May/10/2012, Killarney Mountain Lodge

Stormy Night is now tied up at her KML dock. This is a view from her deck looking out towards Squaw Island, Georgian Bay.

Canada Summer 2012

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May/1/2012, KML

This will be our little cabin for the summer. It is situated on the grounds of Killarney Mountain Lodge and faces Killarney Channel and George Island.

Canada Summer 2012

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April/30/2012, Killarney, Ontario Canada

Steve and I are enjoying the evening, snuggled in our very own cabin overlooking Killarney channel, located in the small town of Killarney, claimed to be the oldest town in Northern Ontario, population 300. Tomorrow we unwrap our summer sailing vessel, Killarney Mountain Lodge's "Stormy Night". She's a 1974 - 46 ft Cal - a sloop rigged sailing vessel... and the adventure begins.

Canada Summer 2012

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April/23/2012

In the photo we have Betty, Jack, Steve and I.
I was the last to sit down in the great room, and after opening up my computer, I looked around and thought it too funny and asked to take this photo. Now this is OUR Modern Day Family, enjoying some quality time together!

Canada Summer 2012

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March/18/2012

It didn't take Mike long to achieve a clean shot into this small but delicious Cero Mackerel... and they say video games are bad for your kids! Heather and Mike have since gone home and have their own stories to share about their adventures and experiences while in Panama city and the San Blas Islands..

Central America - Panama

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March/18/2012

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March/18/2012

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February/26/2012

One never tires of the site of another Cayuga and the skill required to sail her.

Central America - Panama

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January/25/2012

Pat proudly shows the Mutton Snapper he spotted.

Central America - Panama

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January/24/2012

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January/24/2012

We are presently sharing our paradise with friends Karen and Pat, who have joined us for two weeks.

This photo was taken of Karen with her catch. After a few very lucrative walks along the beaches throughout the San blas. Steve found the very shiny and polished sea heart, purse bean and the Sunrise tellin. Pat found the large sea biscuit and Karen found the beautiful conch. I found the right handed lightening whelk, juvenile queen conch, penshell and the starnut palm and pointed to the numerous different finds scattered along the beach like the checkered nerites & moonsnails, limpets and falselimpets, stony corals and rams horn squid shells. I didn't recall all those names but I have a wonderful book that helps us to recognize and distinguish our finds.

Central America - Panama

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January/20/2012

Trying out my new camera, I came across this juvenile Damselfish with brilliant blue dots on dark blue (occasionally called "Jewelfish" because of these gem-like dots).

Yesterday, we received an email from Karen and Pat.. arriving next Tuesday and they informed us that they were watching an episode of Paul & Cheryl Shard's tv show on the travel network and it showed them flying into Panama City last winter and then they flew to Corazon de Jesus where they were picked up by their friends on "Diesel Duck". So, they got to see first hand what to expect on their trip... As they put it; "it was so cool to actually see exactly where we're going to be and the best part was at the end of the show in the credits, they listed a thank you to a list of boats and "Lions Paw" was on their list.  We played the video back to try and see if we could spot your boat but we couldn't but obviously you guys were there, we thought it was pretty cool anyway"...
If you remember, last April on our Blog we did mention that we had a sighting and a chat with Paul and Cheryl. They are from Port Credit and they built their first boat called "Two Step" at the same time that "Diesel Duck" were building theirs. They went from the Bahamas to US for 10 years before venturing further. They wrote a book called Sail Away and now have a series called Distant Shores on the travel network. We told them not to do a series on the San Blas because too many people were finding their way here and it was changing before our very eyes. Cheryl assured me that it wouldn't make any difference because the San Blas were too hard to get too!... I told her of our sailing adventures and said; "Well it couldn't be that hard. We're here and it's our first sailing adventure away from home".  Anyway, I think Karen and Pat took a video of the TV show and I'll have to get a copy so we can look at it together next time we're home.
 

Central America - Panama

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January/18/2012

This photo was taken at Esnasdup where a pre-historic looking crocodile hunts for fish alongside Steve....Not!

We've been hanging around the beautiful islands of Kuna Yala since December 12th, 2011. Since our arrival, we've reconnected with a few cruising friends that we met last year and we've made new friends as we've travelled. The winds have been very strong and consistent and it rains just enough to piss us off as we have to open and close ports and hatches all day long. Steve's not been able to spearfish as much as he would like because the snorkeling area's that have fish, have been churned up so badly with current and waves, the visibility is poor. However, we have enjoyed a few great meals from the catch of the day and conditions are improving daily. It's been cool at night which is great for sleeping, but very unusual to have to snuggle beneath a top sheet. Don't get the wrong impression, it's been sunny most of the time and we wake to over 80 degree weather. It just does not feel as warm since we've been exposed to the constant wind.
 
The latest talk on the net has been about the rules applying to our immigration status. We can get a cruising permit for a year (that would be for the boat) but personally, we all must leave the country every 6 months. Most cruisers take a bus to Costa Rica and re-enter Panama a day later. The latest gossip, is that we may not have to leave the country every 6 months.
That was two days ago!
It seems that several cruisers (with papers in hand) took the $25 Carti jeep into Panama City to pursue this matter.. all coming back to their boats unsuccessful.. so back to square one! I guess we'll be taking a trip to Costa Rica and we will leave the boat on a mooring ball here in the San Blas in the West Lemmons mid-April... It should be a fun mini-trip.
 
Meanwhile, we've been preparing to welcome Karen and Pat who arrive next Tuesday. We've been varnishing, laundry, cleaning, re-organizing and worrying..lol They will arrive with all kinds of last minute stuff that we think we need for the boat and other items that we have ordered like a small phone-like thing that is supposed to get us better internet reception via the phone.
 
In anticipation that four people will be eating for 2 weeks, I've ordered more food that should arrive at the end of this month.. therefore we will again have a full fridge for Mike and Heather's arrival late February. How do we do that... well there is this boat called "Melody" that has taken on the job of going back and forth from the San Blas to/from Portobello, in all kinds of weather for the cruisers. He brings everything from eggs to batteries and diesel! He also ferry's backpackers back and forth to Colombia and Panama.. Not a job either of us would like! Anyway, we did not use him last year because we had a large supply on board and we still do this time 'round but need things like dairy products and beer (that we know we will eat during our guest stay) So, this is our first order with Mark from Melody!
That was 4 days ago..
Now, we've been told that Mark from "Melody is no longer interested in the food ferrying/backing business (moving back to the States) and this January is his last order!!! So, this will be our first and our last food order experience with Mark from "Melody"...
Now it seems that we will be going to Costa Rica and staying in Panama for a couple of days to buy food, before heading back to the boat (which will be on the mooring ball in the W. Lemmon's)!!!

Central America - Panama

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December/25/2011

We shared what food we had with the families who shared their island with us.

Central America - Panama

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December/2/2011

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November/19/2011, Colon

Yes there is a place called Colon and to be frank, like its name (sounds like ko-lone), it has a terrible reputation for being stinky, dirty and dangerous. Most cruisers avoid it like the plague. Some tell of personal experience of being robbed and advise us to continue to Portobello and provision from there. Even our cruising guide advises to take a taxi from one place to another, even if it is within ear shot (across the street and 2 doors down). On the flip side, cruisers like Debbie "Sweet Dreams" give us all kinds of information and places that we must see or do, and our friends Mark and Michele "Reach" are in Shelter Bay Marina (outside of Colon) installing new equipment after being struck by lightning this summer.. we are encouraged at the thought of an opportunity to exchange a story or two. So, Steve and I decide to take a chance and we drop anchor near Club Nautico, which is next door to the Cruise Ship Terminal across from the port where all of the container ships come to unload their cargo... and "Oh what an experience it is to witness the ongoing operation of container ships entering the channel, being turned by the tug boats and backed into their unloading dock. We have gained a huge respect for the enormity, efficiency and consistency of this type of logistics...consumerism thrives!
Situated on the Caribbean side of Panama, Colon is among the world's largest ports and the Colon Free Zone is the 2nd largest in the world, surpassed only by one in Singapore. We enjoy the performance so much we end up staying here for almost 2 weeks, going into town every second day and returning relieved that we survived another outing. We walk almost everywhere, taxied when we thought it best or needed too because we couldn't lug all our purchased crap from our "I want/need" list. We found Anna at the Copy Matic and signed up for an Airbox account (another way to buy crap and have it shipped to Panama), caught up with Michele and Mark "Reach" after their dentist visit, found the most talked about Oriental Grocery and enjoyed a jaunt through the Centro Market with another cruiser named Billy on "AnneVeraLynn". Billy, introduced us to many local people and walked around town with huge confidence even though he was robbed this summer while anchored in the Charges River. Odd, "AnneVeraLynn" had just entered the Charges the day we headed for Bocas and Billy stayed there for the 3 months we traveled home. He figures that he was just there to long and made himself a target. Although all home (boat) invasions are traumatic, he was not roughed up and lost only his outboard and some minor items.
Although we were asked to line handle we did not take the opportunity. Most cruisers were looking to exchange the favour, both boats going through the canal, taking one boat at a time. We did manage to ferry crew from one boat to another and we were most helpful to co-ordinate a rescue of sorts. Carmelle and Yvon "Taima" (friends of our friends Lise & Sylvain "Vanilla" were anchored, ready to enter the Panama Canal with crew from another un-named French flagged smaller boat, whom had anchored directly (quite closely) in front of us. A few days later they all returned to take that French flagged boat through the canal. Before they left, two other boats came in and they circled several times to chat to them before heading off. The following day, we received a worrisome call from Carmelle. They had only made it to the 2nd lock and the boat's engine had crapped out. They needed help and hoped to contact us to ask if we would ask if someone going through the canal would provide a tow. To make a long story short, many dollars later; the other boat was towed to the Pacific side of the canal by another sailboat and they were all in Balboa and safe. One thing you do not do is brake down while transiting the Panama canal! You pay to be towed to the nearest mooring ball, pay for the mooring ball, pay to discharge the pilot and crew aboard, pay a fine for using the mooring ball, pay a fine for braking-down and stopping the working of the canal...etc., etc... If you need to be towed, it will cost you $27,000.. and this boat was certainly not worth that!.. and now without an engine.. get the picture?! So, even though we spent almost 2 weeks, getting the bee-gee-bees knocked out of us in this anchorage, life was not that bad. It was fun but time to move on.
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We headed into the anchorage of Portobello after a not so bad day sail and the boys welcomed us. How wonderful it was to hear the familiar sound of the Howler monkeys... we are home! Portobello is one of the most beautiful anchorages we've encountered and as beautiful it is, we always tend to work on the boat. Last time it was the ports, this time it is the interior varnishing and yes, another problem arose and Steve found himself occupied with the fridge again. This time with the help of Lenny and Sue "Windancer" and Patti and Tom "Liberty", the worry was short term.. But, the catch 22.. we had to go back to Colon; and from Portobello, that meant another long bus ride and another day in Colon. From Portobello, you catch a local chicken bus $3.20 and it takes you along the coast to Sabanitas and then one and a half hours later, you arrive Colon. You get off at the Movil store (a telephone company) and last time we took a taxi two blocks to the bus terminal from there as advised. This time we walked across the street towards the Oriental Grocery and headed left to the refrigerant store and a hardware store. Yes, it was a bit scary. After picking up several supplies for us and other friends, we headed back, walked up to the Rey's (grocery store) to pick up some fresh goods, hailed a taxi to the bus station and caught the Costa Arriba meaning "upper coast" bus. It saved us approx. half an hour on the trip back to the boat. Everything in working order, the next day we said good-bye and headed to our next stop...Linton

Central America - Panama

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November/14/2011

We bought a 3ft. Bunch of bananas in town for $3. In this photo you will notice that we have already eaten 3 or 4 bunches from the large branch.

We are serving Banana Pancakes, Banana Rum bread, Banana walnut cake and Banana Daiquiri's and anything else banana's!!!

Central America - Panama

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November/13/2011

Photo..Here we are taking Mary and Willie's skip across to Tierra Oscura (a 12 mile boat ride from Marina Carenero) where we've been told, there is a lovely restaurant Ronna Azul who's specialty is their oven baked pizza's, open only on Sunday and Friday, known for it's different special weekly menus and cooked by a husband and wife team from Germany. It's other draw is that it has become a local hangout for the expats that have taken up residence in this little archipelago called Bocas Del Toro.

Central America - Panama

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November/13/2011

As soon as you arrive, you are welcomed with open arms and greeting come from all directions from the patrons. It is very apparent that we are going to have a very good time as well as a great meal.

Central America - Panama

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November/12/2011, Marina Carenero

First one's on the dock today for happy hour at Marina Carenero. You can do what you want here. Some sit under the kitchen/dining hut for happy hour while cooking their dinner on a real stove with oven, or we gather at the picnic area when the whole gang decides to throw a pot luck, or as we have chosen tonight, gather in the wind at the end of the dock. Maybe it's draw is the wind and no chitra's but also because it's a short walk back to L.P...

Central America - Panama

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