Scenes From The Relay Flood Party

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

It's a Relay tradition that happens every year and has been called a number of things. It's been called the "Sink the Sims" party. It's been called the wrap-up party, although it shouldn't be confused with the official "Relay Wrap-Up" party in July to mark the official end of the season. Others call it the name yours truly prefers, the "Flood Party."

 

Rain and Flooding in the Forcast, "Sink The Sims" Wrap Up Party

 

Relay 2023 WRAP Party... Wednesday 06/14 @ 4pm SLT...
Join us on RFL Research as we "SINK THE SIMS" and wrap up another record breaking Relay Season... We will be handing out the Spirit of Relay Awards and the Gordy Klatt Award among others... 

So how did it start? In 2010, one of the sim managers decided on a whim to flood the place full of water. But someone saw it and told others in group chat, and it wasn't long before people were showing up in swimsuits and inner tubes. So next year, people were asking "where's the flood party?" It would take a few years, including one year in which the "flood" was just a few inches, but eventually the Relayers would get their annual flood party in which the water would rise past their waists and up to their shoulders, and often deeper. 

This year's Flood Party was on Wednesday June 14, scheduled to start at 4PM SL time. I went onto the track as my alt Rezzdarnnit. 

Checking the map, I noticed RFL Research, the sim the event was scheduled to take place was jam-packed with a hundred avatars. It looked like I'd be on the outside looking in this time.

 

I was going to walk/teleport over, then I ran into a surprise, the "Party Bus" which offered me a ride.

Inside, Silver Howler was DJing to other canines on the bus's small dance floor. 

We soon got to RFL Remission, the sim south of the one to be flooded. I could see a number of clouds, meaning people gathering at the sim boundary.

 

 But when we got there, and I got off the bus, I noticed our sim was starting to flood as well as the one to the north.

Panning ahead, I saw RFL Research was just starting to flood.

 

 Not everyone was rezzing, but it was still signs of a big party.

The water continued to rise.

 

 

Some people were putting out rafts and floaties, including some that resembled octopuses.

The party bus did a transformation, inflatable floaters people could stand on appearing.

Then came Rita Mariner, the captain of Team Sunbeamers, and her US Army DUKW. Aboard it were some of "Roos With A Dream." 

The water was starting to get a little deep.

With only a little room left on the amphibious truck, I hopped onto the party bus's inflatable.

 

 The water rose in quick spurts at times.

And it would take a moment for what could float to catch up.

I can't recall how many were in both sims combined, but with people going in and out, it may have approached 150.

This pizza float was almost good enough to eat.

Eventually, the numbers in RFL Research began to drop, so I headed over. By this time, the water was deeper than I was tall, so I floated over.

The water was just starting to drop once more, but some floaties didn't. 

While there, I checked out the water slide at one camp.

After a while, it was over. The water levels were back to normal, with the rafts and other floaties being the only evidence of the flood party. 

 

In group chat, there was a joke or two about people grumbling their campsite's sim wasn't flooded. There was also talk of some times at the edge of making another level having one last bash to bring them over the edge. This included a few small teams which were getting "Bronze Parties" so they would get to a level.

 

Once the Flood Party was winding down, some people would head on to scheduled events elsewhere. Others would check out the track for one last time before the Takedown, which was starting the very next morning, or light up the last few unlit lanterns.

Officially, it wasn't the end of the Relay. Team ACTS was due to have an equestrian event later in the month. And there was the Relay Wrap-Up in July. But for most, this would be the de-facto end of the Relay season. This included the Sunbeamers, who would pack away the kiosk at their main club.

It was a great 2023 Relay season.

Go Relay!

Bixyl Shuftan

Scenes From the Belliseeria Valentine's Cruise

 
By Bixyl Shuftan

On Saturday February 12, there was a boating event organized by Linden Lab, the "Valentine's Love Boat Cruise." The idea was for people to sail in boats through the river and lake cutting through the Linden Home continent, and either stop at the Bellisserian Fairgrounds, or circle around the large island sometimes called "The Pickle," and then then stop at the Fairgrounds.

Yours truly had a particular look for the occasion, this being a Valentine's-themed event.

 The event was supposed to start in the Campwich Forest sim. But it was full to the point I couldn't get in, at first. 

I thought I saw a Linden or Mole on my minimap, but couldn't make out who it was.

This boat was very much decked out for the holiday.

With the lag, an occasional boat went airborne.

One guy was dancing on top of the water. 

Eventually enough people left Campwich Forest so I could get in. There was a board with a map of the cruise route, plus clicking on it gave a notecard with some information. I had heard somewhere one could get a free boat, but it wasn't from here. 

It was next to some docks where one could rezz boats.

I rezzed my own sailboat, and got in.

As it turned out, one of the freebies at the "Shop and Hop" was a boat. So someone unpackaged and rezzed one. 

Some people patiently waited their turn, either to rezz their own boat, 

Or perhaps just wanted a ride with someone who had one.

I was soon on my way, and once in the next sim over could increase my draw distance.

With the lag, boats often rezzed well before their owners.

It wasn't too long before the river led into Bellisseria's lake. 

I temporarily cranked up the draw distance, and the shore came into view. 

And into the river to the lake's north.

Bridge ahead.

This boat took a stop.

And sailing past the bridge and boat.

 

A short AFK moment due to real-life led to my boat going to the shore.

Another boat passing.

This boat was huge. 

A WW2 PT boat, with the VICE combat system. The joke was, they could handle any griefers around.

There were two of them, and ended up running into one another. 

 With the lag, this lady fell off the boat she was on. I messaged her if she wanted a lift. She told me her ride was on her way back.

These two ladies were watching the show from their amphibious vehicle.

This woman's tag was from a cyclist group. She traded her bike for a kayak today.

And out into the ocean.

Near one island, I saw a helicopter.

And the two on this boat were in a party mood.

Another slow to rezz boat crew. 

Getting close to the Fairgrounds, one detailed boat I saw didn't rezz completely.

Bunk beds and other details were visible from the outside.

Approaching the dock.

But getting off ended up with the boat de-rezzing, and me in the drink.

As it turned out, the sim where the party was in was full. So I could only see in from outside.

With the numbers, not everyone was rezzing for me.

Mischievous, Abnor, and Moonstruck Mole were among the crowd.

Mischievous was playing the music. The others were dancing away.

I never did get to the party area as I soon had other places to be. But it was still a great time.

Zada Bury, noted for her "Drivers of SL" videos, would also sail the cruise. She did a video of her journey, and got better pictures of the party.

And that was my experience at Bellisseria's Valentine Cruise. But for those who didn't make it, don't despair. The shores of Bellisseria have a number of rezz spots. There's also a Bellisseria boat group one can join. So by all means come by any time and sail away. 

Bixyl Shuftan