San Blas Islads

Two days - two nights …. The sail from Cartagena to the San Blas Islands was uneventful  …. well as far as I am told …  for  me  - I slept most of the time - especially the first day - getting the old sea legs back …. and trying to focus on the tasks that last spring was second nature.  I am sure it will come back to me …. But with all of this great help I am being spoiled.

The weather for the most part did cooperate - why does it seem that in the dark hours; it is when the wind kicks up and causes a little havoc … on this sail … we had a little rain, wind and some pretty awesome star stuff happening.   We shared the night watches - down to just three hours per partners instead of the usual four hour shifts.  Everyone was happy with that arrangement. 

We had a wonderful morning wake up call - at least a dozen dolphins played at our bow - teasing all of us as they ran along the sides - almost like a  game of hide and seek - down they would go and right back up on the bow - “look and find me” … “let’s see who can go faster “ - of course they were the winners!!  Nature at its best!

Playing with the dolphins - they were just showing off !!

Sighting the islands in the distance, Dale can always see them - we headed to what the charts call “BBQ Island”  - motor sailing around and thru this very large reef  (possibly 10 miles long) was a little tricky - with Dale at the helm, Ed near the captain’s station, the kids on the look out for the “shallows”  I could sit back and enjoy the view of this tropical paradise. 

We found our “spot” dropped anchor and couldn’t even begin to register what we were taking in…. little tiny islands - mostly palm /coconut trees - one manicured to a tee - the others filled with “jungle like” shrubbery - white sand beaches ….. and maybe 6 boats in the little bay … all protected by the reef - we could see and hear white crashing waves break over the reef.  What a sailor’s paradise! What we were seeing - was just like the photo on the “Windows Screensaver” - very surreal - extremely breathtaking!

We were welcomed to the San Blas Islands …  the Kuna Indians waving a greeting and sharing their gorgeous smiles with us.  Inviting us to enjoy their islands, take a walk ..in the place they call home.

Our big boys making friends with the little  local guys

Hand carved canoes filled with fishermen - selling their lobster catch for $3 dollars a piece - first night we just had a lobster teaser for happy hour! Speaking of happy hour .... we always enjoy a good time!

Ed and Rose getting ready to share the lobster teaser!

I think I am gonna like hanging out in these islands!

Leaving Cartegena

Arriving to Cartegena was uneventful - which is always a good thing.  Ed and I made it to the marina - Dale dinghyed over to greet us after our Alaska friends, Fred and Jack meet us with open arms and a great welcome to the next leg of our adventure.  Thank goodness for all the "old pro" sailors who offer advice and recommendations along our way.

The kids, Rose, Kurtis, Tanya and Garret are ready to get "someplace" where they can actually swim in the blue water that we promised .... so after 4 FULL grocery carts of provisioning - enough for 14 days - we are set to sail to the San Blas Islands - in Panama. Our hope is for a blissful 12 days in these islands - enjoying the hospitality of the Kuna Indians. 

The boat looks great - Dale and his crew have done a great job preparing - so after unpacking and settling in - I am ready to get going....so we are off in an hour or so... I can't wait to share what we see in the next
two weeks.... we will be without any internet connection - so the next posts will be long!!  :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all - Dale and are so thankful for all of the support that our family and friends offer .... praying for a safe passage - just a one nighter!

Marina Santa Marta

Nov. 10, 2011

Today Companion sits in the beautiful marina in Santa Marta Columbia. This IGY Marina is only a year and a half old and sits in the middle of the Santa Marta Bay (it is said to be the best marins in Columbia). Santa Marta is busy with activities as the main plaza is getting decorated for Christmas which must be big from all the decorations going up. Rose, Tanya, Garret and Kurtis are off to the National Park to see some monkeys and find some coral to snorkel by.

The trip from Curacao was mainly fine. We left at 7 am on Saturday and arrived at 5:30 on Tuesday.  About 145 nautical miles. We left and set a course at 286 degrees and for 2 days that was our course. We flew the spinnaker for about 5 hours the first day, and 10 hours the second. In the morning we often had to turn on an engine because the winds died. Kurtis caught a 7 lb tuna with the new pole and lures from Keith (Kim's Father). We had delicous tuna steaks with mash potatoes. Rose is doing a great job cooking.

We had planned on leaving on Friday, but I wasn't happy with the electricity retention of the batteries, so Friday early I took them out and took them to Marine Stores to be tested and as I suspected one of the batteries was bad. So what to do? Replace, but no exact replacement battery on island - Well how about 3 new deep cycle cheaper batteries - not at any of the 3 stores - But Island Marine had a 198 amp AGM Deka Battery which was the closest to my two 210 amp AGM High Life Batteries. So the old saying - "Batteries should all be the same age, make, and size" but I didn't have that as an option so we will charge the batteries for a day and see where we are. We were and so far have been much better!! On the first day at about 3 PM as the wind picked up, we lost steering, so out comes the emergency tiller (1st time for that) and it works well as Kurtis dives under the sink to investigate the problem. The cable had fortunately not broken only had fallen off the pulley. So after greasy dirt hands and some pulling on cables we realign the cable on the pulleys and shorten the length to prevent that from occurring again. Final failure was the refriguration system, and after further investigation determined that the electronic unit on the compressor was fried, so call Kim to order a new unit from Sea Frost. It has been great having 2 engineers on board, as both Garret and Kurtis are a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Tomorrow, we leave to Cartegana, to pick up Kim and brother Ed. Monday is Carnival day due to some election or something. Then Kim can return to her excellent blogs of ours days on Companion.

Companion and Crew .... beginning ...... phase 2

Another journey begins - I just got word from Dale - that in the morning Companion and her crew will take off.  Anticipation is great - the boat as Dale explains it - is ready to go.  He made a list of tasks before we left last spring  - and of course the list grew when he got there - but they are all done.

Dale sailing into Curacao in May .... and what he will sail out of tomorrow

I am grateful that Rose and Kurtis came last week and took some of the pressure off of Dale - as both of them were energetic, eager and enthusiastic to help him, I only wish the “bugs” weren’t so bad  … ugh ….  those awful “no-see-ums!!”  Kurtis’ ability to solve issues is so keen …. no worries for this first mate that Companion is ready to go… Dale says “She shines” - Rose has her spit polished - a glow of white fiberglass - love a clean house!!!

This afternoon - the other half of Dale’s crew arrived - Tanya and Garrett - they all have provisioned for the next five days and after a good night’s sleep - they will sail off of the Curacao coastline to Santa Maria, Columbia. Three Days - Three Nights.

The Captain - one happy guy!

As far as my feelings …

I am really excited to be heading into the final leg of this extraordinary “goal” - (Dale’s 30+ year dream) - ready for the adventure, new sights and cultures, getting to know the local customs and cuisine, spending time with Dale and of course sharing Companion with family and friends  …  so if you might have an inkling to join us …. go for it!

But at the same time looking forward to bringing Companion “home” - especially after sitting at 134 Lummi on my garden chair this summer - I can imagine her tied to the dock … Dale running up the bridge to say that we better sail out for the sunset or Max coming over for a crab run or sailing up to Bellingham for “happy hour” with Em and Kyle, long weekends with Danylle and Andy sailing to one of the islands… sharing Companion with family and friends - that what “this” is all about.

So hear we go - 2011 …. 

bringing Companion home to the San Juan Islands, the mountains and LaConner, Washington....

praying for a safe journey - always!