Leaving the Tobago Cays astern, cruising just outside of the exclusionary zone for the underwater volcano, Kick ’em Jenny, we spotted Grenada, our summer home port for our second hurricane season, immediately on the horizon.  We cruised down the leeward side of the island, past the small fishing village of Gouyave, and into our summer home port in St. Georges harbor.

Cruising by Kick-Em-Jenny submerged volcano exclusion zone

Approaching Grenada

Storm passing over Gouyave, St. John, Grenada

Pilots’ Discretion cruising into St. Georges harbor, Grenada

After clearing immigration and customs, we hoisted  the courtesy flag of our host nation.

Ryan taking down the quarantine flag and hoisting the courtesy flag, Grenada

Ryan hoisting the courtesy flag, Grenada

While we endured typical Grenada passing showers on the day we arrived, we had many sunny days ahead of us. With school out for the summer, the boys immediately set out looking for some summer fun and adventures. Since this is our second summer in Grenada (see A Day in the Life of Grenada, 2015/08/02), we were already familiar with the lay of the land. We did not miss a beat getting back into the swing of the weekly, often wet and muddy, but always scenic and fun hikes (a.k.a. “hashes”).

Ronan rope action, hiking in Grenada

Ryan crossing the stream hiking in Grenada (no use even trying to keep those shoes dry!)

Ronan and Ryan hiking in Grenada … just a little muddy. The shredded paper marks the trail.

The beginning of the hash

Hashing in Grenada

Always scenic, hashing in Grenada

This guy hikes with his monkey

Ronan taking in the view on the hash in Grenada

Ryan and Ronan leading Marilyn, Paulette and Theresa in to the finish, 1st hash of the season, Grenada

Ronan, Sam, Ryan, Aaron, Josh and Eli finish the hike in Grenada (yep, more mud!)

There are a lot of other ‘kid boats’ riding out the hurricane season in Grenada, so much so, the boat kids have their own morning net on the VHF radio to communicate and organize events. The ‘Kids Organized Society’ (KOS, pronounced K-os, or chaos) meets weekly at Secret Harbor for a variety of fun activities.

Kids Organized Society (“KOS”), Secret Harbor, Grenada

KOS volleyball, Secret Harbor, Grenada

In the spirit of the 2016 Olympic games, the kids came together on Calabash Beach, Prickly Bay, for a mini-Olympics. There were relay races, three-legged races, swimming competitions and the ever popular tug-of war!

Ready, set, go!

Mini-Olympics, three legged race in Grenada

Mini-Olympics, three legged race in Grenada

Mini-Olympics, tug-of-war in Grenada

Mini-Olympics, tug-of-war in Grenada

Mini-Olympics, tug-of-war in Grenada

Mini-Olympics, tug-of-war in Grenada

Ronan and Ryan on the GYC dock

The boys spent most of the summer at the Grenada Yacht Club sailing camp. Since this was their second summer attending the camp, they were afforded greater responsibility for rigging and de-rigging the boats. They also helped teach the new, younger sailors the points of sail and how to read the wind and water. (See last years’ post on Camp Grenada, 2015/08/07)

Grenada Yacht Club, St. Georges, Grenada

Sailing in St. Georges, Grenada

Ronan sailing

Ryan derigging the mosquito

Working together to put the sails away

Another fun adventure we enjoyed this summer was a river tubing birthday party!

Tubes, Grenada

Ronan and Ryan getting ready to go tubing, Grenada

Ronan getting on the water

And they’re off

Rapid fun

Ronan on the river

Ronan

Gently down the stream

Fun on the rope swing after tubing down the river

Tubing

The summer has not been all fun and games. We have accomplished a great many ‘boat projects’ this summer, with more on the horizon. Next week we are having the boat hauled out of the water so that we can have her bottom painted along with some additional projects that are best achieved with the boat on the hard. We will ride out the boat haul at one of our favorite places in Grenada, Mount Cinnamon Resort. More to follow on that in our next post …