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Hash #509:   Saturday, September 11th, 2004 - Los Caracas Beach

This was an "Outta Town Hash" being set by the "Four Harettes", with some help from their friends.

The group met up at the Ricon Bar at 7:30am and departed at 8:30am for the Los Caracas beach 
(top right of the map below).  There was a caravan of about five cars and the CIC school bus.

Comments or questions to Jay "Hash Flash"  ==>  jayzuela@yahoo.com

(click any picture to get an enlargement)


Many of us hadn't ridden in a school bus for a long, long time.  It was interesting that, as time and beer flowed, the adults acted more like children than the kids did ... there were full moons reported at 10am!


As we head out we saw the beautiful Avila mountains. 
With the beauty also comes a dose of reality... this is a sample of the many "barrios" surrounding the city. 


We pass through a tunnel and came out on the other side of the Avila range. 


The 1st city we came to was quite busy; this vendor was selling very skimpy suits!
This area was devastated by a bad storm almost 5 years ago; the area has not yet recovered. 

We passed many beaches as we traveled along the coast.  The ones closest to Caracas looked nice, but they are polluted & the areas were not be too safe.

It took about an hour to drive along the coast to Los Caracas beach (not counting the stop for beer, beer & ice).

We expected to see damage from hurricane "Ivan", which passed by here 3 days ago... but the place looked really nice.


The beach is actually a National Park and the facilities looked quite nice.  

They are just finishing a big swimming area, which should open soon. 


We were pleasantly surprised by the beach area ... 
... the clean sand and the little structures we could rent. 
The waves looked great & were big enough for body surfing. 

The beach had shelters to rent; on the left were family "huts". 
The units on the right were already taken.
In the middle we found a group of empty ones and took them over.

It took a little while to get settled in.  The sun was becoming quite hot, so lots of suntan lotion was required.  

The water felt very nice and the kids spent the whole day swimming and bogie-boarding.


We heard a little excitement behind us and the locals pointed up into a tree... there were three iguanas running around! 


Socializing started soon after we got settled in ... and the beer started to flow as well. 


Discussions ranged from how nuclear prolification could affect global warming... 
... to how well the Swiss Franc would do against the bolivar.  


Freddy reacts when Iain says the Chelsea football team sucks. 


Susan cannot find a light beer... come on, who in this group cares about gaining weight anyway? 		  
Freddy is still trying to convince Nicole to forget the Swiss Franc and to invest in a local island.


Jim and Michael look like they are in a deep, relaxed mode...


... but they sure reacted quickly when the view got better!
Nope, this isn't our boat... but the driver lost his water-skier a long way back.   


The Finnish group began clearing hurricane debris so a ball game could be played. 


How do you play ? 
It is easy ... just throw the ball ... but you need Olympic form! 


No, no Freddy, not in that direction... but at least you are entertaining the local kids.


In South America, if you  cannot win, you just pay someone to  "help" you out.
The champion is decided! 


At last .... it's time for the run/walk to begin; circle up! 


Iain has always had trouble getting young girls to mind him!
The group is finally assembled and introductions begin. 

  <=====                               
Michael introduces the hosting hares, known today as the "Four Chicas".  He then explains the "rules" and what we should watch out for.... hmmm!


                  =====>  
Fred ("horny") then signals the start of the run/walk (it reminded me of the Rhino's mating call).


We head up into one of the valleys of the Avila Range. 
We follow a river which cuts down the middle, and .... 
... is used by the locals as a nice swimming area. 

We enter a facility that looks like a monastery.  
A few guys come out of the church to look at the women.... 
We later discovered this is the police academy; they kept the place looking really nice!

What's this ... a monkey? 
Freddy found out that he was a long-lost relative!
After he realized we had no snacks, he decided to just watch the women too. 

The run/walk took us across the river (causing wet feet for most) and then back along the beach.  When we started, the weather was cloudy with a little rain.  By the time we got back to the beach camp, the sun was in full force; it was very hot and humid... how much beer did we bring along?


At the beach camp we found two coolers of cold beer...
... and the "down-downs" were made ready for consumption. 
A lengthy attempt was then made to gather the group up. 

The group finally circles together
The hares are re-introduced and thanked; drink up please! 
The new-comers are asked to "chug-a-lug" to a song.


Some old-timer new-comers are requested to do a double-down! 


This hare was easily hoisted for  a high drink... 
... but this "little" guy was a bit tougher than expected! 


A round of aerobics follow the ceremony.  This attracted much attention from the remaining local beachcombers. 


With that, we say goodbye to Los Caracas and a wonderful day at the beach... and guess what, we can sleep in tomorrow! 
 
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