Prepping for the Canal

We knew that leaving the San Blas Islands would be the next step to getting closer to the Panama Canal. What was planned was a two full day sail with an overnight at the Isla Grande - but it turned into a two-night stay.  We tried to leave on Tuesday but the weather and waves forced us to seek a little security back in the bay and wait out enormous rainstorms - one after another … we were safe just really wet ….

Anchoring in Isla Grande

being patient was good … of course we anchored fairly close to the “local establishment” … somehow Ed and the “kids” always find out where the “action” is at!

Kim with the bar owners kids - Kimberly and Almado  (kim squared!)

So Wednesday, we left about 7am with waves just over 2 meters (6 to 7 footers) - we sailed most of the way - which the crew enjoyed - about 34 miles - I slept a good chunk of the morning away  … arrived at Shelter Bay Marina by 1pm… (Just a thought:  I giggle every time I think of this - the last stop on the Atlantic side is the Shelter Bay Marina in Colon, Panama and the final stop /destination on the Pacific side will be our very own Shelter Bay Marina in LaConner - perfect wouldn’t you say?)

Once we were tied into the dock at Shelter Bay - a delightful afternoon with fabulous showers, ice cream treats, swimming pool, a fresh beer supply and dinner at the marina restaurant - also purchased the Panama flag … a real milestone for this boat to be able to raise their colors!   Ahhh  …. Civilization again!

  A good time was had by all ...  especially since we were cleaned up ...
a nice treat for all of us!

A great way to enjoy our first evening in Colon

The guys scrubbed down the entire boat with “boat wash” and fresh water - we girls did a mini “spring housecleaning” -and provision for the next few days - so we felt fresh and getting ready to greet the Pacific. ….

How many cart loads does it take to fed a crew of 7?

The tires (that will be our fenders) and long lines have been delivered to protect the hulls of Companion - the guys helped protect the solar panels with plywood covers, the wind generator blades removed …. Getting ready for Companion’s big day!

Dale’s planning is paying off as the immigration and officials came this afternoon - our agent for the crossing arrived early evening with plans for the inspector to be here Thursday to measure up Companion… our hope is that we will cross the Panama Canal starting Saturday afternoon and finish up by Sunday evening.  A historic memory for all of us!

Farewell to the San Blas Islands

“Idyllic” is what I will think of when I think of the San Blas Islands …  this has got to be one of the most pristine places left on this earth.  We … Ed, Kurtis, Rose, Garrett, Tanya, Dale and I  knew we were someplace really “special” -  a tropical paradise like nothing we had ever seen before.  Truly untouched by commercialism, commerce, pollution - where else can one go to witness that?

Capt'n D on Coco Cay

The Kuna Indians let us sail into their islands  -  just for a “look see” - and what we have our some pretty awesome memories - The Kunas shared their daily routine with us - a very simple life - with traditions and customs original to their tribe. We appreciate their lifestyle… they are happy. You can just see it when they look at you with their smiles - they just light up!

Rosalina and her granddaughter 

Our life on the boat was idyllic also - most of the mornings I was treated to a very special breakfast treat - Thanks Glori for sending me with the Frain’s chocolate and new frother - with Rose’s barista skills - this was pretty much heaven on earth!!!  Island Mochas for us!

I think this should be a commercial for Frain's!  Thanks sweet Sister for the supplies - Island Mocha!!

Waiting for the fisherman to show up so we could decide what dinner was going to be - was a real treat for us!

We refer to these guys as "OUR Lobster Boys!"

Reading, swimming, listening to Garrett’s guitar and song writing, card playing, and now a new hobby for the girls - embroidery - we made the time pass  - not is any kind of rush - no need to be -  we all relaxed and got into our own rhythm of each day - this made a fabulous 12 day excursion.

Quiet afternoons out of the sun

Thank you San Blas ………. just thank you ! 

Maybe just maybe we can come back someday!

Loved our time in the San Blas'

Lemmon Cays

Lemmon Cay - another tropical paradise … we about fell over seeing civilization… the first little shack bar we have had in about 12 days ....   As soon as we got ourselves organized and settled in for the evening - Dale, Ed and I had a scouting trip to check out the tropical drinks!  The kids took naps - so we felt it was our "duty" to explore! 

Dinghying back to Companion we saw “life” on the boat - so Ed thought it was his “duty” as the eldest to take the kids back to check it out!!  As Dale and I sat on the foredeck of Companion we got to giggling because we could hear the laughter (loud and clear) from the kids and Ed ... from the bar (of course) - a good quarter mile away!  Ed apparently was telling stories from the "good ole' days" - you know the early 70's .... as Tanya reminded us - she wasn't even a glimmer in her mother's eye yet!!  Oh - we are getting old!! But the stories I must admit are pretty entertaining!!

Dale and I had a good time making homemade pizza for the gang! 

Kind of a funny thought - for being in such a secluded place we went back to our ways and got wrapped up in the social aspects of our culture.  

Life is good .... 

Thankful ........

Thanksgiving takes on a whole new meaning when out in the open seas.

Being grateful for everything that has happened in the last couple of years…

And especially for the safe journey thus far…..

We sailed back to Coco Banderous and put down two anchors - I knew we would sleep so much better (especially us 3 girls!) and was extremely grateful for that security!

We really had an enjoyable day - actually being kind of lazy - reading, swimming and napping and just thinking about what kind of feast we would have…

Capt'n Dale thankful for a good crew and an unbelievable view

Just in the nick of time - the local fishermen showed up with a couple of huge crabs …

So the process started - bring out the pressure cooker and then the fun begins….

The four kids made us dinner  - which was delightful for me… a real treat…

Wine and crab pasta delicious … and like most families Thanksgiving comes with traditions …. So like the “Lamp Family Tradition” we all went around our table and shared what we are thankful for… puts life in perspective!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all ... 

Birthday celebration!

Birthday celebration!

Nov 21 night was crazy - a great way to ring in Ed’s birthday …

We had sailed to another outcropping of islands - Coco Bandores

They were gorgeous and pristine - the water - the beautiful blue that we have so come to love.

Our own private beach ...

Set our anchor in deeper than normal waters - about 30 feet deep - 

I sometimes get a feeling or inkling that something isn’t quite right - almost a sixth sense…so I stayed up and put myself on a self-imposed anchor watch for about 5 hours … then of course the wind and waves kicked up a bit and by 1AM we knew we were dragging… not a good thing when there are reefs and other boats close by.. so we had to lift the anchor and get ourselves out to the open sea - tough to do in the dark let alone a downpour that came from no where… That sure got all of our adrenaline going - we took shifts going in circles till the dawn broke.  Motoring one way and sailing back downwind. But at least we didn’t hurt the boat….  Dale and Ed took the morning shift and sailed Companion to another little anchorage near a village  - Rio Diablo - that had some provisions available. Quite an interesting little village; connected by a walking bridge two of the poorest islands we have seen so far…. but they did have food to purchase.

We enjoyed being stable that morning - with all of us taking naps and recouping from the evening “drill”.  And of course we needed to be rested for the birthday celebration!

Thank goodness we had decorated the boat before the “episode” ….  Pretty sure Ed enjoyed his day - Right before happy hour … we had a special DVD birthday greeting from Adri and Rylan - it was nice to be able to surprise Ed with a “family treat!” 

Dinner for the Birthday Boy was a lobster red curry - pretty darn fabulous if I say so myself. And of course Ed had to tempt everyone with his verbal rendition of what his favorite birthday cake, pie or Blizzard might have been for the evening.  Oh well - we need civilization for that to happen.

Finishing the evening off with a couple of rounds of “Oh Hell!”  It was a good day and we were safe.

The Kuna Women

After resting just a little bit - the “local women” arrived in their dug out canoe to sell their wares  - these women for many decades have sewn “molah’s”  - beautiful; no exquisite fabric art - the most intricate tiny little stitches - many layers of fabric and most likely hundreds of hours of work - they came on board for us to look and see -  of course shopping on the boat  is delightful!  Way to many choices and this is just the first stop in the islands …

After being in the islands for seven days we are becoming experts in “molah” and bead shopping…. Trying to support the women at all the different cays - I am trying to do my best at encouraging them - their native language is Kuna - some speak a little Spanish - so the game of charades works well - a lot of smiles and hugs go a long way.

                                           Shopping in such a diverse setting - aren't they beautiful?

In Coco Bandero Cays - I was “beaded” - look at her hands - gentle loving touch …my ankle is adorned!!

notice the bead work on her ankles - all the way to her knees...

I can’t wait to show and display their beautiful artwork - they are a proud group of ladies … it is obvious that they work hard for their daily needs and when they see a boat approaching their little bays, they start paddling over before we set the anchor.  We greet them at the stern, welcome them and then they start displaying their work - one after another - it is over stimulating for us - a colorful array … so much so that our eyes were “crossed”!

This note is over an eight day period - because everyday was a shopping day!  I am writing this on “Friday” after Thanksgiving!  Just like shopping at Macy’s the day after Thanksgiving! 

Ok .. well not quite - no crowds ! :)

Very famous Molah maker - Lisa - makes herself at home sharing her artwork!

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!