Triple Stars (and it's crew) get alittle TLC
02 November 2008 | Shelter Bay Marina, Panama
Jan
It's been 2 whole weeks that we have spent here at a little marina here on the East side of Panama in the Caribbean Sea! A very nice small marina with concrete docks, running water, electricity to the boat, air-conditioned restaurant with a limited menu but no cooking, now sweating. The also have a swimming pool, 6 very nice showers, a self-serve laundry (never thought I would be happy about that one!) a very attentive staff with a hard working boat yard and...a free van ride into Colon for grocery shopping every weekday morning @ 8am! A little early for me but a lot nicer than a 45 minute cab ride for $20.00!!!! The grounds of the marina are pretty cool, surrounded by what once was an old US military base when we were running the canal that is now Fort Sherman and a protected National preserve complete with some old paved roads going thru jungle with wild white faced monkeys, lots of birds, sightings of a "galto solo" ( a kind of racoon looking anteater) and the sounds of the howler monkeys. Quite an interesting place. Triple Stars was hauled out of the water for only 4 days and has a very nice dark green bottom coat and a shiny waxed hull. We have done a few more boat projects and Rob even took a second trip up the mast but this time all the way to the top to change that light bulb we've meaning to change since San Diego. It's just a whole lot easier to do when you are attached to a sturdy dock in a quiet little lagoon with little wind! We have been able to meet up with several ex Ha Ha 'er's from our 2007 Baja HaHa who beat us here on the Caribbean Side of Panama. It's been great to see Poul & Manfred on "Surf Scooter", Pat & Rich on "So Cal So Good", Gene & Susea on "Moody Blues", Pat & Trish on "Rhapsody" and Dan & Reylyn on "Tropical Dance". Shelter Bay, with the help of the Boat Yard manager, Bruce has become a real "cruiser friendly" place. They have organized a potluck every Sunday afternoon, pool side several of the boats meet and greet each other and impart information and stories of where they have been and where they are going! Bruce and his family even share with us their "pet" 3 toed sloth named Pippin ! He is so cute, pretty cuddly, surprisingly soft and doesn't stink! We were lucky enough to be able to hold him and learn alittle more about this intriguing native jungle animal. Well the rainy season is still very much upon us, as it has rained pretty much most of the time for the past 4 days. We usually get a couple of hours of sunlight in the afternoon but at least we have an air-conditioned restaurant where there are some tables that we can meet and do computer work or play "Upwards" or cards and not only be trapped in our boats with the windows closed during the rain. In fact just the other day we had quite the lightning storm, the likes of which we haven't seen for some time. I guess it's just Mother Nature's way of reminding us that SHE is still in control and that rainy season is definitely NOT over! While all of this has been nice and taking hot showers without worrying about adding to the mold issue in the wood, doing our own laundry in real washing machines and walking thru the Jungle it is time for us to cast those lines, disconnect the umbilical cord from the dock and head to the beautiful San Blas Islands. One of our true pleasures in this fabulous journey is still to be able to jump off the boat, swim in warm, clear blue waters, do alittle snorkeling and watch a sunset (or sunrise) while anchored in some calm waters. Look Out Caribbean Waters....here come Triple Stars and San Cles!!!