09/16/2009, Dolphin Bay (Laguna Porras)
Well, we finally left Bocas del Toro this morning. Course we only went 9.1 miles and we motored the entire 2 hours. Oh well. The good news is that we are finally on our way toward the San Blas islands. We're anchored up next to the Chocolate Farm which we hope to tour tomorrow. Two native boys in their cayucas (dugout trees) came by a little while ago asking for pencils, paper, and crackers. Its dusk and we're listening to the howler monkeys with their 'whooop whooop' conversations going back and forth and all kinds of birds. Its 86 degrees with 71 percent humidity. Its a beautiful and quiet evening all in all. As Bryan says, "We traded water taxis and ferries for howler monkeys and parrots. Its a good trade." Will write more later.
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Comments [6]
Do you do the genset/AC thing when it's 86 at dusk, or just sweat it out? Does it feel hot or are you used to it?
Don
S/V Laurie Lee
(The guy from the Venice transient dock)
AC???? What's that? No, we haven't had that on in a year now. We just sweat... Well, actually, I sweat and Bryan seems fine. I turn on the little fans all over the boat and Bryan complains about it being too cold. I think he just likes to give me a hard time. We only used the genset to heat water for showers, run the water maker, and recharge the batteries.
09/15/2009, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Well, after 3 1/2 months in Bocas and 11 1/2 months since we left St. Petersburg, I'm embarrassed to admit that I've just recently gotten my watercolors out and started painting again. A very British lady from South Africa organized some Saturday morning watercolor workshops at the Bocas Marina and got me inspired. I scraped all the old, moldy stuff off my palette and started fresh. After a couple quick paintings some neighbor cruisers commissioned me to do a painting of their grandchildren. It was wonderful! They are beautiful children and I had such fun. And, the cruisers liked the painting so much that now they can't decide if they're actually going to give it to their daughter for Christmas as originally planned or keep it for themselves. So, please pardon a little bragging on my part. I'd almost forgotten how much I love to draw and paint and this really gave me an ego boost. So, here's the result.
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Love you both!!
You hardly even went outside the lines.
Love you. Lunch?
The painting is totally awesome. I love the site. I finally got a laptop so now I can stay in touch. Thanks for sharing your travels!
Love,
Karen
09/02/2009, Bocas del Toro, Panama
The Calypso Cantina has had 2 fire shows since Kristel and Ben left. I sure wish they had been here to see one, but as a previous boss used to say to me regularly...."timing is everything." (And he knows who I'm talking about.) Anyway, Bryan took some great photos and I've uploaded them to the photo gallery on the right side panel. Please check them out. Dyllan and Darion are fantastic dancers and the fire just adds to the excitement. This last Friday night they had 2 bands jamming together, 4 belly dancers, and the fire show. Add that to awesome baby back ribs and we all have a lot of fun. Love to all!
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08/07/2009, Isla Bastimento, Panama
Well, the ladies of Bocas get together on Thursdays for lunch each week at different restaurants. I have gone a couple times but this week, Kristel and I decided we had to go to this new Thai restaurant up the mountain in the middle of the rain forest on Isla Bastimento. The ladies had a water taxi launch take us over to this neighbor island. We had been warned ahead of time that its a little bit of a walk up hill and part of it is through mud. If the other ladies could do it, then surely we could.... right??? Well, I was wrong. The meal was really good but I fell down TWICE on the way back down the mountain slipping and sliding in the mud. Yes, literally mud from head to toe. There's nothing really more to say.... the picture tells it all.
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BTW, what are you holding in the mud photo??
Cheers, Mark
"Wishbone" North Dock
Take care!
08/05/2009, Bocas del Toro, Panama
The Bocas Marina restaurant/bar is called the Calypso Catina. I think I've mentioned before that on Wednesday nights their specialty is Chicken Fried Chicken. It is awesome! This week Dillon and Damian, the Catina proprieters, decided to change the menu. I begged them to wait a week because Wed was my birthday and their Chicken Fried Chicken was my favorite. He very graciously agreed. Unbeknownst to me, my cruising buddy, Susie, had ordered a delicious chocolate cake for dessert. There were cards and free drinks. Our son, Ben, had bought a pinata in Bocas Town. They did the whole thing by blindfolding me, turning me til I was dizzy, and giving me a real dinghy oar (without the paddle) as the stick to swing. I think much fun was had by all. It was so silly and so fun!
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08/03/2009, Bocas del Toro, Panama
I've been waiting for months for my good friend, Kristel, to come visit us on the boat here in Panama. The past few years, we've celebrated our birthdays together because mine is August 5th and hers is August 12th. She said that just because I'm in Central American wouldn't stop our tradition. I had just made the trip to the States and back and if you've read my previous blog, you know that I had issues with the actual travel and was very concerned about her making the trip by herself. Anyway, she assured me that she was going to be fine and would actually be traveling with an acquaintance, Nan, that just happened to be traveling this way. It was such a relief and, gullable me, I believed every word. So, the day came to meet her bus in Changuinola, Panama. Bryan and I were there 4 hours early and anxiously waiting. The bus pulled up, she got off, and there were lots of hugs and kisses and big smiles. We tried to hussle her off to grab some food and drinks but she insisted that we meet Nan because "she's a really nice lady." So we're waiting for Nan to exit the bus and out comes our son, Ben. Kristel had orchestrated the whole birthday surprise, had harrassed him daily to get his passport, and told a few fibs to keep it all a secret from us. Well,..... then I really put on a show for the locals there at the bus stop by screaming, laughing, sobbing, dancing around, etc. Everyone on the street was watching and smiling. Panamanians are very family oriented and they were all enjoying our wonderful surprise. What a good friend I have in Kristel......
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