Wheels up

I'm not sure what I'd ever do with an ergonomic towel rack, moisture-resistant Kahlua carafe, or for that matter an ambient office dashboard, but SkyMall always seems to convince me I need these things when I'm at 20,000 feet. Maybe it's the altitude. Maybe it's the extreme sense of isolation one gets from sitting in coach. I don't know about you, but I rarely feel more alone than when the guy in the middle seat is sitting half on my lap and asks me to open the window shade so he can see the Grand Canyon.

Back in the days before laptops and iPods, SkyMall was the only refuge for a weary traveler who forgot to stop by W.H. Smith's for the latest pulp fiction novel. Well, SkyMall and the safety brochure, but that little pamphlet always gives me the heebie-jeebies.

I only bring it up because in a few hours I'll be among the advance team heading down to the Bahamas for the big event. Although it's not a long flight, I've still outfitted myself with the latest and/or greatest in reading material.

While my reading is not necessarily among your greatest interests, I worry about the people who have been so wrapped up in their tourament practice that they've forgotten to pack something to read on their flight. Fear not, however. With little more than a laptop or desktop and printer, tournament players will have at least a little something to read on the flight to the islands.

Travel Tips

In case you're one of those last-minute organizers who needs a few quick tips on what to bring, how to pack, and what the current exchange rates are, check out this site which has links to all things Bahamas.


Trip Reports

Among my favorite things to do is read trip reports. Mining the internet turned up a few reports from last year's tournament (although, you folks really should write more).

• If you're looking for a look at last year's pictures and reports, you'll find them here.
• Here's Daniel Negreanu's trip report from the first PokerStars.com Caribbean Adventure
• PokerStars.com's own Dan Goldman posted some of his own thoughts in this post to RGP after last year's event

Tournament Bloggers

As a long-time blogger, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that at least three tournament players will be blogging their exploits from the Bahamas. While I hope this blog will be your first stop for all tournament news, be sure to check out some of the players' first-hand accounts.

• This blogger plans to post his tournament progress at WPT Bahamas and hopes his first post won't be "I'm out."
• Aces_Mike is a regular blogger who will be posting at Lucky Blind and promises to drop The Hammer (poker blogger-speak for 72offsuit) if he has the opportunity.
• Chris from 21 Outs Twice will bring his Brooklyn appeal to the islands.

Competition

PokerStars' cardroom manager Lee Jones has updated the list of well-known professionals who are planning to be in the Bahamas. Among them, expect to find: Surinder Sunar, Barry Greenstein, Kathy Liebert, Josh Arieh, Mike McClain, David Williams, Allen Cunningham, Steve Brecher, John Juanda, Mark Gregorich, Steve Zolotow, Isabelle Mercier, John D'Agostino, Paul Ladanyi, David Williams, Juha Helppi, and Russ Rosenblum. That's in addition to those mentioned in previous posts.

There's only so much a blogger can write from the confines of his own home. Blogging is all about being there, either in reality or in the mind's eye. So, this is it until we find ourselves wheels down at Atlantis.

Good luck to all the tournament players. And to the people who have to stay home while your loved ones and friends spend a week in paradise: don't worry.

I'll keep an eye on them.