Monday 26 January 2009

Islas Secas, Western Panama Jan. 26

From the beach on Isla Cavada, one of the islands in Islas Secas.

Fortuitous through the palms.

We arrived here yesterday afternoon at 3pm. By 5, we were on the beach with the 7 other boats anchored here, having sun-downers.


All are great people! We saw some of them last in Bahia de Caraquez Ecuador, and others in La Cruz or Zihua Mexico! Kind of fun catching up with people again.


Our first sunset in the Secas.



No green flash!


We had a swim, yesterday afternoon, and the water looked to be clear to about 30 feet. However, we're anchored in 50. Going in to shore, it looked very clear. This morning, we're hovering in 25 feet and we can see to the bottom. We're really looking forward to snorkeling here today! The water temperature is 24 degrees here, but during our crossing from Muertos we saw 31! We'll be staying here a few days and will upload photos as the wifi pirating allows.

Jan. 27th

We went for a snorkel today, two separate locations, and found the last to be astoundingly beautiful!! Clear to the bottom and many large and small fish! Boy, are we missing that underwater camera that went missing along with my backpack on the road trip to Quito.

Saturday 24 January 2009

Ensenada Muertos, Jan. 24

We up-anchored this morning at about 10 am. We are now in Ensenada Muertos and should be in Islas Secas tomorrow. Still looking for that clear visibility and good snorkelling...so far it has escaped us.

Upon leaving Bahia Honda, Domingo came out with a little spinach, cilantro, red bananas and a very green pineapple. He also hit us up for outboard oil and $5. I am beginning to think he's not such a nice guy. We always paid enough, or more, for what we bought from him, so I was a little disappointed with him asking for money. He has kids working in the resort?? He says he'll give us food or money upon our return...we'll see!

Nuage are staying in Honda a couple more days...we'll see them in the Secas, I'm guessing.

Monday 19 January 2009

Bahia Honda, Sun., Jan. 18th


Motor sailed to Bahia Honda. It's a bit tricky, here, as it is a fairly deep bay, but shallows up quickly. We motored around a bit and ended up dropping well off shore in 40' of water. Nuage came in later and found 35' closer to shore. We were a bit leery as we'd had 2' under the keel at one point...so we settled for 40.
Shortly after anchoring, Domingo and eventually his entire family, in three different boats, showed up along side to tell us what they had for sale and what they'd bring the next day. In the other boat was Domingo's daughter, Rosalin, son in law Edwin, and daughter Daisy (about 4). They were much more appreciative of the gift bag, but also asked for candy. Apparently, Domingo is bringing his wares tomorrow at 8am...a bit early for a shopping for me! We'll see what they try to sell us and at what price tomorrow. It's all an experience.
Nuage had the same sale's pitch a little later.
Went for a little swim and had burgers for dinner. A pleasant quiet evening here except for the splashes of fish jumping and howler monkeys.
Tomorrow, we're expecting Homers' Odyssey (Stan and Lynn), another Bluewater Cruising Boat, to arrive...more drinking and eating! What more could we ask for?!!!


Domingo in his dugout canoe.
Domingo coming alongside.













Domingo was fine, but I was a little annoyed by his son, Kennedy (now there's a good Latin name!) who came with his daughter trying to sell us fruits. He'd say a price, and I'd say too high...then he'd say, I'm not saying dollars, only counting the fruits! My Spanish is too good for that trick!
As well, I had put together a little gift package for his daughter, Melanie. He and she said thanks, but kept saying how much she liked sweets. She was about 9 years old. I finally relented and gave her candy as well.
Can you believe Domingo is 60...looks much older to us...but then, we must just have a good self image. I still have that papaya...and it's still green!! The cilantro and spinach, as well as the grapefruits, have been great though!














From this fisherman, we bought Pargo (snapper) and he cleaned and fileted it. We also got 3 large lobster...grand total of $7.











This is a BURP or Bluewater Unofficial Rendezvouz Party/Point. We've had a couple of those. Left to right, Ralph, Me, Lynn (steering), Carol, Stan, and Dave.


Domingo took us up the river at the end of the bay. There we visited an indigenous village. Homers' Odyssey, Stan and Lynn, and Carol from Nuage are in the dinghy ahead of us. It was pretty low water in spots.

Unbelievably, we didn't bring anything at all for these kids. On the other hand, we don't have enough on board for all of them anyway! School wasn't in session, or I would have gone back to see it and leave some supplies for the teacher.


Domingo's mother in law lives in this hut.

This would be Domingo and his mother in law...also our age!!











Talk about basic!



























What a cutie!











A calabasa. They hollow out the fruit and make bowls.


















Fixing up the dugout for the next voyage. First they tarred it, then painted. One can hardly imagine what people do her for entertainment or, just what they do at all, beside work.









After the trip up-river, we headed to the Pueblo on the bay. These were the greeters. There was garbage all over the beach...too bad no photos.










We had to interrupt the bingo game to try to buy stale bread at the store.



















Here we are shopping. Many tiendas have a small opening and you just ask for things and hope they have them.
Bingo anyone??












.






















These little girls couldn't take their eyes off me. I'd like to think it's because I'm so attractive, but you can see that's not the case. I think it's because I'm so "white"!

The ubiquitous Coke sign...can't get away from them!

















This is Domingo's farm from Fortuitous.






He and his wife live here, and the son in another house on the property.








Homers' Odyssey and a boat Domingo is taking care of.
Ralph brought some beautiful wild flowers back from one of his excursions to fix Domingo's motor.



Saturday 17 January 2009

Isla Santa Catalina, Jan. 17th

We arrived to Isla Santa Catalina yesterday, enroute to Bahia Honda. Seemed like a decent place, so we dropped anchor rather than continuing on. We had a walk on the beach and a little snorkel. Not very clear here, but did see some fish. Water temperature is 25.5 degrees.

Leaving tomorrow for Bahia Honda...about 20 miles...so about 4 or 5 hours away as the boat sails. We should soon be meeting up with Homers' Odyssey who are a little farther north. Ralph has gone to the mainland, with Nuage, and I'm updating the blog on the pirated wifi...when it is here.



What is it about us and birds? This is a tern or some sort. Left his calling card.


This young couple was with us for a couple of days. They are Canadian too. Can you believe that this boat came through the Caribbean, from Florida, and then through the canal. This boat is sooo tiny and the cabin atop is not enclosed! Oh, to be young again!


This is to show the typical boat clutter that accumulates over time.
Here  Ralph is, along with Carol and Dave, on the shopping trip.

Thursday 15 January 2009

Isla Cebaco, Jan. 15th

We are presently in an anchorage on the north-east side of Isla Cebaco. We arrived here yesterday afternoon, with an escort of 3 bottlenosed dolphin. They stayed by us until well after we were anchored. In fact, Nuage invited us over for some sundowners and enroute to their boat, by dinghy, we had two in our bow wake!! That's a bit frightening as they are very large dolphin and are actually longer that our dinghy!!

We will stay here today as our next trip, to Bahia Honda (deep bay), is 35 nm's and requires a very early start when travelling at 4 to 5 kts. per hour...something none of us were prepared to do today. The anchorage is very calm and warm at 25.5 degrees, but is still murky. There are a few villagers on shore and a few buildings, some are made completely of thatching. We will go explore a little later today.




Nuage under spinnaker enroute to Cebaco.

A little church on Isla Cebaco.




Beautiful hibiscus flowers everywhere near the houses and buildings on the beach. I don't think they're wild, but who knows?




A Fisherman's panga and Nuage and Fortuitous off in the distance.




Wild orchids.

This is our new screen wallpaper!















These little kids were having a grand time in the panga.


One little guy was hiding under that blue tarp.

















A mangrove tree along the shore and Fortuitous in the background.

We had quite a rainstorm here and, although it's a bit blurry (because of the rain) you can really feel for this poor fisherman trying to get back to shore in his no-freeboard dugout!









Again, hard to see but absolutely pouring...warm rain though!


Ensenada Naranjo, Jan. 14th

We arrived safe and sound in Ensenada Naranjo on Monday morning, Jan. 12th. In the bay was SV Matarua, with Peter and Joyce aboard. They left Vancouver in 2003 and have circumnavigated.They have had a lot of adventures and, even after 2 long downloading sessions, we didn't hear it all! They circumnavigated via South Africa...quite a journey. They are on their way to Mexico. We've been socializing with them, and Nuage (who arrived a day after us because of strong currents and no wind).

Ensenada Naranjo (orange tree) is not a great anchorage, a little murky and very rolly...didn't get much sleep last night. We are underwary today for Isla Cebaco and trying to make our way a little farther north where the water is supposed to have 60 to 80 feet visibility and great snorkeling. The water temperature is rising to 25 - 26 degrees. More later.



It is very tropical here, as you can see.
I love to collect shells, but every one I find is already inhabited by the "second owner"! Hermit crabs are everywhere and in every kind of shell.

I tipped this one and they all just came pouring out...kinda creepy!

There are many tropical flowering trees and shrubs on the islands. Frangipani and hibiscus everywhere, and a tree with these whispy blossoms.

This is the beach, black sand.




Some kind of kinky vine in the jungle growth.

This is the BURP! Or, Bluewater Unofficial Rendezvous Party! Left to right, me, Joyce (Matarua), Carol & Dave (Nuage), Peter (Matarua), and Ralph
The sunset during our BURP.