When considering what to write about some days, I have often been told that folks want to hear some of the “basics” about a cruisers life.  While Greg and I “cruise” for six months or so, we are not the typical 24/7, 365 days a year cruiser.  But whatever the definition is for you, there are some things that ALL cruisers must think about when planning their next destination. The most important for us is health.  While we both sit with positive COVID results, it seems we were not as diligent about our health as we should have been.  I will offer in our defense that we both had been on the road for 20 hours straight on a trip that should have been 14 and were tired and not as well hydrated or nourished as we typically are when aboard Paradigm Shift.  With the Christmas trip home to Waynesboro, we knew we would be in and our of rest stops, fast food locations, gas stations and such.  Somewhere it got us and while the where does not matter much with this new variant, it just helps to reinf

With all systems a go, all we need to do is get up and go get our COVID Rapid Antigen test performed.  A small window is open to crossed Thursday through Friday and not much thereafter for a bit so now is the time.   Ed and Mari-Etta were kind enough to loan us their car so we could drive to the “walk-in” clinic.  Forty-five minute wait to register and then a two hour wait to test.  That two hours gave us time to pick up our last minute greens from Publix and bring back to the boat.  We also had time to get a quick sandwich before heading back up to Advanced Urgent Care for the actual “event”.   A Rapid Antigen test will deliver verified results with fifteen minutes and is accepted by the Bahamian government.  I was the first one to get the call from the nurse.  She asked about my health history, weight and height and then instructed me to come in and head to room five.  We are almost done.  She told me the process for gathering the sample and my eyes were watering just at the thought

Much like the space shuttle command countdowns, we go through our own systems checks to ready for departure.  This is the last opportunity to get “parts”, oil, fuel at a “reasonable” price and within a reasonable amount of time.  While it is available in the Bahamas, it is actually shipped in with a hefty freight bill and VAT tax so we try to carry what we think we may need. Life on Paradigm Shift has been better than I could have imagined.  We really have a house on the water with her.  Our mornings we will sit out back and enjoy our coffee and then transition to the fly bridge for evening cocktails if not too breezy.  The comforts of having space to maneuver around one another and the ability to see outside while sitting in the salon are really two of my favorite features of a trawler. The boys continue to have fun and exhaust themselves with their toys and chew sticks.  There are days we still think Jaxon wants an explanation as to why Cooper entered his world, but most days he seem

Why does it always seem to be a mad “rush” to hurry up and wait?  We rush back from the holidays, rush to get provisions, fuel, Pumpout, refrigeration checked and now WAIT!  The weather has to be favorable, not to mention the tide has to be up for us to get out of where we are staying.  However the real mix in this game of wait is the Bahamian government.  We have to have had a COVID test within 72 hours of entry.  So that means, check the weather, the tide and see if you can get a test all in a few short hours.  Then if all that works in your favor, your application for your Health Visa from the Bahamian government must be approved before you can enter.  Hoops, hoops and more hoops.  Whoever called it March Madness for basketball hoops, may I kindly rename this January Madness?   With a constant eye on the regulations, we are lucky to have some folks already there receiving clarification on some of the new rulings.  Much like our own government, it doesn’t always make much sense, but