhood float for the Fiesta parade. Monty Python a.k.a. Monty and Audrey had done a fantastic job building it and we merely had to hook it up to Craig's SUV and drive to the parade line up. It did not start until all tanks were filled up with tacos and bloody marys. The atmosphere is that of a carnival, great crowd, more than 70 floats, and lots and lots of fun. Big Dog was working the crowd, beads and coins were flowing out of the coffers, and for a little more than one hour everybody was thoroughly enjoying the moment.
After the parade, everybody went their own way to spend a pleasant afternoon, and I took time to take my captive to the Riverwalk and the Alamo. Then Rumline and Jean picked us up to take us to Sheplers (Western Country store) where Natacha did some more damage to the plastic.
Almost as soon as we were back to Craig's house, it was out again with Jean and Larry, this time on a treasure hunt to find the Trailer Trash location (Rumline does not have a GPS in his car !). After a nice tour of the countryside, we arrive at the Trailer in time for more drinks while brother Jofes a.k.a. Josef was attending the goose, the pork chops, the beans and the rice, the chickens, and more . . . .
With the sun setting and a camp fire going, there was live entertainment and dancing, and some more fun well into the night.
Fortunately, we could sleep next morning as the traditional breakfast and more bloody marys at Monty's house did not start until around 10:00 am.
From there, Craig, cheryl, Natacha and myself went for a Riverwalk cruise and some italian sweets and wine before getting to the airport for our flight back to Norfolk.
Only New York, with brother Rascal, and the Chesapeake Bay, with your Brise-Galets were the out of state participants. But the three Texas tables were well represented and I am sure that when the word goes out stronger than before of how much fun this event is, next year will see more brothers from other tables.
Mark your calendars, for next year around spring break. You will not want to miss it.
And as always, there are more photos to be looked at in my library.
Congratulations to the San Antonio table for a wonderful and well organized event.
Orza !