Well, it's been quite a while since we have posted to our Away with Away blog.

During the past 8 months, we have traversed parts of the Erie Canal in New York, traveled across Europe by caravan/camper, sailed along the Adriatic coast in Croatia, enjoyed visiting our kids and grandkids in New York, and hung out in Bocas del Toro, Panama working on Away, just to list a few activities.

Two weeks ago, we prepared to leave Bocas del Toro for the San Blas for a second season of sailing Away in the land and waters of Kuna Yala. This year we decided to invite friends to join us for the trip, so we set off with 6 of us from Bocas del Toro on January 10th. The weather was not great but it was improving. We decided to stop on our way in Bluefield and Portobello, before going on to Por Venir to check into Kuna Yala.

Almost before we left, as we left the harbor and were checking on sails, navigation instruments, and the boat in general, we had a brief but critical reminder not to take anything for granted, including whether or not one can see the navigation chartplotter with polarized sunglasses. Turns out you can't, and as a result we narrowly avoided a serious voyage ending meeting with an underwater reef. As always, with sailing as with life, problems develop as a result of a combination of factors, never just one, and this early encounter was a reminder that assumptions, if faulty, can be dangerous--always ask the question.

Having been given a second chance, we were careful the rest of the trip, timing our arrival into Portobello and Por Venir in the afternoon, and then enjoying a couple of days at anchor at Elefante and then Morbedup anchorages before guests left by panga back to Panama City and the States.

All in all, a total of 11 days, with no good opportunities for reprovisioning in Kuna Yala, and no water maker to replace the water used. Tomorrow we will go to Rio Azucar to fill tanks, and then to Nargana where we hope we can nab some vegetables in the market there.