An Incredible Life At Sea!

Leslie and Andrew Godfrey were living the life: adventures at sea, exploring the world and sharing with everyone on social media.

But, as CNN reports, their last trip has changed their life forever:

“While 38-year-olds Leslie and Andrew Godfrey enjoyed a five-day, 750-mile sailing passage from Sri Lanka to the Maldives, the whole world changed. Without internet access, the couple had yet to learn that Covid-19 had continued to spread, becoming a pandemic.
From March 7 to 12, as they sailed across the Laccadive Sea toward the iridescent blue water of the northern Maldives, ports had begun slamming shut at a rate that no small sailboat could keep up with.”

Leslie and Andrew Godfrey’s story is told on CNN, and these photos the couple took capture some of their “life at sea”:

Their World Is Shut Down…

It was an amazing life exploring paradise. Until now…

The 38-year-old couple are from Las Vegas, and started planning for their five year sailing journey around the world years ago…but while they were at sea, the world shut down – cover-19 has left them stranded at sea…

There are untold numbers of sea adventurers who explore the South Pacific, only going ashore for supplies – or to meet the locals and learn about their culture.

Now however, because of the worldwide pandemic, many of these adventurers are literally “adrift at sea.”

CNN also tells the story of Natalie Neve, who shared this incredible photo:

Yes, imagine sailing the South Pacific and waking up with this at your doorstep. Unfortunately, as CNN reports:

“Instead, as the first of what became 60 cases were discovered, French Polynesia followed France’s lead and locked down. The Neve family was ordered to isolate aboard 43-foot Ubi. They couldn’t go to shore or even swim in the water they were anchored in.
“Locals couldn’t go to the beach to swim, so we had the same rules. It was hot, but we made the best of it.” Nathalie tells CNN Travel over WhatsApp.”

CNN goes on to note:

“Nathalie and Michael Neve, along with their kids Naomie, 7, Bastien, 9, and Noah, 11, were already in French Polynesia as the restrictions set in. “They got long-stay visas last year, so the Oregon-based family was going to explore French Polynesia until the end of April and then start sailing west and finish up their family sabbatical when they reached Australia at the season’s end in November.”

Instead, as the first of what became 60 cases were discovered, French Polynesia followed France’s lead and locked down. The Neve family was ordered to isolate aboard 43-foot Ubi. They couldn’t go to shore or even swim in the water they were anchored in.
“Locals couldn’t go to the beach to swim, so we had the same rules. It was hot, but we made the best of it.” Nathalie tells CNN Travel over WhatsApp.

So the family waits it out, with no port to call home….

The Delos family shared this hypnotic picture as well – they are also stranded at sea, waiting to see what’s next…you can read their story, along with many others, at CNN – terrific journalism – click here for more:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/small-boats-stuck-at-sea-covid-19/index.html

I have shared many stories of life in the South Seas, and it truly is paradise:

The brilliant Travel Writer Paul Theroux once paddled his way across the South Pacific – an exciting and dangerous journey to be sure:

You can read all about his adventures here:

https://johnrieber.com/2018/05/12/paddling-around-the-south-pacific-three-amazing-memoirs-about-south-seas-adventures/

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Categories: Books / Media, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir

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