s/v Always & All Ways

22 April 2022 | Bocas del Toro
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Civilization.

13 March 2011 | San Blas Islands, Panama
Mark
Although we could have spent much more time at Los Grullos, we decided to move on and see more. The morning was quite windy (15-18 kts.) and so it seemed that Gunboat would not be a great choice even though we do want to go there. Last year we had tried it on a windy day and found that the waves just washed over the encircling reefs and left it quite rolly. So we decide to head for the Lemmons. Although they are always quite heavily populated, the anchorage is large and very well protected. AND there is supposedly internet available. Given the wind, I tucked in a single reef as I raised the main. Despite that we were soon cruising @ 7-8 kts in a nice broad reach. We reached the Lemmons in less than an hour. Getting in to the anchorage is a bit tricky. The bar that blocks the S entrance carries 6-7' only and varies quite a bit from place to place. It is just grass, but still, with the very minimal tide actually falling (and not really high again until tomorrow morning. They only have one true high tide a day here, the other is just a “mini” high.) we wanted to be careful. So we dropped sail and motored to the bar. As we were approaching the bar another cat approached us on its way out with sail up! (but still under power so no right of way over us). We were, of course, both headed for the narrowest and apparently deepest section. We got there first (the other cat never slowed down which I would have done in his situation as it was obvious that we would cross first) and came across with 6.7' lowest reading. I then pulled to port (they were heading to pass starboard to starboard which is also not the convention) to give them a straight shot at the pass. As they pulled alongside, our friend from Bocas, Judy, yells out and waves. She had just helped another friend deliver his boat from Bocas here and was hanging out with Tisha Baby for a week or two before returning. I gave them my depth readings for the way out and wished them well, and we continued on through the initial anchorage which is very deep and across another bar, this one even shallower and with no obvious best place to cross. We inched forward until the depth meter read 6.4' before it started to fall again. Once across there were plenty of choices to anchor although the depths ranged from 60' to 2' in little “muffins” (as they are called here) that rise up from the bottom. These “muffins” are coral as well as sand and so definitely to be avoided. We managed to drop our hook in 12' in sand and fell back to 40' but with the kellet and a total of 200' of chain out, we are well settled for a few days. Next I got on the radio about internet. Yes, the bar on the little island which had the dock and the mooring balls out front. (I thought I saw mooring balls on the way in, but figured they were just a couple cruiser's anchor marks. The Kuna are getting entrepreneurial!) “$3.00/ hr. Direct cable hook-up, no WiFi and no electricity so be sure you are well charged first.” While my battery was charging, we were approached by an ulu with a grouper to sell. A GIANT grouper. It was as big as he was. I have no idea how he ever got it in the tiny boat. Anyway, I could never use all of it, but he agree to take it home, cut it up and return by 1:00 PM to sell us some. He never showed up. We waited until 3:00 and then went in to use the internet. While I used the internet to catch up on gmail, investments, bills, etc., Deb walked about the island and then sat near me in the open air bar. Shortly a delightful English couple arrived with their young (?4 y.o.) son. The boy proceeded to terrorize the two dogs who appeared to be residents here – a German Sheppard and a Roti, and the adults struck up a conversation with Deb which I joined as soon as I finished with the internet. We were able to share quite a bit of information both ways (they had just arrived from Bonair) as well as just enjoy the company of other English speaking adults. We ended up staying at the bar until 6:00. No happy hour today, but Balboa was only $1.50 and nice and cold. I am already preparing my list for internet for tomorrow, but first we hope to do some dinghy exploration and snorkeling.
Comments
Vessel Name: Always & All Ways
Vessel Make/Model: Fountaine-Pajot Belize 43
Hailing Port: Hancock, NH, USA
Crew: Mark & Deb Parker
About: Mark, an ER doc, retired 10/08 to become a sea gypsy. Deb, an educator, has been retired since 5/07 and was equally anxious to leave the cold of New England far behind
Extra: We now have a hurricane season home in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We still plan on spending many months cruising every year.
Always & All Ways's Photos - Main
In the Spring of 2016, we sailed from Bocas del Toro, Panama, to Cuba and back with stops at the Albuquerque Cays, Providencia, and the Cayman Islands. We cruised the South coast of Cuba some and then left the boat for some inland excursions.
20 Photos
Created 8 March 2018
Cruise of Albuquerque Cays and Providencia, Columbia
19 Photos
Created 12 June 2013
Pictures from our 2012 cruise from Bocas del Toro, Panama, to the Bay Islands of Honduras and back. Posted each time we have internet
2 Photos | 7 Sub-Albums
Created 28 March 2012
Pictures of our home at Discovery Bay, Isla Solarte, Bocas del Toro, Panama. More (older) can be found in Discovery Bay album.
49 Photos | 1 Sub-Album
Created 5 August 2010
Pictures of our recent trip to the San Blas Islands of Panama with friends Ron & Cynde
58 Photos | 3 Sub-Albums
Created 29 April 2010
Pics from the month we spent at some of the out of the way places in the Bahamas, May 2009.
39 Photos
Created 22 June 2009
Birds, animals, etc. that we have seen along the way
14 Photos
Created 11 April 2009
Pictures of some of the improvements we have made over the past few months
37 Photos
Created 11 April 2009
Pictures from Rio Dulce
20 Photos
Created 11 April 2009
Pictures from our travels
29 Photos
Created 11 April 2009