Carti Run and Panama City

We've been busy making arrangements for our run into Panama City. Booked into the Holiday Inn because that's where Gail had already booked. Mark and Deb's guests, their friend, Gary, and nephew, Adam, also booked in there as well. They arrive Friday afternoon and Gail arrives late Saturday night.


Had hoped to get a panga ride from the East Lemmons into Carti to get the jeep, but you just can't depend on the Kunas to follow through and be there when they're supposed to. The original plan was for Dennis and Mark to stay in the East Lemmons, but Mark said since his guests were arriving first, he'd pick me up and we'd go over to Nonomulu and have the panga pick us up from there. A 10 minute ride versus 45 minutes.


A fun night aboard Sea Cycle, and Eulogio was only 45 minutes late. Not bad! While we waited to find out which jeep we were taking, I was looking around. One guy underneath the hood, working on something. Of course, that's the one we were in. I said to Deb that I thought this was the guy we had on the way back last time when we had two flat tires. Sure enough, asked him his name (since I took the front seat), and it was Alfonso. Great! Still drives like crazy, busy answering two phones when there was service, and the rest of the time overtaking everyone. Got into the City and we had made pretty good time. Our concern was that Deb had a dental appointment at 2:30, but it was looking like we'd have time for lunch and relaxing. Well, spoke too soon on that one!!! Alfonso had just hung up the phone, got himself comfortable, stepped on the gas ..... and, OMG! There was an accident ahead and he was driving too fast and too close. He slammed on the brakes (I closed my eyes, but Deb watched the whole thing). In order to avoid the car ahead, he tried to fit in between the car and the bus. We bounced off the bus and skidded to the side. I guess that was the good thing, because the dump truck that was right behind us missed us and came in between us and the bus. Two cars behind us also collided. What a mess! I've never seen so many officials out taking photos and statements. Amazingly, no one asked any of us in the jeep what had happened or were we all right. Two young German guys had gone out to Carti with Alfonso the week before, where he rear ended another jeep on the mountain road. He's a cute, personable young man, but when we arranged for the trip back I told Eulogio we would not go back with Alfonso.

Hmmm, second photo of Deb beside a broken
down vehicle on the Carti run

Got the flat tire fixed, dropped the other people off and he took Deb and I to the Holiday Inn. We left the bags in the room and headed off to the dentist, with no lunch and no time to relax. Good news for Deb, the dentist did 2 fillings on the tooth and she can get a crown when she gets back to Canada. Took a taxi to the Rey Supermarket, picked up some goodies for the room, and got back to the Holiday Inn at about the same time that Gary and Adam pulled in with Roger. Everyone headed up to the room to collapse before dinner, and luckily Gary and Adam are just down the hall from us. Deb and I were feeling a little stiff and sore, so some Aleve, a hot shower and red wine were looking good to us.


Went down the hall, picked up Gary and Adam, and headed down to the lounge for our courtesy drink. Sat out by the pool enjoying our drinks until the restaurant opened, where Gary treated us to dinner and drinks on Friday night, and the wine on Saturday night. Thanks Gary:) Unnecessary, but really, really appreciated!
None of us realized that this was Carnival weekend in Panama, so things are pretty crazy. Gary and Adam weren't able to get a jeep ride out Saturday morning, as planned, so they hung around the pool, with Gary giving Adam snorkelling lessons. I can see how Gary must be a fantastic father and grandfather since he was so amazing with Adam. Deb and I decided we'd head to Albrook Mall to check off things on our shopping list and pick up some of the groceries we needed to take back with us. There's a small fridge in our room, so that's going to work out great. Wish I'd had my pedometer on, since we spent almost 5 hours walking around Albrook, and then across the street to Novey. We're tired!! Came back to the room, relaxed, showered and off to dinner. Feeling kind of bad that the guys have to fend for themselves, especially Mark, stuck in Nonomulu.


Staying up late Saturday night -- Roger is picking me up at 9 p.m. to go and get Gail at the airport and Deb is off to play cards with Gary and Adam.


Eleven years of catching up to do !

                                                                                    ~~~_/)~~~

High Winds

Some days are just frustrating and I get tired of doing boat chores or baking to keep busy. Although, I do get a lot of reading in and love my Kindle! With high winds also come high seas, so we're not able to snorkel. Great for our friends that kite. But, when that sun comes out, off we go to explore.

Edie and Connie

Met up with Panda, Better Days and Blue Sky just off Waisaladup, and celebrated Deb on Blue Sky's birthday on Panda. Pizza, with carrot cake for dessert:)




Sea Cycle made it to the San Blas (stuck in the marina and Portobelo with high winds), and we finally met up with Mark and Deb in Esnasdup. Spent a happy hour on Nirvana Now with Randy and Dawn from Sault Ste. Marie. They've been back in Canada doing that nasty work thing, so it was good to catch up with them again. Met John and Jen from Elisa, a young Canadian couple, who have the best of both worlds. They used to be Coast Guard, now work on ships with 3 months on, 3 months off.

Crew of Elisa

Dawn and Randy from Nirvana Now

Getting ready to take the boat back to the States, and selling all the extra little goodies that won't make a difference in the sale, but make a difference in our pocketbook! Sold the 5 hp outboard, the sewing machine, spear gun, Hawaiian sling, yogurt maker, blender and all kinds of fishing gear. This boat is getting empty!

My last load of onboard laundry

Great news from home -- my sister, Gail, is coming to visit!! Deb and I will head into Panama City for a girls weekend, since her friend and nephew arrive that weekend as well.

                                                                            ~~~_/)~~~

Great Sailing!

We installed a new wind generator at the beginning of the summer, and it has made a huge difference.  Well, the amount of wind we've had lately does make it go all the time!  Since we don't have to motorsail to charge the batteries, we've sailed every time we've changed anchorages.  The sail from Nabadup to Green the other day was perfect.  If we could only arrange that -- 10-15 knots of wind, 1 foot waves -- for our sail back to the US.

The 15-25 knots of wind has finally calmed down and we're so happy to be able to snorkel again.  Dennis has caught a few small fish to pan fry, but nothing of size to bbq.

The rain has finally stopped, and that makes us happy to be able to snorkel, but it also means having to go down to Rio Azucar to get water.  It's relatively painless, just a slow process.  They now have a 'high speed' connection, which means the hose actually fills up.  Dennis filled up the jerry cans, then we put the hose below and  filled the tub, threw in soap and the laundry.  I swished everything around, scrubbed, and by the time he finished filling the tank, I had washed everything, emptied the tub, and we refilled for rinse water. A very productive day.  Plus, we were able to purchase gas at Rio Azucar (only $6 a gallon for all you people in the States who complain about gas prices), so we eliminated the need to go to Nargana.  Smoke from the fires and the generator running all night long make for not a nice anchorage.

Hanging out at Green Island for awhile, where we have good phone coverage and sometimes decent internet!


                                                                 ~~~_/)~~~

Happy 2012

Okay, so I've had a few complaints and just looked at the date of my last post.  Guess it got away from me.  We're back in the San Blas, so there will be no photos added until we're back in the land of  real wifi, not a phone connection wifi.

Dennis finished his major sewing project of the dodger, bimini and side curtains.  I think that's the most frustrated I've ever seen him.  Well, maybe the motor mount job was up there.  He did an amazing job!  I know  I would never have the patience or skill to do what he did.

We spent our 24th wedding anniversary at The Dock Restaurant at Shelter Bay, enjoying a great night with Mark and Deb on Sea Cycle.  Spent our anniversary with them a couple of years ago in Aruba.  The food and company were wonderful!

Time to get ready to head out.  Took the bus into Panama City with Deb and Roger drove us around getting that all important provisioning done.  Paid a little bit more this year for wine and beer because we ordered it through the Dock Shoppe, just opened at Shelter Bay, but well worth the money.  Made life much easier. After  another run to the grocery store and finishing up the laundry, we were ready to leave on December 17th.  It's hard to cast off those dock lines and all the conveniences.

Had a good motorsail down to Portobelo.  Rained like I've not seen for awhile, so no one got off the boat on Sunday.  Monday looked like a good day to stage to Linton, but we were hoping to get Dennis' scuba tank refilled.  Well, with the holidays coming up, that didn't happen.  Left on Tuesday for Isla Grande, a nice 2 hour motorsail.  The winds and waves are supposed to pick up, so we'll be here for awhile, but it's a good place to be.  Nice resort place, we can swim and walk.  Plus, Sid and Manuela on Paradise are now renting a house in Linton, so we were able to catch up with them.  The best thing was that Manuela was going into Colon for groceries and took me with her for that last bit of fresh fruit and veggies.  While we did that, Dennis did a load of  laundry.  Thank you, thank you Sid and Manuela :)

Left on Thursday, the 29th of December for the San Blas.  The seas were supposed to be down to 4' by that time.  Yeah, right!  There were 8 to 10's out there easily, but luckily they were far apart and we were actually able to sail from the western edge of the Escribos Reef all the way into the East Lemmons.  Not a bad day.  Met Greg and Deb from Lion's Paw, Colorado, and spent some fun time with them.  Finally caught up with Frank and Gretchen on Infinity, which is always a good time.

Hung around the East Lemmons until after the new year, and then went into Porvenir to check in and have a better phone connection for wifi.  Cannot believe the number of boats on the reef in the last two years.  Lots of backpacker boats, but others as well.  Unbelievable.

We've had a lot of wind, and with this new wind generator, we have tons of power.  Have actually had some amazing sails since we haven't had to recharge the batteries with the engine.  Spent a couple of days in Salardup, then meeting up with Infinity again in Cambombia.  Gretchen borrowed Dennis' sewing machine and they discussed sewing projects, while Frank is trying to get rid of a bogus program I picked up which affected the running of my computer.

We're currently anchored in Esnasdup, waiting for the wind to die down so that we can snorkel, and hopefully avoid the huge croc that swims between here and Green Island.  Met  John and Gerry on Peking and Gary and Kaija on Kaija's Song and had a fun night with dinner aboard Peking.  Beautiful motorsailer.

Stay tuned     ~~~_/)~~~