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Published: April 17th 2009
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Jam session in Golfito, CR
Our friends Jan on left, George in center of s/v Claire de Lune. Gary, another cruiser, is leading the songs. On the deck at Tierra Mar (land Sea) Hello friends and family. I KNOW, I KNOW...it's been a long time coming. The interent capabities haven't been very accesible after we left Costa Rica heading for Panama, until now here in Puesta del Sol in northern Nicaragua.
Our tri.p through western Panama was gorgeous. We were out on the boat for over 2 weeks, up to three sometimes without stopping in a town, just hanging in some lovely islands, and along some beautiful bays along the mainland. We were traveling with another boat called Claire de Lune with the couple, Jan & George Wilson. They have been out cruising for 5 years now, and knew the good places to visit. So we followed their lead. It was great. We ran into lots of other new friends we met while in Ecuador also, so that was really nice also. We pretty much had some great travel until we started heading to Punta Mala (Bad Point). That can give you a heads up on the weather in the area. This is the headland before you start your northern passage into the huge bay of Panama. You need to be always watching for big ships heading to Panama, or leaving the canal
Music and Pizza
Jan was the chef extrodinaire that night. Here she is cutting the pizzas, yum, yum! zone and heading south, east or west. We left a lovely island in the afternoon (Isla Cebaco) and were going to do an overnighter to a place called Benao (big southswell surfspot in Western Panam). The first part of the trip was simply perfect. Nice breeze off the port quarter, not too rolly. Then the wind died, so on the motor went. Then it started blowing harder and harder. We will getting gust of over 30 knots of wind (our wind instrument alarm kept going off). We were sailing with a reefed main only and doing 6 knots. We had a huge transport ship bear down on us where we had to hang a sharp left until it passed us (of course all of this is in the middle of the night). Finally daylight came and the wind started to drop somewhat. It was not a relaxing evening passage to say the least. We were exhausted when we reached the bay of Benao. In the photos I hope you can see the big southern swells coming into the beach. They were huge. We would see the surfers hanging on the beach watching as some would go in and other stood
Robin's job
Always ready to lend a hand...in soapy water even. ashore. We didn't go ashore there, just sat on the boat for a couple days to rest and wait for the wind to die down before we rounded the corner at PUNTA MALA .
We'd heard so many stories about that point. Cruiser's say how they'd go to the point (15 miles away). then would have to turn back and anchor a Benao for another day waiting. We left in the morning, and it was still blowing off the shore like snot (30 knots and up), but as we got closer to the point, the wind started to ease up a little. We rounded the point quite easily then headed north into the bay to an island called Otoque to anchor for a day or so (This was another overnighter). After about 15 miles into the bay, the wind picked up again and was pretty much right on the nose. Up and down, up and down. ugg! We had a little sail up and it helped to have the boat ride the swell instead of going straight into it. We were along the side of the bay (western side), that we were out of the huge shipping lanes, so
Zip-linning in Costa Rica
Getting on all the hardware was easy, but the first time down the zip-line was one I won't ever forget. Wheeee....it was awesome that was a good thing. We reached Isla Otoque in the morning, and enjoyed the night and another day and night there relaxing. The next morning we headed to Panama city and the canal. Tons of huge ships just hanging out waiting for their turn to go through. The anchorage (La Playita) is right near the canal. We had to squeeze inbetween lots of sailboats. Everyday 3-4 sailboats would be coming through from the Carribean side to anchor there with all their sides heavy with black tires. It got pretty tight in there for my comfort, but that was what it was.
It was a nice place, but no conveniences close by. You had to lug your computer about a mile away to a resturant to use the computer, and to go shopping you had to take a couple busses. There wasn't that many busses (or coop vans) coming out to where we were, so it meant lots of wait time by the side of the road. We had somethings we really had to take care of in Panama, then we decided to head out as soon as possible. Saw a lot of our new cruiser friends we made
Girls's day out
It was a fellow cruising friend, Terri, and two other women who were down in CR with husbands on a fishing trip. It was kinda neat just being women...we got to scream and be girly alot... in Ecuador there and made some new ones also. Lots of good people in the community on the whole, very friendly and helpful. At this time we had decided to head back to Mexico and bring the boat back to San Diego as I went back to work. It was a big decision for us, but we think it is the best for the boat to be in SD, then to leave it so far away in a river in Ecuador.
We headed to Las Perlas (the Perlas islands in the bay of Panama) for an overnight stop. I really wished we could have spent more time there, but we only had so much time to go 2,500 miles up the coast of Central America and Mexico before the hurricane season begins in June, so we had to book it now. We stayed off a little island called Bayoneta in the Perlas, and went to a beach with some new friends, Gary and Barb of Hooray who were there also. The little beach was totally covered in Pink shells. Of course I picked up tons, for what I'm not too sure just yet, but couldn't resist. Then the next
Western Panama sunrise
Achored at Isla Parida inside Western Panama. Nice little cove called Punta Jurel. Supposedly the surrounding waters are a national park and we needed to pay a fee, but their boat was broken so we got to stay for free..yeah! day we started the passage to Nicaragua. Now, I will stop writing and start downloading the photos, which there are plenty.
No regrets for what we did. I'm so glad we did this. I know what this "cruising" lifestyle is all about now, and after working a while, if we want to do it again, it will be not big deal, as we know what to expect now, especially me with weather and seas, etc. Will definitely keep in touch with my new friends along their travels and visa versa, but also am looking forward to doing other things in my life. Don't think I could live on a boat for the next 5-6 years as some couples do (and longer for some). I wish we could have stopped at more places and spent more time at some places, but I either go back to work or lose my job. We've discovered that this lifestyle definitely demands a certain income and extra stash just for boat haul-outs, repairs and replacements. We did some of it, good memories and good stories. Hope you all enjoy the photos.
Until next update up the coast, keep smiling and laugh each day.
Isla Parida
Looking west to the land and the little fishing village there with some families. Kids came out and gave me some shells, I exchanged some school supplies and a kite. Robin & Jean
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