Davis 2023 Retreat, Day 1

We would like to thank all of you that supported this effort. Without you, this would not have been possible. Your generous donations provided the Davis Family with a first class retreat. From the moment they left their residence in rural Oklahoma until they arrived on our sailboat and arrived back home. The Davis Family retreat was by all accounts, a tremendous success. Shelley and I had the best time hosting this wonderful family. We obtained memories that will last us a life time. We know that they did too.

The Davis’s were provided a police escort from their home town in rural Oklahoma to the Tulsa International Airport. They flew from Tulsa to Ft Lauderdale, with a short lay-over in Dallas. Upon arriving at the Ft Lauderdale International Airport they were me at the gate by members of the Broward County Sheriffs Office. The Deputies escorted the Davis’s to the departure pickup area where they were met by Richie with Starz Transportation. Richie would be their ground transportation throughout all of their travels while in Ft Lauderdale.

Richie with Starz Transportation took them to the Westin Beach Resort in Ft Lauderdale where the Davis’s enjoyed an evening on the beach. The Westin provided complementary gift bags and a chocolate desert display was even delivered to them in the evening. All complementary.

The next morning Richie picked them up and transported them to the Florida Executive Airport at the Makers Air departure terminal. Makers air was aware of their arrival and presented them with a gift package and a visit from the pilot. Seth was able to sit right next to the pilot and we were told he had a few questions for the pilot.

Upon their landing at the airstrip in Staniel Cay, a little Island located in the Exuma Island chain in the Bahamas they were met by Shelley and I and our dear friends Scott and Amie Clark. Scott and Amie live aboard their Leopard Motor Catamaran and have become very good friends of ours. And now are very good friends of the Davis’s. Scott and Amie traveled with us all week. Helping all of us navigate our way through this retreat.

We loaded the family up and headed to the dingy’s via golf cart. It is just a short trip to the dock. We loaded up and took the dinghy ride the few miles over Big Majors Spot, where our sailboat, “Ten Seven Freedom” was moored on anchor, along with JoJo and Molly awaiting our arrival.

It was now early afternoon and we still had some activities to get done. We hoisted the Washington County Sheriffs Department flag atop the sail boat mast, where it remained for the week, being lowered the morning they left. We presented the flag to the family for their return home.

The first activity was to hike up a small hill on the nearby island of Big Majors Spot. The view from the top was magnificent. While hiking back down the trail, Pearl and Seth ventured off of the main trail to some nearby rocks. There they discovered a pirate bottle with a treasure map attached to it. Oh boy, now the search for the loot was on.

But, before we could begin that adventure we still had to make a dinghy ride a few miles to a sand bar off of the Island of Little Sampson Cay. Assembled there were many fellow boaters who had heard of our endeavor and wanted to gather to meet the family and welcome them to the islands.

While there, we looked up and rapidly approaching the sand bar was a Royal Bahamian Police Force Patrol Boat. They had motored all the way from Georgetown just to say hello to Kristin and the children. They even gave them a ride in the Patrol Boat. On the boat was Assistant Superintendent of Police Adrian Knowles. These officers were the best. We would like to thank them for coming out to say hello. Later, when asked Seth said this was one of his favorite activities of the week.

We retired back to the boat and enjoyed a great dinner. We played the guitar and sang some songs and watched the stars come out. This concluded the first day of the 2023 Davis Retreat.