Trike-A-Thon

Last Friday, Jackson's school hosted a Trike-A-Thon to benefit St. Jude’s children’s Hospital.  He learned a little about bike safety, raised money for a good cause and got to ride bikes with his friends from school in our neighborhood.  It was a win-win-win!
There are so many things that are different about life in the Bahamas, and the Trike-A-Thon was no exception!  Before I tell you a long story about this event, there are 3 crucial elements to mention: 1)Jackson’s school is connected to our neighborhood. 2) Bahamians are on island time. 3) Safe driving is just what Bahamians like for everyone else to exercise, but they don’t think that traffic laws apply specifically to them.
The morning of the Trike-A-Thon Jackson rode his bike to school (as normal) and then when it was time for the Trike-A-Thon, he and his class headed out the back gate of the school (into our neighborhood).  Another area school  was participating as well, so it seemed a little chaotic because you had cars from those parents as well as all the children from J’s school. 
On the same road. 
Together. 
Bad drivers + 100 or so preschoolers on bikes = I’m glad I’m not the teacher! 
Seems like maybe they would have stopped traffic in the neighborhood for this.  Um, no.
Oh well, we’re in the Bahamas, right?  How bad can life be?  I was happy to be able to come and participate with Miller (strapped in).  It was so close to our house too!
So here is Jackson’s class at the starting line.  Can you find him?

Oh!  There he is!

There was a lot of this going on.  4 year old boys sees another boy with a helmet on and think, “Oh, I should probably hit him on the head.”  Strange.

He’s got his game face on.  I should have realized at this point what was going to happen.

I didn’t because I was visiting with some other moms, and trying to get pictures of Miller and I on our cool ride.

And they’re off!

Wait!!  They were supposed to stop. 


Let me break it down for you…


About this time I decided to stop taking pictures and put  my bike to work and get them to stop.  Luckily, I was able to ride faster than the teachers could run.
What you can’t see is that these guys are heading for the exit.
Of the whole neighborhood.
They thought it was a race.
Except they didn’t really have a finish line.
They (whoever was in charge)didn’t really think about the kids leaving the teachers in the dust, and no one on the other end of the course.
Things that make you go Hmmm.

The teachers finally rounded up all their kiddos for some fruit and water.

Miller and I headed home.  I can’t take any more of that kind of fun!
p.s. However, if it was a race, which is still up for debate, Jackson came in 2nd!  And he didn’t even break a sweat.
p.p.s. I blurred the name of the school for you, Safety Dad.  I love you.
p.p.p.s. I think Jackson's shoes were on the wrong feet.  Look at that picture.  Man, we could have taken that other kid if his shoes were on the right feet.