Marco (Island and) Polo

Day 150  |  Rogersville  |  AGLCA Fall Rendezvous Day 3

The sunshine returned this morning, but it remained chilly for our Looper Group Photo. I do not envy the photographer who attempted to corral our group of 300. We found it much easier to snap a selfie with Chris and Roger from Miss Utah while we waited. Our route-planning seminars continued today, taking us south from Tarpon Springs, around The Keys, and back north to Jacksonville. The screen below identified comfortable travel distances between major cities, based on average boat speed. The afternoon session was devoted to exploring the Abacos. Knowing there are many more areas of The Bahamas I wish to visit, we'll use this information as a starting point. Following six hours in the seminar room, Barry came back to Crossroads and demonstrated the proper use of the Hook & Moor, a specialized boat hook that promises to make grabbing mooring balls easier.

At 4:30 we loaded into a school bus for a short ride to Peytona Farms, the home of Bluewater Creek Polo Club. Upon exiting the bus, we climbed into a hay wagon for a quick tour and history of this beautiful complex. I had pulled my boots out of storage and it felt good to be properly attired for this evening. Blue Water Creek Polo Creek was once a junkyard of buried cars until Ed Robbins transformed the property. Mr. Robbins, now 86, is a Guinness Book of World's Records honoree as the oldest active polo player. The innovator is also the developer of Centaur flexible fencing, and all of the paddocks are enclosed in white Centaur fencing -- a polyurethane fence with three strands of high-tensile wire. It is both safe for the horses and very durable. The vast majority of the fencing we saw was over 30 years old. It only needs an occasional pressure-washing to keep in looking great.

Our hayride went right down the middle of Centaur Racing Stables. Four race horses currently reside in these luxury apartments (but were grazing in a paddock when we passed through). Until just recently, Centaur was the home of two mares bred by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Those horses are now advancing their racing careers in California. The facility also has a 3/4-mile racetrack and a smaller polo field used year-round for a youth development program. Our ride finished at the pavilion where I enjoyed meeting up with Debbie (Bucket List) and Teri (Change of Pace) and one of the polo ponies (Margarita).

We were treated to an exhibition two-on-two polo match. It was the first time I had ever seen polo in person and other than in Pretty Woman. We were not given the opportunity to partake of the time-honored tradition of stomping the divots.

We enjoyed a nice dinner presented by the Chamber of Commerce. The raised party pavilion overflowed with Loopers and several additional tables were set up in the field. A sharp band performed a diverse set of rock and country on the upper level. Everyone enjoyed the evening right up to 8:30 when most of us piled back onto the bus to return to the marina by Boater's Midnight (9:00).

The Rendezvous finishes up tomorrow with another full day of seminars and then a farewell dinner.