Greyhounds Reach the Beach. Back to the future.

Over the years "Greyhounds Reach the Beach" has grown and morphed into something that the organizers never imagined was possible. In 1995 it was a carefree weekend at the beach for a few friends and their dogs: somehow 85 people and their 65 hounds showed up, and the event has gathered steam every year since.

The town of Dewey Beach has changed during this time from a summer college party destination to a more family friendly, condominium based village. When the Southwinds Hotel converted to condos a few years ago, it forced hundreds of attendees to Rehoboth and the surrounding communities. The event was becoming more and more scattered, and less and less like it was intended to be.

This year the organizers gathered in the spring to solidify plans for this year's event. As always, venues were difficult to find. The economy was a concern for this year's event, but it was set to go. That is, until right before the May 1 registration opening date, when a rather large rug was pulled from under us: The Ruddertowne Complex, including the Bay Center and Crabbers Cove, informed us that it would no longer be available for our seminars, or for our brunch, the biggest event of the weekend. There is no other available venue in Dewey, Rehoboth, or any of the surrounding towns that is large enough. The brunch normally seats 500 to 700. The next largest room available in the area can only handle 200.

So, here's what we're going to do -- GRTB is going back to it's roots. There will be no registration, no formal schedule, no brunch -- just time to chill out with good friends and great dogs. If some people or groups want to plan activities, that would be great. They can announce the where and when on the Dewey Board and the other Internet sites. A lot of groups plan off schedule events during the Dewey weekend anyway, so they can do what they would like to, with or without a more organized weekend.

To some, this will be a bit of a disappointment. To a lot of us, this will be the best thing possible -- Dewey for quality time with our favorite dogs and the people who love them as much as we do -- a time for relaxation and fun.

Hey, wait a minute, isn't that what it was supposed to be all about anyway?

Michael McCann, President
The Greyhound Project