Changing The Sheets - An Exercise In Exercise

Oct 19th 2017

I just finished an unusual exercise routine here aboard sv Honey Ryder.  One that gives me a good cardio work out (albeit short), stretching, flexing, muscle use and contortion, all done in short burst not unlike interval training.  My workout routine just now?  I changed the sheets on our bed.

This is a commonly joked about but real thing among the cruising community - the struggle to put clean sheets on the bed.  Most boat beds are odd shaped.  There is the V-Berth - exactly what it sounds like, larger at the top than the bottom.  The pullman - more like a traditional bed but still a tad off and shaped with some taper at the foot.  It is offset to the center of the boat.  We have a pullman.  There are various styles of single berths, usually tucked here and there in boat and usually with little room to maneuver once you get in.  Some aft cabins have large beds facing port or starboard vs forward.  Some beds have headroom and access from both sides, however, this is rare.  Most boat beds have limited headroom and very limited access.  This is where the cardo / contortion workout comes in.

In our case with the port side pullman style bed,  I start in the top centerline corner, then secure the bottom centerline corner, all while standing beside the bed.  So far so good.  Then I hoist myself up on the bed on my hands and knees, smoothing the sheet towards the portside upper corner.  I pry it up towards me and shove the fitted (it really should be called illfitted in this case) sheet under the pried up cushion/matress with one hand and then switch and do the other side.  Then I lay it down.  It usually doesn't lay flat so I have to do sort of an odd maneuver of jumping up in the air (from my kneeling position) while grabbing sheet under me and moving over so it will lay flat, all while still up in the air.  Yes, it is as difficult and weird as it sounds.  Then I move to the portside lower corner and repeat.  Often I have to pry up the cushion along the portside length and do the mid-air hop / pull the covers at the same time move there too.  Finally, I back out of the bed back to standing beside it and try to stuff under and smooth as best I can out any areas that didn't get tucked under the cushion.

At this point, I am usually sweating profusely despite both fans running.  Frequently, I have some sort of cramp as well.

The aft cabin bed is even more of a challenge because the headroom is low, very low.  This bed is made by laying flat on my stomach, starting at the far end (aft) tucking in massive amounts of sheet material because this end is narrower than the other. Then I squirm backwards on my tummy, tucking on both sides as I go.  Finally I crawl out and put my feet on the floor to stand.  This is where I always smack my head by standing up too soon.  OUCH!  The the final tucks are completed as the sweat pours off me.  Luckily this is only done when we have company.

You can buy custom fitted sheets for boat beds.  They are $$$.  You can also make them.  On our C30 I made a simple set because it was a V-Berth style bed with low headroom.  Standard sheets do an ok job on our pullman berth so I haven't bothered to make custom sheets.  The "TO DO" list of canvas / sewing projects is long so if I were to make them, those would be near the bottom of the list. 

Health - Trigger Finger Costs

Oct 24^th 2017

We went yesterday for my pre-surgery dr appt for my right ring finger.  It has been two years since I saw Dr Araujo here in Trinidad.  He suggested we try one more cortisone injection but left it up to me to decide.  While I doubt that is going to do it, I had to try once more, so that is what I got yesterday.  In the past, it works for a bit and then the trigger finger comes back.  I have a follow up in a month.

Now for the interesting details of the visit that make it so different from the USA and probably the reason the pricing is reasonable down here in the Caribbean.

• First, we met in the doctor's actual office, not an exam room.  It is so much nicer.  He has an exam room off his office so we went in there for the actual exam but then back into his office for the wrap up.  Nice.
• Second - other than checking in at the front desk, the actual Dr is the one we saw next, not a PA, RN, or other, but the actual Dr.  He was the one asking what was going on.  
• Third - He did an ultrsound on each hand.  He did it himself, not someone else.  *I have trigger fingers in each hand - at this point ring and middle on each hand but only the right ring is really bad. 
• Forth -He did the injection himself.  An office staff brought in the dose and supplies but he did it.  This involved freezing the area, numbing with a local and then waiting for that to kick in (5mins - in which he typed on his computer notes to my file and yet continued to chat with us) and then did the actual injection.

Trigger thumb - left not working like the right

In the USA I would first see a med staff of some sort who would gather information.  Then a PA or RN to do a brief exam and diagnosis and then the Dr to give the final diagnostic.  Any ultrasound would have been in radiology and if in a hospital, read by a radiologist and then sent to the Dr.  In a clinic it would have been done in radiology dept and then sent to Dr for reading.  My injections in the USA have always been given by the PA, never the Dr.  

Billing in Trinidad - Dr fee (by the way, Dr Araujo is a board certf. Orthopedic doctor with training/schooling in Trinidad, UK and US) $600TT -approx  $100US.  Ultrasound was listed as one for $400TT - approx$66US.  The injection was not even listed. 

Trigger thumb fixed in USA several years ago

Billing in the USA - first of all, good luck even pricing healthcare costs of any sort before or during.  It is really hard, seriously.  I have not done an in depth lately but a cursory look online yesterday said the cortisone injection alone would be anywhere from $116 to $343 in our zip code.  One search said a hand exam would be approx $1000+ but that is very rough estimate as there were no details and unknown if this was with a specialist (ortho dr).  I could not find what a hand ultrasound would cost.  I have no doubt it would be billed as two ultrasounds in the USA -right and left hand.  

When I priced the actual hand surgery in 2014 I was able to make several calls to billing depts in KC to get specifics.  I felt like I was close to actual costs as I had the CPT codes.  Trigger finger surgery in the USA in 2014 in KC would have been approx $10,000 US with no insurance.  Negotiated insurance rate is usually one third to one forth the uninsured price, so $3000 to $4000.  Of course this is only after deductable is met.  Our current insurance has a high deductable of $5,000 each.  Anything over routine annual test hits against the deductable first including ultrasounds, xrays, injections, surgeries , etc.... Those would be billed at the negotiated rate but still paid in full by us up to the deductable.  Then of course once the deductable is hit, some is fully reimbursed and other healthcare costs are a 60%-40% or 80%-20% reimbursement depending on procedure & plan. Trigger finger surgey in Trinidad in 2014 would have been $800 US plus some change for pain meds (cheap here) and follow up Dr visit so...$900'ish.  

And we wonder why our healthcare costs are so out of control in the USA.  Of course, I have had to do a bunch of research and digging to even get all of this.  Luckily, I had a job in the past where I could makes numerous phone calls, leave messages, wait on hold and take return calls to find out pricing and of course follow up in incorrect billing (more often that not by the way)  What of those that work a on a production line or in a mine or other where they don't have flexibility to makes calls during working hours?  

It is no wonder that our European friends shake their heads when it comes to US healthcare.  Many are afraid to cruise to the US for fear that something might happen physically and they will need emergency treatment and can't afford it.  Example - UK friends had another UK friend who broke his finger while cruising the east coast.  Simple finger fracture.  I don't know if he did a hospital or clinic but xrays were taken, he saw a doctor,  got a finger splint and then a bill for $5,000.  He nearly fainted.  Our friends said in UK the exact same would be $150 pounds. 

Health Onboard

Oct 13th 2017

I have been meaning to blog about health items aboard sv Honey Ryder for quite some time.  Interesting that I picked today since I'm feeling a tad under the weather.  Nothing serious, just a sore throat indicating that a cold is in my future.  No doubt some airplane bug I picked up with all the cruisers flying back in here.  So many cruisers with grandkids slobbering all over them right before they board the airplane to come back here.  Ugh – kid kooties!  I am trying to rest and stave off the coming cold - yeah right!  But "resting" does give me the chance to blog a bit.  Some of this might be a bit too much info (TMI) but maybe it will help others in some way. 

Anyway, health items – I am going to discuss in categories.  We actually stay pretty healthy on sv Honey Ryder.  An occasional rash, cold, sore or pulled muscle.

 

Skin Rashes -.  Our most frequent challenge onboard is skin rashes.  In this hot, humid, sweaty environment, we end up with our fair share of skin rashes.  Some simply come from the environment – (wet, sticky), while others are contact rashes (contact dermatitis) from various plants and fruits (let's not forget the Mango Rash).  Still other rashes come from the sea - our being wet with seawater on a daily basis as well as stings and scrapes from microscopic sea creatures.  A recent inventory of our med kits proved that rashes are our biggest challenge.  We have a VAST assortment of meds to treat all kinds of skin rashes, from simply over the counter to strong creams, and pills - Prednisone to Cipro.  On the serious side, Tom did end up with a case of Cellulitis.  His was relatively minor.  We only knew what it was because a fellow cruiser got a bad case in Guyana / Tobago five months earlier. His took three rounds of different antibiotics to kill it.  Scary!  Because we caught Tom’s early and it was not as serious, I started him on a basic, old school antibiotic, thinking that if that one didn’t work, we have two stronger, different antibiotics we could work our way through if needed.   As for me, I have a recurring neck rash at the base of my neck.  It has been diagnosed and I have prescription body wash to keep it at bay and cream (which works only so so) if I do get it.  This season I decided to try something new, Anti-itch Monkey Butt Powder.  I know, crazy name.  Tom used this for the first time this summer while doing a crazy 340 mile endurance canoe race.  They used it on their hands to keep from blistering.  It was amazing and worked really well as he only got 1 little blister after 58 hrs of constant paddling.  So, I decided to bring some back to try on my neck.  I have never been a powder person at all so this was a first.  I powder my neck each night before bed.  It has worked wonders in keeping sweating down and thus I have yet to get my neck rash.

Muscle Relaxer -  We have a supply or two of generic Flexrall for pulled muscles and strains. 

Pain Killers – We have an assortment of pain killers.  Over the counter equivalents of ibuprofen and Tylenol – Panadol  * Panacetamol (brand you find this in Caribbean, UK and Europe and probably the rest of the world).   Nubtone is generic Relafen.  I have 500mg and 750mg.  Finally, strong pain killers like Vicodine, Oxycontone and such. 

Filling Prescriptions  – Many prescriptions can be filled in the Caribbean without a new script.  In fact, most of the time, that is the case unless it is a really serious “controlled substance” type med.  If you have a bottle of blood pressure med or cholesterol med or such, you simply take the bottle into a pharmacy and they fill it.  And this is at all pharmacies big and small in all Caribbean countries.  So lest you think it is just some shady, local pharmacy.  No.  Sometimes they don’t have the exact USA brand.  We often end up with South American or European or India brands.  And I know many USA persons worry about counterfeit drugs.  However, again, these are legitimate pharmacies just like CVS or a smaller regional like Bruce Smith in KC.  The label often says “Bayer South American” or some other big pharma company found in the UK or India.  If you think all your prescriptions you get in the US are “Made in the USA” think again!  They may be US based but those pills are coming from someplace offshore in most cases.  Sometimes getting the other brand will mean two pills to make up for the one pill dose you might get in the US.  Additionally, many, many items that are prescription only in the USA are available from the pharmacy without a script or bottle at all.  For example, birth control pills are available without a script.  When we're stateside each year, we try to do our routine, annual doctor appointments and tests but only if they are covered 100% by insurance.  Otherwise we go here in Trinidad.  We work with the US doctor/nurse/PA to be sure that they are prescribing generic drugs off the discount pricing list at Wal-Mart Pharmacy as much as possible.  I am talking about the $4 and $9 drug lists.  We actually take that list to our appointment.  This takes some work.  Healthcare providers are not yet used to patients managing the scripts and costs to this level.  We have had to be firm at times.  Of course, not everything is available on the discount list.  For those items not available, I hit the internet for discount coupons.  This takes some work at well.  I find GoodRX the best – no sign up or login.  It is amazing how much the coupons help – big discounts.  Wal-Mart seems to have the lowest discount list costs and regular costs.  I also find they are the best at applying the coupons and working with me to suggest additional cost savings.  I try to go early in the morning before it gets busy.   When we get our scripts filled at Wal-mart I do not use insurance.  Our insurance does not cover prescriptions.  I have no idea of there is a discounted rate.  I don’t think there is or if there is, it is not much.  By using drugs from the $4 and $9 list and no insurance, we can purchase a year supply,  Using insurance, you are only allowed 30 -60-90 day supply depending on the med.  Not good for daily med as a cruisers out of the country.  Frankly I have never understood this.  If I am on daily med, prescribed by my doctor, why the hell can’t I go ahead and get a year supply?  Anyway, back to our annual supply – any specific drugs that are not daily like antibiotics or pain meds, we try to get as many refills as the healthcare provider will allow.  Wal-Mart is great because they don’t even make me come back for the refills.  They will let me get all the refills.  I just tell them I am going to be traveling outside the USA extensively and I want to have meds with me in case.  I let my primary know in advance of moving aboard that we were going cruising and what all that entails –well in advance.  Right before moving aboard, I had a full range of tests and he prescribed a wide variety of drugs for us to use just in case. Tom’s doctor did the same.  It has been a little more of a challenge since.  For example, last year I wanted a new prescription for Prednisone.  I called the doctor’s office.  They wanted an appointment.  When I called back, I explained “I don't have a rash now.  I will be traveling internationally in the Caribbean over the next several months and I want have this with me.”  They still wanted me to come in.  “WHY?  I don’t have the rash now?”  Didn’t matter, I had to come in which mean an office visit fee.  No thank you.

Records - Speaking of which, be careful what you tell USA healthcare providers because it goes in your record.  In other words, we now say “We will be traveling extensively out of the country for several months” which is true.  Some insurance limits how long you can be out of the country and still have coverage in the US.  BTW – our ACA (BCBS KC) only covers us in the USA.  We also have DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance that covers us while cruising but really only for emergencies and such.  Back to the whole be careful what you say, I was shocked at what my medical records said when I gathered them all prior to setting off.  It was the wording.  Example – you go to the doctor and you always have to fill out a basic health form – Do you have this?  This?  This?  When?  Family history of this?  This?  Have you ever smoked?  Drank?  How much?  Ect….right?  What shows up on your record is not yes or no with the details you put but “Patient CLAIMS this.  Patient CLAIMS that.”  OMG!  I know that sounds like a small change but think about how big the ramifications of that small change are.  There are other little things.  So be truthful but be careful, don’t over share unless you are really comfortable with your doctor/provider.  You should get a copy of all medical records.  Start early, this is a process and involves fees to third parties.  Electronic are the best.  Backup on a drive or Dropbox is good too.  I have also made a several quick spreadsheets that I have printed off and keep in a folder.  When we go to a doctor now, we take the spreadsheets.  Tabs are as follows :  Sabrina Drs, Sabrina Med, Procedures – starting with most recent back to when we moved aboard with additional for past surgeries, important procedures and inoculations, Sabrina Drug Allergies, Tom Drs, Tom Meds.  Yes, he is much healthier than me, his lists are shorter.  I update the lists as we travel and print out new spreadsheet each hurricane season.  Having the printed form is just easier for us then having it on a phone, ipad, flashdrive or other.  What if your cell phone/ ipad is loss/damaged/stolen or battery goes dead or not access to the internet and thus Dropbox on the way to the doctor/clinic, hospital? 

Health Insurance –

Affordable Health Care was a huge relief for us when it passed.  We both have preexisting conditions.  Mine was an exception that WAS NOT covered prior to ACA even though I had surgery to correct and am doing fine.  Under ACA, we choose a plan each year that is a basic level with high deductible ($5000) each.  This covers us when we are in USA in case of emergency or serious illness.  DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance is $155.00 each.  It covers emergency, serious illness and evacuation if needed and approved.  This is not limited to diving but covers us while cruising.  When we need simple treatment in the Caribbean, we pay out of pocket.  Healthcare costs are much, much, much lower here.  In fact they are actually reasonable.  I will be doing another blog specifically on this.  The ACA insurance is based on our income which is substantially lower now that we are not working.  Thus we qualify for subsidies.  Our insurance was approx. $200 a month for both of us last year and $150 a month for both this year.  It went down!  On the same income it went down!  Again, ours is a bare bone basic plan with high deductible.  We also live in a metro area so we had options on plans and found most healthcare providers take it.  However, with the all out war on ACA, who knows what will happen next year. 

Warning Political Rant Ahead  – ACA is not perfect.  No Government plan is!  It needs tweaking and fixing NOT replacing.  It works!  Shame, shame, shame on politicians if they repeal and leave millions of now insured American’s without equal insurance or no insurance.  There will be hell to pay if that happens.  Serious, hell to pay!  DO NOT leave me a comment that health care is not a right.  Are you freaking kidding me?  Healthcare and care of ALL American’s is the morally right thing to do.  In a civil, well functioning, modern society you should not have to mandate healthcare for all but want and demand it for all.  A healthy society is a functioning, good society.  And don’t tell me people should earn it – really?  The majority of all Medicaid (poorest of the poor) are children – CHILDREN.  So implementing a mandatory work requirement is just stupid.  Ohhhh……don’t get me started.  But I know I am probably preaching to the choir here so I will stop.  Rant over, back to health aboard sv Honey Ryder.

Coming up next - healthcare costs

         

Calabash Carving

Painted calabash bowl Laura bought in Grenada and one of our calabash - ideas are brewing

So now we had two calabash, what to do with them?  Cut them in half and carve them of course.  Just like the locals do.  Ah-ha but how specifically?  Hum?

Inside the calabash - texture is porious like a sponge

Tom had to go ashore but before he left he got out his backsaw and a few other tools for Laura and I to use for cutting the calabash.  Jason stayed on their boat to do boat chores simply stating to Laura before she left for our boat something to the affect of "Don't cut yourselves!"   D-uh!

Okay.... "How should we do this?"  "I don't have a clue."  "Hum?"  Some calabash seem to have a natural line around the center.  "Let's try to follow that."  "Okay."  I held the calabash between my hand using my legs/knees as backup.  Laura sawed.  What could go wrong with that!  ha!  Don't tell OHSA.

The purple turns black and stains BADLY under your fingernails

Luckily nothing.  She took it slow, first scoring the calabash and then sawing a little bit at a time as I rotated the calabash.  The stem was tough but we got through it.  Actually, it was all tough.  These suckers are thick - I would say almost 1/8" thick.  Of course that is what makes them such great bowls and cups.  However, we perservered and broke through with the saw and I twisted it apart.  Voila!  Weird stuff inside.  It was white and spongy with seeds.  

After the inside as dried

We scooped out the inside stuff with spoons.  While the calabash is edible, no one eats it.  I read online that there are medicinal uses but we never heard of any, which is odd because bush medicine is still alive and well in the Caribbean.   Purple spots started showing up along the inside of the "skin".  We discovered later that this turns black and stains.  We got it under our fingernails as we scooped and NOTHING would get it off - no soap, not scrubbing with a nail brush, even daily swims/snorkels/dives...nope.  We had to wait for it to fade naturally over a week's time.  In the mean time, Laura and I had fingernails that made it appear as though we had been messing in the engine rooms on our boats.  Yuck!

My design

With the inside cleaned out, we could begin carving.  Laura brought over some dentals tools (they have teak decks) and I got out the other items Tom left - an awl, ice pick, various screw drivers and a box cutter.  Laura started on a starfish design.  I started on a Honey Ryder / James Bond theme.  Carving in our laps of course so we could hang on to them firmly.  What could go wrong?  Don't tell OHSA.  

007 James Bond

Did I mention the "skin" is thick and HARD?  Very hard!  It was not easy going.  We soon gained a big appreciation for the local craftsmen that carve these on a daily basis to sell to tourist.  I am sure they have tools and techniques but still.......it is tough.  Wow!  And one little slip up still gouges the skin and makes a mark.  We decided our little mistakes were proof ours were handmade by us......at least that what we told ourselves!  You will be happy to know we did NOT cut ourselves.    

We saved two halves for Tom and Jason to carve.  Jason did a bold Blue Blaze design.  Tom did his own Honey Ryder theme with a nice border.  Then we left them to dry/cure.  They slowly turned a light brown color over the weeks.  I sanded the inside vigirously to make it smooth.  Laura painted the inside of hers.  Don and Heather on sv Asseance suggested I not paint the inside.  "If you don't paint it, you can use it for food."  Like the Rastas do.  They went to a beach picnic once.  A friend had severval calabash bowls and they ate out of them.  When the meal was over, Don said they simply went down to the water and washed out the bowls using sand and sea water.  How kewl is that!  Of course the woman took them home and washed them with soap and water as well, but still kewl!

Update - Further Calabash Scrumping
So now we are on a calabash kick.  While in on a walk with Laura in Carriacou, we spotted a calabash tree.  It was on a fence line, the other side.  However, there were two calabash that were hanging on our side.....nearly.  Okay....true scrumping went on.  But it wasn't in someone yard.  It was in the field with their cows and everyone knows cows prefer plastic pails to carved calabash bowls!

Don't tell OHSA

Tom expertly got them down.  It may or may not have involved climbing on the fence and tree.  They were both small but that is ok.

See the natural dividing line

We got busy with boat and cruiser stuff and didn't get them cut open right away.  Sv Blue Blaze sailed over the horizon for Union Island.  When Tom and I finally did cut them open, the stuff inside had turned black and stinky.  Yuck!  However, this time we were smart enough to wear gloves so our hands would not get stained.  Some black juice did drop on the fiberglass in the cockpit and stained it.  However, rubbing compound wax should get it out but the magical boat cleaning fairies have not yet arrived this year so that stain is still there.  Lazy magical boat fairies!

eew....

Tom used the Garmin logo (triangle) as inspiration to carve a pattern around the top of his.  I copied Laura's idea and did my own starfish.

Cute right?  OMG - did I just say cute?  Ugh!

Tom's Garmin inspired pattern

Carving the small ones wasn't any easier.  It has really given us an appreciate for the locals that carve these.  Tom purchased the below carved calabash from a local guy on Martinique when we were visiting Riviere Alma.

Professionally done

Professionally sanded inside

Only $5 Euro - just $5.

Local artist

Below is Tom's first calabash after 6 weeks or so.

Can you hear the James Bond theme in your head?

Pattern around the side of Tom's

Update - Did I mentioned that we me have become obsessed with calabash.  I look for the tree everywhere now.  They are not easy to spot.  I think often times, they are away from the coastline, tucked up in the hills.  While we were in Carriacou I asked local Richard (of Lumbadive) if he knew of a tree.  "Go ask Diane (his partner).  She has tons of calabash."  Diane got a bunch of already dried ones from another local.  She save me two whole ones.  "Be careful how you cut them since they are dried.  They can crack while cutting."   Tom carefully scored the one and gradually cut it with a handheld hacksaw....holding it on his leg.  Don't tell OSHA!  The inside was completely dried up and black.  Most of it flaked out.  The rest came out with sanding.  I have sanded the outside and plan to paint these once I find some acrylic paints.  Tom drilled a hole in the top of the other one and used a chopstick to break up the black stuff and shake it out.  He plans to put seeds or dried beans inside and seal it back up as with a wine cork to make a musical shaker.  Pretty kewl huh?

Dried, whole calabash from Diane

Update Feb 14th -  While driving around Martinique last week with sv Inishnee, I spotted one calabash tree perfect for scrumping in St Pierre.  As that anchorage is on the NW of the island and we are currently anchored on the SE, it will have to wait.  However, I have high hopes for finding a tree or two here in le Marin or out in St Anne.  I will keep you posted.

STEP Program

Pic from STEP web site

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is under the US Department of State.

What it is -    
"The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate" 

Benefits for you -    
-Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.  
-Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.  
-Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.   

Pic from STEP web site

Here is how it works -
I created an account/ profile.  Then I Enrolled a Trip.  Basically I said we were traveling to Trinidad and used that day as the start of the trip.  I left the End Date - Unknown.  Purpose - Pleasure.  Contact - my mobile phone number.  For Address I put Other - Coral Cove Marina.  City - Chaguaramas.  Country - Trinidad.  It then says - Thank you for enrolling.  This triggers a notification to the US Embassy in Trinidad that we are in country and enrolls us for email alerts.  Don't worry, your inbox won't be overflowing with emails.  I have only received a few and those are informative and timely.

What type of emails will you get? -
I got an email yesterday with great information about absentee ballots.  It seems here in Trinidad the US Embassy will take your election ballot back to the US and deposit it into the US mail for delivery to your home election office.  The email gave the details and deadline.  Last December the week before Xmas, I got an email giving the holidays hours for the Embassy as well as suggestions for staying safe during the holidays season.  The same was true the week prior to Carnival this year.  Last year I  also received an email alerting us that there had been a gas explosion at a filling station and that specific roads were shut down because of it.  We were not even aware of the explosion but regardless, it was nice to know it was an accident vs finding out later and wondering if it was perhaps a bomb.  When we were in Tobago, I got notification that the US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago would be in Tobago for an open "townhall style meeting" with US citizens.  We didn't end up going as it was some distance from our anchorage but I think that would have been an interesting meeting to attend.  In addition to those types of emails, as the web site mentions, you might also receive notifications on dangerous weather, emergencies, civil unrest or other.

So far, I have been impressed with this program.

Pic from STEP web site

Final note -
I took a little time to research online the various US Embassies like;  Trinidad, Grenada, Barbados (this one is a regional embassy for several eastern Caribbean islands) and Guyana.  I then programed the main contact number and email into my cell phone under US Embassy- Trinidad, US Embassy - Grenada and so forth.  This way we have easy access to those numbers in case of any emergency.  In many cases it even gives the name of the US Ambassador in country.  I put that name in the notes section of that contact.  Additionally, I have programmed contact info into my phone of key locals.  For example, in Trinidad Jesse James is THE go to guy for us yachties.  I have his cell and email programed into my phone.  Two years ago I was in Port of Spain by myself.  I was trying to get a Maxi Taxi back to Chaguaramas.  I waited and waited and waited at the Maxi Taxi station.  NONE were going to Chaguaramas.  It seems there was a water main break, the road was down to one lane and traffic was backed up for miles and miles.  The Maxi Taxi drivers would not go out to Chaguaramas because it meant hours to get back and thus no additional runs i.e. - no money.  After 2 1/2 hours of waiting I realized this was really bad.  Luckily, I had Jesse's cell programmed into my phone.  Six other cruisers walked up to the Maxi Taxi station as I was texting him.  He sent a driver for us.  We got home two and half hours after I sent the text.   

If you are going to travel abroad, think about signing up for STEP and programming key contact info into your phone. 

Election Blues Charters

For the past several Presidential election cycles (in the USA), it seems a few celebrities always come out and say "If so and so wins, I am moving to Canada."  Luckily for Canada, they never do move regardless of who wins.  However, as we all know, this election is unlike ANY other in the short history of US Presidential elections.

Tom and I have never even thought of turning sv Honey Ryder into a charter business aka taking paying customers aboard for holiday.  1.)  We don't really have the room.  2.)  I don't know that either of us has the personality i.e patience at this phase of our lives for that.  3.)  We don't like you people that much to have you as guests paying or not!  Just kidding.....well....sort of..... 

However, with this unprecedented......oh hell, let's just call it was it really is......crazyass election coming up, we realize that there is a potential to help out our fellow Americans as well as pad our cruising kitty BIG time - a very American thing indeed!  Therefore we are thinking of opening sv Honey Ryder up after the November election to those fleeing the outcome.  No matter who wins there will be plenty on the losing side who just can't believe it and must get away for some relief and retrospection - ha....more like heavy drinking.  Time on sv Honey Ryder might be just the ticket.  Besides, Canada is cold in November, December, January, February and such.  Hell, even the Canadian's don't stick around for winters up there unless they need healthcare.  Plus, they don't want all us Americans up there.  I hear they are thinking of building a wall to keep us out.  Just kidding.....I think!  I saw a You Tube video about a Canadian wall or some such so it must be true, right?

Again, we haven't yet made a firm decision, this is just an idea we are kicking around.  There sure seems to be a need.  I have already gotten several emails letting me know "If so and so wins, we are packing our bags and heading your way the day after."  Like any good gouge  er...... popular item during times of need, this won't come cheap.  Nope, if we decide to do this, pricing will be at a premium!  Think generator pricing prior to a huge blizzard or hurricane.  Additionally those fleeing er....... charter guests will be required to pull their weight in terms of boat maintenance and chores.  Children will be accepted on a limited basis but there will be additional hefty KID fees and child labor will apply.  

*There is a Kickstarter project with stickers that say "I Voted And Then I Threw Up A Little".  I thought that was funny and sad at the same time and pretty much sums up this election for a lot of Americans.  I wanted to use that image but then thought I better not.  However, I think you can go out and buy those stickers.  Google it. 

Dehumidifier

Our wonderful friends Joan and Pat gave us a little 12 volt dehumidifier last summer.  We brought it back to the boat in the fall 2015 but put it in storage on the boat as we had a rented AC so there was no need.  However, we put it to work for the first time this summer while we were gone and it worked great!  We came back to find the boat with very little mildew (one tiny area on the ceiling by the mast) and no heavy "boat smell".   Yay!  Thank you Joan and Pat!!!

FYI - Tom drilled a small hole in the clear plastic reservoir (near the bottom) and put in a 1/4" hose barb fitting using epoxy.  To that he attached a length of approximately 2 ft of hose.  The dehumidifier sat on the galley counter and drained into the sink while we were gone this summer.  Easy-peasy.   Additionally, I hung Damp-Rid packets while we were gone.    

Random

Sunday September 11, 2016
A fellow cruiser and blogger (Paul on Lat43) occasionally does a Random Thoughts blog.  Usually on Sunday.  I enjoy his and thought it was a good idea.  Random thoughts happen often to me, turns out the key to keeping friends, staying married, not freaking out the people at the next table is to not blurt them out loud.  Therefore why not save them up and cram them together in my own blog posting?  So here goes - in no particular order

Love our cockpit enclosure but man is it a pain in the ass to put back together at the beginning of each season.  It takes a Phillips screw driver, two people (minimum - a third person is nice when we can trick someone into helping) - four arms, shoulders, and heads, contorting our bodies for several hours (3-4 minimum) to get it all back on.  Oh yeah, and swearing. 

Trini's love their music.  7AM Soca alarm this morn for us compliments of our neighbor.  Nice of him as it was a new Soca song we have not yet heard.  No really, we don't mind.  It's just how they roll here and we are good with it.

There is no sleep like sleeping on a boat.  Ahhhhh.....

Mozzies were circling me last night.  I sprayed myself but with the nice smelling, weaker stuff vs Deet.  I had just taken a shower and couldn't bring myself to coat myself in Deet so I went with the weaker stuff.  Mozzies found the few spots in between sprays.  Ugh!  

Mozzies suck.  I know, I know, they are probably necessary to balance out the whole insect, animal, planet thing but a girl can wish.  Was the Butterfly Effect that bad?  

Boat hair is back.  Good thing I didn't cave in while stateside and go with bangs.  It would have been a big mistake.  Although maybe layered fly-aways all the way around ones face is the new style.  Yeah, right! 

Cruising friends that take care of your home while you are away are tops!!!  Even if they do swipe a pen or two.  *Running joke with the boat watchers.  Thank you Mark and David.

Dehumidifier rocks!  Thank you Pat and Joan.  FYI - Dehumidify and its tenses is hard for non- English speaking people to say.  But fun to hear them try.  They win regardless as they are multi-lingual, we are not sadly.

Cruising friends that make you fresh, boatmade bread are good friends to have.    Thank you Sarah.  She bakes in the tropics, impressive! 

We are at 10 something latitude aka Nutella starts to turn to liquid at this latitude.  Shot of Nutella anyone?  

Tom loves one pot meals.  I love him for that....and many other reasons.

It's the rainy season.  Boat projects must be planned accordingly.

The open close hatches game is in full swing.  For you non-boaters, it's much like the in out game cats and dogs so love to play and just as much fun for humans - not!

We've nearly found a spot of all the stuff we hauled back from the USA.  Sheesh....all those little things add up.  However, some serious sorting and off loading needs to happen as well.

My new swimsuit top has become my uniform aboard - see melting Nutella above.

Yes, we rented an air conditioner last year.  No, we probably won't this year.  We don't plan to be here long enough.  It cools down nicely at night.  D-Oh - several nights later I am editing and Ho Lee Cow it's hot!

It's good to be back in the pool at Coral Cove no matter how small and how many leaves, etc.... are floating in it.  

French press boat coffee is so good.

My husband likes leftovers.  I like him for that and many other reasons.  

Cruising friends that are also master divers and help you find a used diving BCD for $50 vs $350+ are fabo friends to have.  Thank you Laura and Jason.

The tall sport fishing boats on either side of us seem to be blocking our access to wifi signals.  This means we can't currently get wifi on the boat.  This also means we must go to Cafe Feel Oh for wifi....where there is AC and cold beer.  Update - we are now getting wifi and internet.

Still seems to be a fair number of Trinidad fishing pirogues cruising (or zooming) through the area without any nav lights night.  No Nanny State here!

Of course we also take time today to remember 9-11.

We Are Back

Stateside visit is over.  Blog postings to come.  It's nice to be back.  Time to get busy prepping for the upcoming season.

The Little Boat and Freedom

Can you see their fort on the back and their two little heads just below the flag?

While anchored in Pirates Bay -Charlotteville Tobago, a  German cruising catamaran with two kids arrived.  These boys looked to be about 5 and 6 or 6 and 7.....I don't have kids so I am terrible at guessing kids ages.  Plus cruising kids are a totally different breed of kido from land kids so guessing their ages is even harder.  Anyway, they played around the deck of the boat and in the kewl fort they built on the back of this cruising cat.  After a day, their dad rowed over to our boat to see if we had a paintbrush he could buy/have.  It seems they had found a old, damaged, hard dinghy abandoned in some mangroves on Martinique.  They decided it was worth rescue and were attempting to bring it back to life as a dinghy for the boys to use.

We immediately thought this was way kewl.  When he mentioned it was a sailing dinghy, Tom became green with envy......he totally digs sailing dinghies of all shapes and sizes.  We happily gave him a new paintbrush with the condition that we be allowed to come ashore and inspect the rebuild progress.  "Of course, of course, of course.  Come and see."   

I watched the parents and kids ashore working on it.  Oddly, the kids just didn't seem all that interested.  I told Tom "I don't think the boys are grasping the fact that this boat.....their boat means freedom for them.  Big time freedom."  The parents on the other hand, completely understood that this boat means freedom for their boys and thus, freedom for them.  Tom agreed.

They completed the repairs late afternoon the next day and the maiden voyage took place.  Life jackets on, the two little boys piled in to their dinghy with oldest at the helm and took off.  Mom and dad gave chase in their motorized dinghy snapping pics and video and giving little bits of advice....although not much.  Come on, these are cruising kids.  They can sail circles around most of us.  We watched with big smiles on our faces.  It clicked.  The boys finally understood that this little boat means HUGE freedom for them.  You could almost feel the freedom in the air.

The next morning, bright and early I climbed up into the cockpit to see the oldest boy already sitting in the dinghy - just hanging out as it floated tied up behind their catamaran.  Freedom indeed!  Later that morning we were ashore and spotted the sailing dinghy tied up at the dock.  A short time later, dad and the oldest boy came along and stopped to say hello and chat.  We congratulated them on the new dinghy.  Both just grinned.  Then they departed.  The boy hopped into his sailing dinghy alone and took off for the mother ship.  Dad took his time and eventually followed along in the motorized dinghy.  After lunch the boys took off again by themselves in their dinghy.  This time dad followed along for a bit and then returned to the catamaran, leaving the boys free to explore the huge Man of War Bay.  Of course I could see him keeping a watchful eye from their cockpit but the freedom was flowing as sure as the tide.

*I didn't take any pics of the boys sailing their dinghy.  It was too kewl to witness to ruin with pics. Plus I didn't want to be the creepy lady in the anchorage snapping pics of little boys.                

The Art Of Doing Nothing

"What do you do all day?"  This is a common question cruisers get asked by non-cruisers.  The answer varies.  As I have mentioned before, in this life, each day is a surprising adventure waiting to unfold whether it's hiking to a waterfall or spending the day fixing a suddenly failed bilge pump, battery charger, rebuilding the the head, etc.  I have also told you before that one thing takes all day;  provisioning, getting cash, finding working and strong internet - all day.  The smartass answer is "whatever we want."

However there is another answer.  Nothing.  "What do you do all day?"  Sometimes nothing.  At least nothing by most societal standards.  Yes we get up, move around, feed ourselves, check on the boat's overall status, and talk to one and other but sometimes not much else.  Some days we don't even leave the boat.  Some days we read all day.  By normal, land people standards, those days we don't do much.  

The Art of Doing Nothing may sound easy but it's not.  Most of us are conditioned to do something.  In today's fast paced world, we are actually trained and expected to do MANY somethings.  Multi tasking is a given and a must whether it's in our personal life or on the job.  For most of us, this has been the way we are since we can remember.  Society expects it.  Each new generation takes multi tasking to a new, higher level.

But occasionally there are spurts of push back.  Articles and studies pop up now and then suggesting too much multi tasking is bad.  Divided focus is less focus on each item.  ADHD, ADH, Ridilin, etc were not common terms when I was growing up.  However the focus on these has died back down in recent years. 

The cruising life affords us the luxury of "Doing Nothing". But it's not that easy.  How does one alter a way of life (fast paced, multi tasking, go-go-go) that is ingrained in us from an early age?  It takes practice.  No, really.  One challenge is the guilt.  Have you ever spent a complete Saturday or Sunday doing "nothing". Okay, you probably sat on the couch watching tv the whole day but when it was over, you would report that you "did nothing all day."  How did you feel?  Guilty for " doing nothing?"  Have you ever done that on a week day (gasps)?  Have you taking a day off and done nothing?  Of course not!  If you take a day off, you have a purpose, a goal, a list.  No, doing nothing is rare and usually involves a little bit of a guilty feeling afterward.  

There are a few disciplines/religions that train followers to "do nothing"....so to speak (day long prayer, meditation, chanting, yoga)  But these take training.  A couple of my friends meditate or have in the past.  Apparently it isn't easy.  It takes lot of practice to learn to clear your mind.  I have on occasion attended a yoga class or two.  At some point during the class we are suppose to clear our mind.  I think this is done in every yoga class.  I can never do it.  I always fight it from the moment it's mentioned "Now clear your mind.  Let go of all the thoughts in your head."  This immediately gets my mind racing on things I need to do and then things I want to do, then funny things, then weird things.  It's hopeless and it always made me feel like a failure at yoga.  Not only am I not flexible enough for most of the downward- tree- plank- rock the baby poses... but I can't even clear my mind.  Sheesh.  However, since cruising and learning to "do nothing", I can now do yoga and just enjoy it.  There are thoughts rattling around in my head but I am relaxed and enjoying the breathing, stretching, strengthening as best I can, to my level.  When the tape says "clear your head" and mine is instead stuffed full of thoughts, who cares.  It usually makes me smile a bit.  Beside I have always been a bit of a rule breaker, why would yoga be different.  Ha!

My point is "Doing Nothing" takes training too.  I would say that freeing yourself from the guilt is step one.  This is a big one.  Next is just being in the moment/day of doing nothing.  Fighting the urge to jump up and do something.  Allowing it, accepting it.  Part of this is learning to sit quietly with yourself.  In the last few seasons of HBO's Boardwalk Empire  Nucky Thompson said several times that he thought the true judgment of a man is how well he can just sit quietly in a room by himself.  I know this is a tv character quote but think about it.  Can YOU sit quietly in a room by yourself?  And not for a few mins but for an extended period of time?  Say 15 mins.  Can you?  I am sorry but I think most of you would fail.  Some of you my dear friends would fail on an epic level, lasting only a few mins.  You know who you are!

Actually last summer while listening to NPR, I heard about an interesting study out of University of Virginia along these lines.  As I recall, volunteers were put in an empty room by themselves.  They were wired up to a device that would give a small but painful electric shock when pushed.  The volunteers were shown this button, how it works and even tested it to get a feel for the shock/pain  Then they were asked to just sit quietly in the room by themselves for 15 mins.  No cell phone, no texting, no games, no writing, no sleeping.  Just sit.  There were no instructions on the shock button.  It was just there.  They should just sit alone by themselves with only their thoughts.  The researchers wanted to see if people could do that.  It turns out a huge number couldn't.  In fact most couldn't.  The bulk of the people started pushing the shock button just to do something even though they knew it would give them a shock.  The urge to do something vs not be alone with themselves was stronger than their urge to prevent pain!  Think about that.  Sit quietly or give yourself pain and most pick the pain.  Wow!  Many pushed it multiple times.  Even after a painful shock, some still couldn't finish out the session by just sitting with themselves.  They had to do something.  They had to shock themselves again.  Double wow!  The study found that men overwhelming pushed the button more than women.  One guy pushed it 190 times in a 15 min time frame!  Many subjects also admitted to sneaking a look at their cell phones or cheating another way vs sitting quietly.  

One of the benefits (for us) of this cruising life is that we have learned the Art of Doing Nothing.  We can sit in the cockpit for several hours just watching the anchorage and or sea, allowing ourselves the opportunity to just be, to think, to see what happens next.  And maybe it's more nothing and that is ok.  We can spend an entire day reading and napping and be ok with that too.  However it is still such a new sensation after years of multi tasking -go hard, that it feels like a luxury but that is ok as well.

Cruising - Big School of Learning

Zero hour:   -Shop Class --a hands on lab

First period:   -History and Geography

Second period: - Language Lab

Third period:  -Social Studies

Forth period:  -Human Ecology --including hands on food and sewing labs -(perfect as its right after social studies and right before lunch)

5th period:  -World Politics and Current Affairs --(after lunch so sleep can set in for some students, confusion and/or delusions for others)

Six period:  -Science -- oceanography, biology, natural science, astronomy, chemistry (hands on lab in corrosion) 

7th period:  -Economics and Mathematics -- currency exchange rates, budgets, real/black/gray and rum markets

Extra credit:  -Technology Lab --marine electronics, communications, audio visual

Physical Education:   --throughout the day weather permitting, depending on classroom setting 

*Like  many, most public school districts in the USA, budget constraints have caused the consolidation of some fields of study as observed above. 

Pirates of Caribbean - Bequia Style

Okay not "Pirates" but a standard snatch and grab thief with a Caribbean twist.

There are no pics.....with good reason.....my camera got stolen.  

Here is what happened-
When returning home Friday night (of the Bequia Music Fest- Jan 22, 2106) a man suddenly appeared behind me on the dinghy dock and grabbed my shoulder bag.  I carry a small waterproof bag as my purse.  It was around my neck and thus across my chest so it didn't come off easily.  He cut the strap with a machete and ran off down the beach in the dark.

We were NOT hurt!  Repeat NOT hurt in anyway.  We quickly got the dinghy unlocked and headed to our boat.  I immediately confirmed what was and wasn't in the bag.  Luckily, I left my wallet behind on the boat.  Because the bag is small, I also left behind several other items I normally carry ashore.  In the bag were my camera, cheap reading glasses, package of tissues ( for TP), a pen, our boat cards (like business cards), and red and green dinghy lights.  That was it.  NO personal documents like DL or passports.  NO credit cards.  NO money.  Then we sat stunned as what just happened sunk in.


The response - police, cruisers, locals - 

The next morning I reported it on the morning VHF radio net.  We also let a long term cruiser named Art know.  He has been in Bequia for years and is anchored near us.  He knows many locals and has the inside skinny on stuff.

We then went to the local police station to report it.  We don't think anything will come of it but we reported it anyway.  This was interesting.  It was like stepping way back in time.  They took a report from each of us.  It was written out long hand on a piece of notebook paper and then I signed it.  No computers in sight,  There were many big ledgers laying around - logbooks I guess.  One crazy thing is that if we want an official copy of the police report, we need to wait one week and then take the ferry from Bequia over to St Vincent, find our way to the main police station and PAY $100 EC to get a copy of the report we just filed!  Because so little was stolen of value, we will not be jumping through those hoops.  We asked the police to copy the Coast Guard.  Art had told us to do this.  By coast guard, it's really just three guys cruising around in a wooden motor boat that says Coast Guard but they are official.

Next we went to the Bequia Tourist Office to let them know.  Another local told us to do this.  We had been in there a couple of different times and so now the girl knows us.  The music fest guy Wilfred came in while we were there and we told him.  Both were very upset this happened to us.

When we were returning to the boat after all of this, Art waved us over.  He said the Rasta guy at the end of the beach found my bag.  Of course the camera is gone.  We went back to the boat because we had meat we bought that needed to go in the fridge.  Then we had a bite to eat.  Our plan was to go get my bag after lunch.  The coast guard arrived to tell us what Art had already told us that the Rasta guy had my bag.  "But there is a procedure.  I must get the bag and take it to the station.  There is a process.  Then you can come and get it.  One hour.  You can come in one hour and get it."  He said he was sorry this happened and gave us an update on his patrolling actions out in the anchorage.  It was nice of him.

Almost two hours later we arrived back at the police station.  The man that took my report said "Um.....can you come back......say at 5pm?"  Sigh!  I had serious doubts that I could even get it at 5 so I told him we would come back Monday morning.  I didn't think they would be open on Sunday.  He said everything was all in the bag expect for the camera and cheap reading glasses.


We went back to the boat and went swimming to wash off all that had happened.  We were in a funk most of the morning of course.  The swim helped.  We determined to put it behind us.  We were not hurt.

Than came the outpouring from the cruising community.  Several dinghied by to check on us and say so sorry.  We went on to the afternoon music fest.  We arrived to many hugs.   Pat on sv Illusions rushed me saying "You need a big hug" and then he put me in a bear hug.  Even cruisers we don't know gave their support.

Monday morning we went and got the bag back at the Bequia police station.  The inspector that gave it back to me wanted to know if I had filed an application so I could go to St Vincent and get the police report (MY police report).  I said firmly "NO. We will not be doing.  It is absolutely ridiculous that we should have to do that just to get a report."  He seemed surprised.   

The Caribbean twist - 
Yes, guy with a machete is scary.  However, you need to understand that machetes are very common in the islands.  Everyone has one, including little old grandmas.  It's a historic item from sugar cane days but also used now to cut down coconuts and cut them open as well as breadfruit, papaya, bananas, ect...  It is sort of the Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman of the Caribbean.  It is not uncommon to see someone walking down the street with a big machete.
What now -

By this point, we had decided that even though it was a bad situation, we really are lucky.  First, we were not hurt.  Second it was only a camera.  And, I am pretty good at downloading pics to the laptop, so I only lost two nights of music fest pics.

While this shook us up, Tom and I have talked through the incident several times.  We are pretty diligent about our security and situational awareness.  We will continue to do so at a new, higher level.

We will continue to sail and explore.  These islands are no different than the rest of the world, things happen.  But for the most part, 99% of the people are good.  Several years back I had my purse and laptop stolen out of my car in KC.  That was way worse than this in terms of canceling credit cards, getting new ones, etc,  at least we didn't have to deal with that.  We stay alert and informed using technology and fellow cruisers and make decisions based on that information.

One interesting side effect -  
I wanted to go and thank the Rasta guy that found my bag but I kept putting it off.  I couldn't figure out why and then I finally realized, I didn't want to go to that dinghy dock and beach where it happened.  I just couldn't seem to bring myself to go back on Princess Margaret Beach, even in the day time.  I explained to Art and asked if he would pass on my gratitude and he said he would. 

So there is our Pirates of the Caribbean tale.