January 30, 2010

Had our send off dinner, for Jeff and Sarah, last night. We were in Nargana, close to Corazon de Jesus, the airport where Jeff and Sarah fly out to Panama City. Greg made his great chorizo pasta! We had a few margaritas after Jeff and Sarah had packed up most of their things. They went up the Rio Diablo, with Ralph, during the day. Our dinghy is just too small to fit 5, so Greg and I will see it another time.

Ralph took J & S over to the runway before 6 am. They didn't get to leave until after 8 am. Lucky we'd arranged for them to fly out a day ahead. They would have a tough time making a 10 am flight out of the international airport, so they've gone to a hotel for the night and leave tomorrow morning.

We're now under-way to Canbombia and will meet up with our friends, George and Melinda on Southern Belle. We haven't seen them in almost a year.

Ralph and George are busy trying to set up a gathering for the super-bowl...like I care. However, Greg and Ralph are looking forward to it, and it will be nice to meet some new cruisers. We were a little too large a group, with all of the family here, for us to go knocking on hulls in the anchorages.

January 21. 2010

Spent one full day in The Holandes. Kids anxious for a beach to walk on so we called Icarian for more info. They suggested Coco Banderas and we moved just before lunch. I wanted to hang around to wait for the fruit and veggie boat to get to Fortuitous, but was out-voted. We arrived here, after a boisterous sail/motor ride (needed to charge the batteries and make water). There were lots of boats in the anchorage, but several have left this morning.

I'm hesitant to snorkel here for two reasons...or maybe more! Marilyn and Brian told us there were quite a few sharks and, when we were cleaning the crab and lobster we purchased after anchoring, the remoras came from below our boat and snatched up everything thrown overboard. We threw some bread in order to get some photos (which I'll post when I have internet.) The supply boat took a $20 deposit for a few fruits and veggies ordered for tomorrow...we'll see if he shows up.

We went to one of the little surrounding islands to burn our collection of garbage, and look around. A fair bit more garbage blown up on the beaches here. We came back and made fish chowder from our "catch", and hit the sack.

This morning was our first request, from a fisherman, to charge his cell phone. Greg will be making his famous sourdough pancakes.

January 19, 2010

We arrived in Porvenir on Sunday afternoon. As luck would have it, we didn't get to enjoy our arrival because we had a plugged head to deal with. We have dreaded this happening and have not had a problem since we left Vancouver. We were overdue, but the timing wasn't good. After much swearing, cursing, and sweating, Ralph got the hoses out, removed all the calcium build-up, and reinstalled them. Not a fun job at all. Jeff and Sarah went snorkeling and I continued to deal with the chaos, below and above decks, created by this many bodies and provisions aboard a 41' boat.

The next morning, we met up with Brian and Marilyn, on Icarian, and went to check in to San Blas. After that, we followed them to Holandes Cays and we are now anchored in the "Hot Tub". Greg and Jeff went off for a snorkel, I made the dinner of champions, weiners and beans, we played a game of "sticks" and hit the sack.

January 19, 2010

We arrived in Porvenir on Sunday afternoon. As luck would have it, we didn't get to enjoy our arrival because we had a plugged head to deal with. We have dreaded this happening and have not had a problem since we left Vancouver. We were overdue, but the timing wasn't good. After much swearing, cursing, and sweating, Ralph got the hoses out, removed all the calcium build-up, and reinstalled them. Not a fun job at all. Jeff and Sarah went snorkeling and I continued to deal with the chaos, below and above decks, created by this many bodies and provisions aboard a 41' boat.

The next morning, we met up with Brian and Marilyn, on Icarian, and went to check in to San Blas. After that, we followed them to Holandes Cays and we are now anchored in the "Hot Tub". Greg and Jeff went off for a snorkel, I made the dinner of champions, weiners and beans, we played a game of "sticks" and hit the sack.

January 17th, 2010

Spent all day yesterday at Isla Linton. A bit of a rolly anchorage, but very picturesque. The kids went snorkeling or kayaking and Ralph and I tootled around in the dinghy and spent some time trying to sort ourselves out. We are all finding it very crowded aboard and I'm very tired of living around tubs of this and that. We lost every pineapple to the rough seas as they were against the hull and beat themselves to death. Checking all the fruits and veggies is an all day, every day job.

We left bright and early for Kuna Yala (or the San Blas Islands as they used to be called). It was another rough, long day, but at least we got to put up a head sail for most of our trip. We arrived in Porvenir at 3:30. Greg caught, and got to bring aboard, a nice big fish. We think it is a mackerel of some kind. He is preparing a nice ginger soy sauce as I type. This is a beautiful place and we are looking forward to our stay here. We must check in here tomorrow.

Jan. 16, 2010

After breakfast, in Portobelo, Jeff, Sarah, Ralph, and I went ashore to have a look at the port. Greg had kayaked in the day before, so stayed behind to wash dishes and practice his Spanish on Rosetta Stone. The fort was interesting, the town not so much. Very run down and lots of garbage everywhere. We have a ton on limes on board so, rather than have those go to waste, we bought more tequila and some ice for our expected arrival in Isla Linton later in the afternoon. We came back, up-anchored and had some sandwiches enroute. It was a little rougher than yesterday, with more confused seas. Sarah doesn't do well and isn't looking forward to the long ride from Linton to Porvenir.

When we arrived at Linton our anchor chain, in the locker, was all fouled up and it took all three guys at least an hour to get it unscrambled so we could anchor. The air was "blue" for awhile there, but we managed to set with enough time for the kids to go off in the dinghy and kayak. Greg made a super chorizo pasta dinner and all hit the sack early...for a bit of a rolly night as we were anchored at the back of a pack of at least 40 boats.

Jan 15, 20010

We finally got fed up waiting out a weather window. As tensions were very high (since Sarah and Jeff have little time to wait around) we decided to poke our noses out of the Colon harbour and see if we could hack a trip to Islas Naranjo, about 6 miles away. It turned out to be much better than we'd thought, so we continued past that and on to Puertobello. We arrived late afternoon and celebrated with a few margaritas. Sarah didn't take part as she doesn't really drink and was feeling pretty dopey from her anti-nausea pills. She has barely held it together, but isn't looking forward to more travels to arrive at the San Blas. The guys are hiking, as I type this, and we will go look at the fort after breakie. We will head from here to Linton today.

Transit of Canal

Well, here we are on the Caribbean side of the Canal. Our transit, unfortunately, only took one day. We were looking forward to staying in Gatun Lake, but it was not to be. We up-locked at 8 am. All went well except for the first lock. We were side-tied to a tug and, once separated we steered a little too directly toward the other side of the lock so that the tug could pull away. We were caught by the turbulence and wind (just as had happened with Hooligan when we were helping line handle her last April) and the boat began to go broadside in the lock. Luckily, Ralph had quick reactions and Fortuitous has a strong motor. We managed to straighten out and head out of the lock. The next two locks went very well.

Once through all the locks and the Colibra Cut and into Gatun lake, it was already 4 pm. Initially, they said we'd overnight there and we were heading to the buoys. Then they changed their minds, and gave directions to our advisor, Victor, that we were to down-lock now. We centre-tied in front of a freighter. All crew handled their lines well and we had no difficulties. By the time we reached the flats to anchor, it was pitch black and blowing like snot (as it had been all day) so anchoring was a chore.

We are stuck here for a couple of days, at least, as a nasty cold front is blowing through...not the sunny Caribbean we expected. It wasn't a comfortable night. Hopefully we can head to Rio Chagras or San Blas before Saturday. More later and photos when we have internet.

Back to Panama, Dec. 2009

Happy New Year to all our friends and family! After 7 months in Vancouver, we were ready to return to Fortuitous and ready her for the next cruising season. We left Vancouver and our youngest son, Jeff, drove us to Seattle for departure to Panama City Dec. 8th. Our eldest son, Greg, is joining us for this season and Jeff, and fiancé Sarah, will join us for 3 weeks in January. We flew overnight and arrived Dec. 9th.

We saw this poster in the airport and, since Tiger Wood’s scandal had just unfolded, we couldn’t resist the photo.

We stayed in a hotel in town as we couldn’t get the ferry to Isla Taboga, where Fortuitous has been kept on a mooring for the past seven months. We found Fortuitous in decent shape, considering the length of time she’d been on her own. We had mildew and required new batteries as our house batteries had kicked the bucket. For the first couple of nights, until Greg and Ralph brought over our new batteries from Panama City, after 5:30 we had no lights. Taboga is a lovely little island.

Ralph and Greg went off for a day hike on Taboga. I’d heard about the critters in these photos, so I stayed home.

Unfortunately, there is nothing to show scale but they tell me the spider was as large as Greg’s hand!

This is the view from the top of the hill...another reason not to go, in my opinion...not the view, the hill!

Once we were up and running, we moved back to Balboa Yacht Club, situated on the entrance to the canal. These cruise ships and freighters are an everyday/every night experience. Some leave no wake at all, some wakes can jar you from your semi-sound sleep. We’ll be glad not to be here.

We have been working hard every day to get Fortuitous up to par. A new dodger is on the way, as ours is toast. We’re also having our sail-covers re-sewn. We had to re-do our lexan storm windows, as well, as we could no longer see out of them...lots of money spent.
We took a well deserved day off and toured old town Panama. Greg took some of these shot; I’ll let you guess which ones!

There was some sort of festival going on somewhere as we passed these kids in the street.

From our table in a cute little sidewalk cafe, we could see this young mom on her balcony.

There were other sights to see, apparently!

Here we are enjoying our cold drinks at the cafe.

As you can see, the area is pretty run down.

Picturesque.

Greg decided he needed a straw hat. Across the street he found the $5 hat of his dreams!

One of Greg’s artistic shots...he’s good at it, much like his Dad.

We came upon a beach baseball game...wouldn’t want to be out in the field! Look carefully at the terraine!

Back at the yacht club, we were fortunate enough to see this Mexican square rigger come by. All hands were on deck, or in the rigging. It was quite a spectacle!

Greg has been a tremendous help with all the work involved in re-commissioning Fortuitous. Here he is up the mast installing our new deck light.

For a “break”, we headed out to the Perlas Islands for Christmas. We saw this fishing boat, bedecked with frigate birds, enroute.

Greg fished up a storm and caught at least 3, but all came off the hook.

I guess it would have helped if we had a net to haul them in, rather than trying to use a bucket! And maybe a decent rod instead of a stick. As I type this, they are off decking themselves out in some better equipment.

Once anchored in the Perlas, we put up our Santa windsock again!

Greg has made a “Monkey Golf” game. Here he’s assembling it on the beach.

Voila!! We had a great time playing it.

Fool that I am I had bought a small turkey...not contemplating how much work it would be, now how hot. I guess I was still in Vancouver mode. However, we invited over Stan and Lyn, of SV Homers’ Odyssey and had a great evening. Lyn supplied a great salad and dessert and it was fun to share our Christmas with them.

The water was quite clear and Greg had great fun feeding our mouldy hamburger buns to these fish.

Back in Balboa, we often have these fishermen come through and entertain us.

We’ve seen some of the most beautiful sunsets here.

We are awaiting Jeff’s and Sarah’s arrival tomorrow afternoon. We’ll do a day of touring, and lots more provisioning and cleaning off the decks of Fortuitous to ready us for our transit through the Panama Canal. At this point we are scheduled to go through Monday, Jan. 11th. Wish us luck.

Once we transit, we will be out of range of internet for quite some time, so it will be impossible to update the blog with transit photos or photos of the San Blas Islands, or Kuna Yala, as it is called. You’ll have to wait for further instalments once we’re back in civilization.