Where to start?! Well it certainly deserves to be said that this is one of the most outrageously good times I have ever experienced. Four days and nights at sea with some of the finest musicians anywhere, 1000 seasoned, energetic and joyous party companions, the vintage Regal Empress (complete with built-in ashtrays around every turn) - cruisin as it's meant to be!

The highlights are too many and too hazy to allow for too much detail, but I'll see what I can piece together...

The kick off was more of a slow crawl due to security boarding. The air was full of warnings that all alcohol would be confiscated, so what to do but start right in and finish off what we could. The line ended up being a very jovial affair, and with thanks going out to our music toting, fun loving compatriots time moved along rapidly. Once on board the music kicked right in with the Rebirth Brass Band at the main stage (read pool patio). From there it was dinner with Steve and his crew from Green Mountain Coffee then more music. Yonder Mountain String Band was doin' their Bluegrass thing on deck while the Disco Biscuits were ragin the Grand Ballroom below. I almost caught New Monsoon up in the Mermaid Lounge, but got pulled away for a line reunion (with thanks out to Frankie for the smiles) and a run in with a stowaway kiwi bird. Yes, things started getting surreal early in the high seas! Karl Denson kicked in late and kept things hoppin til near dawn. The breakfast buffet, close on the heals of the second or third late night buffet made sure no one was going to bed hungry.

The next day we arrived early in Nassau and managed to stumble off the boat before noon. A quick trip to the Vegas inspired Atlantis was more than enough, but did give us a chance to google at the Chihulys and captive manta rays. A quick warm up run on the beach and then off to play soccer with Michael Franti!! What fun!! It took my legs the better part of the next two days to recover (and I'm still nursing a sore toe) but what an experience. Power to the peaceful yes, but power nonetheless. Well played Miachael and everyone else who made it out and kept it real.

That night we were blessed to sit down for dinner and have Karl Denson and lovely Deborah sit right next to us. Much respect Karl and Deborah - very good to connect with you and looking forward to doing it again someday. After dinner, a tough decision between Michael Franti & Spearhead below and Galactic on deck. I have to admit, I missed most of Galactic, but no regrets as they played the final show of the cruise and Spearhead was fantastic as usual including a first for me, their rendition of Sly's "A Family Affair." Exhausted but far from over - back on deck for the late show and my first taste of Les Claypool and the Frog Brigade ... wooahhaawooww!!!! All the freaky people getting freakier and freakier with the Frog Brigade leadin the way. Help, legs need rest.

No rest. Not with Michael Franti back on stage early the next afternoon. A day at sea. A day of music at sea. What a day! Here's the list (starting at 11am): Hackensaw Boys, Codetalkers with Col. Bruce Hampton, Micheal Franti and Spearhead, Stanton Moore Superjam (with Hope from Deep Banana Blackout!), Les Claypool's Frog Brigade and the Disco Biscuits, all on the main stage! Add to this New Monsoon, Particle and RAQ playing concurrently on alternate stages, as well as various spur of the moment jams (horn heavy in the disco kept me coming back for one) and whew, WHAT A DAY!

Customs sucked at 7am the next morning, but I don't think many people had really fallen into any kind of real sleep yet. A beautiful day was lost in us - no music = time to sleep! We made it off shore for a half hour or so before departing from Key West and are happy to report that the dogs didn't get us and the ship didn't leave without us. Not all our compatriots can count themselves so lucky. Nonetheless, we made it back and were seen out of the harbour by some playful dolphins who were undoubtedly diggin the Col. and Codetalker's vibe. Karl Denson and Galactic finished it all off in high style and though we were begging for more, we just couldn't help ourselves.

Thanks to all the musicians, the organizers, the crew, the ship and all of you with whom we shared this magical voyage. Can't wait for JCIII!!

One Love.

Dave Marcus, dave@purehemp.com